Zhao Ergou gnawed on a rabbit leg, his mouth stuffed full, and mumbled,
"Jin-ge, if only we had a pot of wine, this life would be perfect!"
Liu Jin ate a chicken leg and said with a smile,
"Don't worry, as long as we take these wild game back and exchange them for some money in the city, it shouldn't be a problem."
"When I make it big, I'll take you to a brothel. Then, we brothers can drink our fill."
Zhao Ergou's breathing quickened at the mention of a brothel. That was a place only wealthy people could afford, and the cost was not low.
Although there was some exaggeration in Jin-ge's words, he still believed Jin-ge unconditionally.
A moment later, both of them had eaten and drunk their fill, sitting by the campfire, warming themselves.
Liu Jin glanced at the dark night sky. It had completely dimmed, and the moonlight slowly shone down. It was no longer suitable to return.
"Ergou, since we're out, we should get more game. We'll stay here for the night, hunt some more tomorrow, and then return to the city."
"However, staying overnight in the forest is very dangerous. We can only light and stack the torches here. I'll take the first watch, and you take the second."
Zhao Ergou nodded and quickly patted his chest, saying,
"I'll listen to Jin-ge."
So, the two of them chatted by the campfire!
Liu Jin looked at Zhao Ergou in front of him, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly asked,
"Ergou, we're not young anymore. What are your plans for the future? You can't just keep cockfighting and dog-walking in the city, can you?"
Zhao Ergou was stunned by the question, seemingly thinking about something, then said with a smile,
"I don't know what my plans are, but I'm willing to follow Jin-ge. Whatever you want to do, I'll do it too."
"After all, you are a descendant of the imperial clan, and your family is a prominent one in the area. I feel honored to be by your side."
Liu Jin smiled wryly at these words.
His identity could only be flaunted in front of ordinary people. Any official or wealthy family wouldn't spare him a second glance.
There were at least seven to eight thousand descendants of the Han Dynasty imperial clan in the entire Zhuo Commandery, if not ten thousand. Descendants of the imperial clan could be seen everywhere.
This was because many Liu clans had settled in Zhuo Commandery, including Prince Jing of Zhongshan, and the descendants of his ancestor, Prince Zhao Liu Liang.
After several centuries of reproduction here, the number of Liu clan members was countless.
However, his branch of the imperial clan was still relatively close to the imperial court, with many members holding official positions in the commandery.
After all, Prince Zhao Liu Liang had, in his day, joined Emperor Guangwu in raising an army to pacify the world, and he was also Emperor Guangwu's uncle. Their relationship was not something Prince Jing of Zhongshan could compare to.
Even so, what did it matter? It only meant his status was slightly nobler than that of ordinary people.
Without money or power, in this chaotic world, he could only be like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.
However, Liu Jin already had his own ideas. Since he had no money or power, he would find a way to contend for it.
Especially with the chaotic times approaching, it was precisely the era for heroes and valiant figures like them to emerge.
As a modern person, he was very familiar with the history of the Three Kingdoms, knowing the major events of the future, and thus had already gained the upper hand.
After a moment of silence, Liu Jin slowly said,
"Ergou, I plan to sell my residence and then seek out elders in the clan to make arrangements in the commandery. I'll see if I can secure a position in the army to serve the country."
"A true man, born between heaven and earth, how can he continue to live in a daze, wasting his prime youth, no different from rotten wood or decaying grass?"
Zhao Ergou was stunned by the words, his face showing some anxiety, and he quickly said,
"Jin-ge, that courtyard was left to you by your father. If you sell it, where will you live?"
Liu Jin smiled and shook his head!
"If I can enter the army, a house is dispensable. When I make something of myself later, it won't be too late to find a way to buy it back."
Zhao Ergou heard this and it seemed to make sense. If he could enter the army, he would surely be extremely busy and would definitely live in the army, rarely staying at home.
His eyes showed anticipation, and he quickly asked,
"Jin-ge, if you enter the army, can you take me with you? I'll just follow you and be a common soldier."
Liu Jin nodded at the words. If he was going to the army, he would naturally bring him along. The two had grown up together, thick as thieves, and their relationship was very good.
He needed to climb the ranks slowly through military merits, and naturally, he would need a few trusted confidants to assist him. Therefore, Zhao Ergou was the perfect choice.
Just as the two were chatting, a sudden roar came from the dark night sky!
"Awoo, roarrrr!"
The deafening sound reverberated, and Liu Jin and Zhao Ergou, who were still warming themselves by the fire, trembled all over upon hearing it, their eyes filled with fear.
Zhao Ergou stammered,
"Jin... Jin-ge, it sounds like a big cat!"
Liu Jin's eyes showed gravity. He quickly gripped the crossbow in his hand, tucked the broadsword at his waist, and looked at the dark night sky.
He whispered,
"There's no way to run. It has four legs, we only have two, so we definitely can't outrun it. Let's climb a tree first."
Zhao Ergou didn't waste words and immediately began to climb the large tree.
Liu Jin scanned the dark night sky, then began to climb the tree, a wary expression in his heart.
This so-called big cat or tiger, also known as a mountain lord, possessed immense strength. If they were discovered, they would surely die.
The two climbed onto the treetops, feeling a bit more at ease. They looked at the dark night sky, where leaves occasionally rustled.
Soon, under the light of the fire, a golden-yellow tiger slowly walked over, occasionally baring its fangs and looking around, seemingly a little wary.
Liu Jin, on the treetop, saw this scene and his eyes became serious. It was not surprising to encounter a tiger in these desolate mountains and wilderness.
However, the tiger in front of him was an adult, quite large in build. Wandering around late at night, it must have just woken up and come out to forage.
If it discovered the two of them, it was very likely to pounce.
One should know that tigers could climb trees, and they were very fast.
The tiger nearby twitched its nose for a moment, then its eyes looked at the pile of prey next to it, seemingly very excited.
So it crouched down and began to devour the wild game next to it.
Smacking sounds occasionally came from its mouth, as it ate with great relish.
Zhao Ergou, on the treetop, saw this scene, his eyes widening, his heart filled with anger!
This was game they had painstakingly hunted. If this big cat ate it all, they would have wasted an entire day.
He hurriedly said,
"Jin-ge, we can't let this big cat keep eating, otherwise we'll have nothing to show for it."
Liu Jin heard this, his eyes grave. The tiger was eating heartily; it was likely to eat all the game clean.
He gritted his teeth, anger rising in his heart, and courage born of desperation.
Damn it!
He had already been poor and miserable since transmigrating. He had finally hunted a few animals, ready to take them home to fill his stomach.
If this beast ate it all, what would he eat?
Rather than starve to death, it was better to fight for his life. If he truly wasn't its match, then he might as well be the tiger's extra meal.
His eyes sharp, he immediately said,
"Ergou, I'll shoot the big cat in the eye with an arrow to blind it. You cooperate with me to go down and kill this big cat."
"If it misses, we'll just climb higher up the tree, take the high ground, and wait for dawn."
Zhao Ergou nodded quickly, his eyes also filled with anger.
These wild animals were their food. If they were eaten clean, it would be worse than killing him.
Liu Jin didn't waste words. From the treetop, he drew his bow and nocked an arrow, forming a crescent shape.
The firelight continuously shone, and the tiger was lying on the ground, contentedly eating the delicious roe deer meat.
He stared intently at the tiger's eye. If this arrow hit, he would have the confidence to kill the tiger.
If it missed, they could only let the tiger eat everything, and even the two of them would be in danger.