The Entire Mountain Is My Hunting Ground

The dog’s bark put everyone on high alert.

But Hua Xiao remained by the wild boar, not poised to attack, but acting possessive of its food. Zhao Jun knew at once that it hadn’t spotted prey, but that someone was approaching.

Zhao Jun split the wild boar liver in his hands, giving a piece to Da Huang and another to White Dragon. Then he scooped up a handful of snow from the ground and rubbed his hands clean.

Just then, four figures appeared in Zhao Jun’s line of sight.

Qin Qiang’s father, Qin Dajiang, strode toward them with the Tao Brothers, a gun slung over his back. They walked abreast, their presence imposing.

The moment Xing San saw the Tao Brothers, he flew into a rage. He leveled the Invasion Blade—the one he’d just used to gut the boar for Little Yellow—at the three men and roared, "Get the hell out of here!"

Xing San’s roar instantly shattered the imposing aura of the four men across from them.

Seeing this old man again, the Tao Brothers couldn’t help but feel a flicker of fear. What imposing aura was left to speak of?

Qin Dajiang frowned and looked at Xing San. "Elder Xing," he asked, "what’s all this about?"

"What’s this about?" Hearing Qin Dajiang’s questioning tone, Xing San didn’t hold back. He bellowed right back at him, "Why don’t you ask them? Ask those three what they did yesterday!"

Qin Dajiang glanced at Tao Dasheng beside him. When Tao Dasheng remained silent, Qin Dajiang knew in his heart that those three were in the wrong, which was why Xing San was so furious.

Living in the mountains, everyone knew Xing San’s temper. Qin Dajiang didn’t ask what the three Tao Brothers had done, nor did he try to calm Xing San down. Instead, he just looked toward Xu Changlin and said loudly, "Brother Xu is here."

"Dajiang," Xu Changlin said, addressing Elder Qin, but he left it at that.

Seeing this, Qin Dajiang looked over at Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu and couldn’t help but feel a sense of resignation. ’I really don’t know how my son has been getting by in the village. He’s made enemies all over the mountain.’

Still, Qin Dajiang nodded at Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu. After Zhao Jun nodded back in acknowledgment, Qin Dajiang turned and left with the Tao Brothers without another word.

With Qin Dajiang gone, Zhao Jun squatted down again and continued cutting up the wild boar’s intestines to feed the dogs. But when he looked up, he saw Xu Changlin staring blankly in the direction Qin Dajiang and his group had gone.

Zhao Jun called out, "Master Xu."

"What is it, son?" Xu Changlin asked, turning around.

"It’s nothing," Zhao Jun said with a smile. "I was just thinking, Baoyu and I don’t need these two boars. You and my Uncle Xing should split them."

"I don’t need them either," Xu Changlin said. "We’re not short on food at home. Let him have them all."

"Alright then," Zhao Jun said. "In that case, Baoyu and I will help him drag both boars back later."

"Mm," Xu Changlin grunted in agreement. After a moment’s thought, he came over, squatted down next to Zhao Jun, and said, "Son, I think that Elder Qin is also here to hunt the lynx."

Hearing this, Zhao Jun was a little surprised. "Master Xu, how do you know?"

Xu Changlin said, "Did you see what kind of gun he was carrying just now?"

"No," Zhao Jun said, looking blank. "I didn’t pay attention."

"He was carrying Qin Qiang’s gun," Xu Changlin said. "I recognize it. And I know that Elder Qin usually uses an Old Foreign Cannon."

"Ah!"

With Xu Changlin’s explanation, Zhao Jun was convinced.

If Qin Dajiang and the Tao Brothers were hunting wild boar, roe deer, or bear, they could have easily carried two guns: Qin Dajiang with his Old Foreign Cannon, and Tao Dasheng with Qin Qiang’s 16-gauge.

But now, Qin Dajiang had left his foreign cannon behind. Their target could only be the lynx.

Because the foreign cannon was too powerful. One shot from it and the Lynx Fur would be worthless.

At this, Zhao Jun understood. This lynx had attracted too many hunters, and Xu Changlin was afraid someone else would get to it first.

Zhao Jun suddenly remembered something. "Master Xu," he asked, "I just recalled, didn’t you say before we came that you were the only one who could find this lynx, and no one else could?"

Hearing Zhao Jun’s question, Xu Changlin faltered for a second, then burst out laughing. After laughing, he changed the subject. "Let me tell you, this creature..."

Zhao Jun looked at the old man, feeling completely exasperated. ’I’m speechless.’

Xu Changlin didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed and just continued, "It’s incredibly smart. After your father and Wang Dalong startled it, it did a loop and came right back to its original spot."

As Xu Changlin spoke, Li Baoyu, who had recovered from the earlier tension, came closer to listen to the old man’s explanation. "The spot where it killed my dog... if you go up from there, you reach Jumping Stone Pond. Your dad and him must have flushed it out from there.

"So we’ll go back there to find it. Let me tell you, if it returns to Jumping Stone Pond, it’ll definitely squeeze into a crack between the rocks. No matter how much noise people make, it won’t come out. Whoever goes looking for it won’t see a trace and will just assume it’s left. They’ll search the area, find nothing, and not give it a second thought."

After listening to Xu Changlin’s explanation, Li Baoyu, whose vocabulary was rich from his studies, immediately blurted out, "Hiding in plain sight!"

Xu Changlin was taken aback for a moment, but then he nodded repeatedly. "Right, right, that’s exactly it. And this creature can endure hunger. It can hide in there for four or five days without eating or drinking, no problem."

"Master Xu," Zhao Jun asked, "so you’re saying it’s still there in Jumping Stone Pond?"

When it came to hunting Black Bears, roe deer, or wild boar, Zhao Jun was an expert. But as for hunting lynx, he really didn’t know much.

In his past life, he’d only ever hunted one lynx, and that was a chance encounter. He only knew that the creature didn’t eat carrion, only live prey, and that it lived in Jumping Stone Pond.

"Correct," Xu Changlin confirmed with a nod.

The moment he said that, Zhao Jun became confused. ’If we know where it is, why do we still need to encircle it? Can’t we just go hunt it directly?’

"Mm," Xu Changlin nodded. "We won’t encircle it. We’ll hunt it directly. If we try to corner it again, we might lose it."

"What about Elder Qin?"

"His father was a veteran marksman. Back in the day, if your grandfather and I had any questions, we’d go ask that old man." Although Xu Changlin’s attitude toward Qin Dajiang was cold, his voice filled with respect when he mentioned Qin Qiang’s grandfather.

Hearing that Qin Dajiang and his men might get to the lynx first, Li Baoyu grew anxious. "Then we should hurry! If we let Elder Qin get that lynx, we’ll be screwed!"

"That won’t happen," Xu Changlin said, waving his hand dismissively. "His skill isn’t up to par. But I’m afraid he’ll startle the lynx out of its hiding spot. If it gets scared off again, it really won’t ever come back."

"Alright, Master Xu." Tired of the old man’s rambling, Zhao Jun cut him off. "Just tell us how we’re going to set up this hunt."

He had to get the details straight beforehand. If the old man’s plan sounded unreliable, Zhao Jun would definitely not risk his dogs.

’A good dog is meant to die on the mountain, but that doesn’t mean sending them to a pointless death.’

Xu Changlin reached out and began drawing in the snow at his feet. With a few simple strokes, he sketched the outline of a large mountain.

"This mountain has a main ridge running north-south!" Xu Changlin pointed to both sides, then singled out the southern side. "This here is Qingtang Forest. It’s just a few scattered trees. You’ll wait here with the dogs.

"I’ll go up from the north side with one of your dogs and flush it out. As soon as it comes out of its hole, it’s bound to run your way. The moment your dogs over there start barking, you release the whole pack. As long as the pack doesn’t split up, they’re guaranteed to corner it. If it climbs a tree, you shoot it."

After explaining, Xu Changlin stared intently at Zhao Jun, waiting for his answer.

Zhao Jun thought for a moment, then asked, "Alright. So we go back now, get a good night’s rest, and hunt it tomorrow?"