Chapter 7: Back to the Mountain

In Hongshan Village, most were hunters who survived by hunting.

The mountains were full of venomous snakes and fierce beasts, and almost every year, someone from the village would die from hunting.

Death, for the people of Hongshan Village, was all too common.

By the second day after Tian Chuan was beaten to death, no one in Hongshan Village talked about it anymore.

Everything had returned to calm.

It was as if this person had never existed in the village.

Shen Qing woke up early in the morning with dark circles under his eyes.

He stepped outside the house, caught a falling snowflake with his hand, then fiercely grabbed a handful of snow from the ground and pressed it tightly to his face.

The ice-cold chill, like countless needles piercing his skin, made him shiver instantly.

This chill, as if it could penetrate his bone marrow, also cleared his muddled thoughts, bringing a surge of exhilaration and an unprecedented clarity to his mind.

"Little brother, the hot porridge is ready, come have a sip,"

"Coming," Shen Qing gently exhaled.

Shen Qing took the bowl of steaming meat porridge from Shen Fang's hands, gently blew on it, and carefully sipped.

The warm broth, carrying bits of meat, slid down his throat, bringing waves of warmth.

This sense of warmth spread from his mouth throughout his body, seeming to dispel the chill that enveloped him during the winter.

Combined with the chicken soup he had drunk the day before, his stomach was nourished, and Shen Qing felt much more spirited.

"Little brother, do I feel like you've grown taller?"

When Shen Qing stood up, Shen Fang felt, perhaps it was an illusion, that he seemed a bit sturdier.

"Maybe I used to hunch over,"

Shen Qing put aside the calligraphic characters in his view, set the bowl aside, and took up his bow and arrow quiver.

"I'm heading up the mountain, I probably won't be back by noon. You should stay at your aunt's house. Remember to bring a bran cake with you, don't make it difficult for your aunt and them."

Shen Qing packed up while giving these instructions.

"I got it."

Shen Fang lowered her head in silence for a moment, then turned to clean up the dishes without making another sound.

At that moment, she suddenly felt as if Shen Qing was the older brother, and she was the younger sister.

Even though she was two years older than him.

Shen Qing didn't pay much attention to Shen Fang's subtle feelings and, disregarding the harsh wind and snow, pushed the door open and left.

A moment later, he arrived at the spot where he had peeled bark the day before and surveyed the surroundings.

"The place we went yesterday was too crowded with human activity, going there again today would likely yield little. According to what was considered yesterday, today I'll head to the forest where the deer appeared earlier."

Generally speaking, deer do not stay long in one place.

Their instinct for wild survival drives them to constantly migrate and seek new food sources to avoid the depletion of resources and the threat of predators.

Going there today, it was very likely that he wouldn't see the deer he had encountered that day.

But the presence of deer in that forest proved there were lichens, mosses, and unfrozen water sources—it would definitely attract other animals.

Shen Qing checked his direction, peeled some bark again to mark his path, and then headed straight into the depths of the mountains.

The snow behind him bore a trail of deep footprints, as the figure of Shen Qing gradually disappeared into the snowstorm.

Chen Family Mansion.

Chen Tai and Chen An, both dressed in animal skins and carrying longbows and daggers, walked out of their house, facing the biting cold.

Although the heavy snow had lessened considerably, it had not stopped and continued to fall sparsely.

Looking out, Shicheng Mountain was dressed in silver, a sweep of pure white.

Chen An tightened his coat and complained to Chen Tai beside him, "This snow has been falling for so long, why do we have to climb the mountain? Wouldn't it be better to stay at home and take care of our bodies?"

Chen Tai smiled and responded, "The game is fat in winter, and it's a good intention from older brother. Don't talk too much, let's go early and return early."

Despite his complaints, Chen An started walking, keeping up with his second brother's pace.

The two of them walked side by side, passing through the quiet village, heading towards the back mountain.

Soon, the two brothers, Chen An and Chen Tai, trudging through deep snow, arrived at the edge of the forest where Shen Qing was peeling bark.

Chen Tai stopped, looked at the peeled bark Shen Qing made, and said, "Someone's already here, let's find another spot."

"It's good that someone's here; it means there's something inside, saving us from aimlessly searching."

Chen An didn't care who peeled the bark and went straight towards the hunting ground inside.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to just go in like this?" Chen Tai hesitantly said, his expression showing concern.

Chen An turned his head and said, "Brother, the rules of hunters are rigid, but people are adaptable. Look at the footprints in the snow, only one person at most, what's there to fear? He does his thing, we do ours—the mountain doesn't belong to him alone."

With that, he stretched out his hand and firmly grasped Chen Tai's wrist, "We're just going in to hunt, second brother, no need to be so pedantic, no one can do anything to us."

Chen Tai glanced at the silent, deserted forest, felt convinced by Chen An's words, and finally nodded, "Alright, but let's be careful."

Chen An's face showed a smug smile upon hearing that.

He pulled on Chen Tai, and they followed Shen Qing into the woods one after another.

…

Thwack!

An arrow came flying from a distance and firmly pinned a rabbit to the ground.

Blood slowly oozed from the arrow-pierced wound, staining the surrounding snow red.

The rabbit's eyes were filled with terror as it painfully writhed, trying to escape.

Each struggle came with severe pain, yet the instinct to survive urged it to keep struggling.

Shen Qing quickly approached from nearby, grabbed the rabbit by its long ears, and lifted it up, arrow and all.

His eyes gleamed with joy as he skilfully pulled out the dagger from his waist and swiftly slit the rabbit's jugular.

Blood spurted out, staining the cuffs of his sleeve.

The rabbit convulsed a few times, then lay completely still.

Shen Qing picked up the dead rabbit, skillfully tied it up with a rope, and then hooked it onto his waist.

He gently patted the game on his waist, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

"That makes the third one, it really wasn't a wasted trip today, just a pity I didn't encounter a big prize."

Shen Qing placed his dagger on his elbow joint, wiped away the blood, and repositioned it at his waist.

He then slowly crouched down, his gaze intently fixed on a trail of footprints on the snow.

The footprints were clear and deep, obviously freshly made.

He reached out, his fingertips lightly touching the edge of one footprint, feeling its delicate outline.

He was sure it was a deer-like footprint.

A glint of light flashed across Shen Qing's eyes, his heart secretly thrilled.

To think, speaking of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears, to actually stumble upon a big prize.

By tracking these footprints, perhaps he could find that game, and this time, he wouldn't let it escape.

Suddenly, Shen Qing felt an intuition.

His mind shifted, an expanse of ink unfolded in his sight, and a familiar interface emerged before his eyes, his expression turning to one of surprise.