Chapter 28: Double‑Kill the Cunning Rabbit for a Lucky Opening! Iron Triangle's First Hunt!

Lu Qingshan's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam; he said no more.

He took the lead with long strides, heading toward the towering, snow‑white mountains beyond the village.

The biting morning wind whipped his slightly disheveled black hair, yet could not disperse the unshakable resolve in his eyes to live again as a person.

And also toward the future, that sense of inevitable control.

Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui exchanged a glance, remained silent, and immediately stepped forward to keep up.

Zhao Tiezhu bore a heavy elm staff and a Hunting Fork on his back; each step made the snow creak, his bearing steady as a mountain.

Liu Fugui hoisted his polished wooden stick, his eyes brimming with uncontainable excitement and a hint of nervousness about the unknown deep mountains.

The three figures moved with firm steps.

Soon they merged into the lingering morning mist, disappearing at the end of the snow‑white, winding path that led from the village entrance into the forest depths.

They were advancing toward the vast, mysterious interior of Guandong Mountain, a treasure trove that also hid lethal traps!

No words were spoken, only forward movement.

Today there was no wind; the forest was eerily quiet, a pin could be heard falling.

Only the thick snow beneath the three's feet kept creaking... creaking..., a monotonous sound echoing lightly through the empty, desolate valley.

Slow!

Without warning, Lu Qingshan raised his right hand, low‑shouted, and his steps abruptly halted.

Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui reacted almost instinctively, stopping instantly, their eyes watching him warily.

Lu Qingshan's brows furrowed slightly.

Just now, the subtle forest‑linked perception in his mind—Mountain Wild Heart—sent an extremely faint yet crystal‑clear warning.

The perception pointed to a nearby stretch of snow that seemed unremarkable, even unusually flat due to the reflection.

Go around that snow.

His voice was steady, carrying unquestionable certainty.

Something beneath looks off; it's probably a snow‑covered ice hole or a dried ice river trench—fall in and you're dead.

Liu Fugui instinctively peered ahead; in the sunlight the snow indeed was excessively flat, not a single ripple from the wind.

He picked up a palm‑sized solid stone, tossed it; the stone fell straight down before any sound could return, counted two beats, then produced a crisp snap.

He involuntarily drew his neck back, lowered his voice with lingering fear: "Careful... if we step into a void and fall, the legs would break on the spot!"

The three dared not delay, tiptoeing along the edge, bypassing the hazardous area, and continued trekking deeper into the forest.

After walking another quarter‑hour, the surrounding trees grew taller and sturdier.

Towering red pines and upright white birches interlaced, nearly blocking the sky, dimming the light considerably.

"Lu Qingshan, look over there!"

Liu Fugui's eyes sharpened; he suddenly lowered his voice, pointing excitedly yet nervously toward a spot not far ahead.

It was a low thicket half‑covered by accumulated snow.

His voice trembled with uncontrollable excitement: "There... there's movement! It must be a rabbit warren!"

Lu Qingshan's gaze flashed like lightning as he looked along his finger's direction.

Almost simultaneously, the Mountain Wild Heart within him quivered again.

A distinct life force, like a fine thread, entered his perception.

And more than one!

"There are rabbits within this bramble, no doubt, and they're not small."

Lu Qingshan instantly judged, his voice calm and unruffled.

In his perception, at least two, both plump.

He spoke at breakneck speed, issuing orders on the spot:

"Zhao Tiezhu, you're strong; slip in from the left and block that sun‑lit opening! Aim carefully, don't let it escape on your side!"

"Liu Fugui, you're agile; circle from the right, move lightly! Look for a side opening, ready the slingshot, and wait for my command!"

"Got it!"

Zhao Tiezhu said nothing, tightened his grip on the staff with his fan‑shaped hand, and silently took long strides, slipping around the left side of the thicket like a mute raccoon, picking up a large stone en route to block the rabbit warren entrance.

Then he held his position, like a silent iron tower, steadfastly guarding the most obvious snow hole.

Liu Fugui moved like a monkey darting through the forest, crouching low, swift and silent, and in a few flickers reached the thicket's right side.

He held his breath, brushed aside the snow, and quickly found a small opening concealed by dry grass.

Silently he drew the polished slingshot from his waist, deftly loaded a smooth stone, and gently drew the elastic to full tension.

His eyes, like a hunting hawk, locked onto that small opening.

Lu Qingshan himself stood steadily directly in front of the thicket.

His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept left and right, taking in the entire thicket and any possible escape routes.

His hands had silently clenched the slingshot and two cold steel beads, muscles tensed, ready to spring.

The atmosphere in the forest froze instantly.

"Act!"

With Lu Qingshan's clear, short, command‑like shout!

Zhao Tiezhu moved!

He swung his heavy staff violently, a whistling wind accompanying it, striking hard toward the bramble‑filled center of the thicket!

Wham!

The thicket shook violently, snow spraying everywhere!

Two lightning‑fast gray shadows, like arrows released from a bow, burst out of the thicket!

One of them, slightly larger in size, clearly panicked, and stupidly charged straight toward the large opening on the left that Zhao Tiezhu was guarding!

Zhao Tiezhu had been prepared; his palm, as big as a palm fan, shot out like lightning!

In a single motion, he firmly pressed down on the rabbit's lower spine!

Then his fingers exerted force, and with pinpoint precision he grabbed its long ears in one go!

No matter how the rabbit kicked, it could not budge an iota!

The other one, however, was clearly much more cunning!

It was slightly smaller, but its speed was astonishing!

Just as it burst out of the thicket, it made a sudden sharp turn and rushed straight toward the right, toward Liu Fugui's ambush, trying to break through the dense low shrubs from the side!

"Swoosh!"

Liu Fugui reacted extremely quickly!

Almost the instant the rabbit turned, the slingshot in his hand had already been triggered!

The stone shot out with a sharp, whistling sound!

"Eek!"

The rabbit, extremely alert, seemed to sense danger while running and its body made an incredible sudden change of direction!

The stone barely skimmed its gray fur, flew past, struck the distant snow, and kicked up a small puff of snow!

"Ah!"

Liu Fugui's heart tightened sharply, and he let out a low growl!

He hadn't expected the rabbit to be so cunning, yet his hand didn't pause at all; like lightning he fished another stone from his pocket, ready to cock the slingshot again!

However, in that split‑second flash!

The cunning gray rabbit had already used that brief gap to dart several meters away!

Watching, just two more steps and it would leap over the snow into the denser thicket beside it—once inside, catching it would be difficult!

"Don't move!"

Lu Qingshan let out a low command, his voice small but filled with Confidence!

His slingshot, almost the instant Liu Fugui missed, had already been drawn to a full‑moon shape!

Mountain Wild Heart's prediction had already clearly told him the rabbit's next escape route!

"Whoosh!"

The cold steel bead shot out of the string!

The rear shot arrives first!

Like it had eyes, it traced a precise arc!

Unerring, it struck the gray rabbit's powering hind leg hard!

"Zzz—!"

The rabbit let out a mournful, short wail, its body lurched mid‑air, and its forward momentum vanished instantly!

It rolled and crashed heavily onto the soft snow!

Before it could struggle to get up, Liu Fugui, who had been watching intently, lunged forward like a starving tiger on prey!

His hands and feet were swift; with one hand he snapped the rabbit's neck, then with a fine hemp rope he had prepared, he tied the now‑motionless rabbit tightly!

The whole process, from discovering the rabbit's burrow, to dividing tasks, to the final capture.

Although a small mishap occurred due to the rabbit's cunning, from start to finish it took less than ten breaths!

Clean! Neat!

"Hey! Got it! Got it! Caught it!"

Liu Fugui, excited, lifted the still‑struggling rabbit, grinning widely, looking at Lu Qingshan with awe and admiration.

"Brother Qing Shan! You're still the best! Incredible! I… I almost let it slip away just now!"

Zhao Tiezhu also smiled plainly, handing the larger, fatter rabbit, now completely still, to Lu Qingshan.

"This one can't run either, it's plump enough."

Lu Qingshan took the two rabbits; they felt heavy in his hands.

He weighed them briefly and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, a good start. Together these two probably have at least seven or eight jin of meat, heavy enough."

He looked at Liu Fugui, his tone calm: "Monkey, your reaction was quick, but your aim still needs practice; next time steady your aim a bit more, don't rush."

He patted Zhao Tiezhu's sturdy shoulder: "Tiezhu, you blocked well just now, your strike was truly accurate."

After Lu Qingshan finished speaking, Liu Fugui scratched the back of his head sheepishly and laughed.

Zhao Tiezhu also showed a simple, satisfied smile; the feeling of being recognized warmed his heart.

"Tie the rabbit securely and sling it over my shoulder; this weight won't be a problem," Tiezhu said.

Liu Fugui tied the rabbits with rope and placed them directly on Zhao Tiezhu's left shoulder, one in front and one behind, swaying as Tiezhu walked.

"Let's keep moving."

His gaze turned toward the deeper, darker forest interior.

"This is just the beginning; it's merely a snack."

The three did not linger, briefly dealt with the scene's traces, and continued advancing toward the mountain's depths.

Because Liu Fugui had almost missed earlier, he now summoned his full attention.

His eyes, like spotlights, scanned the snow and woods, missing no trace.

"Brother Qing Shan! Over here! There are hoof prints! They look like they were left by a Roe Deer, but the prints are a bit old, probably from yesterday or the day before."

"Over here! Over here! There are traces of a pheasant scratching! Look, the soil is fresh! That flat‑haired beast must be nearby!"

He is like a tireless hunting dog, constantly lowering his voice, reporting various discoveries to Lu Qingshan, his tone full of anticipation.

Iron Pillar dutifully serves as the vanguard and also marks the return route.

Lu Qingshan listens to Liu Fugui's report while silently operating Mountain Wild Heart.

The keen perception brought by sensing scans the surroundings like a radar.

Just now successfully avoiding the ice pit has given him greater confidence in this ability.

He can clearly feel that not far ahead, in a mountain hollow, a stronger life force seems to be fluctuating.

That life force is far stronger than that of a rabbit or a Roe Deer!

"Let's go, follow those hoof prints."

Lu Qingshan lowers his voice, points toward the direction where the Roe Deer footprints vanished, his eyes flashing with the hunter's unique excitement.

"Everyone be careful, tread lightly, don't disturb the big creature ahead."

The real hunt, now, has only just begun!