Chapter 43: The Hunter King's Path Gains Tiger Wings, the Old Hunter Tearfully Entrusts the

Lu Qingshan, where are you going? Here…

Zhao Tiezhu looked at the pile of meat and hides that resembled a small hill, his heart pounding, feeling uneasy.

So many good things—what if something goes wrong…

"Don't worry."

Lu Qingshan patted his sturdy arm, his voice steady and imbued with unquestionable authority.

"The Supply and Marketing Cooperative's back courtyard is relatively safe; you two stay fully alert, look out for each other, keep your eyes sharp, and stay focused."

He lowered his voice and quickened his speech a bit.

"I'll go into town to look around, scout the situation, and buy some urgently needed items."

"I'll be back soon."

After giving the instructions, Lu Qingshan said no more, adjusted the collar of his cotton coat, turned, and merged into the town's increasingly bustling crowd.

The cold wind still bit, but a fire burned within his heart.

The Supply and Marketing Cooperative is the obvious route, yet its prices and ticket types may not fully meet his needs.

Besides, putting all his eggs in one basket has never been his style.

He thought of making a small run through the Black Market, swapping some fine meat for some universal National Grain Tickets, then the three would go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to exchange for food.

Relying on vague yet profound memories from his past life, he kept moving, winding his way toward the town's edge to the customary "Free Market."

In plain terms, that place is the Black Market.

The air was filled with a complex, indescribable scent.

The foul odor of livestock dung, the pungent sting of low‑grade dry tobacco, the lingering sour sweat on the crowd, and occasionally a hint of tempting fried‑food char.

People packed shoulder to shoulder here.

Each face bore a cautious vigilance and a hopeful anticipation of trade.

Quiet haggling buzzed like mosquitoes.

Rapid cash‑goods exchanges occurred covertly beneath the wide sleeves.

Between exchanged glances lay silent probing and confirmation of underground rules.

Lu Qingshan tucked the carefully oil‑paper‑wrapped pieces of premium Wild Boar loin, along with some trimmed fine meat, tightly into his chest, concealed securely by the ample hem of his tattered cotton coat.

He moved unflustered through the crowded throng and scattered stalls, inquiring about prices, his eyes sharp as a hawk, scanning every corner for the reliable ticket dealer he remembered—Dao Piao Li.

Soon, in a wind‑sheltered corner, he spotted his target.

A gaunt man hunched his neck, hands in his sleeves, stamping his feet for warmth—it was Dao Piao Li.

Lu Qingshan slowed his steps, feigning nonchalance as he approached.

When closer, he gave a slight nod as a greeting, his voice pressed down so low that only the two could hear:

"From the mountains, big meat, top‑grade loin strips."

Dao Piao Li's body tensed visibly, his head snapping up warily.

His murky little eyes, like spotlights, darted up and down at Lu Qingshan, full of scrutiny and doubt.

When his gaze swept over Lu Qingshan's bulging chest, his nostrils twitched as if catching the unmistakable, primal scent of meat, and his eyes suddenly lit up!

A flash of greedy light crossed his eyes.

"What price?" Dao Piao Li's hoarse voice rasped like a cracked gong.

"According to the rules."

Lu Qingshan's tone was flat, as if stating a trivial matter, yet his gaze was like a blade tempered with ice, silently sweeping the surroundings to ensure no prying eyes.

"National Grain Tickets—take as many as you need. Small change is accepted too."

Dao Piao Li's eyes rolled a few times, his mind calculating quickly, and he flicked three grimy fingers in front of Lu Qingshan.

Lu Qingshan didn't even furrow his brow, simply shaking his head.

He thrust out a fist, resolute and unwavering, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Five jin of meat for ten jin of National Grain Tickets, plus five cash."

"The meat is premium Wild Boar loin, pricey—judge for yourself."

Dao Piao Li's face showed hesitant struggle.

He glanced at Lu Qingshan's unnaturally steady aura, that bone‑deep ruthlessness and Confidence, feeling a mix of self‑mockery and being held by the kid before him.

He couldn't help glancing again at the faint, tantalizing meat hue in Lu Qingshan's chest that even oil paper couldn't fully conceal.

He gritted his teeth, decided, "Fine! Move quickly! Too many eyes here!"

A few brief words, followed by a swift glance to confirm no one was watching.

The cash and tickets settled.

The few prized Wild Boar pieces in Lu Qingshan's chest instantly turned into a crumpled stack of National Grain Tickets scented with ink, plus a small bundle of warm cash.

He carefully slipped the tickets and cash into his inner pocket; the weight in Lu Qingshan's heart eased, the Black Market deal having gone smoothly.

He turned to leave this chaotic hotspot, hurrying back to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to reunite with Zhao Tiezhu and the others.

Yet, in the instant he turned, a peripheral glance snagged on a curled figure at the base of a nearby wall.

It was an old man.

He wore a tattered cotton coat so worn its original color was indiscernible, patches upon patches.

His facial wrinkles were deep as if carved by knives, frozen to a violet hue.

His lips were chapped and peeling, trembling as he huddled in the cold wall corner.

He clutched a long‑extinguished copper Smoke Pipe Bowl, his gaze cloudy and hollow, as if detached from everything around him.

A distinctive antler hat sat on his head; the deep eye sockets and contours revealed he was an Oroqen elder.

What further caught Lu Qingshan's attention was the little dog curled at the old man's feet.

It looks only two or three months old, its gray, matted fur dull, skin stretched over bone, so thin that, perhaps because of its large skeleton, the shape of its ribs is almost clearly visible.

It shivers slightly all over from the cold, weakly lying on the icy ground, its eyes looking as if it were about to die.

Yet this barely‑living puppy, in those half‑open eyes, shows a sharpness and vigilance completely mismatched with its frail body!

It is a vigilance that seems innate, rooted deep in its bloodline!

A wildness that has not yet been completely eroded by hunger and cold!

It stares fixedly at the passing crowd, emitting a barely audible, threatening low whine from its throat.

Lu Qingshan halted his steps, his gaze fixed.

He examined the puppy carefully.

Though emaciated, its skeleton is unusually broad and proportionate, and its limbs appear quite strong.

The shape of its head and the outline of its ears differ markedly from those of ordinary Chinese countryside dogs.

The instant Lu Qingshan's eyes fell on the puppy—

Buzz!

His Mountain Wild Heart inside him jolted violently!

A resonance far clearer and stronger than when he sensed Roe Deer, rabbit, or even Wild Boar before, surged through his limbs like an electric current!

This resonance carried a primal, wild attraction, as if a call from deep within his blood!

Lu Qingshan's heart pounded uncontrollably, "thump‑thump"!

He instantly sensed that this seemingly dying puppy harbored an extremely pure, wildly instinctive hunter's instinct!

Moreover, a hint of astonishing spirituality tightly linked to the vast mountains and forests!

This is definitely a pup of an extremely pure‑blooded Erlun Chun Hunting Dog!

It's just starving and frozen!

Erlun Chun Hunting Dog!

Between Baishan and Black Water, the hunter's most coveted partner!

Tracking, encircling, and slaying large prey—all mastered! Courage and loyalty are unmatched!

This is simply a providential opportunity the heavens forced into his hands! It's like breaking iron shoes in a fruitless search, yet obtaining it without any effort!

Lu Qingshan inhaled deeply, suppressing his ecstatic joy and excitement.

He no longer hesitated at all, stepped forward, and briskly walked to that Oroqen elder.

He mimicked the Oroqen people's etiquette from memory, turning his right palm inward, gently touching his own forehead, then slightly bowing to show respect.

Then, he crouched down, his gaze falling on the puppy, and spoke as gently as possible:

"Elder, this dog… for sale?"

The elder's murky eyes slowly lifted, and he stared blankly at the young man before him, whose aura was steady and eyes bright.

He lowered his head again, and took a deep look at the barely breathing puppy at his feet.

His gaze became extremely complicated.

There was deep reluctance, a heart‑wrenching pain, and a profound helplessness of being driven to a dead end.

His lips trembled, as if he had used all his strength, before he managed to utter a few words with difficulty:

"Our home… was hit by a snow disaster… people… can't survive…"

"This… is the last…"

The rest of the words turned into a long sigh full of endless bitterness and sorrow, dissipating into the biting cold wind.

Lu Qingshan did not press the elder for more sorrowful details.

He directly took out the money he had just exchanged from his chest, carefully counting three brand‑new one‑yuan banknotes.

He also produced ten pristine one‑jin National Grain Tickets.

He gently handed them together to the elder's hand, which was like dried bark, riddled with cracks.

"Elder, these money and tickets, you should keep them for emergencies."

His voice was sincere and solemn.

"I want to buy it; I can see it is a good dog."

"Come with me, you won't starve or freeze again; I will treat it well."

The elder looked at the green tickets and the white National Grain Tickets before him, and his eyes instantly reddened.

Muddy tears, like beads whose strings had snapped, rolled down his deep wrinkles.

These days, this money, these tickets, can truly save lives!

He trembled as he carefully took the money and tickets, as if cradling priceless treasures, clutching them tightly in his palm.

Then, he lowered his head again, gazing at the puppy one last time with deep, endless affection and reluctance.

"It… it's called 'Tasuka'…"

The elder's voice choked, heavy with a nasal tone.

"In our Oroqen language… it means… 'Golden Tiger'…"

"Follow me… good…"

"Alright, treat it well…"

Lu Qingshan solemnly nodded, making a promise.

"You rest assured, elder."

He carefully extended his hand, gently scooping the still‑slightly trembling, yet not fiercely resisting puppy into his warm, sturdy embrace.

The puppy seemed to sense the Mountain Wild Heart emanating from Lu Qingshan, the forest aura that made it feel close and safe.

Although its gaze still brimmed with vigilance, it did not struggle.

Instead, subconsciously it tucked its small, icy head into Lu Qingshan's thick cotton coat, greedily drawing the long‑missed warmth.

At the same time, it used its pair of eyes—though dim and lacking light, yet still retaining a sharp, scrutinizing brightness—to curiously, with a hint of inquiry, secretly size up the new master who had lifted it.

Tasuka…

Jin Hu…

Good name!

Lu Qingshan silently repeated the powerful name in his mind, and his arm tightened involuntarily.

The warm little life in his arms, though now feeble, he seemed already to see its future lithe form, to see it racing through the forest, fighting side by side with him!

He looked up, glanced at the old man's still hunched, exceedingly lonely and desolate silhouette.

After a moment's thought, he again took two pieces of money from his pocket, chased after, and without a word thrust them into the old man's hand.

"Old man, the weather is freezing, buy some hot food to warm your body."

The old man was stunned, his hand holding the money trembling slightly.

He said no more, but nodded vigorously, and with those eyes weather‑worn and seeing through the world, gave Lu Qingshan a deep, complicated look.

Then, he turned away, did not look back, staggered step by step, disappearing into the noisy, surging crowd.

Lu Qingshan, cradling the unexpected warm little life in his arms, feeling its subtle tremor and gradually steadying breath, turned and strode toward the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

The excitement and joy in his heart were almost beyond words.

This trip into the city yielded a harvest far beyond his expectations!

The limitless‑potential Erlun Chun Hunting Dog pup's future value might even far exceed that of several hundred jin of Wild Boar meat!