Chapter 59: Into the Mountains! Lu Qingshan Leads the Team, Prepares to Hunt the Enclosure!

The night before, the expenses in the county town were not small, but seeing his wife and daughter's satisfied sleeping faces, Lu Qingshan only felt strength throughout his body.

The sky was just dimly bright, and he was already up, silently dressing.

Lin Yue'e also woke, opened her eyes, and saw her husband's tall silhouette busy under the dim oil lamp.

She sat up, her voice hoarse from just waking: "Not sleeping much more?"

Lu Qingshan turned his head, a gentle smile on his face.

"No, today I have to lead Zhao Tiezhu and the others up the mountain, leave early, return early. You stay home and look after Xiao Xue, don't let her wander out; it's cold outside."

"Mm, I understand."

Lin Yue'e nodded, a trace of worry in her eyes, "The snow is deep in the mountains, you all… be careful."

"Don't worry."

Lu Qingshan walked to the edge of the kang, leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, the motion natural and tender.

Lin Yue'e's cheeks flushed slightly, but her heart felt warm.

This kind of intimacy was once something she never dared to hope for.

"Dad…"

Xiao Xue rubbed her sleepy eyes, called out groggily, and her little hand fumbled as she tried to sit up.

Lu Qingshan patted his daughter's small head and said softly, "Be good, Xiao Xue. Dad is going out to work; I'll be back soon with something tasty for you."

"Mm…"

The little girl muttered, then slipped back into the warm quilt, a sweet smile at the corner of her mouth.

Jin Hu also woke, wagging his tail and rubbing around Lu Qingshan's feet, emitting a low whine from his throat, as if he also wanted to go along.

"You little thing, the snow is about to bury you; behave and guard the house!"

Lu Qingshan laughed and patted Jin Hu's head; the little fellow whined plaintively twice, but obediently curled back to the stove opening.

Outside, the sky was pale blue.

The cold wind cut like a knife, whipping up snowflakes that stung the face.

Zhao Tiezhu, Liu Fugui, and the four young, robust villagers Zhao Lei, Zhao Qiang, Zhao Fei, and Zhao Er Zhuang, already rubbed their hands together while waiting at the gate of Lu Qingshan's courtyard.

Zhao Tiezhu and Zhao Er Zhuang each bore several sharpened Wooden Stakes on their shoulders, which Lu Qingshan had specifically instructed to prepare, useful in critical moments.

Zhao Lei and Zhao Qiang each carried a few heavy burlap sacks containing large animal traps borrowed from several veteran hunters in the village, with reverse teeth that glinted coldly.

"Brother Qing Shan!"

Seeing Lu Qingshan emerge, the men hurried to greet him, excitement and a hint of nervousness on their faces.

Lu Qingshan nodded, his gaze sweeping over each person before settling on Liu Fugui.

Liu Fugui cradled a half‑worn single‑barrel Hunting Rifle in his arms, borrowed from the village patrol team; the other was handed to Lu Qingshan.

These two rifles are the heavy firepower for this hunt, also the key to deterring beasts.

"Fugui, muzzle down, safety on."

Lu Qingshan reminded in a low voice.

"Hey, hey! Brother Qing Shan, I… I remember!"

Liu Fugui's palms sweated, the gun feeling as heavy as a thousand jin in his hands, he stammered his response.

It was the first time in his life he handled a real weapon; his heart was both fearful and excited.

Lu Qingshan then inspected the mountain‑cutting knives, ropes, fire‑flint, and a small amount of dry provisions each carried, and after confirming everything was in order, he raised his hand.

"Set out!"

The seven of them stepped on the deep snow, heading toward the silent depths of Guandong Mountain.

The snow‑covered forest, draped in silver, was utterly silent, only the Creak—creak of their footsteps on the snow breaking the stillness.

The air was crisp and fresh, inhaled into the lungs, invigorating the spirit.

Lu Qingshan walked at the front, his stride steady.

His Mountain Wild Heart had already quietly unfolded; any wind, rustle, or faint life sign within a few hundred meters could not escape his perception.

He knew where the snow layer was thin and might conceal ice caves, where loose stones lay, and where a beast had just passed leaving a faint scent.

"Brother Qing Shan, with snow this deep, how do you know this route so clearly?"

Zhao Lei, following behind, couldn't help but ask. He had grown up by the mountains and considered himself familiar with these woods.

But walking with Lu Qingshan, he realized he had been blind before.

Lu Qingshan could always anticipate and avoid places that seemed flat but hid ravines, choosing routes that were the most effortless and safe.

Lu Qingshan said calmly, "Living off the mountains, if you don't keep a few wits, you'll eventually lose your life. Follow me, speak less, watch more, remember more."

The men felt a chill in their hearts at his words, daring not to speak further.

They simply kept silently close to Lu Qingshan's steps, carefully observing the subtle choices in his path.

Their target this time was still the "Dead Ditch" where Lu Qingshan and two others had previously hunted the Wild Boar King.

The place was treacherous, two mountains flanking a gorge; the entrance narrow, but the interior relatively open—a natural hunting arena.

With heavy snow sealing the mountain, beasts, seeking food, concentrate their movements, making it easier to drive them into fixed areas.

Along the way, Lu Qingshan occasionally stopped, pointing out some inconspicuous marks on the snow.

"Look here,"

he indicated a disturbed snow mound and several grass roots that had been gnawed.

"These are left by a Roe Deer; judging by the size and depth of the hoof prints, it should be an adult male, having just passed not long ago."

After walking a bit further, he pointed to a few tangled feathers under a large tree and a spot of dark red blood.

"A pheasant, taken by a weasel or some other small creature."

Zhao Tiezhu and the others listened, stunned, their admiration for Lu Qingshan absolute.

These traces, which seemed insignificant to them, became clear clues in Lu Qingshan's eyes.

"Brother Qing Shan, your eyes are too sharp!"

Zhao Er Zhuang scratched his head and chuckled.

Liu Fugui clicked his tongue even more.

"I used to chase pigs with the mountain patrol, but I've never seen anyone as keen‑eyed as Brother Qing Shan!"

Lu Qingshan gave no further explanation, merely leading them onward.

The deeper they went into the mountains, the deeper the snow became, some places even reaching above the knees.

But with Lu Qingshan guiding them, they always found relatively passable routes, avoiding certain hidden dangers.

Near noon, they finally reached the outer perimeter of Dead Ditch.

Lu Qingshan carefully surveyed the surrounding terrain and used Mountain Wild Heart to sense the area.

After confirming no signs of large beasts lurking, he began directing everyone to set up.

"Zhao Tiezhu, Zhao Er Zhuang, drive the wooden stakes into the gentle slopes of these hills, spaced three feet apart, deep and firm, to prevent beasts from escaping sideways. Also, the ropes you brought can be laid at the ditch entrance in advance, wrap several lines but don't make them too high."

"Zhao Lei, Zhao Qiang, Zhao Fei, bury the animal traps in the passes and grass where beasts might pass, camouflage them well, remember the locations, and don't trap your own people."

"Fugui, come with me to the ditch entrance and pick a good shooting spot."

The group responded with a booming assent and immediately split up to act.

Zhao Tiezhu and Zhao Er Zhuang, strong of arm, took turns with the stone hammers they brought, hammering the sharpened stakes into the frozen, hard ground with a "dong dong dong".

Zhao Lei and Zhao Qiang carefully brushed aside the snow, skillfully hiding the gaping animal traps beneath the dead grass and drifting snow.

They also made some withered‑leaf warnings, markings that only their own people could understand.

Lu Qingshan, together with Liu Fugui, carefully surveyed the terrain on both sides of the Dead Ditch entrance.

He selected several sniper positions with open sightlines, suitable for effective fire while ensuring personal safety.

"Fugui, when the time comes, stay behind this big rock," Lu Qingshan said, pointing at a protruding stone.

"From here you can see most of the ditch entrance; if a Wild Boar bursts into the pocket, wait for my command before firing. Don't panic, stay steady."

Liu Fugui swallowed, tightened his grip on the Hunting Rifle, and nodded vigorously.

"I... I understand, Brother Qing Shan!"

The whole afternoon, the seven of them were busy.

They circled the outer edge of Dead Ditch, almost completing a several‑mile loop.

Having become familiar with every mountain hollow and forest, they set snares, traps, or animal traps at every critical point of entry.

Although it was only a trek and preliminary setup, the workload was still considerable.

When anyone got hungry they nibbled on jerky, and when thirsty they scooped snow to moisten their throats.

The journey was tense for everyone, with scares but no casualties; during rests, laughter and chatter continued.

Zhao Tiezhu and Zhao Er Zhuang had the heavier tasks; white vapor rose constantly from the edges of their dog‑skin hats, and Liu Fugui joked that they were about to become immortals.

Only when the sun shifted westward and the glow reddened the snow‑capped peaks did the trap network around Dead Ditch take shape, and Lu Qingshan finally ordered work to cease.

"Brother Qing Shan, this time we'll make sure those Wild Boars and Roe Deer never return!"

Zhao Tiezhu wiped his brow and said with a goofy grin.

"That's it for today; pack up all the gear, we'll head back to the village. Tomorrow is when the real action begins!"

Although everyone was exhausted, the thought of finally encircling the beasts tomorrow and seeing their own handiwork made each face light up with excitement and anticipation.