Chapter 9: First Hunt Victory! Carrying Down a Hundred‑Jin Roe Deer!

Early the next morning, the sky had just begun to light.

The village was still shrouded in a bluish-gray silence, with only a few sporadic barks of dogs drifting from afar.

Lu Qingshan led Zhao Tiezhu, stepping through snow that hadn't yet reached their ankles, one deep step then one shallow, heading toward the rear mountain.

Zhao Tiezhu walked in front.

His sturdy build, in the morning light, resembled a moving small hill.

He carried a sharpened opening mountain knife in his hand, a coarse hemp rope around his waist, and an axe and a staff on his shoulder; each step made the snow creak, exuding strength.

He took long strides, full of strength; when encountering road-blocking thickets or deep snow drifts, he swung his knife and cleared them, opening a path for Lu Qingshan behind.

He puffed white breath from his mouth, yet showed no sign of fatigue.

Lu Qingshan followed behind, his steps not fast but steady.

Most of his mind was immersed in the peculiar perception brought by Mountain Wild Heart.

The sound of wind passing through treetops carried subtle information.

The faint rustling of some small creature beneath the snow was clearly audible.

Even the faint animal scent drifting from the distant ridge……

These pieces of information, like fine threads, wove together in his mind, sketching a vivid holographic panorama of the forest.

He had a rough sense of where game might be, where icy pits or slippery steep slopes lay hidden.

"Brother Qing Shan, this way?" Zhao Tiezhu reached a fork, uncertain, turned his head to look at Lu Qingshan, his honest face showing a question.

Lu Qingshan stopped, closed his eyes, nostrils twitching slightly, and carefully sensed for a moment.

The scent on the wind, the left path was fainter and also safer.

"Take this way, gentle slope, conserve some strength." He pointed to the left, a more concealed trail.

"I feel…… something is over there."

The two, one ahead and one behind, gradually fell into sync.

Zhao Tiezhu was like an tireless pathfinder, head down, working hard; the two ventured deeper into the old forest of Ganfan Basin.

Lu Qingshan, meanwhile, was like an experienced old hunter, constantly adjusting direction to avoid unnecessary trouble and danger.

After walking for about an hour and a half, they crossed a ridge.

Lu Qingshan suddenly raised his hand, signaling Zhao Tiezhu to stop.

"Shh…" he lowered his voice, eyes sharp as he fixed on a relatively sparse pine grove ahead.

"There's movement in the woods ahead."

Zhao Tiezhu immediately held his breath, gripped his opening mountain knife tightly, and nervously looked around.

His muscles tensed instinctively, like a bear preparing to pounce.

Mountain Wild Heart clearly detected fresh hoofprints and droppings on the snow less than thirty meters ahead.

A warm, living animal scent rode the breeze, carrying a distinctive musky odor, and the creature was sizable.

"A roe deer, a solitary one." Lu Qingshan lowered his head to inspect, spoke softly, his tone certain.

"Judging by the hoofprints, it shouldn't have gone far."

"Tiezhu, go around from the left, move quietly, and drive it toward me."

"I'll set two snares here."

Zhao Tiezhu nodded firmly, a flicker of excitement and nervousness flashing in his eyes.

He crouched low, like a clever big bear, slipping silently into the nearby thicket.

Lu Qingshan quickly pulled out animal traps and some dry twigs and leaves for camouflage from his back basket.

Using a large tree for cover, he swiftly set them up.

His movements were practiced, his fingers flying over the cold metal, obviously having done this many times.

Not long after, a deliberately lowered shout came from Zhao Tiezhu's side, followed by the sound of branches being violently shaken.

Moments later, a gray‑yellow roe deer with a conspicuous patch of white fur on its head burst out of the woods in a panic!

Startled, it lost its sense of direction, hugging the slope as it sprinted straight toward the traps Lu Qingshan had set!

Lu Qingshan's heart tightened!

His eyes locked onto the approaching roe deer!

Closer!

Even closer!

At the instant the roe deer's front hoof was about to step onto the trap zone!

"Crack!" A sharp, piercing metallic clink suddenly rang out in the silent woods!

Immediately followed by the roe deer's shrill, terrified cry!

Its head plunged deep into the snow pit, struggling desperately.

Got it!

Lu Qingshan lunged forward in a swift stride!

Zhao Tiezhu also came running from the other side, panting, his face filled with incredulous joy.

Working together, they quickly subdued the roe deer whose leg was trapped, incessantly struggling and whining.

Zhao Tiezhu stared at the roe deer on the ground—certainly over a hundred pounds, still twitching—his eyes wide, his face flushed with excitement, unable to speak for a while.

He had grown up doing odd jobs, never having caught a roe deer this big, let alone even touched a rabbit a few times!

This is meat!

Real, substantial meat!

Meat that could be sold for money, to buy medicine for his mother's illness!

"Qing… Qing Shan brother… we… we really… really got it?" His tongue was a bit tied, his voice trembling slightly from excitement, he fumbled helplessly rubbing his frozen bright‑red hands.

Lu Qingshan looked at his simpleminded look, his heart warm too, and laughing he punched him.

"What's wrong? Don't believe it?"

"Could this silly roe deer be fake?"

"Alive and jumping!"

"Carry it back, it'll be plenty for us two to share, and enough for Auntie to have several hearty bowls of meat soup!"

Zhao Tiezhu hehehe smirked, showing a mouthful of white teeth, looking at the roe deer, his eyes full of light.

He seemed already to see his old mother drinking hot meat soup, that comfortable happy look.

The two, using all their strength, bound the roe deer with the thick wooden stick and hemp rope they brought.

Each carrying one end, it was heavy, but their steps were unusually light, humming as they returned from target practice, heading down the mountain.

As they were about to enter the village.

From afar, they saw a familiar figure in a bloated, greasy cotton coat, standing under the old poplar at the village entrance.

That person craned his neck, looking over with beady eyes—it was Qian Guapu.

Truly, enemies meet on a narrow road.

"Yo, isn't this our great hunter Lu? Yo, and Brother Tiezhu!" Qian Guapu saw them from afar carrying the heavy game, immediately put on a fake smile, her voice sharp and sarcastic with a sour tone, carrying over from a distance.

"What kind of dog‑shit luck is this? You actually caught a big one!"

"Tsk tsk, this roe deer, really fat!"

Her triangular eyes seemed glued to the roe deer, scanning greedily, almost drooling, as if she wanted to pounce and bite it right away.

Lu Qingshan felt a wave of annoyance.

This Qian Guapu, really stirs trouble wherever she goes, buzzing like a fly.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his displeasure, ignored her, and gestured for Zhao Tiezhu to go around her directly.

But Qian Guapu wouldn't let up, twisting her fat body, deliberately blocking their path.

She spoke in a weird tone to Zhao Tiezhu: "Tiezhu, sister‑in‑law advises you: don't let him fool you!"

"You don't know what kind of character he used to have?"

"Lazy, gluttonous, loafing around—who knows if this roe deer was stolen or picked up?"

"Watch out—he'll hog the meat later, leaving you with nothing, working for him for free."

These words were vicious and nasty.

Lu Qingshan's brows furrowed tighter, a surge of anger rose in his heart.

"This shrew, really has a sharp tongue!"

He was about to retort, to give her a good scolding.

But he didn't expect that the honest, simple‑spoken Zhao Tiezhu would actually speak first.

"Sister‑in‑law, what you're saying is wrong!" Zhao Tiezhu scratched his head honestly, speaking in a deep, muffled voice, loud, with an uncommon seriousness and firmness.

"Qing Shan brother is no longer the former Lu Qingshan!"

"He's been good to us! Yesterday he helped split firewood, today he even sent meat to my mother!"

"He said we'd split the game seven‑three, he definitely won't cheat us!"

"Qing Shan brother is a man of his word!"

After saying that, he turned his head, grinned wide, showing a mouthful of white teeth.

He looked at Lu Qingshan, his eyes full of unreserved trust and gratitude.

"Qing Shan brother, you say, right?"

Lu Qingshan looked at Zhao Tiezhu's pure trusting gaze, a warm current rose in his heart, also feeling moved.

He knew Zhao Tiezhu wasn't very bright, but he was extremely loyal and righteous.

As long as he acknowledges you, he will give his heart and soul, holding nothing back.

He nodded firmly, smiling, and slapped Zhao Tiezhu's shoulder hard, voice booming: "No doubt! Tiezhu is my brother, I Lu Qingshan keep my word! This roe deer will be split when we get back—no one dare try to sow discord!"

"Well, Madame Qian sure likes to meddle—just past noon, where are you headed to rest?"

Qian Guapu's face, smeared with cheap cold cream, flushed then paled, like a dye shop.

Zhao Tiezhu's few hard‑spoken truths hurt more than a slap to her face.

Especially Lu Qingshan's last line, like a red‑hot iron prod, viciously stabbing her heart.

"Lu Lazi, it's just your shameless mouth—don't you accumulate any virtue!"

She watched the two figures, one big one small, carrying that plump roe deer that dazzled the eyes, their backs straight, they bypassed her and headed into the village without looking back.

That silhouette—no trace remains of the former weakling.

A surge of angry fire mixed with intense jealousy churned in her chest, making her face almost twist.

She trembled with anger, spat a thick glob of phlegm onto the dirty snow on the ground.

"Pah!"

"What arrogance! Dog‑shit luck stuff! See how long you can stay smug!"

"Even your wife and kids can't control you—when you get home you'll get what's coming, hum…"

Lu Qingshan naturally ignored Qian Guapu's sour remarks behind him.

All he thought about now was how to turn this roe deer into real food and money.

At the corner of his mouth, he couldn't help but twitch slightly, a hint of coldness he himself didn't notice.

"Smug?"

"We've barely begun."

The good show is still to come.

He, Lu Qingshan, will lead his brothers with these hands, relying on the Mountain Wild Heart, to live honorably on this black land!

Let those who look down on him, mock him, and bully him open their eyes wide and take a good look!

This is just the beginning.

A ten‑thousand‑mile journey, only the first step.

The most urgent thing now is to quickly deal with this roe deer.

Part of the meat must be sold quickly, exchanged for grain, to fill the family's bellies.

Another part is to be kept to nourish the family, and some must be sent to Tie Zhu's family so that her mother can also taste meat.

Right, we also need to stay alert.

Ma Liu's mad dog, after suffering a loss today, will surely not let it go.

Who knows what nasty scheme he's cooking up again.

We must stay on guard.