Chapter 914: Greedy: A tiger-hunting expert!

This tiger didn't know if it wanted to eat cattle and sheep or if it wanted revenge, but it had been lingering nearby throughout the entire autumn until the first snow of early winter. It was just that the dogs at Halimu and Yushanjiang's homes, as well as they themselves, were very vigilant, so for such a long time, this tiger hadn't been able to eat a single sheep.

Today was an exception. It snowed, and the grass in the summer pasture was covered by snow, making it difficult for the cattle and sheep to eat. Halimu went to Yushanjiang's place to discuss transhumance. When he returned, he heard the dogs barking. Halimu knew something was wrong and hurriedly ran over. This Northern Tianshan tiger wasn't as large as a Siberian tiger. At this moment, it was dragging a sheep into the mountains. Halimu's wife was shouting at the yurt, but she didn't dare to chase far.

Halimu fired from afar, but found that the tiger still wouldn't abandon the sheep it had bitten to death and was still dragging it into the mountains, its movements seeming somewhat inconvenient. He guessed that this tiger should be injured, and immediately had the idea of killing it.

Chasing into the mountain gully, he couldn't ride the horse anymore. After Halimu dismounted, he chased into the gully, gripping the gun in his hand tightly. This tiger was scared to death upon hearing the gunshot, most likely because it had been shot by Yushanjiang before, which was why it had this reaction.

"Bang!" Watching the tiger trying to drag the sheep into a stone forest, Halimu hurriedly aimed and fired. This shot hit a stone less than five meters away from the tiger, and the splashing stones gave the tiger a fright. It even dropped the sheep in its mouth, darted into the stone cluster, and continued running into the mountains.

Halimu hurriedly fired another shot inside, but unfortunately, he could no longer see the full view of the tiger.

So he continued running into the mountains.

Yushanjiang also heard the gunshot. On the open snowy ground, the gunshot could travel very far. Upon hearing it, he immediately took the gun down from the wall of the yurt, pulled the bolt to chamber a round, and ran out. Living in the inner mountains, the gun was filled with bullets all year round, just not chambered usually.

Sometimes it was even chambered, just with the safety on.

When Yushanjiang rushed to the mountain ridge, he saw Halimu running horizontally below. Following the direction Halimu was chasing, he saw the tiger that had already darted out of the stone forest.

This tiger looked exactly like the one he had injured before; could it be that one?

Anyway, Yushanjiang felt the tiger was just like that.

Larger than a wolf, but not much larger. After all, the Northern Tianshan tiger didn't have as large a body as the Siberian tiger, and in Southern Tianshan, it was often chased by old hunters in the desert and Gobi.

The tiger had already darted out of the stone forest, and Halimu hadn't reached the stone forest yet. Separated by a patch of stones, Halimu couldn't see the tiger's trail, but Yushanjiang could see it clearly. He ran along the ridge for a distance, found a suitable distance, aimed the gun, and fired a "bang" at the tiger.

The tiger was startled and darted toward the higher mountains. This stretch of mountains was very high, with snow on the top all year round. Now it was winter, and the snow on the mountainside was even thicker.

The tiger, however, desperately climbed diagonally upward, seeming to feel that it would be safe if it climbed to the mountainside and entered a stone crevice.

At this time, Halimu saw Yushanjiang and also climbed to the position of the stone forest. Through the gaps in the stones, he saw the tiger climbing the mountain horizontally, and he raised his gun again.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

He couldn't catch up; the tiger's speed climbing the mountain was much faster than his. At a distance of over a hundred meters, he could only think about firing all the bullets in the gun to see if he could injure or kill the tiger.

Halimu guessed that he only had this one chance. He and Yushanjiang had agreed to go down the mountain in two days. Today he had to notify others in the tribe to pack their things; there was no time to hunt anymore.

Yushanjiang also fired in that direction, just as a send-off for the tiger.

The gunshots suddenly became dense, the sound echoing in the valley. The tiger was even more afraid, desperately climbing upward, and then it felt the snow under its feet start to slide.

Halimu was the first to discover that something was wrong, and he shouted:

"Avalanche!"

Then he desperately ran toward Yushanjiang's direction—only by running to the mountain ridge could he possibly be safe!

That tiger also felt the danger and desperately wanted to run onto the snow, but the snow slid down layer by layer. When it reacted and wanted to run horizontally or downward to escape, the snow above had already swept down, raising snow dust several meters high, submerging the tiger inside.

Halimu, who had already run to the mountain ridge, looked panting at that patch of snow mist. This avalanche itself wasn't large, and the snow on the mountain wasn't very thick at this time, but it was enough to bury the tiger—however, he could still see the tiger struggling in the snow mist at this moment. That position was already far below their feet. The avalanche range was small, and it couldn't affect them at this time.

He and Yushanjiang both held their guns, looking at that patch of churning snow mist, thinking that if the tiger could dart out, they might have to fire another shot.

Although the range of the avalanche was small, it was the size of half a football field. The snow rolled down, carrying stones, mud, sand, and ice, sliding for over two hundred meters, and finally piled up in the mountain gully, stopping after being blocked by some shrubs, and finally piling into a large snow mound.

The snow mist calmed down, and that tiger was nowhere to be seen.

Halimu and Yushanjiang looked at each other, and Halimu spoke first:

"I didn't see that tiger dart out."

"I didn't see it either; it should have been buried by the snow."

"Let's go down and take a look." Halimu was quite excited, thinking about getting a tiger without having to fire a shot.

"Wait a bit longer." Yushanjiang shook his head. "Wild animals are very cunning! Wait a bit to see if it will come out from the snow. It's best to let it freeze for two hours; then it will be dead no matter what."

"I'm afraid it won't be able to be dug out after freezing for two hours." Halimu shook his head. "The area is too large. If it's alive now, it can still move in the snow and can be found... Let's go; we won't go up, just watch from the side. We have guns, what are we afraid of?"

"Load the bullets first and wait a bit longer to see if there will be another avalanche. If not, then go down," Yushanjiang was still cautious and said.

Halimu only then reacted that the bullets in the gun had just been fired and needed to be reloaded.

Otherwise, if that tiger really darted out from the snow in a while, and he used the gun as a stick, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to beat it.

After loading the bullets, the two waited for over ten minutes, watching that there were no traces of snow falling from the mountain—actually, it seemed now that the snow that was easy to fall had already rolled down just now, and the mountain now revealed stone walls, looking like a large bald patch.

The two walked toward the place of the avalanche with their guns. Only when they got close did they realize that while it seemed the avalanche range wasn't large from the mountain, it was actually quite large in reality.

The two looked at each other again, thinking that if they were to dig that tiger out from such a large patch of snow, it would be a huge project; they couldn't do it.

After all, they didn't know where the tiger was finally buried—fortunately, the two had been watching just now, and they could roughly guess which area the tiger's figure finally disappeared into in the snow mist.

So they walked there together.

In the place after the avalanche, the snow was still relatively loose, and they would sink in after stepping on it. Although it wasn't deep, it was quite troublesome.

This snow was also relatively dirty, containing many grass scraps, dirty soil, and dust. Yushanjiang and Halimu didn't walk fast, and they didn't go to look at the places with deep snow, just observing the positions of those mounds.

Just as they approached the back of the avalanche, suddenly, something was arching under the snow, and the snow was directly arched into a mound. Halimu immediately aimed and fired!

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Yushanjiang also reacted and fired two shots at that position.

The gunshots echoed in the valley. Halimu looked toward the mountain belatedly and found that no snow had fallen, which made him feel slightly relieved.

After the gunshots rang out, the arched place stopped moving.

Yushanjiang also thought of the same problem as Halimu, and then he also looked around, which was fine.

If it were two months later, the avalanche wouldn't be over in just a few minutes like this.

A tiger is a tiger after all; even if it's small, it's still a tiger. Halimu said to Yushanjiang:

"I'll fire two more shots, and then clear the snow."

"Okay." Yushanjiang agreed. "You fire, I'll clear the snow."

"I'll do it; there must be someone on guard." Halimu thought that he had to dig this tiger out himself, so it would be easy to tell Li Long later and exchange it for a tractor.

Yushanjiang didn't say anything more. After all, Halimu discovered this tiger first, and it was he who fired the shot to force this tiger under the snowy mountain, causing the avalanche. He himself could only be considered an assistant at most.

After firing two more shots, there was no movement under the snow. Halimu put the gun aside, looked at Yushanjiang, and started digging the snow.

Yushanjiang changed his position, aiming his gun under the snow. As long as there was a reaction below, he would fire immediately—without hurting Halimu.

Fortunately, there were no accidents. The tiger was hit by stones in the snow during the avalanche and was almost suffocated under the snow just now. The movement of the two walking woke it up, and it wanted to desperately arch out, but before it could arch out, it was shot dead.

The tiger was about half a meter under the snow, with blood on its body, but the gunshot wound was only secondary; the main injuries were from the impact of stones and ice during the avalanche.

Halimu painstakingly dug the tiger out; this fellow was already out of breath. The two arches just now were its final struggle, and there was only one gunshot wound on its body.

"Fortunately, it's quite big. It looks like many of its bones are broken." Yushanjiang commented. "Take it back to Li Long; he will definitely be very happy."

This tiger wasn't particularly heavy, and its body wasn't stiff yet. Halimu and Yushanjiang each grabbed a leg and dragged it along the snowy mountain back, all the way until they left this gully and returned to the position where Halimu's horse was. The horse was quite scared; this smell wasn't friendly to it.

That sheep bitten to death by the tiger was also brought out and placed on Halimu's horse's back. The mutton couldn't be eaten, but the sheepskin could still be kept.

Halimu took the rope off the horse's back, tied it to the tiger, said goodbye to Yushanjiang, and then rode the horse, dragging the tiger back to the yurt.

This horse didn't even need the whip; it ran fast on its own, and the dogs at the entrance of the yurt's sheep pen immediately tucked their tails and ran far away after smelling this scent.

Although they had already smelled the bloody scent and saw a dead tiger, the dogs still didn't want to get close.

Halimu tied the horse well, said a word to his wife, and prepared to skin it.

Li Long had told him that the tiger's whole body was a treasure. Although it was winter, he didn't plan to take the whole tiger back; it still needed to be skinned and processed, so it would be easier to carry after processing.

Two days later, this tiger had already been turned into skin, meat, and bones, wrapped up in several parts, its scent contained, so that it wouldn't cause trouble during transhumance.

The herdsmen drove the cattle and sheep, and things like the yurt were carried by several horses, walking back along the road.

Talihar was talking to his family about the tractor. If the tractor could be driven to the summer pasture, the annual transhumance would become much easier, at least it would be much more convenient when bringing so many things back.

He had his own tractor, so he was very happy, thinking that he could drive the tractor to transport supplies when he got back, and his mood became somewhat urgent.

Actually, Halimu's mood was also quite urgent. He was thinking about what reaction Li Long would have if he saw the tiger he brought back.

As for how much money this tiger was worth, he didn't calculate. Adding other things, it should be enough for a tractor, right? He was thinking at this time, should he buy the tractor first and then go see his mother and children, or go see his family first and then buy the tractor?

At this time, the snow was thin, and the speed of going down the mountain was fast, arriving at the winter lair one day earlier than usual.

The herdsmen closest to the inner mountains arrived first and started to settle things. Halimu's position was at the very outside, so naturally, he arrived last.

Yushanjiang drove the cattle and sheep to turn toward his winter lair, and in the end, only Halimu's family was left. Before parting, Yushanjiang also told Halimu that after he settled down, he would come to find Halimu, and then go outside to find Li Long to drive his tractor back.

Anyway, he had already told the livestock team that the tractor was Li Long's. Even if they discovered it, at worst, he would just say he borrowed it to use.

Halimu agreed. At this time, he was also a bit tired. He and his wife drove the cattle and sheep hurriedly toward their winter lair, thinking that when they got back, they still had to clear the snow in the sheep pen, feed the cattle and sheep after driving them in, sweep away the snow in front of the winter lair, settle the bedding, and burn the fire... there were still many things to do.

Although tired, these were things that had to be done.

The cattle, sheep, and dogs in front started barking. After turning another corner, he could see his own winter pasture and winter lair, and Halimu also became a bit excited.

Despite being tired, he was about to arrive home.

Then, he saw a faint column of smoke rising in the winter lair and that brand-new tractor in front of the winter lair.

And that very familiar military green jeep.

The snow in front of the winter lair had been cleared, and there was no snow in the sheep pen. Several bundles of grass were inside the sheep pen, not yet opened, obviously waiting for the cattle and sheep to enter the pen before being dismantled and scattered for the cattle and sheep to eat.

Halimu suddenly felt a warm current surging in his heart—Li Long had come over.

Not only did he come over, but he also set up the stove, cleared the snow, tidied up the sheep pen, and even drove over a new tractor!

Halimu didn't doubt at all that this tractor was for him!

He used the whip he was using and drove the horse flying toward the winter lair.

Halimu's wife also saw the situation in front of the winter lair, and she smiled.

Actually, not only Halimu, Yushanjiang's winter lair was about the same, just that there was fire in the stove, but no one was there.

The snow was also cleared. This was what Li Long and Tao Daqiang had done over the past two days. Of course, now there was only Li Long in Halimu's winter lair. He carried a gun, and after finishing these things, he waited here at Halimu's winter lair.

When Yushanjiang and the others were harvesting grass in autumn, they said that they had harvested a lot of grass this year, so they would return from transhumance earlier. After the first snow fell, Li Long guessed that Halimu and the others should be back, so he went into the mountains to wait.

Of course, there was also the intention of being idle in the county and wanting to go into the mountains to see if he could hunt some game.

But he didn't hunt anything. The snow had only fallen once, and at this time, the grass and shrubs in the mountains hadn't been covered yet. Those red deer and roe deer still had things to eat, so they wouldn't run out of their habitats for a while.

Because he couldn't come every day, although he had seen several places arched by wild boars, he couldn't hunt anything.

Hearing the dogs barking outside, Li Long walked out and saw the cattle, sheep, and Halimu riding over on a horse. A smile appeared on Li Long's face.

"Jakes ma? Dorsen?" Li Long greeted Halimu, who was running over wildly.

"Jakes, Li Long, doing well, doing well..." Halimu was a bit excited. He dismounted, the whip's loop on his wrist, came over, and hugged Li Long fiercely. After letting go, he punched Li Long's arm again:

"Thank you!"

Although Li Long only cleared the snow and cleaned the pen for him, he had truly saved him a lot of trouble. Now, when the cattle and sheep enter the pen, there is food, and when people enter the house, the house is warm, and a bowl of hot tea is enough to dissipate most of the fatigue. This was already very good!

Yushanjiang at this moment was also thinking the same. There was grass in the sheep pen, fire in the stove in the house, and a pot on the stove with hot water. Although his wife wasn't there, what else could he ask for?

"This is the tractor I brought for you." Li Long pointed to the tractor and smiled: "After settling down, you can drive this tractor to see your family. By the way, I prepared some daily supplies for you in the house, brick tea, salt, rice, flour, etc., and also potatoes, onions, chili peppers, etc. When they come over, they can also take some away..."

Halimu thought it was indeed so; this tractor was really bought for him by Li Long!

"Li Long, I also brought you a gift," Halimu said eagerly, "you couldn't possibly have thought of it!"

"Couldn't possibly have thought of it?" Li Long was a bit surprised, joking, "You couldn't have hunted another tiger, could you? Tigers in these mountains aren't that easy to hunt. Is it a snow leopard or a brown bear..."

"A tiger, a tiger!" Halimu said proudly, "A Northern Tianshan tiger, just killed!"

"What?" Li Long was stunned for a moment, "Really a tiger? You're too amazing, aren't you? How many tigers are there in these mountains in total, and you hunted two by yourself! If it were in ancient times, you would be a tiger-hunting hero! Even now, you are a tiger-hunting expert, amazing, amazing!"

Ever since Halimu hunted a tiger, Li Long actually had such a dream, even thinking about taking time to go to the summer pasture.

But he only had the dream; he didn't expect Halimu to have actually hunted another tiger! (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 915 =====