Chapter 491: Fired a Shot and Hit Someone

Xiang Donglai, while speaking, pulled a gun from his waist and handed it to Su Yang: "Director Su, use my gun. Although controls aren't that strict now, each gun has a serial number; if anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."

Su Yang took the gun and weighed it; it was a bit heavier than he imagined, but holding it gave him a very special feeling, and he couldn't wait to find a target and fire a few shots.

Xiang Donglai originally wanted to tell Su Yang how to use the gun, but seeing Su Yang's eager expression, he simply said nothing.

Anyway, he had brought several dozen rounds today; after firing a few more shots, he'd know how to use it—no amount of theoretical instruction beats gaining experience through actual practice.

Xiang Donglai was fairly familiar with this mountain and quickly led Su Yang to an area with denser vegetation and more wildlife.

Just as they arrived here, Gao Haisheng also came up panting, having gone around from the side, and his position was now above Su Yang and the others.

Although the mountain's vegetation was very dense, the walkable areas still offered relatively open visibility. Knowing Su Yang's location in advance, he had earlier brought a stone from nearby, crouched at the base of a thick tree, and fixed his gaze on Su Yang's direction. If Su Yang moved, he would follow.

Normally he lacked stamina, but just thinking about crippling Su Yang made even hauling a twenty‑jin stone back and forth feel effortless.

Almost simultaneously, Old Man Wang also arrived opposite Su Yang's group. He searched carefully for any traps or animal snares he might have set earlier, while also scanning the area for hares and such, as Bai Yutang had said—since a visit from the leader was no small matter, he wanted to procure something fresh.

At that moment, Xiang Donglai and Su Yang had already spotted a hare fifty to sixty meters ahead; Xiang Donglai gestured to Su Yang, indicating he should fire.

Su Yang raised the pistol, aimed, and fired—only a bang was heard; the rabbit wasn't hit, but startled, it vanished in a blink, while the gun's recoil numbed their tiger mouths.

He had indeed somewhat underestimated the pistol's recoil; although he had aimed well earlier, at the instant he pulled the trigger he failed to keep the muzzle down, it jerked upward, and he had no idea where the bullet went.

Seeing Su Yang's shot miss and merely scare the rabbit away, Xiang Donglai resumed searching for a target. After all, for a novice to hit is luck; missing is normal.

He found several more targets in succession, but Su Yang fired several shots and still hit none. Finally, resigned, Xiang Donglai prepared to take matters into his own hands.

But just then he suddenly heard a whooshing sound from above; looking up, he saw a stone rolling down from overhead, heading straight for Su Yang. He grabbed Su Yang and rolled aside, thereby narrowly avoiding the stone.

At that point Su Yang finally realized what was happening: "How could there be a stone overhead? I didn't notice any loose stones along the way up—how could one suddenly roll down? And stones should be down below, not up here."

Xiang Donglai was also puzzled, but he quickly figured: "Could someone up there be deliberately causing trouble? Otherwise this couldn't happen; I've been here many times." After saying that, he swiftly climbed up.

If it was human‑caused, he would certainly apprehend the person; if it was really an undiscovered stone on the mountain that naturally rolled down, then there must be wild animals like goats up there, and he happened to be going up to hunt them.

Su Yang stared blankly; although some possibilities crossed his mind, he still, as before, didn't dwell on them.

Even if he could imagine that the rural folk lacked organization and discipline, and even if they held grudges against him, they would only do petty things behind the scenes—like stirring up the common folk or tripping him at work. But in his view, even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare plot his death here.

But his perception is his perception, whereas human wickedness forever exceeds his expectations.

Xiang Donglai climbed up quickly; Gao Haisheng had originally wanted to check whether the stone had hit Su Yang, and if not, find something else to throw down. But as soon as he poked his head out, he saw a figure beginning to climb up—he knew it must be Xiang Donglai—and hurriedly ran off elsewhere.

Although he had just drunk some alcohol and his mind was a little dull, he also realized that if Xiang Donglai discovered it was him up there, he would surely guess it was he who had rolled the stone.

If Su Yang found out about this, it could be big or small; at worst he might lose his ranger job. Anger is anger, revenge is revenge, but no matter what, he couldn't afford to lose his livelihood.

But someone like him, his body already drained by drink and lust, was no match for the agile Xiang Donglai; he hadn't run far before Xiang Donglai caught up.

"Stop, or I'll shoot!"

Xiang Donglai saw a figure ahead, couldn't tell who it was at a glance, so he raised his gun and shouted.

But Gao Haisheng dared not stop; he kept running forward. He thought Xiang Donglai wouldn't actually shoot—if he just crossed the ridge ahead and ducked into the thick woods, Xiang Donglai might not find him.

By then, if he could shake off Xiang Donglai and get down the mountain, the earlier incident could be blamed on a six‑two‑five, and no one would be able to pin it on him. Even if suspected, without evidence, as long as he refused to admit it, it would be fine.

Sure enough, seeing that his threat had no effect, Xiang Donglai fired a shot into the sky and kept charging forward.

Although Gao Haisheng knew the shot certainly wasn't aimed at him, he still couldn't help but shudder inside; his foot slipped, and he tumbled down rolling.

At that moment, Old Man Wang also heard the gunshot, but knowing Xiang Donglai had brought a gun up, he paid it no mind and continued searching everywhere for traps, snares, and game. Coincidentally, the hare that Su Yang's shot had frightened ran into his field of view.

Seeing that plump, large hare, Old Man Wang without hesitation raised his earthen gun; but just as he was about to fire, a round object suddenly rolled down from above and struck where the hare stood.

Only a bang was heard—the round object let out a miserable cry, yet even so it could not stop its downward momentum.

Old Man Wang immediately realized things were bad, threw away his rear hunting gun, and chased after it at top speed.

Having witnessed all this from above, Xiang Donglai's face changed dramatically; he nearly ran down three steps at a time. If this actually resulted in a casualty, it would be impossible to clarify later—especially since he had come out with Su Yang—and he absolutely could not let this affect Su Yang.