novelaction Chapter 117 Return
Chapter 117 Return
Li Xiangyang moved his body. Although the wound was still throbbing, it was no longer as unbearable as it had been the night before.
He glanced at the sleeping Wang Ergou and tiptoed to the cave entrance.
The snow outside had stopped, and sunlight shone through the clouds onto the thick snow, refracting golden light.
Li Xiangyang took a deep breath, and the cold air invigorated him.
"I need to make a trailer as soon as possible," Li Xiangyang thought to himself.
He picked up his machete, walked around the cave, and found a few suitable saplings.
The branches aren't particularly thick, but they are sturdy.
Li Xiangyang wielded his machete, the sound of which chopped wood was exceptionally crisp in the silent mountain forest.
In order not to wake Wang Ergou, he deliberately walked to a distance before starting his work.
As he chopped down the tree, he kept an eye on his surroundings.
Although the gunshots last night had scared away the wild animals in the vicinity, it's still best to be cautious in these deep mountains and forests.
After cutting enough branches, Li Xiangyang dragged it back and began weaving a trailer.
He had done this job many times in his previous life, and he knew the techniques by heart.
Soon, a simple but sturdy trailer was completed.
"With this, plus the thick snow, things should be much easier." Li Xiangyang looked at his masterpiece with satisfaction.
At this moment, Wang Ergou woke up.
"Xiangyang?" Wang Ergou rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You've been on guard all night, a little more sleep won't hurt," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "Come on, load the snow leopard onto the trailer, we should head back."
Wang Ergou then realized that it was already noon outside, and the sun was shining brightly.
He quickly got up and helped Li Xiangyang pack his things.
The two men worked together to place the snow leopard on the trailer and secure it with ropes.
"This trailer is really well made," Wang Ergou couldn't help but exclaim.
“It’s all experience,” Li Xiangyang replied casually. “Let’s eat a couple of bites quickly, and head back while the weather’s still nice. You pull from the front, and I’ll push from behind; with this thick snow as lubricant, it won’t be too difficult.”
After getting ready, the two ate a quick bite, Li Xiangyang returned the clothes to Wang Ergou, reluctantly tore open the sleeping bag, put it on, and then began their journey home.
Along the way, Wang Ergou walked and stopped frequently, occasionally looking back to check on Li Xiangyang's situation.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Li Xiangyang found it amusing. "This little injury won't kill me."
"But......"
“Alright,” Li Xiangyang interrupted him, “if you really want to help, tell me what you saw while on watch last night.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Ergou immediately perked up and began to recount the story vividly: "In the latter half of the night, several wolves howled in the distance, but I ignored them; they certainly didn't dare to come closer..."
The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had walked quite a distance.
Taking advantage of the conversation, Li Xiangyang secretly observed Wang Ergou.
After last night's battle, this kid is a completely different person; his eyes have become much more determined.
It seems this trip wasn't in vain; not only did we hunt down a snow leopard, but we also gained a great partner. Li Xiangyang thought to himself.
Under the sunlight, the two figures dragging the snow leopard gradually disappeared into the snow-covered forest, leaving only a long trail.
As dusk fell, the two dragged the snow leopard to a sheltered mountain hollow.
"Ergou, it's right here." Li Xiangyang put down the tractor and rubbed his sore shoulders.
Although his injuries hadn't reopened after a day of exercise, they were hurting even more.
Wang Ergou quickly put down the rope he was holding and helped Li Xiangyang find a flat place to sit down.
"How much further?" Wang Ergou asked.
"At this rate, I should be home by noon tomorrow." Li Xiangyang looked around.
We chose this place to spend the night because it's sheltered from the wind and because there's a natural stone cave here. Although it's not as deep as the one we had last night, it's still a nice place.
"Then let's hurry up and start a fire," Wang Ergou said, heading to gather firewood.
"Wait a minute," Li Xiangyang called out to him, pointing to the snow-covered area not far away. "Look over there."
By the moonlight, Wang Ergou looked in the direction Li Xiangyang was pointing and saw several shallow paw prints on a patch of snow.
"A wolf?" Wang Ergou instinctively gripped his gun tighter.
Li Xiangyang nodded: "The wolf pack has been following us; they must have come because of the smell of blood."
"That......"
"It's alright, they won't dare come if there's fire. The fact that they didn't attack us yesterday means they've seen guns," Li Xiangyang reassured them. "Go gather some firewood, I'll move the snow leopard into the cave."
Soon, a bonfire was lit in front of the cave.
The firelight cast long shadows on the snow.
"How much do you think this snow leopard is worth?" Wang Ergou asked, warming himself by the fire.
Li Xiangyang laughed: "Money is secondary; the main thing is that it built our reputation."
He knew that in this day and age, snow leopard pelts could indeed fetch a good price.
But more important than money is reputation in the hunting business.
"That's true. This is a real achievement. From now on, every hunter in the surrounding villages will look at us brothers with more respect. Even when we go to the forest farm, we can speak with more confidence..."
As the night deepened, the cold wind howled.
The two men leaned against the fire, taking turns keeping watch.
Occasionally, a few wolf howls could be heard in the distance, but the firelight and gunfire deterred the wolf pack from approaching.
The two set off early the next morning, before dawn.
As the sun began to set, dappled sunlight filtered through the cedar forest and fell on the thick snow.
Smoke can already be seen coming from the village entrance.
In the distance, a figure carrying a bottle of liquor was walking along the ridge of the field, seemingly returning home after visiting neighbors.
"Isn't this Uncle Zhang?" Wang Ergou squinted and recognized the man.
"This..." Uncle Zhang turned his head, nearly dropping the wine bottle. "My God, is that a snow leopard?"
He strode over, his eyes wide with surprise: "Wow, that's huge!"
Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou stopped to catch their breath, and at that moment Uncle Zhang began to greet passersby.
"Old Liu, Old Wang, come quick!"
Within a few minutes, more than a dozen people had gathered around.
People gathered in small groups, including aunties visiting each other's homes and a few old men carrying firewood, all of whom were drawn to the scene.
"It really is a snow leopard!"
"it's beautiful!"
"Ergou, did you really do this?"
Wang Ergou straightened his back, his eyes filled with pride: "That's right, of course, it mainly depends on the sunlight."
"Incredible!" Uncle Zhang exclaimed, examining the snow leopard. "For so many years, I've only ever heard of Old Zheng hunting one. Now you two have really made something of yourselves, giving our village chief a lot of face."
Along the way, the news spread farther and farther.
By the time they arrived at the Wang family's courtyard, it was completely dark.
"Ergou is back?" Wangmu's voice came from the kitchen.
"Mom, come out and see!" Wang Ergou shouted excitedly.
When the Queen Mother lifted the curtain and saw the scene in the courtyard, she dropped the spoon in her hand.
Not only the snow leopard, but what horrified her even more was the bloodstains faintly visible inside Li Xiangyang's underwear, which was draped in a sleeping bag.
"This, this is..."
"Don't worry, Auntie," Li Xiangyang quickly explained, "They're just superficial wounds, they've already been treated."