Chapter 3: The Hunt

```

Snowflakes fell silently to the ground, a gentle rustling sound emanating from the forest.

Shen Qing looked up, and the distant Shicheng Mountain under the twilight was nothing but a hazy silhouette.

He gathered his thoughts, expressionless as he pulled out the arrows stuck in the wooden stake and collected them into the arrow quiver hanging at his waist.

Turning away from the bamboo forest in the wind and snow, he left.

Returning home, his elder sister Shen Fang had already lain down in bed.

In such times, if villagers had no pressing matters, they usually went to bed as soon as it got dark.

Shen Qing removed the bow and arrows from his body, leaning them against the wall, and grabbed a handful of straw to cover the three window holes made of broken urns in the wall.

Then, he took off his coat and lay directly at the other end of Shen Fang's bed.

Many families in this village couldn't afford to build new houses; even after getting married, they would share a bed with their parents.

Poor families didn't have so many customs.

Not to mention that Shen Qing and his sister had slept together since childhood and were already accustomed to it.

The quilt at home was filled with hemp and cotton, not very effective in keeping warm.

When Shen Qing crawled into bed, he felt waves of warmth.

The bed had already been warmed by Shen Fang.

Shen Qing lay flat on the bed, his hands behind his head, staring at the ink-like text in his sight.

These hunters lived off the mountain and water, relying on hunting, selling furs, gathering herbs, and cutting firewood as their regular means of living.

But if he wanted to change his circumstances quickly, this wouldn't do.

He needed to hunt something big.

Preferably some mountain delicacy.

Such things were excellent for tempering the body and could invigorate Qi and Blood if eaten.

The martial masters in town eagerly sought them out.

It's said that certain mountain delicacies could save months of hard work and were worth thousands of Qian.

These were the things that mountain drivers dreamed of.

Before, he dared not even think of these things, but now, with his continuously improving bow technique, he might have a chance to try in the future.

"Tomorrow, I'll go out in the mountains again, first solve the problem of feeding myself, then talk to Uncle and them about the mystery of mountain delicacies, see if I can get lucky later."

"No one gets rich without a windfall, and horses don't get fat without night grass; just capturing some birds and beasts won't make money."

Winter was the time for hunting; there were no taboos.

Come spring, when the official bans hunting,

Hunters like them could only catch some birds and waterfowl.

Even if they secretly went up the mountain, the animals there would be low in energy after a winter, the quality of the hunted goods was not good, and they couldn't sell well.

Their daily harvests were sure to be greatly reduced, so they could only hope for a good life expecting this time.

He definitely couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

After thinking it through, Shen Qing's eyes glinted, and the panel in his sight retracted like a scroll. He then turned over and slept.

In Hongshan Village, winter generally didn't bring light until the fifth watch.

Shen Qing timed his biological clock, waking precisely on the dot.

He turned over at the bed, near a large urn hole, pulled out the straw stuffed inside, and glanced outside.

The snow hadn't stopped in the mountains, but it had lessened significantly.

Judging by this, it would probably stop in a few days.

Shen Qing crawled out of the warm bed, a sudden chill jolting him awake.

He casually grabbed a "yun" garment from the wall and wore it, walked outside, and scooped up some snow to wipe his face as a makeshift wash.

"Today, I can go around the woods at the back of the mountain, shouldn't come back empty-handed."

Shen Qing silently planned the tasks for the day, interrupted by Shen Fang's call from behind: "Qingzi, come have some porridge."

"Coming."

Thanks to the hunting crossbow his uncle brought last night, they had a bit of meat in the morning.

Early in the morning, Shen Fang tore off a part from the hunting crossbow and scooped some grains from the bottom of the rice jar to cook a bowl of meat porridge.

The aroma of the meat wafted over from the clear water from afar.

Shen Qing took the bowl handed by Shen Fang, blowing on it as he drank.

The warm porridge flowed down his throat into his stomach, making him feel as though he was in a hot spring, his whole body comfortable.

After drinking two large bowls and chewing a few slices of meat, Shen Qing put down the bowl and said: "Sister, you have some too."

Shen Fang smiled and said: "I already drank some before you woke up."

Shen Qing knew Shen Fang's stubbornness and didn't expose her thoughts; after finishing, he smacked his lips and said: "I'm heading out now, let's eat meat together tonight."

Shen Fang, worried, said: "Be cautious in the mountains, it's alright if you don't catch any game; I could go find Chen Yuan."

Shen Qing took the bow and arrows from the wall and hung them on himself: "Chen Yuan and the others are no good people. Sis, stay home and don't run around. Wait until I get back before making any decisions."

"I understand." Elder sister Shen Fang nodded.

"I'm leaving now."

"Wait a moment." Shen Fang tore off a large piece of jerky from the wall and stuffed it into Shen Qing's belongings, advising: "Take it slow on the road, and don't try to be brave against black bears or tigers."

Shen Qing tucked the jerky into his belongings and said: "I'll be fine, I won't take reckless risks. Sis, just wait for me at home."

With that, he turned and walked out the door.

Elder sister Shen Fang stood at the doorway, watching Shen Qing's figure gradually fade into the snowy distance.

The cold day coupled with Shen Qing's early departure meant he didn't run into any villagers along the way.

Shen Qing tucked his hands within his sleeves, sighing in his heart: "On such a cold day, those with some skill hole up at home, with no lack of meat to eat."

"Even those like my cousin's family have uncles to rely on, with a chance of learning martial arts in the town."

"Only people like me without support would climb early into the mountains, solely relying on oneself."

"Without some ability, only freezing awaits us."

"What a damn place!"

Shen Qing glanced up at the sky, tightened his hunting bow, and followed the small path often taken by the village hunters, heading straight to the back mountain.

...

Following the route from memory, Shen Qing found the bark he had marked a few days ago.

Whenever hunters went into the mountains, they would cut a section of bark, about two feet long, from a tree in their marked area, roll it into a scroll, and wedge it into the trees along the path as they entered the forest.

Hunters coming after would see the rolled bark and know it was someone else's territory and not to venture in, to avoid accidental injuries.

Shen Qing picked up the bark scroll from the ground and clipped it between a branch before following the mountain path into the forest, soon reaching the outer edges of Shicheng Mountain.

Here, the forest was dense with thickets and filled with undergrowth.

The heavy snow made movement inconvenient.

Shen Qing trudged through the thick snow, taking uneven steps as he walked through the forest.

From past memory, this area was populated with game. When his father was still around, he often hunted here and always brought back some game.

An hour later.

Shen Qing sat in the snowy ground, pulling a piece of meat Shen Fang had torn out from his pocket and chewing on it to regain some strength.

Suddenly, he paused his chewing, carefully took down his bow, and gently parted the bushes ahead.

A colorful pheasant flew down from the mountaintop, landing under an old tree not far away.

Hey, a target!

Shen Qing slowly drew an arrow from the quiver, setting it on the bowstring. He held his breath, instinctively adjusting his breathing and posture.

Such distance would have deterred him before, but now...

He slowly drew the longbow.

The bowstring tightened, with the arrowhead aimed straight at the pheasant.

Whoosh!

The arrow shot out like a meteor, piercing through the mountain's serene silence.

The pheasant seemed to sense something but it was too late.

With Shen Qing's bow technique recently breaking through, the arrow shot precisely through its body.

```