Chapter 4 Interception

Qin Ming withdrew his gaze, slinging the animal skin bag over his shoulder as he retraced his steps. Today’s harvest was substantial, and he felt quite satisfied. With this bag full of food, he wouldn’t go hungry for quite some time. Beneath the snow, there were depressions and rocks, making the path difficult to traverse, but Qin Ming was in a good mood. With ample food, he no longer had to worry; if he practiced those specific moves for an extended period, he might even make new progress. At the same time, he was looking forward to the arrival of early spring, a season full of life. Although it was currently a frozen world, with grass and trees looking desolate and everything plunged into silence, once the dry season passed, the hot springs in the dangerous mountain areas would erupt, and the earth would begin to steam frequently. Vegetation would sprout and everything would revive, presenting a different scene altogether. As he neared the edge of the dense forest, Qin Ming suddenly stopped, dropped the animal skin bag, and gripped his hunting fork tightly, turning sharply. In the darkness, a pair of crimson eyes appeared, quite chilling, rapidly approaching. His hair stood on end; although it was still a distance away, he could sense that the creature following him was quite large and ferocious, accompanied by a strong smell carried by the cold wind. He plunged the hunting fork into the snow and quickly drew his bow; with incredible arm strength, he pulled the heavy bow into a full moon shape, launching powerful iron arrows that flew out with a loud twang of the bowstring. In the distance, the creature, with its violent aura, suddenly halted, seemingly struck by an arrow. Qin Ming was highly focused, drawing the bow again and again, showcasing his superb archery skills as lethal iron arrows shot into the night one after another. A heavy roar echoed through the forest, the crimson eyes vanished, accompanied by the sound of broken branches as the creature retreated behind the trees. Qin Ming did not dare to let his guard down; although the unknown dangerous creature had been injured, it was not fatally so, and it would be even more dangerous lurking in the forest. Without hesitation, he grabbed the animal skin bag and hunting fork and swiftly dashed out of the forest into the open snowy field. He did not wish to linger in the dim environment, fearing an ambush; he suspected that it was a troublesome mutated creature. There were considerable disturbances in the forest, the sound of snow being violently disturbed suggesting that the creature was fiercely pursuing him. Qin Ming did not hesitate to draw his bow again, some iron arrows thudding into thick tree trunks, shaking off the snow from the branches like a snow waterfall. The creature was once again forced back, retreating silently into the woods. If it were an ordinary beast, it would either have been frightened off or would charge in fury due to injury, but this mutated creature lingered in the dark, waiting and searching for an opportunity. Qin Ming, bow in hand, stood in a standoff with the dangerous creature in the dense forest. The snow-covered ground shifted, and a large dark shadow flickered in the trees, the crimson eyes particularly cold, creating an oppressive feeling in the night. However, in the end, it was Qin Ming’s astonishingly powerful arrows that held it back, emitting a reluctant low growl before vanishing into the forest. Qin Ming's expression grew serious; although the forest was dim, he still discerned that it was a figure capable of running upright, but he couldn’t tell what kind of mutated creature it was. He slowly backed away, the surroundings silent, but he remained vigilant. It wasn’t until he was less than a mile from the hot springs at the village entrance that he finally felt at ease. This was because there had been bloody lessons from the past, where villagers who got close to the village entrance, becoming lax, were ambushed and silently dragged away by unknown creatures lurking in the dark. ... Outside Shuangshu Village, three young men were shivering from the cold, stamping their feet and rubbing their hands, exhaling white mist, their eyebrows covered in ice shards. They were waiting on the snowy path that Qin Ming had trodden into the dark territory, speaking softly to each other. “It’s really suffering to guard here in this cold weather. If it doesn’t work out, we should retreat; I reckon he will probably die in the wild and won’t bring back any game.” “What’s the hurry? What if he’s as lucky as Old Li and finds a frozen mountain beast in the outer area of the forest?” The three usually lazed around, avoiding danger in the mountains, but in the village, they acted tough, enjoying free meals and drinks. When they learned that Qin Ming had gone hunting, they had ill intentions, planning to ambush him here. “That Qin Ming kid is quick and very strong; let’s be careful not to get flipped on our heads by him.” “What’s there to be afraid of? He’s just recovered from a serious illness; he must be weak. When he comes back, let’s throw the animal skin bag over his head and be careful not to really kill him.” Although they intended to do evil, they didn’t dare to kill; they only wanted to sneakily take the game Qin Ming brought back. Qin Ming was always on guard, his senses heightened; he keenly spotted three dark figures from a distance. He immediately crouched down; the accumulated snow on the ground was already nearly to his shoulders, and now he fully vanished. Silently, he moved along the snowy path he had previously traversed, finally identifying the three figures ahead as the village’s idle men. Qin Ming stopped at a suitable position, able to hear their conversation. Moments later, his face grew grim; these three actually intended to ambush him and steal his game? Although he hadn’t gone to hunt bears, just digging up a squirrel’s nest, it wasn’t exactly something to boast about. However, he had truly experienced two life-and-death crises, being attacked by a human-faced vulture and an unknown mutated creature; a moment's negligence could cost him his life. They dared to steal food he had earned with his life; such an ambush was intolerable. Hu Yong, Ma Yang, and Wang Youping were all trembling from the cold, working together to dig out a snow pit that could shield them from the wind, laying in wait for Qin Ming. They believed Qin Ming would take the risk to hunt deep in the forest, misestimating his return time; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been so careless in their conversation just now. “Be more cautious; don’t make a sound later,” Ma Yang said. Hu Yong nodded, “We need to be quick and precise when we strike from behind him; be nimble!” Wang Youping complained, “I hope he can come back alive with some game; hurry up and show up, I’m freezing stiff.” Suddenly, the snow pit where they hid collapsed with a loud crash, burying the three of them inside; caught off guard, they found snow filling their mouths and noses. Hu Yong reacted the fastest, bursting out first, but before he could steady himself, he saw a foot come into view, and with a loud thud, it heavily kicked him in the face. The excruciating pain twisted his features, and then he was violently struck on the shoulder by a hunting fork, feeling as if his bones would break as he stumbled to the ground. Ma Yang fared similarly; as soon as he poked his head out of the snow, he was kicked in the nose by Qin Ming. The pain, mixed with a stinging sensation, was unbearable, and he let out a miserable scream, tears streaming down his face as he rolled in the snow. Wang Youping, sensing something was off, burrowed deeper into the snow, not daring to come out. However, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back as a steel fork pierced through his clothing, drawing blood. “No… don’t kill me.” His voice trembled, lips shaking, and more shameful and embarrassing was that he had wet himself, fearing for his life. Qin Ming didn’t want his life; he merely pierced his skin, drawing blood. He poked Wang Youping out and then kicked him three meters away, sending him tumbling back into the snow pile. “Qin… Ming.” “Ming Ge, we see each other every day in the village; please show mercy, we were wrong this time.” Once the three recognized him and saw the glinting steel fork in his hand, they immediately wilted. In fact, they all carried knives and clubs, but seeing the fierce and menacing Qin Ming, they felt an innate fear; plus, they were all injured, so they cowardly dared not resist. In their daily lives, they bullied the weak and feared the strong, but when actually confronted with a hard nut, they didn’t dare to cause trouble. Although their actions were despicable, Qin Ming wouldn’t go so far as to kill them; an intense “education” was inevitable. He pressed the fork against their bodies, forcing them to squat obediently on the ground. Then, he gave them a thorough beating, fully stretching his muscles and bones. In the end, the three of them were bruised and bloodied, howling for a long time before being sternly warned and let go. Qin Ming felt that these people were all bark and no bite; they lacked the guts to be true villains, let alone the strength. A good thrashing was enough for them to learn their lesson. Meanwhile, outside the dense forest where Qin Ming confronted the mutated creature, a donkey wandered in from the distant open land, familiar with the path ahead, seemingly wanting to enter the mountains. On its back was a yellow weasel, pure white like snow, without a single stray hair. In this era where the sun had set and wouldn’t rise again, white creatures were quite rare. Unlike ordinary small animals, it was not very active; on the contrary, it was very calm, even considered “mature,” sitting cross-legged on the donkey’s back, riding backward and facing the way they had come. This did not resemble a wild animal; its demeanor was more like that of a composed human, its deep-set eyes leisurely guiding the donkey along the path. The mutated creature that Qin Ming had previously driven back suddenly lunged at the approaching donkey, but when it noticed the snow-white weasel on the donkey’s back, it abruptly stopped, then turned and disappeared into the forest, burrowing deep into the thick snow, its body trembling slightly. The donkey remained unfazed, merely casting a casual glance at the creature, as if an old horse knew the way, carrying the quiet and silent weasel into the mountains. ... The hot springs were in sight, the black-and-white twin trees swaying. Qin Ming quickened his pace and soon arrived at the village entrance, finally relaxing completely. “Qin Ming is back.” Someone chopping wood looked up just in time to see him. Quickly, several courtyard doors along the street opened. The news of Qin Ming’s risky solo outing had already spread, and many were speculating whether he would return alive and if he would have gained anything. “He left fully armed as twilight set in…” Shuangshu Village wasn’t large, and the villagers who heard the commotion all came out. Each family had sunstones that illuminated the fiery glow, casting a faint light on the street. People saw that Qin Ming had a red squirrel hanging from the hunting fork, and immediately fell silent. This was completely different from what they had imagined. Lu Ze hurried over and, seeing that Qin Ming was safe and sound, he let out a sigh of relief, his worried heart finally at ease. He was a straightforward person and broke the silence, saying, “Everyone said you went hunting bears in the mountains, but what you’ve got is… a squirrel?” “I even raided its home,” Qin Ming replied with a smile. People noticed the animal skin bag on his back and quickly realized what was inside, their eyes instantly lighting up with envy. Soon, they discovered that the red squirrel’s fiery fur was subtly glowing, clearly a mutated creature, and its value was undoubtedly high. “Not only did you return safely from this outing, but you also made quite a gain,” Old Liu, who lived at the village entrance, remarked. Some villagers took the opportunity to inquire if the outside was safe now. Qin Ming recounted his experiences on the way back truthfully; he didn’t dare mislead his neighbors, as that could cost lives. When they heard there were dangerous mutated creatures lurking in the outer areas of the forest, everyone’s expressions changed, realizing they still couldn’t venture out alone for a while. Then, Qin Ming didn’t hold back and mentioned Ma Yang, Hu Yong, and Wang Youping’s actions, immediately drawing the indignation of the villagers. “How shameless! They don’t dare to enter the mountains themselves but want to harm their fellow villagers! This isn’t just about robbing; it’s about risking lives!” Ma Yang, Hu Yong, and Wang Youping were just limping into view at the village entrance, leaning on each other, when Lu Ze and his group rushed over and gave them another beating. “Lu Ge, Uncle Yang, Old Liu, don’t hit anymore, help! Save me!” The three were covered in snot and blood, frozen on their faces, screaming heart-wrenchingly; mainly, they had incurred the wrath of the crowd, as many people had long disliked them. Qin Ming handed out a handful of nuts to each child on the street, causing a cheer from the group. Then he saw Grandma Zhou, her face pale, leaning against her courtyard door. He quickly walked over and didn’t let her say much, leaving her some dried goods. ... “Uncle, you’re amazing! The wild walnuts are so delicious, and the pine nuts smell so good!” In Qin Ming’s home, Wen Rui praised him profusely, overjoyed, tasting each type of dried fruit without stopping. “Date paste, delicious and sweet.” The two-year-old Wen Hui, with unclear speech, was eating steamed and pitted date paste, and with a smack, he kissed Qin Ming on the face. Nearby, the red squirrel, which had been unconscious, woke up, opening its eyes to see several people rummaging through its “stash,” instantly feeling despair. “No wonder it’s a mutated creature; so diligent and capable, it stored over thirty pounds of food,” Liang Wanqing marveled. The red squirrel’s eyes bulged, nearly spitting fire. At this moment, Lu Ze spoke seriously, “Xiao Qin, I see you’ve almost recovered; you should seriously consider the matter of ‘rebirth.’