Volume 1 Chapter 5: The Battle Between Bear and Tiger

By the nature of a young roe deer, seeing me move and then suddenly fall still, combined with the freshly cut leaves from the branch used as bait, the inexperienced fawn would surely come over to investigate.

Lin Xiao followed his plan: with one hand, he gently shook the branch, while the other hand quietly grasped the short antler knife. Quickly, he turned sideways to the fawn and collapsed motionless onto the snow.

Startled by Lin Xiao’s sudden action, the fawn leapt back five or six meters, stopped, and looked back foolishly.

Squinting, Lin Xiao closely observed every movement of the little animal.

The biting wind howled, frost settling on his eyebrows and eyelashes; the warm breath from his nose and mouth froze upon the fine hairs of his face. The cold from the snow seeped into his body, making him feel as if he were turning to ice.

“If it doesn’t move soon, I’ll freeze to death,” he thought.

Slowly, Lin Xiao picked up a branch and gently shook it a few times, then quietly watched the fawn’s reaction.

After an uncertain length of time, the little creature finally made a move.

It took a hesitant step forward, nodding slightly as it approached Lin Xiao.

Closer, a little closer! Come on, why aren’t you moving?

When the fawn was nearly within Lin Xiao’s hunting range, it glanced back, then lowered its head to nibble on the leaves, occasionally lifting its head to look around.

Lin Xiao knew that if this went on, the fawn would definitely run away.

If I move, it bolts. If I don’t, it finishes eating and then runs off anyway.

Looks like today’s roe deer meat is not going to happen!

Just as Lin Xiao was pondering his next move, the fawn took two more steps toward him.

“Just two more steps, no more, just two,” he silently urged.

At that moment, a rustling noise came from the woods.

“What’s that? Hope it’s not a wolf! If it is, forget about catching the fawn — I might not make it out alive.”

The fawn heard the noise too and turned to look back.

In that instant, Lin Xiao caught sight of a wild rabbit hopping through the trees toward them.

“Yesterday I accidentally caught a wild rabbit, and now this one’s here to spoil the hunt!”

The sudden hop frightened the fawn, which took two quick steps toward Lin Xiao but didn’t get a third.

Lin Xiao’s left hand swiftly grabbed the fawn’s right front leg and pulled it, simultaneously rolling onto his back and pulling the animal directly above him.

With his right hand, he plunged the antler knife between the fawn’s legs, aiming for the heart.

Blood instantly gushed forth, splattering Lin Xiao’s face and clothes.

The wild rabbit, startled by the sudden scene, bolted away and vanished instantly.

Ignoring everything else, Lin Xiao flipped over and pinned the fawn beneath him.

After confirming the fawn was dead, he stood up, brushed off the snow from his clothes, and used some snow to wipe the blood from his face.

He then positioned the fawn downhill, head facing down, picked up his knife again, and expertly slit its neck.

While the blood flowed, Lin Xiao arranged his gear.

When the bleeding slowed, he looked up at the sky; the sun was already setting slowly in the west.

“Better carry the fawn home quickly. I wasted too much time hunting. If I return too late, wolves might be drawn by the scent of blood, or worse, I might encounter wolves on the way back.”

With that thought, Lin Xiao quickened his pace.

“Lin Xiao! Lin Xiao!” A familiar voice called his name.

“Mother, I’m here! Mother!” Lin Xiao ran toward the voice.

When He Yulan saw Lin Xiao’s bloodied face and clothes, the sudden shock shattered her composure, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks.

“Son, where are you hurt? Let me see! What happened? I told you not to go up the mountain, yet you insisted. How am I supposed to live now...!”

Before Lin Xiao could answer, his mother, frantic and incoherent, fired off a barrage of questions.

“Mother! I’m fine. This isn’t my blood. Look!” Lin Xiao turned around to show her the fawn he was carrying on his back.

“That’s its blood,” he said with pride and satisfaction.

Hearing it wasn’t her son’s blood, He Yulan’s tears slowly turned into a smile.

“You scared me to death, coming back so late. I thought something terrible had happened.”

“Mother, where’s my sister?” Lin Xiao asked anxiously.

“It’s so late and you’re still not back. I was worried and went out looking for you. Your sister wanted to come, but I wouldn’t let her. I was afraid something might happen on the way, so I told her to lock the door and wait for us at home.”

“Let’s hurry then; your sister must be scared by now!”

“I’ll take these,” He Yulan said, grabbing a wooden stick and a saw.

As they walked, they chatted about the hunt and how Lin Xiao had caught the young roe deer.

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