Just when the two thought everything was going well, a deep roar came from afar—another, even larger wild boar had appeared, clearly startled by the gunshots, and was roaring as it charged toward them.
Old Zhou exclaimed, "This one is much bigger than the last one! It...it's charging at us!"
Du Jianshan's eyes turned cold: "Quick, scatter! It's charging this way, you go around to the right and intercept it!"
The wild boar charged like the wind, shaking the ground. Old Zhou slipped and nearly fell, his gun barrel veering slightly off course. Du Jianshan barked, "Stay calm! Don't panic!"
Old Zhou gritted his teeth, steadied himself, and pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the valley. The wild boar let out a scream and rolled to the ground, but then struggled to its feet with astonishing force.
Du Jianshan broke out in a cold sweat: "He's not dead yet. Quick, fire another shot!"
Old Zhou's eyes were resolute. He aimed and pulled the trigger. The wild boar collapsed with a thud, this time ceasing all struggle.
Old Zhou sat on the ground, panting, "My God, I almost died! I never imagined there were such big wild boars in the mountains!"
Du Jianshan squatted down and examined it closely: "It's big and hard to control, but it's okay, we'll handle it carefully."
Old Zhou, still shaken, said, "How can you be so calm? I was so nervous I almost fainted."
Du Jianshan looked up at him, his eyes calm: "Calmness isn't innate, it's a habit. There's no time to panic in the mountains, you have to learn to control your heartbeat and breathing."
The two men busied themselves processing the wild boar, moving their prey to level ground. Old Zhou couldn't help but ask, "In all your years of hunting, what was the most dangerous time you've ever been?"
Du Jianshan said in a low voice: "Three years ago, a flash flood occurred, and I was trapped halfway up the mountain for three days. Wild boars, deer, and goats all ran away. In the end, I managed to get down by using my wit and patience."
Old Zhou was surprised: "Three days? Are you alright?"
Du Jianshan nodded: "It's alright, but since then, I've learned to adapt to any situation in the mountains. Mindset is more important than strength."
The wind blew after the rain, carrying the scent of damp earth and the rustling of fallen leaves, like a backdrop for the two of them.
The two carried their prey and continued up the mountain. Du Jianshan reminded them, "The road is slippery, slow down, and watch out for tree roots."
Old Zhou carefully moved forward: "With you leading the way, I feel much more at ease."
Suddenly, Du Jianshan stopped, squatted down, and pointed ahead: "Be careful, there are signs of mudslides on the hillside. It just rained, and it could slide down at any time."
Old Zhou held his breath: "This... walk slowly?"
Du Jianshan nodded: "Yes, keep your footing and make sure every step is firm, otherwise going down the mountain might be more dangerous than hunting."
The two carefully navigated around the landslide and finally reached flat ground, breathing a sigh of relief. Du Jianshan patted him on the shoulder: "There's no such thing as eternal safety in these mountains; you have to stay calm."
Old Zhou looked at him with admiration in his eyes: "Your experience and skills are truly unmatched by ordinary people."
Back at camp in the evening, Old Zhou patted his shoulder and said, "Tonight's hunt will feed us for several days."
Du Jianshan laughed: "The prey is for people to use, so we can't waste it. Let's clean it up first, so we can enjoy it tonight."
The two men busied themselves cleaning their prey and hanging it on a rack to dry. The firelight reflected on their faces, revealing their determination and tacit understanding.
Old Zhou cut open the wild boar meat, took a bite, and said, "It tastes really good. What you taught me is really useful."
Du Jianshan looked at the distant mountain peaks. The mist gradually dissipated, and the sky was tinged with gold: "There is no eternal peace in the mountains. Tomorrow may be even more difficult. We need to be prepared."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
