"Okay, continue, don't rush, take it slow." Du Jianshan squatted down next to a big pine tree, carefully examining the terrain in front of him. "Tie Niu, look, the slope here is steep, and the prey can easily trigger the rope if it steps on it. I'll add two ropes next to it, and you can help me secure them."
"Understood, Brother Du!" Tie Niu carefully squatted down, wrapped the rope around the pine roots, pulled it taut along the ground, and then used a stone to weigh down the rope's anchor point.
While setting the trap, Tie Niu couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Du, do you think that green light just now might have been... someone deliberately causing trouble in these mountains?"
Du Jianshan looked up at him, his eyes serious: "Tie Niu, I can't say for sure either, but we can't panic. The prey in the mountains don't move, only people do. Let's set up this trap first, and then see how things go."
The two worked for another half hour and finally set up a row of traps in the open space and among the trees. Each trap was close to the hillside, with the ropes concealed and the bait properly attached. Even the sound of the wind blowing through the fallen leaves had been carefully considered by Du Jianshan.
Tie Niu wiped his sweat and, panting, said, "Brother Du, these traps... can they really catch any prey?"
Du Jianshan squatted down and patted him on the shoulder: "Tie Niu, you have to trust your experience. Things in the mountains follow certain patterns. If we set up our trap cleverly, they will definitely fall for it. Don't rush, let's observe again after dark."
"It's getting dark..." Tie Niu was a little scared. "Brother Du, do you think that green light... might reappear after dark?"
Du Jianshan did not answer, but instead cast his gaze toward the distant woods. He gripped the musket, his ears perked up, as if listening for any sounds hidden in the mountain breeze.
Suddenly, a few soft creaking sounds came from the woods, as if something was moving silently. Tie Niu was so frightened that he held his breath.
"Don't move, Tie Niu," Du Jianshan said in a low voice. "They're here."
A few seconds later, a hare darted out of the grass and stepped directly on the trap's rope. The rope snapped, the stake swayed, and the hare was trapped inside. It struggled a few times before finally coming to a stop.
Tie Niu's eyes widened: "Brother Du... he really... he really caught him!"
Du Jianshan squatted down to inspect the trap, a slight smile playing on his lips: "See? It's well-set. These are just small animals. Real prey in the mountains are fast. You need to learn patience and observation."
Tie Niu wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Brother Du, my hand... is really dizzy."
Du Jianshan patted him on the shoulder: "It's alright, take your time. Let's set up the traps first, and then patrol the mountain after dark to see if there's anything bigger moving around."
The two continued their slow patrol along the ridge, their feet crunching on fallen leaves, their ears constantly alert to any sounds emanating from the forest. As night deepened, moonlight shone through the trees, and bloodstains and green lights appeared and disappeared, as if reminding them that the mountains held not only prey but also unseen dangers.
"Brother Du, do you think... that green light might be related to the trap we set?" Tie Niu asked in a low voice, his eyes filled with unease.
Du Jianshan shook his head: "No, Tie Niu. The traps we set only have wooden stakes and ropes, they don't glow. That thing... we have to be careful."
The two quietly bypassed the woods and continued setting up the next batch of traps. Du Jianshan meticulously taught Tie Niu how to hide the ropes, adjust the bait, and even how to determine where the soft ground was most likely to be stepped on by the prey.
"Tie Niu, have you learned it?" Du Jianshan squatted down and watched him operate carefully.
Tie Niu nodded, but his hands moved somewhat stiffly: "I've learned it, Brother Du, but I'm still a little scared."
Du Jianshan smiled and said, "It's okay to be timid, the important thing is not to panic. The prey in the mountains are easily frightened, so we need to stay calm. Remember, keep your eyes on the ground and don't panic."
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