Du Jianshan crouched down, pressed his ear close to the ground, and sensed the wind direction. "Quiet...don't make a sound. It's probably walking cautiously, still a dozen steps away from us. Don't rush, just wait for it to enter the trap."
Tie Niu gripped the knife, his heart pounding, and beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Brother Du, I'm a little... weak in the legs."
Du Jianshan reached out and patted his forearm. "So what if your legs are weak? Remember who you are. We're mountain herders. Those who've been in the mountains for a long time have to be tough. If your legs are weak, we're both in trouble. Hold on, don't move. The knife in your hand isn't for scaring yourself, it's for protecting us."
Tie Niu took a deep breath, trying to steady his breathing. "Brother Du... when do you think we should close the net?"
Du Jianshan glanced at the trap and listened to the sounds in the woods. "Wait until it takes the bait. Don't rush. Leopards aren't stupid. Can it bypass the trap? Can it? Nine times out of ten, it will take the bait with this trap. Remember, Tie Niu, hunters are patient animals."
Tie Niu nodded. "Hmm... I'll try to keep a low profile."
Under the moonlight, Du Jianshan and Tie Niu squatted beside the trap, motionless like two stone pillars. The wind rustled the leaves, and occasionally small animals darted by in the night. Tie Niu's heartbeat was almost audible. He whispered, "Brother Du... if it really comes, when it pounces, who will go first, you or me?"
Du Jianshan chuckled, "First? Haha, who first? It doesn't matter if I fall first or not, what matters is that we move in unison. Watch closely, when I move, it moves too; when I pull the rope, you pull the rope; when I call it, it can't escape. We're a team, not one person risking their life."
Tie Niu swallowed nervously, "I...I understand, but...but I'm really scared."
Du Jianshan tilted his head and looked at him with a smile in his eyes. "Fear? That's right, fear is normal. As long as you're afraid in just the right way, you can stay clear-headed. Remember, a hunter's courage isn't fearlessness, but the ability to do the right thing even when you're afraid. Do you understand?"
Tie Niu nodded slowly, "Hmm... I understand, Brother Du."
Just then, a faint rustling of leaves came from afar, closer than before. Tie Niu gripped his knife tightly, almost holding his breath, and whispered, "Brother Du...it's here, isn't it?"
Du Jianshan narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "It's moving slowly, it must be being cautious. Don't panic, wait for it to take the bait."
Tie Niu trembled slightly. "I... my hands are shaking a little."
Du Jianshan reached out and grabbed his wrist. "It's okay if it shakes, I'll help you up. Remember, a hunter doesn't rely on steady hands, but on a steady mind."
The two fell silent again. In the woods, the wind rustled the leaves, and the night was deep. Tie Niu's breathing gradually became steady, while Du Jianshan stared intently at the shadows beside the trap, as composed as a stone statue.
After a while, a low growl echoed from the woods, like a leopard's warning. Tie Niu froze, and whispered, "Brother Du...it howled..."
Du Jianshan slowly squatted down, his eyes cold and sharp. "Let it bark. A loud voice doesn't mean it's powerful. We'll wait for the right moment and wait for it to take the bait."
The roar echoed through the valley, and Tie Niu's heart pounded like a drum, but gradually calmed down as Du Jianshan remained composed. He gripped his knife tightly, his gaze becoming focused. "Brother Du... I understand. We can't panic. We have to wait for it to take the bait."
Du Jianshan nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his lips. "That's right, that's how hunters are. Even when you're afraid, you have to be steady; even when you're in a hurry, you have to be slow; and even when you move, you have to be precise. Tonight, let's see who's stronger, whether the leopard is stronger, or whether we're smarter."
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