Chapter 13: Hunting Roe Deer, Encountering a Tiger

Jiang Yi glanced back at the small grove, where a group of roe deer were foraging. They leisurely picked at the withered grass peeking through the snow, occasionally lifting their heads to survey their surroundings.

After bringing the fish home, Jiang Yi returned with his bow and arrows, ready to hunt the deer. Shen Rong sat by the stove in the main room, sewing clothes, and smiled upon seeing Jiang Yi return. She put down her needle and thread and came out to greet him.

“You’re back so soon. Come inside to warm yourself by the fire,” she urged.

“Not yet. I spotted a group of foolish roe deer by the river grove. I brought the fish back, now I’m going to hunt them with my bow and arrow. You should come with me,” Jiang Yi replied. He needed help—hunting more deer to bring back together.

“Why not call Aunt Li? If we get a good number of deer, one can stay and watch while two carry them home,” Shen Rong suggested. She was excited at the prospect. She knew roe deer usually lived deep in the mountains, where few dared to hunt.

“Go get Aunt Li. I’ll head to the river grove to start hunting,” Jiang Yi said, taking his bow and other tools toward the grove, hoping to catch several deer.

Outside the grove, he noticed the number of deer had increased significantly since before. Their presence near Niutou Village likely meant food was scarce in the mountains. Since they had come this far, he couldn’t miss the chance to hunt them.

He approached slowly, using his bow to improve accuracy. The deer glanced up but didn’t immediately flee.

“Such silly deer. I haven’t even disguised myself, and they don’t run,” Jiang Yi thought. Despite their endearing foolishness, they had to be hunted for money. Hunting roe deer was easier than hunting deer, as they usually foraged in groups.

He released an arrow; one deer fell with the arrow through its neck. The others scattered in fright but would likely return later to check.

Roe deer were peculiar creatures—timid enough to flee at the slightest rustle, yet bold enough to come back out of curiosity. Other herbivores wouldn’t dare return once scared away.

Jiang Yi didn’t approach immediately but waited for the deer to come back. Soon, a few hopped back to their fallen companion, sniffing around it curiously. Jiang Yi drew his bow again and shot another one. The rest fled once more, probably unaware of the danger nearby.

“Truly foolish, but adorably so,” he mused.

After a short while, the deer returned again, sniffing near their fallen comrades. Shen Rong and Li Cuiyun arrived just in time to see Jiang Yi release his third arrow. Now three deer lay on the ground. The remaining deer hopped away in a somewhat comical manner.

“You’re impressive, having hunted three deer already!” Li Cuiyun said, surprised. She had previously seen Jiang Yi as idle and dependent on Shen Rong. But recent days’ hunts had brought in quite a bit of money.

“Roe deer are easier to hunt than other beasts—they’re really quite foolish,” Jiang Yi said. It was a miracle they hadn’t been wiped out given their proximity to human activity.

“Aunt Li, thank you for coming to help. Later, you can take one home to prepare a delicious meal,” Jiang Yi offered.

Li Cuiyun declined, “If you keep some roe deer meat, just give me a few pounds. The rest can be sold in town.” She’d accept wild rabbit or pheasant but was reluctant to take a whole deer.

“Please accept it; it’s a small token from the two of us. The cured meat will last quite a while,” Jiang Yi insisted. Though each deer could fetch a good sum, gratitude mattered more than money to the couple.

Li Cuiyun hesitated but the couple was resolute. “Please take it. We truly appreciate how your family has cared for us over the years.”

Seeing more deer approaching, Jiang Yi readied his bow and shot again. His aim was true, striking each deer’s vital spot with a single arrow. One by one, the deer fell until six lay on the ground.

Satisfied with their haul, Jiang Yi stopped shooting. “You two take the deer home. I’ll stay here and keep watch.” Carrying six deer would require several trips.

“Bind the four legs of two deer to a carrying pole; two deer weigh about a hundred pounds,” Li Cuiyun said, expertly tying the ropes. After a while, the three had the deer secured on poles.

Suddenly, a tiger’s roar echoed, and they saw a large tiger charging towards them.

“Run!” Jiang Yi shouted, grabbing his bow and arrows. He urged Shen Rong and Li Cuiyun to flee quickly. The deer could be abandoned; survival was paramount.

The tiger likely only wanted to scare them off and feast on the deer carcasses. Jiang Yi retreated slowly, bow drawn, shielding the women behind him.

Shen Rong frowned, “We finally got some deer, and now the tiger’s getting the spoils. So frustrating!”

“Forget the deer for now; life is more important,” Jiang Yi said. Though armed, he wasn’t confident he could defeat the tiger alone. He had to protect Shen Rong and Li Cuiyun and avoid provoking the beast.

If he shot and missed, the tiger would attack swiftly. Tigers possessed tremendous speed and strength; their paw strike could exert around a thousand kilograms of force, enough to crush a skull.

“Once it’s full, maybe it will leave a few for us. We’ll come back for the rest after it’s gone,” Jiang Yi reasoned. He didn’t mind losing a couple of deer as long as they all stayed safe.

Having ventured near Funiu Village, the tiger posed an even greater threat. It snarled and assumed an attack posture but was clever enough to realize the humans were armed. Its strategy was to intimidate them, eat the deer, then perhaps take one or two for later.

Jiang Yi and the others retreated cautiously, never turning their backs. Li Cuiyun and Shen Rong were terrified; it was their first encounter with such a large tiger. Jiang Yi fared better, having been an excellent soldier before transmigration.

Li Cuiyun’s hands trembled as she held her knife. “How many tigers have come around Niutou Mountain’s outskirts? One has reached near Funiu Village—we must warn the entire village.”

“Maybe a few tigers have strayed from deep within Niutou Mountain, each with its own territory,” Jiang Yi speculated, uncertain if this tiger was the same one from the mountain’s edge.

The tiger didn’t pursue but busied itself tearing at the deer’s flesh.

“This tiger is infuriating,” Shen Rong said bitterly. “We worked hard to hunt these deer, and now the tiger gets them for free.”

Though angry, she was grateful they escaped unharmed.

“Don’t be mad. We were lucky to get away. I shouldn’t have come hunting; I brought this danger upon you,” Jiang Yi blamed himself deeply. He had hoped not to encounter a tiger so close to Funiu Village.

It was a fortunate misfortune; losing a few deer wasn’t the worst outcome.

Li Cuiyun sighed with relief. “I thought avoiding Niutou Mountain’s edge would keep us safe, but now tigers are near the village. We must organize a hunt to deal with them quickly.”

If people cowered indoors, fearing tigers, peace would never return. The villagers were terrified—none wanted to be the first to fall prey.

The authorities wouldn’t send hunters themselves but offered hefty rewards for villagers to form teams and hunt the tigers.