Chapter 2: Hunting on Bullhead Mountain

Jiang Yi walked through the biting wind, his mind a turbulent mess of conflicting emotions. Borrowing a bow and arrows to hunt on Bull-Head Mountain was his only plan to stop going hungry and finally secure a better life for himself. Back in the village, the neighborhood bullies mocked him, calling him a "little hoodlum," and he had been chased and barked at by a pack of vicious dogs. He had tried to borrow gear from several neighbors who owned weapons, but each had turned him away. Only Chang Youliang’s house remained—his final hope.

The Chang family was relatively well-off; his father served as a centurion in the Hanjiang Pass garrison. As Jiang Yi approached the courtyard, he saw a young man sweeping snow.

Chang Youliang glanced at him. "Is there something you need?"

"I’m here to borrow a bow, arrows, and a knife. My home was robbed, and I’m planning to hunt on Bull-Head Mountain."

"Did you report the theft to the village head?" With the freezing weather lately, some of the local rogues had been prowling around, stealing chickens and dogs from every household.

"The village head is away, so I spoke to his family. Can you lend me your bow, arrows, and a knife?" Jiang Yi needed them not only for hunting game but also for self-defense.

"I’ll go get them for you." Chang Youliang set down his broom and headed inside. He knew Jiang Yi was struggling and wanted to help where he could. A moment later, he returned with the equipment. "Take them. Be very careful on the mountain, and make sure you’re back before dark."

Chang Youliang had chores that afternoon and couldn't accompany him. "Do you know who robbed your place?"

"It was Niu Er and his cronies."

"Niu Er again? If I ever run into him, I’ll give him a beating he won’t forget." Chang Youliang was well aware that Niu Er and his gang of miscreants were a constant nuisance to the surrounding villages.

Jiang Yi, too, was waiting for a chance to settle the score, but for now, his priority was providing for his household. He also borrowed a wicker basket, hemp rope, and a wood-cutting knife—essentials for any hunter.

"I’m heading out," Jiang Yi said, bidding his friend farewell.

"I have to take the ox-cart to deliver ice to the Prefect's estate later, so I can't go with you. Stay safe on Bull-Head Mountain, and remember: be back before sunset." Chang Youliang reminded him again, knowing how dangerously cold the mountain became at night, not to mention the prowling predators.

"I’ve got it. I’ll be back before dark." Jiang Yi loaded his tools onto the ox-cart and left the courtyard. After a long journey, he arrived at the base of Bull-Head Mountain. Looking up at the summit, which resembled the head of an ox, he knew the mountain was rich with resources.

Villagers from all around frequented the mountain to forage and hunt whenever they had spare time. The outer fringes were generally safe. Jiang Yi scanned the area. "I’ll just stick to the outskirts and try to catch some wild rabbits or pheasants. Regardless of what I find, I’m getting off this mountain before nightfall."

Following traces left by rabbits, he soon found a burrow. He cut some thin branches and used his hemp rope to rig a trap. Rubbing his hands together, he muttered, "There are so many holes here that digging them up would be a waste of time and effort. I’ll just set traps by the entrances."

Suddenly, he spotted a wild deer in the distance—and a deer was a valuable prize. The animal was stumbling as it walked, swaying as if it were drunk. It must have eaten some "drunken loquat" fruit, which caused a temporary state of intoxicated excitement. Food was scarce in winter, and the deer had been forced to forage for dry grass and wild berries.

A moment later, a pack of wild dogs chased after the deer. They were smaller than wolves, with black backs, yellow bellies, and cocked tails, looking much like feral mongrels. Jiang Yi drew his bow and aimed at one of the dogs.

"You dare try to steal my prey? You’re asking for it!"

The arrow struck the dog’s hind leg, and it let out a sharp howl. The other dogs, instantly enraged, turned and charged toward Jiang Yi. They were incredibly fast, surrounding him within seconds. Keeping a wary distance, they circled him, teeth bared, eyes glinting with malice. They drooled thick saliva, and a nauseating stench wafted from them.

The pack was cunning, using a rotating strategy to exhaust him. Three dogs moved in a triangle, attacking from different angles. Jiang Yi fired his bow rapidly. He had started with ten arrows and had already used one. If he ran out, he would have to fight them with his knife. How he wished he had a crossbow—it would have been faster, more agile, and far less taxing.

He released three more arrows. While not immediately fatal, the wounds would surely fester and kill them in time.

"Come on then, you beasts! Thinking you can swarm me and steal my kill?" Jiang Yi was furious. The dogs kept lunging, indifferent to the danger. He decided to take his anger out on them; he didn't believe they were all willing to die for this.

The pack was using their typical "sea of dogs" tactic. The alpha hung back, directing the others to wear him down. Soon, his ten arrows were spent, and he drew his knife.

The dogs changed their tactics, attacking from the front, back, and sides simultaneously—a full 360-degree assault. "Clever animals. As soon as I ran out of arrows, they switched it up. Trying to win by sheer numbers, are you? Interesting."

Jiang Yi remained hyper-vigilant, aiming to kill or maim with every swing of his blade. He was grateful he had borrowed the knife; otherwise, he would have surely met his end in the jaws of these beasts. Several dogs lunged in quick succession to distract him, but Jiang Yi swung his knife, though he failed to land a lethal blow.

After a round of fighting, the alpha let out a series of barks, issuing new orders. "They have the intelligence of wolves and the persistence to match. I underestimated them. If these had been actual wolves, they would have been even harder to handle."

The dogs attacked again, and Jiang Yi managed to wound a few more. The skirmish lasted less than a quarter of an hour before the dogs realized they couldn't overcome the man in front of them. Too many of their pack were injured; they knew that continuing would mean death. The alpha barked a retreat, and the pack vanished as quickly as they had arrived.

Jiang Yi didn't pursue them. He was lucky not to have been bitten—if he had caught rabies, it would be a death sentence. He turned his attention to the deer, which had collapsed and fallen unconscious. He hurried to bind it. "This deer is quite large, probably weighing one or two hundred pounds. This is a massive haul."

After securing the deer, he sat beneath a tree to rest, gasping for air. That had been too close. It was hard labor, but as long as he could make money, he could provide a good life. He drank some icy water to stave off his hunger, promising himself he’d roast some of the meat once he was back.

A cold gust of wind made him shiver. The weather was growing colder by the minute; he needed to earn enough money for warm clothing soon. He rubbed his hands incessantly, his fingers nearly numb. He couldn't let them go completely cold, or he’d lose the use of them. Once he was paid, he would buy two pairs of fur-lined gloves—one for himself and one for Shen Rong. They would be both warm and practical for work.

Suddenly, a gale began to howl. He needed to find shelter and wait for the wind to die down before descending. The mountain weather was fickle; one moment it was calm, the next, the wind was raging. Jiang Yi scanned his surroundings and spotted a cave nearby. His heart leaped with joy, and he drove his ox-cart toward the shelter.