Chapter 3 – Bear

Once home, Feng Yu quickly grabbed the shotgun, met up with Wen Dongjun and proceed to meet Liu Jichuan.

Liu Jichuan froze for a minute when he saw Feng Yu holding a shotgun, but he did not say anything. He grabbed his own hunting rifle and walk together with Feng Yu and DongJun, towards the Duck Ditch.

“Feng Yu, you said you didn’t want to come along, but why did you change your mind?” Liu Jichuan asked suddenly, while they were walking.

“I had nothing to do at home anyway. So, I decided to join you guys.” Feng Yu answered, looking Liu Jichuan carefully. Feng Yu did not notice any changes in Liu Jichuan’s expression. Could he have misunderstood him?

“I knew you wanted to go. Follow me today, and I will make sure you won’t go home empty-handed.”

They walked for about one hour before they reach the Duck Ditch. Liu Jichuan took out a pack of “Black Antelope” cigarettes from his pocket. He took one cigarette and offered the box to Feng Yu and Dongjun.

“I don’t smoke.” Feng Yu waved his hand. Even if he wanted to smoke, he would not smoke this kind of filter-less dried tobacco cigarettes. Only those hardcore smokers can withstand this type of cigarettes.

Wen Dongjun also waved his hand: “Brother Chuan, I don’t smoke too. However, when we are on our way back, and I am too tired to walk, I will take one from you.”

“OK, I will let the both of you experience my shooting skills. Remember, do not run around in this area. Many hunting traps are laying around here. Most importantly, when not using the gun, always point the muzzle down. This is to prevent accidents. Don’t open fire too hastily. It is better to miss than to accidentally hurt someone.” Liu Jichuan said.

“I know. Hurry up. A pheasant just flew passed!” Wen Dongjun urged.

Feng Yu looked at Liu Jichuan curiously. From the way he speaks, he seems to have no intention of hurting Dongjun. Was it because I had joined them on this hunt or am I overthinking and it was really an accident.

“Follow me and try to step where I stepped. OK, stop. Feng Yu, you take cover behind this tree. You can load the rounds but point the gun down. ”

“Brother Chuan, let Dongjun stay here. I will hide at the tree in front.” Feng Yu was still wary of letting Wen Dongjun alone with Liu Jichuan.

“Well then, Dongjun stay here. We will be thirty meters apart. Even if the gun misfire, no one will be hurt. Remember to stay near this tree. There are traps for big games around this vicinity. Stepping into a big trap can be very dangerous. “Liu Jichuan ordered.

Wen Dongjun waved his hand indicating them to go faster. He then leans on the tree loading rounds into his gun while looking in front.

“You squat here. Do not shout unless you notice a big game. I will go there, and we will go back in an hour’s time” Liu Jichuan instructed and walked towards the front in the deep snow.

“OK.” Feng Yu nodded and start loading his shotgun.

No matter how you look at Liu Jichuan, he does not look like he was going to harm Dongjun. But how to explain the traced of resentment in his eyes earlier in the afternoon? Feng Yu was confident that he cannot be wrong about Jichuan with his forty-something years of life experience.

After waiting for nearly half an hour, Wen Dongjun grew impatient. There are no pheasants, let alone larger games like roe deer, Lynx (wild cats), foxes, etc. He wondered if they were going home empty handed today.

They had walked more than an hour to reach here and will take more than an hour to walk back. Furthermore, they had been waiting for an hour in this cold place.

Wen Dongjun blew his nose. He should have followed Feng Yu’s suggestion and stayed at home playing poker. It will be much more comfortable compared to this.

Bang!

A gunshot was heard in the distance. Wen Dongjun straightened up and looked over. Liu Jichuan had shot a Lynx.

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Wen Dongjun excitedly stood up and ran towards Liu Jichuan, forgetting that he was not supposed to run about.

Liu Jichuan suddenly ran out of the woods, crossing his hands to signal Dongjun. Wen Dongjun thought that Liu Jichuan was showing off to him and ran even faster. However, Feng Yu could tell that Liu Jichuan was trying to let Dongjun not to go over.

Feng Yu grabbed Wen Dongjun: “Dongjun, don’t go there, there are traps in this wood!”

“What’s there to be afraid of? See these footprints? As long as I follow these footprints, I won’t step into any traps?” Wen Dongjun said indifferently. “That lynx might be still alive. I have yet to see a live Lynx.”

Feng Yu wanted to say something, but suddenly noticed Liu Jichuan running towards them and shouting: “Hurry, run! Follow the footprints!”

Not far away, a huge shadow emerged from the woods. A bear!

“Brother Chuan, dodge!” Wen Dongjun aimed his gun. He had not shot any bears in his life yet!

Feng Yu did not know what to say. Is this Dongjun stupid or brave. Unless that big bear was shot in its vital areas such as the eyes, it can’t be killed easily. With its thick hide, ten rounds might not even kill it!

Liu Jichuan hurriedly lies flat on the snow the same time Wen Dongjun fired. Missed! Instead of injuring the bear, the shot made the bear even angrier!

“Stop aiming and quickly run!” Feng Yu pulled Dongjun. With your shooting skills, by the time you hit the bear, the bear’s will be right in front of your face.

All three ran like crazy. But because of the snow, they were not able to run fast. Mainly, they were still holding on to their heavy guns.

“Do not run towards there. There are traps!” Liu Jichuan shouted loudly.

Feng Yu grabbed Wen Dongjun and changed direction. However, there was no way for these three to outrun a bear in this thick snow. The distance between them and the bear was getting closer. Liu Jichuan was only thirty meters away from the bear.

“Brother Chuan, lead the bear here!” Feng Yu gritted his teeth and pulled Wen Dongjun towards the traps area. If the bear was not caught by the traps, then at least one out of the three of them will have to die here. Of course, this person was most likely to be Liu Jichuan.

At that juncture, Liu Jichuan had no other choice. He did not even have time to load his gun. He hurriedly ran towards Feng Yu. If he had unluckily stepped on any traps, he would definitely be dead.

Shouldn’t bears be hibernating at this time of the year? Why was this bear running about now? If the bear was just passing by, it shouldn’t come towards us if we were hiding. This bear must be starving and came out of hibernation to look for food. Moreover, the bear was agitated by the gun shoot. When facing an enraged bear, even the most experienced hunter with a pack of hunting dogs will have to run.

Feng Yu and Wen Dongjun quickly loaded their guns and watched Liu Jichuan ran towards them with the bear following behind closely.

Liu Jichuan prayed hard to not step on any traps while he ran. With the heavy snow, he could not really see if there are any traps on the ground.

Snapped!

A trap triggered. Liu Jichuan fell to the ground. Fortunately for him, it was a small animal trap. He sat on the ground and tried to free his leg from the trap with both his hands. The bear was getting closer and closer. There were only less than ten meters between him and the bear.

Bang!

A gunshot. The bear took a step back, and there are bloodstains on its ear.

Roar ~ ~ ~

The bear became even more aggressive!

With his hands trembling, Feng Yu held onto his gun. Adding both his past and present lives, he had only shoot small birds.

Bang!

One more shot was fired. Some bloodstain appeared on the bear’s mouth. Wen Dongjun had also hit the bear.

But the bear was not down yet. Instead, the bear increased its speed and rushed towards Liu Jichuan who was still on the ground.