Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

the next day.

As the rooster crowed, people beat drums and gongs in the streets and alleys, announcing that the grand hunt would begin the day after tomorrow.

The tranquil mountain village instantly erupted in excitement, with countless people waking up from their sleep and rushing to prepare to leave the city.

The large-scale hunt mobilized the entire village, and it was of great significance to everyone.

Liu Xingmo also began preparations.

He led Bao Hei out, wrapped the tortoise shell tightly with a leather belt, and tied it with a saddle.

He carried his wife into the car and headed south of the town, intending to buy a vehicle.

It wasn't a flatbed cart for hauling goods, but a covered van that people could live in.

This is a luxury item; only wealthy and powerful families have private cars.

After all, at the very least, a contracted beast like a wild rabbit would be needed to pull it. This requires a top-tier second-tier expert to act as the driver.

The people who drive buses on Birch Avenue are all respectable people. They can earn tens of yuan a day, some even hundreds. Ordinary people can't compare at all.

To make a living in a village, one needs to consider labor force and productivity; ultimately, it comes down to strength.

……

The Xizhen car dealership is run by two skilled brothers.

One was a carpenter, and the other a blacksmith; together they created an exquisite carriage.

They each have children who inherited their fathers' skills and have built a large and successful business.

Today, the third, fifth, and eighth grandchildren were stationed at the entrance to the parking lot. They were called in temporarily to guide the process.

On the main road, people streamed in and out in an endless stream.

Among them, a giant tortoise walked slowly with steady steps.

The two figures on the tortoise shell are a man who is polite and refined, and a woman with fair skin and a pure heart.

This is a big client!

The three brothers stood up at the same time and rushed forward, afraid that if they were a step too late, they would miss out on the reward money.

……

Before long, Liu Xingmo sat in the driver's seat, urging Bao Hei to pull a carriage away from the yard.

The carriage is three meters wide and six meters long, with a square outline made of lightweight and sturdy metasequoia wood; the axles and wheels are made of high-quality steel, one set at the front and one at the back, supporting the heavy body; and there are imported shock absorbers and rubber tires to ensure a comfortable ride.

Next, I'll buy a new saddle from the leatherworker, a large bamboo insect cage from the bamboo weaver, then a blacksmith... and a stonemason...

Busy, busy, busy.

There are still many things to do when I get home.

Food, bedding, weapons, medicine...

Meanwhile, other families were also extremely busy.

The lights of the entire mountain forest town shone all night.

In the early hours of the morning, the moon and stars were sparse.

Night mist rises from the desolate mountains and forests, a white expanse in the darkness, like silk soaked in coolness, silently spreading across the ridgeline of the mountain peaks.

The wooden houses perched atop the fruit trees still glowed with a warm, orange light. Young and strong men, carrying their belongings, bid farewell to the elderly and children, and set off into the night in the cold wind.

At this time, one must get up early and head out of the city. The mountain road to the city gate takes a whole day.

The crowds converged into a sea of ​​people on the stone-paved road, a dense, jostling mass. Countless insects and beasts also pulled carts carrying goods, forming a mighty torrent.

When the rooster crows and the dog barks.

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali also set off.

This time, Liu Xingmo successfully used the reins to lasso Bao Hei's head.

Pull the rope tight with your left hand, and the turtle's head turns to the left, its body following suit. Pull the rope tight with your right hand, and the car veers to the right.

Great, that's exactly the effect I wanted.

Liu Xingmo drove his new car and merged into the crowd.

Countless envious glances were cast over the scene, some subtle and some overt.

Liu Xingmo didn't care... well, actually he did care quite a bit.

Sitting in the carriage, Su Mali came to the driver's seat from the front door and sat next to her husband: "Xingmo, how's the carriage?"

"Very good, no bumps or wobbles, no problems. You really get what you pay for, the five hundred yuan was well spent." Liu Xingmo looked ahead, his eyes reflecting the entire road.

"Do you really like cars?" Sumali asked the person next to her, looking ahead.

"For a man, a car is like a lifeless beast! A silent and reliable partner!" Liu Xingmo gave the reins a sharp jerk. "Giddy up! Giddy up!"

"This is the first time I've known you had this hobby." Sumali put her arm around her husband's waist. "What are your plans for this trip out of town?"

"Catching a ferocious giant insect is the primary task. Let Bao Hei stretch his muscles and try to find some treasure; that's the secondary task. As for everything else, we'll leave it to fate."

"Oh. Do you want to learn how to shoot?" Sumali asked, throwing out a sudden question.

"Yes! Please teach me!" Liu Xingmo agreed without hesitation.

Hunting is a man's instinct.

In this world, slaying dragons and tigers, slaughtering pigs and killing bears are things you can brag about for a lifetime. Your descendants will be proud to mention them.

Liu Xingmo had long harbored this idea, but unfortunately, he never had the opportunity.

A small-caliber rifle can easily kill a squirrel the same size as a human.

Further up, killing rabbits becomes very difficult, and killing wild cats depends on luck.

As for wolves and deer, only high-level experts are qualified to hunt them.

However, shooting sparrows is quite fun! Shooting doves would be even better!

Liu Xingmo was eager to try, and even put down the reins, letting Bao Hei go along the way.

He climbed into the carriage and learned how to use firearms from his wife.

He's actually very familiar with this approach, but he just hasn't had the chance to use it.

As the saying goes, "He who possesses a weapon will naturally have the will to kill." Once a man has a gun in his hand, he stands tall and proud.

Therefore, Su Mali deliberately prevented Liu Xingmo from touching the gun, and even locked the bullets in an alloy safe.

She was afraid that her husband would misbehave when he went fishing in the city.

In the past, when we could only cut the line on these huge creatures that had taken the bait, now that we had a gun, we wanted to try our luck at eating their marrow.

That's really what Liu Xingmo thought.

He was already pondering the difference between the thigh meat of an eagle and the thigh meat of a chicken.

He touched the gun, wishing he could disappear into the mountains as soon as possible.

They're moving so slowly, how come we haven't reached the outskirts of the city yet?

The whole day was spent on the road.

As the sun sets, the bright red sun hangs on the western mountaintops, painting the forests with the colors of the evening glow.

In the distance, a massive city wall emerges from the valley, its gray-black stone bricks gilded with a layer of gold-red, like a fortress built of gold, guarding the ancient land.

It was the place I passed through when I was chopping wood last time; it was called Tiegu Pass and was the gateway to Xizhen.

The open space inside the walls is now bustling like a market.

Countless people camped here, setting up hundreds of tents and lighting dozens of bonfires.

People who know each other form teams to discuss hunting plans. Some also form temporary groups or hire bodyguards.

Some people don't plan to leave the city; they're just here to do business.

During the great hunting season, you could make a fortune just by selling food and drinks.

They can also buy good meat such as sparrows and frogs cheaply, and cure it with salt to make bacon, adding a few dishes to the dinner table during the New Year.

Liu Xingmo gathered information from the crowd and decided on his itinerary for tomorrow.

Sumari prepared dinner, cooking some food by the campfire.

The mountain forest was quite cold on an autumn night.

The two finished their meal in the warm carriage and then went to sleep.

The next day, at dawn, before the sky was bright.

The sound of gongs and drums startled all the sleeping people awake.

The stronghold inside the city walls became lively again.

The people ate breakfast, fed the livestock, and then began their journey.

The stronger individuals are on the outer perimeter, responsible for guarding the area. Those with weaker abilities are in the inner circle, moving cautiously.

Liu Xingmo drove the carriage, following the main group, through the city gate, which was more than ten meters wide.

Towering ancient trees and jagged rocks stand silently in the desolate world.

We've arrived in the wild again, in the home of wild animals.