sbdcsierra Chapter 485 Resting in a Cave for One Night
Chapter 485 Resting in a Cave for One Night
The two continued their journey through the mountains in search of new prey.
The mountain breeze rustled the treetops, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
"Brother Xiangyang, look over there!" Wang Ergou suddenly pointed to a ravine ahead and whispered.
Li Xiangyang looked in the direction he was pointing and saw an adult wild boar rooting at the ground in an open area about seventy or eighty meters away.
"Goodness, we're in luck today," Li Xiangyang said softly, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.
For experienced hunters like Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou, a wild boar also means a considerable harvest.
"What do we do?" Wang Ergou asked. "Should we attack directly or get closer first?"
Li Xiangyang carefully observed the wild boar's position and the surrounding terrain, then replied in a low voice, "We'll split up. You circle to the left and find a high vantage point; I'll approach from the right, getting as close as possible before firing to ensure a one-shot kill. If it doesn't kill me, it might charge at me, in which case you can finish it off from the flank."
Wang Ergou nodded and moved quietly to the small earthen slope on the left.
Li Xiangyang bent over and, using the bushes and trees for cover, slowly approached the wild boar.
He took each step cautiously, afraid of startling the prey ahead.
Wild boars have keen hearing and an even more acute sense of smell, and they can be easily spotted if you're not careful.
When they were about fifty meters away from the wild boar, Li Xiangyang stopped.
He found a sturdy pine tree for cover, slowly raised his hunting rifle, and aimed at the wild boar's head.
This distance was sufficient for Li Xiangyang.
In his previous life, he had shot an antelope a hundred meters away with a rifle on the African savanna, and he was absolutely confident at this distance now.
Li Xiangyang took a deep breath, held it, and steadily pulled the trigger.
"Bang!" With a crisp gunshot, the bullet struck the wild boar's head precisely.
The wild boar fell to the ground and struggled a few times before becoming still.
"Well done!" Wang Ergou said excitedly as he ran down the earthen slope.
Li Xiangyang did not approach immediately, but observed cautiously for a while. Only after confirming that the wild boar was indeed dead did he slowly walk over.
"What great luck! This trip has been quite fruitful!" Wang Ergou grinned. "Now our game is heavy enough, should we take it back first?"
Li Xiangyang glanced at the sky and nodded. "Well, we've had quite a haul today. Besides, this wild boar is too heavy; it takes two people to carry it. Let's take the game back to the village first."
The two men worked together to tie the wild boar to a sturdy wooden stick, each carrying one end, and slowly walked down the mountain.
Although the wild boar was heavy, two strong men were able to handle it.
They walked and stopped, occasionally switching shoulders, slowly moving towards the village.
"Brother Xiangyang," Wang Ergou said, panting heavily after walking for a while, "do you think we can get a good price for these medicinal herbs after we grow them?"
Li Xiangyang rested briefly, wiping the sweat from his brow: "Definitely. The recovery of traditional Chinese medicine is just beginning. In a few years, the demand for medicinal herbs will only increase. Our area has abundant mountain resources; the quality of the herbs we grow here will definitely be excellent."
Wang Ergou nodded in agreement: "Then shouldn't we also try to get more land to cultivate?"
"What's the rush? Let's focus on cultivating this plot of land well and gaining experience," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "You have to take things one step at a time; a steady and solid approach is the key."
The two continued walking for a while, and then it gradually got dark.
"I'm afraid we won't be able to go back today," Li Xiangyang said, glancing at the sky. "Let's rest in the cave ahead for the night and head down the mountain early tomorrow morning."
Wang Ergou knew that carrying such heavy prey on a mountain path at night was dangerous, so he nodded in agreement.
There was a small cave not far away, which they used to spend the night in when they hunted.
The entrance is small, but the space inside is spacious, and most importantly, it's safe.
Upon reaching the cave, the two carefully placed the wild boar and other prey on a flat rock outside the cave. This prevented the prey from being moistened by the ground and also kept them fresh thanks to the low temperature of the night.
After freeing themselves from the burden, the two couldn't help but stretch their sore shoulders and arms, and the sound of their joints cracking was incessant.
A thin layer of dust had accumulated inside the cave, indicating that no one had been there for some time.
Li Xiangyang took out the flint and tinder he had prepared beforehand from his backpack and skillfully started a campfire.
The moment the flames shot up, the entire cave was instantly illuminated, and the originally cold air became warm.
"This fire is so warm." Wang Ergou stretched out his hands and rubbed them against the fire.
Li Xiangyang went outside the cave to process the prey. He cut off a piece of meat from the wild boar, washed it carefully, skewered it with a stick, and roasted it over a fire.
Soon, the fat from the meat began to drip into the fire, sizzling and releasing an enticing aroma that filled the cave, making one's mouth water.
Li Xiangyang rotated the wooden stick from time to time to ensure the meat was heated evenly.
The firelight reflected on his focused face, outlining his resolute features.
"Alright." Li Xiangyang tore the roasted meat in half and handed one to Wang Ergou: "Here, eat something to replenish your energy."
Wang Ergou took the meat and eagerly took a big bite: "Mmm, so delicious! Brother Xiangyang, your cooking skills are getting better and better."
Li Xiangyang also took a bite of the meat. The perfectly roasted meat burst with a rich aroma in his mouth, making him close his eyes to savor it: "Wild game is wild game. You can't get this taste in the city no matter how much money you have."
As night deepened, the campfire gradually died down.
"You go to sleep first, I'll take the first shift, and you'll be relieved in two hours," Li Xiangyang said.
Wang Ergou nodded, lay down, and soon started snoring.
Li Xiangyang stood alone by the campfire, gazing at the starry sky through the cave entrance.
Countless stars dotted the deep blue sky, bright and dazzling.
He recalled his past life and the moments he shared with his family after his rebirth.
From the early days when his mother and sister were thin and hungry, to the present day when the whole family is well-fed and happy, all these changes have made him feel extremely satisfied.
Two hours later, Li Xiangyang woke up Wang Ergou, and the two switched the night watch duties.
After lying down, Li Xiangyang quickly fell asleep.
As dawn broke, Li Xiangyang opened his eyes.
Outside the cave, birds had already begun to sing, their clear chirping echoing through the mountains and forests.
"Ergou, wake up, let's get down the mountain early." Li Xiangyang nudged Wang Ergou, who was still fast asleep.
Wang Ergou rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up: "It's already dawn?"
After quickly packing up, the two worked together to carry the wild boar and other prey down the mountain.