Volume 1, Chapter 18: Exterminate the Wolf Pack!

Xu Mo slung his hunting rifle over his shoulder, coiled a length of ox-hide rope around his arm, and sprinted toward the back of the village.

After several minutes of running headlong, his breath came in ragged gasps as he reached the mountain path behind the village. The snow was over half a meter deep, burying him up to his knees. He unwound the rope from his arm, quickly forming loops and knots to create crude snares, which he tossed onto the snow. He had no idea if they would work or how effective they might be; he was simply taking precautions.

Once finished, he took a handful of shredded wolf king hide from his pocket, scattered it around the area, and slowly crouched down, burying his entire body within the deep snow. The biting cold of midwinter felt like needles piercing into one’s very bones, yet once submerged in the snowbank, the temperature actually felt more bearable. Of course, staying buried for too long would eventually sap his body’s vitality, causing muscles and blood vessels to freeze without him even realizing it.

Large, feather-like snowflakes drifted down, landing on his head. With only half his face exposed, his eyes remained fixed on the village. As time ticked by, he felt his hands, tucked inside his wolf-hide gloves, beginning to numb. He estimated only four or five minutes had passed. He felt a sense of helplessness; his current physical state and stamina were far too poor. In his prime during his previous life, he could have stayed in a snowbank for over a dozen minutes, even shirtless, without suffering any physical damage.

Suddenly, Xu Mo’s eyes snapped open. A group of men carrying torches was approaching.

"Didn't you say Heizi had already reached the back of the village? Where is he?"

"I definitely saw him running this way. Where could he have gone? You don't think he was dragged off by a wolf, do you?"

"Shut your mouth. The snow wolf outside Red Star’s house was killed by Heizi. How could he possibly be dragged off by a wolf?"

"Stop the chatter. Leave two men here to watch, and the rest of you, come with me to search the surroundings."

Xu Mo watched the villagers scatter, remaining silent. Snow wolves were cunning; he wasn't certain if others were lurking nearby. If he spoke up, they certainly wouldn't show themselves. The commotion in the village grew louder, and more torches were raised. Facing the threat of the pack, the villagers had brought out their precious kerosene and other fuel sources. If things continued this way, the wolves hiding in the village would surely be discovered.

***

Beside the snow-covered mountain path, Xu Houcai and Xu Zhongguo huddled together, whispering.

"Brother Houcai, how did Old Ming’s youngest son become so capable? Back in the mountains, he killed the wolf king all by himself and saved those brats. Just a moment ago, outside Big Ox’s cowshed, he killed another snow wolf. You didn't see the carcass—the bullet hit it right in the throat, dead as a stone!"

Xu Houcai gave a dry laugh. "Old Ming was blind to cast aside his son just to get rid of that crazy woman..."

Suddenly, the smile on Xu Houcai’s face froze. His eyes widened, staring at something behind Xu Zhongguo. Seeing his expression shift, Xu Zhongguo realized something was wrong. Without thinking, he threw himself to the side, diving into the nearby snow.

"WOLF!!!"

Xu Houcai let out a roar. Though fear filled his eyes, he did not panic; he swung his raised torch with all his might at the lunging snow wolf.

"BOOM!"

The torch smashed into the wolf’s head, but the force of its leap was immense, knocking the torch away.

"BANG!"

Just as the wolf’s front paws were about to tear into Xu Houcai’s chest, a deafening gunshot rang out. Xu Houcai felt his whole body go numb as he was knocked hard onto the snow by the wolf’s momentum. Bright red blood sprayed from the wolf’s eye socket, splattering across his face.

The roar had already drawn the nearby villagers, and the gunshot sent everyone else in the village racing toward the sound.

"Brother Houcai!" Xu Zhongguo scrambled out of the snow, looking panicked as he kicked the wolf’s carcass off of Xu Houcai.

"Cough, cough!" Xu Houcai, struggling to breathe under the weight, coughed twice before Xu Zhongguo helped him up. Seeing the wolf's eye socket shredded by the bullet, a lingering fear washed over him. That marksmanship was truly pinpoint!

Xu Mo stood up from the snowbank and brushed the powder off his clothes. Xu Houcai and Xu Zhongguo stared in astonishment; they had been standing right there for quite a while without realizing Xu Mo had been hidden beside them.

"Heizi, you're the best!" Xu Houcai gave him a thumbs-up.

"Damn, Brother Houcai, why is your face covered in blood? You didn't get scarred, did you?"

"Heizi, that's amazing! You killed another snow wolf!"

***

"Heizi has really grown into his own..."

Xu Mo loaded the rifle, his expression slightly solemn. There was only one wolf... so, where were the others?

"Uncles, the pack is clearly growing desperate..."

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

Just as Xu Mo spoke, a series of gunshots erupted from the direction of the village entrance. The crowd cheered. The gunfire sounded like firecrackers, confirming the pack had appeared.

"Let's go, let's see at the entrance!"

"Damn these wolf pups, they’re cunning—they're at both ends of the village..."

"Kill them all and avenge Hammer’s family!"

Watching the men rush off, their eyes bloodshot and filled with killing intent, Xu Mo arched a brow. He couldn't help but feel the pack’s actions were illogical. A new wolf king must have emerged within the pack. If the new king was clever enough to send a scout to the back of the village, why would they all swarm the front entrance at once? Perhaps they were trying to force their way out?

That wasn't impossible. No matter how cunning or intelligent wolves were, they were still just beasts. With that thought, Xu Mo hesitated no longer and ran toward the village entrance with his rifle on his back.

By the time he arrived, thirteen snow wolf carcasses were lined up in the snow. The old village chief was beaming with excitement. Seeing Xu Mo, he stepped forward, clapped him heavily on the shoulder, and shouted to the crowd, "Tonight, the fact that we were able to kill so many snow wolves is entirely thanks to Heizi. If not for his warning, let alone killing these wolves, many of us in the village would have met a tragic end!"

"The chief is right. If Heizi hadn't told us the wolves were still in the village, we were planning to head out to hunt them down. Once those damn beasts broke into our homes, the consequences would have been unthinkable!"

Old Kuzi clapped his hands to grab everyone’s attention and shouted, "Fellow villagers, I have a proposal. Let’s skin these wolves and make a set of wolf-hide clothing for Heizi, what do you say?"

"Yes, yes! Make him a set of wolf-hide clothes."

"Tonight’s events can’t be settled with just a set of clothes. I suggest we record this night in the family records and make a name for Heizi. Let our descendants know of his merit and his skill!"