Bear Hunting

Wu Tian's behavior was not a good thing for the Hunting Team as a whole, nor was it what a qualified hunting hound should do.

Deep in this dangerous jungle, maintaining one's strength and vigilance at all times and avoiding meaningless battles were the most basic principles.

But for a young hound who had only just turned two, both the Hunting Team and Silver Frost showed him the greatest tolerance.

Wu Tian was too young. At worst, once he was exhausted, they could simply toss him into a pouch and be done with it.

The members of the Hunting Team and the other adult white dogs all thought Wu Tian was merely bursting with energy and wanted to run wild everywhere.

In truth, Wu Tian simply did not want to waste even the slightest bit of time, instead using every moment to hone his skills.

Once they reached the depths of the jungle, snakes, insects, poisonous ants, wild rabbits, and squirrels could be seen almost everywhere. Wu Tian swallowed poisonous insects, pounced on venomous snakes, and hunted wild rabbits and squirrels.

Although it was difficult for him to catch wild rabbits and squirrels directly on his own, the prey that tried to flee was quickly caught by the adult white dogs surrounding them.

Along the way, the Hunting Team had failed to capture any large prey, but they had caught three wild rabbits. Such a haul was barely enough to serve as provisions for the Hunting Team, let alone enough to bring back to the stockade.

"This forest sees very few cattle, deer, or sheep. Gathering enough food is truly too difficult." A burly man with muscles bulging across both arms grumbled, "Chief, it's hard for us to hunt enough food here. Should we change locations or go deeper into the jungle?"

Guxiong Mu said solemnly, "To the north of the stockade lies Skull Mountain. It's a land of death and a Forbidden Area. Even approaching it would be courting death."

"To the east lies Black Fish Lake. It used to be the best hunting ground for us, but an old bear became a spirit there. It devours moonlight, has Steel Bones and Iron Muscles, is Invincible to Blades and Spears, and possesses immense strength. The last time the Hunting Team went hunting there, seven lives were lost, and the survivors barely escaped back."

"To the south lies the hunting ground of Crimson Blood Stockade. They possess Crimson Blood Gu, and there are over a thousand people in the stockade. We can't afford to offend them."

"The western side where we're traveling now is a deep, primeval forest, extremely dangerous. If we're even slightly careless and encounter spirits or ghosts, I'm afraid the entire team could be wiped out."

"We can't act recklessly. Even if we return empty-handed, it's still better than losing our lives."

"First, gradually figure out the surrounding environment. Don't try to show off..."

The members of the Hunting Team actually understood this logic. It was just that the old and young at home were all starving until their skin clung to their bones, so whenever they went out, they wanted to bring back enough food for their families.

After cautiously searching the western forest for the entire day, the Hunting Team had caught only seven or eight wild rabbits and two wild foxes. But with over a hundred people in the stockade, this was nowhere near enough.

When dusk was approaching, the Hunting Team hurried back. Not spending the night outside after dark was common sense.

Wu Tian could understand human speech, but he could do nothing to help with the predicament facing the stockade.

The greatest benefit of staying with the team was that whenever he grew tired, Guxiong Mu would grab him and toss him into his leather pouch to rest.

Whenever Wu Tian was tired, he rested. Once he recovered his strength, he went out again to hone his hunting and Listen to the Wind skills and devour poisonous creatures.

Thus, three days passed in succession. As the Hunting Team cautiously explored the surrounding environment, Silver Frost discovered several dangerous places. In the western forest was a python that was on the verge of becoming a spirit, nearly ten zhang long.

Fortunately, Silver Frost discovered it early and had the Hunting Team avoid it from a distance.

Besides that, an old bear had also been spotted. During this time, they discovered a pack of wild wolves as well—at least more than twenty of them—roaming through the jungle and posing a serious danger.

After carefully investigating the surrounding environment, Guxiong Mu decided to make a move against the old bear. More than a dozen white dogs surrounded it from all sides, sealing off every route for its escape.

Guxiong Mu and the other members of the Hunting Team slowly tightened the encirclement. Once they reached a sufficient distance, everyone drew their bows and nocked arrows before unleashing a volley at the old bear with its pitch-black fur.

The old bear had Thick Skin and Tough Flesh. Most of the arrows failed even to pierce its fur, merely lodging in its hide and making the beast roar in pain.

But Guxiong Mu's arrow was the most accurate. It shot straight into the old bear's eye socket, and blood immediately flowed out, driving the old bear into a frenzy of agony.

It rose onto its hind legs, letting out furious snarls without pause, then charged toward Guxiong Mu and the others.

The members of the Hunting Team all had extremely rich experience in killing prey. Faced with the old bear's attack, they scattered in every direction.

After pursuing them for a while, the wounded old bear was forced to stop because of blood loss. Panting heavily, it began to flee.

The members of the Hunting Team followed it, firing an arrow whenever they found an opportunity.

Silver Frost and the other white dogs also prowled around the perimeter, periodically driving off other wild beasts drawn by the scent of blood.

Fortunately, this black bear had always been a creature few in the forest dared to provoke. Upon hearing its roars, most of the other beasts scattered and fled.

After following behind the black bear for more than half an hour, it finally collapsed to the ground from excessive blood loss.

The black bear let out a pained roar and tried to struggle, but after it had just managed to stand, it fell to the ground again after taking only a few steps.

Once they confirmed that the black bear had lost most of its fighting strength, Silver Frost and the other adult white dogs immediately surrounded it and launched attacks from every direction. Silver Frost, in particular, seized an opening and bit straight into the black bear's throat.

Wu Tian naturally wouldn't let such an opportunity pass and pounced as well.

The sight of more than a dozen white dogs hunting a black bear was extremely bloody. Only after the black bear had completely lost its life did Silver Frost and the other white dogs stop.

They often worked with the Hunting Team, and they knew exactly how much force to use when biting. They had not torn the black bear into a bloody mess.

Guxiong Mu and the others drew their hunting knives and began butchering it, cutting through the old bear's fur and dividing the black bear into pieces.

The dozen or so people divided the black bear's hide, flesh, and blood among themselves until nothing remained, then quickly headed back to the stockade.

The journey back would be extremely dangerous. Many people were carrying bear meat on their backs and had no way to fight. On top of that, the scent of blood would draw other hunters from the jungle.

Silver Frost and the other white dogs spread far out along the way, investigating every movement around them to prevent other jungle predators from surrounding them.

Sure enough, the scent of blood still attracted the Wolf Pack wandering nearby. They followed the Hunting Team relentlessly.

But Silver Frost and the other white dogs kept their eyes fixed on the vicious wolves, while the two sides constantly probed and confronted each other.

Several times, when the wild wolves were about to charge, Guxiong Mu drew his bow and fired an arrow, frightening the Wolf Pack back.

With more than a dozen white dogs and a Hunting Team of nearly twenty people, the Wolf Pack did not dare attack directly.

It was only when they neared the outskirts of the stockade that the Wolf Pack unwillingly let out a howl and vanished into the jungle.