The voice was loud, but Li Long could tell it came from outside the rifle's forward field of fire, and from some distance away-at least thirty or forty meters.
Everyone immediately lowered their guns at the shout, afraid of hitting someone. Because of that shout, the remaining red deer seized the chance to escape, when they could otherwise have fired another volley.
Four red deer lay on the ground. Li Long knew which one he had shot, but he was not yet sure who had shot the others.
There clearly were not enough to go around. He felt some regret; without that shout, they could at least have taken one home per family.
He could have fired at least one more shot.
But there was still no movement in the red willow flats, so Li Long called out:
"We've put our guns away. Come on out!" He guessed the people over there were afraid they would fire again, which was why they dared not emerge.
A few seconds after he called out, figures appeared to the northeast.
There were two men, one holding a gun at the ready and the other carrying a stick.
Seeing that Li Long and the others had all slung their guns over their shoulders, the armed man finally lowered his own, though he remained cautious as he approached.
"Where are you people from? Why are you firing recklessly out here?" The man with the gun was angry and began demanding answers as soon as he arrived. He addressed Li Jianguo, the oldest, taking it for granted that he must be their leader.
"What's wrong? Where does it say we can't hunt here?" Li Long stepped forward and asked before Li Jianguo could answer. "What, does someone own this sandy hollow?"
The man was momentarily stumped.