There, the black pine forest was reflected, along with the shocking pools of blood on the ground, which were slowly being covered by the wind and snow.
This time, he was no longer the poor boy who was struggling to make ends meet and burdened with debt when he first transmigrated.
He is a hunter.
A true professional hunter.
Let's go.
Black sat in the passenger seat and lit a cigar.
Amidst the swirling smoke, the man nicknamed "Old Devil" unusually opened the car window, letting in a blast of cold air that dispelled the stench of blood from the car.
A very faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Go to the guild."
"Tonight, the whole of Kodiak Island will know what we did. We'll show those drunkards who only know how to brag all day what a real hunt is."
Su Wei stepped on the gas.
The Raptor pickup truck's engine roared deeply, its massive off-road tires crushing ice and snow as it charged toward the lights of the civilized world with the air of a victor.
And at the highest point of the truck bed.
The enormous brown bear skull swayed slightly as the ride continued, its stark white bone reflecting the light of the setting sun.
Those dark, hollow eye sockets still gaze upon the white wasteland it once ruled.
Chapter 122 The Hunter's Honor, Shock on the Street! (5800 words! Please subscribe!)
The black Raptor pickup truck rolled over the last stretch of snow-covered dirt road, its tires filled with frozen soil and gravel.
The car body swayed heavily as the road surface undulated.
The combined weight of the three giant beasts' flesh and blood, along with the combined weight of four people and four dogs, crushed a thick rut into the snow-covered road.
Fortunately, this was a modified Raptor; otherwise, it might not have been able to withstand such treatment.
Su Wei stepped on the brakes.
The vehicle came to a smooth stop in the open space in front of the wooden house.
The mountain of flesh in the back of the truck tilted slightly forward due to inertia, its antlers hitting the rear window guardrail with a dull metallic clang.
"Arrive."
Su Wei pulled the handbrake and turned off the engine.
The vibrations from the car body disappeared, and all that remained was the whistling of the cold wind through the pine forest.
The car door opened.
Caesar was the first to jump out of the wagon bed.
Although the German Shepherd was tired, it still landed with a light and graceful gait.
It shook off the snowflakes, circled Su Wei's trouser leg twice, and exhaled two puffs of white breath from its nostrils.
The three hounds followed suit, jumping down and lying obediently beside the woodpile at the garage entrance, unlike when they had been running around wildly.
This trip exhausted everyone, including the dogs.
Su Wei went around to the back of the car and checked the ropes binding the prey.
The enormous brown bear's head faced backward, its unseeing eyes filled with a thin layer of snow.
Dark red blood dripped down the rear fender of the pickup truck, burning a row of glaring red spots on the snow.
This scene is too gruesome.
In the city, the smell of blood alone would be enough to attract the attention of the police.
But in Alaska, this is a pass.
"I'll go get the dog some food and water."
Su Wei patted the leather gloves on his hands and turned to walk into the house.
"Etc."
Aruk jumped out of the passenger seat, the big guy was as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood, and took a few steps to block Su Wei's way.
"You're just going to stay here like this?"
Aruk pointed to the car, then to the road leading to town.
Su Wei took off his hat and scratched his sweat-dampened hair.
"What else? Let's settle Caesar and the others first. These dogs are Mr. Black's lifeblood. If they freeze or starve, the old man will skin me alive."
As Su Wei spoke, he glanced at Black, who was unloading his gun.
The old hunter didn't speak, but silently checked the paws of each hound to make sure they weren't cut by ice.
"I'll take care of the dog; you don't need to worry about it."
Aruk snatched the car keys from Su Wei's hand, twirled them on his fingers, and his face, reddened by the cold wind, was filled with impatience.
"Listen, brother. This is the King of the Island. The entire Kodiak Island hasn't seen anything this big in five years... no, ten years. This is a giant bear weighing over 600 kilograms. Not your average brown bear."
Aruk became more and more excited as he spoke, spitting everywhere.
"We can't just stay home like this. We need to go to town. Drive this car onto the main street, from one end to the other, and then circle around it twice."
Su Wei frowned.
He instinctively resisted the suggestion.
It is an ancestral precept not to flaunt one's wealth. Such high-profile ostentation not only brings no real benefit, but may also attract trouble and jealousy.
"Isn't that unnecessary?"
Su Wei reached for the key.
"The prey is dead. Whether we parade it through the streets or not, its fur and bile won't increase by a single gram. I want to get to the guild as soon as possible to complete the formalities and secure the money. US dollars are what truly matter."
Aruk deftly put his hands behind his back, his face full of disappointment.
"Money. All you ever think about is money. Su Wei, this is honor. This is your chance to have your name etched into the Kodiak hunters' circle. Don't you understand what it means that only a true man can conquer a beast?"
"I don't understand. All I know is that I want to take a hot shower and then have a good meal."
Su Wei felt somewhat helpless.
For local youths like Aruk, who value face and so-called social standing, empty fame might be more alluring than US dollars.
But for Su Wei, the system's experience points, the numbers in his bank account, and the development of his own territory were what he cared about.
"Give me the key. Or you can open it?"
Su Wei spread his hands.
"I won't open it."
Aruk shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"You have to drive this car. You're the main attacker; you're the one who killed that bear. Only you deserve to hold the steering wheel and receive the stares of those drunks. I'll sit in the passenger seat and take care of the girls' screams for you."
This guy's got a clever plan.
Su Wei was about to refuse.
" Aruk is right."
A hoarse voice broke in.
Black, who had been silent all along, straightened up, patted Caesar on the head, and gestured for the hounds to go inside and rest.
The old hunter took a cigar out of his pocket, but didn't light it; he just held it to his nose and sniffed it.
Those grey-blue eyes looked at Su Wei, and the coldness of the wilderness was gone, replaced by a deeper meaning.
"Teacher, are you joining in the commotion too?"
Su Wei was somewhat surprised.
Black usually dislikes noise and ostentation.
This isn't just making a scene.
Black walked over to the Raptor vehicle, reached out and tapped on the huge moose antler, making a crisp, tinkling sound.
"In the wilderness, we must be as silent as the dead. Any unnecessary noise is an invitation to death."
The old hunter turned around, leaned against the car door, and gazed at the faintly visible town lights in the distance.
"But this is the human world. Hunters earn their living through their skills and their reputation."
Black struck a match.
The orange flame flickered in the cold wind, lighting the cigar.
Smoke rose.
"Why do you think those wealthy people spend tens of thousands of dollars to hire guides? They don't lack meat; they lack stories, they lack legends. An unknown hunter who kills a hundred deer is just a butcher. But a hunter who hunted the King of the Island, even if you only lead fishing trips afterward, will command three times the price."
Black exhaled a puff of smoke, which was instantly torn apart by the wind.