Black's voice remained calm.
"We killed that bear in a coordinated attack on Pillar Mountain. That means there were four of us and four dogs! Don't think that just because you were the main attacker and killed the bear king, and then you killed another brown bear at close range, you can do whatever you want."
Do you know what hunting alone means in this season?
"I know, teacher."
Su Wei's voice remained calm.
"I am prepared for this, and I am confident."
"Are you confident?"
A sneer came through the receiver; it was very jarring.
Mid-November. Do you know what that means?
Black suddenly started speaking faster.
"This means all the brown bears are having a final, frenzied feeding spree. They'll attack anything that moves in their path to store fat for hibernation."
"They're not the lazy, berry-eating idiots you see in the summer. They're madmen now. Hungry, irritable, and with dulled pain receptors."
"Moreover, Laurent has very high requirements for the male bears he's offering for: they must weigh over 400 kilograms, have intact fur, and be of succulent meat. Those kinds of creatures are killing machines in this season."
Su Wei remained silent.
He didn't rely on luck, but on the reconnaissance capabilities of his Hunting Module. With this ability, he could quickly locate his prey.
And the Browning already equipped with a 4x scope, and the .300 Winchester Magnum,.220 Grain, Nosler Partition Bullet.
As long as he doesn't get close, he's confident he can end the fight from 300 meters away.
This will be a precise kill.
This is the true source of his confidence.
But Black didn't know that; all he knew was that his apprentice seemed to have become arrogant.
He was preparing to go on a dangerous hunt alone without having received his training.
I need this money.
Su Wei explained his reasons.
"Moreover, I need to use this solo hunt to make a name for myself in that circle."
"To risk your life for fame is a foolish proposition."
Black's cold assessment.
I will not die.
"Every novice who dies in the wilderness thinks this before pulling the trigger."
Silence fell again on the other end of the phone.
The only sounds were Black's heavy breathing and the crisp metallic click of the lighter lid opening and closing.
Su Wei remained silent, waiting quietly.
Since he didn't hang up or start swearing, it means there's still a chance for things to turn around.
Half a minute later, Black exhaled a puff of smoke.
"The assessment team in Anchorage has completed their work in the past few days, but the specific results are not yet available."
Su Wei was taken aback.
This means that Black has finished his mission.
"Then you..."
"Since you want to go and die, I can't stop you. This is your choice as a grown man."
Black interrupted him, his tone becoming extremely harsh.
"But before you go and offer that pretty boy to the brown bear as a snack, I have an obligation to check your quality one last time."
"Teacher?"
"4 AM tomorrow."
Black gave a time.
"Bring your Browning and your gear. Come to my hunter's lodge."
Su Wei glanced out the window.
At four in the morning, it was still completely dark, and it might even be snowing heavily.
"Is this for shooting practice?"
Su Wei asked.
"In this kind of weather, visibility at the firing range might be..."
"Range?"
Black's voice was filled with undisguised mockery.
"Do you think that bear would stand a hundred meters away, with a red target hanging on its chest, waiting for you to adjust your breathing and calculate the wind speed before letting you comfortably fire?"
Su Wei's fingers tightened around her phone.
"Remember, don't be late. If you dare to be even a minute late, don't call me 'teacher' anymore. You can just let your bullshit confidence rot away in the wilderness."
"Beep, beep, beep"
The call was disconnected.
The busy signal echoed through the carriage.
Su Wei slowly put down his phone, the screen's light gradually dimming, reflecting his somewhat solemn face.
Outside the car window, the snow was falling harder and harder.
White snowflakes piled up on the windshield, were swept away by the wipers, and then stubbornly covered up again.
If you can't even get past Black, then going to challenge a brown bear alone is practically suicide.
Su Wei reached out and turned the key.
The engine let out a deep roar, and the car body vibrated.
He shifted into gear and stepped on the gas.
The pickup truck crushed the snow on the ground and sped off into the dark wilderness outside the town.
When the car arrived outside Old Hope's factory, Su Wei didn't turn off the engine. He pushed open the car door and jumped into the snowstorm.
He carried the heavy plastic bag and strode quickly across the muddy open space.
Clang.
The iron gate was pushed open with a thud, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed into the factory, only to be instantly swallowed up by the high temperature inside.
Old Hope was standing in front of the workbench, holding a small scalpel, making minor adjustments to the repaired antler forks.
Hearing the noise, he didn't even look up; he simply pushed up the magnifying glasses and goggles on his face.
"Close the door. Unless you want this place to turn into a cold storage room."
Su Wei turned around, closed the door, and locked it.
He walked to the workbench and laid out the three dark glass bottles from the plastic bag in a row.
The glass bottle struck the stainless steel countertop, making a crisp sound.
"Polyethylene glycol 400, premium softening oil, Tanner No. 1."
Su Wei pressed the crumpled prescription paper to the bottom of the bottle.
"Five hundred and twenty US dollars, cash payment settled."
Old Hope stopped what he was doing.
He put down the knife, and his hands, covered in age spots, picked up the bottle of softening oil in the middle.
He unscrewed the bottle cap, not looking at it with his eyes, but bringing it close to his nose.
He didn't take a deep breath; he just gently fanned his palm.
"That bald guy didn't add water."
Old Hope tightened the bottle cap again, his lips twitching slightly to reveal a set of smoky teeth.
"Looks like he's not senile yet."
He swept the three bottles of medicine into the cabinet behind him and locked it.
When he turned around, those cloudy gray eyes fixed on Su Wei's face.
Su Wei was pulling up the collar of his down jacket, but his gaze drifted across the workbench to the still steaming tanning vat, somewhat absentmindedly.
"How?"
Old Hope picked up a dirty rag and wiped the bone meal off his hands, his tone carrying his usual sarcasm.