Chapter 109: The Hunt

The guests and hosts parted on a joyful note. Upon returning to Guangzhou, Old Tan didn’t linger long—he had to hurry off to Shanghai, promising to meet again next time.

This was the essence of tact: knowing when to stop, taking only what’s offered. No one was foolish enough to think that a few meals could forge brotherhood; such notions were sheer nonsense.

The most stable relationships were built on mutual benefit—each party had value to the other. You help me, I help you; only then could the bond endure.

They stayed two days in a luxury mansion with three swimming pools—one for morning, one for noon, and another for evening. Sometimes, they would take the helicopter for a spin. Flying over the city was prohibited, but circling nearby was refreshing enough.

“Have you ever been to Changbai Mountain?” Johnson, sated and reclining in a massage chair, asked the two brothers. “I heard you can go hunting deep in the mountains?”

“I’ve been there several times on missions but never ventured into the deep forest. As for hunting…” Summer Dragon glanced at Summer Tiger, “There seems to be a professional shooting range with various free-range small animals. You pay, you play.”

Johnson nodded and told Summer Dragon to book the tickets. They’d head to Changbai Mountain tomorrow—tired of the city, they wanted to breathe in the mountain’s spirit.

He had long heard the legends surrounding Changbai—wild men of the mountains, bow hunting, knife hunting, and even the more fantastical tale of hand-hunting, tearing wild boars barehanded!

There were rumors of lake monsters in Heaven Lake, yetis in the woods—so many myths. With a top-notch bodyguard by his side and nothing pressing to do, a little adventure was welcome.

After landing in Baishan City, they went to a dealership and bought a top-spec Jeep Wrangler for just over 800,000 yuan. Johnson pulled out his contact list and, sure enough, found an experienced outdoor guide named Tiger Tooth charging 50,000 yuan a day.

Being a professional, the price was reasonable. He called Song Qiao to arrange everything and soon met the guide—a striking woman with short brown hair, fit and spirited.

Upon hearing they planned to hunt and ski in the mountains, she got straight to the point: “First, you’ll need to buy proper outdoor gear. I can recommend the most cost-effective options, and I get a rebate that I can pass on as a discount. Shall we?”

Johnson waved off the formality, impressed by her confidence. They headed to an outdoor supply store to start shopping.

“People without mountaineering experience think loose, comfortable clothing is enough. But once you’re on the trail, you realize ordinary clothes won’t protect you from thorns or the biting cold at the summit. Especially on Changbai Mountain, you must prepare an all-weather climbing suit in advance.”

She was well acquainted with the shopkeeper and immediately began her recommendations: “Shell jackets and pants—waterproof, windproof, breathable, with waterproof coatings. Whether you’re sitting on damp ground or trekking through rain and snow, they effectively block water and frost.”

“See the taped seams? The double-layer taped fabric has a waterproof breathable membrane laminated beneath the outer layer, and the garment includes an inner lining to protect this membrane…”

“Though the fabric feels stiff and less comfortable, it’s more durable and better for climbing. Prices vary widely by brand.”

“This one I’ve used for years—great quality at a fair price. Originally 4,800 yuan, I’ll give it to you for 4,000.”

Johnson nodded, letting Summer Dragon inspect it. After all, they weren’t climbing Everest. The girl smiled, noting the shopkeeper’s trust in her, and continued: “Next are quick-dry clothes, designed to wick sweat rapidly. Usually, back sweat dries within twenty minutes. If you wear ordinary sportswear and stop exercising abruptly, the sudden drop in body temperature can make you sick.”

“This fleece one-piece is compact and lightweight. Its snug cut reduces friction during movement. See the pre-shaped elbows and knees, underarm pleats, and slightly longer back hem? They help prevent your lower back from being exposed while climbing…”

“Packing a backpack follows a principle: light items at the bottom, heavy ones at the top, balanced left to right. Frequently used or uncompressed items go on top or in easy-to-reach places to keep the pack’s center of gravity high, aiding balance.”

“Left-right balance is critical too. An unbalanced pack can cause injury to one side during long treks.”

Glancing at the two robust brothers, she chuckled, “You two look like pros. No stamina issues. I suggest the largest pack—80 liters—to carry plenty of gear.”

They added grip shoes with a wolf claw design for strong traction at 3,600 yuan a pair, anti-slip gloves for 800, windproof hats at 1,200, and a pair of trekking poles for 3,000 to reduce strain on the knees.

Finally, climbing sunglasses to prevent snow blindness and UV damage—2,000 yuan each. Emergency supplies included altitude sickness medicine, wound care items, bandages, oxygen tanks...

Also a screwdriver, Swiss army knife, lighter or waterproof matches, raincoat, flashlight...

Walkie-talkies, tents, compressed biscuits, chocolates, beef jerky, raisins, energy bars...

In total, over 90,000 yuan charged to the card. The car’s trunk was stuffed with bags. At last, they set off directly for Changbai Mountain’s Lushui River International Hunting Resort.

There were four open hunting zones, one enclosed area, and one breeding area. The open zones covered 30,000 hectares, the enclosed area 110 hectares, equipped with standard hunting rifles and professional guides.

They bred sika deer, spotted deer, roe deer, wild boars, hares, pheasants, and a dozen other species.

The crisp, cool air was invigorating. Seeing their eager faces, the guide smiled: “You’re not visiting at the best time. In winter, you’d see all kinds of winter scenery—endless snowfields stretching over a hundred miles, the ice-covered Biquan Lake, the enchanting Biquan sunrise, and the dreamlike frosted corridors…”

Johnson took a deep breath. Clusters of white blanketed the horizon, surrounded by landscapes like ink and wash paintings, as if adorned with silver blossoms on jade trees. A mist hung in the air, hazy yet stirring, the pure white like a fairyland.

All his restless emotions seemed drawn into this icy world. The city’s smog and noise instantly froze into tranquility and peace amid the snow and cold...

The guide whispered, “Every time I come here, it feels like stepping into a fairy tale. In this snowy paradise, you can raft through the frost, enjoying a unique experience of appreciating the rime. Ski with your family, ride banana boats—have fun in the snow.”

“I recommend staying in a forest villa—surrounded by primeval woods and pristine snow, it feels especially noble and elegant. Being there, it’s as if the whole world is yours. Away from the city’s clamor, stepping out of concrete spaces, you can smell the wood’s fragrance, brew a pot of hot tea, and savor the natural peace and freedom.”

Johnson laughed heartily as they entered the resort and booked the most luxurious villa at 6,800 yuan a night—a bargain. With time to spare, they went to explore the surroundings.

By the lake, Biquan Lake was shrouded in mist. The sun, veiled by morning fog, seemed mysterious, like it was about to burst forth. As it rose fully, the fog gradually dissipated.

The clear sky revealed dazzling rime ice, light and pure white, clinging to trees and objects like jade blossoms—delicate and graceful.

Nearby was a waterfall, water plunging from the sky, thundering upon impact. Two jade-hued torrents leapt fiercely toward jagged rocks, rushing into the deep valley below, spraying waves high like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, mist filling the air.

The Milky Way cascaded down like heaps of snow, the waterfall’s spray like myriad threads of smoke.

Next to it lay the primeval forest called the Oxygen Garden, with extraordinarily rich oxygen—up to 80,000 negative ions per square meter—an all-natural oxygen bar. Wandering beneath towering ancient trees and rolling pine waves refreshed the spirit profoundly.

Close by was a mineral water factory, touted as nature’s laborer, extracting spring water straight from the source, with bottling, capping, labeling, and packing all seamlessly automated.

Along the way, various small animals appeared everywhere amidst lush aquatic plants—truly an ideal habitat for wildlife to thrive. Tigers roared in the mountains, bears rested in dens, deer called in the green valleys, otters fought by the streams, wild boars roamed in packs, roe deer lined up—a perfect hunting and tourism destination.

“In ancient times, Changbai Mountain was a flourishing center of Shamanism, advocating worship and reverence for nature, believing animals were under the mountain god’s protection. So hunters here always performed rituals before going into the mountains—offering incense and sacrifices to pray for safety and a good catch.”

The guide spoke as they walked: “Hunting methods vary by terrain, animal, and weather—over a hundred techniques. The most representative are dog driving, chasing encirclement, and trapping.”

“Dog driving is the largest and most iconic hunt—using trained hunting dogs to scout, locate, chase, and block prey—big game like tigers, bears, boars, deer, and smaller game like pheasants and hares.”

“Chasing encirclement is when hunters carry only their firearms and work alone or in groups to encircle, chase, block, and capture prey. It’s the most common method and the precursor to modern sport hunting.”

“Trapping is an old hunter’s skill—using rope or wire snares, tracking animal footprints, choosing hidden spots to set traps with camouflage so the prey falls in and gets caught.”

“The most impressive is still falconry—using saker falcons that can snatch calves mid-flight. It was popular among the Eight Banners nobles but is now rare, almost extinct.”

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