Chapter 77

Because they encountered a 'monster', the hunters' adrenaline surged, and the fatigue from the journey seemed to vanish. They pressed on for about thirty miles.

By this time, it was almost evening. Cui Lan asked Lin Bei, and they found a spot by a rock wall to stop. They set up traps around the area, started a bonfire, and prepared to eat. They would spend the night here.

Since they had caught some wild chickens and rabbits along the way, Lin Bei didn't need to go out to hunt again. While the hunters were preparing the food, Lin Bei took a walk around to scare away snakes and other pests to prevent them from harming anyone.

The bright firelight illuminated the hunters' faces. After stopping, the hunters felt extremely tired and didn't want to talk. The occasional roar from deep within the forest made them feel pressured, but when they saw Lin Bei, the pressure disappeared. With an adult around, they felt safe.

"Sir, why don't we catch pheasants and rabbits in one place?" Cui Lan asked, voicing the question on the hunters' minds.

Lin Bei shook his head. Cui Lan and the others couldn't read, so even if he tried to explain, they wouldn't understand. Even if they could read, they wouldn't understand the concept of the food chain.

Fortunately, Cui Lan was just asking. Whatever the adult wanted to do, they would follow. Although the journey was tiring today, the hunters didn't actually do much. Lin Bei did all the hunting, and the hunters only needed to tie up the game and put it on the oxen's backs.

That night, Lin Bei took the watch.

A South China tiger smelled the scent of humans and wandered over but turned around upon seeing Lin Bei. Tigers are known as the kings of beasts, but they also know what not to provoke.

Lin Bei also saw several large groups of monkeys chattering and swinging from the trees. Even when they saw Lin Bei, they weren't afraid; some even made faces at him, mocking him.

The night passed safely.

The next morning, the hunters woke up at dawn. They heated the leftover meat from the night before over the fire and ate it for breakfast. After the hunters finished eating, Lin Bei led the group on their way again.

This was the deepest part of Fushan. Fushan wasn't just one mountain but a range of countless peaks. The mountains stood tall, and the valleys between them formed steep cliffs and canyons. Because no one could reach here, the vegetation was well-preserved. There were countless trees that were over a thousand years old. Lin Bei could even see some giant trees growing in the canyons, requiring a dozen people to encircle them. These giant trees were almost like ecosystems in themselves, and seeing them made humans feel insignificant.

There were a large number of pheasants and rabbits here. As Lin Bei walked, he caught them, killed them, and handed them to the hunters to tie up and place on the oxen's backs. In a short time, they had a bountiful harvest.

"Sir, there are fruits over there," Cui Lan suddenly pointed to a cliff ahead.

Lin Bei looked in that direction. These red fruits were about the size of a ping-pong ball, covered in spines. They belonged to the Tribulus genus, most of which are inedible, but a few are edible and taste good.

These spiny fruits grew on the cliff, and the spines on their surface prevented birds from eating them. Herbivores couldn't climb up, so they remained intact. Some gray-furred rabbits also hid inside, not eating the fruits but using them to defend against predators like eagles.

Lin Bei was quite willing to collect these fruit-bearing plants. They could be planted as hedges, and the fruits could be eaten, juiced, or made into wine, making them more useful than ordinary plants. Besides, when the fruits ripened, they looked beautiful.

So Lin Bei didn't hesitate and climbed the cliff. While collecting the spiny fruits, he could also drive some rabbits down, achieving two goals at once. Why not?

Before he reached the cliff, a hunter suddenly exclaimed, "Sir, there seems to be a large cave ahead? It looks like a bear den?"

Following the hunter's finger, there was indeed a relatively hidden cave, about three to four meters high. Some shrubs and a small tree grew in front of it, blocking the view. If not noticed, it would be easily overlooked. However, upon closer inspection, the cave entrance was smooth, indicating that animals had been entering and exiting for a long time.

Lin Bei's tongue flicked in the air, and then he 'saw' the inside of the cave.

The cave was larger inside but not very deep, about fifteen to sixteen meters. In the far corner of the cave, there were three small black bears. Two were sleeping soundly, while one was very energetic, scratching its brothers with its paws and making low calls, probably trying to get them to play. The adult black bear was not in the cave, likely out hunting.

Seeing the cubs, Lin Bei's eyes lit up.

"Sir, it must be a bear den," Cui Lan observed for a while and concluded. These people had been hunting for generations and could tell what was inside based on experience, even if they couldn't see the cubs.

"Indeed," another hunter nodded in agreement, then looked excitedly at Lin Bei, "Sir, should we kill them?"

Now, people naturally didn't have the concept of protecting animals, so it was quite normal for the hunters to ask such a question. Bears were always extremely valuable, with their fur, gallbladder, and paws being highly prized. Even bear meat was very nutritious. When the hunters encountered a bear, they would try their best to hunt it. With Lin Bei around, the hunters naturally wanted to kill the bears.

Lin Bei, however, wouldn't let the hunters do that. The number of bears in any region was not large, and there were three cubs inside. If they were to be killed, Lin Bei would wait until they grew up. So he shook his head, indicating that he wouldn't kill them.

"Sir, why not kill them?" a hunter couldn't help but ask. The value of a bear was too high.

Before Lin Bei could explain, Cui Lan scolded the hunter, "Since the adult doesn't want to kill them, there must be a reason. We should just follow his orders. Why are you asking so many questions?"

Lin Bei was quite satisfied with Cui Lan's words. He actually wanted to explain, but since these people couldn't read, it was impossible to explain. So it was better to be decisive.

PS: I'm still asking for recommendations and favorites. Don't be annoyed, everyone.

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