Chapter 290 - 215: Discovering the Target
Zhao Wendong had just finished preparing the red squirrel when he saw the little gray-and-white one come hopping back. It stood on a nearby tree, constantly jumping back and forth while making squeaking sounds.
’Human, come get the food. Under this tree is that guy’s stash.’
Zhao Wendong heard the little squirrel’s thoughts and a smile touched his lips. ’So this is what they mean by one good turn deserving another. But this little guy is pretty crafty, using someone else’s stash to curry favor.’ He called for Zhao Wenwu and the others to get up. The four of them walked over, took out their combat shovels, and started digging under the tree. After just a few scoops, a filled-in burrow was exposed, stuffed with all kinds of nuts like hazelnuts, pine nuts, and walnuts.
"Hahaha, so much food!"
Zhao Wenwu let out a cheer and started pulling various nuts out of the burrow. This cache was much larger than the two they had previously raided from the other squirrel. It must have been the main food store for the large squirrel Zhao Wendong had shot. After seeing Zhao Wendong’s group find the food, the small squirrel tilted its head and studied Zhao Wendong for a long time before hopping away contentedly.
"Did that little squirrel come all this way just to tell us there was food buried here?"
Zhao Ergou watched the little squirrel run off, lost in thought. He had been secretly trying to learn from Brother San’s every move, but he found he simply couldn’t grasp the essence. Many of Zhao Wendong’s choices were unexpected, but in hindsight, they always led to the best outcomes.
"I told you guys already. Brother San can talk to animals."
Zhao Wenwu shot Zhao Ergou and the others a disdainful look, dissatisfied and contemptuous that they were so slow to grasp Zhao Wendong’s abilities, unlike him. Zhao Wenjun and Zhao Ergou exchanged glances and shook their heads with wry smiles. ’The dimwit is calling us dimwitted. Maybe we really should reflect on this. Perhaps the most absurd answer is the right one. Can Brother San really talk to animals?’
SCREECH—!
An eagle’s cry echoed from the sky. Zhao Wendong knew Xiaojin was back. He quickly moved out from under the tree to an open area and waved at the sky. The next second, Xiaojin spotted him and descended in a powerful downdraft, landing on the custom-made pad on his shoulder.
’Found it.’
Xiaojin’s thoughts were always concise, a perfect match for its proud, aloof gaze and its bearing as a lord of the skies. Upon receiving Xiaojin’s thought, Zhao Wendong happily stroked its wing and pulled out a strip of meat to feed it. Xiaojin was particularly fond of the meat strips Zhao Wendong prepared; they were just the right size for a single bite, so it didn’t have to tear the food apart itself. ’It’s not just humans who like ready-made meals; animals do too.’
"Xiaojin found it. Let’s go."
Zhao Wendong sent Xiaojin back into the air and looked at his brothers, his face full of joy. Zhao Wenwu leaped to his feet and said happily.
"Let’s go, let’s go! I want to see this giant tree, see how big it is."
The four men quickly packed their things and, with the three dogs in tow, headed in Xiaojin’s direction. Everyone was used to Xiaojin leading the way. After following the eagle for over twenty minutes, they arrived at a small hill. There, right in the center, a large-leaf poplar towered over everything, twice as tall as the surrounding trees. Even though it was winter and its branches were bare, you could still sense how much it stood out, a giant among its peers.
"Haha, we found it. This should be the place. Let’s go take a look."
Zhao Wendong nodded, gratified. Finding this large-leaf poplar meant what Guan Yongguang had said was true. The spring and the Forest Frogs he’d mentioned should be right by this tree. The four men and three dogs quickly approached the great tree. Suddenly, Xiaojin let out a sharp, urgent cry from the sky. Zhao Wendong’s heart skipped a beat. It was a warning.
’I smell blood.’
Dahuang’s thought came at the same moment. All three dogs dropped into a low crouch, assuming a guarded stance. Without a word from Zhao Wendong, the men had already gripped their guns, pulling their hands free from their muffs. Each muff had a cord, allowing them to hang around their necks and out of the way. All four of them chambered a round—even Zhao Wenwu. After working together so often, many things now came naturally, born of experience and tacit understanding.
The four crept closer. Faint wolf howls now drifted through the air. Hearing those long, rhythmic howls, Zhao Wendong and the others exchanged strange looks. They had already heard that same howl three times recently; this was the fourth. Talk about a coincidence. The White Wolf and its Wolf Pack, which Zhao Wendong had spent days searching for, had shown up right here, by the large-leaf poplar. It was a classic case of enemies meeting on a narrow path.
"Heh. To think I’ve been searching high and low for this beast. Based on the sound, they haven’t spotted us yet. Let’s circle around. We’ll try to take out that White Wolf and get revenge for Guan Yongguang’s father, his uncle, and anyone else they might have killed."
"Right."
The three men had no objections to Zhao Wendong’s command, nodding and falling in behind him. Zhao Wendong patted Dahuang’s head and gave it a few strokes. Dahuang understood his meaning immediately. It led its two brothers, silently following its master, even learning to lighten its steps just like the men.
They crept forward another twenty or thirty meters until they reached the edge of the woods. Peeking through the gaps between the trees, they could just make out the White Wolf King. Zhao Wendong didn’t dare go any further. The beast was incredibly sharp; any closer and it would likely spot them. Zhao Wendong waved his hand, and the four men each found a position to set up their rifles and prepare to fire.
They were now less than fifty meters from the White Wolf. Once again, it was standing arrogantly atop a mound of earth. Unlike last time, however, it had an extra guard by its side: a powerfully built gray wolf. The gray wolf’s face bore distinct scratches, though it was impossible to tell what had made them.