Chapter 13: The Sika Deer

Longgang Mountain lies at one end of the Beiling Mountain Range.

Zhao Weimin had heard that deer frequently appeared here, attracting many hunters who came to trap them. With a stroke of luck and a successful hunt, one could rest assured of food and drink throughout the entire winter.

However, Longgang Mountain was known as the coldest and most severe region in the Beiling range. Being close to the Russian border, there was also the chance of encountering poachers sneaking across from Russia.

Determined to secure two military coats, Zhao Weimin set out into the dense forest of Longgang Mountain, carrying two days’ worth of dry rations.

Unlike other areas in Beiling, Longgang Mountain was now sealed under heavy snow. At this time, it was nearly impossible for anyone to ascend the mountain.

Only an experienced hunter would dare to venture into Longgang Mountain under such harsh conditions.

Fortunately, Zhao had borrowed numerous warm clothes from Uncle Zhao and brought along roasted roe deer meat prepared by Lin Qian. Without these preparations, even Zhao Weimin himself would have hesitated to journey here at this time.

“Dou Dou, today I’ll teach you your first lesson in hunting.”

“Woof woof…”

A few months old, Dou Dou, the dog, accompanied him. The little creature, well fed and watered, frolicked gleefully in the snow. Its thick fur and the recent extra meat it had eaten to build fat reserves seemed to make it impervious to the cold, enjoying the snow more than anyone.

Zhao Weimin wiped the ice crystals from his eyelashes and pulled down his thick fur hat. “Conserve your energy and stay quiet.”

Perhaps understanding human speech, Dou Dou obediently quieted and stayed close by his side.

Reaching the foot of Longgang Mountain, man and dog exhaled warm breath into the cold air, gazing up at the mountain shrouded in icy chill.

Around them, only pines and cypresses offered a hint of greenery amid the stark landscape.

Logically, animals would tend to migrate to the warmer Beiling area rather than remain on Longgang Mountain in such bitter cold.

Yet the heavy snow acted as an insulating layer, and the surrounding pines created a natural thermal zone in the forest, allowing some green plants to survive.

Given this, it was no surprise that deer were found here.

“Let’s go.”

Cradling Dou Dou for warmth, Zhao set off on foot deeper into Longgang Mountain.

Wherever there are people, paths exist, but the heavy snow had blocked all the usual trails. To ascend or descend, one had to forge a new path through the snow.

Thankfully, carrying a machete, Zhao Weimin pushed through with great effort, and finally both he and Dou Dou entered the mountain.

Just as Zhao had expected, the forest held a natural thermal zone, like a warm box.

Inside the mountain, the temperature was noticeably higher than outside.

Moreover, the snow on the ground was not deep, revealing many growing plants.

Immediately upon entering, Zhao spotted signs of game.

Beneath a pine, a camellia plant showed signs of being chewed, its branches nibbled but roots intact.

This meant the mountain’s greenery was sufficient to sustain the animals, who hadn’t been forced to dig up roots for food.

Seeing the nibbled camellia so soon indicated nearby prey—likely gentle herbivores rather than predators.

Suddenly, Dou Dou barked twice from Zhao’s arms.

Looking down, Zhao saw the dog break free, leaping onto the snow and leaving paw prints as it quickly ran forward.

Zhao knew Dou Dou wouldn’t run off for no reason and hurried after him.

After a while, Dou Dou stopped beside a thicket.

Stretching its neck, it sniffed around, occasionally barking.

Curious at this unusual behavior, Zhao approached the thicket.

Despite the noise of man and dog, the bushes remained still, suggesting no living creature hid within.

Perhaps Dou Dou had detected something else.

Squatting beside the bushes, Zhao drew his machete and began hacking through.

Yet inside, there was nothing but snow beneath the plants’ roots.

Dou Dou sniffed again at a particular spot, then barked twice at Zhao.

Trusting the dog’s nose, Zhao began to dig through the snow.

Beneath the surface lay several pellets of dark green-black droppings.

They resembled those of a roe deer, too large for smaller animals.

Whether or not they belonged to a roe deer, they were definitely from a member of the deer family.

Animals instinctively bury their droppings to conceal their presence from predators.

While roe deer sometimes bury their droppings, they rarely do so as discreetly as this.

Thus, these pellets likely belonged to another species of deer.

If they were from a sika deer, Zhao would have hit the jackpot.

After all, his journey’s goal was precisely to find sika deer!

Though the droppings looked fresh, winter made it difficult to pinpoint when they had been left.

Still, it was certain that deer frequented this area.

Without Dou Dou, Zhao might never have found this clue.

Truly, the dog’s sense of smell was extraordinary—finding hidden droppings beneath the snow in such cold weather.

If there were droppings here, perhaps deer tracks were nearby.

“Dou Dou, remember this scent.”

Speaking as if communicating, Zhao addressed the dog directly.

Dou Dou obediently sniffed the droppings again and barked a few times.

This was why hunters brought dogs—their noses and alertness could achieve what humans could not.

Zhao found no deer tracks nearby, but Dou Dou kept low, sniffing intently through the snow.

Soon, the dog barked again and dashed ahead.

After about a hundred meters, Dou Dou stopped beneath a pine tree.

It barked several times at the tree, and Zhao understood, beginning to dig beneath it.

Clearing the snow revealed more dark green pellets.

Seeing these, Zhao looked back.

Previously, no clues had emerged, but now they connected.

There had been the nibbled camellia at the mountain’s edge, then the droppings in the shrubbery, and now the same droppings under the pine.

This suggested a deer had entered the mountain from the edge, moving deeper inside.

Following this trail, Zhao was sure he could find the deer.

“Dou Dou, you truly are a divine hound!”

“Woof woof…”

Had he come alone, Zhao might have wandered Longgang Mountain without ever finding a deer.

But with Dou Dou, he had made progress so quickly.

It seemed rescuing Dou Dou was no mistake—the dog was born to be a master hunter.