Chapter 7: Heaven Rewards the Diligent

At this moment, the roe deer stood below the hillside, occupying the high ground. The hunter and the roe deer were separated by a distance of about fifty meters. Attempting to shoot the roe deer directly with a bow and arrow from this spot was clearly unrealistic. Setting aside whether the arrow could reach that far, even if it did, it would lose its lethality. The roe deer's hide was exceptionally thick, so effective attack range had to be within ten meters. But even within ten meters was out of the question—any noise or movement on the hunter’s part would immediately alert the deer. Approaching it now risked scaring it away, wasting the entire morning.

However, the roe deer had many weaknesses. For instance, it moved sluggishly in deep snow. Its belly typically hovered about sixty centimeters above the ground, so in deep snow, its underside would brush against the surface, causing rapid heat loss. Therefore, in winter, the deer needed to feed continuously to maintain its body heat. This particular roe deer had wandered so far because it was relentlessly searching for food. If the hunter’s guess was correct, after exhausting the food here, the deer would keep moving forward.

The hunter’s strategy was to lie in wait. Instead of sneaking closer, Zhao Weimin chose to circle around and position himself ahead of the deer. After moving about two hundred meters past the deer, he gathered many fallen leaves and tender branches along the way. Without placing them in the middle of the path, he carefully arranged this makeshift bait beneath a large cypress tree. Then he meticulously erased all his footprints and climbed up into the tree.

The deer’s route came from the south, and it would inevitably pass this spot. Moreover, this was the easiest path to traverse. If Zhao Weimin waited patiently in the tree, the deer would stop here to feed, giving him the perfect opportunity to aim and shoot. At such a short distance, a single arrow would surely be fatal.

Ready, he nocked an arrow on his bow. Disregarding the biting cold and his thin clothing, he remained as still as a sniper, not daring to move. His eyes fixed on the road, he watched the deer’s movements intently.

After an indefinite wait, the same roe deer appeared, bounding slowly toward the trap. It wasn’t fast, but certainly too swift for a man to pursue on foot. Gradually, its pace slowed. It seemed to have noticed the 'delicacies' beneath the cypress, its gaze drawn there.

Though called a “foolish roe deer,” instinct kept it far from naïve. The sudden appearance of food made it wary. It didn’t approach immediately but stood at a distance, scanning constantly. It sniffed the snow intermittently, as if searching for scents of other creatures.

After lingering in place for quite a while, it cautiously approached the cypress tree. It would take a few steps, then halt and survey its surroundings again.

Hidden in the tree, Zhao Weimin dared not even breathe, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the deer. If it abandoned the food, he would leap down and seize it barehanded, no matter how cold. He didn’t dare shiver, fearing snow might fall from the branches and startle the deer.

Fortunately, fortune favored his perseverance. After prolonged testing, the deer found no danger nearby and confidently approached the tree. Zhao Weimin’s heart pounded fiercely as the deer drew closer—this sensation was like the first time aiming a hunting rifle at prey. Perhaps from the cold or excitement, his hands trembled slightly as he drew the bowstring.

The deer neared the base of the tree. Zhao Weimin had already taken careful aim. He waited for the perfect moment to release the arrow.

The deer was beneath the tree now. It did not immediately devour the sudden bounty but instinctively sniffed every piece. Almost every item was tested, as if selecting the most palatable morsels. After confirming safety, it slowly extended its tongue to lick a tender branch, but only sampled lightly before retracting its tongue. The wary deer’s caution was at its peak.

From his perch, Zhao Weimin could clearly see the brown fur on the deer’s neck. It was not yet time to release the arrow; he had to wait. After the deer began to chew the first branch, its loud munching sounded like a camel feeding. Still, it raised its head frequently to scan the surroundings, then lowered itself to nibble again.

Watching the deer feast so heartily, Zhao Weimin cracked a smile, despite his lips turning purple from the cold. “Eat well, eat well. Only when you’re full can I eat you.”

Time passed, and the deer seemed convinced this bounty was a blessing from above, with no threats nearby. It grew more carefree, lifting its head less often, only briefly before lowering again to eat. Its vigilance waned, and Zhao Weimin knew the moment had come.

After drawing the bow for a long time, he began to aim carefully. Considering his wooden arrow, shooting the deer’s head was impractical—the skull was too thick for penetration. The ideal target was the heart, but from his position in the tree, that was unreachable.

The only viable target was the neck. If the arrow pierced the neck, even if it wasn’t instantly fatal, it would immobilize the deer. At a distance of barely two or three meters, the arrow’s power would be sufficient—a perfect shot. There was no wind to deflect its flight.

“Whoosh…”

Zhao Weimin closed one eye, exhaled gently to relax his stiff muscles, and aimed. At the moment the deer lowered its head, exposing its long neck, he silently thought, “Good chance!” Then he released the bowstring. The arrow streaked like a meteor, flying straight toward the deer’s neck.

“Thud!”

The sound of the arrow piercing flesh rang out, accompanied by a pitiful cry from the deer. Before Zhao Weimin could see clearly, the deer bolted. But in the deep snow, wounded in the neck, its speed slowed considerably.

Seeing it flee, Zhao Weimin ignored his numb body and leapt from the tree. He dropped to his knees in the snow and pursued the wounded deer’s path. Blood trailed along the way, and the deer staggered not far ahead. He was closing in rapidly.

“Whoosh!”

Another arrow flew true, striking the deer’s hind leg squarely. The frantic animal stumbled as if tripped and collapsed onto the ground.