After waiting for a while to ensure safety, Song Wei climbed down from the tree with Heidan.
Heidan: “Song Sister, wolves—there were so many wolves!”
Song Wei nodded in acknowledgment. However, the little boy seemed a bit too excited.
Well, it was typical for boys to be fascinated by wild predators—so long as they weren’t a threat to the village or themselves.
Heidan: “They were so majestic! Much bigger than the village dogs…”
Heidan (gasping): “And they ate that huge mountain goat clean!”
Dragging Heidan along, Song Wei said, “Forget about the goats for now. We need to leave quickly.”
The heavy scent of blood in the area was bound to attract other predators, and she wasn’t going to take unnecessary risks with a child in tow.
However, as they followed the trail left behind by the wild goats, Song Wei licked her lips and made a decision.
Even though it had been over an hour since the wolves attacked, the goats’ tracks were still fresh. Using her hunting skills, Song Wei followed the hoofprints and bent grass, leading them closer to their prey.
After about thirty minutes, Song Wei and Heidan spotted the herd grazing leisurely on a steep slope.
The goats seemed completely at ease now, showing no signs of the panic they’d exhibited while fleeing the wolves earlier. Such was the adaptability of prey animals.
Hidden behind a patch of tall grass, Heidan’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Heidan (whispering): “Goats!”
Song Wei pressed down on the little boy’s head to keep him still and whispered, “Don’t move.”
Her sharp eyes had already singled out an injured goat, separated from the rest of the herd.
Wild goats were naturally skilled climbers, able to navigate steep slopes effortlessly. It was their primary defense mechanism against predators. The earlier attack was likely because the wolves ambushed them while they were drinking water.
The injured goat limped along at the bottom of the slope, nibbling on grass. It occasionally looked around warily, its injured leg preventing it from climbing to safety like the others.
Song Wei: “Stay here and don’t move.”
Leaving her basket behind, Song Wei moved like a cat—silent and nimble—as she approached the injured goat.
Her slim figure and lack of a predator’s scent allowed her to blend perfectly into the terrain. She used rocks and bushes to conceal herself, moving closer without alarming the herd.
Once within range—less than a hundred meters away—Song Wei picked up a rock and hurled it with precision at the goat.
“Thud!”
The rock hit its mark with a loud noise. The injured goat collapsed instantly, lifeless.
The rest of the herd panicked, leaping nimbly across the steep cliffs and disappearing higher up the slope within seconds.
Song Wei stepped out from her hiding spot, strolling confidently toward her kill.
The goats on the cliff stared down, confused and alarmed, as the strange two-legged creature dragged away their fallen comrade.
Before leaving, Song Wei glanced back at the herd. Unfortunately, she had no way of catching the others—not with their ability to climb such treacherous terrain.
Heidan: “Song Sister, you’re amazing!”
Seeing Song Wei dragging the wild goat back, Heidan’s eyes brimmed with admiration. He bounced excitedly around her and the goat, chattering nonstop.
Heidan: “It’s huge! So much meat!”
Heidan: “Even its horns are big!”
The little boy’s excitement was infectious as he ran his hands over the goat’s still-warm body.
Meanwhile, Song Wei crushed some wild grass and applied it to the goat’s wounds to mask the scent of blood.
Song Wei: “We’re heading back now. Your job is to find your brother.”
On their way out of the forest, Song Wei used her keen hearing to avoid villagers gathering firewood. She then found a hidden spot to stash the goat.
Heidan dashed off toward the village, his little legs moving as fast as they could.
When he reached his brother’s house, he was out of breath but didn’t forget to close the door behind him.
Seeing his younger brother alone, Lin Zhen glanced behind him, half-expecting to see someone else.
Lin Zhen: “You came alone?”
Oblivious to Lin Zhen’s tone, Heidan’s face lit up with excitement.
Heidan: “Brother, Song Sister caught a wild goat—a big one! She wants to leave it here with you.”
Lin Zhen (stunned): “What? A wild goat?!”
Lin Zhen: “How did she even manage that?”
Lin Zhen, who was so bored at home that he was about to suffer internal injuries, suddenly stood up on one leg.
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