Chapter 448 - 380: A Pack Divided
Zhang Lifu’s nickname was Big Tongue Zhang because he spoke with a lisp.
He’d tried to say that the little wild boar was slurping cold water, but with his lisp, it came out sounding like it was drinking it "sneakily."
But that wasn’t what surprised Zhao Jun. It was the soybeans paired with cold water. ’What kind of bizarre combination is that?’
Just as Zhao Jun was about to speak, he saw Zhang Lifu turn partway around. Zhang Lifu scanned the dogs and asked, "Jun, are all these dogs yours?"
"Yeah, they are."
"Tsk, tsk!" Zhang Lifu shook his head, smacking his lips. "These dogs aren’t all that great."
Hearing this, Zhao Jun sensed something was off. He quickly asked, "Uncle Zhang, why would you say that?"
"I saw them earlier," Zhang Lifu told Zhao Jun. "I wasn’t just out digging for wild greens today, I was also checking my boar snares. On my way back, when I got to the ridge below Class 43, I saw you and your dogs. You had a cannon egg cornered."
As he spoke, Zhang Lifu pointed to Da Huang, who was sidling up to Zhao Jun. "Eight dogs, cornering a cannon egg of about three hundred jin, and not a single one of them went in for a bite. What are you even raising these dogs for?"
Zhao Jun was stunned when he heard this. It would be one thing if Big Fatty and his packmates saw a cannon-egg boar and refused to attack—that would be understandable.
But Little Bear, White Dragon, and Da Huang weren’t like that. Back on Little Gu Mountain, they had taken on a cannon egg that was nearly seven hundred jin.
However, Zhao Jun quickly figured out what was happening.
The dogs weren’t working as a pack.
It was true. After heading into the mountains, Zhao Jun and Lin Xiangshun had merged their two packs of dogs. But while the packs were merged, the dogs themselves hadn’t come together as a team.
It was like a bunch of kids: ’If you’re going to play with *him*, then I’m not playing with you.’
No wonder all eight dogs had come back after just barking for a bit. It turned out none of them had been willing to attack, so they’d let the wild boar get away.
Zhao Jun looked at the dogs around him, a sense of worry creeping in. Lin Xiangshun wasn’t here, so he didn’t even have anyone to discuss it with.
Just then, Zhang Lifu said to him, "Jun, let me tell you something."
"Huh?" Zhao Jun replied quickly. "Go ahead, Uncle Zhang. There’s nothing we can’t talk about, man to man."
Zhang Lifu smiled. "I was checking my snares just now and saw a Big Cannon Egg get caught in one. I didn’t dare get close, so I was thinking of heading back to the village to find someone with a gun to take it down. Then I came down and saw your pack of dogs. I figured I’d follow you and see who was out hunting, and if you had a gun. If you do, you should come with me and we’ll get that boar."
After he finished speaking, Zhang Lifu’s gaze fell on the semi-automatic rifle on Zhao Jun’s back.
Zhao Jun’s heart leaped with joy when he heard Zhang Lifu’s words.
’Talk about perfect timing!’
This was it!
Just as Zhao Jun and Lin Xiangshun had discussed, the four dogs—Big Fatty, San Pang, Flower Cat, and Hua Lang—were just lacking a few good, tough hunts to build their experience.
Now, there was a big wild boar trapped in a snare. The boar couldn’t run, so the dogs could surround it freely. Once the men arrived to cheer them on, the dogs would charge, and a single shot would bring the boar down.
Then they could gut it and feed the dogs, and just like that, their confidence would soar.
Plus, it would be a perfect opportunity to solve the problem of the two packs not meshing.
At this thought, Zhao Jun rejoiced inwardly. He smiled at Zhang Lifu and said, "Uncle, I get what you’re saying. I’ll go with you and help you take down that boar."
"No, no." Zhang Lifu quickly shook his head. "Jun, don’t get me wrong. If you didn’t have these dogs with you, I’d have you come along."
"Huh?" Zhao Jun was confused. Zhang Lifu said he didn’t mean anything by it, but Zhao Jun couldn’t figure out what he *did* mean.
Zhang Lifu explained, "I might not be a hunter myself, but I can tell your dogs don’t seem up to snuff. Think about it, if we head over there, the dogs will rush ahead before we even arrive. If that boar ends up goring a few of your dogs, how could I live with myself?"
"Don’t worry about it, Uncle Zhang! It’ll be fine." Zhao Jun grabbed Zhang Lifu’s arm and started pulling him along. "I took down the great Pig God, so a little boar you caught in a snare is nothing to worry about."
Zhao Jun was half-joking, but his words carried a great deal of weight.
Capturing a fierce tiger and slaying the Pig God—his heroic feats were famous throughout the entire Forest Area. Everyone knew his name.
Zhang Lifu had to agree, but he still added a word of caution. "This cannon-egg boar I snared is even bigger than the one your dogs were cornering earlier."
"That’s fine too. Let’s go."
Zhang Lifu led the way with Zhao Jun and the dogs following. After about three li, Zhang Lifu pointed to a hillside. "Jun, it’s right there on Tuo Yaosi—"
Before Zhang Lifu could finish, he was cut off by the sound of barking. Little Bear and Big Fatty were already charging up the hillside.
The other six dogs followed close behind, their paws kicking up so much dust that for a moment it looked like the hillside was smoking.
Zhao Jun slung his rifle off his shoulder and started up the slope in long strides. Zhang Lifu also pulled the Invasion Blade—a knife for clearing brush—from the small of his back.
After climbing about three hundred meters, Zhao Jun heard a chaotic chorus of barks from up ahead. ’They must have the cannon egg surrounded,’ he thought.
Just then, Zhang Lifu caught up, knife in hand. He smiled at Zhao Jun. "The last time I went on a hunt like this, it was with your father."
Zhao Jun just smiled in response but didn’t say anything. As they reached Tuo Yaosi, the barking grew even louder.
This was Pine Tree Ridge, and the slope was covered in red pines. The spring-pole snare Zhang Lifu had set was wedged between two of them.
The wild boar had its back to another pine tree, completely surrounded by the eight dogs.
Hiding behind a tree, Zhao Jun took a closer look. The boar was indeed a big one, three hundred seventy or eighty jin. Its two tusks were sharp, and a steel wire from the snare was cinched tight around its hindquarters. The wire had cut deep into its flesh, only making the boar more ferocious.
He looked at his eight dogs. They flanked the boar, barking incessantly, but not a single one would charge forward or take that first bite.
This was the problem. This was the pack not working together.
Even without Hua Xiao’er there to lead, Little Bear and White Dragon were both dogs that would normally take the first bite.
But now, none of them would attack, all because the two packs couldn’t get along.
Suddenly, Zhao Jun saw Big Fatty and San Pang turn to run. The moment they moved, Flower Cat and Hua Lang started to retreat as well.
"HUT! HUT! HUT!" From behind the tree, Zhao Jun made a series of sharp sounds, urging the hounds forward.
Hearing Zhao Jun’s commands, Big Fatty and the other three dogs turned and went back to surround the boar.
Meanwhile, hearing the command, Little Bear, White Dragon, and Da Huang all lunged at the boar.
"ROAR! ROAR!" The wild boar swung its head from side to side, forcing the three dogs back. But as it turned, Xiaohua, who had been following Little Bear in his charge, was caught off guard. Little Bear dodged in time, but Xiaohua wasn’t fast enough.
"THWACK!" The boar’s snout sent Xiaohua flying. She landed two meters away with a painful yelp.
By now, Zhang Lifu had reached Zhao Jun’s side. He watched Xiaohua get flung through the air. Zhao Jun remained calm, but Zhang Lifu was panicking. "Jun! Shoot it! Shoot it!"
Zhao Jun raised a hand, signaling for Zhang Lifu to be quiet. He saw that in the fray, the remaining seven dogs were circling the boar, barking and snapping, but none dared to commit to an attack.
And so, under Zhang Lifu’s expectant gaze, Zhao Jun raised his rifle. But instead of aiming at the boar, he fired a shot into the air.
"BANG!"