"Xiao Feng, where have you gone?!" White called out anxiously, his voice echoing through the jungle.
But there was no answer. Xiao Feng had clearly ventured far from earshot.
White stepped over to the leopard's body and hoisted the hefty beast onto his shoulder. This was no place to linger—especially after a successful kill. The scent of fresh blood would surely draw the attention of powerful beasts. Though sunlight dulled their vision, the aroma would sharpen their instincts and lure them in.
He clutched his shotgun tightly. The weapon, now freshly reloaded, was his only insurance. White cast vigilant eyes across the foliage, every muscle tensed for another strike.
After a tense wait, Xiao Feng's voice suddenly rang out from above. "Uncle, look what I found!"
White looked up, his bearded face breaking into a smile. The boy was safe—and that was enough for now. "You little rascal! Run off like that again without telling me, and I swear I'll tan your hide!" But even as he scolded him, his eyes widened at the sight of the two fawns trembling in Xiao Feng's arms.
Their wide eyes stared, terrified, at the leopard draped across White's shoulder.
"Well done, Xiao Feng. Your first hunt, and already you've returned with a prize!"
Xiao Feng leapt lightly from the tree and landed with practiced ease. "Let's raise these fawns when we get home!"
White nodded. "A fine idea. But placing them in the Reserve is no better than throwing them to the wolves."
"What? Is it really that bad in there? With you around, surely no one would dare lay a hand on them!"
"Perhaps. But nothing's certain in this damned world. Still, we've both returned with game—we can march home in triumph!"
Xiao Feng beamed. "Let's go home!"
The leopard weighed at least two hundred kilos, making it impossible for White to run as he had on their approach. They settled into a brisk pace. In the aftermath of a kill, danger surged—the blood in the air was a beacon to every predator for miles.
Even those vicious half-meter-long wild rabbits.
Through the forest, White dispatched three mutated hounds and a crazed monkey with his shotgun. These were the lowest rank of magical beasts, their corpses of no use.
Upon reaching the plains, they quickened their pace. White led the way, gripping a knife in one hand and balancing the leopard's weight on his shoulder with the other. Xiao Feng followed closely behind, cradling the two fawns. This time, the boy was no longer the timid tagalong of their journey out. He now warned White of approaching mutant rats, or swarms of feral rabbits lying in wait.
Thanks to these alerts, White was able to dispatch each threat with calculated ease.
Ten kilometers from the Reserve, the distant growl of an engine reached their ears.
White crouched low and whispered, "Hide. The Viper Squad is coming."
"Why should we be afraid of them?"
"It's not fear. But in this rotten world, caution is survival," White said grimly, motioning for a detour.
Xiao Feng etched every word into memory. If he was to live in this world, he needed to become a hunter like Uncle White—strong, shrewd, and sharp.
A roaring armored vehicle tore across the trail White and Xiao Feng had just traveled.
Inside, Brann lifted his head and sniffed the chill air. "Blood. Fresh."
Cook chuckled. "Looks like old White bagged a kill today."
Brann sneered, clutching his assault rifle. "Took him long enough. Not exactly impressive."
Cook cast him a side glance. "I've told you—never underestimate Old White."
With a deafening roar, the vehicle surged deeper into the wasteland.
By early afternoon, White and Xiao Feng reached Outpost 64.
The guards at the gates had rotated. The new shift stared in shock at the leopard slung over White's shoulder. They knew well the value of such a kill—and the difficulty of bringing one down.
"Hey there, Old White! Luck's on your side today, huh?" one of the soldiers called from atop the wall, cradling a long-barreled sniper rifle.
Xiao Feng's eyes were instantly drawn to the gleaming weapon. If only they had one like that—how much easier and safer their hunts would be.
White, in high spirits, called back proudly, "Luck had nothing to do with it—it was all skill!" As they entered the compound, several soldiers gathered around, murmuring in awe at the mature leopard.
When they saw the bullet wound cleanly centered in its forehead, praise for White's marksmanship echoed freely.
"I'll strip the hide and bring your cut later," White said with a grin. "Gotta pay the tax, right?"
The soldiers laughed, eager. "Don't keep us waiting too long! None of us have ever tasted leopard meat before!"
White and Xiao Feng moved toward home. The fawns in Xiao Feng's arms drew no interest from the guards—too little meat to be worth their attention.
Residents watched them pass, expressions filled with amazement and envy. White hadn't basked in such admiration for a long time. In truth, he had already forgotten that it was thanks to Xiao Feng's help that they had brought down the leopard so quickly.
Back home, White hummed a tune as he hung the leopard and began to skin it with swift precision. "It's getting colder. How about I make you a coat from this leopard's hide?"
"I don't want leopard skin. I like wolf pelts better."
"Eh? That's harder. Wolves travel in packs. Taking down even one will be no easy task."
"No rush. Let's go hunting again tomorrow. I'm sure we'll find one!"
White chuckled and nodded. Then he cleaved off one of the leopard's muscular hind legs and handed it to Xiao Feng. "Take this to the gate guards."
Xiao Feng frowned. "Why give them part of our kill? They've got guns—they can hunt for themselves!"
"It's the law of the land. Every hunter owes a cut—it's called paying tax. Understand?"
"No. If it's tax, you go. I'm not going."
"Xiao Feng," White said solemnly, tapping his temple, "To survive in this world, strength isn't enough. You need this, too. Understand?"
Xiao Feng took the leg begrudgingly. "I get it," he muttered, hoisting the heavy limb over his shoulder and trudging toward the outpost gate. After a few paces, he turned and called back, "Take good care of my fawns!"
White watched the boy's small, defiant figure disappear down the road, a broad smile spreading across his face—like a father watching his son grow into a man.