Chapter 20: Come Here, Come Here, My Darling

Li Yuanjing’s authority had long been established in the hearts of Yuniang, Zhang Kun, and the others, prompting the whole group to work swiftly. What Li Yuanjing sought at this moment was not an exquisite wolf trap, but one sturdy and practical enough to serve its purpose.

A little more than half an hour later, Li Yuanjing’s trap was finished. The main task was to arrange the sharpened wooden stakes at the bottom, secure them firmly, cover them with an oilcloth, and sprinkle some earth on top. There was no need to pursue lethality; it was enough if the wolves could be lured in and fall into the pit. After all, with the depth and width of the trap, any wolf that fell inside would have no chance of climbing out.

Soon, Zhang Kun had finished constructing a platform atop the old pine tree, spacious enough for five people. Still, Li Yuanjing wasn’t quite at ease. He called Zhang Kun over, and together they gathered several stout logs, reinforcing the platform from different angles until it was absolutely stable.

Once Zhang Kun and the others had settled on the wooden platform, Li Yuanjing signaled to Yuniang to bring out the crispy fish she had prepared earlier for everyone to eat. He himself kindled a small fire beneath the tree and began roasting meat.

When the meat was ready, Li Yuanjing divided it among Zhang Kun and his siblings. The three siblings could no longer contain their excitement, tears streaming down their faces. They could not recall the last time they had eaten meat, much less such delicious roast as Li Yuanjing now provided. Overwhelmed with gratitude, they knelt and bowed before him.

Seeing Li Yuanjing’s prestige among Zhang Kun’s siblings, Yuniang couldn’t help but straighten her chest with pride, feeling a sense of honor she could scarcely describe.

Her brother truly lived up to his reputation as a scholar—there seemed to be nothing in this world he could not accomplish...

Li Yuanjing was well accustomed to such scenes. He urged everyone to eat and drink their fill, and by then, it was nearly the hour of Xu—about eight o’clock in the evening.

By this time, Quanzi Village behind them had grown quiet, and the entire night was deep and profound. Since they intended to lure the wolves with “human bait,” it would be unwise to keep a fire burning. Li Yuanjing extinguished the flames and instructed Yuniang and the other two young women to huddle together for warmth.

He and Zhang Kun approached the oilcloth covering the trap, placing about two pounds of raw pork that had been specially prepared—slightly rotten, with a pungent stench. Unpleasant to humans, but an irresistible temptation for wolves.

Yet Li Yuanjing wasn’t finished. He unfastened his belt and relieved himself beside the pork, calling for Zhang Kun to do the same.

“Master, this...” Zhang Kun was embarrassed, especially with Yuniang and his sisters watching from behind; he didn’t possess Li Yuanjing’s thick skin.

“Brother Zhang, why are you hesitating? If I tell you to pee, then hurry up and do it! Quick! The wolves could arrive any minute!”

Seeing Li Yuanjing’s stern expression, Zhang Kun dared not delay any longer and followed suit.

The two returned to the small platform atop the old pine, patiently waiting.

“Whoosh, whoosh...” A dozen minutes later, the wind intensified, and fine, scattered snow began to fall—another snowfall. Yuniang, Zhang Kun, and the others were uneasy, unable to predict whether the wolves would come that night. They sat restlessly but dared not speak, afraid to disrupt Li Yuanjing’s plan.

Li Yuanjing, however, was calm and composed, confidence growing within him. Though the snow was falling and the wind strengthening, it was a northwesterly, placing them on the windward side of the old forest.

This meant that the scent from the rotten pork and the pungency of their urine would easily drift into the woods.

Based on the women’s earlier descriptions, the wolves at the nearby Pijia Hamlet had killed people but gained nothing—they hadn’t eaten their victims. This suggested the wolves were likely still hungry.

Thus, if they remained in the vicinity, their keen sense of smell would surely detect the scents here.

“Owooooo—”

“Owooooo—”

Sure enough, after another ten or so minutes, eerie howls echoed from deep within the old forest on the mountain’s far side.

The three young women clung tightly to one another, terrified. Even Zhang Kun was nervous, swallowing hard. “Master, from the sound of it, there must be at least four or five wolves. We’re too few—shouldn’t we fetch more help?”

“Don’t panic!” Li Yuanjing glared fiercely at Zhang Kun. “If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up! Did you forget what I told you? Wait patiently, follow my lead!”

“Yes...” It was the first time Zhang Kun had seen Li Yuanjing so fierce, and he dared not say another word, quickly closing his mouth.

“They’re coming!”

“Master, they’re coming!!”

Just after the howling faded, and before Li Yuanjing noticed anything unusual, Zhang Kun suddenly shivered and whispered urgently to him.

“Hmm?”

“Don’t give false alarms. I don’t see anything.” Li Yuanjing’s brow knitted, hand gripping his hatchet.

“There, Master, look—there in the woods...” Zhang Kun pointed.

Li Yuanjing looked and was instantly startled.

Indeed, theory and practice were two different things.

There, in a patch of pine forest not far off, several pairs of glowing green eyes appeared, shining eerily. Even though the moonlight was poor tonight, those frightening green glimmers were piercing, chilling the heart.

Yuniang and the other young women trembled so badly their teeth clattered audibly.

Li Yuanjing quickly regained his composure, even showing a hint of a smile.

What in this world could be more terrifying than poverty?

These were not merely wolves—these were shining silver coins!

Li Yuanjing regarded the wolves as nothing, unbuckling his belt and urinating at the base of the tree once again.

Yuniang, Zhang Kun, and the others were stunned, at a loss for what to do.

Li Yuanjing grew ever more calm, patiently watching the wolves’ reactions in the woods.

Do not assume Li Yuanjing’s act of urinating was crude or pointless.

In truth, it was highly shrewd.

One must know: in the animal world, large predators often mark their territory with urine.

Thus, Li Yuanjing’s gesture was an outright provocation to the wolf pack.

“Whoosh, whoosh...”

No sooner had Li Yuanjing finished than the wolves began to stir, revealing themselves.

There were four in total—three large, one small.

The leader was a massive wolf with gray-white fur and a glaring scar across its brow, exuding a fierce, sinister aura that made it impossible to look directly at him.

They quickly approached the edge of the trap, growling menacingly, their eyes fixed on Li Yuanjing and his companions in the tree.

Faced with this sight, even Zhang Kun—who had seen battle—was nearly frightened out of his wits, not to mention Yuniang and the other young women.

Yet Li Yuanjing seemed invigorated, staring intently at the gray-white wolf and murmuring low:

“Come, come here, my precious!”