Chapter 13: Quite a Lively Scene

If Lin Xing were to leave with this lamb, he would likely be overtaken by the wolf pack before he even cleared the forest. However, he could not bring himself to abandon it. That was over forty pounds of meat plus a thick, sturdy hide! It would be a crying shame to just throw it away.

After a moment of deliberation, Lin Xing gritted his teeth. He had to take it! He could not let this hard-won prey go. Fortune favors the bold! Besides, he still had his bow, arrows, and hunting rifle; perhaps the wolves would fear him and keep their distance. With this thought, Lin Xing hesitated no longer. He hoisted the dead lamb onto his shoulder and began to run toward the edge of the forest at full speed.

Carrying forty-plus pounds of game significantly slowed him down. Fortunately, the recent days had been sunny, and the snow had melted enough that it was no longer as deep as before, making the trek less strenuous.

"Awoo—!"

The sound of howling wolves echoed repeatedly through the forest. Lin Xing ignored it, putting all his strength into his stride. Once he reached the edge of the woods, he would be safe. Wolves were cautious creatures and rarely left their familiar environment, so there was a high probability they would not follow him out.

However, Lin Xing had ventured quite deep into the forest; it would take at least half an hour to reach the perimeter. He could only wonder if the pack would close the distance in that time. He kept his head down and ran. After about ten minutes, the howling erupted again—closer this time. The pack had caught the scent of the lamb and was on his trail.

*Rustle...*

Before Lin Xing could react, he heard the sound of snow being trampled behind the trees ahead. He stopped in his tracks, staring vigilantly at the large tree in front of him.

Something emerged from behind the tree. A moment later, a large, snow-white wolf stepped out, blocking his path. Lin Xing’s heart sank; he knew he was in trouble. Wolf packs acted as a single unit; if one wolf had found him, the others would soon follow. To be surrounded by a pack meant certain death.

"Damn it, could my luck be any worse?" Sweat beaded on Lin Xing’s forehead.

As if on cue, more wolves began to emerge from all directions. They were various colors—white, gray, and black—and each was as sturdy as a German Shepherd. There were at least twenty of them. A pack of twenty was no longer a small group; it was a medium-sized pack capable of taking down an Amur tiger.

All twenty wolves stared at him with vicious intent. Even though Lin Xing had been a top-tier soldier in his past life, he could not help but feel his skin crawl and cold sweat break out across his back as he was scrutinized by so many predators. The situation had turned dire.

The pack slowly closed in, coordinating with chilling precision. They guarded every angle, offering Lin Xing no chance to break through their encirclement.

*Stay calm, stay calm. Don't panic. The more nervous you are, the easier it is to fail,* he told himself desperately. He recalled how wolves hunted: they would surround their prey, force it into a circle, and then swarm in to tear it apart. If they closed the distance any further, he would have no room to resist.

However, wolf packs were not without weaknesses. They had one fatal flaw: the alpha. Because the pack was large, every wolf had to obey the alpha’s commands, or chaos would ensue. In other words, if the alpha fell, the entire pack would lose its ability to coordinate. He had to find the alpha and kill it.

Lin Xing scanned the surrounding wolves. While they looked similar, the best way to identify the alpha was by its size; the most robust one was undoubtedly the leader. It did not take long for him to spot it: a gray wolf, clearly larger and more imposing than the rest.

Without a second to lose, Lin Xing raised his hunting rifle, aimed at the alpha, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

*Bang!*

A tongue of flame erupted from the muzzle, and the shot struck the alpha squarely.

"Awoo!"

The alpha let out a pained howl as a chunk of flesh was blown from its chest, blood spraying out instantly. The hunting rifle was loaded with gravel and gunpowder; it was devastating at close range, but lost its lethality at a distance. As a result, the alpha was not killed, but the intense pain shattered its resolve. After the shriek, it turned and bolted.

Seeing their leader flee, the other wolves—just as Lin Xing had predicted—instantly lost their composure, standing in place, bewildered. After a brief moment of silence, they abandoned their hunt and chased after the alpha.

Once the last wolf had vanished, Lin Xing collapsed to the ground and exhaled a long, heavy breath. It had been a razor-thin escape; had he not remained calm and targeted the leader, he would likely have become their meal. He was grateful for his past experience in dealing with wolf packs and for the rifle in his hand. Had he lacked either, he would have perished today.

"Being a hunter isn't for everyone," Lin Xing muttered to himself with a self-deprecating smile. "To run into a pack on the outskirts of the forest—my luck truly is something else."

After resting for a moment, he regained his strength. He could not linger. As the saying went, if a wolf turns back, it is either to repay a debt or to seek revenge; they were known for holding grudges. The shot hadn't killed the alpha, and once it recovered, it might return. He had to leave.

Lin Xing hoisted the lamb back onto his shoulder and continued toward the edge of the forest. Fortunately, his worries were unfounded; the wolves did not pursue him further. It seemed the shot, while not fatal, had wounded the alpha severely enough to keep it down for a while.

Once he cleared the forest, he was safe. He slowed his pace and walked toward the village. Half an hour later, he arrived. It was midday, and the villagers were huddled in front of their homes, bowls in hand, eating and chatting—a lively scene to return to.