"Look! Here they come!"
At this moment, exclamations erupted, and everyone quickly focused their attention. Several dark silhouettes gradually emerged from a distance of hundreds of meters, drawing closer and closer until they eventually converged with the two Steppenwolves.
"One, two, three..."
The bald man squinted his eyes and counted, "Eleven, plus the two from earlier, that's a total of eleven."
A wave of unease washed over everyone. In truth, they didn't need the bald man to tell them; it was plain to see.
"Damn, seems a bit excessive, doesn't it?"
Someone spat on the ground, voicing their frustration.
"Yeah, if there were just seven or eight, we might have a chance, but eleven all at once? That's a bit tricky. If only we could have dealt with those two earlier, it would've eased the pressure."
"Just a while ago, Xiaofan was about to do that, but those two beasts are quite clever."
"Now what?"
Several pairs of eyes turned to Chen Guodong.
Chen Fan felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. This wilderness was genuinely perilous. If you were alone and encountered this gang, chances were you'd end up as their prey. As he pondered this, he tightened his grip on the longbow in his hand, his palms slick with perspiration.
"Let's forget it," Chen Guodong finally exhaled.
Among the crowd, some breathed sighs of relief while others grew excited.
"Guodong, it's just a dozen or so low-level ferocious beasts. What's there to fear?" a middle-aged man holding a short spear proclaimed loudly. "If they charge us, we can probably take down at least two or three in a single volley."
"Yes, Guodong, they look cautious too. They're not making any hasty moves."
"Guodong, with this much meat, the entire village can eat for several days!"
"Gao Yang, I get what you're saying," Chen Guodong said, addressing the man with the short spear. "But even if we take down two or three in one round of shooting, that leaves eight or nine. In a one-on-one scenario, can you guarantee no one will get hurt?"
Gao Yang was momentarily taken aback.
"What if someone gets bitten and infected with rabies virus? Have you forgotten what happened to the person who got injured earlier?" Chen Guodong couldn't bear to continue.
"Old Gao, listen to Guodong," the bald man said, patting him on the shoulder. "We don't have many people in the village. We can't afford to take unnecessary risks."
Though Gao Yang was reluctant, he eventually acquiesced and stowed away his short spear.
The mood in the group sank. They had almost tasted victory, only to have it snatched away.
Chen Fan gazed at the distant wolves, a daring idea taking root in his mind.
After reluctantly abandoning the pieces of decomposing wild beef, the hunting party made a swift exit. Of course, someone had taken a choice cut of meat, and Chen Guodong had allowed it.
As the figures of the hunters gradually disappeared, more than a dozen Steppenwolves slowly approached.
Among them, two or three wolves were the first to feast on the meat, tearing into the bloody flesh and blood-soaked meat.
Soon, others joined the feast, gobbling their share, the sound of bones being crunched filling the air.
Even those who ate well couldn't resist raising their heads and letting out long howls of satisfaction.
Unaware that the group of people who had left earlier was stealthily making their way back, inch by inch.
Five hundred meters, four hundred meters, three hundred meters...
"Xiaofan," the bald man at the front couldn't help but say, "Even if we return now, it might be too late. Considering their speed, those two hundred pounds of meat and bones might be reduced to a mere hundred pounds."
Others chimed in, their frustration evident.
Chen Fan smiled slightly and confessed, "Uncle Liu, who said I came back for that cow?"
The bald man paused, turned around abruptly, and widened his eyes. "Are you saying..."
"Exactly," Chen Fan nodded. "I want to see if there's a chance for a sneak attack. If we succeed, we can still bring back the wolf meat."
A collective gasp filled the air, including Chen Guodong. The audacity of this plan left them astounded.
So cunning, or perhaps, so calculating!
Not even humans could have predicted this return after their initial departure, let alone a pack of animals.
And what Xiaofan said is true; wolf meat can indeed be taken back to eat. In the realm of culinary delights, with dragon meat in the sky and dog meat on the ground, wolf meat boasts a flavor quite similar to that of dog meat, and it is exceptionally delicious.
Especially for Gao Yang, who was initially reluctant, his face now flushed with excitement upon hearing Chen Fan's words.
Absolutely right!
As humans, being deprived of our prey by a group of beasts is nothing short of a profound humiliation!
Of course, Chen Fan wasn't acting recklessly. Seeing that the distance had narrowed to less than 200 meters, he lowered his voice and said, "The wind is blowing from the direction of the wolves toward us, so it's unlikely they can smell us. If I can get within 100 meters, I'm confident I can shoot at least four Steppenwolves in the shortest time, leaving seven of them. Uncles, are you sure you can handle them without getting hurt?"
"Absolutely."
Gao Yang promptly affirmed, "As long as those seven beasts dare to charge within 20 meters, we can take down at least two or three with a single volley. We've dealt with them numerous times before, and they don't even come close to hiding."
"That's correct; if the remaining wolves dare to approach, they'll be met with a hail of gunfire."
"Hmph, I guarantee none of them will survive."
Chen Guodong felt a surge of confidence as well. With a single person wielding a two- to three-meter long spear against a lone Steppenwolf, the odds were overwhelmingly in their favor. The longer reach of the spear and the simple-minded nature of these beasts meant they would likely target the spear, not the human behind it.
Even if several of them attacked simultaneously, they could handle it.
Yet, Chen Fan maintained his composure and inquired, "Xiaofan, are you truly certain you can take down four of them?"
All eyes in the group were fixed on him, for this was the linchpin of their plan. A single mistake could lead to disastrous consequences.
"Well, trust me," Chen Fan nodded as the distance closed to within 150 meters.
Silently, he replaced the eighty-pound bow on his back, drew an arrow with his right hand, and leaned forward.
The gap was diminishing, the unmistakable sound of chewing drawing closer.
Hearts pounded, nerves were taut. This was their first attempt at such a stealthy approach to the wolves, and they could even hear their own heartbeats racing. Risks were inevitable, but without taking risks, what could they hope to gain?
One hundred and thirty meters.
One hundred and ten meters.
One hundred meters.
A couple of wolves sensed something amiss and raised their heads to sniff their surroundings. Unfortunately, the scent of blood overwhelmed them. After a moment's hesitation, they lowered their heads once more and tore into their prey.
"Xiaofan, are we still a hundred meters away?" the bald man anxiously inquired.
"Uncle Liu, let's get a bit closer," Chen Fan urged, determination etched on his face.
One hundred meters wasn't the ideal range; eighty meters would be even better. Of course, if he was discovered prematurely, he'd have to react swiftly and unleash his arrow.
In the span of a few seconds, their hearts seemed to be lodged in their throats. What was merely ten to twenty meters felt as endless as several kilometers.
Until Chen Fan's voice finally broke the tension.
"Alright, Uncle Liu, we'll stop here."