```
"Hahaha, got it!"
The pheasant's wings kept flapping as it shook a few times and then collapsed onto the snow.
Shen Qing was overjoyed.
He sprinted over, grabbed the still-flapping pheasant, and examined it carefully.
People in the county loved using these feathers to make decorative crafts, feather fans, and feather headdresses.
This pheasant's feathers were as gorgeous as brocade, with a lush and colorful tail that could fetch a good price.
Moreover, pheasant meat, whether stir-fried, boiled, stewed, or roasted, tasted exquisite and was a rare delicacy, enough to fill his sister and him for a day.
Finally, he had some success.
Shen Qing pinched the pheasant's neck, twisted with force, breaking its neck, and hung it by his waist.
Then he looked up at the sky, finding a hint of brightness beneath the dark clouds, suggesting it was still midday.
It was still early, and he could venture a little deeper.
Now that his archery had advanced, the bow and arrow in his hand felt as easy to use as an extension of his arm, without the previous awkwardness.
Just now, hitting the target from a hundred paces away with one shot was something he never dared to imagine before.
Even if a snow wolf appeared before him, he felt he could hunt it down.
At this thought, a rare smile appeared on Shen Qing's face. He took the bow and trudged further into the snow.
There were quite a few villages like Hongshan Village near Shicheng Mountain that lived by hunting, with ancestors who had long familiarized themselves with this mountain.
This vast mountain stretched nearly a hundred miles, but in actuality, there were only a few dozen suitable hunting spots.
Elsewhere was either too dangerous, with demons and wild beasts roaming, or too barren, with few prey.
If an inexperienced hunter from elsewhere entered Shicheng Mountain, even after ten days, they would return empty-handed.
Managing to hunt a pheasant in half a day's time today involved not just his bow technique breakthrough but a bit of luck too.
As expected, in the following half-day, he didn't see a single prey.
The game in this forest disappeared as if by agreement.
Standing in the snow, Shen Qing considered, "Perhaps I've hunted too frequently in this spot over the past month; it's time to find a new place."
As he thought this, yesterday's deer image flashed in his mind.
"I'll try over there tomorrow."
Once he made up his mind, Shen Qing turned and left.
As he left relatively early, the sky was still bright when he returned to the village.
He came across a few fellow villagers from Hongshan Village.
Seeing the pheasant hanging from Shen Qing's waist, they showed surprise.
"Qingzi, lucky day for you to return with something."
"The pheasant looks good. Want to sell it to me? I'll trade you five pounds of brown rice for it."
"Old Tian, do you think I'm naive? Your five pounds of brown rice for my pheasant? Is your rice made of gold or silver?"
Shen Qing laughed, "Rice is about twelve copper coins per pound on the market, so five pounds equals sixty wen. My pheasant would sell for at least 150 wen in the county, don't try to take advantage."
With that, he pushed past them.
The poor wilderness often breeds treacherous people.
Having lived here for over a month, Shen Qing knew these people would climb further if given the chance.
If you conceded an inch, they'd take a mile.
The people behind weren't bothered by Shen Qing's refusal and dispersed.
Passing a few households, Shen Qing soon reached his door and found it open.
Inside sat a burly man in a gray cotton suit, face full of flesh.
Upon seeing Shen Qing return, a hint of joy flashed across Shen Fang's face.
The man on the chair turned his head towards Shen Qing, surprised, "Oh, Qingzi is back."
The man stood up, taller than Shen Qing by a head.
His strong physique suggested trouble.
This was none other than Chen Yuan, the eldest son of the mountain drivers in Hongshan Village.
It's said that Chen Youguang, head of the mountain drivers, had some connections in the county town and obtained a martial arts manual called Nine Skills for his three sons to practice.
Among the three brothers, the eldest had the most talent, grasping the basics, far beyond what someone surviving on bran cake could challenge.
However, Shen Qing wasn't someone to shy away from conflict. He quickly calmed down, wore a congenial expression, and said with a smile, "What brings Brother Yuan to this humble abode today?"
"It's cold, just dropping by," Chen Yuan glanced at Shen Qing and walked to the door. As he passed Shen Qing, he looked down, "You had good luck today, that pheasant is quite beautiful."
Shen Qing picked up on Chen Yuan's implication and responded quickly, "It's a blessing from Heaven. Since you like it, how about I give it to you?"
"Haha, I thought Shen the Eldest was so dull, but his son is quite clever," Chen Yuan patted Shen Qing's shoulder, "I don't need the pheasant, but once the heavy snow stops, I'll come by to see your sister. It could be good for both of you."
With that, Chen Yuan turned and left.
Shen Qing watched Chen Yuan leave, looking displeased.
Refusing a high-quality pheasant meant he wanted something more from them.
The two siblings had nothing, just an impoverished home.
Their only asset was their good looks.
The seemingly rustic elder sister, Shen Fang, would transform into a beauty with a little grooming.
As for himself, no one in the village could compare.
However, beauty to a middle-class family was a gift from heaven, but a curse for those at the bottom.
Since the heavy snow began, Chen Yuan eyed Shen Fang more diligently.
He must have found some opportunities outside, aiming to take Shen Fang.
Shen Qing reckoned that when they hit rock bottom, Chen Yuan intended to milk them dry.
"Qingzi... glad you're back... he kept persuading me, I really don't know what to do..."
Shen Fang, hiding aside, had a hesitant look.
Seeing Shen Fang's demeanor, Shen Qing knew she was indecisive, likely swayed by Chen Yuan's words.
"Don't pay him too much attention. When our parents left, remember how his family took advantage."
"I know," Shen Fang mumbled softly, "But what else can we do?"
Her voice was faint, barely audible.
Shen Qing looked outside.
Snow fell gently.
The silver-white world was enveloped in coldness.
Cold gusts surrounded Shen Qing and his sister, chilling to the bone.
"When I'm not home, Sis, stay at Auntie's. It might be safer there with Uncle and Aunt around."
Shen Qing entered the house, took the pheasant off his waist, and tossed it down, "Slaughter it then."
```