Chapter Six: The Bear Hunt

"Your head is still there, just bald!"

Qin Zhen kicked Li Han awake and raised his wooden crossbow to fight back.

The wooden bolts, which could easily pierce a wild rabbit, struck the brown bear like stones thrown at an iron plate, boring a few bloody holes but causing no real harm.

Instead, the pain only awakened the beast's savage instincts. With a furious roar, the brown bear charged at Qin Zhen!

Qin Zhen recalled a science program he'd once watched, where a bald, brawny man had explained what to do when encountering a brown bear in the wild.

First, do not play dead—brown bears often enjoy toying with and torturing their prey, and pretending to be dead would only result in a gruesome death.

Second, don't try to escape by climbing a tree. In fact, these creatures can climb even faster than leopards.

There was only one thing he could do.

"Scatter and run!"

Chen Shu suddenly shouted. For the first time, his crude archery skills found their mark—a feathered arrow whistled through the air, striking the bear's paw. Seeing he'd drawn the beast's wrath, he turned and sprinted into the forest.

"Uncle Chen!" Li Han wailed, tears streaming down his face. In his mind, Uncle Chen was sacrificing himself to save them.

Though Chen Shu usually kept to himself and rarely spoke, when it mattered, he was loyal to the core.

Qin Zhen clenched his jaw, a flicker of struggle in his eyes.

Running back to the village for help would be too late. Even if the elderly or weak dared to come, by the time they arrived, there’d be nothing left of Chen Shu but bones gnawed by the bear.

Just as Chen Shu hadn't abandoned the two boys, he, too, would not abandon Chen Shu.

He saw Chen Shu’s dropped dagger, picked it up, and dashed into the forest in pursuit!

When Qin Zhen took off, Li Han hastily wiped away his tears and, filled with grim determination, followed right after.

But how could a man outrun a bear?

Chen Shu was soon caught. With a swipe of its massive paw, the bear sent him tumbling.

Facing the gaping jaws of death, Chen Shu closed his eyes in despair, awaiting the end.

"Uncle Chen, run!"

Qin Zhen, having climbed a tree without anyone noticing, leapt down from above and drove the short dagger with all his might into the bear’s back!

A chilling wail echoed through the valley.

Chen Shu stared in utter disbelief.

Who could imagine a boy of sixteen or seventeen would dare fight a bear?

The brown bear thrashed madly, trying to shake Qin Zhen off its back, but the harder it struggled, the deeper the dagger sank.

Qin Zhen was, after all, just a boy; after only a few moments, the bear flung him off. Its bloodshot eyes fixed on Qin Zhen as it lunged, jaws wide and teeth bared.

Qin Zhen raised his wooden crossbow and fired the last bolt.

The arrow shot through the bear’s mouth, the tip emerging sharply from the back of its skull.

Blood spurted as the bear’s charge faltered. It staggered, then collapsed helplessly on top of Qin Zhen.

Its heaving chest grew still—nothing remained but a bloody corpse.

Clang.

Li Han, who had rushed over clutching a rock, fell to the ground at the sight, trembling as he pointed at the lifeless beast. “That brute… is it dead?!”

Chen Shu quickly helped pull Qin Zhen out from under the bear.

“I told you to run—why did you come back?!” he shouted with a trace of reproach, “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I was hoping you’d take me to sell the pelt, Uncle Chen,” Qin Zhen, covered in blood and panting, grinned, “If you died, who would I turn to?”

“You’re braver than your brother! He risked his life against pirates, you risk yours against bears—your whole Qin family is full of tough men!” Chen Shu was thoroughly convinced, his admiration plain. Slumping down, he said seriously, “I owe you my life!”

“We’re all neighbors, there’s no need to talk of debts. If you hadn’t shot that arrow, I’d have been killed by the bear already.” Qin Zhen gestured at the carcass. “Uncle Chen, how much do you think this pelt will fetch?”

“Sell the pelt? Forget the pelt!” Chen Shu burst out laughing.

“Qin lad, let me tell you—you’re going to be rich!”

When Qin Zhen returned to the fishing village, drenched in blood, he startled everyone.

Especially when he claimed to have killed a bear—villagers wondered if he'd gone mad or suffered some terrible shock.

“I told you not to go into the woods—you must be possessed!” the old village chief stomped his foot in agitation. “Someone, go fetch the shaman from the next village!”

Bears were terrifying; every year, hundreds, if not thousands, died to their claws.

Even the soldiers dared not hunt them—how could a mere boy have killed one?

“I’m not crazy! I really killed a bear! It’s too big for me to bring back, so I came for help. Quick—Uncle Chen and Han are waiting in the woods!”

Seeing Qin Zhen so earnest and detailed, the old chief hesitated, then gathered the village men and followed Qin Zhen into the forest.

“Heavens above! There really is a bear!” At the sight of the massive animal, the village chief’s legs nearly gave out. He stammered, “Was it really you who killed it?”

“I can vouch for him! It was Zhen who did it!” Li Han called out.

“That’s right—he’s just as brave as his brother!” Chen Shu added, full of praise.

Everyone’s gaze toward Qin Zhen changed.

Bears were a menace in those parts; by killing one, Qin Zhen had done the villagers a great service.

He was a hero.

“Who would have thought—our little fishing village has produced a bear-slaying hero!” the elder exclaimed, barely containing his excitement. “Why are you all standing around? Hurry, help carry it back!”

That night, Liu Juan waited anxiously at the village entrance, holding a torch.

Word had spread—her Qin Zhen had killed a bear!

“Qin family’s sister-in-law, I hear the authorities give a hefty reward for killing a bear! This year’s taxes are settled for you!”

“That’s right, sister Juan—Qin Zhen has really made you proud!”

Listening to the villagers' envious chatter, Liu Juan only felt restless. She cared for none of it—only for Qin Zhen’s safety.

Far off, she saw torchlight flickering in the woods.

The villagers, faces flushed with excitement, dragged a giant beast back.

Qin Zhen sat atop the bear, grinning like a fool, basking in their admiration.

“Zhen!”

Liu Juan rushed over.

Qin Zhen leapt down to meet her.

Before he could say a word, a gentle embrace enveloped him.

All he heard was Liu Juan’s choked voice, filled with concern and pleading.

“Promise me, never go into the woods again!”

Qin Zhen felt a warmth in his heart and nodded obediently.

“All right.”

He took Liu Juan’s hand, proudly showing off.

“Look, this is the bear I killed! With it, no soldiers will come to take you away. From now on, we’ll have a good life!”