Jian Jia’s life experience had taught her that in moments of crisis, staying calm was essential. Only by calming herself could she properly prepare for whatever might come next. Even though the general was running around anxiously, bringing news of trouble, Jian Jia did not panic.
After settling Qin Lang, she quickly packed her belongings. She had never been into the mountains before and had no idea what lay ahead or what had happened to Hunter Qin. Considering he might be severely injured, she packed a clean set of clothes, along with some hemostatic medicine provided by Second Uncle, a sharp pair of scissors, and a small vial of alcohol for disinfection.
She changed into a long skirt, tied up her hair, and put on an outfit more suited for mountain travel. Once ready, she strapped a kitchen knife to her waist, picked up a three-foot-long wooden staff, and followed Da Hei at a brisk pace.
Outside the yard, Second Uncle held Qin Lang’s hand, watching Jian Jia disappear along the mountain path. Qin Lang’s eyes reddened gradually. Second Uncle patted his head. “Your brother and Jia’er are both fortunate. Nothing will happen to them. If you feel upset, it’s okay to cry for a while.”
Qin Lang sniffled but straightened his back firmly. “I won’t cry. With my brother and sister gone, I’m the head of the household.” He rubbed his eyes and strode toward the house. “I’ll tidy up the home while waiting for them to return.”
Second Uncle sighed, frustrated and annoyed at his own impatience. He had panicked when he learned Hunter Qin might be in danger, and now he had only made matters worse.
“I’m getting old…”
In her previous life on the plains, the only mountain near the city rose barely eighty meters. She had often thought about climbing it to overlook the city, but she never got the chance before her sudden death.
Now, reborn, she finally ventured into the mountains. After winding along a mountain path and crossing two peaks, the terrain ahead became steep, and the path ended. From here on, she would have to rely on her own hands and feet to traverse the rugged terrain.
The general ran just ahead of Jian Jia, stopping periodically to glance back, ensuring it did not leave its owner behind.
At first, Jian Jia could still orient herself, but after circling with the general a few times, she became lost. Thick forest blocked her view and shielded the sun, leaving the forest floor damp and dark, with strange sounds echoing through the trees, sending chills down her spine.
Thick layers of fallen leaves covered the ground, and with every step, Jian Jia had to probe with her staff. She was here to rescue someone, and injuring herself would only add trouble rather than help.
The further she went, the more she appreciated Hunter Qin’s resilience. Even a short stretch left her breathless, while he ascended daily, setting traps and hunting game.
As Jian Jia stepped on a wet stone, moving upward, the general suddenly barked. A well-trained dog only barks when it has located something, so Jian Jia’s spirits lifted as she hurried toward the sound.
Over the ridge, she saw a small mountain hollow filled with tall dawn redwood trees, their twisted roots breaking through the earth, a shallow stream weaving through the roots and flowing to the lower ground.
The general leapt across the roots toward the stream, stopping by a large tree. Jian Jia craned her neck and saw a patch of gray fabric among the roots—Hunter Qin’s robe!
She quickened her pace, almost reaching him when her foot slipped, nearly sending her sprawling. She grabbed a nearby rock just in time to steady herself.
Frowning at the spot that caused her slip, her face turned pale. There, where she had stepped, lay a dark red pool of blood.
Blood? Such a large amount in the depths of the forest? Her gaze followed the trail upward and nearly made her faint: a massive anaconda lay before her, its lifeless body pressed under her hand.
An anaconda is enormous. The one Jian Jia had caught in the Qin residence was large, but this one dwarfed it. It measured at least twenty feet, its black-gray patterned scales thick as a bucket at its widest point.
In the damp redwood forest, an anaconda is a formidable beast, nearly invisible when concealed in mud or puddles.
This one, however, was dead. Its colossal body sagged between the trees, its neck split by a deep wound almost separating its head. Red blood seeped onto a large stone below, and its skull twisted at an unnatural angle, the lifeless eyes reflecting Jian Jia’s face.
Jian Jia wasn’t easily scared of snakes, but seeing it up close made her heart stop and every hair on her body bristle. She stumbled backward several feet before managing to draw a deep breath.
She felt lucky it was dead—if it had been alive, the outcome would have been hers.
Yet relief was tinged with fear. “Hunter Qin…” The snake’s neck wound indicated a human had struck it. Other than him, she could think of no one capable of facing such a beast. But even he was only flesh and blood; confronting such a formidable snake was no small feat.
As expected, Hunter Qin was badly injured. He leaned against a redwood, pallid, right hand gripping a serrated dagger, his chest bloodied, chest rising and falling imperceptibly.
Jian Jia had remained composed until she saw the snake’s corpse, and then panic gripped her. Hands trembling, she reached toward his nose, voice shaking without her realizing it. “Hunter Qin, don’t die, please don’t die!”
In the original story, Hunter Qin’s life was long, but with her interference, it might have changed. She felt for his breath but found none, and her mind went blank. She drew a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself: “Don’t panic, don’t panic… maybe the pulse is off…”
There was no ECG machine in the forest. Jian Jia forced herself to focus and reached for his neck to feel for a pulse. Her fingers touched the skin on one side, and she brightened. “Good, there’s body heat… what next?”
Where was the carotid? Martial arts shows always made it look like a master could find a pulse instantly. She searched from left to right but felt nothing.
Perhaps she wasn’t pressing hard enough? Jian Jia placed both hands on either side of his neck. The skin was warm and firm, yet… no pulse! Had television lied to her?
Just as sweat formed on her brow, Hunter Qin’s eyes opened. “Stop… I’m fine…” He had expended great effort fighting the snake and needed to rest. Hearing Jian Jia’s voice while half-asleep, with her hands fumbling over his neck, forced him to wake.
Jian Jia quickly withdrew, stepping back, silently exhaling in relief. Thank heavens he was alive. Her gaze swept over his body. “You’re bleeding badly. Where are you hurt? I brought medicine to bandage you.”
She opened her pack and took out the alcohol for disinfection.
Hunter Qin’s gaze followed the pack to her face, lips curling slightly. “That’s the snake’s blood. I’m fine, just sprained my left foot. It’ll take some time to recover before going down the mountain. How did you find me?” He had expected Second Uncle, not Jian Jia, a fragile woman, to traverse the mountains to locate him.
During the fight with the snake, his left foot had slipped. It hadn’t hurt at the time, but now the ankle was swollen and painful with movement. The medicine Jian Jia brought was timely; after application, the pain lessened considerably, making descent feasible with the staff.
Before descending, Hunter Qin carefully skinned the snake. Locals didn’t eat snakes, and the meat had little value, but the skin was valuable. He would not waste the opportunity to earn some silver.
Jian Jia felt a pang of regret at seeing the pale snake meat; such meat could have been used. But with their current state, carrying it out was impossible, so the forest retained its prize.
As she marveled at the situation, Jian Jia noticed a gray cloth bundle in front of her. Instinctively, she reached for it and opened it. Inside were a dozen or so black objects, varying in size. Round or oval in shape, each had a long black tail, resembling giant tadpoles in appearance but with a texture like a plant. Puzzled, she asked, “What is this?”
Hunter Qin pursed his lips, looking down at the bundle, ears tinged red, and whispered, “Black Spirit Ginseng.” That was why the anaconda had targeted him.
“With this, your dowry money will be covered.”