Wu Tian's actions were not, strictly speaking, beneficial to the hunting team, nor were they what a qualified hunting dog should be doing.
Deep within such a dangerous forest, conserving stamina and remaining vigilant—avoiding meaningless battles—was a fundamental rule.
However, Wu Tian was only a two-year-old puppy. Whether it was the hunters or Yin Shuang, everyone showed him the utmost tolerance.
At worst, if he exhausted himself, they could simply pick him up and toss him into a pack to rest.
The hunters and the adult white dogs all assumed that Wu Tian was merely brimming with youthful energy, eager to run wild.
In reality, Wu Tian was unwilling to waste even a moment. He wanted to hone his skills relentlessly.
In the depths of the forest, poisonous insects, snakes, ants, wild rabbits, and squirrels were everywhere. Wu Tian devoured toxic bugs, pounced on venomous snakes, and hunted rabbits and squirrels.
On his own, he found it difficult to catch rabbits or squirrels directly. But any prey that tried to flee would soon be intercepted and captured by the surrounding adult white dogs.
Along the way, the hunting team failed to secure any large prey. They only caught three rabbits—barely enough to serve as rations for the team, far from sufficient to bring back to the village.
"There are hardly any cattle, deer, or sheep in this part of the forest," a burly man with arms like iron pillars muttered. "Boss, we won't be able to gather enough food here. Should we move elsewhere or go deeper into the forest?"
Gu Xiong Mu replied in a low voice, "To the north lies Skull Mountain. That place is a land of death and a forbidden zone. Even approaching it is courting disaster."
"To the east is Black Fish Lake. It used to be our best hunting ground, but an old bear there has cultivated intelligence. It absorbs moonlight, possesses steel-like bones and flesh, is impervious to blades and arrows, and has boundless strength. Last time, the hunting team lost seven lives before the survivors barely escaped."
"To the south is the hunting territory of Red Blood Village. They control the Red Blood Gu and have over a thousand people. We can't afford to provoke them."
"As for the west, where we are now, it's deep primeval forest—extremely dangerous. A single misstep could lead us into demons or ghosts, and we could be wiped out entirely."
"We must not act recklessly. Even returning empty-handed is better than losing our lives."
"First, we familiarize ourselves with the surroundings. Don't push too hard…"
The hunters understood this logic. But with elderly family members and children at home reduced to skin and bones, every trip out was driven by the hope of bringing back enough food.
After an entire day of cautious searching in the western forest, the hunting team caught only seven or eight rabbits and two wild foxes. For a village of over a hundred people, it was nowhere near enough.
As dusk approached, the team hurried back. Staying outside overnight was unthinkable—common sense dictated that the forest after dark was deadly.
Wu Tian could understand human speech, but there was nothing he could do to help with the village's predicament.
The greatest benefit of staying with the team was that whenever he grew tired, Gu Xiong Mu would simply grab him and toss him into his pack to rest.
Wu Tian rested when exhausted. Once his strength recovered, he would jump back out to temper his Hunting and Wind Listening skills and consume poisonous creatures.
Three days passed like this. The hunting team carefully explored the surrounding area. Yin Shuang discovered several dangerous locations. In the western forest, there was a giant python nearing demonhood—nearly a hundred feet long.
Fortunately, Yin Shuang detected it early, allowing the team to steer far clear.
They also encountered signs of an old bear. At one point, they even discovered a pack of wolves—over twenty strong—roaming the forest, posing a grave threat.
After thoroughly scouting the area, Gu Xiong Mu decided to make a move on the old bear.
More than a dozen white dogs spread out, sealing off all possible escape routes.
Gu Xiong Mu and the hunters slowly tightened the encirclement. Once they were close enough, everyone drew their bows at once and unleashed a volley of arrows toward the black-furred bear.
The bear's hide was thick and tough. Most arrows failed to pierce its fur, lodging harmlessly in its coat and only causing it to roar in pain.
Gu Xiong Mu's aim, however, was flawless. His arrow shot straight into the bear's eye socket. Blood immediately gushed out, driving the beast into a frenzy.
The bear reared up on its hind legs, roaring furiously, before charging toward Gu Xiong Mu and the others.
The hunters were seasoned veterans. As the bear lunged, they scattered in all directions.
After a brief pursuit, the wounded bear was forced to stop due to blood loss. Panting heavily, it turned and fled.
The hunting team followed closely, firing arrows whenever an opportunity presented itself.
Meanwhile, Yin Shuang and the other white dogs prowled the perimeter, driving off other beasts drawn by the scent of blood.
Fortunately, the black bear was a feared presence in the forest. Upon hearing its roars, most beasts fled without daring to approach.
After tracking it for over half an hour, the bear finally collapsed from excessive blood loss.
It let out a pained roar, struggling to rise. But after only a few steps, it fell once more.
Once it was clear the bear had lost most of its fighting ability, Yin Shuang and the adult white dogs swarmed in from all sides. Seizing the moment, Yin Shuang clamped down directly on the bear's throat.
Wu Tian naturally did not miss this opportunity and lunged in as well.
More than a dozen white dogs hunting a black bear—it was a gruesome sight. Only when the bear completely lost its life did Yin Shuang and the others finally stop.
Accustomed to cooperating with the hunting team, the white dogs exercised restraint, avoiding excessive damage to the carcass.
Gu Xiong Mu and the hunters drew their knives and began the dismemberment, slicing open the bear's hide and dividing its body.
The dozen-plus men quickly stripped the bear of its hide and flesh before hastily returning to the village.
The journey back was extremely dangerous. Many carried heavy loads of bear meat and were unable to fight effectively. Combined with the strong scent of blood, it was certain to attract other predators.
Yin Shuang and the white dogs spread far ahead and around the group, scouting constantly to prevent ambushes.
Sure enough, the smell of blood drew in a nearby wolf pack, which shadowed the hunting team closely.
Yin Shuang and the other white dogs fixed their gazes on the wolves, both sides probing and confronting each other.
Several times, when the wolves seemed ready to charge, Gu Xiong Mu drew his bow and fired, forcing them back.
With over a dozen white dogs and nearly twenty hunters, the wolf pack dared not attack outright.
Only when the group neared the outskirts of the village did the wolves finally let out unwilling howls and disappear into the forest.
(End of Chapter)