Camping out (Part 1)

Before the night came, Lin Xiao had Long YinLian settled beside the campfire with everyone else then turned to few members of the White Swan. “Brother Ruo, and three others come with me for a bit,” Lin Xiao said before he led them to the wagon. “Wait here while I go and get the ingredient,” Lin Xiao said as he got into the wagon from the back.

Inside the wagon is filled with ingredients that can be cooked. He grabbed a few cabbages, then a bag of rice before he went out and threw it over to the White Swan members who caught it skillfully. After that, he went in again and grabbed a few more ingredients, a barrel of water, as well as some cooking utensils. Before leaving the wagon, Lin Xiao made sure to prepare the dried meat he bought earlier and left them to the three tigers.

“Wait a bit more, alright? I promise it won’t take long. When we’re done escorting, we’ll go home and the three of you will be free to play around again,” Lin Xiao said as he pats each tiger’s head. Only after appeasing the three tigers did Lin Xiao got out of the wagon and handed some items to Ruo An. “This should be enough, right? Do we need more?” Lin Xiao asked Ruo An.

“No, this is enough!” Ruo An said happily. “When we received the task from the outpost, we thought that we’d be eating a ready-made food. We were prepared to have a bad meal after a day, but it looks like our worry was unwarranted! Did not expect that Brother Lin will be cooking!”

“What are you talking about? When I said food will be provided, I only meant the basic ingredients. You still have to help me cook, ah! Or else, we will have our dinner late,” Lin Xiao replied, making Ruo An dumfounded. “What? Do you want to go hungry instead?” Lin Xiao saw Ruo An’s expression and can’t help but narrow his eyes.

Ruo An remembered the murderous intent he felt earlier from Lin Xiao and quickly shook his head. “Of course! We’ll help cook!” Ruo An answered.

“Good. You go and prepare dinner. Don’t worry, Shizun and I are not picky eaters,” Lin Xiao said as he strapped Long YinLian’s sword to his waist and checked on his dagger. After that, he reached out into the wagon again and this time, he took out some ropes, a bow and a quiver of arrows.

“Brother Lin… what are you planning to do?” Ruo An looked at him, confusion written all over his face.

“I’ll go and try to hunt some wild animals. I won’t be long,” Lin Xiao replied.

“But it is nighttime. It is very dangerous.”

“Don’t worry,” Lin Xiao said before he let out a high-pitched whistle. Not long after, a falcon came over and Lin Xiao held out his arm and let the falcon rest. “This little guy here will help me. Aren’t you?” Lin Xiao smiled as he gently rubbed the falcon under its beak. As if understanding Lin Xiao’s thought, the falcon screeched before it flew up to the sky again. Lin Xiao watched it go before turning to Ruo An again. “I will be back before the first-night watch ends. While you’re at it, prepare some seasoning for roasting meat. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure our belly will be filled tonight,” Lin Xiao grinned at Ruo An, his hand reaching into the wagon again and this time, he took out two sheets of blankets.

He then walked over to Long YinLian and Fei YuXing. He handed one blanket to Fei YuXing, then carefully placed the blanket on Long YinLian’s shoulder. “Shizun, I’ll go hunt for some meat. Stay here, alright?” Lin Xiao said before he leaned down close to Long YinLian’s ear. “Lan-er, Fan-er, and Zan-er has already eaten some dried meat but I don’t think it will be enough for our whole journey since we’re being delayed. I’ll have to restock some more,” he added in a soft whisper.

“En. Do be careful. Don’t stay out too long. If you can’t find any prey, just return first and you can go hunt again tomorrow,” Long YinLian said before he reached out and pats Lin Xiao’s head.

“Don’t worry. The falcon from before will be helping me,” Lin Xiao replied before he stood up straight. After giving out a few more instructions, Lin Xiao then left the camping area.

Entering the forest, Lin Xiao did not immediately begin to track his prey. Instead, he just walked around leisurely, as if he is taking a stroll. It was only when he heard the falcon’s familiar cries did he look up and whistled towards it. When the falcon saw Lin Xiao, it circled above Lin Xiao twice before it flew away again. This time, Lin Xiao made sure to follow it.

The falcon led Lin Xiao deep into the forest where it found preys. When they are close by, the bird slows down its speed before descending and landed on one of the tree branches. Knowing that they are close, Lin Xiao crouched down and started to walk slowly, making as little noise as possible.

Taking an arrow out from his quiver, he nocked it to his bow and waited near the tree where the falcon rests. Lin Xiao patiently waited, staring into the clearings before him. He knew few animals live nearby these kinds of clearings and sure enough, a deer appeared from the opposite direction. The deer is walking in a calm manner as it approached the clearings in the forest, not knowing that there is a predator nearby. Behind it, is a deer calf.

Seeing that there are two preys, Lin Xiao frowned. If he was at least with Wang Zan, he could get both easily. Now, he needed to be more patient. What he has to do is to kill the adult deer with one shot, then quickly shot another arrow to the deer calf.

While grazing, the deer are moving slowly and ate the grass. Lin Xiao quietly waited for the right moment and after a while, the deer finally revealed its side to Lin Xiao. Pulling the bowstring into a taut, Lin Xiao aimed right for the deer’s heart region. While he aimed at the adult deer, he also took note of the position of the deer calf. Only when both are in a desirable position did he release the arrow.

The arrow flew, cutting through the winds. The deer was startled by the sudden sound of the bowstring snapping but it was too late by the time it tried to run. The arrow hits the deer slightly above its armpit, piercing through its flesh and right into its heart. Before the deer fell, another arrow flew across the winds, this time it was aiming at the escaping deer calf.

Lin Xiao only took a rough aim at the deer calf, knowing that he can’t kill it in one shot. So, he only aimed to injure it seriously to slow it down before taking another shot to secure the kill.

He approached the dead deer calf first, taking out the rope and tied its legs together. Then, he carried it over as he went to the adult deer’s body next and did the same. Then, Lin Xiao paused as he came into a realization. “How do I carry these two?” he asked out loud. “Ah! I’m so stupid! I was greedy for a moment and now, it’ll be a waste if I don’t bring both!” he berated himself.

In the end, Lin Xiao called the falcon over and ordered it to return to where they are camping. ‘Hopefully, Shizun understands my distress signal, ah!!’ Lin Xiao thought as he prayed that someone will come over to help him carry his spoils.