Chapter 25: Setting the Trap

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【Prey detected—South China rabbit. Would you like to use the Prey Lock skill?】
"Lock!"
Lin Yang issued the command almost as a reflex.
As the word left his lips, a flicker appeared before his eyes, and a plump South China rabbit came into view.
The creature was hiding in the withered yellow bushes about seven or eight meters ahead. Its brownish-black fur blended so perfectly with the surroundings that it would have been nearly impossible to spot without the lock skill.
At that moment, the rabbit was focused on nibbling tender green grass, though its innate vigilance remained sharp; every few bites, it would quickly raise its head, its darting eyes scanning the surroundings.
Seeing this, Lin Yang froze as if under a paralysis spell, standing perfectly still.
He slowly withdrew his homemade slingshot, moving with such softness that he feared disturbing his nearby prey.
Next, he carefully fished a steel ball from his pocket.
Although his homemade slingshot lacked the power of a bow and arrow, it offered a distinct advantage in close-range precision.
Within a ten-meter radius, Lin Yang was ninety percent certain he could take the rabbit down.
The moment the rabbit raised its head again, Lin Yang struck decisively.
*Whoosh!*
The steel ball flew like a bolt of black lightning, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air, striking the rabbit squarely in the head.
The brown-gray rabbit collapsed instantly, its limbs struggling violently as it clearly tried to escape the danger zone with its final strength.
Though the force of the steel ball was considerable, it wasn't enough to be fatal; it had merely stunned the animal.
Lin Yang didn't dare hesitate for a second. He lunged forward, firmly gripped the gray rabbit, and hoisted it up by its ears.
"Bait acquired!"
Lin Yang looked at the rabbit in his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
He skillfully pulled out some wire, bound the rabbit securely in a few quick motions, and dropped it into his wicker basket.
With the rabbit secured, Lin Yang continued on his way.
He hadn't gone far when the system’s notification tone sounded once more.
【Prey detected—Red squirrel. Would you like to use the Prey Lock... Apologies! Target lost. Please attempt to search again...】
Lin Yang had caught a glimpse of the red squirrel out of the corner of his eye and was just about to lock onto it when it vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.
However, thanks to the keen observational skills he had honed in the mountain forests, he had managed to spot the direction in which the squirrel fled.
In this vast forest, squirrels were undoubtedly masters of survival.
They were agile, squeezing through any gap and chasing each other through the trees with ghostly speed.
Moreover, squirrels were experts at food storage; if he could find this red squirrel’s den, the harvest would surely be substantial.
After all, the county supply and marketing cooperative offered a purchase price of one yuan and eighty cents for a complete squirrel pelt.
Though that wasn't much money, for Lin Yang at the moment, even the legs of a mosquito were meat!
Not to mention, the pine nuts and other nuts stored in the squirrel's den were not only delicious but also highly nutritious.
Just thinking about it made his mouth water.
With that in mind, Lin Yang quickened his pace, rushing toward the tree where the red squirrel had disappeared.
The moment he reached the base of the tree, the system prompt sounded again.
【Prey detected—Red squirrel. Would you like to use the Prey Lock skill immediately?】
"Lock immediately!"

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Lin Yang issued the command without hesitation.
Immediately, the target appeared at the ten o'clock position to his left.
The pine tree before him was as thick as a water barrel, with a hollow about seven or eight meters up.
Using the X-ray vision provided by the Prey Lock skill, he could clearly see the red squirrel curled up inside.
The cavity was piled with all sorts of pine nuts and nuts—it was practically a miniature treasure trove of food.
After surveying the scene, Lin Yang did not act immediately.
Setting the trap was the top priority; raiding the tree hollow could wait.
The Greater Khingan Range lived up to its reputation as a treasury of resources. Along the way, Lin Yang encountered several more squirrels, as well as two hazel grouse and a mountain hare.
Unfortunately, the system’s lock range was only ten meters; whenever he heard the prompt, the prey would often escape before he could lock onto them.
Lin Yang could only watch them slip away with a sense of regret.
He carefully made his way to the spot where he had previously encountered the lynx and scanned the area thoroughly.
Soon, he found traces.
The ground was covered in plum-blossom-shaped tracks, and their density clearly indicated that a lynx had been active in the area recently.
Finding a suitable location, Lin Yang took out the tools he had meticulously crafted yesterday.
He wrapped several wires around a sturdy vine, tied one end tightly to a thick tree trunk, and skillfully fashioned a slipknot at the other.
Next, he took the rabbit from his basket and hung it from the wire.
He then carefully placed animal traps at several key spots beneath it.
These traps were his "secret weapon," intended to prevent the lynx from escaping once it took the bait.
After these preparations were complete, Lin Yang used his dagger to bleed the rabbit.
Once the rabbit stopped struggling and went still, he immediately turned back along his original path.
Lynxes were naturally vigilant and extremely cautious.
If they sensed anyone nearby, they would never take the bait easily.
The experienced old lynxes, in particular, were exceptionally cunning.
If they caught the scent of a human, they might even launch a stealthy attack from behind, which would be dangerous.
Lin Yang returned to the tree he had marked earlier, set his basket aside, and rubbed his hands together, preparing to climb.
This place wasn't far from the village and was relatively safe.
Large, ferocious beasts like bears generally didn't wander this far.
The pine tree’s bark was covered in deep, cracked patterns, perfect for hooking his fingers into for leverage.
It was harder to find footing, though.
He had to rely on friction, gripping the trunk tightly and climbing upward inch by inch.
For a child who grew up in the mountains, climbing trees to raid bird nests and catching fish in the creek were essential skills.
Seven or eight meters was nothing to Lin Yang.
Before long, he successfully reached the squirrel's den.
Using the Prey Lock skill, Lin Yang confirmed the situation inside once more.
He didn't dare reach directly into the hollow.
If the red squirrel inside were pushed to the brink, a nasty bite would be no laughing matter.

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Out of caution, Lin Yang grabbed a handful of withered leaves from his pocket and shoved them directly into the hole.
Then, clamping his legs tightly around the trunk, he freed one hand to strike a match, which he dropped into the hollow.
The leaves were damp from melted snow and didn't catch easily, and the match burned out quickly, producing only a wisp of thick smoke.
"I’ve been waiting for you! Little guy, be a good sport and come out to be my dinner!"
As he spoke, Lin Yang had already placed a net over the entrance of the hollow.
Sure enough, the red squirrel, choked by the smoke and frantic, bolted out and dove straight into the net.
Lin Yang was quick-witted and agile; he tightened the net instantly and swung it hard against the tree.
The squirrel inside was dazed and disoriented, squeaking wildly.
Lin Yang seized the opportunity, reached in, and gripped its neck firmly.
The squirrel’s struggles gradually weakened until it finally stopped breathing.
The red squirrel weighed about half a jin; after skinning and gutting it, there would only be about three taels of meat left.
The meat was just a side dish; the pelt and the stash in the tree hollow were what really mattered.
Tossing the net to the ground, Lin Yang pulled a cloth bag from his other pocket and began clearing out the contents of the tree hollow.
The den was filled mostly with pine nuts, followed by various nuts, and he even pulled out a few wild walnuts.
These wild walnuts were of good quality, though unfortunately, the squirrel had already gnawed on them, or he could have kept them for amusement.
After clearing out the last of the nuts, Lin Yang slid down from the tree.
He poured all the nuts from the cloth bag into his basket, then picked up the squirrel and began to carefully peel the hide.
Though his hunting knife wasn't ideal for skinning, it was sharp enough.
He had done such things many times in his previous life, so it came quite naturally to him now.
Soon, the squirrel pelt was removed in one piece. Lin Yang wiped it clean with snow and hung it from his belt.
Whether it was because his luck was particularly good today, he hadn't gone far before he discovered another red squirrel.
Following the trail, he found its den as well.
The harvest of nuts this time wasn't large, but the squirrel itself was quite plump, weighing seven or eight taels.
"Lunch is sorted too!"
Lin Yang looked at the plump, delicious squirrel, his face full of satisfied smiles.
He set the two skinned squirrels over the fire to roast.
Because seasonings were scarce, he had brought two cornmeal pancakes, along with a glass bottle containing salt and Sichuan peppercorn powder.
As the squirrels roasted slowly over the fire, grease began to drip down drop by drop.
Lin Yang seized the moment to sprinkle on the salt and peppercorn powder.
Immediately, a rich, savory aroma wafted toward him.
He whittled two branches to prop up the cornmeal pancakes so they could toast alongside the meat.
The aroma of the cornmeal mingled with the scent of the roasted squirrel, making Lin Yang swallow hard.