Chapter 439 - 420: Antelope Herd

Yun Jiao and her family were curious about the family compound, and likewise, the people in the compound were curious about them.

Some who had seen Yun Jiao and her family at the cafeteria went back and spread the word.

Everyone was quite curious about the little girl with blue hair and eyes.

"Is there really a kid with blue eyes and blue hair?"

"Of course, we saw her with our own eyes. The little girl is pretty, but her mom, dad, and two older brothers all look normal. How did her eyes and hair turn out blue?"

"Now I’m really curious. I want to go see for myself."

"Go ahead. It looks like they’re about to go horseback riding. Said they were going to borrow some horses from the villagers."

"Are they going to hunt in the grasslands and woods out back? I’ll go check it out too."

A few of the women from the compound who were skilled riders grabbed their weapons—bows and arrows—and went to get their horses.

Horses were better suited for traversing the great plains.

Of course, their main goal was to hunt.

It was spring now. Although there was still a lot of snow, green grass was beginning to sprout.

The prey that had holed up all winter were gradually starting to move about.

"Everyone be careful. Don’t run into any bears."

There were many wild predators in their area, like wolves, snow leopards, and bears.

That was why they always carried weapons when they went out. Some people even had guns.

They were old-fashioned muzzleloaders, though.

Meanwhile, thanks to Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi’s status as soldiers, plus their offer to pay for the rental, a villager quickly agreed to lend them some horses.

It was Shen Yunlian’s first time riding a horse, and even with Yun Chendong and Yun Chenbei helping her, she was terrified.

"I can’t, I just can’t! I can’t ride. You all go have fun without me. I’m not going."

Yun Linhai, on the other hand, was fascinated by the horse. He was brave and got the hang of it quickly.

Yun Jiao’s legs were too short, so she couldn’t ride a horse even if she wanted to. In the end, her second brother lifted her onto his horse.

She lay on the horse’s back, holding a grass biscuit in her hand.

The large, date-red horse turned its head and began to eat it.

Perhaps because it had eaten her grass biscuit, the horse was very cooperative the entire time.

"Let’s go!"

Shen Yunlian went to find Lu Yu.

The moment the horses started to run, Yun Jiao was hit in the face by the cold headwind.

The wind here really hurt when it hit your face, like a knife.

Yun Chenxi wrapped her up in his military greatcoat.

"It’s still a bit cold now, but some places look beautiful once spring really arrives."

"Second Brother," Yun Jiao asked, "where did that cordyceps you sent last time come from?"

"We don’t have the kind we sent you around here," Yun Chendong said. "A comrade-in-arms from Inner Mongolia had his family send it. Why?"

"Master said that cordyceps has good medicinal value," Yun Jiao said.

"I can ask for you, then."

"Never mind, it’s too far. Master has other sources for cordyceps."

"Alright, then."

Because there was a beginner rider with them, the two brothers didn’t go too fast.

"It’s too cold out here. Where would any prey be?"

"We still have a ways to go. You want to continue?"

"Yes!"

Just as they were about to set off again, Yun Chendong heard someone calling them.

He turned his head and saw none other than the women from the family compound riding up behind them.

"Sister-in-law Li, what are you all doing here?"

Five women, all on horseback, looking quite heroic and dashing.

"Hey! We heard your family was visiting, so we came out to take a look and do some hunting. Didn’t expect to actually run into you."

Their gazes fell upon Yun Jiao.

’Whoa, she really does have blue eyes and blue hair. But why is her hair black in some parts and blue in others?’

’How strange. I’ll have to take a closer look.’

"This must be your father and little sister."

"That’s right," Yun Chenxi said. "My mother was afraid to ride, so she stayed in the village. Jiaojiao, Dad, this is Sister-in-law Li, and that is..."

After they were all introduced, Yun Jiao obediently greeted them.

"Oh, what a good girl. Here, have a sweet flatbread."

"Thank you, Auntie Li."

"Hunting? Since we ran into each other, let’s go together."

"Sounds good."

The group set off together, talking and laughing as their horses galloped freely.

Whenever they spotted prey, they would loose an arrow from their bows.

With a WHOOSH, a small gray dot could be seen falling in the distance.

"Just a wild rabbit. Too bad, there’s not much meat on it."

Yun Jiao wasn’t listening to them. She was focused on a sound coming from another direction.

It sounded like a herd of animals running.

"What is it, Jiaojiao?"

Yun Jiao pointed in a direction to their left.

"I think there’s a group of animals over there."

Everyone looked over, but they didn’t see anything.

"There’s nothing there."

"Why don’t we go check?" Yun Linhai said. "My Jiaojiao has very sharp ears. She can hear things from far away."

"Sure. We were just searching aimlessly anyway."

They headed in the direction Yun Jiao had pointed. After riding for about ten minutes, Yun Chendong spoke.

"Stop! It’s a herd of antelopes over there!"

Everyone slowed down.

Antelopes are very cautious and will flee at the slightest unusual sound.

If they just charged over, they would definitely scare the antelopes away.

Everyone present grew excited.

"Our luck is amazing! We actually ran into such a large herd of antelopes."

Yun Linhai was also thrilled. The prey he usually saw in the mountains were things like wild pheasants, rabbits, and boars, and never in large numbers.

But this herd of antelopes had over twenty animals at a rough count.

Everyone took out their weapons.

Bows and arrows were the most common, as they were best for long-range attacks.

Of course, they had daggers too.

Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi also had bows and arrows.

Even Yun Jiao had her own child-sized bow and arrows, a set they had found for her.

They rode closer, moving quietly.

But as they got nearer, the vigilant antelopes spotted them.

The one that spotted them immediately bolted, and the other antelopes began to run as if on signal.

At the same time, the arrows that were already nocked were released.

"Agh, I missed! I’m going after them!"

"Me too."

Yun Jiao and Yun Chendong both landed a hit.

Yun Jiao’s arrow hit an antelope in the hind leg.

The bow in her hand, a size smaller than everyone else’s, heroically sacrificed itself under the force of her draw.

"Second Brother, go get it!"

The antelope’s leg was injured, but it could still run, just much slower than the others.

Yun Chendong’s arrow had struck his target directly in the neck.

After a bit of a chase, Yun Chenxi put the antelope Yun Jiao had shot out of its misery with a swift cut to the neck from his dagger.

Yun Linhai was currently circling the two antelopes, his face blooming with a huge smile.

"These are huge! So much meat. A pity they don’t look very fat, though."

After a long winter, spring had only just begun. They hadn’t had time to fatten up yet, so they looked a bit lean.

But with a frame that size, even lean, there was still plenty of meat.

The others gradually returned one after another.

Some had been successful, while others came back disappointed.

Those who had managed to bag an antelope were all smiling.

"You guys are really something, getting two in one go."

"This one..."

"Was shot by Little Yun Jiao?"

Looking at the antelope with the arrow still in its leg, they were stunned when they saw clearly that it was a smaller, wooden arrow.