Feng Shan first used the Witchcraft Bone Ring to collect the reindeer’s Soul Power. Then, he pulled out a small knife and slit the bull reindeer’s throat, quickly bleeding it out while it was still warm to keep the blood from coagulating and ruining the at.
While the animal bled, he used the knife to make an incision along its belly and began to strip off the hide.
Once the hide was off, he removed the internal organs.
He started by cutting off the four legs and placing them in a Storage Bag. The previous shot had shattered the reindeer’s heart and lungs, rendering the heart useless. He gave the intestines a quick cleaning with snow before packing them into a Storage Bag as well. Nothing was wasted; the liver, stomach, and kidneys all went into the bags.
After packing the at and organs, he collected the spine, ribs, and other bones. These could be brought back to camp to make a rich broth.
If Tundra Hunters were the ones to bag a reindeer, they would normally just take the legs and choice cuts, leaving the bones and offal behind for other predators.
But with Feng Shan on the scene, the Tundra’s predators were out of luck. They’d only be getting the leftover scraps to pick at.
The entire reindeer was used, from head to toe. Nothing went to waste.
Looking at the bulging storage bags on the ground, Zhang Kai wanted to help, but he simply wasn’t strong enough.
That reindeer weighed at least 200 kilograms (about 440 pounds). The at, bones, and organs harvested from it ca to at least 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds). At his absolute limit, Zhang Kai figured he could carry a single leg.
Feng Shan hadn’t been counting on Zhang Kai in the first place.
He took a collapsible tal fra out of his pack. He’d bought it from the outdoor section at Walmart Supermarket, specifically for hauling heavy loads.
When unfolded, the tal fra beca a pack fra for carrying heavy loads.
He stacked the storage bags onto the fra one by one, securing them tightly with rope.
Feng Shan had planned on tossing the deer head to the wolves, but Zhang Kai vehently protested. As a participant in the hunt, he argued, he was entitled to a share of the reindeer. He would rather give up his portion of the at than leave the Blood-Horned Deer Head behind.
The pack fra weighed nearly 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds).
To Zhang Kai’s utter astonishnt, Feng Shan hoisted it onto his back with ease.
"Man, you’re incredibly strong!"
"It’d be a lot easier if you pulled your own weight," Feng Shan said, grabbing the handles of the pack fra with both hands and heading toward the camp.
Zhang Kai shrugged, shouldered the Blood-Horned Deer Head, and followed behind.
...
After a long trek, they made it back to the camp.
Just in ti to see the supply plane taking off.
Feng Shan made a detour over to the runway.
The sides of the runway were once again piled high with supplies. Only Nash was there watching over them; Tom was nowhere in sight.
"Nash, where’s Tom?"
"Sleeping," Nash reported truthfully. He walked over, took two deer legs off the pack fra, and slung them over his shoulder.
’That son of a bitch. Slacks off the second he gets a chance.’
Feng Shan pursed his lips. "Let’s head back to camp and process the at first. We can leave the supplies on the runway. It’s not like anyone’s around."
Carrying their prize back to camp, they saw Tom from a distance. He was lying in a rocking chair under the wooden shelter, with a few skewers of at roasting on the stove next to him.
’I ask him to watch the camp, and what does he do? He starts a barbecue.’
"Enjoying yourself?" Feng Shan said, his tone sharp.
Hearing the jab, Tom didn’t even get up. He lazily picked up a skewer of at. "My friend, you have to learn to enjoy life, to love life. That’s the only way you’ll get into heaven."
"In my country, lazy bastards go to Hell when they die." Feng Shan set the heavy pack fra down under the shelter and grabbed a skewer for himself.
PTUI! PTUI! PTUI!!
’What is this garbage? It’s way too salty. What a waste of my damn at.’
Just then, Tom spotted the Blood-Horned Deer Head on Zhang Kai’s back. His energy returned in a flash as he leaped from the rocking chair and hurried over.
"My friend, is that a Blood-Horned Deer Head? Did you guys get that?"
"You know it. I’m the one who lured it in with my call." Zhang Kai lifted his chin, looking smug.
Hearing the commotion, Song Rou and Liangliang ca out of the bus. The sight of the gory deer head made Song Rou’s face drain of color. She quickly ushered her son back inside the vehicle. Even after Zhang Kai’s explanation, she insisted that her husband get rid of it.
’It’s so bloody... and horrifying.’
Tom’s eyes lit up, and he stepped forward.
"Oh, ma’am, this is an exceptionally rare Blood-Horned Deer Head. This only happens when a reindeer’s velvet Antler is ossifying into hard bone and the dried velvet peels away, leaving this blood-red color. It’s extrely rare. If you don’t want it, you could give it to ."
"In your dreams! Who said I don’t want it?" Zhang Kai clutched the deer head to his chest like a mother hen protecting her chick.
"Alright, Boss, in that case, do you need a taxidermist? I just so happen to know one—the best in Fairbanks. His craftsmanship is superb. He can make this rare Blood-Horned Deer Head look completely lifelike." Of course, Tom knew he’d never get the head; his offer was just a ploy to set up his next line.
"And by the way, he can provide all the paperwork to guarantee it’ll clear customs."
Feng Shan was speechless. Tom really knew how to play the ga. But he wasn’t going to interfere. Tom was right; the head needed to be professionally mounted, or it would rot within days.
Besides, Tom’s guarantee that the mounted head could be taken out of the country was an offer Zhang Kai absolutely couldn’t refuse.
Sure enough, as soon as he heard he could take the head out of the country, Zhang Kai excitedly pulled Tom aside, and the two began whispering to each other.
A mont later, the two returned, acting like the best of friends with their arms slung over each other’s shoulders. They walked over to Feng Shan, who was still butchering the deer.
"Brother Feng, I’m planning to head back."
"You should at least stay for dinner. What’s the rush?"
"I can’t. I need to get this head to Fairbanks to be processed right away. Besides, my company has been pushing for to co back."
"All right, then." Feng Shan didn’t press the issue. Since Zhang Kai was heading back, Feng rembered the Bear Tooth Necklaces he had made for Hu Zi and the others. With Tom here, if he had the connections to get a deer head out of the country, the necklaces should be no problem either.
At that thought, Feng Shan put down the at he was cutting, turned, and went into the bus. He ca back out with three Bear Tooth Necklaces and handed them to Zhang Kai.
"Are these for ?" Zhang Kai was deeply touched. ’To just give away animal teeth this big... He’s a true friend.’
’As if!’
Feng Shan looked at Tom. "Get the customs paperwork for these three Bear Tooth Necklaces sorted out, too. I’ll pay you later." Then he turned to Zhang Kai. "Brother Kai, I’ll have to trouble you to take these back ho for . They’re for a few of my buddies. I’ll write down the address for you in a bit."
"..." Zhang Kai was left speechless. He shook his head with a wry smile and put the Bear Tooth Necklaces away.
「On the runway.」
The window of the bush plane opened, and Liangliang stuck his head out, waving at Prince and Coca-Cola.
"Goodbye, Prince! Goodbye, Coca-Cola!"
Prince barked at the plane, shaking his head and wagging his tail excitedly.
’That kid is finally leaving.’
’He’s been nothing but trouble these past two days. I’ve lost a ton of fur because of him.’
"Brother Feng, until we et again! I’ll treat you personally when you’re back in the country!" Zhang Kai waved to Feng Shan as well.
"Safe travels!"
Feng Shan nodded with a smile, watching the plane slowly take off and disappear into the thick clouds.
The Tundra fell silent once more.
’I don’t know if I’m just used to the solitude or if I secretly crave the liveliness, but now there’s this faint sense of loss in my heart.’
But when he saw the mountains of supplies piled on both sides of the runway, that touch of sentintality vanished without a trace.
’Why did they buy all this crap? And that son-of-a-bitch Tom didn’t even try to stop them.’
"Nash, let’s get to work."
...
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