Chapter Thirty: Zhang Tiejun, Hurry and Find Someone

Zhang Tiejun pondered for a moment before continuing, "My guess is that you didn't run into the people you mentioned, but rather horse bandits."

"Horse bandits?" Sakura Akira’s expression shifted slightly at the mention of the name.

"That’s right. After the war in the Northeast ended, a large number of stragglers and secret service organizations remained because they hadn't evacuated in time. Although there were long periods of crackdowns after the founding of the nation, it was essentially a case of casting a wide net to catch small fish. Many of these people ended up becoming outlaws. The Guandong Mountains are a natural hideout. I’ve heard that horse bandits are often spotted in these mountains. These aren't your average men; those who have stayed this long have all surely claimed several lives."

"What about Uncle Hechuan, then?" Sakura Akira asked, feeling deeply anxious.

Zhang Tiejun reassured her, "It’s not necessarily that dire. These men come out to seek wealth; few of them enjoy killing for the sake of it."

"Then why are we just standing here? We need to go find them immediately," Sakura said, her worry growing.

Human hearts are made of flesh and blood, and neither she nor Hechuan had ever had blood on their hands. At the thought of this, she instinctively grabbed Zhang Tiejun’s arm.

The sudden physical contact caught them both off guard. Zhang Tiejun felt at a loss. "Don't be so anxious. An entire night has already passed. We don't have much time, and if we take the wrong path, we'll be completely lost."

Zhang Tiejun was quite confident about tracking people in the mountains. Despite the vastness of the Guandong Mountains, people are not wild animals; they wouldn't trek all day just to find a meal. Therefore, areas with convenient access and sufficient water sources were the most likely locations.

Holding his hunting rifle, Zhang Tiejun bit down on a twig to keep his teeth from chattering and to stay silent, signaling for Sakura to do the same.

"You were attacked at noon. Generally, these horse bandits only come out to waylay travelers in the morning, so their radius of activity won't be more than twenty or thirty miles." Zhang Tiejun began tracing a path on his map, finally stopping at a hillside. "This is Huzi Ridge. It’s high in the center and low on all sides, with three water veins running through it. Given the current situation, it is highly likely they are here."

"Shall we set off, then?" Sakura urged.

Zhang Tiejun remained motionless, as if steeling himself.

"What’s wrong?"

Facing her inquiry, Zhang Tiejun did not explain immediately but pointed to a bear’s head marked on the map. "There are man-headed bears here."

"Man-headed bears? What are those?" As a foreigner, Sakura naturally had no idea what this creature implied.

"A man-headed bear is a species of bear, a distant cousin to the black bear. It isn't as ferocious as a grizzly, nor as large as a polar bear, but it possesses a very special ability," Zhang Tiejun said, lowering his voice. "It knows how to mimic humans."

"Mimic humans?" Sakura asked, incredulous. "Is there really such an animal?"

"Yes, it’s marked on this rawhide map, so it must be true." Zhang Tiejun explained, "I’ve only seen them mentioned in newspapers. I’ve heard they don't hibernate and always appear at night. They can stand upright for long periods and even wave at people to attract their attention. Once someone draws near, the bear devours them. Because very few people have ever escaped a man-headed bear, no one knows exactly what they look like. Most of what I’m telling you is just hearsay compiled from various accounts."

"Should we still go?" Sakura asked, cautiously, assuming Zhang Tiejun was afraid.

"We have to go," Zhang Tiejun affirmed. "Whether these stories are rumors or not, we can't be sure; there are simply too many such legends in the Guandong Mountains."

"Zhang-kun, thank you," Sakura said, moved. "Besides Uncle Hechuan, you are the first person to be this kind to me."

"This situation is different from others. Do not speak. If you encounter danger, don't worry about me—just run."

As he gave these instructions, Zhang Tiejun carefully scanned for any trace of movement.

They walked along a small path for over half an hour before Zhang Tiejun recognized a landmark. He suddenly stopped, scooped up a handful of soil, and tasted it with his tongue. "Look, the dirt here is dry."

"Does that make a difference?"

"If no one had come this way, the snow wouldn't have been disturbed; it would have melted into the soil, leaving it wet. Conversely, if people had passed through, the soil would be dry." Zhang Tiejun unslung his rifle, looking as if he were facing a formidable enemy. "There is only one path up Huzi Ridge, and this small trail is the only way in from the mountain base."

Sakura looked in the direction he pointed. "Zhang-kun, you are truly impressive."

The sudden flattery made Zhang Tiejun feel quite pleased. He smiled and said, "It’s not that I’m impressive; it’s mostly because my father gave me this rawhide map."

With the general direction established, all that remained was the pursuit.

Armed as he was, he wouldn't usually consider these petty thieves a threat, but now, not only was his gear lacking, but his leg was also injured. A frontal assault was out of the question; he would have to rely on guile.

Zhang Tiejun looked around. Based on his years of experience in mountain and jungle warfare, he locked his gaze on a specific direction.

"Those horse bandits have been in the mountains for a long time; they won't be able to sit still for long. And since they’ve taken hostages for ransom, they will definitely come back down."

When Sakura heard this, her hair stood on end. "What should we do? Should we hide for now?"

"No, we don't have the luxury of time. Passive waiting won't work." Zhang Tiejun made a firm decision. "We must take the initiative. From now on, I will proceed alone. You go to that location to provide cover and dig a few pits to bury these."

Sakura took the wolf traps from Zhang Tiejun. "Can I do it?"

"If you can't, there's no other way. You are the only one who can help me now."

After a few seconds, Sakura nodded decisively. "Zhang-kun, you can count on me."

Left on his own, Zhang Tiejun picked up his pace.

The swelling in his ankle had subsided significantly after the application of medicinal herbs, though it was still not quite enough for him to walk quickly. Even so, Zhang Tiejun pushed forward along the mountain path, and before long, he reached the narrow trail leading up to Huzi Ridge.

It was undeniably a perfect place for concealment. The path was dark, long, and narrow; it would be difficult to find if one weren't looking for it specifically.

As he climbed, Zhang Tiejun leaned down to observe the ground carefully. Sure enough, he discovered a trail of footprints.