HUN Chapter 129: Hunting the Dall Sheep King!

After circling around that massive pile of rocks, their vision suddenly opened up before them.

A bowl-shaped high mountain meadow surrounded by peaks appeared before their eyes.

A clear stream formed by melting snow meandered through the center of the meadow, its banks dotted with lush willow trees and alder shrubs that were only about waist-high.

On a rocky highland at the edge of the meadow, near the mountain slope, more than a dozen white figures were moving slowly, like scattered snow blocks.

It was a herd of Dall sheep!

All three men's hearts skipped a beat simultaneously!

Almost at the same time, they slowly crouched down, completely concealing their bodies in the shadows of the rocks.

Old George's movements were the most skilled. Without any unnecessary motion, he quickly and silently adjusted the focus of his Leica high-power observation scope, steadily aiming the lens at that peaceful patch of white.

"A group of ladies and youngsters," he muttered in the lowest possible voice.

Through the scope's field of view, the details of the herd were magnified crystal clear.

Several robust adult ewes with well-defined muscle lines were vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

Beside them, several lively young lambs were chasing and butting each other, their movements full of youthful playfulness.

On the outskirts of the herd, there were also several young rams whose horns had already grown but whose curved arc was not even half a circle, far from meeting the "full curl" standard for legal hunting, looking more like young guards within the flock.

"Don't rush," Stan also lowered his voice.

His gaze didn't linger on the herd below but used his binoculars like a comb, methodically examining inch by inch the higher slopes and rock faces around the meadow.

"That old fellow must be nearby. The ram king rarely stays with his family to graze. He'll find the best position, a vantage point where he can see both them and potential dangers, watching over everything."

Old George's observation scope also began to move extremely slowly, his movements full of patience and rhythm, carefully scrutinizing every ridge and every suspicious rock face shadow within his field of view.

But several minutes passed with still no results. Those slopes looked just like they had for millions of years, containing only stones and tundra.

Lin Yu'an adopted a completely different observation strategy.

He didn't engage in aimless wide-range searching but kept his binoculars' focus locked on the group of ewes below, especially those few that appeared to be the oldest and highest-ranking lead sheep.

He noticed an extremely subtle detail: after those lead ewes lowered their heads to nibble a few bites of tender sedge grass, almost every ten seconds or so, they would simultaneously raise their heads and look toward the same fixed elevated direction.

This wasn't the kind of all-around vigilant scanning, but a confirming kind of gaze.

His binoculars slowly moved upward following the direction where the ewes' gazes converged.

There, at least a kilometer away from them, was an isolated small plateau blocked by several huge rocks.

From that angle, if one didn't observe carefully, it was just an unremarkable protrusion on the steep mountain wall, easily overlooked.

"George, ten o'clock direction, that highest isolated rock platform," Lin Yu'an's voice was extremely low but filled with unquestionable certainty.

Stan and George immediately turned their binoculars quickly toward the direction he indicated.

At first, there was nothing there, just a few bare rocks glowing grayish-white in the sunlight.

Stan was about to ask a question when Lin Yu'an raised one hand, making a "wait" gesture.

Just then, a strong wind howled down from the ridge, blowing across the valley, apparently disturbing something.

From behind that rock platform, a snow-white, majestic figure obviously much larger than all the other sheep slowly walked out with the composure of a king surveying his domain!

It walked to the edge of the platform, proudly raising its head. Those thick, heavy horns spiraling into a perfect circle created a visual impact like demon horns in the sunlight!

"My God..." Old George's breathing instantly stopped, and his hands holding the observation scope even began to tremble slightly!

"It's him! It's him! The Ridge Ghost! After all these years, I finally encounter it!"

Stan was also stunned, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "This... how is this possible? How did you discover it? I swept that area with binoculars several times!"

"I was constantly observing that group of ewes, especially the leading ones. They would subconsciously and periodically look toward the same vantage point to confirm safety. Following their line of sight, I locked onto that rock platform."

"The shadow behind that rock had a moment when its shape wasn't quite right, with a bit more curvature than a simple rock shadow, so I guessed something might be hiding there."

This almost intuitive observational ability left Stan and George exchanging glances, both seeing deep shock in each other's eyes.

They knew that in this hunting expedition, Lin Yu'an had brought not just a young physique, but also an innate hunter's talent!

"Luck! Kid, you're our lucky star!" Old George suppressed his excitement and patted Lin Yu'an's back forcefully.

After the excitement, the three immediately calmed down and began formulating an approach plan.

Old George analyzed, "Its current position is good, but our position is terrible."

"Downwind, and with no cover in between. We must circle around a big loop, pass through that valley bottom, then climb up the steep slope from below it to find an upwind shooting position."

That would be an arduous route of over three kilometers, and it had to be completed without being discovered by any sheep.

"I'll take point," Lin Yu'an volunteered.

"I'm faster and can scout the route first. You follow behind, keeping distance."

With the plan set, the three immediately sprang into action.

They concentrated their heavy backpacks and hid them in a concealed rock crevice, taking only the most essential equipment.

Each man's rifle, a handgun as backup, water bladders filled with water, binoculars, and that small iron pot they planned to use for celebrating victory along with a small package of sea salt.

Lin Yu'an removed his heavy outer shell jacket, wearing only the more form-fitting fleece liner, abandoning everything that might create friction noise.

"Remember, from now on, we must be as quiet as ghosts!"

The next hour-plus wasn't simple hiking but a long and tense pilgrimage.

Every step was like walking on knife edges. That three-hundred-meter straight-line distance needed to be extended by over a kilometer of winding, zigzagging route!

They first needed to cross that icy stream. The water wasn't deep but was crystal clear, with stones underneath covered in slippery moss.

They couldn't wade across in big strides like before, but had to remove their shoes, go barefoot, endure the cold, and move slowly step by step.

Finally crossing the stream, they entered a dense alder shrub thicket, which provided the best cover but also the greatest obstacle.

They couldn't walk upright but had to bend over, or even crawl completely on the ground, struggling through the dense branches.

The most difficult part was the final stretch, where they needed to climb an almost vertical rock face to reach the predetermined shooting position.

At this point, Lin Yu'an stepped forward voluntarily, indicating he would go first.

He glanced at the panting Old George beside him, knowing this stretch would be a huge challenge for him.

Lin Yu'an took out a roll of lightweight climbing rope from his pack, tying one end around his waist.

"George, Stan, I'll go up first to find a good position, then lower the rope to pull you up," Lin Yu'an said quietly.

The two older men didn't try to be heroic, silently nodding. At moments like this, reasonable team division of labor was far more important than individual heroism.

Lin Yu'an took a deep breath and began his silent climb.

His enhanced physical condition was perfectly demonstrated at this moment.

His fingers were like iron hooks, precisely gripping every tiny crevice in the rock, his toes steadily stepping on small protrusions.

His body pressed against the rock face, moving fluidly upward like a gecko.

Stan watched from below, clicking his tongue in amazement, whispering to George, "This kid... is simply not human."

Soon, Lin Yu'an reached the talus slope at the top of the rock face.

He quickly surveyed the terrain, selected a shooting position that was both concealed and provided stable support, then securely fixed the rope to a massive boulder and lowered it down.

Stan held the rope below, telling his old buddy, "Alright, George, you go first. Don't worry, Lin and I will pull you up."

Old George didn't hesitate. He handed his rifle to Stan for temporary safekeeping and gripped the rope tightly with both hands.

He was experienced after all, knowing how to use leg strength to share the load on his arms.

With Lin Yu'an and Stan's combined help from above and below, although he climbed with some difficulty, he eventually made it safely to the shooting position.

Finally, Stan hoisted the two rifles up with the rope and climbed up skillfully himself.

When all three were concealed behind the talus slope and saw that the ram king was still leisurely swishing its tail on the platform, everyone's hearts nearly jumped out of their chests.

They had succeeded!

This was the perfect shooting position! They were positioned to the side and below the target, with wind blowing from above the valley, perfectly upwind, so their scent wouldn't be carried to the herd.

Before them, countless huge granite fragments provided natural cover.

Old George used his rangefinder to confirm the distance again.

"Three hundred and ten meters." He didn't immediately set up his rifle but took a deep breath, lying behind the gun, making final observations through the scope.

That ram king still lay like a monarch on his throne.

Beside it were two slightly smaller ewes and one half-grown lamb. They appeared very relaxed, some ruminating, others rubbing their horns against rocks.

"Now's the time."

He extremely slowly withdrew his Remington 700 rifle from the gun case, which had followed him for half his life.

He picked up a cartridge with its brass case gleaming in the sunlight and pushed it into the chamber with a soft "click", the prelude to death's approaching footsteps.

He steadied the rifle on a flat rock, cushioning the stock's rear with his backpack to ensure absolute stability.

He lay behind the rifle, adjusting the scope's magnification and parallax adjustment knob until the world in the scope became incredibly clear!

Then he locked the crosshairs firmly on the white giant's position behind the shoulder blade, where the heart and lungs were located.

His breathing began to become long and steady, his gaze becoming absolutely focused.

Lin Yu'an and Stan flanked him left and right like two silent guardians.

Stan encouraged him in barely audible tones, "Steady... George... just like when you were young..."

He knew what this shot meant to Old George.

Old George closed his eyes, mentally rehearsing one final time every detail from breathing and aiming to firing.

When he opened his eyes again, those weather-beaten pupils contained only the target framed by the crosshairs!

His index finger gently, tenderly rested on the cold trigger.

Then,

"Bang!"

A crisp yet muffled gunshot instantly shattered the mountain's tranquility! The bullet, carrying the old man's lifelong persistence and promise, tore through three hundred meters of space and whistled away!

Through his binoculars, Lin Yu'an could clearly see that majestic ram king's massive body jerk violently, as if pushed hard by an invisible force.

It tried to stand up, but its limbs had lost control!

Immediately, like a white marble statue with its foundation removed, it crashed sideways, stirring up a small cloud of dust, then moved no more.

The other sheep, frightened by this sudden thunderous sound, scattered in all directions, instantly disappearing behind rocks.

Hit! A lethal, precise, perfect strike!

Stan wanted to cheer excitedly but was stopped by Lin Yu'an's gesture.

Because Old George still lay there like a statue, not getting up for a long time.

His eye remained pressed to the scope, seemingly confirming the result, or perhaps making a final farewell to that white spirit that had just passed away.

After a long while, he slowly worked the bolt, ejecting the still-warm cartridge case from the chamber, letting it fall with a "ting" onto the rocks.

Only then did he raise his head, his face showing not wild joy but a tremendous calm of relief.

Old George lay there for a long time without getting up.

Lin Yu'an saw that this man who had been resolute his entire life had shoulders that were trembling violently.

Stan silently approached and gently patted his old buddy's back, saying nothing.

He knew this shot contained more than just a successful hunt.

Finally, Old George slowly raised his head. Tears were already streaming down his weather-beaten face.

He roughly wiped his face with the back of his rough hand, his voice hoarse, as if speaking to his wife, or perhaps to himself.

"May... I did it... I got you... the most beautiful pair of horns..."

May was the name of Old George's deceased wife. He had heard Stan mention her before, a great and strong woman who had left Old George forever due to illness.

Old George's gaze looked into the distance, as if penetrating layers of mountains to see the past.

His voice became distant and tender, "Many years ago, when we had just finished building that log cabin, May stood in front of the fireplace and said to me, 'Oh, George, if we could hang a pair of beautiful Dall sheep horns above the fireplace, it would surely be even more beautiful!'"

"I patted my chest and promised her then, 'Darling, I'll definitely bring you back the biggest, most perfect pair of horns to make all the neighbors envy you!'"

He smiled bitterly and shook his head, "She was always like that, smiling and supporting all my crazy ideas, never complaining about life's hardships. But my dear May didn't even get to see one small wish fulfilled."

Since May's passing, George had stubbornly applied for hunting permits in this area every year, coming to these mountains to search every year.

Rather than hunting, it was more like completing a promise to his beloved, completing a conversation transcending life and death.

"Don't say that, George," Stan put his arm around his old buddy's shoulder.

"May saw it. She must be proud of you! You didn't break your word. You really brought her the most beautiful horns in all Alaska."

Lin Yu'an also approached. He didn't know how to use words to comfort this old man immersed in longing.

He simply silently handed over a water bottle filled with warm water.

Lin Yu'an's voice was gentle, "George, let's go bring it back. Take it home and hang it on May's favorite fireplace."

These words seemed to touch Old George. He took a deep breath, looked at Lin Yu'an with those red eyes, then at Stan, and nodded heavily.

He stood up again, his stooped back seeming to straighten a few degrees.

"Yes, bring it home!"

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