Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

It was completely dark when Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun arrived at the bus stop, just in time for the bus back to start moving.

The carriage was packed with people, mostly villagers going to the city on business.

Li Xiangyang let Li Xiaoyun go first, and then followed closely behind.

The two finally found a seat in the back row. Li Xiangyang let Li Xiaoyun sit down, while he stood to the side.

After the car started, amidst the bumpy ride, Li Xiaoyun, clutching her books, said softly, "Thank you so much, Uncle Wang."

Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "We're all family. Your best way to thank him is to focus on your exams."

Not long after the car started moving, we suddenly heard a few people talking in the front row.

"Have you heard? Something happened in Shanghe Village a couple of days ago."

"What happened?"

"Someone's dead! I heard it was a sent-down youth who beat up the production team leader..."

The person speaking made a throat-slitting gesture.

"I've heard about it too. That production team leader is a scoundrel. He withheld work points from someone's girlfriend and even tried to force himself on her. When people found out, the other party was a ruthless guy; he immediately grabbed a knife and went to their door..."

"The person is still on the run, probably hiding in the mountains around here. Everyone should go home in groups after getting off the bus, don't be alone..."

Upon hearing this, the people in the carriage involuntarily shrank back a little.

Li Xiaoyun unconsciously gripped the book in her arms, her knuckles turning white.

Li Xiangyang noticed her unease and quietly placed his hand on her shoulder: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Li Xiaoyun looked up at him, and the panic in her eyes subsided slightly.

This man always gives her the most reassuring sense of security.

The car moved forward in the night, the sound of its wheels rolling over the dirt road mingling with the passengers' hushed chatter, sounding exceptionally clear in the darkness.

When we arrived at the educated youth settlement, we could see the light of torches in the distance.

Zhang Li was standing at the door waiting. When she saw them, she quickly came to greet them.

"You're finally back," Zhang Li said, holding Li Xiaoyun's hand. "Not long after you left, the brigade headquarters issued a notice telling everyone not to go out at night."

“Yes, I heard about it in the car,” Li Xiangyang said, placing the things he was carrying on the table. “I brought some wedding candy for everyone; please have some.”

The educated youths inside the room gathered around, but they were all distracted.

Zhang Li boiled some water, but no one was in the mood to open the candies.

The room was quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside, followed by a loud banging on the door.

"Open the door quickly! Cooperate with the people from Shanghe Village; it's a routine check. This is for your safety. Every house in the neighborhood has been checked!"

The educated youth in the room looked displeased upon hearing this explanation.

Everyone knew perfectly well that this was what they were saying, but the other side was clearly there to investigate this place, fearing that they were harboring someone.

Although she was unhappy, Zhang Li still went over and opened the door.

Outside the door, a brigade leader with a smirk, accompanied by a village official from Shanghe Village and two militiamen.

Upon entering, they searched each room, lifting the blankets, opening the closets, and even checking under the beds.

After searching around, I found nothing.

“Nobody’s here,” one of the militiamen said.

The village official nodded and was about to turn and leave when he suddenly noticed Li Xiangyang.

"Aren't you the young man from the Li family? I heard you often go hunting in the mountains?" The village official squinted at Li Xiangyang. "That fugitive is likely hiding in the mountains; you'll have to help us find him."

Li Xiangyang sighed inwardly.

He didn't want to get involved in this, but since the other party had already spoken, it would be inappropriate to refuse.

The people from the brigade headquarters who brought him also frequently gave him meaningful glances, signaling his agreement.

“Okay, but I need to go home and put my things away first.” Li Xiangyang pointed to the large and small bags he had brought back.

“That’s perfect, we’ll go with you.” The village official said, and moved closer.

Helpless, Li Xiangyang turned to Li Xiaoyun and said, "Get some rest. Don't worry about me. I'm just helping you look for someone."

Li Xiaoyun looked at him with concern, hesitant to speak.

Zhang Li walked over and took her hand: "Don't worry, Xiangyang knows what she's doing."

After saying goodbye to the educated youth, Li Xiangyang led two militiamen and the village cadre home.

In the darkness, the torchlight flickered ahead, casting long shadows of several people.

When they arrived home, Li's mother was looking around in the yard.

He was taken aback when he saw his son return with people.

"Mom, I have to go out for a bit after I put my things down." Li Xiangyang went inside, put his things away, and briefly explained the situation.

"It's so late at night..." Li's mother looked at her son with concern.

Li Xiaohua ran out from the inner room: "Brother, are you going to catch someone?"

"Not really, just helping to find someone." Li Xiangyang rubbed his sister's head. "Go to sleep early, don't wait for me."

In the courtyard, the village official was already getting impatient: "Li Xiangyang, are you done yet?"

"Here I am," Li Xiangyang replied, taking the hunting rifle from the wall and stuffing a few bullets into his pocket.

Just before he left, Li's mother tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Son, you must be careful."

Li Xiangyang nodded and followed the group into the night.

Moonlight filtered through the treetops and fell onto the snow, making the footsteps of a few people particularly clear in the silent mountain forest.

Li Xiangyang walked at the front, followed by two militiamen carrying guns, while the village cadre walked at the back.

Li Xiangyang deliberately chose a difficult path, saying one moment that there was a wolf den on this side and he had to detour, and the next moment that there was a trap on that side and he had to avoid it.

"Li Xiangyang, are you sure this is the right road?" The village official's voice was tinged with doubt.

“Anyway, you don’t have a specific destination,” Li Xiangyang stopped and turned around to explain, “The mountain roads are difficult to travel at night, I have to ensure everyone’s safety. If you’re tired, we can go back.”

The village official snorted coldly and remained silent.

After all, in this dark mountain forest, they really had to rely on Li Xiangyang.

After walking for about two hours, apart from breaking a few dry branches, we didn't see a single person.

The two militiamen were panting heavily, and their steps were becoming unsteady.

"Why don't we go back first?" Li Xiangyang stopped. "It's so dark, even if someone is there, they won't be able to spot us. Why don't we come back tomorrow when it's light?"

Just as the village official was about to speak, a rustling sound suddenly came from afar.

Li Xiangyang's heart tightened, and he knew something was wrong.

He specifically led these people on the most difficult routes.

What a coincidence!

Upon hearing the commotion, the two militiamen immediately raised their guns, and the village officials also tensed up.

Seeing how tense they were, Li Xiangyang shook his head: "The noise wasn't loud; it didn't sound like a human."

"Are you sure?" the village official asked suspiciously.

“I think so,” Li Xiangyang said seriously. “Think about it, if that person were hiding here, wouldn’t he run away when he heard the noise? Would he just obediently wait for us to catch him?”

This sounded reasonable, and although the village officials were skeptical, they couldn't find any flaws in it.

“While I think what you said makes sense, what if we actually encounter that?” the village official said quietly, staring in the direction from which the commotion was coming. “Why don’t we fire a couple of shots and see?”

"Get lost! If anyone dares to fire a shot today, I'll turn around and run. You can all go down the mountain yourselves!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyang was startled and quickly stopped the militiaman who was about to fire.

"What's wrong?" The village official glared at him with displeasure.

"What's wrong? You still have the nerve to ask what's wrong? Don't you know that not all wild animals are afraid of gunfire?"

"Especially those who've never seen a gun before, and those with a strong sense of territory. If the gunshots startle them, we'll all be dead today. If you want to die, I won't stop you, but don't drag me down with you."