Chapter 28: Snatching Food from the Tiger's Jaws

Li Xiangyang was just about to change direction when he discovered the black leopard cat had appeared again.

It crouched under a pine tree not far away, its amber eyes fixed intently on him.

This discovery stunned Li Xiangyang. Generally, once a leopard cat secures food, it hides immediately to feast and never shows itself again. Yet, this one was unusually following him.

"Interesting," Li Xiangyang whispered.

He continued walking, noticing that the leopard cat maintained a set distance, following him at a steady, leisurely pace.

Snowflakes began to drift from the sky. Li Xiangyang squinted, suddenly catching a glimpse of a white shadow darting past in the distance—it was a snow hare.

He immediately lowered his posture, pulled an arrow from his quiver, and nocked it onto his bow.

Just as he took aim, the black leopard cat suddenly darted out, directly scaring the snow hare away.

"This..." Li Xiangyang was left between laughter and tears; it was clearly intentional.

What surprised him even more was that the leopard cat did not chase the hare but instead turned back to look at him, its eyes seemingly filled with a hint of playfulness.

Over the next hour, whenever Li Xiangyang discovered prey, the black leopard cat would appear unexpectedly. It would either snatch the prey directly or scare it off beforehand. Li Xiangyang finally understood: this creature was playing with him.

Among the older generation of hunters in the Northeast, there had always been legends about black cats. It was said that if you encountered a pure black leopard cat in the snow, it was a sign of guidance from the heavens. Li Xiangyang had previously dismissed such talk as mere rumor, but today’s events made him believe it, at least in part. The leopard cat’s actions were clearly meant to lead him deeper into the mountains.

Thinking of this, Li Xiangyang decided to change his strategy. Instead of actively searching for prey, he would follow the cat’s lead.

Sure enough, seeing that he understood its intention, the black leopard cat’s pace became noticeably lighter. It took the lead, occasionally glancing back to see if Li Xiangyang was keeping up.

Gradually, Li Xiangyang noticed the landscape changing. The trees grew taller and denser, and the snow became deeper. This was the deep wilderness, a place the mountain folk rarely visited.

Li Xiangyang followed the black leopard cat with great caution. He had never been to this area before, where snow weighed down the pine branches, forming white arches.

The cold wind whined through the treetops, and occasionally, snow fell from the branches with a dull thud. Li Xiangyang couldn't help but tighten his grip on his bow. Such places often harbored large predators.

The leopard cat seemed intimately familiar with the terrain. It moved nimbly between the trees, stopping every so often to wait for Li Xiangyang. Its amber eyes glowed in the dim forest.

Suddenly, the leopard cat stopped. It crouched low, its tail rigid, eyes locked on something ahead.

Li Xiangyang immediately held his breath and followed the cat's gaze. Through the dense branches, he saw an open patch of snow where several roe deer were active.

These deer were much larger than those usually seen; they were clearly old deer from the deep mountains. They grazed leisurely on the bark exposed above the snow, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

The black leopard cat looked back at Li Xiangyang, as if to say, "See? I brought you to the right place, didn't I?"

Li Xiangyang understood that this was a perfect opportunity. He gently unslung his bow and pulled a feathered arrow from his quiver.

At a time like this, a single, lethal shot was required. If he only wounded a deer and it escaped into the deep mountains, all his efforts would be in vain.

People often say, "An October roe deer can bankrupt a household," referring to how the deer are at their fattest and most delicious during this season. If he could bag one, it would not only feed his family but also fetch a good price.

Li Xiangyang took a deep breath and slowly drew the bowstring. Aiming at the chest of the largest deer, he steadied his stance and applied slight pressure to his fingers.

Just at this critical moment, the black leopard cat’s fur suddenly stood on end. It turned to look in another direction, letting out a low, warning growl.

Li Xiangyang understood immediately; this was a warning that a large predator was nearby.

He carefully put away his bow and arrows, held his breath, and listened intently to his surroundings. The herd of deer seemed to have sensed the danger as well, pricking up their ears and scanning the area vigilantly.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps came from the snow.

They were heavy and powerful; every step was chilling.

Li Xiangyang’s pupils contracted—he was all too familiar with these footsteps.

It was a Siberian tiger!

The black leopard cat stayed in place, motionless, its fur bristling. Yet, it did not flee. Instead, it tapped Li Xiangyang’s leg with its tail, signaling him to follow.

At that moment, the herd of deer was startled and scattered in all directions.

The largest deer happened to run in Li Xiangyang’s direction.

Li Xiangyang dared not act rashly. At a time like this, one careless move could draw the tiger to him.

However, the deer seemed to be driven by something, fleeing directly toward his position.

The black leopard cat suddenly arched its back, its tail twitching rapidly, its amber eyes locked on the deer's path.

Li Xiangyang immediately grasped its intent—this was a rare opportunity. The Siberian tiger was chasing from behind, forcing the deer to flee in this direction. If he was fast enough, he might be able to strike before the tiger arrived...

Li Xiangyang made a split-second decision and quickly drew the bowstring. In such moments, hesitation meant losing the chance.

"Whoosh!"

The arrow pierced the air, striking the deer square in the chest.

The massive deer collapsed on the spot, rolled a few times in the snow, and went still.

Meanwhile, the black leopard cat had already darted to Li Xiangyang’s side, nudging his leg with its head to signal that they should leave immediately.

In the distance, the roar of a tiger echoed.

Li Xiangyang dared not delay. With a few quick movements, he bound the deer to his back and followed the black leopard cat as it fled. This scene unfolded with the seamless coordination of partners who had worked together countless times.

Li Xiangyang trekked rapidly with the deer on his back, the black leopard cat remaining by his side the entire time. Despite the deep snow, it seemed to know this forest like the back of its paw, always finding the easiest path.

The roar of the tiger gradually faded, but Li Xiangyang did not dare to relax his vigilance. Snatching food from the jaws of a tiger was no laughing matter; if the Siberian tiger caught up, the consequences would be unimaginable.

After traveling about two miles, Li Xiangyang finally slowed his pace. The deer on his back weighed at least eighty pounds, and after this forced march, he was drenched in sweat.

"Thanks to you, little one," Li Xiangyang panted, looking at the black leopard cat beside him.

The cat held its head high, tail raised proudly, clearly enjoying the praise. It no longer kept its distance as before, but instead stayed close to Li Xiangyang, occasionally rubbing its head against his pant leg.

"What, do you want to come home with me?" Li Xiangyang asked with a smile. He had never seen such a people-friendly wild leopard cat.

The leopard cat seemed to understand, letting out a meow in response.

Li Xiangyang was amused. "It’s not that I don’t welcome you, but are you sure about this? Isn't it better to be free?"

The black leopard cat seemed determined to follow him.

Throughout the journey, it always chose the safest route. Whenever Li Xiangyang wanted to rest due to the heavy load, it would meow to urge him on, as if reminding him that the day was growing late.

Before he knew it, familiar scenery appeared before him. Li Xiangyang realized he had unconsciously walked out of the deep mountains.

"What a soulful little creature," Li Xiangyang sighed with genuine emotion. If he hadn't experienced it himself, he would never have believed he would encounter such a remarkable leopard cat.

When he reached the village entrance, he looked back. The black leopard cat was still following at a steady, leisurely pace. The glow of the setting sun shone on its pitch-black fur, shimmering with a faint, dark luster.

"Since you’re sticking with me, then come along," Li Xiangyang laughed helplessly. "Just don’t go scaring the little girl at home."

The black leopard cat let out a soft "meow," as if replying: Don't you worry about that.