Chapter 16: Taming the Young Falcon

The next day was spent hunting; they brought down a wild deer, two badgers, several hares, and mountain pheasants, though no more large beasts crossed their path.

As they approached the base of a cliff, Fang Xian heard a piercing cry from above. Looking up, he spotted a raptor gliding effortlessly between the cliffs, a fledgling trailing close behind.

“What kind of bird is that? An eagle?” Fang Xian pointed at the pair.

“That’s not an eagle. Eagles are much larger. This is likely a falcon—smaller in form, but it soars higher, flies faster, sees farther, and is renowned for its intelligence,” Ye Hongxiu answered, shading her eyes for a better look.

“Let me see if I can bring it down,” Fang Xian said, drawing his bow and taking aim at the larger falcon. The string thrummed, and a shrill, anguished cry echoed through the air. The bird tumbled from the sky.

But unexpectedly, the young falcon, perhaps terrified by the scene, let out a frantic screech of its own. Its wings seemed to lose all strength, and it too fell, flailing, from the heights.

“Master, you’re incredible! Two birds with one arrow!” Er Niu stared in astonishment.

“Er Niu, that’s called shooting two hawks with one arrow. You should read more,” Ye Hongxiu laughed, delighted by her husband's prowess.

“Chieftain, Master, the big one’s dead, the little one’s been caught,” a soldier soon reported, bringing the fallen birds before Fang Xian. The adult had been shot clean through the head; the young falcon struggled in the soldier’s grip like a barnyard fowl.

Fang Xian examined the fledgling carefully. It was half-grown, clearly frightened. A thought struck him, and he quietly fed the young falcon a blood contract pill.

He had originally hoped to tame a tiger or leopard as his companion, but fate had offered this falcon instead—perhaps it could serve as his eyes in the sky.

The fledgling let out a few weak cries, lacking the force and menace of a true bird of prey. Still shaken, it eyed the surrounding people with trepidation.

“Don’t be afraid. From now on, you’ll follow me. I’ll train you to become the lord of the skies,” Fang Xian whispered soothingly, stroking its head after giving it the pill.

Soon, the blood contract pill dissolved within the young falcon, forging a subtle connection between it and Fang Xian. It sensed his goodwill and gently nudged his palm, uttering a soft cry.

The pill not only tamed the animal but would also greatly enhance its abilities, allowing it to grow stronger over time as it absorbed the pill’s energy. Moreover, as Fang Xian had read, a pill not infused with the master’s blood could help a pet break through the limits of its species. He resolved to grant the falcon another pill when it matured.

“My husband, it’s already obedient to you?” Ye Hongxiu could hardly believe her eyes.

“Master’s amazing—he can even tame a falcon! He’s like a legend,” Er Niu grinned, while the other mountain soldiers looked on with awe.

“Husband, may I pet it too?” Ye Hongxiu asked eagerly. As she reached out, the young falcon’s neck feathers bristled, and it adopted a defensive posture.

“Behave. She’s your mistress. Remember her scent,” Fang Xian tapped the bird’s head. With a frightened whimper, the falcon stilled. He guided Ye Hongxiu’s hand to its head, and after a few gentle strokes, it lowered its head in submission.

“Off you go. The sky is your domain. Fly above me, but don’t stray too far, lest you become prey yourself. And help me scout for wild beasts nearby,” Fang Xian instructed, sensing the falcon’s growing strength and steadier mood. He tossed it into the air.

With a joyful cry, the fledgling soared into the sky, circling at about two hundred meters, sharp eyes scanning the terrain.

Suddenly, it screeched and dove toward a distant spot, circling above. Fang Xian led the way and found a mountain goat, which he felled with a single arrow.

Thanks to the falcon’s scouting, they quickly amassed more game than they could carry and started back, spending the night at the foot of the mountain where their horses waited.

“We’ll make do here tonight and return early tomorrow,” Ye Hongxiu instructed. The day’s hunt had been more bountiful than any before, and spirits were high.

At supper, Fang Xian called the falcon down and tossed it some offal. Once it was sated, he set it to patrol the area while the rest enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep.

“They’re staying here tonight and won’t return until morning. No need to keep watch—let’s withdraw to the gorge. The chief may have already returned,” whispered the hunters spying on the Green Cloud Stronghold party. Under cover of darkness, they slipped away.

By midnight, they reached the gorge, where the chief had indeed returned—bringing a hundred soldiers. At their head was Cai Golden Blade, a first-rate fighter from a Tiger Lair Stronghold affiliate. His blade skills ranked him among the top thirty masters in the entire Daba Mountain range.

“Greetings, Chief Cai.” After the two first-rate fighters of Tiger Lair had died, Zhao Baiming returned and unified all the subordinate chiefs under Tiger Lair. Cai Golden Blade became the new second-in-command.

“What’s the situation? Any change in their numbers?” Cai asked shrewdly.

“No change, Chief. They’re bedding down at the forest’s edge and will likely return in the morning. They’ve had a great haul—we saw them carrying a wild boar weighing four or five hundred jin,” the scout reported.

“Let the men rest tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll set an ambush at the rear of the gorge. Even if they’ve got a top-tier fighter hidden among them, a sudden attack will cost them dearly. If we capture Ye Qingyun’s daughter in the chaos, they’ll have to return all the supplies they stole from us,” Cai’s eyes gleamed coldly.

The next morning, Fang Xian’s party rose at leisure, broke camp after breakfast, and began the return journey. With their mounts laden with game, the soldiers had to walk, slowing their progress considerably.

After an hour and a half, they neared the gorge. Overhead, the young falcon cried out and began circling at the mouth of the gorge. Fang Xian immediately halted the group.

“Master, has the little bird spotted more game?” Er Niu asked, excited.

“No, not game—an ambush,” Fang Xian replied. The previous night, he’d taught the falcon several warning signals, and their bond was now so close that the bird had remembered them perfectly. Its cries and flight patterns were a clear alert: humans ahead.

“My husband, did you say there’s an ambush?” Ye Hongxiu, coming over, overheard Fang Xian and asked anxiously.

“Only an enemy of Green Cloud Stronghold would lay in wait for us here. Most likely, it’s Tiger Lair’s men. Zhao Baiming is gravely wounded and would not risk coming personally, so at most they have a first-rate fighter. If we work together, we might take him by surprise and kill him.

Brothers, leave five men to guard the horses. If you’re overwhelmed, abandon the mounts and game—your lives are most important. Da Niu, Er Niu, each take half of the remaining twenty-odd soldiers and come with us up the ridge. Wait for my signal before you attack.

My dear, let’s find a vantage point and give them a surprise. You draw out their top fighter, and I’ll take him out from hiding,” Fang Xian quickly devised a plan, and everyone moved to their appointed tasks.