The villagers held their torches high, illuminating the snow-covered ground as if it were broad daylight.
Zhang Mazi ran and ran, and before he knew it, he had fled into the desolate mountains behind the village. He had no way of knowing that once winter set in, wolf packs often prowled these desolate hills, and the wild beasts were currently starving.
The crowd pursued him to the foot of the mountain, where the firelight revealed a chaotic trail of footprints in the snow. Just as the educated youths were about to step into the woods, they were grabbed by the arm by Old Li Tou, an old hunter who had just arrived.
Chapter 48