Pubang's "The night of hunting games" sale on Amazon

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As night fell, the path of escape was cloaked in darkness, with only a few exceptions: clusters of campfires dotting the landscape. These campfires had become a symbol of status. Around one such fire, several men lay sprawled, reeking of filth. Some gnawed on stolen food while others chewed mildly toxic berries, sending them into a state of mild euphoria. Nearby, a few children, their faces bruised and battered, were the same ones who had thrown stones earlier in the day.

These men were like rocks in a stream, refusing to budge and obstructing the flow. The forest was silent, save for the occasional chirping of insects breaking the stillness. Mo Wen crouched in a thicket, ignoring the branches that scratched his arms, focusing intently on testing the angle of a fixed vine. He repeatedly reminded Little Hong,"Got it?"

Little Hong, growing impatient, replied,"Got it, got it! You've said it six times already!"

"If you don't, we die tonight. Understand?"

"Yeah, yeah, but you're so damn naggy, brother!"

Mo Wen couldn't help but grin in the darkness at the defiant kid calling him brother for the first time. Before leaving, he wanted to do something that would bring him satisfaction. Grabbing a freshly carved bamboo tube from the ground, he said,"Alright, let's go!"

"Do we really have to take this risk, brother?"

"We could skip it, but you'd regret it for the rest of your life!"

"Fine, I'm in! Let's hurry, I can barely hold onto this thing!" Little Hong's bundle, wrapped in layers, buzzed ominously, hinting at some live creature inside.

Mo Wen reassured him,"Don't worry, these bandits have no idea who they're dealing with." He pulled up his mask, careful not to touch the toxic insect venom on the tiny bone needle he had made. According to Little Hong, the venom caused painful, itchy welts that lasted for a week. Mo Wen dipped the needle in the bamboo tube's poison and loaded it into his blowpipe.

Little Hong, gripping his slingshot made from rough branches and animal sinew, watched nervously. Sweat beaded on his forehead, glistening in the firelight."Are you sure this will work?" he asked.

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"Trust me," Mo Wen replied firmly."There are seven of them, plus the kids, no more than twelve. Worst case, we can still escape. Stay close to me!"

They stealthily approached the campfire. Holding his breath, Mo Wen aimed at a bandit gobbling food, and gently blew. The poisoned needle missed the neck, hitting the bandit's back instead. Feeling a sharp pain, the bandit scratched at it and resumed eating. Mo Wen shot a reproachful glance at Little Hong, silently blaming the ineffective poison. Little Hong rolled his eyes and pulled back his slingshot, launching a sharp stone that struck a bandit squarely on the forehead, knocking him out cold.

This commotion alerted the others."Who's there?" they shouted, looking around in panic.

Mo Wen didn't hide. He stood up, aimed his bamboo tube at a fat woman stuffing her face, and fired. The needle hit her chubby cheek, causing her to fall backward, screaming in pain and cursing.

The remaining men grabbed their clubs and charged. Mo Wen and Little Hong turned and ran. The surrounding refugees, awakened by the noise, sat up to watch the spectacle. Mo Wen and Little Hong didn't get far before encountering more men armed with clubs.

"Are they part of the same group?" Little Hong asked nervously.

A bandit from behind answered,"Teng brothers, block those two!"

Mo Wen's heart sank. These men were also bandits. The newcomers laughed and spread out, blocking their path. Mo Wen had no choice but to veer into the forest, pursued by over ten men.

"Kids, you're dead today! How dare you mess with us! We'll skin you alive!" they shouted, their words growing more venomous and closer. The boys knew that capture meant certain death. They circled the refugee camp and ran into a thicket, the bandits just steps behind.

The thicket narrowed into a small path, trampled by feet. Hand in hand, the boys squeezed through, eyes glued to the ground.

"Ah!" A bandit tripped, falling hard, prompting curses from the others. Soon, another bandit stumbled, bringing down several men. One lifted a torch, revealing the leader caught by a trip vine, impaled by a short bamboo stake in his chest, blood pooling beneath him. Panic spread among the bandits, who hesitated to pursue further.

Seeing no one following, Mo Wen and Little Hong breathed a sigh of relief."Brother, how did you remember all those tripwires? If you hadn't pulled me to jump, I'd have forgotten!" Little Hong exclaimed.

Mo Wen sighed, realizing his repeated warnings had been forgotten. As they joked and laughed, nearing the forest's edge, more torches appeared. Teng, their leader, blocked their way with a sinister smile."You think you can run after hurting my men?"

"Run!" Mo Wen ordered, and they retreated deeper into the forest. But the torches at the trailhead remained, the bandits not gone.

"We're surrounded!" Little Hong said, panicked. The thicket offered no escape, filled with thorny bushes. They had no choice but to crawl through, quickly covered in scratches.

"Where are we going?" Little Hong asked anxiously.

"Just follow me!" Mo Wen replied, heading toward a seemingly determined direction, despite easier paths nearby.

The bandits, armed with machetes, quickly cut through the brush, closing in.