RIN

Chapter 143

In the woods, a dead deer lay beside the feet of a girl, her skin like jade. Rin lugged the deer forward and propped it against a tree, taking the dagger from her side.

Starting at the groin, she slipped her dagger's point under the skin, blade up, and cut a long slit up from the bottom of one thigh, past the knee.

She proceeded to perform this on each side as she loosened the skin around each knee and cut around the joint. Rin carefully peeled the skin off the back legs and down to the tail.

After each procedure was finished, Rin's body swayed a little as she sat down on a flat boulder to regain her breath. She stared down at her hands quietly and gripped them.

Her hands felt stiff. It had been a while since she had skinned a deer.

Truthfully, it was still a little sickening to her.

At the same time, the old, white-haired monk observed the girl's movements on the side. Hands on his knees, he propped his chin with both of his palms as he watched the girl's seemingly skillful, butchering actions.

He cast a curious, measuring gaze towards Rin. "Say, girl, were you a butcher in your past?"

The corner of Rin's mouth twitched. While still regaining her breath, she glanced at the laid-back old man propped on top of a boulder.

With dead eyes, Rin pulled out the shining dagger beside her and looked at the old man.

"What parts do you want? Remember, you only get half."

After heeding her words, the old man's bored eyes sparkled as he rubbed his hands excitedly.

His answer came without hesitation. "I want the backstrap, tenderloin, rump, and sirloin tip!"

Rin visibly froze for a second. She furrowed her eyebrows and shifted her gaze to the old man, dumbfounded.

Shameless, gluttonous old man! Those were all the best, most tender pieces of meat!

If not for the fact she required his help, she wouldn't have bothered with such an impudent person.

Rin sighed deeply. "I'll only give you the sirloin tip and rump. You pick the rest."

As expected, the old monk's face grew sour. "Hah? Why not all of them?"

With a lowered head, Rin was silent as she cut away at the deer's meat. The monk harrumphed. Though he wasn't very happy with the turn of events, the old monk quietly watches her slice away with precise movements.

The longer he watched the girl's actions, the more impressed he became.

As he looked at her porcelain-like face, his expression turned deep. She was so petite and light, but at that moment, she had the strength of an adult man.

She not only knew how to hunt with a crossbow but to butcher her catches as well!

The old monk stroked his chin as he fell into deep thought.

...

"Here are your shares." Rin passed him deer meat wrapped in bleached reeds.

"Hmm..." The old monk examined the pieces of evenly cut meat with a pondering expression.

He then glanced over at the portions of meat in Rin's basket.

"Girl, did you cheat me? It looks like you have bigger pieces."

A smile surfaced on her lips as she said, "I dare not cheat you of what was promised."

Rin's face was calm. Her beautiful and graceful face maintained her usual gentle smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes.