The Tale of the Mysterious Hunt Once, a hunter named Zhao Qi caught a fat rabbit in the snow. Its fur gleamed…
The Tale of the Mysterious Hunt
Once, a hunter named Zhao Qi caught a fat rabbit in the snow. Its fur gleamed, and it felt heavier than most.
Pleased with his prize, Zhao Qi skinned it and cooked it up for a few friends. Everyone praised the meat, saying its rich fat rivaled even lamb. Zhao Qi swelled with pride.
But that night, under the cold moon, strange sounds crept from the kitchen, like the cries of a newborn beast. Zhao Qi lit a lantern, only to find claw marks lay smeared in blood by the stove. The rabbit's skin, hung from the beam, seemed to rise and fall softly, as if it were still breathing.
Three days later, Zhao Qi's belly swelled with pain. No physician could cure him.
A shaman from Qinchuan heard of his plight and suggested, "A pregnant beast carries three souls. You've taken its life, now a vengeful spirit grows inside you."
With the shaman's help, Zhao Qi finally vomited a hairy mass, shaped like a newborn rabbit.
From that day on, hunters in Qinchuan followed a rule they called the Three Rules of the Hunt:
Do not kill a pregnant beast, do not hunt on moonlit nights, and do not disturb a den with cubs inside.