King of the Wilderness

After dealing with the innards, Old George returned to the most classic part.

With an almost devout attitude, he carefully separated two long loins, known as the ”Hunter’s Reward,” completely from the sides of the spine.

These two pieces of meat were deep red like jewels, almost without any fat, and were the most sacred part in the eyes of hunters.

He solemnly handed them to Stan, who returned with dried red willow.

Stan smiled at Lin Yu’an and said, ”Kid, get ready to taste the best steak of your life!”

As the cutting began, a wild and primal scent filled the air.

It wasn’t the heavy gamey smell of domestic sheep, but a clearer, unique aroma mingled with the metallic tang of fresh blood and the fresh scent of alpine plants.

While Stan went to prepare lunch, Old George’s teaching session began in earnest.

”Kid, remember, the tip of the knife always points up.”

Old George, with his own ”Havalon Skinning Knife,” advised Lin Yu’an, ”Use the belly of the knife to slice, let your fingers guide the knife.”

”Use your fingertips to feel the semi-transparent fascia between the skin and the meat, your fingers will tell you where to cut and where there’s resistance.”

Lin Yu’an drew out his sharp ”Benchmade” Hunting Knife and started his first dissection of a Dall sheep.

From his first-person perspective, his sharp hunting knife precisely pierced the skin, then lifted the tip, smoothly slicing a perfect straight line along the path guided by Old George.

”Steady now, don’t rush.” Old George watched from the side, offering guidance from time to time.

”When peeling back to the leg joint here, don’t force it. Find the joint gap with the tip of the knife, gently flick, see that white ligament?”

”Yes, cut it, and then twist it like this... see? It separates by itself, which is much easier than chopping with an axe all day, and the cut is clean.”

Following his guidance, Lin Yu’an easily achieved a perfect separation of a joint, even though he knew the technique, it was his first time using it on a Dall sheep.

They didn’t completely remove the skin, instead letting it lie on the cold rocks like a thick coat, with the fur side down, forming a natural, clean ”meat mat.”

”Alright, now start with the ’Boneless Technique’.”

Old George said, swapping for a more nimble Bone-Carving Saber.

”Leave the bones for the mountain, it’s a feast for the wolverines and eagles; we only take the best parts.”

He pointed to a thick, creamy layer of fat on the sheep’s belly, telling Lin Yu’an, ”Look at its fat, see? Pure white color, even thickness.”

”This shows that it had a well-fed summer, with plenty of food and very healthy, such a sheep has top-notch meat quality.”

As they followed along the bones and successfully detached a complete piece of forequarter meat.

Stan skillfully arranged stones to set up a simple fire pit, shortly a bright flame rose up.

Instead of using the precious loins first, he sliced a few pieces from the warm sheep liver, using a small piece of sheep fat to oil the lightweight iron pan.

”Sizzle—”

A delightful gentle sizzle, a unique aroma with a hint of iron filled the air instantly.

”Try this first, the Mountain God’s gift.” Stan divided the slightly charred liver slices between them.

”This stuff quickly replenishes our lost iron and vitamins, it’s the superfood of the wilderness.”

Old George gladly accepted, and Lin Yu’an also took a bite, the tender texture was much more delicate than pig liver, but not as fine as foie gras.

After finishing the appetizing liver, Stan then began to handle the loins with seriousness.

He cut the meat into half-inch thick steaks, and again used sheep fat to oil the pan.

”Do you smell it, kid?” Stan took a deep whiff, his face full of intoxicated delight.

”This is the taste of top-grade Dall sheep, they eat the purest lichens and alpine herbs their entire lives, so they have none of that cloying gamey taste.”

”Especially this magnificent ram, not being in rut, its meat is the highest quality this mountain range offers us.”

Stan carefully placed the first piece of steak into the hot oiled pan.

”Sizzle—!”

The surface of the steak shrank instantly, he quickly seared both sides to a golden brown, the whole process taking no more than two minutes, achieving a state of crispy outside and tender inside, then immediately took it out, sprinkling some coarse sea salt.

”George! Lin! Stop what you’re doing and come taste this!” Stan shouted.

The two stopped their work and came over, Old George cut a small piece with his knife, put it in his mouth, closed his eyes and savored it, his face full of satisfaction and reminiscence.

”This is the taste... after so many years, still the same taste.” He muttered to himself.

Lin Yu’an also tasted a piece; it was his first time tasting Dall sheep meat, instantly conquered by the astonishing texture!

The meat was extremely lean yet astonishingly tender and juicy, as he chewed, first came the crispy surface flavor with the salty freshness of sea salt. Then, the half-cooked interior burst with rich meat juices.

It also carried an indescribable sweetness with a hint of nutty flavor, completely devoid of traditional mutton’s gamey taste.

This was the second type of mutton he had tasted without the gamey flavor, the other being Ningxia flat lamb which also has no gamey taste after cooking.

Stan chuckled with satisfaction, ”How was it? Didn’t I tell you? This stuff is more exhilarating than A5 grade beef steak!”

The three of them spoke no more, just gathered around the campfire, grilling slice after slice of the freshest loin meat.