Chapter 113: Who Will Outlast Whom
Seeing everyone’s expressions, Old Huang was very proud. He stood up and took out a box from the cabinet, filled with all sorts of strange and unusual tools. He displayed them and said, “These are treasures passed down through three generations: the eagle cap, eagle scoop, flowerpot, leg strap, toad, five-foot ruler…”
“In falconry terms, training an eagle is called ‘enduring the eagle.’ Simply put, it means not letting the eagle sleep. From eating, drinking, sleeping, standing, flying, to weight gain or loss, everything must be completed within a specified timeframe. There’s an old saying in the trade: ‘tight and slow, ten days to mastery.’”
He took out two worn leather straps from the box, winding each around the eagle’s legs. Then he gathered the two straps together, tied a knot, and secured it to an exquisitely crafted copper swivel. The other end of the swivel was attached to a thick rope over a meter long.
“The eagle’s beak is mainly used for tearing and cutting food. Though it looks sharp and hooked, it’s almost useless for attacking. What you really have to watch out for is the eagle’s talons. Hunting and fighting rely entirely on those claws—three toes in front and one in back. The front toes curve downward, the rear toe points upward, all sharp and fierce with incredible strength and lethality.”
“Especially the rear toe—it’s the most vicious. Once it grabs hold of something, the tip pierces straight into the prey’s flesh and never lets go. One strike is a kill.”
Old Huang slipped a thick padded sleeve over his left forearm to protect it, leaving only his fingertips exposed. Then, he reached his right hand between the eagle’s legs, fingers together, and flipped the eagle upside down in the air. His left hand quickly untied the bindings.
The golden eagle flapped its wings wildly, desperate to reverse its upside-down position. The room was filled with wind, and a gust swept over everyone, who hurriedly backed away.
But no matter how much noise or ferocity the eagle made, its legs remained firmly gripped in Old Huang’s hands. Though its talons were sharp, they were useless without leverage.
Unhurried, Old Huang gathered the leather straps on the eagle’s legs with his left hand, leaving less than a foot of movement, then released the right hand. The eagle, sensing freedom, tried to escape, but the straps restrained its legs. Frustrated, it could only flap its wings ineffectively in the air.
Old Huang was calm and leisurely, letting the eagle struggle for a while. When the eagle’s sharpness faded and its energy was spent, Old Huang lightly swung the rope with his left arm, tossing the eagle so its body aligned parallel to his arm. Exhausted and uncomfortable being upside down, the eagle instinctively sought a perch. Using the momentum, it spread its wings, flipped over, and landed steadily on Old Huang’s left arm.
“Good!” everyone applauded, knowing right away when an expert was at work. Especially Xia Long and Xia Hu, whose eyes shone with admiration—true hidden talentsI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.