Chapter 3, The Instinct of Beasts

It was very simple. In the oppressive silence, Jiang Xian finally spoke. He slowly raised the flashlight and directed it towards the ceiling of the cave

As if to validate their thoughts, a slope appeared ahead of them, illuminated by the flashlight, leading upward from the bottom of the pit. On the slope, there were a dozen or so fist-sized scars, dark red in color. Surrounding them were also some more, scattered, and incredibly clear dark red marks.

Bloodstain

The burly man gasped: "Chang'an? This tunnel is heading towards Chang'an? Are you sure?"

The young officer caught up a few steps, breathing slightly heavily, and whispered: "This team leader... seems a bit 6, doesn't he?"

Surprisingly, after entering less than ten meters, the entire cave began to exhibit a slight upward slope. It was at this moment that Jiang Xian came to a halt.

The beam of the flashlight flickered in the cave, illuminating the serious figures of five individuals.

And the bloodstains above their heads gradually faded. Finally, after half an hour, they completely disappeared

Song Lian looked at the compass in astonishment; he suddenly felt that this rescue operation was likely to be far more perilous than they had imagined

Everyone. Jiang Xian stood up and clapped his hands: "If we do not find any clues after walking for another 50 minutes, we must retreat"

Jiang Xian nodded, and Su Rong spoke: "The key lies in the silver fur all over the body"

Jiang Xian did not respond, but nodded vigorously.

However, Director Ma did not explain the background of the other party, only stating: If this below is a maze filled with monsters and demons, then the only person who can lead them out is Mr. Jiang

All the team members blinked and looked towards Song Lianshi. After a moment, the thin man clapped his hands and exclaimed, "I see now!"

Song Lian received it in confusion, yet still proceeded to follow through. He did not even question why.

He was pulled up directly. Jiang Xian spoke again, pressing his hand down, and without waiting for others to speak, continued: I know that you might want to say that even if he was suspended in the air, the bloodstains should have fallen to the ground. This is the law of gravity

It is becoming increasingly faint because there is no blood to draw out

This tunnel is unexpectedly long, and it widens the further one goes in. There are no other branches; it starts with a width of ten meters and an upward slope, but after walking one or two hundred meters, the slope gradually begins to descend

Inconceivable

Jiang Xian took out a large pin and handed it to Song Lianshi, saying: "Rub it on your hair for one minute"

The Song team is impressive! The young officers also appropriately offered their compliments. However, Song Lianshi did not look at them, but instead gently nodded towards Jiang Xian for the first time

He has a robust physique, approximately 1.79 meters tall. His voice is deep and resonant

Sloths... A very vivid metaphor, the other party can only crawl with their back facing down at the top of the cave. And a beast that has become accustomed to a certain way of behaving will inevitably adopt this same method when returning... So...

"Impossible," the thin man shook his head. "There are no volcanoes in the entire province of Xijing."

"My sense of direction will not be wrong," Jiang Xian spoke again, this time without anyone raising any questions. He said solemnly: "Although Chang'an and Xingyuan are adjacent, the temperature difference is significant, precisely because the Qinling Mountains lie in between. We should now begin to approach the heart of the Qinling Mountains. However, I have never heard that the Qinling Mountains were formed by volcanic accumulation." We should now begin to approach the heart of the Qinling Mountains. However, I have never heard that the Qinling Mountains were formed by volcanic accumulation.

How could there be bloodstains above

Is this really possible?

It is difficult. The emaciated man sighed and said: This amount of blood loss, it has already gone this far... Er Ganzi is probably in trouble.

"In an instant, there was a massive hemorrhage." Song Lianshi took a deep breath. As the captain of the criminal investigation team of the county public security bureau, he was no stranger to such bloodstains. He said solemnly: "When attacked, there was no defense; the injured area should be above the abdomen. It is likely the major arteries in the chest or neck. However, there is one question I cannot understand"

That is not right... If the second daredevil were lying on the opponent's stomach, due to the shape of the abdomen and its crawling posture, blood would still be dripping onto the ground. However, there is still none!" He couldn't help but continue to question.

He crouched down, rubbing his chin, furrowing his brow as he looked at the bloodstains on the ground, then glanced ahead. As the flashlight illuminated the area, he was surprised to see a patch of white in front of him

No

The scene fell completely silent. Song Lianshi nodded, and the young officer immediately took out a compass, but as soon as he did, he exclaimed in astonishment: "Team Leader, Captain Song! The compass is malfunctioning!"

Silence

Indeed. Jiang Xian's gaze swept over everyone: "Moreover, if it was once a volcanic layer, it is highly likely that a vast underground labyrinth has formed due to the flow of lava. In terms of both equipment and personnel, this would undoubtedly exceed the challenges posed by our current configuration. We had better pray that we find the two daredevils before we encounter such a situation. Otherwise ... " We had better pray that we find the two daredevils before we encounter such a situation. Otherwise ... "

"Where is the blood?" A young police officer, approximately twenty-three or twenty-four years old and about 1.83 meters tall, in the team behind, widened his eyes in disbelief and exclaimed, "With such severe injuries and a sudden outpouring of blood, how could there be no bloodstains left by the other party? What on earth is going on?"

That is the limit of our search and rescue efforts

Jiang Xian's voice continued: "This creature can accommodate two daredevils lying on its belly, indicating that its size is likely larger than we imagined. Moreover, it is very intelligent. This aligns with my previous speculation—this is a primate species. Primates are also adept at climbing and are omnivorous"

"This temperature is quite abnormal." Jiang Xian pondered for a moment, took out a map, crouched down, and waved his hand to gather everyone around. Pointing to the direction of Xingyuan City on the map, he said in a deep voice: "Everyone, the deeper we go underground, the higher the temperature will be, but the current temperature is at least two to three degrees higher than any underground cave I have been to. This indicates..."

However, upon seeing that the so-called "Mr. Jiang" was only about the same age as Zhao Boli from the team, he felt somewhat skeptical. ... But now ... ... he suddenly sensed that this young man seemed to ... ... indeed possess something.

Song Lian's throat moved violently, and he rasped, "Are you saying that if we walk for another fifty minutes without finding an end, then the length of Wowo Pit has already surpassed that of the third longest cave in the world, the Ludong?"

Are you familiar with the opera "The White-Haired Girl"? It tells the story of a woman oppressed by feudalism who hid in the mountains for decades. Due to a lack of salt, her hair turned completely white. This can be likened to a beast. It may be seeing a human for the first time, or perhaps it does not know what a human 'taste' is like. However, the scarcity of food in the cave compels it to choose to attack. At the moment when the blood of the second daring one spills, it will understand that this creature, like other animals, has salt in its blood. Creatures that have lived here for a long time will not miss such an opportunity. At the moment when the blood of the second daring one spills, it will understand that this creature, like other animals, has salt in its blood. Creatures that have lived here for a long time will not miss such an opportunity

Jiang Xiandao: "Perhaps it is because ... ... it is drinking blood"

Just like this severely injured person, who suddenly vanished into thin air after a massive loss of blood

The position of the captain of the criminal investigation team can only be attained with the nod of Director Ma. This is the position within the entire Public Security Bureau that is most likely to yield results. In a reciprocal gesture, Director Ma informed him that a change in leadership was to take place. Naturally, he had no objections.

The answers are increasingly horrifying, yet... they are equally irrefutable

A group of people continues to walk forward

On the top of the head ... ! ... there is a conspicuous streak of blood ! It extends intermittently into the depths of darkness !

At this moment, a chilling sense of telepathy suddenly struck Song Lian's mind, causing him to gasp and raise his flashlight to look up at the ceiling

Lack of salt

With a piercing gaze, Jiang Xian said softly: "Sloth."

However, you may not be aware of another set of data. The third place, known as the Bottomless Pit in the UK, is only over 6,000 meters deep. The second place, the Hanzong Cave, is 8,800 meters deep. Do you all... do you know what this represents

"Entire body silver hair? Body length over 3 meters? Blood-red eyes?" This response came from the last man who had remained silent.

His footsteps faded away, and this time, all the team members exchanged glances and almost simultaneously followed suit

He took a deep breath and gently tapped the map, saying: "There may be an underground volcano below this area"

I originally thought it was just a routine search and rescue operation, but unexpectedly, within less than ten meters of entering, I witnessed a scene that could not be explained by common reasoning

He gazed intently at the cave ceiling: "I understand... the other party crawled into the cave in a sloth-like manner. In this position, Er Ganzi's body could only be placed on the other's belly. This is because it had no other means to carry Er Ganzi's body away. Consequently, the heavily bleeding body of Er Ganzi rubbed against the monster's belly and the cave ceiling, leaving behind a sporadic trail of blood. " It is precisely for this reason that the heavily bleeding body of Er Ganzi rubbed against the monster's belly and the cave ceiling, leaving behind a sporadic trail of blood.

There are no other traces of blood on the ground except here

Silence

Indeed," Song Lianshi nodded, having already unbuttoned the top button of his camouflage uniform. He also pulled down the zipper by an inch

Everyone in the team raised their heads, staring in astonishment at the dried bloodstain. After a few seconds, a slender man in his thirties from the back of the group approached, holding a flashlight. He slightly parted his lips, gently shook his head, and his face was filled with disbelief as he said in a low voice: "What on earth is this... what kind of thing is this?"

Song Lian sighed with emotion

He shook the flashlight: "Therefore... during the next journey, everyone must be extra cautious. This thing is probably no less dangerous than a hungry tiger. Moreover, after consuming the blood of the second daredevil, we... have all entered its menu"

The problem lies here. Jiang Xian pointed to the location of Foping on the map, then drew a line directly towards the northeast, which is precisely where the western stronghold and the capital of Xijing Province, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties—Chang'an—are located

It is impossible for it to be born with white fur. A predator living in darkness, in order to successfully hunt, would not evolve details that contradict its survival environment. This is a fundamental law of survival. He paused, gazing into the deep cave, and said softly: "If the other party has lived in such a place for a long time, there are two possible outcomes for having silver fur all over. First, prolonged exposure to no sunlight. Second..."

Ka... Song Lianshi turned on the flashlight and said in a deep voice: "This is an uphill area. Due to the heavy rain last night, the water did not reach here, so it is very likely that there are still traces of blood here"

Jiang Xian did not respond. After twenty minutes, he raised his luminous watch to check the time. After another twenty minutes, he finally frowned and raised his hand.

Is this the place?" Song Lian asked in a deep voice

The team came to an immediate halt. Before they could speak, Jiang Xian said in a deep voice: "Do you feel... the temperature here is a bit high?"

"Speak less and learn more." Song Lianshi glanced at the other person and replied in a subdued voice, "You just graduated, still inexperienced."

Watching the capsule, adorned with needles, tremble as it pointed towards the true south on the map, all the team members remained silent, merely exchanging a ghostly glance with one another

Unbeknownst to him, everyone's gaze turned towards him. Song Lianshi was no exception.

Jiang Xian nodded: "According to the case file, the witness stated that the rope was completely taut at the time. The rope was twenty-three meters long, and after being bitten through, it still measured just over fourteen meters. We have already entered over nine meters. Therefore, the location of the attack is within this one meter range."

At the very moment he came to a halt, Song Lianshi also approached. Jiang Xian currently had no time to concern himself with others, as less than half of the critical 24 hours for search and rescue remained. As long as Song Lianshi was willing to cooperate, this team might not be able to operate with perfect precision, but it would certainly become a valuable support.

Sloth ... ? ... These two words that break the deadlock, are they truly a momentary spark of thought from you, or is your knowledge accumulation really that profound? Is your thinking that agile?

Song Lian's eyes suddenly brightened. He couldn't help but gently pat his thigh.

Jiang Xianshun followed the trail of blood and gestured for everyone to follow. As he walked, he said: "Do you all remember what the witnesses said?"

Without waiting for others to ask questions, his gaze swept over everyone, and he spoke solemnly: "Perhaps you think that a person can walk 5,000 meters in an hour. With our training, we can walk a bit faster. After walking for another 50 minutes, we will have only walked for an hour and a half, covering a total distance of over 7,000 meters. This distance is hardly significant."

Next, he took out a cup and poured a cup of water into the lid. After Song Lianshi finished rubbing, he took out a capsule. He carefully pried one open, discarded the central pill, and reassembled it. Finally, he pierced the capsule with a pin and placed it in the cup lid. He then set the cup lid on the map

At this moment, he inexplicably recalled a saying: real gold is not afraid of the test of fire