Chapter 1, Four Frozen Corpses

That can only be attributed to a ghost

The four individuals had long been frozen into four ice corpses by the chilling frost, with icicles hanging from their eyebrows, nostrils, mouths, and even the gun holes. The deceased warriors still stood defiantly, their frozen expressions captured in the moment just before death

Having walked approximately 3 to 4 kilometers along the designated route, everyone could see with the naked eye four soldiers standing motionless ahead, each holding a gun. In that moment, we felt as if we were seeing our most cherished relatives, and we ran towards them, shouting loudly all the way.

"You put it simply, but there is still one person who has not been found," said Gou Changqing, who is known for his concise and straightforward manner of speaking

None of us paid any attention to those four figures draped in white veils and that blood-red coffin, for we believed this was merely a mirage occurring in the snowfield

Our first mission is classified as Level E, which corresponds to ordinary search and rescue tasks. Only Level C and above are considered combat missions. After completing six combat missions, if we are still alive, the restricted zone will arrange for us to go to some small countries in South America and Africa to "enjoy our twilight years"

However, before the words had left his mouth, a faint rustling sound suddenly emerged. Following the sound, he noticed that a section of the snow layer to the right of the four soldiers' bodies began to slowly collapse, the pit growing larger. Subsequently, he could vaguely see a hand pulling itself out from beneath the snow.

Before these five individuals entered the no-man's land, they had established contact with headquarters using communication equipment, and they transmitted a chilling message back.

It was even discovered that before the unexpected situation, Lu Yufan was still singing loudly.

The formation of the four soldiers standing is a typical defensive formation, with each person locking onto a specific direction. However, during the time from life to death, they did not face any attacks. Why did the four prefer to remain frozen in place until death rather than retreat into the black pine forest? Moreover, the report clearly stated that they tracked the four into the black pine forest and then lost contact, yet the four corpses were found standing at the entrance of the black pine forest, indicating that they did not enter. The so-called disappearance was, in fact, the death of the four.

Moreover, as a tomb raider, I possess abilities beyond those of others, specifically in understanding whether there may exist ominous objects at the site of task execution through the concepts of feng shui and metaphysics

In the natural environment of Yuriko, there are ten months of snow and wind each year, with an average annual temperature hovering around minus forty degrees. It goes without saying that the four of them, merely draped in a white scarf, would instantly freeze into ice lumps even if they were wearing a white cotton coat in such a place

The hand became increasingly clear, and it seems that those bastards in the restricted area never intended to let us land safely. What E-level mission? They simply do not plan to let us die a good death

First, let me introduce my captain, Gou Changqing. Before his criminal activities, he was a gang leader who frequently organized large-scale shootouts, thus possessing exceptional "command abilities." The second-in-command, Lei Zhen, is even more impressive; he was a super agent who traveled the world dealing with individuals who posed potential threats to national security. The fourth member, Lu Yufan, is a special forces soldier, and he still holds the shooting record for his unit.

In the snow-covered expanse, four border defense soldiers stood back to back, holding their Type 81 assault rifles high, aimed at the open surroundings

After inspecting the scene, Lei Zhen said to us: "There are no other injuries on their bodies. Rather than saying these four individuals died from the cold, it is more accurate to say they died from fear. I tend to believe that the four white-clad individuals who carried the coffin truly existed."

At this moment, I still did not understand the terrors of this world; I only knew that being alive was a good thing. With an immense longing for a "wonderfully beautiful future life," the four of us set out on our journey for the first time

Of course, this is merely my conjecture. Before entering the uninhabited area of Baihezi, none of us anticipated that this rescue mission would be truly bizarre and that everything would be beyond our expectations

Thus, we landed a military helicopter in the area where five soldiers from Baihezi went missing, embarking on my first military operation with a tourist's mindset

Perhaps the person is right there in that coffin. We have found four individuals, and the mission is complete. Is it really interesting for us to contend with ghosts? I am somewhat anxious, as I am just over twenty years old and still a virgin. I have never been in a relationship, never held a woman's hand, never kissed a woman, and certainly never been intimate with one. All I have done is take care of myself. To die in this desolate area without any clarity, who can I compare my integrity to in this lifetime?

Although I was feeling quite pleasant, it was only upon getting closer that I realized what stood unwaveringly on the snowfield were actually four corpses

Due to the fact that this is an "E-level" task, our equipment is merely standard gear, consisting of three Type 95 rifles, one Type 85 sniper rifle, each person is equipped with one pistol, one combat dagger, several magazines, as well as a certain amount of food and outdoor survival gear.

I suddenly thought of a desolate, snow-covered wasteland, where four individuals dressed in white, as pure as snow, were slowly carrying a vermilion coffin through the dark pine forest. Although it was merely a thought, the eerie scene instantly sent shivers down my spine.

Therefore, it is highly likely that these five individuals witnessed an illusion similar to a mirage, otherwise...

My first task is to search for five missing armed police soldiers, who disappeared in an area known as the Baihezi uninhabited zone, located at the border between China and Mongolia

These four soldiers are not fools; they surely know how to keep warm in the snowy plains, and it makes no sense for them to stubbornly endure to the point of freezing to death

I will provide detailed information about the "criminal history" of the four of us later

"Brother Lei, what are we hesitating for? Hurry up and send a signal for them to come and assist us." I immediately had the thought of retreating; as a tomb raider, I still prefer to believe that there are indeed strange occurrences in this world.

Of course, these combat experiences were summarized and began to be utilized later; during the execution of the first mission, I was certainly a novice. Compared to the other three teammates, my ability to carry out direct combat missions was vastly inferior.

However, to my knowledge, since the establishment of the restricted area until this very moment, not a single death row inmate has managed to escape unscathed. Those with a bit of luck may end up as vegetative or insane individuals who are rescued but remain confined in the internal hospital of the restricted area forever, while many others have simply gone missing

Before undertaking this task, I had already undergone six months of intensive training in a restricted area, mastering considerable military skills. Of course, I am not a novice; before becoming a death row inmate, I was a tomb raider. To combat the non-existent 'zombies,' I practiced my slingshot skills for fifteen years. Therefore, whether shooting at moving or stationary targets, my hand-eye coordination is very stable, consistently achieving a perfect score. Naturally, using the more stable Type 95 assault rifle is even easier.

I believe that as border defense armed police who patrol in uninhabited areas year-round, they must have encountered strange events and formidable individuals. Yet, even this knowledgeable group of soldiers had expressions of panic etched across their faces.

They must have witnessed a terrifying sight, otherwise it would be impossible for them to have died in such a manner

A shiver ran down my spine as I said: "This place is haunted."

This task went exceptionally smoothly; it was completed as soon as we arrived on site. This greatly enhances the "reputation" of our team.

After saying this, I turned around and wanted to run, but I was pulled back by Gou Changqing, who grabbed my military bag. He said in a very low voice: "Don't be afraid, let's see what kind of thing can come out."

Five warriors simultaneously saw four individuals dressed in white shawls carrying a bright red coffin into the area of the Lily Black Pine Forest

The military department we entered was codenamed "No-Go Zone," which naturally contained death row inmates. Four individuals formed a tactical squad, and our squad's codename was "Falcon"