Chapter 2, Death Warning
A headless corpse had a uniquely shaped bell hanging from its left hand, which emitted a jingling sound as it swayed in the gentle breeze
With a loud sound, a chubby head emerged from the snowdrift. After a moment of mutual gaze, it was confirmed that this was a person.
From a geographical perspective, the Qinke Grassland is essentially a neighbor of Baihezi. Although it is named "grassland," it is actually sparsely populated. However, further out, there are many Mongolian herdsmen residing, so it is indeed the case that some shepherds choose Qinke Grassland as their grazing ground
As I was speaking with great pride, a strange sound of bells suddenly echoed through the vast and dark forest, causing everyone's expressions to change immediately as they each sought a place to hide, in case of an unexpected turn of events
How did these four soldiers die?" Gou Changqing asked
I don't know, when I arrived, I saw four corpses, and there was one person still alive at that time, but I don't know what happened to him now. Later, we were attacked by a pack of wolves, and in the confusion, we got scattered. I had a thick fur coat on, so I hid under the snow; otherwise, I would have been completely devoured by the wolves. " At this point, he thought for a moment and added, "By the way, there was also a soldier present at that time, who was captured by those people. From what I heard from the soldiers, it seemed like they intended to use this living soldier to coerce someone.
Alas! I am utterly unfortunate. A few days ago, while herding sheep, I encountered a group of soldiers. They forced me to lead them to Baihezi, saying that if I did not comply, they would kill everyone in our village. They were all armed with long rifles, and fearing that they would truly commit murder, I had no choice but to bring them here
Surrounding dozens of thick black pine trees had their bark stripped away, and on the raw wood of the trunks, someone had written in bright red the four chilling characters "Entering means death"
Regardless of how afraid Yuriko is, we cannot turn around and leave like him. We must rescue the soldiers who have been kidnapped by the mercenaries. Even if he is dead, we must bring back the body and, by the way, clarify the purpose of those illegal armed personnel entering the Heisonglin area
Tomb raiding is a profession that requires a high level of technical skill. Not to mention the ability to discover ancient tombs buried deep beneath the soil with just the naked eye, how to dig a tunnel, and how to avoid traps—each of these aspects is quite intricate. Generally, an ordinary person cannot become a tomb raider.
"Who is being coerced?" we asked in unison
Aside from certain areas of snowfields, the majority of the terrain in the area of Bayehiko is covered with wild black pine forests. Therefore, as we enter the forested region, the light immediately dims. Each black pine tree here grows to an enormous size, with massive trunks and branches that are as black as ink, resembling dead trees. As a result, the vast forest gives an overall impression of lifelessness, akin to hell.
We immediately put our hearts back in our stomachs. He seemed very happy to see us and, after standing up from the snow, smiled and said, "Are you here as the liberating army to save me? I truly thank the government; I can finally say I am saved." This chubby middle-aged man spoke these words with excitement, his entire face trembling with emotion.
After walking for a short while on Thunderstorm Road: "Old Three, it is said that tomb raiders can determine whether a region is haunted by ghosts based on the geographical environment. Is this true or just feudal superstition?"
Looking again at that ghostly claw, it seemed to be growing increasingly impatient, digging faster and faster. The four of us raised our guns, aiming at the exit where the devil was about to appear. Regardless of whether it would be effective or not, as long as it dared to provoke us, we would fire a volley at it first.
Although it is daytime, a white mist always lingers in the forest area, making it difficult to see far ahead. We walk cautiously, always feeling as if a stone is pressing down on our hearts, leaving us with a sense of great oppression.
The concept of Feng Shui is not merely feudal superstition; it is quite easy to understand. The reason that desolate mountains and treacherous waters are often associated with spirits is that such places are rarely visited by humans. In uninhabited areas, vegetation tends to flourish, and with abundant plant life, a large number of herbivores will naturally thrive. Correspondingly, this increases the food supply for carnivores, allowing some long-lived cold-blooded animals to survive for extended periods, resulting in larger sizes. I have heard from my parents that a colleague of theirs once discovered an ancient tomb deep within a desolate mountain. When they planned to excavate, a fellow practitioner of Feng Shui warned them against acting rashly. This individual, believing it to be a trick among peers, insisted on proceeding with the excavation. Unable to dissuade him, the colleague gave him a foul-smelling garment, instructing him to wear it when he descended. Fortunately, this person was not entirely foolish and donned the garment before entering the tomb. As a result, he encountered five enormous wall lizards within the ancient tomb. These ancient spirits, whose ages are unknown, had made the tomb their nest. Some tomb raiders who entered were swiftly ensnared and devoured by the lurking wall lizards.
The sudden sound of a bell in such a place is certainly not a normal occurrence. Identifying the direction from which the sound came, we quietly approached in two groups. In front of a massive black pine tree in the center of the forest, at the command of Gou Changqing, the four of us encircled from both sides to the back of the tree. Before the words "Don't move" could be uttered, we saw a headless soldier's corpse hanging behind the tree.
Oh my goodness, how could you all expect me to take down four armed soldiers looking like this? I am just a shepherd from the Qinke Grassland.
"Do not get agitated yet. What is the situation with these four soldiers? Did you cause their deaths?" Lei Zhen said coldly
This remark immediately raised our vigilance, and Gou Changqing asked: "What kind of soldier is it?"
The ringtone is intermittent and not hurried, seemingly in sync with the mountain breeze
I really do not know, they do not discuss matters in front of me
After clarifying the situation, we discussed and believed that he was a shepherd, as his eyes naturally revealed a simplicity and honesty that could not be feigned. Therefore, we entrusted him to return to the village to find villagers to transport the soldiers' bodies. To our surprise, he outright refused, saying: "Comrade soldiers, it's not that I lack awareness, but this place, Baihezi, is very sinister. I have heard from the elders since childhood that there are not only monsters here, but also a pair of vengeful spirits, a man and a woman, sleeping in blood-soaked coffins. Anyone who encounters them faces certain death. Some poultry and livestock, if they go missing, would rather starve than take a single step into Baihezi. You four should take a look at these four sacrificed soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, and you will know that I am not speaking nonsense. It would be best for you four not to enter; the black pine forest is too dangerous."
"Since you are a shepherd, why are you here?" I asked
The shepherd's words confirmed the existence of the red lacquer coffin, and he further clarified that there was a pair of malevolent spirits inside the coffin. Although this statement cannot be fully trusted, I still felt a shiver run down my spine.
"I can't believe it, just thinking about it gives me chills down my back. What material is that piece of clothing made from? It's so effective?" Lu Yufan said with a frown.
This is the specialized attire for tomb raiders, which we refer to as invisibility clothing. The principle behind it is to apply the urine of creatures found in the tombs to mask the human scent, thus preventing one from becoming a meal for the monsters.
It sounds like your profession is quite fascinating, not the kind of muddy labor that ordinary people understand, with heads full of yellow mud. " Lei Zhen said with a smile
They are definitely not the People's Liberation Army. The hair and beards of the PLA must be neatly groomed, and their uniforms are always clean and tidy. However, those people are dirtier than a shepherd like me. Some have very long hair, and others have bushy beards. Their manner of speaking and accents could not possibly belong to the PLA; they resemble bandits instead. We immediately understood that he was referring to a group of bandits from the border region, in other words, a group of illegal armed elements providing "security" for some drug traffickers, similar to mercenaries.