After carefully inspecting the woods to the right of the open area and confirming that there were no signs of trampling, I focused my attention on the leaves on the ground.

Along the way, I saw many fallen leaves. When these fluorescent plants were growing on the trees, their branches and leaves would glow, but the fallen leaves on the ground did not have any luster after they withered.

The leaves in front of me were shimmering with a faint luster, indicating that they hadn't been fallen from the tree for very long.

There were no signs of trampling on the ground, and a large number of leaves had fallen.

I raised my flashlight and focused my attention on the tree canopy.

The trees here were not damaged at all; not even a single branch was broken.

I originally thought that since this thing didn't come out of the woods, it must have come from a tree, but there's no indication of that here.

If it doesn't run on the ground or climb trees, then it must be something that flies in the sky.

Could there be some kind of bird of prey in this cave?

When we went to the mountains to look for the bull's head before, we found bats the size of piglets in the cave. If there are similar things in this cave, that would be the most reasonable explanation.

It must have been the appearance of some kind of bird of prey that snatched the people who had wandered in. When it swooped down or took off, it crashed into the tree canopy, causing a large number of leaves to fall.

But there is still something unreasonable about this, namely the blood on the open ground behind me.

There were no footprints or drag marks on the bloodstains; it looked as if they had been flung down from the air.

However, it would take a lot of strength to flick the bloodstains that far. I really can't imagine what could grab a living person and lift them into the air, then bleed them and let them wander aimlessly in the sky.

To avoid getting lost, I didn't venture deep into the jungle; I just checked the edge and then turned back the way I came.

When I returned to the open area, the Wei family members also turned back from the other side: "Mr. Duan, have you found anything?"

"There are no traces in the woods over there, so it's not really a discovery; it's all just speculation."

After answering the questions from the Wei family members, I looked around and asked, "Where did the people we just arrested go?"

"Holy crap!"

After hearing my words, the Wei family members looked around and were stunned. They pointed to a large rock next to them and said, "I just put him here. A living person, and we just disappeared like that?"

I was originally planning to come back and interrogate that person, but I didn't expect him to be gone in such a short time. Somewhat speechless, I asked, "Are you sure you tied him up securely?"

"It's definitely tied securely. I've received professional training and studied at the Wei family for many years. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can definitely tie a knot. Even a wild boar can't break free from the rope I tie, let alone an injured person!"

The Wei family disciple pointed confidently at the large rock: "I just tied him up here with my own hands, and I searched him. There's absolutely no problem!"

After hearing the explanation from the Wei family disciple, I walked over to the large rock and looked at it. Sure enough, I saw a dagger, a medical kit, and a whistle on the ground.

I bent down and picked up the whistle from the ground, then nodded to the Wei family members: "You're right, that guy didn't run away on his own, otherwise there would be more ropes here, and he wouldn't have left without these life-saving items! We can't stay here, let's go!"

Seeing me quickly walk towards the woods ahead, a member of the Wei family caught up and asked, "Mr. Duan, are we just leaving like this? Isn't that guy going to chase us anymore?"

"I'm not going to chase them anymore!"

I walked faster and faster until I plunged into the woods, then explained to the Wei family members, “I suspect that the person we just met was taken away by something that can fly. When we walk in the woods, the treetops can be our cover. If we linger in the open areas, that thing will target us! We were lucky to go to the edge of the woods to investigate, but that guy who was tied up… his fate is already obvious.”

The Wei family members were somewhat surprised: "Really? We were separated for less than two minutes at most, and the open area wasn't very large. How could a living person be captured in such a short time without making a sound?"

"He wanted to make a sound, but you've covered his mouth!"

I pursed my lips: "Anyway, we've managed to escape a disaster. That guy's leg was injured, and he didn't want to cooperate with us. Keeping him around would have been a problem. Now that he's gone, it's a relief for the team! We walked for so long in the woods without any problems, but we ran into trouble as soon as we reached open ground. This means that the forest isn't safe. We should try to avoid areas without trees when we're moving."

After explaining the precautions along the way, Wei Jiamen and I continued our search along the woods.

It was less of a search and more of a straight line for us.

Although this forest is quite large, it is inside the mountain, so we can definitely find the boundary. Therefore, my idea is that since we can't find anyone else, we should first find the passage leading to the third gate. Everyone will definitely move in that direction, and as long as I can find the right path, the probability of meeting others will naturally increase.

I continued walking with the Wei family members through the woods for a while, when he suddenly stopped: "Mr. Duan, did you hear anything?"

I stopped and listened carefully, then shook my head and said, "I didn't hear anything. Did you hear something?"

The Wei family member nodded: "I think I just heard the young lady's voice."

"Wei Shengnan?"

I listened again, but still couldn't hear anything: "Are you hallucinating?"

"Perhaps."

Seeing that there was indeed no movement around, the Wei family member nodded blankly: "I only vaguely heard the young lady's voice, but I didn't hear what she was saying."

Just as I was about to reassure him and continue on our way, I vaguely heard some noise. I looked at the Wei family members and asked, "Song Laosan! Is Wei Shengnan calling for Song Laosan?"

"That's right! It's Song Laosan who's being called!"

The Wei family member pointed to the left: "Which direction is the sound coming from?"

"The second waterfall is on the left, why would Wei Shengnan go there?"

Although I was puzzled, hearing the familiar voice still gave me a sense of excitement: "Let's go take a look over there!"