Condes Mountains
Under the beautiful and unique natural scenery of the Condes Mountains, not only is there an entire town whose residents depend on it for their survival, but it also breeds many species that are rarely seen in the plains.
The silver fir trees are almost towering into the clouds, and their trunks are all extremely straight, even more perfect than those that have been artificially straightened. They can remain lush and green all year round even in extremely cold conditions.
If you look carefully in the deep low bushes close to the ground, you can see many beautiful flowers blooming in the cold.
In addition to the large number of plants covered in the snow, the animals are even more vibrant.
Some live in the snow, some rely on trees for survival, and some look for caves as their habitat.
They all have the ability to withstand severe cold and reproduce here. It is no exaggeration to say that every part of their body is a treasure. As a species rarely seen in ordinary places, they will have a very good market in the eyes of some interested people.
The texture of the meat is something you won't find in ordinary farmed livestock, and the texture is completely different from the animal furs sold on the market.
The horns on the heads of herbivores, and even their eyes, hair, toes and other body parts, may all be used as medicine.
The environment in the snow-capped mountains is harsh, and after years of evolution, there are not many species of animals that can adapt and survive here.
Some species are extremely rare.
It is precisely because of their small number and preciousness that they are targeted by criminals.
In the eyes of some groups, being able to obtain the bodies of rare animals is something they can show off in the circle, so no matter how high the price is, they will think it is worth it.
The huge profits that could be earned began to attract greedy people, and poachers gradually appeared on the snow-capped mountains.
The mountains stretch out in all directions, and the walking area is very large, so it is extremely difficult to catch someone.
What's more, although people can be caught, greed cannot be eradicated. Once one group of poachers is punished, a new group will appear.
Under the government's deliberate control, the investigation team and poachers have been able to maintain peace and stability in the Condes Mountains through their mutual confrontations and tests.
But a few years ago, a group of poachers named Cheetah appeared and broke this balance.
No one knows how many members they have or who they are.
Relying on their rich experience in hunting in the wild and their skills in avoiding crowds, these people have managed to thrive here. It is no exaggeration to say that they have a gang industry chain.
They hide in the snow-capped mountains and their nests cannot be found based on their tracks, but the number of animals being hunted is increasing.
As the most difficult poachers, cheetahs frequently evade searches by relevant departments. In recent times, they have become even more rampant, engaging in large-scale hunting and killing in several areas of the Condes Mountains, causing significant harm and death to rare animals.
Tortured bodies are often seen in the snow.
It seems that it is just like the name "Cheetah", always waiting for an opportunity in the dark, and quickly disappearing after successfully hunting.
Originally, the selection of new forest rangers was to begin in the summer of the following year, but now it has been advanced by half a year because the old rangers are no longer energetic enough to deal with the invasion of "Cheetahs" due to their old age.
However, it is said that this forest ranger was very capable when he was young. When he first took this job, the government was short of talent and he was promoted from a clerical job.
They only have the knowledge and concepts of forest protection, but no practical experience.
But after accepting the responsibility, he adapted as quickly as possible, learned the knowledge of survival in the wild from the local residents, and then acquired a set of physical skills.
Over the years, he had fought against poachers many times and had more than ten gunshot wounds of varying sizes on his body.
His love for forests and nature allowed him to persist alone on the snow-capped mountains for more than ten years, making him a legendary figure.
After Dasong finished speaking, he couldn't help but look at Ding Can a few more times. In fact, he wanted to ask this question when they met at the train station just now, but they didn't know each other at that time.
Now that I've gone through this journey, I should be familiar with the place. She even treated herself to a chicken leg.
"Are you good at fighting?"
Ding Can was stunned: "Why would you ask that?"
Dasong scratched his head. "You're so skinny and weak, yet you managed to pass the most rigorous physical test. You must have some skills."
After all, there are few women among the applicants, and even fewer can successfully pass the physical fitness test.
This person is not tall and has so many small braids on his body. He looks like the porcelain dolls displayed in gift shops. He is so cute.
In fact, Ding Can's height of 1.7 meters is already considered tall among the crowd, but in front of this group of people who obviously have foreign blood, he still lacks some innate advantages.
She evaded the question, "Of course, strength alone isn't enough. I used a little trick. The secret to passing the level is half physical strength and half mental strength. From what you said, don't you think the physical level is the most difficult?"
Ding Can has a deep understanding of her physical strength. After Dasong has been with her for a while, he will inevitably doubt the authenticity of his ability to pass the test. It is better to let him know now.
Dasong simply had so many heartfelt words to say: "More than that, I almost failed at the first level."
"The first level?" Ding Can asked vaguely while taking a bite of the turkey.
"Yes, it's the forestry knowledge part. If I hadn't followed my grandfather around the mountains and fields as a child and accumulated some practical knowledge, I would have almost failed to pass the exam."
Without waiting for Ding Can to ask any more questions, Dasong started talking about family matters.
His grandfather was also a forest ranger, but he worked in another area with a more suitable temperature. As soon as he could walk, Dasong started running behind his grandfather.
Since he was a child, he has seen more scenery than his peers and his mind is more open.
Every day I can feel the breeze flowing through the mountains, smell the fragrance of flowers, play with small animals by the river, and see countless beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Dasong has lived in this job for many years and has never felt bored. Instead, under the influence of his grandfather's words and deeds, he has also fallen in love with the job of forest ranger.
He had gained so much happiness and comfort from the forest that he wanted to give something back.
Taking on the responsibility of protecting the forest has been a very important goal for him since childhood.
That's why Dasong chose to sign up for the Condas Mountains ranger selection and has persisted until now.
Ding Can encouraged: "You can do it!"
"We make progress together. We don't know who will be left in the end. I won't give in to you just because you're a girl. Let's work hard together."
Dasong held out his right fist.
Ding Can understood and also clenched his fist and lightly bumped it with his face, his smile even wider: "Let's work hard together."
"I asked ahead of time. We'll continue along the central square and reach the entrance to the mountain. Then, after about two hours of climbing, we'll reach the ranger's cabin."
"Is it that far?" Ding Can's legs started to feel weak when he heard that it would take two hours to climb the mountain.
Dasong nodded. "Yes, but once we reach the mountain pass, we can choose to ride horses or use deer to pull the cart. That way, at least we won't have to walk most of the way."
"Let's take public transportation when the time comes. That's a good idea." Ding Can made the decision in advance.
The two of them could go up the mountain before dark, so they were not in a hurry to travel now. They just slowed down and strolled around the town.
Dasong came from the warm plains and was already curious about the local customs and people. He stopped and walked along the way, and was curious about everything he saw. He seemed to be in a good mood.
He stopped in front of a small stall.
The stall owner used a beige wool felt to set up his stall. At a glance, he could see several kinds of weeds of different shapes placed on it. Because of the strong wind, he had to use some small stones to pad the roots of the weeds.
"Uncle, why are you selling wild grass?" Dasong squatted down and spoke politely.
The vendor's round belly lurched with anger. "What weed? These are herbs I dug from the snowy mountains, okay? This one's the best for treating frostbite. And that one, the juice from crushing it is most effective for stopping bleeding. You really don't know what's good."
"Sorry, uncle." It's no wonder that Dasong made a mistake. These herbs are really unattractive. If ordinary people saw them in the snow, they would definitely mistake them for passing weeds.
"Go away, don't disturb me while I'm doing business." The stall owner waved his hands repeatedly to let the two leave.
Dasong smiled awkwardly at Dingcan, and the two continued to move forward.
After passing through the market, there were obviously fewer pedestrians on the road. Following the footprints of their predecessors, they were getting closer and closer to the snow-capped mountains.
Further down the mountain, there were only a few vendors, and no carriages or horses to hire. Just when Ding Can thought he wouldn't meet anyone else and would have to hike up the mountain, he saw a small figure squatting on the ground in the distance through the snow.
When I got closer, I realized it was a little girl wearing a little red hat, who looked to be in her teens.
Even against the backdrop of the snow, her skin was exceptionally fair, so fair that even the red bloodshot on her face could be clearly seen. Her thick golden hair was divided into two strands, each braided into a pigtail, hanging down to her chest.
She was arranging two small baskets of wild mushrooms in front of her with her head slightly lowered. Her exposed fingers were red from the cold, and she looked very pitiful.
When she heard the sound of footsteps on the snow, she raised her eyes like a frightened deer and blinked her blue eyes when she saw the two people.
"I haven't seen you in town. Are you here to explore?"
Her voice was also sweet, like honey about to melt.
"Do people often come here to explore?" Ding Can looked at the nearby snow-capped mountains, which were covered in white and had very low visibility.
"Because there is a peak with a very high altitude, there will always be people who want to conquer it."
The girl also looked towards the top of the mountain with longing eyes before turning back: "By the way, my name is Tuna, and I'm a resident of this small town. What about you?"
Dasong felt his ears burning as he received the other person's serious gaze. "My name is Dasong, and this is Ding Can. We're here for the forest ranger training."
"So you're here to see Mr. Myron. He told me that a new person would be coming soon. I didn't expect it to be so soon."
Tuna stood up and brushed off the fallen snow on her dress. She was probably bored staying here alone and wanted to chat with the two of them for a while.
"Do you know the forest ranger on the mountain?" Ding Can asked.
"Of course. When I go into the mountains to pick mushrooms, I always pass by Mr. Mellen's cabin. Sometimes when there's a snowstorm on the mountain, he often lets me take shelter in one of his cabins. He's a very good person. You don't have to worry about the next instructor being too strict."
Dasong was relieved: "That's great."
Although he had performed well in previous tests, he still found it difficult to adjust to his innate fear of teachers.
He looked at the girl's obviously thin figure in the cold wind and asked: "Where are your family members? Why are you selling wild mushrooms here alone instead of going to the bustling market over there?"
Tuna's expression darkened. "I'm not actually from here. My mother died giving birth to me. A few years ago, my father came to explore the Condes Mountains and was caught in a blizzard. He never came back."
"I'm sorry, I don't know..." Dasong was speechless for a moment.
Tuna shrugged. "It's okay. I've gotten used to it. Since then, I've had no family and no one to look back on. That's why I decided to come here and live alone. At least I can prevent those who come after me from suffering the same fate as my father."
She muttered, "I'll stay at the entrance to the mountain. If there are any more explorers who want to reach the summit, I'll tell them about my father's experience. I hope I can persuade at least some of them to turn back."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
