A slightly worn, military-green Jiefang pickup truck bumped its way out of the research institute's gate.
Fang Da and his fellow veteran teammates crossed their arms, spat, and made no attempt to hide the sarcasm on their faces.
"Look at this suicide squad, they've actually set off."
"I think they're a suicide squad! Just a little girl with two hotheads. Tonight, let's wait for news and see which ravine we go to collect their bodies!"
A harsh laugh drifted in on the wind. By the office window, Geng Xiangdong stood still, watching the truck kick up a cloud of dust on the dirt road until it disappeared into the distance.
His face didn't show the smugness of Fang Da and the others, but rather an extremely complex expression.
The atmosphere in the truck cab was somewhat heavy. Lin Fan gripped the steering wheel tightly, his palms sweating profusely.
Su Tang and Chen Xue, the two girls, sat in the back row.
Chen Xue, standing next to her, nervously twisted the hem of her clothes and glanced out the window every now and then.
"Are you nervous?" Su Tang asked reassuringly.
Su Tang took out two cans of Merlin brand fruit from her canvas shoulder bag and handed them to the two of them.
"Eating some canned food to replenish calories can also relieve tension."
Lin Fan and Chen Xue were both stunned and waved their hands repeatedly.
"No, no, no, Comrade Su, we've already brought some dry rations. This is too precious, we can't accept it!" Chen Xue hurriedly said.
“Yes, Comrade Su, you should keep it for yourself,” Lin Fan chimed in.
"Don't be so polite with me," she said half-jokingly. "The journey ahead will be very physically demanding, and staying in top condition is essential for completing the mission. You are my team members, and I have to be responsible for you."
Su Tang shoved the can of food into Chen Xue's hand without any room for argument. She valued the courage of the two young people who were determined to follow her even though they knew there was danger. Compared to that, these material possessions were nothing.
Seeing that Su Tang insisted, Chen Xue stopped refusing.
She opened a can of yellow peaches and took a bite. A rich, sweet flavor exploded in her mouth, dispelling much of the gloom in her heart.
"Thank you, Comrade Su," Chen Xue said sincerely, feeling a warm glow in her heart.
She felt that Su Tang was nothing like the aloof and powerful family member of a leader that was rumored to be. She looked younger than her and was more like a gentle and reliable older sister.
"Comrade Su, you..." Chen Xue hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question that had been bothering her, "Are you really... confident?"
Su Tang took out a hand-drawn map from her bag and spread it out on the dashboard.
The map was drawn with extreme detail, with contour lines, geological markers, and water sources clearly visible, even more detailed than the standard maps used by their exploration team.
“We don’t fight unprepared battles.” Su Tang pointed to a spot on the map. “Follow my route, we’ll first go to this area at the foot of West Mountain. Lin Fan, once we get there, you’re in charge of collecting rock samples, paying close attention to the weathered layers and rock texture. Chen Xue, you’re in charge of observing the surrounding ecosystem, especially the distribution of flora and fauna; record any abnormalities. We’re not focused on speed, safety comes first.”
She assigned tasks clearly and explained the precautions. Her composure and professionalism made it seem as if she had been here countless times, not just for the first time.
Lin Fan and Chen Xue nodded repeatedly as their unease gradually dissipated, replaced by a strong sense of trust.
More than an hour later, the truck stopped at the foot of Xishan Mountain.
The closer you get to "Devil's Slope," the more oppressive the air becomes.
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