Chapter 112 Is someone there?
Life on the grassland was simple yet fulfilling. Since regaining control of his body, Bat's energy and spirit seemed to have returned.
But his family kept a close eye on him and didn't let him go on a long trip directly.
External affairs were all left to Mu Ren.
He then began basic training and physical conditioning, and to put it bluntly, he became Urina's assistant, taking over most of the household chores.
Bart works very hard every day, and he is always covered in sweat after finishing his work.
It was almost like pushing oneself to the limits of physical endurance.
Sometimes Urina and Ani felt heartbroken watching, but they had no choice but to grit their teeth and persevere due to the reality.
Everyone, including himself, wants him to return to his original state.
Fortunately, Bart was prepared and soon regained his previous rhythm. Once he had adapted, Urina and Annie were relieved.
Meanwhile, Mu Ren finally got news of his younger sister from his older brother.
But actually getting in touch with her proved to be very difficult.
Because, right now, we have no idea where she is.
They don't even have a basic address, let alone contact information!
After explaining the situation to her family, they were relieved to find that everyone had made preparations in advance. Apart from being concerned about her safety, everything else was fine.
Meanwhile, in Yuncheng, Elder Xia and his group finally reunited with Elder Shi and his group.
When Xia and his party arrived at the temple, they were informed of the current situation by the comrades who had stayed there in advance.
The group was surprised to find that Old Chen and the others had never returned after leaving.
Moreover, strangely enough, not long ago, both Loin and Captain Ho were transferred away from the team.
Xia Mingjiang listened to the news with a look of utter astonishment, "Wait, what's going on?"
"Where could those two have gone? How come we don't know?" Could they be in any danger?
The old men exchanged glances, seemingly having already discerned the outcome from each other's attitudes.
Especially Mr. Shi and Mr. Zhuang, who were personally involved, spoke with the other party.
"Hey, Xia, don't talk nonsense. We know about this."
"Yes, yes, we understand the situation. Don't overthink it. By the way, we've made some new discoveries that we need you to take a look at."
As the conversation progressed, the topic naturally shifted to cultural relics.
The cultural relics they excavated and protected this time are particularly distinctive in terms of their era and region.
This led Elder Shi and Elder Zhuang, who were in charge of the work, to vaguely grasp a legendary, mysterious path.
If this news is indeed confirmed, the archaeological community will be shaken once again, and the memory of the era will be rewritten.
This achievement is even more groundbreaking and legendary than the shipwreck in the South China Sea.
That was truly groundbreaking!
And to write a legendary and historical chapter for it.
When Luo Yin returned to the temporary encampment, she saw that Mu Dui had woken up in the tent.
She ran over excitedly and saw that the woman was dressed neatly and looked much better than before.
"Team Leader Mu, how are you feeling? Have your wounds healed?"
Mu Chen fastened the last button, forcing an unnatural smile. "Alright, thanks for everything before."
Seeing her thank her so formally, Luo Yin felt a little uncomfortable.
In the past, the wooden team was serious and proper, and their words were usually cold and aloof.
"No need, no need. Actually, you've taken care of me more. We're helping each other out." She still seemed a little uncomfortable.
"Okay, pack your things, they'll be here soon."
"Okay, I'll pack it up right away."
The two quickly cleared out the belongings, and then they heard voices outside.
Listen closely, it sounds like the sound of food being served. "Dinner's ready!"
Mu Chen was the first to pick up the lunchbox and go out, glancing at her as he left.
Understanding the meaning behind that look—that it meant she should hurry up and catch up—Luo Yin quickly followed after her.
When they got to the stove, they found that the porridge someone had cooked in the pot was already done.
The people around them were already eating, and when they saw them arrive, they politely told them to help themselves.
Luo Yin glanced at it and found it was the same as yesterday. She scooped up a few spoonfuls and then squatted down with Mu Dui to drink it.
This was the first time that everyone in the team had officially gathered together.
Amidst the rustling sounds of everyone eating, the leaders who had finished eating spoke up.
"Since everyone is here, let's discuss the next steps."
"We were delayed quite a bit before, and although there were some twists and turns, thankfully everyone was present, and none of us were missing." As he said this, the eyes of the people present subconsciously fell on the three of them.
They may have suffered more injuries, or been trapped underground due to bad luck.
"Fortunately, we're all safe and sound, but the road ahead is even more dangerous than before." Captain Feng said, his gaze sweeping over everyone with an intense intensity.
His tone was serious and calm, yet carried an inexplicable air of authority.
"We are about to enter the core area of the Ailao Mountain forest, which is the 10th/11th category of the Earth series with the most problems. Before that, I need to tell you seriously that this trip will definitely be a life-or-death situation."
The atmosphere became unusually eerie and heavy after he finished speaking.
Especially when accompanied by the calls of some unknown insects and birds nearby.
To the ears of others, it was both irritating and unsettling.
A gust of wind, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, rustled through the trees, making the surrounding environment appear even more desolate.
"Hiss, this feels a bit creepy."
The unknown can conjure up countless unpredictable images, and everyone has their own fears.
But Captain Feng was now explaining the situation to them, and as he mentioned the series of things that followed, everyone present gained a personal understanding of them.
Even Luo Yin hadn't expected that this so-called Earth-series would actually be even more terrifying than he had imagined.
Why wasn't that mentioned at the beginning? Instead, they were strongly encouraged to let them in.
Luo Yin was no longer in a position to bring this up. Later, through the accounts of Captain Feng, Old Man Du, Old Man Meng, and finally Old Man Chen, they truly understood the ingredients behind this thing.
Or rather, it was a large-scale analysis and exchange meeting, the purpose of which was to make them clearly understand that those seemingly terrifying things, which are supposed to be endless and without desire, actually have a source and can be traced back to.
By this time, the atmosphere at the scene was much better than before.
After all, when it comes to a sense of security, besides absolute military suppression, the greatest reliance is complete understanding.
"Alright, now that we've come this far, I think we understand our ultimate goal: to absolutely suppress that thing. This goal concerns not only the millions of people in Yuncheng, but also the fate of the entire nation. Before we act, let's write a will as usual. I'll keep it with a special mark."
"If there is an opportunity, I will pass these things on to your family."
No, why does Captain Feng talk in such a scary way?
From the initial oppression to the later intimidation, and now to the death threats, Luo Yin really didn't know what to say.
But seeing that Mu quickly picked up paper and pen and started writing, and thinking about her family's situation, she gritted her teeth and started doing it too.
Soon everyone took the opportunity to write letters to their families, and then handed them to Captain Feng one by one.
Everyone saw that Captain Feng quickly wrapped the letters in a piece of sealed tarpaulin.
He then disappeared from everyone's sight, and when he returned, his hands were empty.
It must have been buried somewhere nearby.
However, that's not the main point right now, because what they're about to witness is something that will completely shatter everyone's worldview.
Be extremely careful on the road after Seven-Colored Lake.
Despite the constant minor frictions along the way, thankfully none of the things that happened before occurred.
Especially since there were no casualties, Qin Chuan's injuries hadn't healed, so he had to find someone to take turns carrying him. In contrast, Mu Chen had it much easier; her injuries didn't hinder her progress.
But Luo Yin still stayed by her side very carefully, ready to take care of her and help her at any time.
Fortunately, they were able to travel another unknown distance in seven or eight days.
Luo Yin didn't know either, only that they had been trekking through mountains and rivers the whole way.
She would never have come to this location or direction if someone hadn't led the way.
One day, the surrounding environment changed again. The familiar forest trees were gone, replaced by low grass and shrubs.
The towering scenery that was once obscured has now transformed into the northern grasslands.
Looking into the distance, you can see the sprawling mountains and the twinkling stars like clouds.
A group of people stood there, staring at the scene for quite a while.
Everyone was stunned by what they saw!
"How could this be? Is it real?"
"What about those endless forests? Could it be that there are actually people living deep in the Ailao Mountains?"
"No, what's going on?"
"No way? I wore it again?" Luo Yin pinched herself in disbelief and found that it was indeed painful.
The wooden team member beside him remained silent, clenching his fists in quiet contemplation.
"This place is very strange, don't move around too much later."
As Mu Chen spoke, he gestured for her to step back.
At this moment, the three senior figures also underwent some changes. They tacitly picked up their tools and skillfully began to perform calculations and verifications.
Team Leader Huo, Team Leader Feng, Xiao Liu, Qin Chuan, and the two cautious girls beside them all had bright eyes.
The waiting time was short; soon all three stopped moving.
The three seniors among the crowd had different expressions.
But upon closer inspection, they still couldn't tell whether it was good or bad. However, Old Du couldn't help but speak first, "This isn't an illusion. I can't see any magic array."
What do you think?
He turned his gaze to Old Meng and Old Chen.
His deep surprise was finally revealed; he really couldn't understand how such a large, lush green grassland and pasture, with live little white sheep, could be there.
Is this absolutely abnormal?
Border, deep mountains, old forests, and the heart of the country!
None of these keywords indicate a simple character.
But what Elder Meng and Elder Chen said was no different from what he said; they also said they hadn't found anything.
"I really have no problem."
"Me too, but this is a big problem."
"What should we do? We have to get through here; we can't just take a detour, can we?"
"We can't go around it, there's no time left."
Despite Captain Feng's resolute words, the group still followed him onto this strange and bizarre path.
As you step onto the meadows, you feel the softness and friction against your trouser legs and the soles of your shoes.
It subconsciously puts the people in the team at ease, and their brows naturally unfurrow.
It has a natural, carefree feel!
Luo Yin even felt as if she had returned to her hometown, to her own pasture.
The next moment, I'll be riding a pony and galloping across the entire sky.
"Ouch, watch out!"
A sudden exclamation from the person next to her drew her attention.
"What happened?"
"Watch out, what's going on?"
"It's okay, it's just a small pit. I didn't see it and stepped into it. Be careful too."
"Everyone should try to stay close together and not spread out too much."
"Watch where you're stepping."
"clear!"
Because someone reminded them, everyone walked very carefully from then on. After several close calls of misstepping, they finally arrived at the center of the meadow.
That is, in front of the flock of lambs they saw!
"I was just saying that, now that we're here, we can't let it go!"
"Wait a minute, isn't this a sheep?"
The creature in front of me, which looks fair and delicate, is actually a two-legged beast with a size comparable to a lamb.
The scene fell silent, then someone exclaimed.
"What kind of pheasant looks like this?"
Not only does it have no feathers, but it is also entirely white. Apart from its two feet, tail, and beak, it doesn't resemble a bird at all.
"You have to admit, this thing really doesn't look like it?"
"How strange!"
Everyone found it strange, but no one dared to get closer to look; they just muttered among themselves from about two meters away.
Upon hearing this, Old Chen couldn't help but speak up.
"Wait, it looks like a sheep, and resembles a bird, this is... quickly catch it."
"ah?"
"Who to arrest?"
Upon hearing what Grandpa Chen said, Luo Yin exclaimed softly, "That's not right! Why didn't this thing run away? Isn't it afraid of people at all?" That's right, they've hunted wild animals along the way.
Besides the abundance of plant species, this mountain is also teeming with animals. Leaving aside the protected species, we've consumed quite a few pheasants and rabbits to feed them.
Before, I always saw them running away frantically, but why not today?
And what about what Old Man Chen said?
During the minute of silence at the scene, everyone seemed to be in a state of inner turmoil, but soon someone rushed out.
They quickly locked onto the target, and the next moment they saw the man being lifted back by both hands.
"Old Chen, here you go!"
Loin looked at the newcomer with admiration.
"Alright, Lao Du, Lao Meng, hurry up and check if there's anything up there?"
"well!"
Old Meng and Old Du realized something was wrong and quickly responded.
"Hiss~"
With a deep breath, the atmosphere exploded once again!
"There really is!"
"Quickly, go and bring them all back."
Then came an excited and exhilarating shout.
This was what Elder Meng said.
Team leaders Feng, Huo, Qin, Mu, Liu Cheng, and Luo Yin all rushed over.
Even Elder Du and Elder Meng personally participated.
The two were happy to return this time because the previous group had brought back seven or eight more.
"How is it? How's the situation?"
More than an hour later, the busy crowd finally stopped.
Everyone looked at them, completely bewildered, hoping for an answer!
"Ahem, let's call this the White Chicken for now. According to our inspection, these things will occasionally get something wrapped around their feet."
Old Du pointed to a small lump next to him, "Look, these are all."
What are these?
"It looks black, like fabric?"
"It looks more like a rope to me?"
As the guesses of the group faded, the three senior figures burst out laughing one after another.
"Haha, neither of those."
"This is a plant, but I can't explain it clearly. I only know that it's a natural rope, and its flexibility and lightness are better than ordinary hemp rope."
"And look at the marks on the feet of these white chickens; the way they are tied is not something that could have been done by accident."
"So, someone tied them up?"
The other six looked surprised and panicked, especially Loin and Captain Huo.
These two had gotten involved halfway through, and neither of them knew what to say about the situation.
Luo Yin looked around and noticed that they all looked rather unwell, which piqued her curiosity.
"Team Leader Mu, is there anyone still inside?"
Have any of our teammates been here?
Mu Chen's cold and stern face remained tense, and his muscles trembled incessantly, as if he were engulfed in something terrifying.
Seeing that she didn't reply, Luo Yin took a closer look and discovered the anomaly.
She quickly and gently tugged at him, "Team Leader Mu, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?"
Those around her also noticed her unusual condition; she looked pained and was sweating profusely.
"Quickly, they're caught in a nightmare!"
Old Du shouted, then pulled something out of his pocket, muttered something, and waved his hand.
When it hit her, Luo Yin suddenly felt a surge of heat!
She instinctively let go, and saw her fall backward.
He had clearly lost his balance, so they rushed to catch him, shouting, "Watch out!"
"Don't move, lay him flat!"
Fortunately, Captain Feng helped her up, and then Old Du talked to Captain Mu for a while, and soon she calmed down.
"Phew, that's enough. I'll just rest for a bit and wait for someone to wake up."
"What's wrong? Why is she suddenly like this?"
Old Meng waited until he finished his actions before asking, clearly indicating that he had also seen something.
Old Du looked at Luo Yin, then glanced at the comrades beside him.
Seeing everyone looking at her, Luo Yin quickly said, "Hey, I don't know either. Everything was fine at first. It was just when they mentioned the binding marks that I asked Team Leader Mu if any of our teammates had gone in nearby. But before she could reply, I suddenly froze in shock."
After she finished speaking, the atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Then came a chorus of discussion: "That's not right, Comrade Mu shouldn't have been suddenly infected, and she doesn't have any external injuries."
"Yes, and logically speaking, she's quite bold, and with that added blessing, it's impossible for her to do anything ordinary."
Qin Chuan and Liu Cheng, standing nearby, instinctively looked at Captain Feng.
His eyes conveyed a sense of knowing something.
Luo Yin had been standing close to the side, so she saw this spot and followed her gaze to Captain Feng.
The wooden team member on the ground still looked pale, but he had stopped sweating.
My heart feels heavy!
What exactly happened?
However, Captain Feng remained silent, seemingly having nothing to say.
Hossen paid more attention to her and knew more about the situation.
As she said those words, she secretly observed the people who came from the base.
Those who are called the team leader on site are definitely the ones with the most access to information.
Team Leader Feng, it seems, was her team leader before.
Under what circumstances would she be able to stand out and form her own group?
Looking at the scene before and after the gathering, Hossen seemed to understand something.
"The person is awake!"
Luo Yin looked at Mu Dui again and noticed that her eyelids were moving.
"Really, how are you feeling now?"
The crimson light before Mu Chen's eyes surged down like a flood, then heavily covered her.
Mu Chen felt his ears, nose, mouth, limbs, and entire body being pressed down.
The moment a deathly aura arrived, a familiar voice reached my ears.
"Team Leader Mu, let's go!"
"Hurry up."
Who is it? Who is speaking?
Mu Chen's tightly closed eyes began to move more and more, and the expression on his face became increasingly solemn.
"Team Leader Mu, wake up quickly."
The familiar voice came to my ears again.
A flash went through her vision, and then she saw a familiar face.
"Xiao Luo, what's wrong with me?"
Luo Yin looked at her with delight, "That's great! I don't know how you fainted just now, but thanks to Old Master Du's help. How are you feeling now? Is there anything that feels uncomfortable?"
"Hmm, really? I'm fine!"
Mu Chen's gaze swept over everyone.
She was also weighing the events that had happened, even though she clearly heard those voices.
Her eyes darkened, but Old Du, who was standing nearby, interrupted her.
I rushed over to examine her and ask her about her condition, but I couldn't find anything.
Everyone could see this clearly; it didn't seem like Old Master Du's mistake, but rather like her concealment.
With so many things to do, no one really cares about this, as long as it doesn't delay the process.
After quickly catching all the white chickens and searching all the wooden vines and ropes, they obtained a new clue.
These items, after being identified by three senior experts, are found to be vines that grow alongside a rare mineral.
In other words, once the area where these vines grow is found, there must be a large mineral deposit underneath.
How did we end up with rare minerals again?
Luo Yin pondered and guessed their next steps.
She soon learned that this was the real purpose of her trip into the mountains.
Another week of travel, climbing countless hills, wading through countless streams, and sleeping in countless fields, Luo Yin could only stiffly follow in the group.
It's already May, then mid-May, then the end of the month!
"We're here! This is it!"
“Look at these vines, they all show signs of having been cut down.”
The first few people, seeing the current situation, excitedly shared their discoveries.
Sure enough, they had been here before.
Each vine in front of everyone tightly wrapped around a tree, starting from the bottom and extending outwards and upwards, multiplying into an area several times larger than itself.
At first glance, it resembles a towering tree, but this is all revealed by the vines themselves.
It directly robbed the trees of their own growth space, leaving only some traces of large trees visible in the gaps.
Luo Yin also looked surprised and puzzled. She saw that the outermost part of the vine tree in front of her was obviously shorter, and the cut surfaces were neatly cut off.
This was clearly caused by a sharp tool.
Why doesn't she say anything? Is she trying to cover something up?
"Yes, yes, these vines and trees have long since become one, they've been there for at least a very long time."
"I never expected to see so many vines here. How much of that stuff must be underground?"
When Old Du and Old Meng were talking to each other, it sounded like a riddle to the others.
"Old Du, what kind of ore is this? You and Old Meng have been kept in the dark?"
Comrade Liu looked at Team Leader Qin and saw that he also looked bewildered, while the others looked even more curious.
Then he asked in a low voice!
"Hey, I already said it's a rare mineral, so don't ask anymore."
The old man looked inscrutable, and Luo Yin and the others could only shrug helplessly, unable to find out anything.
"So, where do we go next?"
"They wouldn't really stay and mine, would they?"
Team Leader Feng then stepped forward and said, "This area is not under our jurisdiction. We need to go around and squeeze through the gap to stop and rest."
"Yes, let's keep going!"
The only two people who knew the situation spoke up at this point.
Luo Yin realized that this was one of the few times she had taken the initiative to speak recently.
Think about it, ever since she woke up from her fainting spell, she's had a cold face, and her expression has reverted to the one she had when we first met.
He looked tense and suppressed, and his demeanor lacked warmth.
Even she sometimes didn't dare to get close, always feeling that she would either be scolded or reprimanded, but they had been together for so long and their relationship should have been much better, right?
"Yes, yes, listen to Captain Feng. You guys just need to make a note of this."
After Du finished speaking, he and Lao Meng, who had been waiting, walked forward with uneven steps.
Team Mu led the way, with Team Feng at the back. Team Huo followed next to Brother Liu, who was supporting Qin Chuan, while Luo Yin stayed by Old Chen's side.
When Luo Yin spoke with Grandpa Chen again, she found that the old man's temper had calmed down a bit.
Gone is the carefree spirit of the past; instead, there is a deeper maturity.
As a result, she became very nervous, always looking around suspiciously.
When the group stopped again that evening, they finally saw their destination.
A natural cliff face stands starkly in front of everyone.
After passing through the shallows not far away, the cliff looks like it has been cut in half from above, with a very neat cross-section.
The most obvious thing in the very center is that gap that's about the width of a person.
"Do you see someone in there?"
As the sun sets, the sunlight dimly illuminates what appears to be people.
"It seems there really is one, and it's a girl."
Upon hearing the news, everyone looked over and saw that it was indeed as Luo Yin had said.
After Luo Yin finished speaking, she craned her neck even further to look. Something was wrong. Although the gap was big enough for one person to enter, if you went in sideways, how come you could only see the front?
As she thought of this, goosebumps immediately rose on her skin.
They then hurriedly moved closer to the timber team.
Those with sharp eyesight nearby also noticed the anomaly, especially Captain Huo and Xiao Liu, who quickly took a few steps to check.
Team Leader Feng, Qin Chuan, and Team Leader Mu stayed behind to remain vigilant and protect the remaining members.
"careful!"
"What happened to you just now?" Mu Chen finally had a chance to ask her.
"Hey, Captain Mu, have you seen the people over there?"
"Half and half, but it's probably not human."
Luo Yin breathed a sigh of relief, half to comfort herself, and said, "Right? I don't think so either, otherwise this would be too terrifying!"
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