After listening to Goncharov's introduction, Song Laosan asked curiously, "Since there are wild men appearing in these mountains, didn't you report it to the relevant authorities?"
"Why wasn't it reported? It's a pity it was useless."
Goncharov shrugged: "In our mountainous area of several hundred square kilometers, there are only a dozen or so forest police officers who usually guard the checkpoints where timber is transported. After we discovered traces of the Wild Man, we reported it to the police station, and people from there came to investigate, but we did not find any trace of the Wild Man."
I was somewhat surprised: "The savages caused deaths, and the higher-ups just investigated and left?"
"Although there have been several wild man attacks in Xishan, all indications suggest that the wild man's activity range does not leave Xishan. Moreover, every year there are murders caused by wild animal attacks in our area, and the police only ask us to remind tourists not to enter Xishan, and that's it."
Goncharov paused for a moment: "That's precisely why I'm reminding you not to go to the Western Hills."
After listening to Goncharov's words, Song Laosan turned his gaze to me: "What do you think about this?"
I knew Goncharov didn't understand Chinese, so I said bluntly, "We've encountered all sorts of dangers on this journey into the mountains. Even if there really are wild men in the western mountains, we still have to go in."
“But there’s something I don’t understand. If Goncharov said the savages only live in the western mountains, how do you explain our travel bags? Those things aren’t in the western mountains!”
The monkey scratched its head: "Could it be that there's more than one group of savages here, and each group has its own territory?"
"There is another point of doubt. Goncharov said that those savages were descendants of Nazis, but more than a hundred years have passed since Germany invaded the Soviet Union. If these people were really Nazi remnants, how many generations have passed? Even if they really took women into the mountains, they would probably have become a bunch of idiots due to inbreeding by now."
Old Song scratched his nose: "Do you think the things in the mountains might be some kind of formation set up by ancient sorcerers, like controlling corpse puppets, confining them to a certain area?"
“There are many examples of ancient tombs being protected by similar evil magic, including corpse puppets, nightmare ghosts, etc. They all work on the same principle, so the possibility you mentioned is not impossible.”
I lit a cigarette, thought for a moment, and said, "If the wild men of Xishan are really like this, it's actually a good thing. The more sinister the place, the higher the probability of finding a large tomb! We came here only to find Duan Jinyan, not to raid tombs. As long as we can get ahead of them, we'll have achieved our goal and won't have to take too much risk. If those wild men are just like Goncharov described, then there's nothing to be afraid of."
Song Laosan and I immediately agreed: "In that case, let's go into the mountains as planned. Goncharov said they have a satellite phone here. I'll contact the security company later and tell them our location."
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they took the opportunity to rest.
We were put in the same wooden cabin, which had no beds, only a large communal sleeping area made of wood.
A few nights ago, we traveled during the day and took turns keeping watch at night. Everyone was exhausted. Tonight, we can finally get a good night's sleep. Soon, the room was filled with snoring.
I was lying on the bunk, just drifting off to sleep, when I felt someone reach out and nudge me. I looked at Zhou Peng next to me and asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet? Is something wrong?"
Zhou Peng said in a hoarse voice, "Mr. Duan, I just wanted to ask if you could find another translator?"
I knew Zhou Peng's mental state hadn't been very stable these past few days, and I also knew his importance in the team. I rubbed my temples to clear my head and asked, "What's wrong? Are you scared?"
"I was definitely scared, but it wasn't entirely because of fear. I just felt that my body couldn't take it anymore."
As Zhou Peng was speaking, he suddenly coughed: "These past few days, I've felt increasingly unwell. I haven't been able to sleep for nights on end, and I always feel anxious and uneasy. I don't know why, but I keep hearing a voice in my head saying that if I continue to stay in this mountain range, I'll definitely lose my life! It's as if death is calling me from the front!"
"People are prone to depression in harsh environments. You've just experienced too much danger and are under too much psychological pressure."
I reassured Zhou Peng: "Don't worry, the team is getting close to our destination. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll be able to resolve our issues in two or three days and leave this place completely. Then we'll leave and never come back to this hellhole. You can take the money we've given you and go back to your own life, living a carefree life for a while."
"Honestly, ever since I met you guys, I feel like we're from two different worlds! No, to be precise, you don't seem to belong to this world! The things you talk about are like myths I heard as a child, making me feel like my current experience is a dream."
Zhou Peng covered his head with his hand: "I'm not joking with you. There's been a voice in my head warning me not to go into that mountain! If possible, I'm willing to give up my reward, as long as you can get Goncharov to send me out of this mountain!"
"I'm sorry, I can't agree to that. We're pressed for time, and there's simply not enough time for me to find a replacement translator." I refused Zhou Peng's offer. "Don't worry, I'll give the order tomorrow to do everything I can to ensure your safety. We'll both leave safely."
"Mr. Duan, I'm begging you! Please let me go!" Zhou Peng grabbed my hand, his voice already trembling with tears. "The reason I decided to take this risk is because I owed the local gang a lot of money from online gambling. I brought this on myself, and I just want to earn money to pay off my gambling debts, but I don't want to die!"
I felt Zhou Peng's palms were burning hot, and I reached out to touch his forehead. Then I sat up and started getting dressed: "You have a high fever! Such a high temperature can affect a person's mood and thinking, and your depression is also closely related to physical discomfort. I'll go find Goncharov to get you some medicine."
Zhou Peng looked at me almost pleadingly: "Mr. Duan, my emotions have nothing to do with my illness. Please, have mercy! I know this is ridiculous, but when I was little, a fortune teller said that I have a special destiny and am prone to attracting unclean things. I didn't believe in these things before, but the closer we get to Xishan, the more obvious my physical discomfort becomes. I really..."
"Believe me, your anxiety is just due to physical discomfort. I've experienced more strange things than you, but in the end, it all turned out to be a false alarm."
Seeing that Zhou Peng was almost delirious from the fever, I could only try my best to calm him down before pushing open the door and leaving to go to Goncharov's room to get some medicine.
The houses were about twenty meters apart. It was late at night, and the streets were pitch black. I pulled my collar tighter and had only taken a few steps when a hand covered my mouth with a handkerchief and dragged me back quickly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com