Chapter 21｜Entering the Back Mountain

As dawn broke, the woods on the back mountain were still shrouded in a thin mist, the air carrying the damp scent of earth. Li Xing stood at the foot of the mountain with his men, surveying the surroundings. Unlike the front mountain, the trails here were scattered and overgrown with thick layers of fallen leaves—a single careless step could send them rustling.

“Take it slow here,” Li Xing said, his tone flat yet carrying a natural air of authority.

Zhao Yun nodded, Desert Eagle slung across his back. “Steep slopes, deep ravines, tricky terrain. Watch your step.”

Li Yu, carrying a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle, murmured in agreement. “Trees are too dense, visibility's poor. We need to keep our distance, stay together.”

Zhou Xiaoyu crouched on a slightly elevated rock, intently scanning the forest for movement. Her Type 56 rifle lay horizontally beside her, camouflaged with twigs and leaves for quick access. She murmured, “Watch both slopes—the ravines are deep. A slip could be deadly.”

Zhou Yan crouched at the rear of the group, a hunting knife in hand, his spare firearm secured behind him with a cloth strap. He flicked aside fallen leaves with his fingers, examining footprints and traces. “Someone's been here, but not recently. Probably days ago.”

Li Xing nodded without comment, signaling for the others to proceed cautiously.

Advancing into the Back Mountains

The hunting dog led the way into the forest, moving cautiously with its tail tucked low. It slowed its pace, glancing back every few steps to check the team's position.

“It's memorizing the route,” Zhou Yan murmured.

Li Xing nodded. “Good. That'll be useful later.”

As the team delved deeper, the light dimmed. The dense canopy allowed sunlight only to filter through gaps, casting mottled shadows. The forest was eerily quiet, with scarcely a bird's chirp to be heard—only the faint rustle of footsteps on fallen leaves.

Zhao Yun murmured, “Even the birds aren't singing much.”

“Normal,” Li Xing replied. “The back mountain isn't as lively as the front.”

Formation Adjustment

Reaching the foot of a slope, Li Xing halted and signaled for everyone to gather. “Change formation.”

“Zhao Yun, take the left flank. Maintain distance, stay within sight.”

“Li Yu, center axis—follow me.”

“Zhou Xiaoyu, take the high ground. Survey the entire area.”

“Zhou Yan, bring up the rear. Monitor ground traces and ensure squad safety.”

Zhou Xiaoyu climbed to an elevated position and lay prone, adjusting her field of view with her rifle within easy reach. Zhou Yan slowly fell back to the rear, occasionally crouching to examine footprints and traces. Li Yu followed Li Xing along the central axis, scanning the surroundings. Zhao Yun moved along the left flank, ready to respond to any sudden developments.

The entire team moved with seamless coordination. The five members operated with tacit understanding, requiring no extra communication—each knew their position and responsibility.

A Slight Unease

After a while, the hunting dog suddenly halted, body taut. It growled softly but did not bark.

Li Xing crouched to observe: “Be careful. Might be other animals.”

Zhou Xiaoyu scanned the area with binoculars: “Scratches on the tree trunk ahead. Doesn't look like a beast.”

Zhao Yun examined it: “Someone passed this way. More than once. Probably other hunters or occasional visitors.” "

Li Yu gripped his rifle tighter: “Move slowly. Don't rush.”

Zhou Yan remained silent, but his grip on the hunting knife tightened noticeably, ready for any sudden threat.

Li Xing signaled the team to bypass the scratched area, slowly circling around the obstacle along the forest edge.

Advancing and Observing

The terrain grew increasingly complex—rocky and steeply sloped. The team slowed their pace but moved steadily.

Zhao Yun murmured, “Slowly. Steady.”

Li Xing nodded. “Keep the rhythm. No rushing.”

Zhou Xiaoyu observed from higher ground, shifting her viewpoint to maintain surveillance over a small perimeter around the team.

Zhou Yan positioned himself at the rear, monitoring the rear flank and ground traces.

Li Yu followed Li Xing along the central axis, her eyes scanning every suspicious movement within the forest.

The five advanced slowly in this formation, watching each other's backs, their steps even and cautious.

Deep into the Back Mountains

As they penetrated deeper into the back mountains, the fallen leaves grew thicker and the soil wetter and slipperier, leaving distinct footprints with each step. Li Xing reminded them, “Watch your footing. Every step must be steady.”

Zhao Yun looked down at his feet, stepping carefully. “This slope is slippery. Falling could twist your ankle.”

Zhou Xiaoyu surveyed the terrain ahead from higher ground and whispered, “Scrub brush up ahead. Slow down and watch the gullies.”

Zhou Yan deftly cleared dead branches with his hunting knife, removing potential trip hazards.

Li Yu stayed close behind Li Xing, maintaining the central axis. She monitored blind spots, constantly scanning for movement on either side.

Advancing steadily

The group slowly penetrated deeper into the back mountains. There were no sudden thrills, no cliffhangers at the end of the chapter—just steady progress. The five members had clear roles and watched each other's backs.

The forest grew denser. Sunlight filtered through fewer leaves, casting longer shadows on the ground. Wind rustled branches with faint friction sounds. The hunting dog sniffed cautiously ahead, its tail slightly lowered.