# 341
**Chapter 341: A Two-Man Squad**
Inside the Anta County Forest Ranger Station.
“Tsk, this thing’s broken again?” A man wrapped in a military coat, his face unshaven, slapped the radiator and frowned.
“We’re too remote, and the pipes are too old. It’s normal for them to break.”
A young man in his early twenties carried a stove, placed it in the center of the cramped office, and tested the warmth with his hand. After confirming it was working, he continued:
“Uncle Li, why don’t we apply to move the station into town? Every winter the heating fails. How are we supposed to keep going like this?”
Li Deyang furrowed his brows and said firmly, “No can do. Monitoring this forest is our squad’s mission. If we move to town and something happens in the woods, what then?”
The young man opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately stayed silent. He tucked his red, frozen hands into his sleeves and began pacing the room with his head down.
The stove hadn’t fully warmed the space yet. The room was like an ice cellar. If you stopped moving, you’d go numb in minutes.
Li Deyang fiddled with the radiator for a while longer, but it was hopeless. He gave up, stood slowly, and walked over to an old, half-broken blackboard at the edge of the room.
The blackboard looked like it had been salvaged from an old classroom. It was cracked in the middle, with sharp edges and a few cobwebs clinging to it. The surface was frostbitten, covered in tiny cracks.
Pinned to the board with a thumbtack was a large forest map. Red circles, arrows, and question marks were densely scattered across it, enough to make anyone dizzy.
Li Deyang stood in front of the map, rubbing his stubbled chin, his thick brows knitting tighter.
“Xiao Chen, I’ve got a feeling that thing’s location is off. Let’s take another look…” He tried to draw on the map with a pen, but it only left a faint, barely visible mark.
He shook the pen hard and blew warm breath on the tip.
Chen Han sighed. “Uncle Li, we’re not strong enough. No matter how much we analyze the movements of those mysterious creatures, we can’t kill them.”
“We still have to try!” Li Deyang glared at him. “The application’s been sent. Sooner or later, a special squad will be dispatched. Our job is to find where that thing is really hiding!”
He turned back to the map. “The number of mysterious creatures across Great Xia is increasing. The special squads are stretched thin. If we can map things out now, we’ll save them time later. That’s doing our part for the country!”
Chen Han couldn’t help but say, “We’re freezing our butts off here, and you’re still thinking about Great Xia’s situation? And this place is so remote. We only reported a River-Sea Realm creature. Will a special squad really come?”
Li Deyang froze. He was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly.
“They will. They definitely will.”
*Knock knock knock—*
Just as he finished speaking, a moderate knock sounded at the door. Li Deyang and Chen Han exchanged glances, both puzzled.
No one had knocked on the ranger station door in nearly a year.
Chen Han opened the door and saw four young tourists standing outside. He froze.
“Can I help you?”
Lin Qiye pulled down his thick mask and smiled politely.
“Hello, we’re here for sightseeing, but we���re not familiar with the forest ahead. We were wondering if you had a map we could borrow…”
“A map?”
Inside, Li Deyang snorted in disbelief. “You think this is a theme park? That’s a primeval forest back there!”
Lin Qiye paused, then pointed at the map on the blackboard.
“Then… what’s that?”
Li Deyang: “…”
“That’s just a forest management map. It has nothing to do with the actual forest.” Chen Han spoke calmly, looking Lin Qiye in the eye. “And you can’t go into that forest.”
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“Because… there are bears in the forest.”
“Bears?” Lin Qiye’s face lit up. “That’s great! We’re here to film a documentary about bears. If it’s not too much trouble, could we come in and talk? We’d love to learn more.”
Chen Han frowned slightly and glanced back at Li Deyang, who studied the four visitors for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“Young folks, it’s cold out. Come in for some tea.” Li Deyang stood from the table.
Steam rose from paper cups as the stove finally began to work. Lin Qiye and the others set down their hiking packs, sat around an old square table, and warmed their hands by the stove.
“Listen, I don’t care what you’re really planning to do in the woods, but now is not the time,” Li Deyang said seriously, wrapped in his coat. “If you insist on going, wait at least a month.”
Lin Qiye and the others exchanged glances. Baili Pangpang pulled out a shiny Rolex from his pocket and handed it to Li Deyang.
“Uncle, why can’t we go in? Could you tell us more?” Baili Pangpang grinned. “We came all the way from Guangzhou. It’d be a real waste to turn back now!”
Li Deyang glanced at the Rolex and snorted. “Don’t try that city trick on me. I can tell you’re rich kids looking for thrills. Let me warn you—don’t throw your lives away for a bit of excitement.”
Seeing Li Deyang’s firm tone, Baili Pangpang sat back awkwardly. Lin Qiye glanced at An Qingyu, who had been staring at the map. An Qingyu turned and gave a slight nod.
Lin Qiye made small talk for a bit, thanked them, and stood to leave.
Just as Cao Yuan opened the door, he saw a familiar old man carrying a plaid sack standing outside, with a girl in twin braids behind him, hand raised to knock.
The old man blinked at the four of them, then his expression turned strange.