# 342
Chapter 342 – Into the Woods
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Li Deyang froze when he saw the old man in the doorway, then hurried over to lift the plaid cloth bag off his shoulder.
“It’s so heavy—what’s in here?”
The old man didn’t answer. Instead, he eyed Lin Qiye and the others suspiciously as they left the house, then lowered his voice.
“Deyang, what did those four want?”
Li Deyang blinked. “Just a bunch of tourists planning to head into the forest. I talked them out of it. Why?”
The old man shook his head. “Nothing… anyway, I brought you winter clothes. Wash ’em and they’re good to wear.”
“Daddy!!”
The little girl dashed into Li Deyang’s arms, her rosy face blooming in a bright grin.
“Hey, my little Tingting!” Li Deyang beamed. He scooped her up and rubbed his stubbly chin against her cheek. “Did you miss Daddy while I was gone?”
“Yes!” she giggled, squirming away from the scratchy beard.
Li Deyang glanced at the bulging bag and sighed. “Dad, I’ve got clothes. Why haul these all the way here?”
“Got clothes? Apart from that army coat you’ve got nothing!” the old man huffed. “Your heating’s busted and you’re too cheap to buy anything. If I don’t bring them, how will you survive the winter?”
Cradling his daughter, Li Deyang gave a helpless smile.
“I keep telling you to find a proper job in town—not for big money, but at least you’d stay warm. Maybe even meet a good woman; someone to look after you when you’re old, and little Ting could have a step-mum…” The old man rattled on while stacking the clothes on the table.
“I’m too old for that. I’m fine here.” Li Deyang waved it off.
“Fine? What’s fine about it?” the old man glared.
Li Deyang coughed theatrically and changed the subject. “Did you book a hotel?”
“Yep, the Happy Inn just down the road.”
Li Deyang frowned. “Why pick that dump? It’s out in the sticks.”
“Only staying one night—who cares? It’s close; easy to pop back if Tingting misses you tomorrow.”
“All right, your call.”
The old man finished unpacking, pulled out bundles of vegetables and meat, and headed for the door. “Sit tight—I’ll whip up some dinner…”
Li Deyang watched the stubborn figure leave, shaking his head with a wry smile.
……
“Got it all memorized?” Lin Qiye asked.
“Yes.” An Qingyu adjusted his glasses. “No mistake—the map’s border matches the forest fringe we just passed. It’s definitely a chart of these woods, though I need to study some of the symbols back at base.”
“Hold up.” Baili Pangpang’s mouth twitched as he stared at An Qingyu like he was a monster. “You memorized that entire map in a couple of minutes?”
“Minutes? Ten-odd seconds is enough.” An Qingyu said flatly.
Baili Pangpang: …
Listen—are those even human words?
“I thought your ‘direct approach’ meant beating them up and interrogating.” An Qingyu turned to Lin Qiye.
Lin Qiye’s eyelid jumped. “We’re all Night Watch—no need for extremes. I planned to scout the outpost and swipe some clues. Who knew they’d pin the map right on the blackboard?”
“Speaking of which, this Night Watch squad’s pitiful,” Baili Pangpang sighed. “Only two members, stuck in the back of beyond…”
“Anta County’s population is tiny; weak vitality means no strong mysteries show up—just small-fry at Lamp or Pond Realm. Two people can handle it,” Cao Yuan said.
“Then why did something so nasty appear this time?”
“No idea.” Lin Qiye shook his head. “The creature first emerged from the virgin forest—something inside must have changed. We’ll find out.”
Cao Yuan nodded. “Gear ready, clue obtained—so next step…”
Lin Qiye gave a soft grunt and looked up.
The yellow sun was sinking; shadows swallowed the rolling forest. Darkness crept over the vast virgin woods hugging the Mist Wall.
“Time to enter.”
……
The trail into the forest proved smoother than Lin Qiye expected. Unlike the rugged, steep Jinnan Mountain, the outer reaches of this virgin forest were gently sloped.
At the fringe the trees were neither dense nor tall; the original growth had been felled when the county was developed, and these were newer plantings.
Shouldering heavy packs, the four trudged forward with flashlights. They could move faster, but there was no point. This wasn’t the training ground of Jinnan; it was an endless virgin forest. Sprinting with full loads would only burn stamina and supplies long before they crossed it.
And somewhere inside, River—or even Sea-realm—mysteries lurked. They had to stay at peak condition for whatever struck.
“This direction?” Lin Qiye glanced back at An Qingyu.
An Qingyu nodded. “Yes. Three hours farther lies an abandoned logging camp—first spot where ant-type traces were found.”
“Abandoned camp?” Baili Pangpang asked. “If it’s deserted, who went there to spot the tracks?”
Cao Yuan ahead paused and gave him an odd look.
“What?” Baili Pangpang blinked.
“Nothing,” Cao Yuan said. “For someone so slow, you do notice the weirdest things…”