Danger Raid

Zhao Min wiped away the lichen on the tree trunk, revealing a shallow symbol underneath. The symbol was rather simple, a "greater-than sign" pierced by a vertical line.

She used her thumb to trace the marks and judged, "It's been at least seven or eight years."

Li Xin examined the mark and analyzed, "Generally, people leave marks for two reasons. One is simple, like making a cross, indicating 'I've been here,' and the other is symbolic, serving as a communication language within a group. Different symbols have different meanings."

Zhao Jun asked, "What about this one?"

Li Xin shook his head, "Hard to say, but I think it's more likely the latter. This 'greater-than sign' could very well be an arrow indicating direction."

Big Head, frustrated, asked, "Damn, what if someone has already looted Fox Hu Wang's lair?"

I replied, "Don't be disheartened. Fox Hu Wang is not that easily disturbed. Maybe those people got lost, leaving these marks behind. Unexpectedly, there are others searching for Fox Hu Wang's tomb, and earlier than us."

I glanced at Han Sheng, deep in thought.

Old Wan said, "I think the Second Master has a point. Anyway, we're clueless right now, so why not follow their marks?"

Several people agreed, and we proceeded in the direction indicated by the arrow. Along the way, Zhao Min found two more symbols.

The ground here was covered with vines and various plants, making it physically demanding to walk through. I was already panting heavily.

Just as I was about to suggest taking a break, Zhao Jun, ahead, also discovered a symbol. However, the one who left this mark seemed to be in a hurry. The folds of the "greater-than sign" were somewhat casual, drawn in one stroke, unlike the careful strokes before. Also, the vertical line was incomplete, only halfway carved.

Big Head frowned, "Not good, probably not the same person who carved the previous ones."

Zhao Min looked at him, "Are you saying they've lost some members?"

Seeing Big Head confirm, I nervously looked around. In a place like this, natural attrition wasn't common. More likely, their group faced some attack, and the attackers might come after us.

Han Sheng suddenly said, "There's another possibility."

He pointed at the half-carved vertical line, "They were indeed avoiding something, and this mark is hastily made. I was thinking, if it's just indicating direction, why bother with an extra line? Moreover, in extreme danger, they still added this line. It seems this vertical line has some important meaning."

Upon hearing this, Li Xin's expression turned grim, "Everyone, if that's the case, I think I know what the vertical line means. The 'greater-than sign' represents the direction to move forward, and that vertical line should indicate that this direction is no longer safe!"

I worriedly asked, "Are you saying it's a signal indicating danger?"

"What should we do? The previous group might have all died inside, and maybe we should backtrack," Li Xin suggested nervously.

Han Sheng calmly analyzed, "I think it's better to continue. Although this path may be dangerous, it also suggests that the previous group likely found the entrance to the tomb. If we go back, the best outcome is getting out of this forest. Otherwise, we might get stuck here."

Big Head, with his fearless demeanor, slapped his waist and exclaimed, "Of course, we should keep going. With this treasure, what are we afraid of?"

Old Wan didn't hesitate either, agreeing to continue. So, we followed the direction indicated by the marks. However, in the next three or so hours, we didn't find any more symbols. As we walked, the atmosphere grew heavier. Despite saying we might have overlooked them, there was also the possibility that their entire group had been reduced.

We were in a very passive situation, reaching the point of having no choice but to move forward. This seemingly hopeless journey left everyone feeling unprecedented exhaustion. With night falling, Han Sheng suggested we stop here.

Due to the high humidity, we couldn't find suitable branches to start a fire, making night watch a problem. Zhao Min mentioned the presence of brown bears and other carnivores; without a fire, they might approach us at night. Thus, the tents were set up in the trees.

Before it got dark, using climbing ropes, we half-hung the tents on the trees. After a simple meal, we prepared to rest. Zhao Min warned against using strong-smelling things like insect repellent and advised minimizing flashlight use. She mentioned creatures being afraid of fire but not light, but her words were scattered, and I didn't pay much attention. Today's journey had been too exhausting, and I fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.

In a daze, I was shaken awake. Initially, I thought I was dreaming until I realized something was hitting the big tree beneath me. Startled, I recalled Zhao Min's advice and refrained from using the flashlight. Feeling around me, I found nothing. Confused, I wondered if Big Head and Han Sheng were still on watch and were being attacked. But even if Big Head was unreliable, Han Sheng shouldn't be silently taken out like that.

Taking out the flashlight, I opened the tent, and at that moment, something hit me from below. Slipping, I nearly fell. The lichen on the tree trunk was wet and slippery. With both hands barely holding on, I swayed, relying on my waist's strength to keep my legs clamped onto the trunk, stabilizing my position.

In this precarious posture, hanging like I used to on the horizontal bars as a child, I couldn't twist my neck 180 degrees, so I couldn't see what was attacking us. But when I looked sideways, I saw Old Wan's tent, also open. However, there was no one inside. I cursed, annoyed that they didn't even notify me.

Continuing this way wasn't an option. At this rate, the tree wouldn't last long under this pressure. Anxiously scanning left and right, the tall trees in this primitive forest intertwined their crowns, and I seemed to be able to use them to climb to another tree. Testing it, I found the lichen too slippery, making it impossible for me to sit on it. I had to maintain this inverted posture. Helpless, I tilted my head back to see if there were branches from the nearby tree that I could reach.

But the moment I looked up, a figure was sitting on the branch. Shocked, I slipped a bit. That figure seemed to notice me and swiftly moved over. One hand tightly gripped the branch while the other swiftly drew out the dagger, almost reaching me. Suddenly stopping, they softly spoke, "It's me."

I was stunned, Zhao Min? Then relief washed over me, and I almost cried. You scared the hell out of me, sitting there motionless.

She extended a hand, and I climbed to the adjacent tree with her help. Just passing the tree, I noticed Old Wan and Li Xin also crouched there. When Old Wan saw me coming, he whispered, "Are you okay?"

Bending over, I said I was fine and asked, "What's going on? What's attacking us?"

Zhao Min explained, "A giant

 lizard, but I haven't seen this species before. It might be related to the unique local ecology."

"Why would it attack us? While giant lizards can attack people, it usually happens when there's an extreme shortage of food. In such a vast forest, do they need these few pounds of meat from us?"

Li Xin chimed in, "My back itches; can someone scratch it for me?"

I grabbed the flashlight, intending to check, but Zhao Min pressed it down, whispering, "Definitely bugs. But we can't use the flashlight; its light might attract those giant lizards. Just pat him with your hands."

Reaching into Li Xin's clothes, I touched his back, feeling a bunch of little bugs dispersing around my hand. My stomach churned, but I endured it, slapping him a few times. It wasn't clean, though; those little bugs had probably crawled inside his clothes and were all over him.

I said, "Get down quickly. There's no way there aren't bugs in these trees. Staying here means feeding both giant lizards and bugs. By the way, where's Zhao Jun? Did you see Big Head and Han Sheng?"

Old Wan remarked, "Zhao Jun went to look for those two; they were not around when we woke up."

Zhao Min sensed a significant reduction in the frequency of attacks and suggested, "Considering the diminished threat, we might as well descend for exploration. The four of us slid down the vines, feeling a more stable ground beneath our feet. Even after landing, Li Xin shivered, still feeling an itch on his back. In the darkness, I gave him a comforting pat, saying, 'Endure it for now.'"

Old Wan inquired of Zhao Min, "What's your plan?"

In the dim light, Zhao Min considered briefly and decisively responded, "Let's move forward. At the very least, we should find a place to help Li Xin get rid of the bugs. When Zhao Jun returns, he should be able to follow our trail."

Before her words settled, the nearby grass suddenly rustled, and a dark figure swiftly darted towards us, directly knocking down Old Wan, who had his back turned to it.

I looked over, discovering a creature with a head, tail, and sturdy limbs—the giant lizard Zhao Min mentioned. We had no idea where it had spotted us.

The giant lizard raised its head and emitted a strange cry, opening its large mouth, revealing sharp fangs, aiming to bite Old Wan's neck. Old Wan managed to dodge a bit, but if that bite landed, even if it didn't sever his head, it would likely pierce through his shoulder. At this critical moment, Zhao Min, with a swift roll, reached the side of the giant lizard, wielding a thick tree branch to block its attack.

Before the giant lizard could bite, annoyed and embarrassed, Zhao Min wasted no words and swung the branch directly onto its face. The giant lizard, struck squarely, recoiled in pain, taking two steps back. I rushed forward, dragging Old Wan over. Though he avoided a bite, the back of his shirt bore the marks of the giant lizard's claws.

The giant lizard appeared clumsy but remarkably agile. It quickly advanced in two steps, and I handed Old Wan over to Li Xin, grabbing a fallen tree branch. In that brief moment, due to Zhao Min's tangled vines underfoot, she stumbled, and the giant lizard seized the opportunity. With a swift tail whip, it struck her side, sending her tumbling and then rapidly closing in.

Analyzing the situation quickly, among the four of us, Zhao Min was undoubtedly the most capable fighter. If she fell, it practically meant our group's demise. Without hesitation, I instantly followed suit, aiming a blow at the back of the giant lizard's head.

The branch in my hand snapped, but the giant lizard shook its head, completely ignoring me, and continued to open its mouth to bite Zhao Min.

Knowing that an adult Komodo giant lizard could easily bite through a wild boar, let alone Zhao Min's slender neck, I gritted my teeth. I pounced onto the back of the giant lizard, enduring the nauseating stench, tightly embracing the cold bumps on its back. The touch was repulsive, and as it swung violently, I was on the verge of vomiting.

Feeling that it couldn't shake me off, the giant lizard rolled on the ground. Weighing at least a hundred kilograms, it crushed over my body. My recently healing ribs, which had just started feeling better, felt like they were hammered again. Additionally, the ground was covered in vines with thorns, scraping my skin and bringing tears to my eyes.

The giant lizard stooped in place, with significant inertia, breaking free from my grip. I rolled in place, not yet steady, when a foul stench assailed my senses.

I thought it was over. Just at that moment, a figure lunged forward, taking my previous position. However, he knelt on the back of the giant lizard, unwound a mountaineering rope from his body, and looped it around the lizard's neck. With a swift somersault on the ground, he turned the end of the rope around a tree, instructing us, "Follow me."

Examining more closely, to my great joy, it was Han Sheng. Though his clothes were tattered, he seemed intact—no missing limbs. The giant lizard, eager to keep us from leaving, tugged at the rope with all its might. Still, a climbing rope wasn't something a few hundred pounds of force could break.

Han Sheng ran while explaining, "We can't let that thing bleed; it will attract more of its kind. Big Head is poisoned, but he's with Zhao Jun. More importantly, we've found Fox Hu Wang's tomb."