Forest Farm

"Rat-a-tat-tat..."

Shattered rocks flew at everyone nearby like bullets.

Crumbled stones slammed into the surroundings like bullets.

Xu Tong's arm felt as if something had slammed into it, and it quickly went numb.

Xu Tong felt as if something had slammed into his arm. It quickly went numb.

Old Bart hadn't fared any better. His head was battered and bleeding, and he looked utterly miserable.

Old Bart was in no better shape. He'd been struck until his head was bleeding, and he looked utterly miserable.

After waiting for a while, the two slowly raised their heads. The white shadow had vanished, and the eerie cries that had echoed through the mountains and woods were gone as well.

After waiting a while, the two slowly raised their heads. The white figure had vanished, and the eerie cries from the forest had disappeared without a trace.

In the pitch-black night, moonlight fell across the grass. A cool breeze blew, and Old Bart shivered uncontrollably. He got to his feet and looked around. When he saw the horse crushed into a pulp beneath the boulder, his vision went black, and he nearly passed out.

In the pitch-black night, moonlight fell over the grass. A cool breeze blew, and Old Bart couldn't stop shivering. When he stood up and saw the horse crushed into a bloody mess beneath the boulder, his vision went dark, and he nearly fainted.

That was a forestry station horse!

That was the Forest Farm's horse!

Luckily, Xu Tong quickly pinched the philtrum of the old man, keeping Old Bart from passing out completely.

Luckily, Xu Tong quickly pressed the philtrum of the old man, keeping Old Bart from passing out completely.

He walked over to the boulder and examined it closely. Good grief, the rock weighed at least two tons. If he hadn't dodged it, he'd be dumpling filling by now.

Xu Tong went over to the boulder and examined it closely. Good grief, it weighed at least a ton. If he hadn't dodged it, he'd be dumpling filling by now.

Hmm... shepherd's purse would be best.

Hmm... shepherd's-purse dumplings would be best.

At the thought, he couldn't help smacking his lips, and his stomach started rumbling again.

Thinking of that, he smacked his lips. His stomach started rumbling again.

"The Old Mountain God is angry! The Old Mountain God is angry!!"

"The Old Mountain God is angry! The Old Mountain God is angry!!"

Coming to his senses, Old Bart knelt on the ground and repeatedly kowtowed in the direction he had pointed, begging for mercy.

When Old Bart came to his senses, he fell to his knees and repeatedly kowtowed toward the direction he'd pointed out earlier, begging for mercy.

"Comrade, get up. What kind of god is there? It's all fake. It's feudal superstition!"

"Comrade, get up already. There's no such thing as a god. It's all fake, just feudal superstition!"

He imitated the expressions of the couple on the train and said solemnly, "Believe in science and stamp out all demons and monsters!"

He imitated the expressions of the couple on the train and said solemnly, "Believe in science! Down with all monsters and demons!"

He had to admit, the slogan sounded downright righteous when shouted aloud.

He had to admit, the slogan really did sound righteous when he shouted it.

Old Bart just shook his head and refused to get up.

Old Bart just shook his head and refused to get up, no matter what Xu Tong said.

"Beep!!"

"Beep!!"

Just then, two dazzling headlights shone from the distance. A big army-green truck came rumbling over.

Just then, two bright headlights appeared in the distance. A military-green truck came rumbling toward them.

The truck stopped steadily, and a group of people jumped down from the back.

The truck pulled to a steady stop, and a group of people jumped down from the back.

"What happened??"

"What happened??"

The two couldn't make them out in the glare of the headlights. Only when the group came closer did they see the olive-colored police uniforms, with two yellow bands above the cuffs marking the sleeves.

The headlights made it hard to see them clearly. Only when the group came closer did the two notice their olive-colored police uniforms, with two yellow stripes above the cuffs marking their sleeves.

After the police chief saw their injuries, he hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

After seeing the two men's injuries, the police chief at the front hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

"It was the Old Mountain God. The Old Mountain God is angry and has come to claim our lives!"

"It was the Old Mountain God. The Old Mountain God is angry and coming to claim our lives!"

Old Bart said, his eyes red.

Old Bart said, his eyes red.

A young officer was about to rebuke him, but the police chief raised a hand to stop him and shook his head, signaling them to leave it alone.

A young officer was about to scold him, but the chief raised a hand to stop him, then shook his head to tell them to leave it alone.

Then he looked at Xu Tong and saw that Xu Tong was sizing them up too.

Then he looked at Xu Tong and saw that Xu Tong was scrutinizing them, too.

He raised his eyebrows. "Who are you? Let me see your papers."

His eyebrows rose. "Who are you? Let me see your papers."

As he spoke, two officers quietly took up positions on either side of him.

As he spoke, two officers had quietly taken up positions on either side of Xu Tong.

Seeing this, he hurriedly explained, "I came to work as a forest ranger at the forestry station. I have a letter of introduction."

Seeing this, Xu Tong hurried to explain, "I'm here to work as a forest ranger at the Forest Farm. I have a letter of introduction."

As he spoke, he began feeling around his clothes. Even as he searched, his gaze continued to take in the group.

As he spoke, he began searching his clothes, his eyes still taking stock of the group.

He wasn't sure whether there were any other players among them. Until he knew what was going on, he didn't want to expose himself.

He wasn't sure whether there were any other players among them. Until he knew what was going on, he didn't want to reveal himself.

In this era, there were no ID cards, just a small square booklet with one's place of origin and address. A big red stamp was enough to make it an identity document. It had no security features at all.

People didn't have identity cards in this era. All they had was a small, square booklet with their registered hometown and address. A big red stamp was enough to make it official. There was nothing sophisticated about it.

So the more important thing was whether he had a letter of introduction. With one, everything could be verified.

So what mattered more was whether he had a letter of introduction. With one, everything could be verified.

The police chief took it and looked it over. His expression immediately softened. After all, the people sent down to the countryside were young intellectuals, delicate bookworms. After such a shock, he couldn't expect them to answer much.

The chief took it and glanced at it, his expression immediately relaxing. After all, those sent down to the countryside were young, educated intellectuals, more like frail scholars. After such a shock, it wasn't as if he expected Xu Tong to answer any questions.

After a few words of comfort, the police chief told them to get in the truck. He planned to take them to the forestry station. As for the horse that had been crushed to death, they couldn't let it go to waste, so they tried to haul back the front half of its body.

After offering a few words of comfort, the chief told them to get in the truck. He planned to take them to the Forest Farm. As for the horse that had been crushed to death, they couldn't let it go to waste, so they loaded as much of its front half as they could and took it back with them.

As for the police chief, he stayed behind smoking and crouched beside the boulder to examine it carefully. Then he led some people up the nearby mountain, wanting to inspect where the rock had fallen from.

The chief stayed behind, smoking as he crouched beside the boulder and examined it carefully. Then he led some people up the nearby mountainside to investigate where the boulder had fallen from.

The round trip would take at least two hours.

The round trip would take at least two hours.

He wanted to follow them and have a look, but the officers sitting on either side of him wouldn't let him out of the truck.

Xu Tong wanted to follow and take a look, but the officers seated on either side of him wouldn't let him get out of the truck.

Another hour passed before the police chief came back down with his men.

Another hour passed before the chief and his men came back down.

This time, he didn't sit in the truck's cab. He climbed into the bed and sat with Xu Tong and the others.

This time he didn't ride in the truck's cab. He climbed into the bed and sat with Xu Tong and the others.

He put a cigarette to his lips and looked at the babbling Old Bart, narrowing his eyes. "Something happened at your forestry station. Early this morning, we got a call from there saying the station chief had died."

He put a cigarette to his lips and narrowed his eyes as he watched Old Bart muttering to himself. "Something happened at your Forest Farm. They called this morning and said your manager was dead."

At that, Old Bart shuddered, and his face grew even paler.

At that, Old Bart shuddered, his face turning even paler.

His trembling lips murmured, "The Old Mountain God came to claim our lives. It must be. Yes, it must be!!"

His lips trembled as he whispered, "The Old Mountain God came to claim his life. That must be it. Yes, it has to be!!"

"There's no Old Mountain God claiming lives. We found this up there!"

"There's no Old Mountain God claiming lives. We found this up there!"

The police chief had someone bring out the items. They were two ropes.

The chief had one of his men bring out the items. They were two ropes.

"I suspect someone's trying to kill you. They deliberately pushed the rock down as you passed, trying to crush you!"

"I suspect someone was trying to kill you. They deliberately pushed the boulder down as you passed, hoping to crush you!"

The police chief kept his eyes fixed on Old Bart, hoping to read something useful on his face.

The chief kept his eyes fixed on Old Bart, hoping to glean something useful from his expression.

But the result left him completely disappointed.

But the result left him utterly disappointed.

"If someone was trying to kill us, how did they make the horses stand still?"

"If someone was trying to kill us, how did they make the horse stand still and refuse to move?"

Xu Tong sat to one side and asked curiously.

Xu Tong asked curiously from beside him.

The police chief didn't explain. He couldn't explain it either. The young officer beside him muttered, "Didn't they say there are local Miao nearby? Word is, they know how to use poison magic. Maybe..."

The chief had no explanation for that question, since he couldn't make sense of it himself. But the young officer beside him muttered, "I heard there are raw Miao around here. Rumor has it they can use curses. Maybe..."

The moment he finished speaking, the police chief kicked him in the butt. "You say that like you've seen it yourself."

As soon as he finished speaking, the chief kicked him in the backside. "You say that like you've ever seen it yourself."

The officer lowered his head, looking wronged, and didn't dare bring it up again.

The officer lowered his head with an innocent look and didn't dare bring it up again.

"And what's this Old Mountain God he mentioned? I'm a forest ranger. Surely I'm allowed to know about this?"

"What does he mean by the Old Mountain God? I'm a forest ranger. Surely I'm allowed to know at least that much."

Xu Tong continued asking.

Xu Tong pressed on.

The police chief pulled his hat down to cover his eyes.

The chief pulled down his hat to shade his eyes.

"An old case. What we know is that a small tribe in the mountains fought with another tribe. Then, one night, the small tribe suddenly caught fire, and everyone in it died. Some people say the Old Mountain God will avenge them."

"It's an old case. What we know is that a small tribe in the mountains fought with another tribe. Then one night the smaller tribe suddenly caught fire, and everyone in it died. Some people say the Old Mountain God will avenge them."

As he spoke, he didn't forget to point at Old Bart.

As he spoke, he pointed at Old Bart.

"He was a hunter back then, and more or less a direct witness. He knows more about what happened than we do."

"He was a hunter back then, so you could say he witnessed it firsthand. He knows more about what happened than we do."

Hearing this, Xu Tong took another look at Old Bart. He grew even more curious. It seemed this scenario was far more mysterious and complicated than he'd imagined.

Hearing that, Xu Tong took another look at Old Bart, growing even more curious. This scenario seemed much more mysterious and complicated than he'd expected.

That only made him look forward to it more.

That only made him look forward to it even more.

Especially the poison magic the young officer had mentioned—it added another layer of mystery.

The young officer's claim that they could use curses added another layer of mystery.

Though a horse had been crushed along the way and they'd lost several hours, the Liberation-brand truck was surprisingly fast.

Although the horse had been crushed along the way and they'd lost several hours, the Liberation-brand truck was surprisingly fast.

By the time Xu Tong had slept for a while in the truck, they had already entered the forestry station grounds.

By the time Xu Tong had sat in the truck and slept for a while, they had already entered the Forest Farm grounds.

[Main Quest 1: Black Forest Puqiu] Quest complete.

[Main Quest 1: Black Forest Hill] completed.

Beneath the cold notification, there was no mention of a second quest.

The cold notification didn't mention a second quest.

Clearly, he'd have to find the clues to the next quest himself. But since the main quest had sent him here, the clues for the next one had to be here too.

Clearly, he had to find the next quest's clues himself. But since the main quest had sent him here, the clues for the next one had to be somewhere in this place.

He wasn't in a hurry. He settled down and observed, planning to get a clear picture of things first.

He wasn't in a hurry. He decided to be patient and observe, sorting things out before making his next move.

As for what the police chief had said the night before, he didn't believe a word of it. Especially those two ropes—the ends looked brand-new, with no sign they'd ever been used.

As for what the chief had said last night, Xu Tong didn't believe a word of it. Especially those two ropes—their ends were so new that they showed no sign of ever having been used.

Even if the ropes had been found at the scene, what did that prove? Could two ropes alone have pushed down a boulder weighing two tons? At the very least, they'd need to add a lever.

Even if the ropes had been found at the scene, what did that prove? Two ropes alone couldn't have pushed down a boulder weighing a ton. At the very least, they'd need a lever or something.

After the truck entered the forestry station, he saw several elderly people waiting at the entrance. When they saw Old Bart, they all froze for a moment.

When the truck entered the Forest Farm, Xu Tong saw several old people waiting at the entrance. They all froze when they saw Old Bart.

When they saw that only half the horse's body remained, their faces grew even grimmer.

Their expressions darkened further when they saw the horse, of which only the front half remained.

The others helped Old Bart out of the truck. He looked thoroughly shaken, and clearly wasn't in any shape to explain what had happened.

The others helped Old Bart out of the truck. He still looked badly shaken, so there was clearly no point in asking him what had happened.

As for him, they put him in a small room on the side of the forestry station.

As for Xu Tong, they put him up in a small room on the side of the Forest Farm.

After all, the station chief had died suddenly, and nobody was available to make arrangements for him yet.

After all, the Forest Farm manager had died suddenly, and no one had time to make arrangements for Xu Tong.

But as it turned out, the food at the forestry station was better than he'd expected: millet mixed with wild greens soup and two yellow corn buns. The flavor was a little rough, but it was delicious.

Still, the Forest Farm's food was better than he'd expected: millet mixed with wild vegetable soup and two yellow cornmeal buns. It was a little coarse, but it tasted great.

Compared to his hearty appetite, everyone else in the dining hall seemed to have lost theirs.

Compared to his hearty appetite, everyone else in the dining hall seemed to have little desire to eat.

Several old people looked worried sick.

Several old people looked deeply worried.

The police chief and his men looked even more confused.

The chief and his men looked even more confused.

Xu Tong couldn't be bothered to listen to them discuss the case. He finished eating and went outside.

Xu Tong couldn't be bothered listening to them discuss the case. Once he'd finished eating, he went outside.

He hadn't been out of the dining hall long when he spotted a horse galloping into the forestry station from afar. A young woman in a leather coat was riding it. She looked to be just over twenty, and as soon as she dismounted, she hurried straight to Old Bart's room.

He'd barely left the dining hall when he saw a horse galloping into the Forest Farm from far away. A young woman in a sheepskin coat rode on its back. She looked to be in her early twenties, and as soon as she dismounted, she headed straight for Old Bart's room.

"Don't stare. That's Old Bart's daughter. She's a forest ranger at the station too. Looks like you're taking over her position."

"Don't bother looking. That's Old Bart's daughter. She's a forest ranger here, too. As it happens, you're supposed to take over her shift."

A strange voice came from behind him. Xu Tong didn't turn around. He just watched the young woman's back and asked, "Why did you think it was me?"

An unfamiliar voice came from behind him. Xu Tong didn't turn around; he kept watching the young woman's back and asked, "What made you think it was me?"

"Heh, I'm Sanggou. If I didn't have a dog's nose, would they call me Sanggou?"

"Heh-heh. I'm Mad Dog. You think I'd have a name like that if I didn't have a dog's nose?"

Sanggou walked over to him, his hands tucked into his sleeves and a sheepskin coat draped over his shoulders. He had somehow turned into a man in his early forties.

Mad Dog stepped up beside him, hands tucked into his sleeves. He was wearing a sheepskin coat, and somehow now looked like a man in his early forties.

He crouched beside Xu Tong and said, "Let's work together. You've just completed the beginner quest, right? We'll have a better chance of surviving if we team up."

He crouched down beside Xu Tong. "Let's work together. You've probably just completed your beginner quest. If we team up, we'll have a better chance of surviving."

Xu Tong didn't answer Sanggou. Instead, he asked, "What happened last night??"

Xu Tong didn't answer Mad Dog. Instead, he asked, "What happened last night??"

"No idea. Something's off!"

"I don't know. Something was off!"

As he spoke, Sanggou pulled up his sheepskin coat and opened it a little to show Xu Tong. Beneath the clothes was a fresh wound that stretched from Sanggou's shoulder to his chest.

As he spoke, Mad Dog pulled open his sheepskin coat just enough for Xu Tong to see a fresh wound beneath it, stretching from his shoulder to his chest.

"The old bastard went crazy last night. I nearly got killed by him."

"Last night, that old geezer went berserk. The bastard nearly killed me."

"But I heard the station chief was already sixty!" Xu Tong looked at Sanggou's wound, somewhat surprised.

"But I heard the manager was sixty!" Xu Tong said, surprised as he looked at Mad Dog's wound.

He didn't know how strong Sanggou was, but a wound like that wasn't something a sixty-year-old man could inflict.

Xu Tong didn't know how strong Mad Dog was, but a sixty-year-old man shouldn't have been capable of inflicting a wound like that.

"That's why I'm saying it was weird. Before he died, the old man was practically a little superman. He had a golden dagger and nearly gutted me."

"That's why I'm saying it was weird. Before he died, the old man was practically a little superhero. He had a dagger made of gold and nearly gutted me with it."

Sanggou looked thoroughly annoyed as he talked about the previous night. Even now, thinking about it made him shudder.

Mad Dog looked deeply frustrated as he talked about the previous night. Even now, thinking about it made him shudder.

"A golden dagger!!"

"The Golden Dagger!!"

Xu Tong keenly noticed the important detail in Sanggou's words and was about to ask for more when—

Xu Tong keenly picked up on the important information in Mad Dog's words. He was about to ask for more details when—

A group of young people walked toward them from not far away. Sanggou glanced at them and sneered. "Your trouble's here!"

A group of young people approached from a short distance away. Mad Dog glanced at them and sneered. "Your trouble's here!"