Strange
The fog that had condensed in the forest overnight had not dissipated by dawn.
A thin white mist hung low in the woods, clinging to the roots of grass and low shrubs. Though not thick, it firmly locked the view of the entire forest. The forest was exceptionally quiet in the early morning, with no sound of wind, only the damp scent of grass and trees carried by the mist, leaving a slightly sticky feeling on the skin.
Lu Heng woke up on time in the early morning, and without any delay, got up and quickly put on his full set of outdoor protective gear.
The protective gear buckles were fastened and pressed firmly, fitting snugly against his skin and flesh, the movements swift and clean. The old injuries on his legs had not fully healed, and he could walk normally, but when he exerted himself, his calves still had a stubborn soreness and stiffness, and his limbs were far less flexible than in his prime. Even so, he did not choose to stay in the Shelter to recuperate.
A genuine sense of urgency lingered in my heart. There was no other reason than that I knew I could no longer remain calm and dormant. The plan to upgrade the Shelter as a whole had been finalized, and a large amount of infrastructure materials and auxiliary supplies needed to be collected and stockpiled in advance. Only by actively exploring the wilderness could we fill the gaps.
After finishing his preparations, Lu Heng gripped his short knife tightly, walked straight out of the cave, and headed upstream along the river.
Going upstream along the river is the safest exploration route. The river's flow is fixed, and the terrain is highly recognizable. Even if you venture further in, you will never get lost, and the return route is clear and controllable.
The further upstream they went, the more lush and pristine the surrounding forests became, with the ecosystem remaining completely wild. Wild grass grew rampant on both sides of the road, its intertwined branches layered upon layer, completely blocking the path forward. Lu Heng did not take a detour to avoid it. Holding a short knife, he raised his hand and slashed and swept horizontally, cutting down the bushes and branches blocking his way one by one, advancing steadily step by step.
The crisp sound of a knife blade slicing through grass and trees echoed clearly in the silent, deserted forest, the only sound in this wilderness.
After walking for about half an hour, we turned a bend in the river and the previously closed forest suddenly opened up.
A wide, gently sloping grassland stretches out beside the river, with lush, soft grass growing abundantly in the moist soil. It is a rare flat and open area in the entire upstream section.
Scattered across the gently sloping lawn were wild sheep, clearly recognizable at first glance, grazing with their heads down. A few others stood with their heads up, warily scanning their surroundings. Due to the distance, it was impossible to identify their specific species; only their outlines and shapes could be made out.
Lu Heng immediately stopped, lowered his body, and silently disappeared into the dense bushes by the roadside.
He held his breath, making no sound, and while steadying himself, he raised his hand to summon his personal Wristband and activated the identification scan on the herd of beasts on the slope.
[Horned Sheep]
Grade: Black Iron Tier
Description: Wild mountain goats inhabiting river valleys and mountains, with hard, sharp horns on their heads, agile limbs, and extremely strong jumping ability. They are adept at running and escaping in the mountains and leaping over rock walls. They are full of wildness, and their meat is firm and mellow, which can steadily nourish the body. They belong to the standard Black Iron Tier wild exotic beast.
The information that popped up on the Wristband panel was clearly displayed, and a clear look of surprise flashed across Lu Heng's eyes.
These mountain goats look strange. This entire herd of Horned Sheep in front of me, without exception, are all of the same Black Iron Tier.
This was by no means an individual's accidental advancement. He focused his mind, took out the Giant-Feather Crossbow from his back, steadily held it, aimed at the flock of sheep on the slope, and waited for the best sniping opportunity, intending to hunt down a few for his stockpiled high-quality meat.
Just as he was intently aiming, a faint rustling sound of branches and leaves came from the deep, dense forest to his side. The sound was so subtle that it would have been completely unnoticed if the forest had not been so quiet.
Lu Heng tensed up instantly, his gaze locking onto the source of the sound.
Several dark reddish-brown figures, taking advantage of the cover of the trees, darted out quickly, their movements agile and highly methodical. Seven or eight wild animals spread out, silently encircling the flock of sheep across the entire meadow from the left, right, and rear.
It was clear that these predators had been lying in wait for a long time, eyeing the sheep on the hillside and patiently waiting for their hunting opportunity, arriving much earlier than I had.
Lu Heng immediately Wristband and scanned and identified the leading individual, a robust man charging at the front.
[Red Cliff Jackal (Leader)]
Grade: Black Iron Tier
Description: A social predatory beast with dark reddish-brown fur, a fierce bite force, cunning and resilient, skilled in team hunting and coordination, and the core fighting force of the jackal pack.
He then quickly moved his gaze, scanning the remaining encircled jackals one by one, and rapidly identified them in batches.
The results were consistent: apart from the leader, who was of the Black Iron Tier, all the remaining Red Cliff Jackal were of the Common Wild Beast rank.
Seeing this distribution of strengths and weaknesses, Lu Heng's sense of unease subsided slightly.
This is the normal structure that conforms to the wild ecosystem. Only the core leader of the group completes the advancement and strengthening, while ordinary individuals maintain their original level. The hierarchy of strength and weakness is clear, reasonable and regular.
But what followed gave him another strong sense of unease.
According to the inherent laws of survival in the wild, when herbivores are surrounded by a group of predators, their only survival instinct is to scatter and flee, using speed to disperse the predator's attack and gain a chance of survival.
But the Horned Sheep before them completely defied this common sense.
Realizing they were completely surrounded and their escape route was blocked, the dozen or so Horned Sheep showed no intention of fleeing. They quickly gathered together, pressed tightly into a single unit, turned around in unison, lowered their heads, pointed their hard horns outwards at the approaching pack of jackals, and braced their limbs firmly against the grass to maintain their position.
The entire herbivorous pack was fierce and tense, full of fighting spirit, adopting a standoff posture of fighting to the death, intending to withstand the jackal pack's encirclement and attack head-on.
On the hillside, the two groups of beasts were locked in a stalemate.
A suffocating, chilling atmosphere slowly permeated the entire lawn. The wind stopped, the trees were still, and all the slightest noise disappeared, leaving only the tense atmosphere of two wild beasts locked in a deadly standoff.
The brief silence was quickly broken, and the leader of the Black Iron Tier Red Cliff Jackal was the first to break the deadlock.
It suddenly pushed off the ground with all four limbs, its agile body leaping into the air with a fierce pouncing momentum, heading straight for the outermost Horned Sheep in the flock.
As the leader launched the attack, the remaining ordinary Red Cliff Jackal sprang into action, charging towards the flock of sheep in droves.
At the same time, the long-tense Horned Sheep launched a counterattack, charging forward with their horns raised in unison, their hard horns slamming into the onrushing jackals.
The sounds of collisions, roars of beasts, and the cracking of tearing fur clashed and exploded in an instant, plunging the entire gentle slope into a chaotic and brutal melee of beasts.
Lu Heng remained hidden deep within the bushes, his figure concealed and motionless, not rashly intervening in the battle.
His gaze was deep and calm as he watched the two groups of animals fighting on the hillside. He pondered the sheep's unusual fighting power and wildness, patiently observing the changing situation and silently waiting for the best opportunity to profit.
... Screaming and crashing sounds rose and fell in the forest, dust mixed with the morning mist rose little by little, the two sides fought fiercely, and the situation was deadlocked for a time.
Lu Heng's vision suddenly changed; the two groups of people in front of him appeared to have completely reversed.
The jackals, who had been aggressively pressing forward and dominating the situation, hesitated and retreated without suffering any obvious serious damage. The Horned Sheep, who had previously only dared to huddle together and passively defend themselves, now stepped forward, heads down and horns raised, over the scattered bloodstains on the ground.
The woodland, shrouded in mist, was eerily quiet, save for the heavy breathing of wild beasts.
Lu Heng gripped the Bronze Hunting Blade tightly in his hand, a thin layer of cold sweat already seeping from his back, and the uneasy premonition in his mind amplified infinitely.
He couldn't understand what made the herbivorous sheep dare to actively pressure the predator.
The morning breeze rustled through the bushes, carrying a strong, pungent smell of blood. He lay prone, too afraid to move, silently observing this confrontation that defied all logic.