pdf-ebookys Chapter 164 At any time, humans are more dangerous than animals.
Chapter 164 At any time, humans are more dangerous than animals.
The cold wind howled, and snow occasionally fell from the branches, making a slight sound.
Li Xiangyang occasionally added firewood to the fire to keep it burning at a moderate intensity.
“Um…” Anna suddenly became a little flustered, “I need…”
She didn't finish speaking, but her face was already flushed.
Li Xiangyang immediately understood what she meant: "I'll take you to a safe place."
He turned to Wang Ergou and said, "Watch the fire, don't let it go out."
He picked up his gun and led Anna to the side of the sheltered valley, where there were several sturdy pine trees.
"Let's stay here. I'll keep watch from here, don't worry."
Li Xiangyang had his back to Anna, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily.
Before leaving, he hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well... it would be best to cover the traces with snow after you're done. Animals in the mountains are particularly sensitive to smells."
Anna's face flushed instantly to the roots of her neck, and she softly replied, "Okay."
After Anna finished using the restroom and returned, Li Xiangyang also took care of his personal matters.
The two sat down around the fire again, and Anna took out a notebook from her backpack and began to record what she had seen and heard that day.
"What do you think that Siberian tiger is doing right now?" Wang Ergou threw a pine branch into the fire, sparks flying everywhere.
“It should be enjoying its wild boar feast,” Li Xiangyang said, glancing at Anna. “You’re here to study Siberian tigers, so you must know a lot about them, right?”
Anna closed her notebook: "Yes, I've researched a lot about Siberian tigers. They are the dominant species in this forest and an important part of the ecosystem."
Her eyes shone. "We need to understand their current situation; it's crucial for conservation efforts."
"Protect them?" Wang Ergou asked, puzzled. "Well, I'm a rough guy, so please don't take offense. Isn't this just asking for trouble? They can eat people..."
“But they are also maintaining the ecological balance,” Anna said earnestly. “If the Siberian tigers disappeared, the entire ecosystem would be affected. Wild boars and deer populations would become uncontrollable and overpopulate…”
As they were talking, a cold wind swept through the woods, and the firelight flickered violently.
Li Xiangyang quickly added firewood to the fire to make sure it wouldn't go out.
“It’s getting late,” he said, glancing at the sky. “We need to take turns keeping watch. I’ll go first, you two can rest.”
Anna shook her head: "I'm not sleepy either. Let Wang Ergou sleep first. I want to learn more about the situation here."
Wang Ergou yawned: "Then I'll take a nap first, and you guys wake me up to take over."
After saying that, he crawled into his sleeping bag, and soon his even breathing could be heard.
“Winter here is beautiful,” Anna whispered, seeing him asleep. “Though dangerous, there’s a primal power within.”
Li Xiangyang nodded: "It is indeed beautiful, but it is also indeed dangerous. You just said you wanted to know about the situation here, what exactly would you like to know?"
“For example…” Anna thought for a moment, “How do you hunt in this environment? How much do you know about the activity patterns of Siberian tigers?”
"It's a long story..." Li Xiangyang added a piece of firewood to the fire. "Hunting requires the right timing, location, and people. The right timing means understanding the habits of animals in different seasons, and the right location means being familiar with the terrain..."
"What about the other person?" Anna pressed.
"Humans," Li Xiangyang smiled, "Anytime, humans are more dangerous than animals. If you encounter humans in the mountains, it's best to maintain harmony. If that's not possible, then you'll have to strike first. Safety should always be the top priority."
After listening to Li Xiangyang's words, Anna nodded as if she understood.
Suddenly, the black cat pricked up its ears and stared in a certain direction.
Li Xiangyang immediately became alert and gripped his gun tightly.
After a while, the black cat lay down again.
It was probably just the sound of the wind that startled it.
“This black leopard cat is special,” Anna said softly. “It seems to trust you a lot.”
“Yes,” Li Xiangyang said, looking at the black cat, “it has helped me many times. In the mountains, animals are more reliable than people.”
“I understand that feeling,” Anna nodded. “When I was in the Marines, I also developed a deep bond with military dogs. They were my most loyal companions.”
The two chatted, and before they knew it, the night had deepened.
Wang Ergou turned over and continued to sleep soundly.
Suddenly, an exceptionally strong gust of cold wind swept in, causing the firelight to flicker violently and almost go out.
Li Xiangyang and Anna simultaneously reached out to protect the fire.
“This wind…” Anna frowned. “A blizzard might be coming.”
"Hmm," Li Xiangyang added more firewood to the fire, "It looks like tonight's going to be a long night."
Just then, a faint wolf howl came from afar.
Black Cat and Night Shadow both pricked up their ears at the same time, and even Little Tiger, who was sleeping, stirred.
“A pack of wolves,” Li Xiangyang said softly, “but they’re still far away; they’re probably hunting.”
Anna unconsciously moved closer to the fire: "Will they come over?"
“Generally not,” Li Xiangyang reassured him. “With fire around, wild beasts will stay away. Besides, there’s the Black Cat and Nightshade; they can detect danger in advance.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than another gust of wind swept past.
This time, it brought not only a biting chill but also fine hail.
"It looks like a blizzard is really coming," Li Xiangyang sighed. "We need to find a way to prepare more firewood."
"Don't go gather firewood yet," Anna stopped Li Xiangyang, who was about to get up. "It's too dangerous to go out in this weather."
Li Xiangyang frowned as he watched the fire dwindle: "The firewood we have now will only last for two hours at most."
“I have a waterproof sheet in my backpack,” Anna said, starting to rummage around. “I can set up a makeshift tent; that will help retain more heat.”
Li Xiangyang's eyes lit up: "Great idea!"
The two stood up quietly, trying not to wake Wang Ergou.
Anna took out a dark green waterproof cloth and, together with Li Xiangyang, used the surrounding trees to build a simple tent, which was just enough to cover the campfire and the space for rest.
"What you learned in the Marine Corps really came in handy," Li Xiangyang said sincerely. "This tent is set up very professionally."
Anna smiled. "Surviving in harsh environments is part of the basic training." She paused, "But to be honest, I didn't expect the winters here to be so severe."
“That’s not even the worst,” Li Xiangyang added a thin piece of firewood to the fire. “When a real blizzard hits, visibility is less than a meter.”
"The risk of getting lost must have been very high back then, right?"
“Yes,” Li Xiangyang nodded, “Every year, people get lost in blizzards. If they’re lucky, they can find their way home after dawn. If they’re unlucky…”
He didn't finish speaking, but Anna understood what he meant.
Suddenly, the black cat pricked up its ears alertly and stared sharply at the outside of the tent.
Nightshade also growled softly, its fur standing on end.
Li Xiangyang immediately picked up his gun and prepared himself.
Anna held her breath and listened carefully to the sounds outside.
A rustling sound came from the wind and snow, as if something was approaching.
"Wolves?" Anna asked softly.
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "The sound is too soft, it doesn't sound like a wolf."
At this moment, Wang Ergou was also startled awake, and sat up groggily: "What's wrong?"
"Shh," Li Xiangyang gestured for him to be quiet, "there's noise outside."