mtl008 Chapter 176 1 gunshot
Chapter 176 1 gunshot
Upon hearing Li Xiangyang's explanation, Anna realized that she was tightly gripping Li Xiangyang's arm.
She quickly let go, a blush rising on her face, and took two steps back.
“I’m sorry, I was so nervous,” Anna said softly, trying to make her voice sound calm.
Li Xiangyang was also a little embarrassed. He coughed and changed the subject, saying, "This season, owls and other birds of prey are looking for mates, so they are quite active. The sounds they make when hunting can indeed frighten unfamiliar people."
Wang Ergou was suppressing a laugh, his eyes darting around.
Li Xiangyang glared at him, and Wang Ergou calmed down a bit, but a mischievous smile still lingered on his lips.
As night deepened, the sounds of animals moving around the camp rose and fell.
The black cat crouched by the campfire, its ears perked up, listening alertly to the sounds around it.
The little tiger lay down beside it and dozed off, occasionally twitching its ears.
Nightshade patrolled the camp from time to time, dutifully fulfilling its guard duties.
Anna was already asleep, but Li Xiangyang couldn't fall asleep.
These days, he's been on edge, constantly worried about encountering danger.
"You've had a hard time these past few days," Wang Ergou said softly.
Li Xiangyang sat up and added a few more pieces of firewood to the campfire: "It's only right. Besides, we've had quite a fruitful trip into the mountains."
“That’s not what I meant,” Wang Ergou said, unusually serious. “I meant that you’ve been taking care of her safety. I could tell you were very cautious, afraid something might happen to her.”
Li Xiangyang was taken aback for a moment: "Isn't this the proper thing to do? After all, she's a foreigner, and it's her first time in a place like this."
“Yes,” Wang Ergou smiled meaningfully, “but I think Xiaoyun would definitely be jealous if she found out.”
Upon hearing Li Xiaoyun's name, Li Xiangyang's heart tightened.
I've been busy taking Anna into the mountains these past few days, so I haven't had a chance to think about her.
I wonder what she's doing now, and if she's worried about me.
"Stop talking nonsense," Li Xiangyang said sternly. "Anna and I have a purely professional relationship. Besides, Xiaoyun and I are getting married soon. Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"I was just kidding," Wang Ergou quickly tried to smooth things over. "Everyone knows you're truly devoted to Xiaoyun. But seriously, Anna is a really good girl, knowledgeable and well-informed, it's just a pity..."
“What a pity?”
“It’s a pity she’s a foreigner,” Wang Ergou sighed. “After this mission is completed, she’ll be returning to her country. We might never see her again in this lifetime.”
Li Xiangyang fell silent.
Yes, Anna will be leaving once the mission is over.
After spending these few days together, he had to admit that this girl from a faraway country had indeed left a deep impression on him.
Her professional competence, love for nature, and unwavering dedication command respect.
However, this appreciation is limited to respect for an outstanding researcher.
"Alright," Li Xiangyang crawled back into his sleeping bag, "You just focus on your night watch and stop thinking about these things. We still have to track those two tigers tomorrow."
As night deepened, only the crackling of the campfire and Wang Ergou's soft footsteps remained in the camp.
Li Xiangyang closed his eyes, but Li Xiaoyun's smiling face involuntarily appeared in his mind.
As dawn broke, the east began to lighten with the pale glow of dawn.
The black cat was the first to notice the arrival of dawn, and it stretched gracefully.
"Ergou, it's time to get up," Li Xiangyang said softly, carefully avoiding disturbing Anna who was still fast asleep.
Wang Ergou rubbed his sore eyes: "It's finally almost over. These past two days have been truly agonizing."
“Yes,” Li Xiangyang said as he packed his things, “just hang in there a little longer, then we’ll go back and get some rest.”
As the two were talking, Anna turned over and woke up.
She sat up, tidied her hair, and looked quite refreshed: "Good morning. How did you sleep last night?"
“Not bad,” Li Xiangyang avoided her gaze and focused on checking the equipment. “We need to hurry today; those two tigers are definitely still nearby.”
Breakfast was simple, just a few pieces of dry food.
But this has become the norm; in the deep mountains, simplicity is the way to survive.
After settling into camp, the group began moving northeast as planned.
As the group followed the tiger's tracks, the black cat suddenly pricked up its ears and locked its gaze on the bushes ahead.
Little Tiger and Nightshade also became alert, and the three animals formed a defensive formation.
"There's movement." Li Xiangyang signaled everyone to stop and raised their guns to be on guard.
The bushes swayed gently, and a large Siberian tiger slowly appeared.
It was the same old tiger they were tracking.
It stood about fifty meters away from them, watching the intruders with majesty.
“Don’t move,” Li Xiangyang whispered. “It’s confirming our intentions.”
Anna held her breath, but her hand involuntarily reached for the camera.
The tiger king let out a deep roar, as if issuing a warning.
"Let's not take any more pictures," Li Xiangyang gently advised. "We've already disturbed it enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Tiger King suddenly raised his head and his nose twitched slightly.
A gust of wind blew by, carrying a heavy stench of blood.
In the distance came the sound of hurried footsteps, mixed with the grunts of wild boars.
"Something's wrong," Li Xiangyang's expression changed. "Someone's hunting around here!"
Sure enough, a gunshot shattered the morning's tranquility.
The tiger king vanished into the bushes in an instant, leaving only a series of deep claw marks.
"Quickly," Li Xiangyang decided immediately, "we need to go see what's going on. The tiger has gone over there; if the two sides make contact rashly, people will be in danger."
The three quickly moved in the direction from which the gunshots came.
Black Cat and Little Tiger led the way, while Night Shadow vigilantly guarded the rear.
The commotion caused by the gunshots continued, with the cries of wild boars and shouts of people echoing through the woods.
As they drew closer, the gunshots and shouts became clearer.
"Someone's injured!" Wang Ergou suddenly said, pointing to a series of messy footprints and scattered bloodstains on the ground.
Li Xiangyang crouched down to examine them: "Two people, one of them is unsteady on his feet, he must be injured." He followed the tracks, "They were chasing a wild boar, but..."
Before he could finish speaking, a shrill scream suddenly came from ahead, followed by the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.
"Quick!" Li Xiangyang immediately stood up and gestured for Wang Ergou to follow.
Anna wanted to follow, but Li Xiangyang stopped her: "It's too dangerous for you to wait here."
Before Anna could say anything more, Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou had already quickly disappeared into the woods.
Black Cat and Nightshade stayed behind to protect Anna, while only Little Tiger went with them.
After passing through several bushes, the sight before them made the two gasp in shock.
Two people were lying on the snow. One was unconscious, and the other was struggling to support himself with a gun.
Not far ahead of them, a huge male wild boar was frantically rooting at something, its mane stained with blood.
To make matters worse, the older tiger king was approaching from another direction.
This is its territory, and these uninvited guests have clearly angered it.