"Is the only missing ingredient to cure A Rou's illness this one herb?" As the car took a sharp turn, they arrived at the foot of Wenji Mountain. The silver glint of Qin Ningyi's gun illuminated his furrowed brow.
Shen Wuyou didn't want to discuss Huo Rou's matters with him at length, but...
After speaking, he seemed somewhat regretful and awkwardly added, "It won't delay Old Master Qin's condition. My brother is here."
"Let's go."
This entrance had been cleared in advance. The scouts had already gone ahead, making it safer than other entrances.
In the silent night, though winter had set in, the last insect chirps could still be heard from Wenji Mountain.
The moonlight was clear, allowing them to dimly see the path without additional lighting. This undoubtedly reduced their risk of exposure on the mountain by one layer.
The path wound, and the dry grass along the roadside made faint sounds as it brushed against their trouser legs. The night was exceptionally quiet.
Wenji Mountain was not high, and they reached the mountainside unimpeded. The weeds grew thicker, and the path was almost indistinguishable. It was evident that very few people had reached this point.
"Last time, I found traces of venomous insects right here on the mountainside," Shen Wuyou bent down to examine the grass. "The night isn't cold tonight, so they should be out foraging for winter food. Everyone spread out and search."
As Shen Wuyou spoke, he walked towards the cliff. The Huanmian flower grew near the cliff, and these venomous insects might also favor it.
Qin Ningyi followed closely behind Shen Wuyou, holding his breath and remaining vigilant of their surroundings. Amidst the rustling dry grass and near the cliff, Shen Wuyou suddenly quickened his pace.
"Is this the Huanmian?" Qin Ningyi had memorized the appearance of the Huanmian and the venomous insects before setting out. Looking down now, he asked softly.
Shen Wuyou's night vision wasn't as good as Qin Ningyi's. He pushed his glasses up his nose and leaned closer before nodding affirmatively, "That's right. And there are signs of venomous insect activity."
He excitedly took out a bottle from his bag.
This was his most successful search for venomous insects. The last active period before entering hibernation indeed made them easier to find.
Carefully prying open the Huanmian with his knife, he opened the bottle and brought it close to the venomous insect.
The bottle contained a bait that could lure venomous insects. As the scent spread, the insect twitched its antennae and crawled towards the bottle opening.
"Got it!" Shen Wuyou held up the bottle and quickly capped it with a specially made lid. "There's a small swarm of venomous insects active here. The quantity is enough."
He took a few steps back, about to tell Qin Ningyi they should leave, when rustling sounds suddenly came from all around.
Bang—
Almost the instant the gunshot rang out, Qin Ningyi threw himself over Shen Wuyou.
"Be careful!" Shen Wuyou glanced at the Huanmian at his feet and whispered into Qin Ningyi's ear.
Qin Ningyi had indeed seen the Huanmian in front of them. The direction he fell was shifted, causing him to land slightly away from where the Huanmian was growing.
As his body hit the ground, Qin Ningyi's brow twitched slightly.
The rustling sounds grew closer. His subordinates around them had already engaged the enemy, slightly diverting some of the firepower. Qin Ningyi pulled Shen Wuyou to a large tree in the darkness.
Based on the sound, he accurately aimed his gun several times, pointing it towards the enemy's location.
Shen Wuyou stood beside him, watching Qin Ningyi fire with unerring accuracy, not even using his eyes to aim, relying solely on sound.
This ability to locate targets by sound was something almost everyone in the special unit he belonged to possessed, but to be able to locate by sound and hit the target with every shot, he knew only Huo Rou.
Amidst the chaos of gunfire, Qin Ningyi used a special communication method to contact everyone around him. They all began to move towards them. Shen Wuyou carefully put the hard-won venomous insects into his bulletproof vest and then into his personal bag.
Having done all this, he gently tapped Qin Ningyi on the back, signaling him to leave quickly.
Qin Ningyi looked back at him. In the moonlight, Shen Wuyou saw that Qin Ningyi's face had turned pale at some point.
His instincts told him something was wrong, and he immediately grasped Qin Ningyi's wrist.
"You've been poisoned!"