Deng Guang stared blankly at the square stone altar. "Is this the altar they've been talking about?"
Qin Ziwu's breathing beca rapid as he said excitedly, "Brother, we found the altar!"
"But there doesn't seem to be anything on the altar." Qin Ziwen's words poured cold water on their excitent, sobering both of them.
Following the flashlight beam, they saw the altar was completely empty.
"The card floating above the crocodile corpse was brightly lit, but there's nothing on this stone platform at all." Qin Ziwen looked around, connecting it with signs that soone had been here before. "The card that was here was probably taken by soone today."
Hearing this, Qin Ziwu and Deng Guang looked disappointed.
"Brother, when do these cards refresh?"
"I don't know, but normally, based on gaming experience, it should be midnight, though it could also be six or seven in the morning."
Qin Ziwu suggested, "Should we stay here and wait for the card to refresh before leaving?"
Qin Ziwen was sowhat tempted but quickly rejected the idea.
The straight-line distance back to the residential complex was three miles, but in this uneven forest with slopes and obstacles, it would take at least two to three hours to walk back, and that was during dayti. Nightti would be even more uncertain.
Walking through this undeveloped primitive forest in the middle of the night was too dangerous.
Qin Ziwen said seriously, "We should go back, but we can set out early tomorrow, leave promptly at five in the morning to co check if the cards have refreshed. Rember to bring all our gear tomorrow and be prepared."
"Okay!"
Having made their decision, Qin Ziwen looked back at the cave. With limited ti tomorrow, they wouldn't have opportunity to observe the cave properly, so they should take this chance to confirm the route and check for threats inside.
Looking at the deep pool inside the cave, the flashlight beam illuminated suspended sedint particles in the water. Beyond a certain depth, the light was swallowed, the boundary between light and dark becoming blurred, leaving only profound darkness.
The pool water extended outward from the cave, eroding a winding water channel from the cave entrance. This was the source of the stream.
Qin Ziwen picked up a stone and threw it into the pool.
"Plop~"
Ripples spread across the water surface.
Below, a blurry dark shadow was startled and quickly swam away.
By the light, he saw two bright eyes reflecting light from beneath the water.
Deng Guang exclaid in alarm, "There's sothing in the water!"
The creature just looked around briefly before quickly swimming toward the depths of the pool.
Qin Ziwu analyzed, "Doesn't look like a snake. It's sowhat flat and thick, like a crocodile, but there shouldn't be crocodiles in this kind of mountain cave, right?"
Qin Ziwen guessed, "It might be a giant salamander or a large catfish."
Entering from the cave mouth and following along the wall, there was a narrow path extending from the rock wall.
Continuing inward along the path, the way gradually widened, leading to the stone platform beside the pool.
"Let's go, we'll head back now and co earlier tomorrow."
The return journey to the residential complex was uneventful though tense.
Midway, they encountered a forest leopard in a tree, specifically a golden leopard, with a robust build like a small tiger.
The golden leopard perched in the tree watched the three of them. Perhaps because it wasn't hungry, it didn't attack them.
By the ti they returned to the residential complex, it was already past six in the afternoon, with dusk approaching.
Qin Ziwen saw many neighbors digging soil outside the complex gates, carrying the excavated dirt back to their hos, then building soil beds on their balconies.
Downstairs, they encountered Xiao ixue and Deng Wen, the two carrying a large double-layered box together, the box filled nearly halfway with soil.
"Old Deng, you're back." Xiao ixue put down the box she was carrying and wiped sweat from her forehead.
Deng Wen called out, "Dad! Brother Qin."
After calling out, the young girl pressed her lips together. She knew they had gone deep into the forest during the day, and the forest wasn't safe.
Deng Guang quickly stepped forward to help. "What are you two...?"
Xiao ixue smiled, "Planting things. We need to find sothing to do while staying ho every day, can't always rely on you."
"Sister-in-law, I see many neighbors moving soil."
Xiao ixue said, "Yes, this afternoon soone was selling seedlings in the complex, and there were people specifically teaching us how to grow vegetables and cultivate soil. This soil has been burned to kill pest eggs and weed seeds inside, making it easier to grow things."
Qin Ziwen looked toward the south gate, where smoke was rising from outside the courtyard wall. "Over there?"
Xiao ixue nodded, "Yes, right there. The soil burning is free too. Everyone can get one free basin by showing their ID card. If you want more, you need to exchange supplies."
Qin Ziwu was surprised, "Are they doing charity? So generous?"
Xiao ixue explained, "Not exactly. They also purchase vegetable and fruit seeds. Oh, and... they also said that after using the toilet, we can put urine and feces in buckets by the door. They'll co collect them daily for free."
Deng Guang watched the many neighbors coming and going with containers in the complex and sighed, "Seems like a lot has happened while we were away from the complex."
Xiao ixue added, "Yes, and now there's even soone selling 'dicine' in the complex. They're quite professional about it, with a sign outside called Renxin Hall."
"dicine? Capsule dicine?"
Xiao ixue shook her head, "No, self-made ointnts. So can stop bleeding, so reduce inflammation, and others treat minor illnesses like colds and sore throats. I heard Renxin Hall is mainly run by a retired traditional Chinese dicine doctor and his son. His son is also a doctor. They've taken on so apprentices. The old doctor lives on the fourth floor, Unit 1 of Building 9. Both apartnts on that floor belong to their family."
Qin Ziwen looked toward the adjacent Building 9.
Building 9 and Building 8 were both on the west side of the complex, right next to the courtyard wall. Previously, you could see the outside street directly, but now you could only see the vast forest.
No one could guarantee they wouldn't get sick. Having a doctor available now, especially a traditional Chinese dicine doctor who might be more suitable for these conditions, was good news.
Qin Ziwen decided to check out the neighboring building later.
There were over a thousand people in the complex from all walks of life.
He suspected there might be more than just this one person with dical background.
While going upstairs, two neighbors were arguing, blocking the stairway.
Qin Ziwen recognized one of them as living downstairs from him.
The reason he recognized him at a glance was because of his distinctive salt-and-pepper short hair. Though he didn't look old, his hair had already turned white.
Arguing with him was another man of dium height, short and stout.
"Why did you lock the rooftop?"
"I live on the top floor, why can't I lock it?"
"Who said the rooftop belongs to the top floor resident? Dare you say that in front of everyone in this building? When I bought this apartnt, the developer said it belongs to all hoowners!"
"The unit across from is empty. I'm the only one on the tenth floor, so this rooftop is mine!"
The salt-and-pepper haired man glared, "The rooftop is yours? Say that again. Let tell you, the rooftop is for shared use by everyone in this building. If you dare lock it, I'll break the lock, and I'll pick every single thing you've planted up there clean."
"You wouldn't dare!"
...
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