After all that talking, it still came back to the White Python. If he wanted us to come and kill the White Python, he should have just said so; why bring up the deserter? I detest it when people beat around the bush, especially when that person is that detestable little Jap. My face immediately fell. I stared coldly at Yamamoto, not looking at him at all, and told Zhuoma Yangjin, “I don’t understand what he’s saying. No deserter—sorry, I’m done here. I’m heading down the mountain.”

Zhuoma Yangjin looked anxious, making frantic gestures at me while quickly explaining, “Engineer Luo, Mr. Yamamoto didn’t say there isn’t a deserter. What he means is… is… is that the White Python can lead us to the deserter.”

I turned my face away, pretending not to see her signals. Yamamoto had already witnessed my volatile temper on this journey. He stopped talking to me and turned to chat with Wang and Liu, repeatedly saying that if we go two more steps, we can kill the White Python and find the deserter, and that Section Chief Wang’s injury could be completely cured without any aftereffects. Wang and Liu hadn't mentioned going down the mountain at all; clearly, Yamamoto was directing those words at me. I hated him, including his clumsy Chinese. So, I decided to avoid the aggravation and walked over to the hot spring to warm myself in the rising steam.

Zhuoma Yangjin followed me persistently. Before she could even speak, I knew she was about to launch into her usual speech about the little Jap’s conspiracy, so I cut her off quickly: “Stop right there. Don’t say another word. I feel like Yamamoto is making monkeys out of us. I don’t care what conspiracy or scheme it is; just don’t tell me about it.”

“No, that’s not it…” Zhuoma Yangjin leaned close to my ear again and whispered, “Engineer Luo, this isn’t the time to sulk. All those strange things you encountered at the communications station might soon be explained.”

Her words instantly brought to mind the faceless Wang Weicheng and the things mentioned in his diary. Nothing had a definitive answer yet. It seemed I couldn't afford to be overly emotional.

“Fine. Let me rest for a bit,” I conceded.

The weather on Mount Qiangbake could change in an instant. In just a moment, a dense, oppressive cloud cover rolled in, immediately followed by a heavy, blinding snowstorm. We scrambled to find shelter. Yamamoto seized the opportunity, stating that the location he mentioned earlier had a cave. Without thinking twice, we all rushed toward the small path on the right.

Sure enough, at the end of the path was a small clearing, and against the mountain wall, a cave opening about two meters square. Strangely, the snow was rapidly piling up everywhere nearby, except for the immediate vicinity of the cave mouth, which was bare—not a single flake of snow. The falling snow seemed to vanish as it drifted over the opening, as if instantly evaporated. I wondered privately, but didn't know who to ask about this mystery.

Upon arriving, Yamamoto immediately began trying to persuade me and Section Chief Wang to enter the cave to escape the snow, claiming that although the White Python might be inside, he had already shot and wounded it, so it likely couldn’t hurt anyone. We certainly weren't foolish enough to walk into a place where a White Python, mutated into spider-like habits, might be waiting. I shot Yamamoto a cold look, remained silent, and certainly had no intention of entering. Perhaps realizing his suggestion was inappropriate, he quickly rattled off a string of Japanese to Zhuoma Yangjin.

Just as we were deadlocked, the snow—a feature of this strange weather—stopped as abruptly as it had started. I looked at Yamamoto provocatively, waiting to see what other excuses he’d use to trick us into the cave. To my surprise, he tucked both hands into his jacket pockets, approached me with a smile, and said while walking, “Mr. Luo, let’s cooperate for mutual benefit; don’t let emotions run high.” By the time he reached me, he drew out a finger and pointed beside me. I glanced over casually. Before I could turn back, a freezing cold piece of metal pressed against my temple—a gun! Startled, I instinctively reached for the pistol at my waist. The moment I moved, Yamamoto jammed the muzzle sharply against my temple. “Don’t you value your life? Yours!” Having witnessed the cruelty of the little Japs, I knew they could easily kill me in this desolate wilderness. I feared death, so I simply raised my hands slightly, signaling I wasn't drawing my weapon, while secretly vowing: the moment I get a chance to turn the tables, I will finish Yamamoto.

“Go! To the cave entrance!” Yamamoto viciously kicked me. I staggered, but his gun never left my temple; he was clearly well-trained. We’d been tricked! I thought, grinding my teeth. I should have shot them all dead long ago! Without giving me time to think further, Yamamoto kicked me again. Stumbling, I reached the cave edge. He let out a strange cry and violently shoved me down into the hole.

I was horrified, spinning dizzily before landing hard on the ground—the cave wasn't very deep. “White Python!” Forgetting the pain from the fall, I instantly rolled over, drew my pistol, ready to face the oncoming serpent. The cave was dim and vague, utterly silent. Before my eyes could adjust, unable to see clearly, my palms were slick with cold sweat; I couldn’t even grip the gun steady, my legs trembled uncontrollably, and the distinct clack-clack of my chattering teeth echoed clearly.

No White Python lunged out, not even a single live insect or rat charged at me. The cave was murky, still silent—just dead silence—as if I, too, were an inanimate object naturally born in this place.

Slowly, my eyes finally adjusted to the dim interior, allowing me to vaguely make out things on the ground. There were many white, stick-like objects scattered on the floor and walls, presumably the skeletal remains of wild animals that had fallen in. And there was…

Just as I was about to look closer, there was a dull thud, and a strong arm suddenly clamped around my shoulder. Terrified, I instinctively countered with an elbow strike. The person grunted but didn't let go. It seemed my force wasn't enough. As I prepared to strike again, I heard the person take a ragged breath and tremble out a difficult, stuttering word: “Luo…” then nothing more.

It was Zhuoma Yangjin’s voice. For some reason, the intense focus I had maintained suddenly dissolved. “…Yang…jin…” As soon as I spoke, I realized I was shaking violently, my whole body feeling like it was about to collapse. “You… you… let go of me… I…”

Zhuoma Yangjin didn't speak, still clutching me tightly. Her terror couldn't have been less than mine. The sound of our breaths clung thickly together, unable to dissipate, as if two other people were breathing at the exact same rhythm right beside our ears.

Then, Yamamoto’s voice drifted down from above. First, he shouted my name in Chinese, but I didn't answer. Then he started yelling in Japanese, likely calling for Zhuoma Yangjin, but she didn't answer either. However, the little Jap’s panicked voice gave me courage, and I slowly started to regain my composure.

“Yangjin, did the devils push you down too?” I managed to speak a bit more smoothly.

Zhuoma Yangjin vaguely managed an “Mm.” If I hadn't been trying to conserve energy then, I truly would have summoned the entire lineage of the devil’s ancestors, eighteen generations deep, to properly greet them. How could they push a frail woman—their own guiding translator—down into this pit? Those sons of—animals!

In that situation, I was at a complete disadvantage. I didn't know if more pythons were waiting below, so I swallowed my rage and gently tried to shift Zhuoma Yangjin aside. “Yangjin… let’s sit down and rest for a moment… then…”

Before I finished, Zhuoma Yangjin suddenly shrieked, “Ah!” interrupting me. “Person! Person!”

I had just managed to normalize slightly, and her scream made me tense up again. “Where… where?” My voice trembled again.

Zhuoma Yangjin clung tightly to my left arm, pressing her body against mine, whispering with a quavering voice, “By the cave wall, on the left… dead person…”

Hearing it was a dead person, I immediately relaxed and felt relief. As long as it wasn't alive, it was better than alive. Living things are far scarier than the dead. Dead bodies—I’d seen plenty of things scarier than dead bodies since coming up this mountain.

“Don’t be afraid.” Facing a weak and helpless woman, my masculine composure quickly returned. “Stay right behind me. Let’s go take a look.” At that moment, I remembered the flashlight in my pack and lowered my bag to retrieve it.

The moment I turned on the beam, seeing the scene inside the cave made me wish I didn't have the flashlight at all, so I wouldn't have to see the scattered human rib cages, leg bones, and skulls littering the floor, nor the several desiccated corpses leaning against the cave wall in a half-sitting posture. Those bodies were in tattered rags, their hair and skin intact, but utterly drained of moisture. Their faces were dry, brown skin stretched tight over sunken eyes, mouths agape revealing yellowed teeth. Their chests! Their chests looked as if they had been violently ripped open, white ribs jutting out from the withered muscle, the chest cavity empty of everything inside.

I stumbled backward in terror, but in my panic, I knocked into something else on the opposite side of the cave wall. In a flash, a similar corpse tumbled toward me. I cried out and yanked Zhuoma Yangjin, intending to flee deeper into the cave.

“Don’t be afraid!” Zhuoma Yangjin’s voice had suddenly transformed. All her previous panic was gone, replaced by absolute calm. She held me tightly. “Don’t run, Engineer Luo. These corpses won’t harm anyone. They hold immense value; we need to study them carefully.”