Though we had long settled on a plan, Number 2 was still struggling to contain his rage at this group.

I signaled to Number 2 to calm down while pretending to walk forward casually, as if nothing was amiss.

As expected, we hadn't gone far before the group quietly began trailing us.

They fell silent, making no sound, crouching low as they shadowed us like phantoms infiltrating a village.

But I am known as the Little Prince of Night Eyes; my senses in the dark are so acute that I notice every slight shift in the environment.

So, I gave Number 2 a look, indicating that they had taken the bait.

Our plan was actually quite simple: keep those people away from the village because it was fraught with danger.

We had previously told them we had encountered the Yuanmou Man, so these amateur explorers, specifically drawn by the prospect of the Yuanmou Man, would naturally try everything to follow us and catch a glimpse of the legendary creature.

Furthermore, since we claimed to be PLA soldiers, following us offered them a sense of security.

Thus, Number 2 and I fell silent and led the group toward the distant earth forest.

That distant earth forest was far denser than the area around the village, likely part of the undeveloped Yuanmou Earth Forest scenic area. The internal terrain of earth forests is generally complex, and without markers, it is easy to get lost.

Once we lured them there, we could delay them, preventing them from reaching the village tonight. By daylight, the village would no longer pose any danger to them.

When they discovered the village held nothing unusual, they would naturally leave without us needing to say another word.

Despite this neat plan, I recalled what Boss Bai had told me and quietly asked Number 2, "Do you think the area where the PLA was stationed might be that earth forest we're heading to? If there is real danger there, won't this backfire?"

Number 2 replied, "That’s hard to say. The large earth forest we were planning to hide in previously showed signs of military presence. But I see these dense earth forests stretching for a hundred li around the village. If we stumbled into danger just by walking around, it would mean we have truly terrible luck."

After conferring, we continued walking forward in silence.

Those amateur explorers seemed to genuinely enjoy the thrill of tailing someone, sticking close behind us, less than fifty meters back.

Seeing them follow so closely reassured me, as I had worried they might lose patience halfway.

After all, even though we claimed to be military personnel, after walking so long, we hadn't encountered any main force or military installations.

I figured their continued patience stemmed from two things: first, our acting was convincing; second, they probably believed the dense forest ahead was precisely where the Yuanmou Man would surface.

We walked like that for about twenty minutes, and the piles of earth forest ahead grew increasingly dense.

At that point, I shone my flashlight ahead and spotted a marker post made from a half-buried log.

In large red characters painted across the wood, it read: "Visitors stop. Wild beasts ahead. Passage forbidden."

The cut surface of the wood looked very fresh, and the paint seemed recently applied, which sent a wave of dread through me.

It seemed this was indeed the place where the army had been repelled earlier—perhaps the lair of some werewolf-like monsters.

Number 2 and I paused before the wooden sign for a moment. I anxiously turned to Number 2 and asked, "What now? Go in or not?"

Number 2 appeared relaxed. He pointed toward the base of an earth mound behind the sign and said, "Look over there…"

I followed his gaze and saw a bamboo basket tucked into the corner, and next to the basket, a small monkey—it was Ah Gui.

Number 2 told me, "Ah Gui has already scouted here with Master and confirmed there's no danger. The attack on the army here might not have been from whatever lives inside; it could have been something that specifically came out to attack them."

He paused, then added, "However, I doubt the 'beasts' mentioned on this sign are the werewolf types we saw. Look over there instead."

I followed his finger again. He was pointing toward another earth mound. Near the base of this mound was a damp patch, and on the ground lay dried droppings of some unknown animal.

Above the mound, there were many fine scratch marks.

As a biologist, I knew immediately, without Number 2 needing to say it, that the scat belonged to a Yunnan black bear. The scratch marks on the earth mound were left by the bear rubbing its back to scratch an itch.

Bears anywhere can get parasites; when they feel itchy, they find a large tree to rub against. In areas of Northeast China frequented by Xiong Xiazi (Brown Bears), one often sees a large section of bark scraped off a tree.

This area had fewer trees than the Northeast, so these black bears used the earth mounds to rub their backs.

The earth forest must also house many small animals like wild rabbits, foxes, and even wild boars, suggesting the black bears had an ample food supply here.

Black bears are irritable and very dangerous animals, but they are diurnal, most active in the early morning and dusk. By now, they would have found a den and be fast asleep. As long as we didn't wander into any caves, there should be little danger.

With this realization, we strode purposefully deeper into the earth forest.

Number 2 hoisted the basket onto his back. Ah Gui made a face at me and actually climbed onto my shoulder.

My previous efforts to get close to him must have paid off; the little guy was finally accepting me as one of his own.

Even though his claws gripping my hair were a bit painful, I was delighted to tease him.

I whispered to Ah Gui, "Be more careful next time, don't let that idiot swallow you again."

Ah Gui seemed to understand, chittering twice at me and baring his teeth, as if he were laughing.

Perhaps he meant that swallowing something was child's play for Monkey Lord.

While marveling at the monkey's cunning, I asked Number 2, "Did Ah Gui move that basket here?"

Number 2 nodded. "Surprised, aren't you? Ah Gui has many secrets you don't know. He can do things you can’t even imagine."

We continued talking and laughing as we proceeded deeper into the earth mounds.

The terrain inside was indeed extremely complex, winding so much that soon neither of us could tell north from south.

Yet, those amateur explorers, desperate for a glimpse of the Yuanmou Man, were truly committed; they kept following us tightly.

We stopped to rest in a clearing surrounded by earth mounds. I said to Number 2, loudly enough for effect, "These guys are really professionals. They must have coordinated quite a bit beforehand; their tracking skills are top-notch."

I deliberately spoke loudly because even if those people realized it was a trap now, it wouldn't matter—they couldn't find their way out anyway.

But upon hearing my words, the group behind us showed no reaction, still crouched behind a large earth mound.

Their strange posture, their hunched forms, looked unsettlingly odd.

It was then Number 2 asked me, "Did you see Number 12? Where did that guy go?"

I scanned the surroundings and indeed couldn't see Number 12. I immediately said, "He was right behind us just now! Where did he vanish?"

At that moment, a rustling sound came from the basket on Number 2’s back, suggesting his Master had moved again.

Number 2 listened intently, his brow immediately furrowing. He said, "Be careful. There's something wrong with this group!"

I looked at the figures crouched behind the earth mounds, and their bizarre stance suddenly made the hair on my scalp stand up.

What exactly were these things? Had they already... done something to Number 12?

Thinking of this, I suddenly remembered that Number 12 hadn't spoken a single word since we prepared the PLA uniforms for the charade.

Although he was naturally quiet and reclusive, not speaking at all was too strange.

The feeling of unease intensified. I knew silence was no longer an option. I shouted at the group, "Hey! What's going on with you people! Damn it, what the hell are you doing!"

My voice echoed among the earth mounds, startling the dark shapes, which shrank back and concealed themselves even more thoroughly.

They pulled their entire bodies behind the mounds, revealing only their faces.

But this posture was even more bizarre, making the hairs on my back stand on end.

Number 2 frowned deeply, staring at the figures, and pressed his hands together, saying, "I can sense that these things are no longer human. After we entered the earth forest, the paths were too complex, so we got separated from Number 12. The amateurs following us might have lost our trail long ago, and then we started being followed by these unknown things. They are mimicking the amateur explorers' postures, but I can't detect any life force in them."

I nodded. "That's true. I can also sense their psychic presence. These aren't living things, yet they can move like people."

Number 2 said, "Since it's come to this, there's no need to hide anymore. Let's be direct. We’ll go over and see what these things are."

I nodded, clenching my fists tightly. "Even though you are very capable, I'm better at actual combat. I'll go first, and you cover me from behind."

Number 2 nodded. "Then be careful. These things aren't simple."