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墨書 Inktalez
The night fell like a massive black curtain, heavy and oppressive, draping over the woods of Daxing'anling. In the 1980s, this land experienced particularly long and cold winters, with biting winds howling through the trees as if to freeze everything in existence. Amidst this icy landscape, two figures cautiously navigated through the forest: Zhang Qi and Monkey.
Both Zhang Qi and Monkey were young men from a humble village at the foot of Daxing'anling. In those days, rural areas suffered from economic backwardness, with few job opportunities available. Zhang Qi had elderly parents to support, while Monkey yearned for a better life and dreamed of marrying a wife. The two spent their days worrying about making ends meet, and upon hearing tales of an ancient tomb, they were intrigued.
They wore tattered and heavy cotton jackets that made their movements somewhat clumsy, yet their eyes shone with determination and greed. Zhang Qi carried a simple backpack containing a flashlight, a shovel, some ropes, and a short knife for self-defense. Monkey tightly gripped a thick wooden stick, occasionally glancing around warily.
"Zhang Qi, do you really think there’s treasure in that tomb? What if this trip is all for nothing?" Monkey asked quietly, pulling his neck in and exhaling a puff of white breath.
"We've come this far; there's no point in overthinking it. This old forest in Daxing'anling is quite eerie; there have been many legends about it. I reckon there must be something in that tomb," Zhang Qi replied softly as he pushed aside branches in front of him.
The cold wind howled through the trees, producing an eerie "whoo" sound like the wailing of lost souls. The snow beneath their feet crunched with each step, breaking the silence of the night with an almost forbidden sound. Using vague directions they had gathered earlier, they struggled to find the entrance to the tomb.
Moonlight spilled onto the snow-covered ground, illuminating their anxious yet excited faces.
"Brother, why do I feel so uneasy? That wind sounds like ghosts crying," Monkey's voice trembled slightly.
"Stop being superstitious; we need to be brave for this kind of work. But we should also be cautious; who knows what dangers lurk here?" Although Zhang Qi said this to reassure Monkey, he felt a twinge of fear himself.
As they passed by a hunter's small cabin, a faint light glowed from within. An Old Hunter sat at the door smoking a pipe. Seeing them approach, he frowned and called out loudly, "What are you two doing wandering around in these woods at this hour? This isn't a place for games!"
Zhang Qi hurried forward with a smile and said, "Sir, our dog has gone missing, and we're looking for it. It's quite clever; we’re just worried it might get into trouble out here."
The Old Hunter scrutinized them for a moment before snorting dismissively. "In this cold weather, that dog should have returned home by now. You two better not wander too far; there are plenty of traps in these woods and wild beasts lurking about."
"Got it, thank you, sir," Zhang Qi said as he hurriedly pulled the monkey along.
They continued to struggle through the woods when suddenly, the monkey slipped and nearly fell into a trap hidden beneath the snow.
"Whoa, oh my!" the monkey exclaimed. Fortunately, Zhang Qi reacted quickly and grabbed him just in time.
"You reckless fool, be careful! If you fall in there, we’ll be in big trouble," Zhang Qi said, still shaken.
The monkey patted his chest, still recovering from the scare. "That was too close, brother. I feel like there are pits everywhere in this forest."
The two of them walked more cautiously now, testing each step with a stick. At that moment, they heard a faint rustling sound, as if something was crawling through the snow.
"What’s that noise? It can’t be a wild beast, right?" The monkey tightened his grip on the stick, his voice trembling.
Zhang Qi became alert as well. He drew a short knife from his waist and whispered, "Don’t panic; let’s see what it is."
Before long, a large hare darted past their feet, and they both let out a sigh of relief.
"So it was just a rabbit; that really startled me," the monkey said as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"This forest can hold all sorts of surprises. We need to find the entrance to the ancient tomb quickly; it might be safer inside," Zhang Qi urged as he quickened his pace.
Finally, in a secluded valley on a slope, they discovered a small opening partially concealed by vines and weeds. A musty, decayed odor wafted towards them, sending chills down their spines, but it did not deter them from stepping into the unknown danger ahead.
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