In the mountains and forests of this world, perhaps because spiritual energy was overly abundant, vegetation always grew very quickly. Some trees could become towering giants in a single year, and within the forests, flesh-devouring monsters would spawn. Some animals could even transform into demons, gaining the qualifications to cultivate.
To suppress these unstable existences, the City Defense Bureau organized people every month to cut down trees around the urban districts and along both sides of the official roads, destroying those overly dense forests. But this method was too superficial; sometimes, if they weren’t careful, the logging teams would even be ambushed by demonic creatures.
Therefore, the year-end cleanup was essential. Otherwise, given the growth speed of those demonic creatures, they would counterattack the city within ten years.
When the members of the Second Patrol Team arrived at the training ground, all members of the First Patrol Team had already assembled. After Yang Wenqing and the others walked into formation and were about to speak, Xiao Liang and a senior sergeant walked over simultaneously—that was the First Team Captain, Wang Ze’en, rumored to be the Station Chief’s younger cousin.
Immediately after, a dense series of footsteps came from the training ground entrance. The members of the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Patrol Teams successively ran into the field under the leadership of their respective captains.
In the blink of an eye, the spacious training ground was filled with over forty patrol officers, their blue uniforms forming a continuous sheet. Because the six team captains stood at the very front of their respective teams, the entire area was silent, save for the mournful howling of the cold wind slicing past the flagpole.
After more than ten seconds, Station Chief Wang Ren walked in from the direction of the entrance. On his tactical belt were two long swords, and in his holster was a standard-issue military pistol.
“The reason for this assembly, I trust you all know what it is. Our station’s target this time is Forest No. 13, fifty li east of the city. Except for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Patrol Teams who will remain on guard, all other patrol team members must participate.”
Wang Ren’s gaze rapidly swept across every patrol officer present. He said in a grave tone, “The First Patrol Team will serve as the vanguard, cooperating with the Logistics Office to set up the camp. The Second Patrol Team will follow closely behind. After arrival, take the camp as the center and sweep the surrounding two kilometers.”
“The rear courtyard has already prepared ample bullets, talismans, and sufficient dried rations for your two teams…” He lowered his head to glance at the mechanical watch on his wrist. “It is now four-thirty in the afternoon. You need to get the camp affairs settled before dark.”
The two teams immediately mobilized, first jogging toward the rear courtyard, where two rune-engraved transport vehicles fitted with protective steel plates were already parked. Beside them were stacked several sealed wooden crates. Logistics personnel were already standing by. Inside the crates were neatly arranged golden-yellow bullets, stacks of basic talismans, and compressed biscuits and jerky wrapped in oil paper.
Yang Wenqing and his teammates proficiently inspected their firearms, pressed extra rounds into speed loaders, sorted the talismans by type and stuffed them into specially made compartments in their tactical belts, and loaded the rations into their carry-on backpacks.
Once the supplies were distributed, Xiao Liang and Wang Ze’en exchanged glances and nodded at each other.
“Everyone, attention!” Xiao Liang and Captain Wang shouted in unison in a low voice. “Board the vehicles!”
At the command, all team members boarded the transport vehicles one after another.
“Move out!”
The First Team set out first.
The Second Team that Yang Wenqing belonged to followed closely behind.
By transport vehicle, a journey of fifty li was merely an hour’s matter.
But even so, because it was currently winter, by the time the First and Second Teams reached the designated spot at the edge of Forest No. 13, the setting sun was already about to sink beneath the distant mountains, leaving only a smear of dark red afterglow on the horizon.
There were already people at the campsite—militiamen from nearby villages and towns. They had felled quite a few giant trees and piled them together, diverted a small stream to flow through the middle of the camp, and already erected simple wooden fences and barricades around the perimeter.
“Immediately clear the grounds and set up the camp! Move quickly!” Wang Ze’en’s voice rang out in the dimming light.
The First Team members immediately sprang into action, rapidly clearing away the excessively dense vegetation from the selected clearing. At the same time, the guards from the Logistics Office unloaded collapsible metal fencing, tent components, and lighting equipment from the transport vehicles, beginning to construct simple defensive fortifications and camping points.
Captain Xiao Liang swept his gaze over the Second Team members. “Stay alert. As in our usual tactical training, move in groups of three. Do not scatter. If you encounter an emergency situation, immediately fire a signal flare!”
“Yes, sir!”
After receiving the order, Yang Wenqing, Li Ming, and Zhou Kun immediately formed a combat formation and carefully stepped into the forest, where the light was already somewhat dim.
Inside the forest, the trees soared into the clouds, their branches interlocking and almost completely blotting out the sky. The air was damp and frigid, and beneath their feet was a thick layer of fallen leaves that felt soft and spongy, rustling with each step and making the surrounding silence seem all the more terrifying.
The three held their breaths and focused, slowly pressing forward for roughly one li, when suddenly a rustling noise came from the bushes to the left.
“On guard!”
Li Ming shouted in a low voice. The three assumed a triangular defensive stance, aiming their gun muzzles in the direction of the sound.
In the next moment, three demonic beasts resembling jackals—but with dark purple fur and corrosive saliva dripping from the corners of their mouths—lunged out!
Their eyes glowed with bloodthirsty red light. They moved on all fours with astonishing speed, fanning out to encircle the three men.
“They’re Rotclaw Jackals! Watch out for their claws and spit!” Zhou Kun warned loudly.
“Bang! Bang!”
Li Ming and Zhou Kun fired almost simultaneously. Bullets whistled through the air, precisely striking the two lead Rotclaw Jackals. One was shot through its foreleg and rolled to the ground with a miserable howl; the other was hit in the neck, dark purple blood spraying out. It struggled a few times and then went still.
However, the third Rotclaw Jackal was extremely cunning. Using its companions to draw fire, it ducked low and sprinted, actually slipping through the gap in Li Ming and Zhou Kun’s line of fire. It opened its fetid maw wide and lunged straight at Yang Wenqing, who stood on the flank!
Yang Wenqing’s gaze was calm, as if he had already anticipated its trajectory. In the instant the Rotclaw Jackal leaped into the air, he steadily raised his muzzle.
In that fleeting moment, he clearly saw the arc of the jackal’s lunge and predicted where its head would be the next instant.
“Bang!”
A crisp gunshot rang out.
The bullet entered with pinpoint precision through the gaping bloody maw of the Rotclaw Jackal and punched through the back of its skull!
The Rotclaw Jackal’s forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. With a whimper, it crashed heavily to the ground before Yang Wenqing’s feet, scattering a few withered leaves. It twitched twice and then fell silent.
“Great shot!”
Li Ming praised sincerely.
Yang Wenqing exhaled softly. He checked the cylinder, took out an explosive round, and held it in his hand to be prepared for any eventuality.
At this time, sporadic gunshots also echoed from the nearby forest. Some even sounded like blanks fired into the air—this was to intimidate the demonic beasts hiding in the darkness. It was experience summed up from past forest cleanups. As the teachers at the Police Academy put it: those demonic beasts possessed inherited memories, and the sound of gunfire was the fear passed down from their ancestors.
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