Chapter 155: Cordyceps-Braised Snow Chicken, Tasty and Nourishing

He took two steps, then slapped his forehead and chuckled softly.

"I've got a drone—why be so careful?"

Smiling to himself, he launched the auxiliary drone, then manually switched the main unit's display to its camera feed, swiftly following the bloodstains and footprints.

After flying over two hundred meters, a reddish-brown shadow suddenly appeared on the screen, motionless in the snow, half-buried under accumulated snow, utterly still.

Qin Yun's eyes brightened slightly; he guided the drone downward, slowly approaching.

Viewers in the live stream instantly recognized what lay in the snow—a chicken, reddish-brown with streaks of white, black, and crimson.

It was large, fully fifty to sixty centimeters long, plump and muscular, substantial in weight.

"Looks dead? Its head's buried in snow—if it wasn't dead, it's suffocated."

"It's huge! Bigger than a domestic duck—how much meat does this thing yield?"

"Taste good?"

"If you're not afraid of jail, go ahead and try."

"It's only a Level Two protected species—not enough for jail, maybe fifteen days detention."

"Never tried it—let Brother Qin taste it."

"Brother Qin says: what else did you think I was chasing after? You didn't think I came to save the chicken, did you?"

At this point, Qin Yun hurried closer; the two- or three-hundred-meter stretch, with deep and shallow steps, took him seven or eight minutes to cover.

He brushed aside the snow, checked the dark-bellied snow chicken's breath, exhaled softly, and looked at the camera: "I'm relieved… no, I'm sorry—it's already dead."

"Didn't I hear you say 'relieved' just now?"

"Pfft… Brother Qin just spilled his true thoughts."

"Hahaha, this is hilarious—can you be any more ridiculous?"

"Don't say that—Brother Qin meant he's relieved it's dead, so he can eat it secretly."

Qin Yun flatly denied it, solemnly: "Defamation. This is defamation."

He turned the camera away, smirking inwardly—he really had set his sights on this dark-bellied snow chicken. But he couldn't do it himself; he'd need to use others, like the soldiers at Tian Shui Hai Garrison.

He hung the snow chicken on the side of his backpack and quickly returned to the main national highway, stepping onto his snowboard to continue.

His focus remained on large rocks that might appear on the road, so while his speed wasn't fast, it wasn't slow either. At 1: 0 p. ., his line of sight caught sight of the Tian Shui Hai Garrison, blending into the snowy landscape.

No extra buildings—just a few rows of low, flat houses, their roofs thickly covered in snow, merging seamlessly with the surroundings.

But what first caught his attention wasn't the garrison as a whole, but the red flag fluttering in the bitter wind.

Pure white earth and sky, howling wind, vast and desolate—this vivid splash of color moved him deeply.

"Seeing this, I feel unexpectedly moved."

"Me too—I suddenly feel safe."

"Wherever the national flag flies, our soldiers are there—this is the ultimate security the PLA brings us."

Qin Yun nodded: "Yes. In such an extreme environment, soldiers have been stationed here year-round—imagine how harsh their duty conditions must be. It inspires deep respect."

"On my journey here, I've already felt nature's cruelty—and they've held this post for years."

"By the way, the garrison is a military-controlled zone with strict drone regulations, so I'll be turning off all camera feeds from now on. Sorry."

Saying this, he retracted both auxiliary and main drones, shut off the camera display, and increased his pace.

When he appeared outside the garrison gate, he was surprised to see three figures there—one, likely a platoon leader like Sui Yang, with a stern, resolute bearing; the other two were non-commissioned officers, roughly his age but with far worse skin condition.

Qin Yun folded his snowboard, descended from the highway, and walked toward them.

The ground before the garrison gate was clear of snow, the flagpole bearing the red flag with five golden stars fluttering fiercely.

"Click!"

The lead officer saluted, voice steady: "Comrade Qin Yun, I'm Xiao Guoquan, duty platoon leader of Tian Shui Hai Garrison. This is Sergeant Shen Ge of First Squad, and Sergeant Fang Xingtong of Second Squad. Welcome to Tian Shui Hai Garrison."

Qin Yun was startled by such formal welcome and hurriedly returned the salute.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, Sergeant Shen, Sergeant Fang—hello, I'm Qin Yun. Sorry to disturb you in this snowstorm."

He added curiously: "I thought this place had no signal—how did you know I was coming? Did Sergeant Sui Yang from Da Hongliutan tell you?"

Xiao Guoquan's smile was rugged: "Yes. Sui Yang called this morning, introduced your situation—we knew you were coming."

So that was it.

Qin Yun thought of something and patted his drone: "Platoon Leader Xiao, all my drone cameras are off now—only audio is still live. Is that acceptable?"

"I was about to remind you," Xiao Guoquan laughed. "Drones are strictly forbidden on garrison grounds, but audio-only streaming is fine. Comrade Qin Yun, go ahead and broadcast freely."

As they spoke, they ushered Qin Yun inside.

"Comrade Qin Yun, are you planning to rest here today?"

Qin Yun shook his head: "I'll just replenish supplies and keep going—I'll rest overnight at the Siren Gou Checkpoint."

Then he suddenly remembered something, unhooked the dark-bellied snow chicken from his back, and opened his mouth: "Platoon Leader Xiao, what should we do with this snow chicken?"

Xiao Guoquan gestured for Shen Ge to take it, smiling: "Comrade Qin Yun, we'll report this snow chicken officially—special departments will handle its disposition."

Qin Yun inwardly sighed—thought he'd found a loophole in this remote place, figured Level Two protected species wouldn't be strictly enforced here, but it turned out the rules were the same. Then again, he realized—it was a harsh garrison; without iron will, no one could hold this post.

He'd truly underestimated them.

"Comrade Qin Yun, our garrison raises ordinary snow chickens—edible poultry. Today's lunch is cordyceps-braised snow chicken; there's still some left in the mess hall."

Qin Yun's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Platoon Leader Xiao—I won't be polite."

Viewers in the live stream couldn't see the visuals, but they heard the sounds.

"Heh, old Qin, cordyceps-braised snow chicken—just thinking about it makes me drool."

"Damn, black-screen livestream, what a pain—but why are viewers still so many?"

"It's just black screen—no big deal. I can play games while listening."

"No choice—military zone, classified secrets, can't just stream freely. Lucky Brother Qin knows the rules—if he'd flown his drone all the way, he'd be done for."

Qin Yun followed Xiao Guoquan to the mess hall; perhaps they'd prepared for his arrival, the food was plentiful.

When a steaming bowl of cordyceps-braised snow chicken was placed before him, Qin Yun's mouth watered.

He'd been hungry for a long time.

As he ate, Xiao Guoquan left, returning to the duty room to review the documents on his desk—his heart was truly shaken.

But if Qin Yun had seen these documents, he'd have been even more stunned.

All his data since the livestream began was here—thoroughly investigated, even his basic personal records. These were precisely why Xiao Guoquan hadn't paid much attention to his livestream.

Anyone else flying a drone near the garrison would've been arrested immediately.

"Ah—so delicious! Cordyceps-braised snow chicken, tasty and nourishing."

"The meat's so tender—the soldiers' cooking is excellent."

"Natural cordyceps, high-altitude snow chicken—I feel warmth spreading through my whole body."

Qin Yun ate while praising it, leaving the livestream viewers utterly exasperated.

"Damn, you sound like you're eating, but it feels like you're doing something scandalous."

"Fucking bastard, eating so well—next thing you know, the soldiers will shoot you."

"This beast… hey, Qin Yun, beast—I think I've uncovered a secret."

Qin Yun stared at the comments on the screen, speechless.

"You're just jealous. In this frozen wasteland, sipping a nourishing soup like this? That's an unmatched luxury."

After eating his fill, Qin Yun stepped out of the mess hall and saw Fang Xingtong outside.

"Sergeant Fang, sorry to keep you waiting."

Fang Xingtong smiled and shook his head: "Water and rations are ready for you at the guardhouse by the gate. Let's go."

Qin Yun nodded and followed Fang Xingtong back to the garrison gate. The guardhouse was warm inside, but the temperature difference between inside and outside was thirty to forty degrees.

Xiao Guoquan wasn't inside—only a table with supplies: water, dried rations, nothing else.

Fang Xingtong looked puzzled: "Comrade Qin Yun, wait here—I'll check where Platoon Leader Xiao is."

"Go ahead, Sergeant Fang."

Fang Xingtong hurried inside, found Xiao Guoquan in the duty room.

Xiao Guoquan's face was grim, gripping the phone: "Understood. We have the medicine, but eighty to ninety kilometers away—snow has buried the roads, vehicles can't move. Soldiers will need… okay… I'll hurry…"

He hung up, turned to Fang Xingtong: "The Quanshuihu Checkpoint (Siren Gou) has a soldier injured—severe trauma, urgent need for medicine. Vehicles can't reach it. Only manpower can deliver."

Fang Xingtong snapped to attention and saluted: "Platoon Leader, assign this mission to me—I guarantee completion."

Xiao Guoquan nodded: "Good. Prepare and depart immediately."

He turned and strode out.

But just as he stepped out of the duty room, he paused: "Has Comrade Qin Yun finished dinner?"

"Yes, he's done eating—he's in the guardhouse at the gate."

Xiao Guoquan slapped his forehead, a thought stirring: "What if we ask Comrade Qin Yun to deliver the medicine? He's heading to Quanshuihu Checkpoint anyway."

Fang Xingtong froze: "That's not appropriate."

The military and civilians are one family—but boundaries remain clear.

This is our mission—how can we ask a civilian to take it on?

Xiao Guoquan hesitated: "The medicine is urgently needed—the soldier's condition is critical. It must arrive within six hours. In this wilderness, you're no match for Comrade Qin Yun."

Fang Xingtong didn't believe it—they were seasoned PLA soldiers, how could they be outmatched by a civilian? Even if this civilian dared trek the winter wasteland, that didn't prove anything.

Xiao Guoquan had seen Qin Yun's file—he had no doubts.

He thought for a moment, then walked out: "I'll ask Comrade Qin Yun himself—see what he says."

"…"

"Sergeant, are you serious?"

At the guard post of the military station, Qin Yun had already packed up water and dried rations.

"Comrade Qin Yun, there's still nearly ninety kilometers to the Spring Lake (Dead Man's Gully). Even by vehicle, you won't make it before dark. Are you sure you won't rest here?"

Qin Yun smiled: "Should be fine. I've got this." He patted the snowboard behind him.

Xiao Guoquan immediately recalled the part of Qin Yun's file concerning skiing.

He no longer hesitated and laid out the entire situation.

After speaking, he quickly added: "Comrade Qin Yun, this isn't mandatory, not an order at all. Even if you deliver the medicine, we'll send soldiers out too—we're sending two teams simultaneously, so you don't bear any burden."

Fang Xingtong, who had been about to object, said nothing in the end.

Since both teams are departing at once, it's fine.

After hearing this, Qin Yun didn't hesitate for a moment. Not only was he planning to spend the night at the Spring Lake checkpoint, but anyone in danger would prompt him to step forward.

"Sergeant Xiao, no problem at all. It's my duty."

"Good." Xiao Guoquan exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Comrade Qin Yun."

Soldiers operate with high efficiency; the matter was settled in under fifteen minutes.

Qin Yun's backpack now held a box of specialized wound-treatment medicine, sealed shut, so he didn't know what was inside.

"Comrade Qin Yun, safe travels."

"Thank you!"

Qin Yun thanked Xiao Guoquan and Fang Xingtong once more, then walked out of the military station gate without hesitation.

Looking up at the national flag fluttering in the wind, Qin Yun turned back to the two: "You've worked hard."

Xiao Guoquan and Fang Xingtong saluted: "Watch your step."

Qin Yun nodded, stepped onto his snowboard, leaned slightly forward—and in the next instant, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, gliding swiftly along the national highway.

The snowboard cut through the biting wind at astonishing speed.

The two at the gate stared, momentarily stunned.

Only after Qin Yun's figure vanished completely into the blizzard did two more shadows depart from the station, trudging step by step into the snowfield against the storm.

The snow still fell.

The wind still howled.