Chapter 249: Safe Arrival

The cold wind swept across the vast, desolate lands of the Kanto region, tearing the last few stubborn dead leaves from the branches. Five Jiefang‑brand trucks covered with thick canvas, like weary yet resolute steel beetles, finally crept into the heavily guarded military factory nestled among the encircling mountains.

The electric wire net strung on the high walls of the plant, the armed Sentinels with live ammunition, and the faint metallic and engine‑oil scent in the air all unmistakably signal the site's special significance.

Li Ping'an leapt from the truck, his foot crunching on the compacted snow with a light creak. He smoothed his cotton coat, which had become slightly wrinkled from the long journey's jolts, and looked up toward the tall, silent factory buildings deep within the plant.

All the hardships along the way—snowfield ambushes, hidden arrows in the forest—now turned into a calm after the mission was fulfilled.

"Comrades, thank you for your hard work!" a middle‑aged cadre in a blue work uniform, with a sharp expression, hurried forward and firmly grasped Li Ping'an's hand. "I'm Lao Chen from the plant's logistics department. The supplies arrived safely, truly a relief in our urgent need! On the road… I heard it wasn't smooth?"

Li Ping'an gave a calm smile and shook the hand, "It was my duty; I finally lived up to the trust." He did not elaborate on the road's perils, but the steadiness in his gaze and the weary yet fierce aura of the troops behind him said it all.

The handover procedures were tedious and rigorous: cross‑checking documents, inspecting lead seals, tallying the quantities and specifications of the supplies—each step executed with meticulous precision.

When the final confirmation document was signed and stamped with a bright red seal, the taut string in Li Ping'an's and the troops' hearts, stretched for days, finally relaxed.

The plant provided hot water, warm meals, and cozy barracks, giving the weather‑worn team a long‑awaited rest.

However, Li Ping'an's mind was not entirely at ease. The return convoy was nearly empty; Dongbei is rich in supplies, and some grain or meat needed to be taken back.

Later, at Siheyuan he could openly bring out meat to add to his son's and daughter‑in‑law's meals. These endless Changbai highlands, a bitterly cold wasteland to ordinary people, could be a natural treasure trove for him.

The next day, using the interval of vehicle maintenance and waiting for the return order, Li Ping'an took Wang Dahu and two or three other trusted veteran teammates, slung rifles over their backs, tightened their coats, and stepped into the boundless Linhai Xueyuan behind the factory.

The moment they entered the forest, it was as if they had stepped into another world. Towering ancient trees blocked the sky, and only specks of light filtered through the layered branches onto the deep snow.

The air was crisp and fresh, scented with pine needles and humus. The snow underfoot was knee‑deep, each step producing a "creak" that echoed far through the silent woods.

"Chief, this old forest is truly deep," Wang Dahu puffed white breath, scanning the surroundings warily. The other teammates also gripped their rifles; in such a primeval setting, one instinctively feels insignificant.

Li Ping'an nodded, but his Divine Perception spread silently like mercury seeping into the ground. Everything within an eighty‑meter radius—the texture of the giant trees, the hibernating snakes and insects curled beneath the snow, even a few squirrels huddled in a tree hollow for warmth—was vividly reflected in his mind.

Of course he could not use spatial collection techniques in front of the team; that would be tantamount to destroying the Great Wall. But with his Divine Perception he could easily locate prey and guide the teammates in a "normal" hunt.

"This way," Li Ping'an said, following his Divine Perception, turning toward a trail trodden by beasts, "there are big footprints."

The teammates perked up and followed cautiously. Sure enough, after a short distance, on the snow beside a thicket, they found a set of chaotic, massive hoofprints and traces of bark that had been gnawed.

"Wild boar! Look at those prints, they're sizable!" Wang Dahu, experienced, judged instantly, his face lighting up with excitement. In these days, securing meat is a huge feat.

Li Ping'an had already "seen" with his Divine Perception a small group of wild boars about a hundred meters ahead on a leeward, shaded slope—about five or six heads, led by an especially robust, tusked boar, snuffling the snow for grass roots and acorns.

He could also "see" farther: a graceful spotted deer cautiously drinking at a brook, and several clumps of herbs hidden beneath dead branches, emitting faint Spiritual Perception ripples—those palm‑shaped compound leaves and faint red berries appeared to be Northern Five‑Flavor Berry.

"Spread out in a fan formation and encircle. Watch the leading boar; its tusks are dangerous, don't get too close," Li Ping'an whispered, assigning tactics while positioning himself where he could oversee the whole scene.

The teammates followed the plan, using the trees for cover, moving silently forward.

When the distance closed to about fifty meters, the boar herd seemed to sense danger; the lead boar abruptly lifted its head, scanning the surroundings, emitting a low "hmm" from its throat.

"Fire!" Li Ping'an ordered!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" a few gunshots suddenly shattered the forest's silence!

The teammates' shooting was solid; instantly two slightly smaller boars shrieked and collapsed in the snow, limbs convulsing. The herd erupted, scattering in panic. The lead boar's ferocity surged, eyes reddened, and it charged toward the direction of the gunfire, its tusks flashing coldly in the reflected snow.

"Watch out!" a teammate shouted, hurriedly raising his rifle to aim.

But Li Ping'an moved faster! He seemingly casually lifted his hand and fired; the bullet, as if it had eyes, pierced precisely into the trunk of a large tree standing in the boar's charge path. Sawdust flew; this sudden shot and obstacle caused the raging boar to instinctively veer slightly, slowing its speed.

In that split second, Wang Dahu and another teammate seized the chance, pulling the triggers in rapid succession; the bullets hammered into the boar's neck and flank. The massive body, propelled by inertia, took a few more strides before crashing to the ground with a thud, spraying a spray of snow‑mud.

"That was close!" Wang Dahu wiped cold sweat, still shaken, "That beast was truly fierce!"

Li Ping'an stepped forward, inspecting the spoils. Three boars, especially the lead one, were hefty enough to improve the team's and families' meals for a good while.

He casually kicked away the snow beside the boar's head, but his gaze, shielded by his body, swept to the frightened fleeing spotted deer farther away and those few clusters of Five‑Flavor Berries. Those, for now, were not convenient to harvest in front of the teammates.

"Let the blood drain, bind the game and carry it back. This forest is deep; we shouldn't linger." Li Ping'an ordered.

The teammates, elated, used their carried ropes and sticks to bind the three boars tightly, taking turns to haul them on the return trek. This haul far exceeded expectations.

On the way back to the base, Li Ping'an deliberately slowed, falling to the rear of the group. His Divine Perception remained at maximum range. When they passed a steep slope strewn with weathered rocks, his mind jolted suddenly!

In a shady crevice, a strangely shaped plant caught his eye. The plant bore a few emerald leaves, between which clung a cluster of vivid red, droplet‑like berries that stood out in the dying winter. Even more striking, a stalk sprouting from its center ended in a tiny ruby‑like fruit.

Ginseng! And judging by its form, it seems quite aged!

Li Ping'an's heart quickened slightly. He confirmed the teammates had moved on, their focus on the prey ahead, and no other life signs lingered nearby. He swiftly approached the crevice, his body blocking any possible view, and shifted his thought!

The ginseng, together with the small clod of soil tangled around its roots, vanished instantly, reappearing silently on the black earth within his Spiritual Spring Space. He could even sense a faint joyful ripple emanating from the space; the ginseng's vitality, nourished by the Spiritual Spring's aura, seemed even more vigorous.

Having done all that, he calmly quickened his pace to rejoin the group. No one noticed his brief pause or the plant's disappearance in the crevice.

Back at the military factory's base, the three boars caused quite a stir. The plant's leaders, seeing the tangible meat, regarded Li Ping'an and his men more highly and proactively had the chefs process and carve them.

Li Ping'an generously gave a portion of a small boar's meat to the plant, and the rest would be taken back to Beijing for distribution.

Late at night, when Li Ping'an was alone, he finally sank his mind into the Spiritual Spring Space. The ginseng had taken root in the black earth, its red berries growing even more vivid. In a corner, two plump wild rabbits and a dumb roe deer he had previously collected were stacked; in this spirit‑rich space they seemed quite at ease, even beginning to nibble the tender green spirit‑grass on the ground.

Gazing at this tiny "stock" in the space, Li Ping'an's mouth curled into a faint satisfied smile. This northward journey not only fulfilled the nation's assignment but also amassed a valuable reserve of confidence for his family and himself in the hard years ahead.

The harvest between the white mountains and black waters was far more than the visible boars. The true treasure had already slipped silently into the palm of his hand. The return journey thus seemed less burdensome.