Names: Uncle Zhao Mengsheng, Father-in-law Pei Yihong

A week passed quickly, and the group's food and water supplies were running low.

Everyone was a little tired, and their lips were chapped from dehydration.

Qi Tongwei rallied the group, "Comrades, our food and water supplies won't last much longer."

From now on, we will go into the mountains to find water sources and edible wild fruits. Everyone, please be prepared and stay alert.

Everyone nodded, quickly packed their gear, and followed Qi Tongwei into the mountains.

Qi Tongwei held his gun and occasionally turned around to remind everyone, "Keep up, watch your step. The terrain in the mountains is complicated, be extra careful."

Cheng Du followed behind Qi Tongwei, holding a water bottle in his hand, taking small sips every now and then, his voice hoarse: "Brother Tongwei, are there any wild animals in these mountains?"

I've heard there are wolves in the mountains of northern Xinjiang.

Qi Tongwei nodded slightly, "It's hard to say. We must be vigilant and not let our guard down when we camp tonight."

Upon hearing the word "wolf," Zhao Ruilong gripped Zhang Qi's arm tightly, his voice trembling, "Wolves? There are wolves? Then we'd better not go into the mountains. What if we get eaten by wolves?"

Zhang Qi curled his lip, his tone disdainful: "Is it really that serious? You're a soldier, aren't you? You're even afraid of wolves?"

Zhao Ruilong, however, remained defiant: "Who's afraid of wolves? I just feel there's no need to take the risk."

Zhao Guoqiang glanced back at him and said, "Caterpillar, what are you afraid of?"

If we really encounter wolves, with us here, we'll take one down with a single shot.

Zhao Ruilong was speechless after being rebuked, and could only stay close to the middle of the group, not daring to breathe too loudly.

As evening fell, the group found a flat spot deep in the valley, where Qi Tongwei ordered tents to be set up and a campfire to be lit.

Because of the extreme temperature difference between day and night, without fire, they would probably freeze to death.

The crackling campfire dispelled the chill of the mountains.

Just then, several wolf howls came from afar.

Awoo!

It was both poignant and lingering.

The howls of wolves echoed through the empty valley, sending chills down one's spine.

Zhao Ruilong trembled with fear and shrank back to the campfire. "Wolves...wolves are coming! That's terrifying! We'd better pack our things and leave quickly, or we'll get eaten by wolves!"

Qi Tongwei rolled his eyes at Zhao Ruilong, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Why leave? Since you're here, prepare to eat wolf meat tonight."

"Wolf meat doesn't taste good!" Zhao Ruilong shouted hurriedly. "We can't possibly beat wolves. What if we end up getting eaten by them instead of getting any meat?"

Zhao Guoqiang scoffed, raised his hand and patted the gun in his hand, "Caterpillar, how do you know if you haven't tried?"

With your cowardice, you still want to join the army?

"Tonight is perfect. I'll show you what a real soldier is like."

Qi Tongwei stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and said in a serious tone: "Listen up, everyone. No sleeping tonight. Hide behind the rocks around here, be on guard, and wait for my command to fire when the wolves come."

Cheng Du, you and Zhang Qi will guard the left flank, Liu Hailong and Guo Fendou will guard the right flank...

"Zhao Guoqiang, you stay with me and guard the front. Be well-hidden and don't make a sound."

"Yes!" the crowd responded in unison, quickly dispersing and hiding behind the surrounding rocks.

He gripped his rifle tightly, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily.

Only Zhao Ruilong refused to hide, insisting on going into the tent to sleep: "I won't hide, you can hide if you want, I want to sleep. With you guys here, the wolves won't dare to come near."

Qi Tongwei frowned. "Zhao Ruilong, obey orders! This is wilderness survival training, not a time for you to act recklessly. If a wolf comes, you'll be a sitting duck in the tent!"

"I don't care, I just want to sleep!" Zhao Ruilong threw a tantrum, and before Qi Tongwei could persuade him any further, he crawled into the tent, zipped it up, and soon the sound of snoring could be heard.

He really is the future heir of Handong; he's good for nothing but sleeping.

Qi Tongwei shook his head helplessly, then turned to Zhao Guoqiang and said, "Guoqiang, ignore him, stay alert, and open fire immediately if anything happens."

The night grew darker, the wind in the mountains grew stronger, and the howling of wolves grew closer.

It sounds like at least several dozen wolves are heading towards the camp.

Everyone held their breath, gripped their guns tightly, and stared in the direction from which the wolf howls came, not daring to breathe loudly.

Before long, a group of dark figures appeared in the moonlight, their bodies agile and their eyes fierce—it was a pack of wolves.

They cautiously approached the camp, circling the campfire and tents, sniffing incessantly and emitting low moaning sounds.

I smelled a human scent.

Inside the tent, Zhao Ruilong was still fast asleep, completely unaware of the impending danger.

Just then, the lead wolf let out a mournful howl.

Awoo!

The first wolf pounced towards the tent, followed by the others, their sharp teeth gleaming coldly in the moonlight, poised to tear the tent apart.

"Fire!" Qi Tongwei pulled the trigger first.

With a "bang".

The alpha wolf fell to the ground with a scream.

Awoo!

Zhao Guoqiang, Cheng Du, and others also pulled the trigger, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the valley.

Zhao Guoqiang was agile and had excellent marksmanship; every shot he fired hit a wolf.

Undeterred, he aimed at the wolves and fired relentlessly, shouting, "Good timing! Watch me take care of you!"

Zhao Ruilong, terrified awake by the gunshot, screamed as he crawled out of the tent, gun in hand. He saw wolves with gleaming green eyes. "Help! Help! Wolves! So many wolves!"

Just then, a wolf leaped up, opened its blood-red maw, and pounced on Zhao Ruilong's back, its sharp claws almost scratching his clothes.

Zhao Ruilong was so frightened that his whole body stiffened, and he forgot to dodge. He could only stand there blankly, screaming with his eyes closed.

At the critical moment, Qi Tongwei aimed at the wolf and pulled the trigger.

With a "bang," the wolf's head exploded, it twitched a few times, and then lay still.

"What are you standing there for? Shoot!" Qi Tongwei shouted, pulling Zhao Ruilong back to his senses.

Zhao Ruilong then realized what had happened, his hands trembling, and he didn't know where the bullet had hit, almost hitting one of his own men instead.

Upon seeing this, Cheng Du fired his gun while shouting, "Zhao Ruilong, you caterpillar!"

Are you capable?

"Don't fucking fire randomly, or you'll hit us!"

While firing, Zhao Guoqiang yelled at Zhao Ruilong, "Useless! Get out of the way and don't cause trouble!"

Zhao Ruilong felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly ran behind a rock, curled up there, covered his head with his hands, and dared not come out again.

Gunshots and the howls of wolves rang incessantly in my ears.

The battle grew increasingly fierce, with wolves pouncing wildly, but they were firmly suppressed by Qi Tongwei and the others.

Twenty minutes later, the last wolf was killed by Cheng Du, and the gunfire gradually subsided.

Only the heavy breathing of the group and the crackling of the campfire remained in the valley.

Dozens of wolves lay sprawled on the ground, and the air was thick with the smells of blood and gunpowder.

Qi Tongwei stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "Comrades, the battle is over. Check the equipment, clean up the scene, and process the wolf meat. Tonight, we'll have roasted wolf meat."