297: Go down to the bottom of the cliff to check.

"What speculation?"

"We are only one kilometer away from the nearest boundary marker. I suspect the six missing villagers encountered people from an enemy country... and the Comrades-in-arms from those two teams might have also discovered these enemy country people..."

Hearing Xiao Niannian's words, Lu Jing's voice came through.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, your speculation is possible. We also believe that now. If the Mao Xiong people have indeed invaded the border, we must find a way to capture them all... but you must ensure your own safety..."

"Yes."

Xiao Niannian relayed Lu Jing and their orders, and Squad Leader Li and the Soldiers' expressions also became solemn.

"Understood."

Xiao Niannian looked at Squad Leader Li and Fang Qiang.

"You take a veteran to scout ahead. If you find anything, report back immediately..."

Xiao Niannian took out two crossbows and handed them to Squad Leader Li and Fang Qiang.

"Take these two crossbows and these two flares..."

"Yes."

Squad Leader Li and Fang Qiang immediately took them and saluted Xiao Niannian.

Xiao Niannian watched them leave quickly, her gaze sweeping around.

She also wanted to scout ahead, but she had about ten Comrades-in-arms with her, and she had to ensure their safety.

She had a gun in her bag, but the use of guns was very strict now. She had a gun license, but her Comrades-in-arms did not. So she couldn't give them a gun.

The two veterans looked at Platoon Leader Xiao and the Comrades-in-arms, feeling even more shocked.

These people were truly in sync, and these Comrades-in-arms listened very well to Platoon Leader Xiao, even though Platoon Leader Xiao looked like she was not yet twenty.

However, Platoon Leader Xiao's martial arts skills must be very impressive, and her archery skills were also extraordinary.

For some reason, they had a feeling that Comrade Xiao would definitely lead them to find their Comrades-in-arms and the missing villagers.

The further they walked towards the boundary marker, the more remote Xiao Niannian felt it became, and the path grew narrower.

And in some places, it was close to a cliff.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, Comrades-in-arms, when you walk here, you must stay close to the inside, holding onto these branches. You must be extra careful..."

The veteran reminded Xiao Niannian and the others.

"Okay."

Xiao Niannian walked at the very front. For her, this kind of path was no different from an ordinary one; she didn't even need to hold onto the branches.

As she walked, she deliberately stepped firmly to leave a deeper footprint, so that the Comrades-in-arms following behind could also follow her footsteps, making it safer.

They walked this hundred-plus meters for several minutes. Although Xiao Niannian was confident, the other Soldiers were still a bit nervous, as there was a river below, and falling would mean certain death or serious injury.

Xiao Niannian listened to the surrounding movements as she walked. The wind here was strong, and occasionally, she could hear animal calls.

But she didn't hear anyone speaking.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, the boundary marker is about a hundred meters ahead..."

The veteran happily introduced.

Squad Leader Li and Fang Qiang also returned to the team.

Xiao Niannian looked ahead; it was still a vast expanse of white.

After walking for a while longer, the veteran quickly ran forward.

"We're almost at the boundary marker."

The next second, the veteran froze.

"Where is our boundary marker?"

He immediately became anxious, searching around.

The other veteran also paced anxiously.

"The boundary marker was here, why is it gone?"

Xiao Niannian looked around and gave an order.

"Everyone help look for it."

The Comrades-in-arms quickly sprang into action, searching for the boundary marker in the surroundings.

The snow here was much thicker than in other places.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, Comrades-in-arms, you must use branches to probe the way first. The terrain around here is uneven; be careful not to fall into a pit..."

The veterans reminded Xiao Niannian and the Comrades-in-arms.

Hearing this, Xiao Niannian nodded. She held a self-made trekking pole and was poking around everywhere.

She discovered that not far from here was also a cliff. Could it be that the boundary marker had been pushed down the cliff?

This boundary marker was one of many along the border. In fact, the river not far away was the dividing line between their country and Mao Xiong. Many years ago, there was also a large area on the opposite side of the river, but due to various reasons over the years, this side became the boundary marker.

Xiao Niannian brushed aside the snow on the ground and saw traces.

"Come and look."

Xiao Niannian called out to the Comrades-in-arms.

The Comrades-in-arms quickly ran over, looking at the traces on the ground.

They also quickly pushed aside the surrounding snow, seeing the traces continuing forward.

"The boundary marker was indeed pushed down."

What kind of person would push down a boundary marker?

"The Mao Xiong people must have come over. Besides them, no one from our country would ever do such a thing."

"Damn Mao Xiong, they didn't even spare our boundary marker."

The Comrades-in-arms were furious in their hearts. In their eyes, the boundary marker was sacred, and now someone had destroyed and toppled it, which was a provocation to their country.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, your guess was correct. The Mao Xiong people have crossed the border and pushed down our boundary marker. Those missing villagers might have already been captured by them."

"What do the Mao Xiong people want to do by crossing the border? Do they intend to occupy this place?"

When they came out, they carried a coil of rope. Now, with the rope tied to a tree, Squad Leader Li was the first to volunteer to go down and investigate.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, I request to go down and investigate..."

"Okay."

Xiao Niannian agreed to Squad Leader Li's request.

"Be sure to pay attention to safety when you go down."

Xiao Niannian reminded him.

Squad Leader Li smiled at Xiao Niannian and said.

"I will definitely ensure my own safety."

Squad Leader Li made a hook with the rope, and Xiao Niannian also checked it once, then used another rope to tie a knot for Squad Leader Li. Two ropes would be more secure.

Squad Leader Li quickly rappelled down. After more than ten meters, Xiao Niannian heard Squad Leader Li's voice.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, there's a boundary marker down here, but it's shattered..."

Squad Leader Li's tone was also very angry when he said this. Any Soldier of Great Xia would be furious to see this scene.

There were no mobile phones or cameras now, let alone drones, so the scene couldn't be transmitted back in real-time, but Xiao Niannian was very clear about what the boundary marker would look like after falling from a height of more than ten meters.

"What's the situation down there? Are there any caves? Use your flashlight to search..."

"It's about the size of two or three rooms down there, and there's a small cave. I'm going into the cave to take a closer look now."

Hearing this, Xiao Niannian looked at Fang Qiang.

"Platoon Leader Xiao, I'm going down now."

Xiao Niannian nodded.

Fang Qiang tied the rope securely and immediately began to rappel.