167: Chapter 167 Melee

The next day, the snow stopped.

Before dawn had fully broken, Li Xin woke up.

He hadn't slept well; the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and barking dogs kept playing in his mind.

He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, where the grain of the wood showed in streaks, glowing grayish-white in the morning light.

There was movement in the kitchen downstairs.

The Old Lady was starting a fire; white smoke rose from the chimney and drifted out along the window.

He got up, washed his face, and went downstairs.

The Old Lady was stuffing firewood into the stove.

Seeing him, she pointed to the stove.

"Soup, help yourself."

Potato soup was stewing in the pot, thick, with a few chunks of meat in it.

He ladled a bowl and sat by the window, sipping it slowly.

The soup was hot, the seasoning was just right, and it warmed his stomach as he drank.

Halfway through, a muffled sound came from afar.

It wasn't thunder; it was an explosion.

The spoon in the Old Lady's hand paused.

She tilted her head to listen for a few seconds, muttered, "Fighting again," and continued stirring the soup.

Li Xin didn't speak; he lowered his head and drank his soup.

Another sound, closer this time.

The window glass vibrated with a humming sound.

He put down the bowl, went upstairs, and packed his things into his backpack.

When he came back down, the Old Lady was standing at the doorway, looking at the mountains to the east.

"Going out again?"

"Yeah."

"Be careful when you go out; things have been chaotic these past few days."

Li Xin nodded.

The Old Lady glanced at him, said nothing more, and turned back to the kitchen.

Leaving the village, he walked east along the lakeshore.

The snow that had fallen last night lay in a thick layer on the lake surface, a vast expanse of white where no ice could be seen.

In the distance, on the ridgeline, a few eagles were flying, circling in the sky.

After walking for nearly an hour, he reached the east bank of the lake.

The forest here was dense, the canopy blocking the sky, and the sunlight couldn't penetrate.

The snow on the ground was thin, shielded by the trees, covering the earth with only a light layer.

He walked north along the forest path.

He had no destination; he was just walking.

The System was still cooling down, with several hours left, so waiting around was not as productive as scouting the route.

After walking for about half an hour, sounds came from ahead.

It wasn't gunfire, but human voices—many people talking, noisy and chaotic.

He slowed his pace, walked to the edge of the forest, hid behind a large pine tree, and looked ahead.

It was an open clearing.

Two groups of people stood on the snow, facing each other from a few dozen meters away.

The group on the left had a dozen or so people, dressed in a motley assortment of clothes, holding sticks and machetes, with a few wielding shotguns.

The group on the right was smaller, numbering seven or eight, but better equipped, all wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying handguns.

Between the two groups lay a person, face down on the ground, the snow beneath them stained red with blood.

Li Xin retreated slightly behind the tree.

Someone shouted, "Hand over the goods, and we'll let you go."

The other side replied, "In your dreams. If you have the guts, come and take them."

No sooner had the words fallen than shots rang out—not just one, but several, a crackling volley.

Both sides dove for cover, some hiding behind trees, others rolling into snow ditches.

Bullets struck the tree trunks with a thudding sound.

Branches were clipped off, falling and landing in the snow.

Li Xin lay on the ground and quietly retreated.

After crawling back a few meters, he stood up gently and ran deeper into the forest, bent over.

He hadn't run far when a louder explosion came from behind.

"Boom!"

The ground shook.

He slipped and fell into the snow.

His ears were ringing, and he couldn't hear anything.

He scrambled up and kept running, but his footing was slippery, and he couldn't run fast.

Another explosion.

This one was to his left, less than a hundred meters away.

The shockwave of the explosion swept over, bringing debris and branches that slammed into his back, stinging painfully.

He dove to the ground and covered his head with his hands.

Snow fell from the trees, burying him halfway.

He lay there for a while, then lifted his head.

His ears were still ringing, but he could hear sounds again.

Gunfire, shouting, and screams were mixed together.

Some were crying; some were cursing.

He crawled out of the snow, brushed the snow off his body, and continued running north.

After running for a dozen minutes, the gunfire grew distant.

He stopped to catch his breath, leaning against a tree.

His hands were shaking—not from fear, but because the adrenaline was fading.

"AI System, what's the situation?"

[The group on the east side has received reinforcements, and the group on the west side has been scattered.

The battlefield is spreading north.]

"Spreading this way?"

[Uncertain.

Currently, the nearest point of engagement is about 1.5 kilometers away.]

Li Xin cursed.

He continued walking north, moving faster.

After walking for about half an hour, a ridgeline appeared ahead.

If he crossed it, he should be able to shake them off.

He began to climb; the slope wasn't steep, but the snow was deep, and he sank with every step.

Halfway up the mountain, an explosion sounded behind him again.

This time it was closer, shaking the snow on the ridgeline until it began to slide down.

He grabbed a pine tree to steady himself.

He looked back.

The clearing was billowing with thick smoke, the black smoke very conspicuous against the snow.

People were running out of the smoke and heading this way.

Not just one, but a group, scattered across the snow like a frightened flock of sheep.

"Damn it."

He increased his speed.

Climbing to the ridgeline, he looked north, and his heart sank.

The north side was also an open clearing.

A few people lay on the snow, dead or alive, he couldn't tell.

Others were still chasing and fighting, shouts and curses mixing together.

He was blocked in front and behind.

He crouched down on the ridgeline and looked to both sides.

To the east was a forest, and to the west was also a forest.

The forests were dense and could hide people.

But if he ran into the forest, the pursuers could enter too, and then it would be cat and mouse.

He hesitated for a few seconds; figures were moving at the edge of the forest to the west.

There was nothing on the east side yet.

He slid down to the east.

Sitting on the snow, he slid down, moving fast.

The snow at the bottom of the slope was deeper, reaching his knees.

He scrambled up and ran into the forest, taking uneven steps.

He ran into the forest and leaned against a tree to catch his breath.

The forest was dense, the canopy blocking the sky, and the light was dim.

The snow on the ground was thin, making it easy to run.

He burrowed deeper, specifically seeking out areas where the trees were thick.

Shouts came from behind: "They ran that way! Chase them!"

The sound of footsteps was chaotic, with several people.

He picked up his pace.

The forest grew denser, and branches scraped against his clothes, making a harsh sound.

His hat was knocked off, but he couldn't stop to pick it up.

Ahead was a ditch.

It wasn't deep, but it was steep; it was easy to slide down, but hard to climb out.

He slid down; the bottom of the ditch was covered in gravel and dead leaves, with no snow.

He ran north along the bottom of the ditch for several dozen meters, and the ditch took a turn.

He stopped, crouched at the bend, and listened to the movement behind him.

The footsteps stopped at the edge of the ditch, and people were talking.

"Go down and take a look."

"Go down? Why would I go down? It's so deep, you'll fall to your death."

"Then what should we do?"

"Go around.

Go through that gully up ahead and block him."

The footsteps scattered.

Some went north, some went west.

Li Xin didn't move.

He crouched at the bend of the ditch and waited for a while.

Only after confirming there was no one nearby did he stand up and continue north along the bottom of the ditch.

After walking for about half an hour, the ditch came to an end.

Ahead was a steep slope covered in shrubs, with ice hanging from the bare branches.

He grabbed the shrub branches and climbed up.

The slope was steep, and the gravel was slippery; for every step he climbed, he slipped back half a step.

Reaching the top, he lay on the ground and took a few breaths.

He looked around.

This was another section of the forest, the trees sparser than the last one, and sunlight could shine in.

In the distance, he could see the ridgeline, gray and hazy.

He stood up and walked north.

He wasn't walking fast, but he didn't stop.

The System was still cooling down, with several hours left.

He had to find a safe place to stay; he couldn't run around here—it was too dangerous.

After walking for nearly an hour, a wooden cabin appeared ahead.

It wasn't big, just one room; the roof had collapsed halfway, and the door was crooked and half-open.

The snow in the yard hadn't been stepped on; it was as smooth and flat as a sheet of white paper.

He walked over and pushed the door open.

There was no one in the room.

There was dried grass on the floor and a stove in the corner, made of sheet metal and rusted.

A hole in the roof let snow drift in, forming a small pile on the ground.

He closed the door and leaned against the wall.

He took water out of his space and drank a few mouthfuls.

Then he took out bread, tore off a piece, and chewed it slowly.

"AI System, how much longer for the cooldown?"

[Remaining time: 4 hours and 20 minutes.]

"Is there anyone nearby?"

[Scanning... No personnel activity within a two-kilometer radius.

The skirmish on the east side has stopped, and both sides have withdrawn.]

Li Xin let out a sigh of relief.

He took out his sleeping bag, spread it over the dried grass, and lay down.

He stared at the ceiling.

Words were carved into the wooden planks of the roof, in Russian, though they were hard to see clearly.

They were probably carved by people who had lived here before—names, dates, and the like.

He closed his eyes.

After resting for a few hours, it was getting dark.

The System's cooldown ended.

He came out of the wooden cabin and walked north.

Chen Hu had previously sent information that the Kolchak gold was buried in this area.

Kolchak, an Admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy, had plundered a large amount of gold during the Civil War in Omsk, but was later defeated, and the gold's whereabouts became unknown.

"AI System, Scan.

Fifty-kilometer radius, focusing on the Kolchak forest area."

[Scanning.

This will take a few minutes.]

He stood in the forest and waited.

It was dark, and the forest grew dark quickly; a few minutes ago he could still see the path, but now he could only see the outlines of the tree trunks.

[Scan complete.

Approximately 32 kilometers to the northwest, 22 tons of gold were discovered.

Approximately 27 kilometers to the southwest, 8 tons of gold were also discovered, and at 35 kilometers, 35 tons of gold were discovered.

All have been confirmed to be unclaimed and are available for full Extraction.]

"Are these locations within the protected area?"

[Deep in the forest, unmonitored, with hidden terrain.

Night operation recommended.]

Li Xin opened the map and found the location to the northwest; it wasn't far from his current position.

It would take about two or three hours to walk there.

He didn't rush to go.

He took dry rations from his space, ate a few mouthfuls, and drank some water.

Then he leaned against a tree and waited.

He waited until it was completely dark.

An hour later, he set off.

He walked northwest.

The forest was pitch black, so he turned on his headlamp, the beam of light swaying between the trees.

He didn't walk fast, making sure each step was firm before taking the next one.

After walking for nearly three hours, he arrived near the location.

It was a gentle slope covered with pine trees; the trunks were thick and the crowns large, blocking the sky completely.

The snow on the ground was very thin, shielded by the trees.

He crouched down and pressed his hand to the ground.

"AI System, confirm the location."

[Location locked.

Fifteen meters underground, brick-lined cellar storage, 22 tons of gold.

Available for Extraction.]

"Start Extraction."

[Extraction initiated, 22 tons, estimated time 26 minutes.]

The progress bar began to jump.

Quickly, it only took a dozen seconds for every one percent.

He leaned against the tree trunk and stared at the panel.

The forest was very quiet; there was no wind, no birdsong, not even the sound of insects.

There was only his own breathing and the puffing sound of snow falling from the branches.

Eighteen minutes later, the progress bar reached seventy-three percent.

A wolf howl came from afar.

Not just one, but several, coming from the west, one after another.

He glanced in that direction, but could see nothing.

The forest was pitch black.

[Wolf pack, distance approximately one kilometer.

Moving north.]

The howling grew more distant.

Twenty-six minutes later, the progress bar filled up.

[Extraction complete.

Kolchak forest buried gold, 22 tons.

Purity 99.99%.]

[Cumulative gold: 3778.0057 tons.]

He stood up and brushed the dust off his hands.

He took a shovel from his space, shoveled over the traces on the ground, and then walked back to the village.

By the time he returned to the village, it was almost dawn.

He returned to his room, sat on the bed, and lit a cigarette; the ember glowed in the darkness.

There was a glimmer of light on the distant skyline, though he didn't know if it was moonlight or distant lights.

He stubbed out the cigarette and lay down to sleep.