My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 994 The heavens and earth trembled, and the old creature emerged from its cave.
The little green horse moved nimbly, carrying Chen Ling steadily down the last section of the plank road and onto the ancient stone-paved road of Fenglei Town.

After the rain, the ancient town was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass. The dampness and fog were so heavy that water was still dripping from the eaves, making a crisp sound as it hit the stone slabs.

The town was much livelier than the previous two days. After the rain had finally stopped for a few days, people who had been cooped up for so long came out of their homes. There were more stalls selling mountain products and people carrying vegetables on shoulder poles on the streets, and the sounds of children playing could be heard again.

Even though the weather wasn't great, they still couldn't bear to leave.

Chen Ling, leading his horse, was about to stop at Manager Li's shop at the town entrance for a bowl of hot soup before continuing his journey. Just as he reached the crossroads in the town center, he heard a slightly stiff voice, tinged with surprise, call out:

"Mr. Chen! It really is you!"

Chen Ling turned his head and saw Eva and two other foreign men walking out of a bamboo weaving shop next door.

Today, Eva changed into a light gray cotton shirt, still looking neat and tidy. The two men beside her were a bit older, around fifty years old, with silver-gray hair, wearing glasses, and exuding a refined air.

The other person was younger, tall and strong, carrying a professional photography equipment bag; he was clearly the interviewer or investigator Anderson had mentioned in the phone call.

“Miss Eva, what a coincidence.” Chen Ling stopped and smiled gently.

Thinking about what Anderson had said on the phone earlier—that the aid supplies had arrived—and how these people were determined to stay in the mountains to search for the "Purple Kirin," the sense of alienation he felt due to nationality and purpose did indeed lessen considerably.

At the very least, those who are willing to lend a helping hand in times of crisis deserve a basic act of kindness.

"Chen, are you going back to Chenwangzhuang?"

Eva strode forward, her gaze sweeping over Chen Ling's slightly travel-worn but energetic face, and the bamboo basket containing the earthenware pot on his horse's back.

"Yes, there are many things to do at home, I have to go back."

Chen Ling nodded and looked at the two people behind her. "Who are these two?"

"Oh, let me introduce you."

Eva turned to the side, quickly said a few words in English to her companion, and then switched back to Chinese, “This is Professor Robert, an ecologist from the UK, and also the academic advisor for our scientific expedition team. This is Mike, our photographer and field recorder.”

"They all came to help the expedition team later this year."

Professor Robert stepped forward, extended his hand, and said in slightly slower but more fluent Mandarin than Eva, “Mr. Chen Ling, hello. Anderson and Eva have mentioned you many times, saying that you are the true master of this forest, with amazing wisdom and a profound understanding of nature. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

Mike grinned and said "Hello" in simple Chinese, curiously looking at Chen Ling and the magnificent little blue horse beside him.

Chen Ling shook hands with each of them, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant: "Professor Robert, Mr. Mike, hello. Mr. Anderson, you are too kind. I am just a local farmer, living off the land, and I only know a little about what's happening in the mountains."

"Thank you so much for your assistance; the equipment and medicine were a huge help to us."

Professor Robert waved his hand, his eyes behind his glasses revealing sincerity: "Mr. Chen, you don't need to be so polite. In the face of natural disasters, it's only right to help each other."

We heard about your efforts in organizing flood prevention in Chenwangzhuang, and we greatly admire them. This truly demonstrates the initiative and sense of responsibility of humans in coexisting with nature.

Seeing the relaxed atmosphere, Eva seized the opportunity to ask, "Mr. Chen, you just came down from the mountain? How is the situation at Yaowang Village? Is the plank road repaired?"

"It's all fixed now, and everyone in the village is safe, but the road is still a bit slippery."

Chen Ling replied, his gaze sweeping over the equipment they carried.

Trekking poles, ropes, specimen bags, and Mike's professional camera—a thought struck him, and his tone became more serious, "Judging by your gear, are you planning to go into the mountains?"

Eva and Professor Robert exchanged a glance, and Robert spoke up: "Yes, Mr. Chen. With the weather improving, we plan to conduct a short-term survey in the deeper forests to the west, mainly to record the ecological recovery of the forests after the rain, and by the way... um, to continue some routine species observations."

He phrased it rather subtly, but "species observation" clearly still refers to the unknown creatures they are so eager to discover.

Chen Ling hesitated for a moment.

In the past, he might have just politely reminded people to "be careful" and then said nothing more.

But at this moment, thinking of the tangible aid that had arrived, and knowing that these people, though with different purposes, were conducting legitimate academic research—at least on the surface—he felt he needed to say a few more words.

"Professor Robert, Miss Eva..."

Chen Ling's expression turned serious. "If you trust me, take my advice. In the coming days, especially the next ten days or so, it's best not to go deep into the mountains, especially those old forests to the west and north. If you can avoid going there, then don't."

Upon hearing this, all three of them were taken aback.

Mike instinctively tightened his grip on the camera strap, a hint of confusion and wariness flashing in Eva's blue eyes, while Professor Robert frowned slightly: "Mr. Chen, do you mean... because of the continuous rainfall, there is a risk of landslides or mudslides? Our map marks geologically unstable areas, and we will try to avoid them."

"That's not entirely true."

Chen Ling shook his head and looked up at the vast, misty mountains to the west of the town. “Landslides and collapses are visible dangers. I’m talking about something that some of the older folks in the mountains often talk about, but outsiders don’t really take it seriously.”

He paused, organizing his thoughts on how to articulate those seemingly abstract yet grounded warnings in a way that these foreigners, trained in modern science, could understand.

“We are located on the foothills of the Qinling Mountains. The elders say that the Qinling Mountains are the dragon vein of China, the backbone of the land, and hold countless secrets and spiritual significance.”

"Some things in the mountains lie dormant, unseen and unassuming. But in special years, like this year, when the energy of heaven and earth is abnormally balanced, with continuous rainfall and turbulent earth energy..."

Things that are rarely seen under normal circumstances may become restless or be forced to emerge from the deep mountains.

Eva listened intently and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Chen, what exactly are you referring to? Is it some kind of large wild animal? Like... the kind we've been searching for clues about?"

Chen Ling glanced at her, but did not answer the "Purple Qilin" question directly. Instead, he continued, "There is a saying among the old hunters and herb gatherers in the mountains: 'When the heavens and earth shake, old creatures emerge from their burrows.'"

This "old thing" doesn't necessarily refer to a specific animal; it could be something that is very old, possesses spirituality, or has peculiar habits.

For example, the yellow variety known as "Over-the-Mountain Yellow".

"Over-the-mountain yellow?"

Professor Robert immediately recognized the unfamiliar term, and his professional instincts led him to ask, "What is that? Is it a feline? What's its scientific name?"

He quickly searched his mind for a list of felines in the Qinling Mountains.

Golden cat, leopard cat, desert cat... it seems there are no cats with this common name.

“In folklore, it’s a kind of monster similar to a tiger, but bigger than a regular tiger, with golden fur, like an old tiger. We call it ‘Over-the-Mountain Yellow’ locally,” Chen Ling explained. “This thing is extremely rare, cunning and fierce, and usually only lives in deep ravines and cliffs where people rarely go. But this spring, it roamed the mountains near our village, injuring livestock, and then disappeared into the deep mountains.”

In such prolonged rainy weather, its original nest may be flooded, or it may have difficulty hunting. If cornered, its activity range will become very irregular, and it will become more aggressive.

It wasn't the most terrifying thing, but it illustrated a trend—things weren't safe in the mountains.

Mike felt a little nervous and subconsciously glanced at the seemingly peaceful streets around him.

Professor Robert quickly jotted down in his notebook: "Over the Mountain Yellow - Tiger Monster - Increased range of activity/aggressiveness under abnormal weather conditions."

"Besides ferocious beasts like the Yellowtail Crocodile..."

Chen Ling continued, lowering his voice: "There are some even more...mysterious legends in the mountains. The elders say that the mountains have 'mountain gods' or 'guardian spirits,' which may not be human-shaped, but may be a kind of energy, a special cloud, or a spirit attached to some ancient trees or strange rocks."

In years of turbulent earth energy, these 'spirits' will also be restless, potentially causing those who enter their realm to get lost, wander through mazes, experience hallucinations, or encounter obstacles that cannot be explained by common sense.

He saw the skeptical look on Professor Robert's face, a look that leaned more towards a scientific explanation, such as geological magnetic fields or hallucinations caused by volatile substances in certain plants. He didn't point it out, but simply said:

"I know you believe in scientific research. But there are some things in the mountains that science can't explain immediately. Just consider it the locals' experience."

After this kind of weather, the fog in the deep mountains will be particularly heavy, and in some places the fog will be an odd color, with a grayish-yellow or dark green tinge, and it will smell like stale earth.

If you encounter this kind of fog, you must never venture into it; immediately retreat the way you came.

Also, if you hear strange sounds coming from deep in the mountains that are not the sound of wind, water, or any known animal calls—such as the sound of many people whispering, or the sound of huge rocks grinding together—don't be curious, just leave immediately.

Several women in the group couldn't help but shudder, recalling a previous rainforest expedition where they had heard similar warnings from local indigenous people, described as "the whispers of the forest."

I also recalled the incident at the beginning of the year when we hunted rabbits.

Professor Robert's expression also became much more serious. As an ecologist, he knew that in fieldwork, the local people's experience often contained the most intuitive, and sometimes even life-saving, understanding of complex environments.

"in addition……"

Chen Ling concluded solemnly, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, "Recently, snakes, insects, and rodents in the mountains have been unusually active, especially leeches, whose numbers are frighteningly high, and their venom may be stronger than usual."

Even if you intend to conduct research, try to do so in areas with relatively sparse vegetation, on the edge of areas close to human activity, take the most comprehensive protective measures, and be sure to hire a reliable local guide. Don't just rush in based on your enthusiasm alone.

His words were sincere and specific, combining the allure of mysterious legends with a real warning of danger.

Wild beasts, getting lost, poisonous insects—these words carried a special weight when spoken by a local man who had just successfully organized a large-scale flood control effort and was proven to be highly capable and prestigious.

Professor Robert closed his notebook and nodded solemnly to Chen Ling: "Mr. Chen, thank you very much for your reminder and advice. We will definitely give your suggestion a careful consideration and reassess the investigation plan."

Local experience is an invaluable asset, and we will not overlook it. He glanced at Eva and Mike, who both nodded in agreement.

Eva looked at Chen Ling with a complex expression, a mixture of gratitude, awe, and a lingering curiosity, but it ultimately morphed into a sincere, "Mr. Chen, thank you. We'll be careful. We also wish you a safe journey home."

Seeing that they had taken his advice to heart, Chen Ling said no more, and prepared to leave with his horse: "Alright, take care. If you encounter any trouble you can't resolve, you can try contacting Chenwangzhuang. See you later."

"See you later, Mr. Chen!" The three watched as Chen Ling led his horse away, his figure disappearing into the bustling streets of Fenglei Town.

Even after walking a distance, Chen Ling could still feel the gazes behind him.

He let out a soft breath.

He has said what he needed to say and done his best.

Whether these foreigners listen or not, and whether they risk it because of their obsession with "mystery," is their own choice.

All he could do was offer some advice that might save lives, out of consideration for the aid they received.

A mountain breeze blew in from the town entrance, carrying a damp mist.

Chen Ling mounted his horse and gently squeezed its belly.

"drive!"

The little green horse understood, and with light steps, galloped off towards Chenwangzhuang.

Eva, Robert, and the others stood there, watching Chen Ling's figure disappear at the end of the stone path.

After a long pause, Robert murmured, "How much of what he said...do you think is true?"

Eva closed her notebook, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "I don't know. But Mr. Chen isn't the kind of person who makes things up. He has a high reputation in the area, and if he were just making up stories to scare us, he wouldn't need to go into such detail."

Mike lit a cigarette and took a deep drag: "His last words were a sincere reminder. We might have been too reckless before."

"Shall we still go to the village to the west?" Mike asked.

“Go, but be prepared.” Mike looked towards the distant mountains. “Find two local guides, bring plenty of supplies, and contact the town's liaison point regularly. Also…”

He paused for a moment: "Record the legends Mr. Chen mentioned, but don't make them your main focus. We're here to conduct folklore and ecological research, not for exotic adventures. Safety first."

Eva nodded, then opened her notebook again, looking thoughtfully at the notes she had just taken.

……

As Chen Ling walked home, she didn't care whether they believed her or not.

He said all that for two reasons: first, to repay the favors of those who donated; and second, because he genuinely felt that these people were not bad people, but had simply gone astray.

Use some folk tales to scare them away.

Thirdly... This year is a year of disaster, a year of great calamity, and people in the mountains are prone to danger.

The recent disturbances of the Bull Demon King and the appearance of the giant softshell turtle in the reservoir were both omens.

Animals in the mountains are more sensitive than humans; their collective abnormal behavior is definitely not a good thing.