About ten minutes drifted by like passing clouds, and the female guide rose like a reed in a breeze. Just when everyone thought we’d set off again, she said, “Let me use this moment to introduce tonight’s camp.” Idle hands found new interest; heads turned toward her like sunflowers finding the sun.

“Xiushan is a half-wild preserve,” she said, voice steady as a brook. “Meaning the mountain has few attractions, few tourists, but it’s perfect for camping.” She paused, letting the words settle like dew. “Up there we can forage ingredients and spot small animals. No dangerous ones. Our plan: reach the campsite, pitch tents, then collect firewood and food for tonight’s bonfire.”

“Sounds great!” Voices popped like sparks.

“I’m going to snag some wild game. Who’s in?” Laughter rippled like leaves.

“Safety first!” the homeroom teacher called, his warning like a bell in fog.

Riding that warm tide of energy, the students got up and climbed again, feet tapping the slope like drumbeats. “Xiaoxue, rested?” Joanna stood first, her hand reaching out like a willow branch to the blonde girl hugging her knees.

“Climbing’s fine now.” Xiaoxue grabbed her hand and pushed up, her golden twin ponytails swaying like tassels in wind. The group moved on like ants up a green back, not knowing a black van had eased to a stop at the mountain’s foot, quiet as a shadow.

“Bring the gear. We move tonight.” The words hit like cold iron.

“When these kids set up camp, we’ll give them a surprise.” Their laughter slithered like smoke.

“Try not to hurt anyone. But if we run into cute little girls...” Teeth flashed behind masks like knives in burlap.

A gang of casually dressed, masked men stepped off the van, led by a guy nicknamed Monkey, his grin crawling like ivy.

“Sounds fun,” someone muttered, hunger in the tone like rust.

“We’re robbers. Let’s act like robbers, heh-heh...” The chuckles were greasy, like oil on water.

“Don’t forget our target.” The bark cut through them like a whip. It was the same black-clad man who’d appeared in the middle-aged man’s room, alone and bare-faced, eyes dark as wet stone.

“Got it, boss!” Voices snapped to attention like ropes pulled tight.

They hiked with stops and starts, sun tilting toward afternoon like a golden coin. Around three, the students reached the campsite, the clearing opening like a palm.

“Ah, I’m dead!” A boy flopped down, limbs splayed like dropped sticks.

“My legs are noodles!” Another fell, back to earth cool as river stone.

At the announcement, the boys collapsed with zero dignity, and the girls sat down breathless, cheeks pink as peonies. Only Joanna stood, steady as a flagpole, with Xiao Qianxue leaning on her shoulder. “Nana, aren’t you tired?” the class monitor asked, voice teasing like a breeze.

“I took first at the sports meet. How would I be tired?” Joanna’s confidence shone like polished bronze.

“Nana, you can put me down~” The blonde girl leaned close, breath warm as tea against the brown-haired girl’s ear.

“Alright. And thanks for the ‘massage’~” Joanna turned her head, her eyes meeting those golden irises, bright as morning.

“Mm, and by massage you mean...” Little Loli touched ground, mind drifting like a kite.

“Eek.” The blonde hugged her chest and knelt, blush spreading like dawning light. “Nana... you little perv...”

“Heh-heh...” The chuckle was shameless, light as a cat’s paw.

The scene washed over the class; boys blushed tomato-red, and the gulping of saliva clicked like tiny pebbles.

“Next, everyone prep your own tents. If you can’t manage, help each other.” The female guide lifted her speaker, her tone crisp as pine. “Afterward you can play nearby, collect wood, pick greens. Rangers check the mountain for toxic plants regularly, so most are safe, but double-check before eating.”

Xiao Qianxue pulled her suitcase from the pile the boys had lugged up, while Joanna had already dragged out a tent, fabric neat as folded clouds. Xiaoxue looked up and froze, thought flickering like a sparrow: Isn’t this the tent Lin Fan used back on the island?

“This is the most advanced military tent right now,” Joanna said, voice flowing like a river she loved. “Light, self-inflating, barely any effort to set up, and huge inside.” While she spoke, the tent went whoomp, popping into shape like a mushroom after rain.

“Uh?” Joanna stared, stunned, at Little Loli kneeling by the tent, fingers dancing like quick fish. “Xiaoxue, how do you know this stuff?”

“Tch—child’s play.” Little Loli’s tone was flat as slate, but the sea-wind of memory rose, salt-sweet and soft.

On the island, Lin Fan and Xiao Qianxue sat by the tent, sand warm as bread under their hands. “Look, Xiaoxue, just fix here and here,” Lin Fan said, fingers sure as clockwork, “then press these buttons and finally lift this part—done.” Little Loli hugged her knees, watching the tent bloom under his touch like a sail catching wind. “Spare me. I won’t need it,” she said, lips tilting, while the sea breeze teased her unrestrained hair like silk threads. “Seeing more is good too,” Lin Fan answered, turning back with a sunny smile, bright as noon.

Soon the two finished setup and stowed their luggage, canvas breathing cool shade like a cave. Joanna tugged Little Loli’s sleeve. “Xiaoxue, let’s explore the woods. Maybe we’ll catch a rabbit.” The idea sparkled like a thrown coin.

“Sounds good.” Her reply was a calm pond.

They told the teacher and slipped into the trees, their backs swallowed by green like ink into paper. After a while, Xiaoxue stopped, tension pricking her skin like thorns. “Hey, Xiaoxue, what’s up?” Joanna looked around, confused, watching her friend’s gaze sweep the shadows like a hawk.

“Battle mode.” The word dropped cold as steel.

Her pretty golden eyes flared and turned blood-red, embers glowing like coals; two small canine teeth sharpened into ivory knives. She kept her hands human by sheer will, fingers steady as carved wood.

“Xiaoxue, you—!” Seeing her friend like this for the first time, Joanna jolted, heart leaping like a startled deer. Little Loli didn’t answer; strength surged through her body like a river breaking a dam, and a grin cut her face like a blade.

“Restriction off. Feels good.” Relief hummed in her chest like a warm drum.

“Perception—max.” The world sharpened, each sound a thread, each scent a leaf.

“Thermal tracking—online.” Heat bloomed in her vision like lanterns in fog.

She’d felt a wrong note the whole hike, a splinter under the nail of her mind. Away from the students, she had to scout, or her heart wouldn’t settle. “Found you...” Her stare pierced brush and rock like arrows through paper.

Through obstacles, her thermal sight painted seven or eight adult shapes on the mirror slope, closing in like wolves. And in their hands—guns, metal teeth gleaming like frost.

“This is trouble.” She mapped their positions, then slid out of battle mode, calm falling over her like snow. Joanna searched her face, worry fluttering like a moth. “Xiaoxue, what did you see?”

“Troublemakers are coming,” she said, voice low as night wind. “Maybe they’re after someone else. But my gut says they’re after you, Nana.”