All 22 crew members missing

  Back on the road, I found that the mountain road after the rain was even more difficult to walk than yesterday, especially when the mountain road was steep and flat. After half a day, everyone was covered in mud. The air was filled with dampness, and there was also a smell of rotting leaves. Looking at this situation, it's likely that there will be more rain.

  I walked a few steps quickly and went over the police officer to ask Old Iron from behind: "Brother, is the weather in this mountain always so bad?"

  Old Iron turned around, stretched out his hand and pulled me up, letting me walk shoulder to shoulder with him. Only then did he say: "It's not that there are good days, but even on sunny days, the mountains are still quite humid. In a situation like this after the rain, fog can easily gather, and today it's likely that by two or three o'clock in the afternoon we won't be able to walk anymore. Let's try to make it to the Shén Fó cave, so tonight's lodging will be much safer."

  "Shén Fó Dòng?"

  Old Iron nodded, "Yes, according to those who have entered that place before, there is a naturally formed Buddha statue inside the cave. The Yi people say it's a divine spirit protecting this mountain forest. If anyone can get there and kowtow three times to the deity, their wishes will definitely come true." As he spoke, I saw Old Iron's face filled with piety, and couldn't help but ask: "Old brother, do you have some wish you want to fulfill?"

  Lao Tie's face turned red as he smacked his lips a couple of times, and a rare sight of shyness appeared on his face: "My wife is pregnant, I want to go ask the Buddha for a son, so that our Lao Tie family can continue the lineage."

  At that time, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. The child is already pregnant, what's the use of asking for a boy again? Without revealing anything, it's true that mountain villages are quite superstitious and have a serious preference for boys over girls. Praying to Buddha for a son doesn't hurt either. Old Iron saw me laughing and also chuckled, saying with a silly grin: "Sister, don't laugh at me, it really works! If you have any wishes, you can go pray too."

  I shook my head with a wry smile, "Don't know what you're asking for."

  Lao Tie turned his head back in surprise and asked: "What? You young girl don't have any wishes?"

  I fell silent for a moment, then replied softly: "When I realized that my wishes were extravagant, I gradually stopped indulging in those empty fantasies." Old Iron paused, his mouth opening and closing without saying anything. Seeing this, I smiled and said: "Brother, just speak your mind."

  So Lao Tie said, "Sister, I'm not saying you're wrong, but being dissatisfied with your family is just temporary. You still need to go back and study. Your city has good conditions, unlike our mountain village where graduating from elementary school is already a big deal. If we had the means, when my child grows up, I'll definitely send him out of the mountains to attend university. And another thing, you're only in your early twenties, don't pretend to be too mature."

  This idea seems to have solidified in Old Iron's mind, and he has always treated me as a student. Too powerless to correct him, I was about to ask some other questions when I suddenly heard a faint voice from behind: "Wait ahead." Turning my head around, I was shocked to find that while talking to Old Iron too intensely, I hadn't noticed the dense fog rising beside us again, and all the people who were originally walking behind us had disappeared.

  Lao Tie turned around, his face also changed greatly, and he hastily shouted: "Where is the person?" This was also what I wanted to ask. Lao Tie yelled loudly beside me: "Hey, are you guys behind us?" There was a moment of silence, no one responded, my face also turned pale.

  Just now, I didn't hear any movement at all. Even if Lao Tie's pace was a bit faster, it's impossible for everyone to fall behind. Something must have happened that made them stay back, and Lao Tie and I were walking in the front and didn't notice. My gaze condensed on the hunting dog in Lao Tie's hand, it shouldn't be an encounter with a dangerous creature, otherwise the dog would definitely bark.

  "Come on, let's go back and find someone."