Chapter 6 Chapter 5 Heavy Snow Closing the Mountains

At about eight o'clock, Zhou Ping returned to the institute from the hospital, and he immediately contacted Luo Fei with the walkie-talkie.In this remote mountainous area, this small radio station with a coverage radius of five kilometers is the only way of communication. The two each reported to each other what they had learned, and the "murderous painting" became a common thread among them.The deteriorating situation at the scene made Zhou Ping quite worried: the death of Kong Wang, the author of "The Murderous Painting", made the case more complicated, and Hu Junkai's illness on the mountain was not a big or small trouble.

Now Luo Fei urgently needs reinforcements.Zhou Ping found the investigator Xiao Liu and the forensic doctor Duan Xueming in the team, and asked them to prepare to go up the mountain immediately. Five minutes later, the three set off and set foot on the road into the mountain. On the mountain road about 800 meters ahead of them, a group of people were also marching into the mountain, and some of them were still wearing black police uniforms, which stood out in the snow.Zhou Ping noticed this situation, and asked Xiao Liu: "Is it our comrades in front? Has anyone set off first?" Xiao Liu looked up and replied, "That's Director Wang with a few policemen and two local mountain people. They went to search and rescue the person who fell off the cliff. They set off about 20 minutes ago."

"Oh." Zhou Ping nodded, and he also noticed that those people did not go straight up the mountain, but turned a corner shortly after entering the mountain, and disappeared into the valley behind the mountain where the Dead Wood Temple was located.It seems that although Luo Fei is on the mountain, he has already arranged all aspects of work down the mountain properly. The snow is still falling, and there is no trend of shrinking.The steps on the mountain road have long been submerged by snow, leaving only shallow traces like waves on the surface.The three of them had to be extra careful when they walked, and they had to take their time to step on the snow with every step, and only dare to press the center of gravity if they were sure that they were steady, otherwise they might trip over and fall down on the uneven stone steps under the snow.In this state, after nearly an hour, the three of them walked less than one-fifth of the distance.

In fact, it is okay to be slower, Zhou Ping is most worried about whether he can reach the destination Kumusi Temple smoothly.Not far ahead, there is a small path between the depressions, with a length of about 200 meters.This road section is steep and difficult even on weekdays, and it is really a big unknown whether it can be passed in this kind of weather. When they turned a corner and came to the entrance of the col, Zhou Ping found that his worries were not superfluous: the mountain wind mixed with snowflakes roared out of the col, making people almost breathless. "The wind is too strong! Back off first!" Xiao Liu shouted at the top of his voice.

Zhou Ping nodded, and the three temporarily retreated to the shelter outside the pass. "What should I do? Keep going?" Duan Xueming seemed to be unable to support himself anymore. He was the most tired of the three with his forensic work box on his back. "Why is it just in time for such a ghostly weather!" Zhou Ping complained helplessly, but after a while, he said firmly, "When the wind calms down later, you follow me and charge up!" "Okay." Duan Xueming gritted his teeth, as if gathering strength. Seeing Duan Xueming's nervous look, Zhou Ping smiled happily, patted him on the shoulder, and jokingly said, "What are you trying to do with your teeth? In this way, you give me the box first. From now on, the three of us People take turns carrying it."

"I'll recite this section of the road." Xiao Liu snatched the box, "It's inconvenient for you to open the way ahead." "Alright." Zhou Ping nodded, the wind from the mountain depression seemed to be weaker, he waved his hand, "Let's go." The three of them entered the col in a file, fighting against the wind and struggling forward.The situation was even worse than they had imagined. Since there were narrow cliffs on both sides of the small road in the col, the snow on the road deepened rapidly after entering the col. Unable to step up. Zhou Ping stopped, turned his head and shouted behind him: "The snow in this mountain depression is too deep!"

"Leave it, it's impossible to go up now! Let's think of a way after the snow stops!" Xiao Liu replied.Duan Xueming looked at Zhou Ping, obviously agreeing with Xiao Liu's point of view. Zhou Ping swallowed helplessly, and made a gesture of withdrawal.