PCMWF Chapter 159

Everything was ready. Shen Yan, in his hiking gear, left with Su Youli, who was wearing the same outfit. The little guy, who had never been to kindergarten, had never been on a group camping trip like this, so he was excited from the morning on. At the meeting point, Pei Xu stood beside Hua Zhao, wearing a black windbreaker with yellow fluorescent stripes on the collar and sleeves, and a white hiking backpack on his back. The sun was shining brightly today. He squinted and finally saw who he was waiting for.

“Brother Qiqi.”

The little guy’s cheerful voice carried through the air. Pei Qiqi’s serious expression softened, and he smiled, waving his hand.

“Youyou!”

Pei Qiqi’s attention was first caught by the little guy’s backpack.

“Your backpack is a bit big,” he observed.

The two fathers had insisted that kids would share snacks and show off new backpacks on a spring outing. So they’d bought him a new, cool-looking backpack with plenty of space for ham, chips, and crispy noodles. Youyou would be the coolest of the four. Just imagining his little friends flocking around him, his proud expression, made the two dads happy. Shen Minyan had held his tongue when he saw the backpack covering Youyou’s bottom. But when they filled it with snacks, he said quietly, “Youyou isn’t going on a spring outing. This much will slow him down.”

Su Siwen and Qin Kun were speechless. The snacks were all taken out, leaving only two cod sausages.

“They were bought by Youyou’s dads,” the little guy said, turning his back to Pei Qiqi.

The little guy loved his two fathers, and Pei Qiqi was happy to compliment the backpack. Soon, the other two families came out. Everyone was dressed for the outdoors. The four little ones looked especially sharp in their hiking gear, clean and energetic, their excitement palpable.

“Let’s go!” the director shouted.

They boarded the ferry to Lake Ehuli Forest, full of curiosity and anticipation. The sea breeze carried a moist scent, the forest’s outline appearing through the mist.

The children leaned excitedly on the railing, watching the white foam churn beneath the boat, chattering about the forest they were about to enter. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows. From the moment Su Youli stepped into Lake Ehuli Forest, it felt like entering a mystical green world. His mouth slightly open, he looked up. The forest was so vast that he couldn’t see the end.

Because he loved plants, Su Siwen and Qin Kun often took him hiking in Nancheng to experience nature. Last time, the small forest in Nianbai Village was also beautiful. The little guy had been to many forests, but none were as beautiful and huge as this one. Standing in the shadow of the vast forest, he felt as small as a blade of grass, sheltered by the towering plants. The scent of pine needles and earth was fresh. He stepped onto the thick layer of fallen leaves. Su Youli let go of his brother’s hand and walked forward. No one needed to prepare the children mentally. The beauty of the place drew them in.

“Children, wait!”

The director hurried over, his old legs aching.

“First, find the treasure map, then you can reach the campsite.”

Finding the map wouldn’t be easy. The production team had set up obstacles. The four little ones would need to work together to get it. They came to an open space with a large stone in the center, covered in strange symbols and patterns. Mi Huan and Mi Le went forward, running their hands over the stone. It was cold and hard. The markings were clearly new, probably added by the crew.

They read the small text at the bottom: “Find the guardians of the forest. They will guide you.”

“Guardians of the forest?” Pei Xu wondered.

Before the director could speak, everyone was analyzing.

The director sat down and announced: “Finding the treasure map isn’t easy. There are four challenges.”

Each family would complete one challenge to get a key fragment. Four fragments would open the treasure chest. What child didn’t love a game like this? The four little ones quickly decided their order.

“My brother and I will find the maze exit. I’m the best at mazes!” Mi Le raised his hand.

“I can solve puzzles,” Pei Qiqi said, already having ideas.

Niu Niu was drawn to the fairy in the pink dress on the task card. So, she was sent to complete the “Fairy’s Trial” by walking across a balance beam. At the end, the fairy would open her mouth and spit out a fragment.

The youngest, Su Youli, had his eyes glued to his card: “The Secret of the Time Tunnel.”

It was a path covered in vines and branches, the entrance hidden by ferns, dark and mysterious. This was clearly a test of courage. Su Youli was a little scared of the dark, but the giant ferns captivated him. How could they grow so large, leaving a path in the middle? Was it a path for animals? Did a mole or fox live there?

“Youyou, it’s really dark in there. Let me switch with you,” Pei Qiqi offered.

The little guy would have to enter the dark tunnel, find the box, open it, take the fragment, and return.

Su Youli shook his head: “Big Brother is with Youyou.”

He took his brother’s hand, his lashes trembling, and smiled. Brother Xiao Tang had put a small flashlight in his backpack that morning. With light, he wasn’t afraid. After they’d chosen, the four parents crouched down to the children’s height, their hands meeting the little ones’ in a circle.

They took a breath together: “One, two, three, go!”

The sound echoed through the forest.

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