Forest Ranger, starting from Picking Up a Lynx Girl

"Ali, come over. Is this a Jellyfish Snow Rabbit?"

The Jellyfish Snow Rabbit we saw this time was much more vibrant in color than the one we saw last time, and Chen Ying was almost unable to recognize it.

Yin Li walked over to take a look, and he squatted down and snapped a flurry of pictures.

After walking through this area, we didn't see any Tanggu Rhodiola, but we discovered another rare medicinal plant, Feathered Groundsel.

This gravelly area had quite a few plants, mainly Jellyfish Snow Rabbits, with a good distribution of Feathered Groundsel on the sunny side.

Chen Ying and Yin Li helped Dao Meihua to take photos and record the locations of these two plants, intending to return next year to see if there were any changes in their growth.

After they finished measuring, they looked up at another Bird Research Student who was photographing a Large Kite up in the sky.

The Large Kite found in the highlands is a resident bird, belonging to the family Accipitridae in the order Falconiformes, a large raptor that primarily feeds on wild hares, mouse rabbits, and ground squirrels.

Just so happens that these three types of small animals are becoming overpopulated here.

"I've never seen such a beautiful large bird before."

Chen Ying wasn't very knowledgeable about birds, and since the Bird Research Institute was around, general rescues of wild birds were usually managed by them, quickly handled without his involvement.

"I've been here several times before and only saw vultures and Red Kestrels; this is my first time seeing a Large Kite, and it's so impressive!"

I wonder if the difference in environment also altered my state of mind.

Back in Jiamu Gully, I only found the birds too noisy, but here on the highland wilderness, when I find it difficult to even hear a bird's call, I particularly miss the forest.

After photographing the Large Kite, the four of us retraced our steps and found several broken eggshells by the lake's edge.

Based on the broken condition of the eggshells and the surrounding environment, it was likely that they were broken by other animals scavenging food.

"Be careful here, there might be snakes around. A team member previously found a Red-blotched Plateau Viper in another river valley sand area; the venom is extremely potent, and it's no joke."

When Yin Li saw that the Research Student and Dao Meihua seemed inclined to walk in another direction, he quickly spoke up to remind them.

"Bring your walking sticks, be careful. This wretched place, if you get bitten, we won't be able to save you."

Hearing this, Dao Meihua adjusted her high-top boots to better protect against snake bites.

The Research Student looked a bit scared and stepped back to Chen Ying's side.

After all, he researched birds, and a glance was all he needed to spot whether they were around, so he didn't have to search along the riverbank.

Chen Ying asked Yin Li to accompany the Research Student back, while he followed Dao Meihua to check another sandy area for the target she was seeking.

Unfortunately, after a thorough search, they did not find it, but instead, they found another patch of thriving Feathered Groundsel.

After making records again, they turned and headed back.

Not too far out, Chen Ying suddenly stopped Dao Meihua and told her not to move.

Right next to them, at the edge where the sandy and grassy areas met, a snake silently passed by.

"Be careful; even though the Red-blotched Plateau Viper has the strongest venom, other venomous snakes are not to be underestimated either."

Dao Meihua was not afraid of venomous snakes, as she had encountered many in the rainforest where she grew up playing with snakes.

But she accepted Chen Ying's kindness and moved closer to him for safety.

Chen Ying felt strangely uneasy and wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. After hesitating, he only managed to utter, "We can go now."

Dao Meihua pursed her lips, held back a laugh, and simply followed Chen Ying obediently back.

"What did you just see? I saw you guys suddenly stopping."

"We saw a snake, not sure if it was venomous, better to be cautious."

"Brother Ying, are there so many snakes in this area? I feel like there aren't many snakes around the research station."

"The environment is different; this uninhabited area actually does have quite a few snakes. Haven't there been reports calling this place a 'paradise for venomous snakes'? Remember, boy, no matter what, when you're out on fieldwork, you must always be very careful."

"Got it, Brother Ying, I'll be careful."

That kid was sincere. He took out his notebook and recorded today's encounter with the snake, mentioning that if he had to come with classmates later, he could also warn his peers about what to be aware of.

This area has a freshwater source, and there was a wind-sheltered hill nearby. After discussing, we decided to rest here for the night and set off to the next location in the morning.