Leitao and Li Shuiniu did not relax when they found the shack empty; instead, they became even more vigilant. They exchanged a silent, knowing look and slowly stepped inside. Leitao’s eyes were sharp as torches, scanning the interior quickly and missing no corner, as he tried to find any trace left behind by the enemy in this cramped space.
The shack was primitive, containing only a few scattered, tattered clothes and a simple wooden box. Li Shuiniu stepped forward to check the clothes, while Leitao knelt to examine the box. He slowly pried it open, but inside there were only a few crumbs of dry rations and nothing of significance. Just as Leitao prepared to stand up, his peripheral vision caught a blurred dark shadow on the floor. He bent down, leaned in for a closer look, and discovered a partially burned piece of paper.
Leitao grew alert instantly. He took a black flashlight from his belt, covered the light with his fingers, and switched it on. The thin beam of light leaking through his fingers illuminated the charred, ruined paper on the ground. To his surprise, it was a Japanese Army tactical map.
Chapter 358