After the crew finished their rest and preparations, they set off into the mountains.

The itinerary was planned by several contestants together, based on clues provided by Wang Chengzhu.

Tang Zhen was very cautious. He took the map and asked Ming Zhuo and Luo Wenxin for their opinions.

The mountains here aren't completely uninhabited; there are a few villages, but they're quite remote and require crossing a wide river.

The problem is that it's the dry season now, and most of the riverbed is exposed, so we'll probably have to walk a long stretch of it.

Tang Zhen chose one of the villages as his base so he could return quickly if needed.

Mingzhuo had no objection to this arrangement.

Luo Wenxin added, "Walking is fine, but this river is a sand river, so everyone should be careful of quicksand and take precautions."

Mingzhuo casually said, "What's there to be afraid of? Since people come and go from the village, there must be a way. Don't underestimate the wisdom of the masses."

The production team somehow found a guide who, seeing so many people wanting to go into the mountains, enthusiastically offered to arrange a ferry, assuring everyone that they wouldn't have to worry and that they could cross the river.

They also said that there used to be an old bridge, but it was destroyed by a flood, and now the only way to get into the mountains is by boat.

He also said that after crossing the bridge, there would be a lot of water and quicksand on the exposed sandy beach of the riverbed, so everyone should be careful. He then called for help to carry the equipment and luggage for the production crew.

The production team breathed a sigh of relief; anything that could be solved with money was a minor issue.

Luo Wenxin remarked that this place was indeed a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, and where the people were simple and honest.

Mingzhuo glanced at him, and Luo Wenxin immediately asked cautiously if she had said something wrong.

Qiao Song said, "Professor Luo, you might be a bit naive. This person seems a bit strange, but he's most likely here to extort money."

Although he was not very good at cultivation, he had seen a lot of the world and could tell at a glance that this person's eyes were shifty and his intentions were not right.

Mingzhuo gave him an approving look: "Not bad."

Qiao Song: "I'm not entirely useless, Consultant Ruan! How about this, I'll go talk to him and see if we can get a discount."

He figured he could save the production team a lot of money, so at least he had served a purpose.

I just hope that Mingzhuo will let him continue to cling to his coattails, since he's still useful to him.

Gu Xu walked over: "Zhuozhuo, I've already had someone inquire and found out. There's no need to take a boat; there's a bridge across the river."

Qiao Song was just about to make a good impression when he heard this and was stunned. Was it true? Would he still be of any use then?

That said, this Mr. Gu seems like someone who would only appear in modern CBD business centers, strategizing and winning in the business world; or attend lavish banquets, indulging in extravagance and debauchery. He doesn't seem like someone who would associate with all sorts of people.

Qiao Song felt a sudden pressure. Was everyone around Consultant Ruan so capable?

——

The information that Gu Xu had found out was, of course, true.

The pontoon bridge is a bit further than the location the guide mentioned; you can see it after driving for a few minutes.

The so-called bridge was made by building a bridge with several old boats and laying planks in the middle for people to pass through.

The pontoon bridge spans almost the entire Shahe River, and the exposed sandy areas are connected by dilapidated and stranded boats, making it not only accessible by foot but also by electric vehicles, which is very convenient.

Although the location is a bit remote, the locals obviously know about this pontoon bridge, and there are quite a few pedestrians crossing it.

The guide, his lie exposed, turned pale and said sheepishly, "This bridge requires a toll."

Tang Zhen frowned and said, "I'm sorry, we don't need a guide now."

He has already inquired and found out that the so-called fee is five yuan per person to cross the bridge.

All of them, including their equipment, only spent less than two hundred yuan.

Tang Zhensheng hated this kind of swindler and cheater more than anything. He immediately lost his temper and told the production team to settle the money quickly and ask the other party to leave.

The man tried to cause trouble, but no one from the production crew paid him any attention. In fact, because he was blocking the way, people behind him even shoved him.

He watched angrily as the group of outsiders stepped onto the pontoon bridge and couldn't help but spit out a curse.

Do these people really think they're easy to bully? Cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents. Just wait, I'll make them pay sooner or later.

On the pontoon bridge, Gu Xu suddenly stopped and looked back.

He Wangyao was puzzled. "A-Xu, what are you looking at?"

Mingzhuo: "Axu is probably wondering about that person's scent."

Gu Xu nodded: "Yes, I smelled a peculiar fragrance on that person. He must also be a Xuan Master."

He Wangyao was taken aback: "Really? Isn't that just a thug?"

It's completely unbelievable. If someone were a master of esoteric arts, how could they possibly do something like this, deceiving and swindling?

However, the old man whom Gu Xu had invited sighed, "He's not some local thug. His mother is the famous Huang Gu, who is very accurate at fortune telling. Back in the day, when she lived deep in these mountains, many people would cross the river by boat just to have her tell their fortune."

Crossing the river back then was not as easy as it is now; even during the dry season, the riverbed was not visible.

The river was surging and the ferry was not safe.

Even so, people still flocked to Huang Gu for fortune telling.

The existence of Huang Gu once filled the mountain village with mystery. The older generation warned that there were gods in the mountains and that they should not be offended. If taboos were broken, the whole family would be punished.

As the river level gradually decreased, large sections of the riverbed were eventually exposed. As the mountain people began to have more frequent contact with the outside world, the river no longer seemed so mysterious.

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