When I heard Miao Xiaoxian ask that, I realized I had let something slip. However, since we were now on the same side, I didn't hide anything and said, "Actually, when we first entered Ping'an Village, we secretly infiltrated the village in the willow forest and accidentally triggered the Gu poison there. We learned how to deal with them. I didn't mean to hide this from you; after all, those people are your ancestors, so I..."

“Those people are my ancestors, that’s true, but I don’t want future generations to become like that. I know that the human poison is said to be made to harm people, so you don’t need to feel guilty towards me.”

Upon hearing my explanation, Miao Xiaoxian didn't say anything reproachful. She simply urged, "The clan leader's camp is located deep in the mountains, quite a distance from here. Time is of the essence, let's set off as soon as possible!"

"Um!"

When I heard Miao Xiaoxian say that, I told her to start preparing. At the same time, I went outside to discuss with Xue Dong who would be going into the mountains. In the end, we decided that I would take Manjing, and the remaining three people would be chosen by Xue Dong.

After the five-person team was finalized, we quickly made preparations and, led by Miao Xiaoxian, entered the mountains north of the town.

Miao Xiaoxian led us on a brisk walk along the mountain path. When we reached the edge of a grove of trees, she squatted down by the roadside to check something. She picked up a dead spider from the grass, examined it, and then frowned.

I noticed the change in Miao Xiaoxian's expression and asked softly, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this spider?"

"It's a Gu I left behind. This little worm is called the Gallbladderless Spider. After being cultivated, its crawling ability is severely degraded, and it is particularly sensitive to sound and smell. Once the surrounding environment changes, this little worm will empty the liquid in its stomach until it dies."

Miao Xiaoxian threw the spider's corpse into the woods: "This is the only way to the chieftain's camp. I'm afraid someone has already gotten there before us."

"I don't think we need to show too much concern about this kind of thing."

Xue Dong was relatively optimistic about the matter: "Didn't you say that the place we're going to is extremely secluded, and even with our own people leading the way, it's difficult to find? If that's the case, then it's even more difficult for outsiders to find it! So, is it possible that the spider's death was caused by a wild animal, or that someone inside came out?"

"Let's hope so. We're still some distance from the chieftain's camp. To ensure accuracy, I've released quite a few of these little insects along the way. We'll find out whether anyone is still looking for them once we've gone a little further."

Miao Xiaoxian did not refute Xue Dong's guess, but there was obvious worry in her eyes, and she unconsciously quickened her pace.

After wandering around in the mountains for about three hours, Miao Xiaoxian reached into the grass and pulled out a cowardly spider that was frantically spinning webs. She breathed a slight sigh of relief: "The people who came before us were all heading in this direction. I thought they knew the exact location of the chieftain's camp. It seems I was overthinking it. Although they had already reached the vicinity of the chieftain's camp, they clearly changed direction at the crucial moment."

I straightened my back: "So, that means we're very close to the chieftain's camp now?"

"Yes, just over the small hill ahead."

Miao Xiaoxian nodded and looked at us seriously: "From now on, you will follow my command in everything in the team, especially when passing through ambush sections. You will even have to follow my instructions on where to stay. Everyone must remain quiet. Even if you are bitten by a snake or see a wild beast, you must not run around or shout!"

Xue Dong took a deep breath: "My people are all professionally trained, and their obedience and perseverance will far exceed your imagination. You don't need to worry about that."

"Let's go."

Miao Xiaoxian didn't offer any opinion and disappeared into the bushes nearby.

As I traveled along the way, I did not find any traps or signs of human activity.

But judging from Miao Xiaoxian's wary expression and the beads of sweat that appeared on her forehead several times, I knew that we were just spectators watching a show. This seemingly ordinary stretch of road must have been fraught with danger before, but Miao Xiaoxian had managed to overcome them all.

Without her leading the way, I suspect we would have gotten here without even knowing how we died.

Just as I was lost in thought, Miao Xiaoxian in front of me suddenly stopped, and her chest began to heave faster.

Seeing her expression, I also became wary, pointed my crossbow at the bushes ahead, and asked in a low voice, "Is there a problem?"

"No, we've already passed the area where the Gu were placed. Before, we didn't even dare to breathe loudly while walking inside, but now we can finally relax a bit."

Miao Xiaoxian shook her head: "The bushes in front have been coated with a special powder. This powder is colorless and odorless, and after it is evenly spread, it is hard to see with the naked eye. However, it is the favorite of a kind of highly poisonous gu insect. Once it gets on your body, you will be attacked by those highly poisonous gu insects. We need to think of a way to get around it."

"No need for that."

Xue Dong waved his hand and took out several sealed bags from his backpack: "These are disposable simple protective suits, the kind that cover the whole body without any blind spots. We can wear these clothes and take them off after we leave this area."

I was about to agree when Miao Xiaoxian refused, saying, "Those poisonous insects are extremely powerful; even wild boars covered in pine resin can't withstand them, let alone this outfit. Come with me!"

Hearing Miao Xiaoxian say that, Xue Dong could only shrug and follow her.

According to Miao Xiaoxian, this powder is extremely difficult to make, and even the people of Ping'an Village do not have a way to detoxify it, so they themselves dare not touch it, which inevitably leads to them leaving a passage for entry and exit.

Fifteen minutes later, we climbed up a hillside and looked down into the valley. We saw that many huts had been built with branches and leaves at the very back, but the chieftain's camp was at the end of the valley, so most of our view was blocked by the mountains.

Xue Dong scanned the valley with a thermal imaging telescope and pointed to several bushes, saying, "There, there, there, there, there are hidden sentries in these locations."

Miao Xiaoxian glanced at the binoculars in Xue Dong's hand with some surprise, seemingly curious about how he had discovered the people in the grass, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she looked at me and said, "This is the road to the chieftain's camp. With my abilities, I can only bring you this far. As for what happens next, it's up to you!"