Sichuan City is the closest province to the Shiwanda Mountains in Lingnan. It is the most convenient place to enter the Shiwanda Mountains, and you can prepare all the necessary supplies directly on the local area.

However, Lin Wu and Zheng Yuan did not need to prepare anything. Lin Wu had told Bai Jing in advance that she would arrive today, and Bai Jing told her to just go there and he would prepare everything she needed.

Lin Wu did not rent a car separately, but directly bought an off-road vehicle in Chuancheng and drove there.

Zheng Yuan was still driving on the road, and Lin Wu was looking at the map that Zheng Jingmin sent her in the back seat.

After a while, the cell phone rang.

Zheng Yuan glanced at him and said, "Master, it was Miss Bai who called."

Lin Wu didn't look up and stretched out his hand.

Zheng Yuan took the phone with one hand and handed it to Lin Wu.

Once the call was connected, Bai Jing's voice came: "When will you arrive?"

Lin Wu estimated the time, "It should be the late night."

Bai Jing was surprised: "Why is it so late? Did you just get on the plane?"

"No, I have already left Chuancheng and entered the mountains." Lin Wu's eyes fell on a certain location on the map and said, "But I have to go to a place first and then go to Zhangjia Village. The mountain road near Zhangjia Village is rugged and difficult to walk. I have to take a detour and it will take a long time."

Bai Jing asked: "Where are we going? To the hill behind Zhangjia Village?"

"No. I see there is a small valley thirteen miles southwest of Zhangjia Village. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and the only exit is a river. Let's go there and take a look." Lin Wu said.

This made Bai Jing wonder: "What are you doing over there?"

Lin Wu: "I went to find Zheng Jingmin, the owner of Shixing, and got a map from him. It is marked on the map that this is Zheng Mingxian's final destination."

Bai Jing was even more surprised: "The whereabouts of the young master Shi Xing should be their secret, right? How did you get it?"

"It's simple. I had someone intercept the contact between Zheng Jingmin and Lingnan and told him that I couldn't find Zheng Mingxian and that Zheng Mingxian might be in danger. He was worried about Zheng Mingxian and asked me to help find him." Lin Wu did not hide anything from her.

Bai Jing's tone was more subtle: "Are you lying?"

Lin Wu said righteously: "How can it be considered a lie? Everything I said was correct. I really can't find Zheng Mingxian, and he really might be in danger."

Bai Jing's mouth twitched slightly.

"There is one more thing." Lin Wu spoke again, "Eighteen years ago, Zheng Jingmin got a very special stone from the villagers of a village in the Thirty-Six Villages, and Zheng Mingxian is now looking for a meteorite. I think they are the same. What a coincidence that Zheng Mingxian is near Zhangjia Village."

Bai Jing understood immediately: "Do you think the village that Zheng Jingmin came to eighteen years ago was also Zhangjia Village? The reason why Zhangjia Village withdrew from the Thirty-Six Villages may also be related to this stone?"

Lin Wu hummed, "Not sure, but at least it's a direction. You can check it here first. I'll be there later."

"Okay." Bai Jing agreed immediately and asked, "You are the only two of us. Do you want me to ask Bo Ning to bring people to that valley to pick you up?"

"No. If Bo Ning gets tired or hurt while staying with me, you will have to settle the score with me. It will be troublesome." Lin Wu refused immediately.

Bai Jing snorted and hung up the phone.

Lin Wu put down his phone, looked at the map for a while, then adjusted the seat flat, lay down and closed his eyes to rest.

Before we knew it, night had fallen.

It was almost midnight when Zheng Yuan woke Lin Wu up: "Master, we are almost there."

Lin Wu rubbed his eyes to make himself more awake, sat up and looked out the car window.

They were on a mountain road that went up continuously and had many turns. It was dark outside, with shadows of the trees shining against each other, making it particularly quiet.

After a while, the mountain road began to go down.

About ten minutes later, Zheng Yuan finally parked the car at a small road. There was a hillside above, and after walking a short distance, he could see the river entering the valley.

Lin Wu unbuckled his seat belt, pushed open the car door and got out, simply stretching his sore hands and feet.

Zheng Yuan also got out of the car and walked to Lin Wu's side, asking, "Master, are we going to go directly into the valley this time?"

Zheng Yuan followed her with a flashlight in hand, and cut a branch to clear away the branches and weeds that were blocking the way.

In late autumn, the grass and trees here have turned yellow and withered.

Lin Wu walked while observing his surroundings. After crossing the hillside, he went down the path. After walking for about fifteen minutes, a river appeared in his sight and there was no road ahead.

The two stopped by the river. The river in front of them was about two meters wide, and the depth was unclear for the time being, but the water flow was quite turbulent.

Lin Wu looked at the direction of the river, which disappeared into the darkness of the forest. Although they did not bring any equipment, if they walked carefully along the river bank, they should be able to enter the valley at the end, but Lin Wu did not plan to go in.

She bent down and squatted, reaching out her hand to test the water. The river water was very cold and had a salty smell.

"Is that direction the river leading to the back mountain of Zhangjia Village?" Lin Wu suddenly asked.

Zheng Yuan took out his phone and checked, "Yes."

Lin Wu stood up and walked upstream.

Zheng Yuan also followed.

After a while, Lin Wu smelled the salty smell in the air. It was quite obvious and hard to ignore, and the ground under his feet seemed a little soft.

So she stopped moving forward, squatted down, grabbed a handful of soil and smelled it, then frowned.

Zheng Yuan saw it and asked, "Master, what's wrong?"

Lin Wu asked him to grab a handful of soil and smell it.

Zheng Yuan did as he was told and was surprised: "Why does the soil here smell like rot and blood?"

"Normally, soil with this smell indicates that there are tombs that have existed underground for many years." Lin Wu looked around and said, "But the map shows that when you enter the valley, you will see a cave pointed to by the river. If you go deep into it, you will see the meteorite that Zheng Mingxian and his team need to find. There is no indication that there are other situations here."

She had heard Bai Jing mention that the archaeological team came to Zhangjia Village for an ancient tomb complex, but she didn't expect there were also tombs here. This place was far away from the back mountain of Zhangjia Village.

Zheng Yuan looked at Lin Wu, waiting for her next words.

As expected, Lin Wu stood up and looked at him, saying, "You don't have to go to Zhangjia Village with me. Go find the remaining people in Zheng Mingxian's team stationed in the nearby camp and say that Zheng Jingmin sent you to find out about their situation. After you find out what they are doing, come back to Zhangjia Village to find me."

She suspected that Zheng Jingmin still did not tell her the whole truth, or that something really happened to Zheng Mingxian and others after they arrived here, but they just hadn't had time to tell Zheng Jingmin.

Zheng Yuan nodded in agreement.

Lin Wu passed him the map and personnel information, and said, "You go first. I need to stay here for a while."

Zheng Yuan was a little worried: "But you are alone..."

"It's okay. Even if an accident happens, it's not certain who will be in danger." Lin Wu waved his hand.

Zheng Yuan then left, but he looked back every few steps as he left.

Lin Wu turned on the spare flashlight and checked the river bank and water source.

The two surviving members of the archaeological team that Bai Jing mentioned were all wet and forgot everything after waking up, including Bai Jing and Bo Ning. This made Lin Wu wonder if they were hit by something that would cause hallucinations or affect their will. The only thing they had come into contact with was water.

Maybe there was something wrong with the water? Lin Wu continued to walk upstream towards the back mountain of Zhangjia Village.

Suddenly, Lin Wu's ears moved slightly and he heard some strange sounds.

She immediately stopped and turned around, looking into the dark woods.

“Crack—”

It was the crisp sound of footsteps breaking dry branches on the ground.

(End of this chapter)