Shu Lan and Qin An exchanged glances. Finally, Shu Lan spoke first: "In that case, we definitely have to explore this back mountain."
"I will listen to my master brother."
On the way, Xiaoyou asked her aunt curiously, "Auntie, why did you tell the fairy brother about going to the back mountain? Didn't the village chief say there are monsters in the back mountain? He also told us not to go."
The aunt's eyes darkened as she recalled some scenes she had witnessed, but then she regained her composure: "You said there are monsters in the back mountain, so we can't go there. But the immortals don't need to be afraid; they can defeat the monsters."
"Oh, that fairy brother is really amazing!" Xiaoyou's tone was full of admiration.
"Yes, they're very capable." I hope they can find the real culprit. Auntie tightened her grip on Xiaoyou's hand and quickened her pace home.
On the other side, Shu Lan and Qin An then asked several villagers about the village chief. They learned that the village chief originally had a daughter who later died of illness, and his son-in-law had also disappeared without a trace. He was left with only one granddaughter, who, six months ago, contracted a strange illness and grew thinner and thinner each day. The village chief said she was no longer alive.
After gathering the information, Shu Lan and Qin An returned to their room.
"There's something strange about this granddaughter," Qin An said with a serious expression.
"That's what I think too." Shu Lan frowned slightly. "The timing is too coincidental. The village chief's granddaughter contracted a strange illness half a year ago, and the strange things that started happening only half a year ago."
“So, there must be clues on this granddaughter. Perhaps, it’s related to the strange things that have happened in the last six months.” Qin An propped his chin up with his hand. “But the villagers say that the village chief’s granddaughter has passed away.”
"Do you believe it? Think about it carefully, who said that the granddaughter had passed away?" Shu Lan tapped Qin An's forehead with her finger.
"It was the village chief who said that. Oh, I see. The village chief is lying; he must be trying to cover something up." Qin An rubbed his forehead, suddenly realizing.
"So now, we not only need to investigate the back mountain, but also find the village chief's granddaughter." Qin An understood the goal they were about to achieve.
“That’s right.” Shu Lan nodded. “Now we just need to wait until it gets dark.”
As evening approached, the village chief knocked on the door of the place where the disciples and elders were temporarily staying.
"It's so late, what's the matter, Village Chief?" the Fifth Elder asked.
"I have prepared some local specialties from the village and would like to invite you immortals to taste them. I hope you will do me the honor." The village chief opened the food box he had brought and took out some green rice dumplings that he had prepared in advance.
"Wow, it looks delicious!" Some disciples couldn't resist and grabbed one to put in their mouths.
The other disciples followed suit and all ate the green rice dumplings.
Unable to refuse the Fifth Elder's hospitality, he made an exception and ate one.
The village chief also brought the green rice dumplings to Shu Lan and Qin An's room. Shu Lan accepted the green rice dumplings and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, village chief."
"No need to be so polite, it's all what I should do." The village chief waved his hand repeatedly, smiling kindly.
Shu Lan took a bite of the green rice dumpling, her brows twitched suddenly, and then she ate it without changing her expression.
Qin An took the green rice dumpling and was about to eat it when he suddenly received a telepathic message from Shu Lan.
"Xiao An, don't eat it yet. There's something wrong with this qingtuan."
Qin An's hand holding the green rice dumpling trembled slightly, but returned to normal in a very short time, and no one noticed.
"Xiao An, pretend to eat it first, keep this green rice ball in your mouth, don't swallow it," Shu Lan continued telepathically.
"And what about you, Master? Will you be alright?" Qin An asked anxiously in his heart. But due to his insufficient cultivation, he couldn't send a telepathic message to his Master.
Qin An did as instructed, putting the green rice dumpling in his mouth without swallowing it.
The village chief watched as everyone ate the green rice dumplings, then smiled and nodded. "I won't disturb you immortals' rest any longer," he said, turning and leaving.
After the village chief left, Qin An quickly closed the door. Shu Lan then cast a spell to isolate herself from outside sounds.
Qin An first spat out the green rice ball, then looked anxiously at Shu Lan: "Brother Shizun, how are you? Are you alright?"
Shu Lan waved her hand and said, "I'm fine."
"Really?" Qin An was somewhat skeptical. He was very anxious and worried, fearing that Shu Lan was hiding her condition.
"I'm really alright, don't you believe me? When have I ever lied?" Shu Lan found Qin An's anxious appearance somewhat amusing.
Qin An gradually calmed down. "Then, Master, you just said there was a problem with the green rice dumplings. What's the problem?"
“Something was added to the qingtuan.” Shu Lan recalled the situation when he ate the qingtuan. As soon as he ate it, the three spiritual flames in his body began to surge slightly, completely destroying something inside the qingtuan. And that thing, “that thing seems to be a kind of drug specifically for cultivators. It can put cultivators into a deep sleep and seal their spiritual power.”
"You mean, the village chief wants to put us all into a deep sleep?" Qin An realized something.
“That’s right, if I’m not mistaken, the village chief is going to make a move tonight.” Shu Lan paced back and forth. “So we must seize the opportunity tonight.”
The bright moon was high in the sky, and the night wind swept into the village, making the thatched roofs of the houses rustle.
With a creak, the door to the village chief's house opened. A figure quietly slipped out. In the moonlight, who else could it be but the village chief?
The village chief cautiously looked around, and only after confirming that no one was around did he quietly leave the village and head towards the back mountain.
Shu Lan and Qin An had been prepared all along. They hid in the bushes and waited until the village chief was far away before quietly following him.
The village chief walked to an old locust tree on the back hill. He looked around and, finding no movement, began to dig. After digging for a while, he unearthed a wooden box.
The village chief opened the wooden box with the utmost care, as if it were a priceless treasure.
Under the cultivator's exceptional eyesight, Shu Lan saw a blood-red bead inside the wooden box. The bead was eerily red, as if it were filled with flowing blood.
Shu Lan looked at Qin An, who nodded; he had also seen the bead.
The village chief carefully tucked the bead into his pocket and then hurriedly continued walking into the mountains.
Shu Lan and Qin An followed closely behind as usual.
The village chief walked to a cave, and after confirming that there was no one around, he went into the cave.
Shu Lan and Qin An also reached the sides of the cave. They carefully listened to the sounds coming from inside.
After a flurry of footsteps, the cave suddenly fell silent.
Just as Shu Lan frowned slightly, an unexpected voice rang out.
"Grandpa, you're here!"
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