Chapter 92 Hidden Compartment
Chapter 92 Hidden Compartment
Have we arrived at the Bewitching Town?
Everyone around suddenly held their breath.
Although the town of Bewitching Souls is famous, it's all just hearsay. But now, having just arrived in the town, a series of unexpected events have happened, leaving everyone a bit bewildered.
In particular, Wei Meng has already charged in!
The black cat that was hunched over just moments ago has vanished. In this place overgrown with weeds, it would be too easy for it to leave.
"So, this is the entrance to the Bewitching Town?" Wang Sumo asked in surprise.
Just moments ago, Xiaobai and Grandpa Weng were talking about how many traces of deliberate concealment were present in the surrounding area, and suddenly they arrived at the Enchanted Town.
Has the journey been shortened or something?
Wang Sumo looked down at the map, somewhat surprised, and then glanced at Bai Cen.
Bai Cen handed the majestic weapon to Jiang Yutang, who had just dismounted.
When the powerful horse charged in, Jiang Yutang was almost dragged in with it. After being given a rope, Jiang Yutang dismounted because the two horses in front were also getting restless, and she had to dismount and pull the rope to stay steady.
But horses are different from mighty ones; these horses are domesticated.
Even after being domesticated, they still showed signs of unease, though they wouldn't charge headlong into the Bewitching Town like the mighty beasts.
Jiang Yutang dared not be careless.
Although Bai Cen had been cautiously muttering about whether the road was close together or not, and whether it was overgrown with weeds, he now directly called out, "Old Zhao."
Zhao Tong understood and handed him the short knife in his hand.
Bai Cen then used his short sword to cleave the thorns in front of him a little.
In the chaos just now, everyone went to look at Wei Meng, but he looked at the black cat.
Whether this cat is a stray or has an owner, it must be very familiar with the terrain to be able to wander around in such a weird place.
Compared to the ferocious way this black cat charged headlong into the main road, there's likely another path it was wandering around in.
As the short knife slowly cleaved through the thorns, it seemed as if a path hidden behind the thorns was truly being revealed.
Jiang Yutang's palms also felt a little numb.
In particular, the sky gradually darkened.
There really is a road here...
Bai Cen frowned slightly.
"Old Zhao, come and see." Bai Cen called out.
Zhao Tong was looking around the stone slab. Although the stone slab was covered by weeds, there was still something nearby. Zhao Tong reached out and grabbed a handful of soil. The soil was mixed with something, but before he could look at it carefully, he heard Bai Cen call him.
Zhao Tong put down the soil in his hand and stepped forward. Following the small hole that Bai Cen had dug with his short knife, he saw something behind the thicket of thorns that looked like a slope.
"Hey, Lao Zhao, isn't that strange?" Bai Cen sighed softly, "Who would build something like this so close to the entrance of their own town?"
Putting aside whether it's auspicious or not, it's just ugly!
No one would invite bad luck like that.
It's like digging a huge hole in front of your house that everyone can see, so that all sorts of messy things can be seen.
Zhao Tong glanced at him, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, then looked down at the thorns on the ground that Bai Cen had cut down.
"What's wrong?" Bai Cen noticed the strange look in his eyes.
"Give me the knife," Zhao Tong said succinctly.
Bai Cen quickly handed it to him.
I just used it casually, but when it comes to how to wield a knife, Zhao Tong is naturally more familiar with it.
Zhao Tong took it, and Bai Cen witnessed a truly swift and decisive action.
Good heavens!
It's the same knife, but in Brother Zhao's hands it's so fast! Any faster and it would have been uprooted!
Bai Cen was stunned.
But Zhao Tong wanted to uproot it completely.
"Wow!!" Bai Cen exclaimed in surprise!
They really did uproot it completely.
Wait a minute, Bai Cen looked at Zhao Tong in surprise: "What's this?"
Zhao Tong nodded: "That's right. The thorns here look dense, but half of them aren't even rooted here. They look dense, but half of them were actually added later. There's something fishy going on behind the scenes, just to cover it up."
Zhao Tong's explanation made sense!
"Perhaps the real entrance to Bewitching Town is here?" Bai Cen boldly hypothesized.
Zhao Tong smiled and, having just found a long one, said, "Here it comes."
Bai Cen took a deep breath and said, "There must be a pattern to how these brambles are laid out, otherwise it wouldn't be convenient to get in and out."
Zhao Tong agreed.
Bai Cen sighed, "If it weren't for Wei Meng being there and attracting that black cat, Wei Meng would have run away, and the black cat would have been frightened and scurried here. We really wouldn't have discovered this place. It's an opening that someone hid."
"It'll be soon." Zhao Tong seemed to see a glimmer of hope.
Although Wang Sumo was also curious, he dared not get off the carriage. He looked at the map several times. The town of Bewitching Souls on the map was at least a few miles ahead. He wondered if it was because no one had dared to come for so long that the map was no longer being revised.
Wang Sumo rested her chin on her hand, gazing ahead, while Zhao Tong and Bai Cen continued to clear away the thorns.
Yu Tang led two horses, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings, not daring to let her guard down.
After what happened earlier, Master Weng went to the carriage to inform the old master.
Especially at times like these, someone needs to be on guard behind the carriage. Old Master Weng nodded after listening, but his attention remained focused on his surroundings. When Old Master Weng returned from behind the carriage, he saw Bai Cen and Zhao Tong rummaging through the brambles.
“Uncle Weng.” Bai Cen looked at him.
Weng He also squatted down, and then habitually reached out and rubbed the soil on the ground, as well as a clump of dirt hidden behind the thorns.
Weng He paused slightly, as if he had a general idea of what was going on.
Meanwhile, Bai Cen and Zhao Tong had already cut down or pulled aside most of the thorns, revealing the slope behind the path.
The slope wasn't steep; two people couldn't cross it side by side.
There's something odd about it.
The three exchanged a glance, and Zhao Tong said, "I'll go take a look, but I won't go far."
Grandpa Weng nodded.
Although the town of Bewitching Souls is strange in every way, as long as you don't go too far, you can explore the area first before making any plans.
Bai Cen also turned to Wang Sumo and said, "Master, there's a small slope behind the thorns. Brother Zhao, go and take a look first."
Wang Sumo nodded.
"Brother Zhao, be careful," Bai Cen reminded him, as this place indeed exuded an eerie atmosphere.
Zhao Tong agreed.
Going down the steep slope, it seemed fine to the naked eye, as it could only accommodate one person at a time. Zhao Tong looked left and right, and then at his feet, being very careful.
Bai Cen kept a close eye on things, afraid that something unexpected might happen.
While Bai Cen and Zhao Tong were watching the slope, Old Master Weng got up and went back to where Zhao Tong had found the stone slab.
He also squatted down and repeatedly rubbed the soil with his hands.
That's right, a different kind of soil...
Jiang Yutang was also nearby. When Grandpa Weng came forward, she watched quietly. Soon, Jiang Yutang also noticed the difference. Before Grandpa Weng could speak, Jiang Yutang said in surprise, "The soil here is old soil, but the soil over the thorns is new soil."
Old Weng looked at Jiang Yutang approvingly, then nodded: "Not bad."
Grandpa Weng said softly, "There are skulls here, old soil, and a stone slab with the words 'Bewitching Town' carved in it. It's meant to draw people's attention to this place as soon as they come here..."
"Then they won't explore any other places," Wang Sumo added, craning his neck from inside the carriage.
It must be said that she has always been smart.
Weng He nodded: "Yes, it's a trivial trick, just a deceptive scheme, and they even put a few skulls here."
Wang Sumo's expression was somewhat grim: "It might also have a deterrent effect..."
At least, it worked for her.
Jiang Yutang smiled, a rare occurrence for her.
"Sure enough, not every spectacle is worth watching," Wang Sumo remarked to himself. "Curiosity killed the cat."
Speaking of cats, Wang Sumo always felt uneasy, her heart pounding with uncertainty, as she discovered the slope behind the thorns by following a cat.
"I've checked. The soil around here is all old soil, only the area over the thorns is new soil." Old Master Weng clapped his hands.
Bai Cen frowned slightly: "New soil means it's newly repaired; it was even specially covered with thorns to prevent it from being discovered; Uncle Weng, when Wei Meng rushed in just now, it made a crunching sound everywhere, but Brother Zhao's road has nothing on it..."
Old Weng stood up: "This means that people have come to the Bewitching Town over the years, but they should all be coming and going via this small slope."
Wang Sumo gasped, "Then, what about Wei Meng?"
Wei Meng rushed into the main gate and onto the main road. Moreover, the slope was so small and short that Bazhenlou couldn't possibly pass through it. To get through the Bewitching Town, one had to take the main road.
Wei Meng essentially scouted ahead for them.
Wang Sumo sighed inwardly.
Bai Cen asked again, "Brother Zhao, have you found anything?"
This little slope is actually very short. It looks like you're almost at the end, where there's an earthen wall covered in plants—it's a dead end.
That's strange, how come there's such a road?
Zhao Tong didn't dare to be careless and took each step very carefully.
They would also squat down to check if there were any extra things mixed in with the soil.
In the Eight Treasures Restaurant, Wang Sumo doesn't know martial arts, but Zhao Tong and the old man are top-tier masters in the martial arts world; Bai Cen has no internal energy and his true strength is unknown, but he is fast; the remaining old man Weng and Jiang Yutang are not bad either.
Therefore, it is most appropriate for Zhao Tong to go ahead and scout. Even if something happens, Zhao Tong can ensure his safety, as the old man and others are still at Bazhenlou.
And so, as we neared the end, nothing seemed particularly special.
Wang Sumo's heart was always hanging in suspense: "Come back first, Brother Zhao."
We can ignore that side road and just drive the Eight Treasures Tower along the road that Wei Mengchong took.
Zhao Tong did take a look, but there was nothing special about it, so there was no need to waste time here; just as he turned around, his foot paused slightly as he stepped on something.
Zhao Tong slowly squatted down and reached into the soil to dig around.
Soon, they reached down and dug up something buried under the soil—white, like a grain of rice that had fallen out.
Rice grains?
Zhao Tong was slightly surprised.
Meanwhile, Bai Cen crossed his arms and looked at Zhao Tong, who was crouching down to examine the scene a little further away, continuing to think in the direction he had just been.
The slope was short and very steep, and the opposite side was clearly compacted earth, making it impossible for people to walk.
Why build such a slope and cover it with thorns to pretend there's nothing behind it?
As Bai Cen's thoughts wandered, a sudden idea popped into his head—unless, he wasn't the one who left?
This thought sent chills down Bai Cen's spine.
The steeper the slope, the easier it is for things to roll down the slope.
Rolling down saves effort.
Opposite is a rammed earth wall, designed so that anything rolling down will directly impact it and fall to the bottom...
Is this for transporting heavy goods?!
Bai Cen was surprised.
Not far away, Zhao Tong also got up in confusion, holding a few grains of rice in his hand, and began to explore the bottom of the slope again.
Bai Cen cried out in alarm, "Brother Zhao, come back!"
Bai Cen's shout startled everyone. Zhao Tong had already taken a step forward when he turned back to look at Bai Cen. Suddenly, he felt as if he had stepped into thin air.
With a loud bang, Zhao Tong fell straight down the slope from the bottom!
Everyone was stunned!
[Author's Note]
There's also a red envelope in this chapter; it will be sent out around noon tomorrow.
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Weekend break! More big updates tomorrow!
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