So we decided to go in and ask the villagers if there were any unusual places nearby. After all, these farmers have lived here for generations and know much more about the area than we, as newcomers.
As soon as I arrived at the village entrance, I saw a little girl carrying a bouquet of roses. I was surprised; wasn't this the little girl selling flowers that I had met last night?
The little girl clearly recognized me and quickly ran over to greet me politely, "Hello, big brother, are you here to play? I don't see any big sister here."
I smiled and said, "Big sister has something to do today, so she won't be coming. We're just here to wander around. Xiao Nian, you go and sell flowers."
"The older brother is at home."
"Okay, goodbye," I patted her little head and watched her skip away, thinking to myself, "Although life isn't easy, she deserves a happy childhood."
Upon entering the village, we saw an old man sitting in a wicker chair smoking a water pipe. We quickly went over to him. The old man looked to be in his seventies or eighties, so it was the perfect opportunity to ask him for information.
I offered him a cigarette. "Hello, sir. We're here for archaeological research and would like to ask you a few questions, is that alright?"
The old man puffed on his pipe, glanced at me sideways, and said, "A tomb raider is a tomb raider, why do you have to talk so high and mighty? Young man, you'd better be honest."
I was immediately embarrassed and forced a smile as I nodded, "Yes, yes, old man, you're right." I was also secretly surprised. Who was this old man? He had seen through our true purpose at a glance.
“What, is it strange? I’ve lived to a ripe old age, and I’ve seen more bridges than you’ve walked roads. You say you’re old archaeologists, but look at you, which one of you has any culture? Especially these few,” the old man pointed to the burly men that Luo Wanjun had brought, “they have the air of scoundrels, and they’re obviously not good people.”
Upon hearing this, we didn't think much of it, but those few people became agitated, their brows furrowed, and they looked ready to explode in anger.
Luo Wanjun, ever the sensible one, quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "Old man, you're right. We're not archaeologists, we're just here to steal treasure, so we'd like to ask you for some information, if that's alright?"
The old man took a few puffs of his pipe, glanced at us, and suddenly said, "You've also come here to find a place to become an immortal, haven't you?"
Upon hearing this, we were all taken aback, and felt even more that the old man was unfathomable.
"Old man, how did you know?" I leaned forward and lit his cigarette for him.
The old man took a puff of the cigarette I gave him and said slowly, "Of course I know. You guys are such a big group, you can tell you're from the underworld. If you didn't come to this place to become an immortal, what else could you be here for? Several groups of people came here back then, but none of them found it."
Hearing his words, we immediately understood. It turned out that Mount Emei had already been explored by others. However, we were relieved to hear from the old man that they hadn't found anything.
"Grandpa, can you tell us who these people are?"
One Hundred and Forty-Eight Immortal Mountain Entrances
"Anyway, there were several groups, but I can't remember the specifics. The one that left the deepest impression on me was the group when I was a child, back in the Republic of China era. There were more than ten people in that group, and I heard that there were some famous figures in the archaeological field at the time, as well as a few women. Another group was from more than 30 years ago. The impression that group left on me was that they were fierce. I even acted as their guide, but in the end, nothing came of it."
We immediately understood. It was obvious that the group from the Republic of China era was my great-grandfather and his group, while the group from over thirty years ago was the group led by Ghost Thousand Hands, but none of them found the place to become immortals.
“That old fox, Ghost Thousand Hands, wants to use us to find the Immortal Ascension Land so he can reap the benefits. He must have known about that tattered map of the Immortal Ascension Land last time, and deliberately gave it to us,” Xiang Fei said.
We all understand that things have come to light at this point.
"Old man, did you serve as their guide?"
"Yes, I've worked as a guide. Speaking of which, that group of people were like bandits. If I hadn't been quick-witted, I wouldn't be alive today," the old man said, puffing on his cigarette.
I offered him another cigarette. "Sir, how about you be our guide now?"
"No, no," the old man quickly waved his hand. "I'm too old to go through all that trouble, but I can give you some pointers. Both groups of people went there back then, so you might as well give it a try."
My eyes lit up, and I quickly thanked him, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, sir."
"It's alright, it's alright. Having lived to such an old age, I actually also want to know if there is a place to become an immortal. Otherwise, it would be a pity if so many people went to great lengths to find it but failed. I'll just see something interesting."
"Alright then," the old man said, getting up to lead the way. He circled the village and came to the mouth of a valley. Pointing to a place shrouded in mist, he said, "Just keep walking like this until you get out of this valley. Then you'll see a river. Just follow the river downstream. That's how I led them back then."
After thanking the old man, we continued on our way. The valley was not very deep and had a pristine, untouched appearance.
"Do you think the old man's words are credible?" Uncle Liu from Hunan suddenly asked.
"how?"
"Don't you think what just happened was far too easy and simple?"
We fell silent for a moment. What Uncle Liu from Hunan said was indeed a problem. What happened just now was too coincidental and too easy. These days, it's a mixed bag, so it might be a good thing to be more careful.
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