Chapter 102 Ancient Tree for a Thousand Years
May 4, 1977, 5:40 a.m.
Luo Yin remembers clearly that she only stayed in bed for a minute before Mu knocked on her door.
After getting ready, we prepared to meet at the base at 5:30.
Among the group of nine, one spot stood out prominently as I scanned the group from head to toe.
The three elderly men, with weathered faces, were not as well-equipped as the others, whose backpacks were bulging.
On the contrary, it is when you carry your own satchel on your back and hold your most handy tool in your hand.
Luo Yin noticed that Old Man Chen wasn't wearing his tattered hat this time, and his hair on top of his head was sparse. She thought something looked strange about him.
"Our goal today is to cross the Seven-Colored Lake."
"Everyone's ready, let's go!"
The nine-person group habitually surrounded the three elderly people and Luo Yin in the middle.
There were people stationed at the front and back for protection, and others were on guard in the middle area.
I'm afraid some ferocious beast might come out and pounce on me.
The forest is much clearer during the day than at night, but due to the special fog, it is still difficult to see clearly beyond a few meters.
Watch your step! Be careful not to slip!
Team Leader Feng shouted a warning, and the team leader behind him cut down any vines that might trip them up.
"Girl, come with me!"
"No, you're doing just fine, I can manage on my own!"
For some reason, Old Man Chen had been ordering Luo Yin around ever since.
Luo Yin was worried that he might bump into something, so she obediently helped him walk for a while. She found that he was fine, but she herself had accidentally cut herself in several small cuts.
Hey, you'd think that makes her look stupid!
"You silly girl, I have some wild animal protection kits here. Come over here and no animals will bother you."
Luo Yin pouted and patted her waist. "I have some too! No need."
Seeing that she wasn't coming over, Old Master Chen stopped talking.
The group walked on in silence for a while, stumbling and bumping their way out.
Thanks to someone clearing the way, and the fact that it was getting light and visibility improved dramatically, we were able to see many of the traps.
As planned, the first thing the group saw was a forest unlike any other.
Compared to the chaotic, sprawling banyan trees, this forest is filled with incredibly tall and straight trees.
It stands straight and wide across this place!
Upon seeing this, everyone couldn't help but show surprise.
"Hiss, what's going on with these trees?" Luo Yin couldn't help but ask.
"Wow, this place is completely different from the previous one. Is it because the conditions here are better that everyone here is more attractive than in other places?"
"But what kind of trees are these? They're so thick that it would take several adults to encircle them!"
Qin Chuan, who knew the situation, explained, "These are rare ancient mulberry trees that have been excavated so far. They are estimated to be at least 800 years old. This forest is almost entirely composed of these ancient mulberry trees. We will need to pass through them to reach the central area later."
"Wow, that's amazing. It's an ancient tree that's hundreds of years old. No wonder it looks so tall."
Xiao Liu, who was standing next to him, chimed in.
As the group gave their brief introductions, the others nearby also looked on with deep emotion.
With his weathered yet spirited eyes, Old Du gazed at the forest and sighed, "Tsk tsk tsk, indeed, everything becomes extraordinary once it gets old."
Let's go!
Each of the nine people walked up to the ancient mulberry tree, and each of them even touched the rough, ancient bark of the tree.
Walking silently and carefully under the broad shade of the trees, I felt as if I were experiencing a story from the past.
Occasionally, a mischievous beam of light would shine through the gaps and fall on the crowd.
The warmth it brought when it shone on everyone's body and face was enough to bring a smile to one's face.
"We're here! We're here!"
Qin Chuan whispered a few words, then stood at the very front.
Upon hearing Qin Chuan's introduction, everyone instinctively turned their respectful and envious gazes toward the unusually mysterious tree.
The tree is a deciduous tree, a typical small-leaved Phoebe zhennan, with a rough, grayish bark and typical elliptical leaves. The fruit tree also has beautiful purple elliptical fruit.
Within a hundred meters of that tree, there was not a single other tree. It seemed to be the only tree that expanded outwards from it. Upon closer inspection, one could see that there were some logs left behind after being cut down around it.
However, the marks and the age of the artifacts are quite distant, indicating that at least several hundred years have passed.
"This is the oldest living Phoebe zhennan tree species discovered to date, which is estimated to be over a thousand years old."
"Wow wow wow!"
"Sure enough, the closer I get, the stronger the fragrance becomes. Could this be the smell of money?"
"Hey everyone, look! Aren't those wooden stakes glowing? They're golden and twinkling!"
"Wow, it really is! Could this place have been like that before?" "This is the legendary tree species that's more valuable than gold! How much would so many cost!"
"Unbelievable! I never thought I'd see such a scene in my lifetime."
Wow, that's amazing!
The crowd at the scene chorused with frog croaks, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
Seeing this scene, everyone wanted to dig up all the trees, stumps and all, but they were quickly persuaded by their remaining rationality.
No, since the base hasn't taken any action after discovering this situation, they must be aware of the need for protection.
Especially since this wasn't their mission, they couldn't afford to make any rash moves.
Old Du, Old Meng, and Team Leader Feng were among the quickest to react, and the gasps of amazement were quickly silenced after they spoke in succession.
"Alright, alright, we are fortunate to witness the wonders of nature, which is a great blessing of this trip. Everyone, cheer up, we have an important mission ahead."
"Old Du is right, Captain Feng will need your help later."
Team Leader Feng glanced at the group of young people, and seeing that they had calmed down a bit, he then announced the next task.
"We will stay here for an hour to put some things underground."
"We will be divided into three groups later, please make sure you understand."
Loin receiving this task again was no longer surprising.
Especially after she discovered that the team leaders were Elder Chen, Elder Du, and Elder Meng, she became even clearer about their roles in the team.
So that's really how it is!
The power of metaphysics is truly amazing!
The three teams, each led by a master, quickly completed their mission. As they resumed their journey, it began to get dark.
As the group traversed the terrain and stepped over the rocks, the altitude decreased and the temperature began to drop.
The air became slightly humid.
The surrounding area is humid!
Until their feet left muddy tracks.
"Why is this place getting colder and colder? Judging from the terrain, it's only on the outskirts of a valley, it shouldn't be like this," Liu Cheng, who was leading the way, wondered.
Beside him stood Qin Chuan, whose brows were also furrowed, and whose tone was even more serious.
"Everyone be careful, something strange is going on around here."
The three senior figures, who were a few steps behind, had their brows furrowed.
Their eyes darted around, and the three silently looked in the same direction.
It seemed as if they had discovered something, but they cautiously remained silent.
"It feels so cold and damp!"
Luo Yin endured it all, rubbing her cold fingertips together, and murmured softly.
She had prepared herself mentally before coming, thinking that she would definitely encounter some situations, so she was also prepared for some illogical things.
But after witnessing the series of events that followed, she realized what real worldly experience meant.
The group traversed the rocky path, and the further they went, the more stones appeared around them, and the larger they became.
At first, no one noticed anything unusual; it was Old Meng, who had remained silent the whole time, who finally realized something was wrong.
Meng Lao, also known as Meng Junxia, is a senior scholar specializing in the study of Qimen Dunjia mechanisms. He has made significant contributions to field research on numerous occasions.
This time, he might find a hidden map among the chaotic pile of rocks.
"Something's not right here. Let's stop here and think about it some more."
After speaking to them, Old Meng stood in each position and began to study.
Seeing that he had already become engrossed in the moment, the other eight people were taken aback. Then, it was Old Du, who knew him well, who spoke up to explain.
"Gentlemen, Comrade Meng seems to have discovered some clues. It just so happens that this is our first time setting foot here. We might as well take a look around and record some information."
Seeing that even Elder Du had said this, the only two people present who were more prominent than him did not refuse.
The others knew what to do, mainly because they were curious.
Everyone wanted to see what he had discovered. Although this place was cold and gloomy, apart from a valley full of stones, there probably wasn't much to hide there, right?
Luo Yin sniffed around at the surroundings, but when she took a deep breath, she could smell everything.
Some of the stronger ones made her head spin!
She quickly hid under her collar, recalling the fragrance of the golden nanmu wood, which gradually calmed her down.
Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted from the surroundings!
Um?
Luo Yin's pupils dilated. That familiar feeling...
Wait, how come this thing is here?
Ever since Luo Yin traveled with the Mu and Huo teams all the way to the Ailao Mountains, her respiratory system and sense of smell have begun to change.
There's always a feeling of stagnation and isolation when I breathe.
After careful consideration and judgment, she guessed that the surrounding moisture was too dense, which blocked the original scents of plants and animals, thus greatly reducing the range of her sense of smell.
Even when she didn't notice that Xiao Meng was injured that night at the base, she was quite surprised when she reviewed the situation later.
Normally, this kind of thing seems impossible.
If injury or illness is ruled out and her physical condition has not changed, then the only possibility is a change in her surrounding environment.
Luo Yin had a vague idea of the purpose of this operation.
Now, looking around, she followed the timber team up the eastern slope of the valley.
The two stood one behind the other on a slightly elevated hill, gazing at the flat, beautiful landscape before them.
The scenery is beautiful, and the breeze is gentle, but it's a pity that it's a windy area to leave!
The wooden team pulled their shoes out of the mud, leaving a deep mud pit in the ground.
"Step back, it's too wet here!"
"Okay, Captain Mu, be careful."
Luo Yin watched as her slightly slow movements did not affect her agile actions in the slightest.
I subconsciously sniffed again; the scent of damp earth mingled with the stench of decaying leaves, carrying a faint fragrance.
Why does it smell like Phoebe zhennan wood down here?
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