The mountain road was rugged, overgrown with wild grass, and everyone proceeded slowly, treading through the weeds.
"According to the intelligence I've gathered, there are three villages in Thousand Buddha Mountain, known externally as East Village, South Village, and North Village. The three villages are in conflict with each other and have no contact, yet they are all squeezed into Thousand Buddha Mountain, leading to frequent skirmishes. In recent years, people have often been injured or killed as a result. Therefore, if we enter the village, we must be careful not to speak carelessly, lest we bring trouble upon ourselves."
Ye Fan, walking in the middle, began to instruct everyone.
"People are frequently injured or killed. Don't they call the police? This is a society governed by law."
Shen Tianyin asked curiously.
Ji Nanshan sighed, "In these deep mountains, even if someone dies, the outside world probably won't know. As long as they agree among themselves, who can do anything to them?"
"Moreover, they are extremely xenophobic. Even if a life is lost, they will not seek help from the outside."
These people were essentially enclosed, isolated from the world. Outside laws were like a mere formality to them.
"It's hard to imagine that such a tribal way of life still exists today."
Shen Tianyin's observation was indeed precise.
The way these people lived was indeed like a tribe.
They only obeyed their own leaders and would never trust others.
"At this moment, a figure flashed past ahead."
"Someone!" Xue Tao exclaimed, then quickly pursued.
Since being taught a lesson by Ye Fan last time, although Xue Tao still hated Ye Fan, he dared not openly target him.
However, the hatred buried deep in his heart was even more terrifying.
It was like a time bomb, set to explode at any moment.
But Ye Fan was constantly vigilant against this, giving him no opportunity.
Seeing Xue Tao chase after, Ye Fan and the others also quickly followed.
"Who are you people? What are you doing in our East Village?"
Finally, upon catching up to the figure, they saw an old man, holding a woodcutter's axe, staring at them with a face full of defensiveness.
The old man's hair was white, his face covered with wrinkles, and his eyes were cloudy, but a deepness was etched in the depths of his pupils.
However, in Ye Fan's eyes, this gaze felt lifeless.
Moreover, Ye Fan felt a suffocating sense of darkness and coldness from this old man.
"Elder, we are from the Jiangnan Antique Association. We are here specifically for an antique. We apologize for the disturbance, and we ask for your understanding."
Elder Lei stepped forward and spoke politely to the old man.
The old man's gaze swept across everyone's faces, and then he suddenly showed a smile.
"So, you are guests from afar. Our East Village welcomes you warmly. Since you are here to seek treasure, why not rest in our East Village first? We, the Ye Xiu, can help you."
The old man's smile was amiable, his expression instantly changing, giving the impression of a transition from hell to heaven.
Elder Lei and the others immediately nodded with smiles and gladly accepted.
If they could find a local guide, it would undoubtedly be twice the result with half the effort.
Only Ye Fan frowned. The outside world said that the people here were very xenophobic, but why did this old man change his tune so quickly?
Not only did he invite them into the village, but he also offered to help them. This was truly too strange. "Kuai Shu Ge"
"If you follow this path straight ahead, you'll reach our East Village in about half an hour. When you get there, mention my name. I am the village chief of East Village, Old Man Xu."
"Thank you, Village Chief Xu."
Elder Lei said courteously, then bowed with clasped fists in thanks, and urged them to hurry.
The old man watched them leave. Ye Fan, walking at the end, turned his head slightly and saw the old man smiling at the corner of his mouth, a very stiff smile on his face, and a flash of crimson in his eyes.
"There might be a trap here. We must proceed with caution."
Ye Fan said softly to remind them.
Shen Tianyin and Ji Nanshan nodded heavily. They also felt something was strange.
But Xue Tao snorted, "What you hear is false, what you see is true. The people here are not only not xenophobic, but also hospitable. What is there to worry about?"
His words represented the thoughts of the others.
They all voiced their agreement.
Ye Fan did not argue with them about this. They had their own ideas, and that was not wrong.
"If anything unexpected happens later, remember to stay by my side. I will do my best to protect you. I'm afraid this journey won't be easy."
Squinting his eyes and looking at Elder Lei and the others enthusiastically ahead, Ye Fan's brow furrowed.
Danger often occurred when one was relaxed.
...
Just as Ye Fan was paying close attention to the surrounding movements, Xue Tao ahead suddenly let out a cry of surprise, "Ah?"
"What's going on?"
Ye Fan asked in a deep voice.
Hurrying forward a few steps, he saw Xue Tao frozen there, staring intently at a mound of earth ahead.
A tombstone stood in front of the mound.
"A grave? What's so surprising about that?"
Elder Lei scolded impatiently.
But upon walking closer and seeing the name on the tombstone, even Elder Lei was stunned.
"Tomb of the former village chief, Old Man Xu."
Old Man Xu?
That old man they met just now seemed to have the same name!
"Have we encountered a ghost?"
Ji Nanshan frowned.
Ye Fan shook his head, "The situation is unclear, and it's hard to make a judgment yet. However, Thousand Buddha Mountain is becoming more and more mysterious."
A former village chief who had long since passed away had pointed the way for them as if nothing had happened, and his attitude was very amiable.
Ye Fan looked around the earthen grave. Although the tombstone was erected over ten years ago, the soil here seemed to have been freshly dug, still new.
Furthermore, there were traces of digging tools.
"What is this?"
Shen Tianyin suddenly pointed beneath a clod of earth and asked in surprise.
Ye Fan quickly came over. Beneath the clod of earth, a ring was hidden.
It was pure gold, four nines. Although not large, its purity was sufficient, and it had a symbol of mutual affection on it.
"It seems to be a wedding ring."
Ye Fan frowned.
"It must have been dropped by someone who passed by earlier. It's insignificant. Let's hurry into the village. We've been walking all morning, and everyone is exhausted. It's time to find a place to rest and eat something."
Elder Lei hurried away, not giving Ye Fan a chance to examine it closely. Helplessly, he had to follow the main group's pace.
After walking for another ten minutes, from a distance, they finally saw the outline of a village on the mountainside ahead.
"This should be East Village. However, the feng shui layout of this village..."
Ji Nanshan murmured softly beside him, his voice low, only audible to Ye Fan.
Ye Fan was also gazing intently at the village at this moment.
"Azure Dragon forms the shoulders, White Tiger wraps around. This should be for arranging a yin house, right? Why would living people create such a layout?"
Ye Fan exclaimed.
As a tomb keeper, he had seen too many yin houses in his past life and understood them well.
"Perhaps it's just the living habits of the people here. Since we've arrived here, there's no reason to bypass it."
Elder Lei said softly, looking at Ye Fan.
"If what I say is true, it's best we don't provoke trouble. I feel that this East Village is too eerie. It's not just the people; even the village has problems. With the slightest carelessness, we might find ourselves in danger."