Snakes in the jungle were a common occurrence, but most snakes preferred to avoid people. This one, however, had made its nest in a crevice at the village entrance. Its scales indicated it was a venomous viper, and a bite would likely be fatal.
If the snake hadn't revealed itself, its hiding spot would have gone unnoticed. A surprise attack would have been deadly.
Lu Zhi hissed, "Doesn't this snake look like it's guarding the village entrance?"
Shen Qi, hearing this, countered, "How can you tell it's guarding the entrance?"
Lu Zhi stroked his chin, his eyes lighting up. "Its aura! Like those impeccably composed security guards at the entrance of every housing complex."
Shen Qi: ...If you say so.
"Will it attack us if we go in?" Lu Zhi stared eye-to-eye with the venomous snake.
The viper: ...
Lu Zhi: ...
The viper flicked its tongue and slowly slithered backward, retreating into its nest. Only a small section of its tail remained visible, blending with the red granite of the rock face, making it difficult to discern with a casual glance.
"Let's go in," Shen Qi said, taking Lu Zhi's wrist and leading him toward the entrance of the deep valley.
Lu Zhi glanced up at the viper. It had poked its head out, its brown eyes fixed on him. It flicked its tongue again and slowly retracted, showing no intention of attacking them.
Lu Zhi shifted his gaze and was stunned by the hidden wonders within the valley.
He had assumed the valley floor would be flat, otherwise, it would be difficult for the villagers to build their homes.
The valley entrance was not wide, about three meters across. After walking less than a hundred meters, the narrow space abruptly opened up to a bottomless ravine. The roar of a vast waterfall could be heard from the left. Looking up, it cascaded vertically from a mountain peak, its height obscured, hidden within the clouds.
Despite the immense waterfall, its sound barely reached the outside. Only the thunderous crash of water against rock echoed within the valley, indicating the terrifying depth of the ravine.
The ravine was estimated to be nearly a hundred meters wide. A metal bridge spanned the gap, connecting to a narrow, winding path along the cliff face on the opposite side. There were no guardrails, and falling would mean perishing in the abyss.
"Good heavens," Lu Zhi exclaimed. He hadn't expected people to choose to live in such a perilous place in this era.
Lu Zhi followed Shen Qi across the iron bridge, looking down into the vast, white mist that obscured the bottom of the ravine. He could faintly hear the echo of water striking the base.
A thin strip of blue sky and white clouds was visible through the crack overhead. The faint light illuminated the path in the gorge. Even with artificial lights, venturing in at night would be unthinkable.
At this moment, Lu Zhi stood on a narrow staircase of stone steps built into the cliff face, wide enough for only one person. To avoid falling, he had to walk with his back pressed against the wall.
The smooth walls reflected the dim light. The dark mountain walls on both sides were polished smooth. Green plants climbed the cliff faces overhead, with very few places to step. Climbing down from above would be extremely difficult.
Shen Qi walked ahead of Lu Zhi with an unconcerned air, showing no fear of falling. Lu Zhi, after a moment's thought, decisively grabbed the hem of Shen Qi's back.
"Hmm?" Shen Qi turned his head and looked down at the tightly gripped hem of his clothes.
Lu Zhi smiled innocently, "Well, just in case."
Shen Qi could fly. If he accidentally fell, at least he could take someone with him... ??? That didn't sound right.
Shen Qi's voice was indulgent. "Then hold on tight."
Lu Zhi chuckled.
He could fly too, but it required Shen Qi's divine power. Thus, he was quite vulnerable now. Relying on Shen Qi was perfectly normal.
After walking for about half an hour along the seemingly lightless cliff face, they passed through a stalactite cave. The path ahead suddenly leveled and opened up. What entered Lu Zhi's sight was a peaceful and serene village bathed in sunlight.
Most of the eaves were built on level ground, while some were situated on the hillsides. From the precipitous cliffs to the flat depths of the valley, Lu Zhi couldn't help but marvel at the craftsmanship of nature.
From their vantage point, Lu Zhi and Shen Qi had a panoramic view of the village. At the end of the canyon, the entrance to the lush deep mountains was guarded by a tall gate constructed from thick logs, designed to prevent the intrusion of wild beasts.
Lu Zhi sighed, "It's like arriving at a hidden sanctuary of an ancient hermit."
Just as Lu Zhi and Shen Qi were about to descend the slope into the village, a *whoosh* —
An arrow flew past Lu Zhi's ear and embedded itself in the wall behind him. People began to emerge from the roofs of the quiet village, drawing bows and aiming arrows at the two of them.
Lu Zhi: ...
Lu Zhi couldn't help but ask Shen Qi, "Is this the village's special... welcome ceremony?"
Shen Qi glanced at him. "Still joking at a time like this?"
Lu Zhi let out a soft sigh, half-crouching and propping his chin on his hand as he looked at him, "But you're here."
Apart from his brother's plight, Lu Zhi felt no fear of any other danger as long as Shen Qi was present. Although his heart had skipped a beat from the shock of the arrow flying past.
During their brief conversation, a burly man with a sharp cleaver approached them.
Lu Zhi calmly observed the villagers. He noticed that each of them had blue totems painted on one side of their faces, winding like serpent patterns.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the man asked sternly, his face grim.
Lu Zhi slowly stood up and smiled. "Hello, we're looking for someone. Have you seen a man a bit older than me, who looks quite like me, visit here?"
The man frowned, his dark eyes scrutinizing Lu Zhi. When his gaze flickered towards the expressionless Shen Qi, his muscles tensed, and he quickly withdrew his gaze, saying to Lu Zhi, "No, outsiders are not welcome in our village. Please leave immediately."
Lu Zhi appeared distressed. "Are you sure there's no one?"
The man's eyes flickered. "I told you, there isn't."
Lu Zhi stared at him intently, smiling again. "Is that so? To make me give up hope, could you let me see the village?"
The man refused sharply. "I told you, outsiders are not welcome in our village. If you don't leave, don't blame us for being impolite."
Lu Zhi's smile vanished instantly. As he looked at people with lowered eyelids, there was a hint of intimidating strength that made people apprehensive. His voice dropped to a low growl, "I'm usually a good-tempered person, but I can be impulsive at times..."
Lu Zhi then abruptly smiled again, threatening with gentle politeness, "So, for everyone's safety, please cooperate and allow me to see the village, hmm?"
The man's face contorted with displeasure, and he was about to refuse decisively.
However, in the next moment, Lu Zhi's vine, Manluo, suddenly shot towards the grass not far from his side. A little girl, who had been hiding for who knows how long, was dragged out, bound.
Lu Zhi tilted his head. His clear, refined face held eyes that exuded chilling, fear-inducing sharpness. "Now, can we enter the village?"