Hearing Jiang Baimian's answer, the middle-aged man with long black hair and a loose black robe found a spot by the campfire and sat down casually, appearing very unrestrained.
The blonde, blue-eyed woman in a gray-blue robe also sat down nonchalantly, seemingly not worried at all about Shang Jianyao and the others harboring malicious intentions.
This confidence, this attitude, made Jiang Baimian couldn't help but chuckle:
"Do we look that harmless?"
Bai Chen, Shang Jianyao, and Long Yuehong simultaneously had similar thoughts:
These two are clearly very confident!
"Didn't you just discover an Old World city ruin? Everyone has something to strive for, who has time to kill each other?" The middle-aged man stretched out his hands to warm himself over the campfire. "What's your name?"
Jiang Baimian sat back in her original position and answered frankly:
"Jiang Baimian.
"We come from a certain force, here in the Blackmarsh Wilderness to complete certain tasks."
She proactively revealed a bit of her identity, but not completely, hoping to make the other party wary, so everyone could spend the night peacefully and part ways in the morning.
The main reason she agreed to the two people approaching the campfire to communicate was because Shang Jianyao's Awakened ability had a limited range, and close proximity would definitely be better than long range.
Even if the other party also had an Awakened, the main target would definitely only be Jiang Baimian, who looked like the leader. That way, Shang Jianyao would have a chance—even if the other party could use a range-type ability similar to the "Hungry Ghost Path," Shang Jianyao, who was already prepared at this distance, would have time to launch a counterattack and make a corresponding impact.
"I can see that." The middle-aged man didn't doubt Jiang Baimian's revealed identity at all. "Whether it's from your appearance, build, skin, or clothing and weapons, you don't look like wasteland wanderers, haha, only that little girl makes me uncertain."
He was referring to Bai Chen, who was roasting the rabbit.
Jiang Baimian was about to reply with "We're not that young," when the middle-aged man continued:
"My name is Du Heng, Wood Earth Du, Balance Heng.
"I am a history researcher and an antiquarian. I'm ashamed to say that although I've been a member of the Hunter's Guild for over twenty years, I've always been a newbie. I only recently reached the official rank. Alas, I haven't taken on many commissions. I've mostly used their resources and information to complete my research. That's why, when a previously unexplored Old World city ruin was discovered, I came."
He maintained a smile while speaking, appearing very amiable.
But his answer made Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others even more wary:
An antiquarian and history researcher who seemed to only carry a pistol dared to wander alone in the Ashlands, exploring city ruins, and had lived to middle age—this in itself showed that the other party was definitely not simple.
The blonde, blue-eyed woman followed with an introduction:
"My name is Jia Luolan, a Daoist."
Although she could speak Ashlands language, some of her pronunciation was a bit strange, which made Shang Jianyao and the others feel that her style was not quite right.
Jia Luolan continued with a faint smile:
"I came here because many people were heading this way, so I followed along to see what's happening."
"That's so casual..." Jiang Baimian commented bluntly.
Jia Luolan responded with undiminished smile:
"Otherwise?
"Since the Old World was destroyed, many people have understood a fact:
"Although we humans pride ourselves on being higher beings, in the face of the world and destiny, we are like fallen leaves in a gale..."
As she spoke, she pointed to the sparse trees in the distance:
"We can only dance with the wind, unable to decide where we will land.
"Since we cannot resist the arrangements of fate, it is better to abandon this idea, move with the wind, change our thinking, see the various landscapes along the way, seek the existence of the Dao in them, and then use this to distinguish between truth and falsehood, completely get rid of shackles, and hope for eternal years.
"As the saying goes, man follows earth, earth follows heaven, heaven follows Dao, and Dao follows nature."
Looking at such a beautiful blonde, blue-eyed woman talking eloquently in front of them, Long Yuehong and the others were a bit dazed.
They could understand every word she said, but putting them together made them quite confused.
In the end, they could only conclude that the other party's style was:
Take things as they come.
"I think I understand." Jiang Baimian nodded with a serious expression.
Du Heng glanced at Jia Luolan thoughtfully, then pointed to the rabbit and said:
"When I came over earlier, I saw two wild rabbits. This shows that prey isn't too scarce here. Why did you only catch one? There are so many people..."
Hearing this question, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong's faces flushed to varying degrees.
Jiang Baimian glanced at them out of the corner of her eye, shook her head with a chuckle and said:
"Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life."
Du Heng revealed an expression of sudden realization:
"Are you followers of the Friars Order? Or the Crystal Consciousness Church?"
"No." Jiang Baimian explained casually, "We just encountered a mechanical monk from the Friars Order and had a bit of a conflict with him, fought a big battle."
Du Heng's mouth opened slightly, thought for a moment, and said:
"Did that monk wear a red kasaya?"
"Yes." Jiang Baimian didn't hide it.
Du Heng and Jia Luolan once again sized up this four-person team.
The former withdrew his gaze, smiled and said:
"You guys are quite strong.
"As far as I know, the probability of those mechanical monks in the Friars Order wearing red kasayas also being Awakened is not too low."
Jia Luolan nodded in agreement, indicating that she had heard the same thing.
"He was." Jiang Baimian confirmed the other two's guess.
She looked around, not letting her gaze linger on anyone, and then asked with a smile:
"You two seem to have a deep understanding of Awakened?"
Since Du Heng said "Isn't it nice to chat," and Jia Luolan advocated taking things as they come, she didn't hold back and began to seek information that was absolutely rare for ordinary people.
If the other party didn't answer, she certainly wouldn't force it. If they did answer, she would consider giving them a rabbit leg—anyway, the four of them didn't plan to fill their stomachs with such a small prey. The main course was energy bars and compressed biscuits. If that wasn't enough, they would add a few military cans.
Du Heng stroked his mustache:
"Aiya, this is really testing me."
As he said this, he revealed an obvious smile.
Before the blonde, blue-eyed female Daoist Jia Luolan could speak, Du Heng added triumphantly:
"However, I know several Awakened. They told me that Awakened are also exploring and pursuing new worlds in their hearts, just like everyone in the Ashlands is looking for the door to a new world in reality, hoping to no longer be troubled by hunger, disease, and distortion.
"Yes, the Friars Order calls that 'Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss'."
Shang Jianyao listened very carefully, seeming to have some understanding.
At this time, Jia Luolan interjected gently:
"Those mechanical monks in the Friars Order wearing red kasayas have a certain probability of having entered the 'Sea of Origin'."
"Yes, yes, yes, 'Sea of Origin'! They mentioned this term." Du Heng slapped his thigh.
Jiang Baimian listened quietly, thoughtfully asked:
"If one crosses the 'Sea of Origin,' where will they arrive?"
"I don't know." Jia Luolan responded peacefully.
Du Heng smiled, did not answer, but did not say he did not know.
Jiang Baimian thought for two seconds, then asked:
"Then from what place does one enter the 'Sea of Origin'?"
Jia Luolan looked at the jumping crimson campfire and said:
"Everyone has different names for that place."
At this time, Du Heng interjected with a smile:
"The most widely accepted is: 'Hall of Stars'."
Shang Jianyao's eyes moved slightly, but his expression did not change significantly.
"I see." Jiang Baimian nodded slightly, "I haven't been in contact with many Awakened, I don't know much about them."
After saying that, she didn't give Du Heng and Jia Luolan a chance to speak, and turned to look at Bai Chen:
"How's the roasting going?"
"Almost done." Bai Chen took back the branch with the rabbit on it.
"Since they've come from afar, share some with them." Jiang Baimian instructed.
Bai Chen knew how rare the information she had just heard was, and didn't resist at all. After letting the roasted rabbit cool down a bit, she tore off two hind legs and handed them to Du Heng and Jia Luolan respectively.
—She had been wandering in the Ashlands for so many years, and this was the first time she had heard of terms like "Sea of Origin" and "Hall of Stars."
Du Heng didn't hold back, reached out to take it, grabbed the top of the leg bone, and ate it while exclaiming about the heat.
"Not bad, roasted just right..." As he ate, he mumbled a compliment.
Jia Luolan was much more refined than him, pinching the not-so-hot protruding bone and taking small bites of the rabbit meat.
At the same time, Bai Chen divided the remaining roasted rabbit into four portions and put them into her and her companions' lunch boxes.
Shang Jianyao took a bite and felt that the meat was indeed very dry, but while chewing, it had a more fragrant taste than the meat dishes inside the company.
Long Yuehong was responsible for guarding the surroundings, looking at it expectantly, unable to enjoy it immediately.
After eating that bit of rabbit meat, Jiang Baimian saw Du Heng shamelessly sucking on his fingers to savor the remaining flavor, smiled and said:
"Mr. Du, you said you were a history researcher and knowledgeable?
"Then what do you know about the newly discovered ruins north of Yue Lu Station? Do you know which city in the Old World it corresponds to?"
Du Heng took out a crumpled handkerchief, wiped his hands, and chuckled:
"I don't know. A lot of the Old World's data was completely lost during its destruction and in the chaotic era, including many high-precision maps.
"But I can be sure of one thing: that newly discovered city ruin is definitely abnormal and has great research value."
"Why do you say that?" Jiang Baimian asked on behalf of Bai Chen, Shang Jianyao, and the others.
Du Heng looked up at the northern sky:
"When the Old World was destroyed, many people in the towns and villages surrounding the city survived, but no one ever mentioned or tried to explore that city ruin. Well, the information was later relayed by the relic hunters who discovered the ruins."
Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen deeply agreed with this—Tian Erhe in Shuiwei Town was so young, but he was single-mindedly running back to the city to look for his parents.
"Such details show that city ruins are definitely not simple." Du Heng gave the conclusion again.
As soon as he finished speaking, a rough, hoarse, and desolate roar suddenly came from afar in the north:
"Awoo!"
In the silent night, it was as if a nightmare was descending.
ps: Asking for recommendation tickets~!