The night was still, with faint bird calls echoing.
Zhang Tian calculated the time; it should be safe to move out now.
"Let's go. We'll bypass this village directly."
Zhang Tian patted Fatty's shoulder.
Fatty and Hu Bayi, along with the others, rose to their feet.
Zhang Qilin walked in front. His face was obscured by his black robe, but the bright moonlight cast his shadow long.
Their footsteps were almost inaudible, especially Zhang Qilin's. If one wasn't exceptionally perceptive, they wouldn't have noticed him at all.
"Boss, it seems they still have guards on duty tonight," Fatty said, pointing towards the houses within the village.
Even in the dead of night, some houses were still brightly lit.
"Perhaps to prevent outsiders from entering," Zhang Tian mused. The group quickly infiltrated the village entrance.
The village had a somewhat larger main gate. There were no guards at the entrance; clearly, with the cold temperature at night, no one would bother to stand watch.
Furthermore, given its remote location, few visitors came here.
"Swish, swish."
With mere whispers of displaced air, Zhang Tian and his companions transformed into shadows and vanished beyond the village gate.
Inside, the village was paved with bluestone, with small patches of emerald grass growing between the stones.
The surrounding houses were arranged in rows, giving a neat appearance.
"Boss, do I smell roast pork?" Fatty asked, sniffing the air as he walked, a hint of delight in his eyes.
Zhang Tian also caught the scent, but he wondered how Fatty's nose was so sensitive to it.
"We'll eat when we get back. Let's find the entrance first," Zhang Tian said, his eyes scanning the village.
Zhang Tian noticed that the village's layout was quite sophisticated.
From the entrance to the village as a whole, it was almost like a small formation.
"According to the Dragon Seeking Art, this should be a small entrapment formation, likely left behind intentionally by King Xian," Hu Bayi remarked as he observed.
"Lao Hu, look at the sky."
Zhang Tian pointed upwards.
As expected in a forest, the sky was cloudless, appearing exceptionally clear.
The star lines were also very distinct.
"The Azure Dragon constellation, the Ziwei constellation – Boss, these two large star clusters are pointing to one location!" Hu Bayi exclaimed in surprise.
"That location should be the legendary Holy Land. Let's go."
Zhang Tian was certain. The others nodded slightly, and Zhang Qilin picked up the pace.
They walked for quite some time without being discovered. It wasn't due to poor defenses but rather the high cultivation levels of Zhang Tian and his companions.
It would be impossible for ordinary people to detect them.
Meanwhile, on the west side of the village, in a small hut.
A group of people were tied up, their hands and feet bound. They were gaunt, their faces sallow.
Among them, a figure clad in white stood out starkly.
"Professor Li, you must hold on! We're almost there!" Xiao Guang said, his voice filled with emotion as he looked at the exhausted Professor Li.
They had been imprisoned here, denied any food, and had starved for two to three days.
Professor Li, being elderly and worn down by days of hardship, was struggling to cope.
"Xiao Guang, it's my fault for involving you in this dangerous quest," Professor Li said with a hint of guilt.
After all, it was his idea to come here seeking ancient tombs.
They had mobilized almost their entire team, but what was the result?
They had been misled and delayed for months.
Along the way, several members were bitten by venomous insects and died.
Now, only a little over a dozen members remained.
And now, it seemed they would all perish here.
"Teacher Li, that's not true. Coming here was a decision we all made together, not just yours!"
"Even if we die, we die together. It's just a shame we won't even get to see a proper burial."
Xiao Guang sighed internally.
He then recalled the special agents who had procured artifacts for them.
Under such harsh conditions, they had managed to locate tombs and even excavate them.
Xiao Guang felt not only deep admiration but also boundless curiosity.
"I wonder how those agents managed it," Xiao Guang sighed, shaking his head slowly.
As he was lost in thought, the door suddenly creaked open.
A bright light spilled in.
A short figure with a braid, holding a torch, slowly entered.
The torchlight illuminated the entire room.
"What are you here for? I'm telling you, our deaths won't benefit you!" Xiao Guang shouted as someone entered.
"Shush, be quiet. I'm here to rescue you. They were planning to exile you to the Holy Land, and I want to help you escape." The girl's voice was soft, as if intentionally lowered.
Xiao Guang paused, his gaze sweeping over the others.
"Are you telling the truth?"
Xiao Guang was skeptical. After all, they had trusted the villagers upon their arrival and revealed their destination.
That was precisely why they were now imprisoned.
"Don't worry."
"I'll untie you now. You must stay close to me, and I'll lead you out."
The girl said, approaching them. She used the torch to burn through the ropes binding them.
Having been starved for days, even though the ropes were cut, they had little strength left to flee.
"Professor Li, we're saved! Come, I'll help you back," Xiao Guang said, supporting Professor Li.
He then called out to the rest of the group.
Everyone quickly followed the girl.
"Follow me. I know a shortcut out," the girl said, quickening her pace.
"Why are you helping us?" Xiao Guang asked in a low voice.
"I don't like seeing them kill people, and I can tell you're not bad people," the girl replied, her eyes clear.
Xiao Guang nodded and asked no further questions.
"There are guards on duty here at night, so let's try not to make any noise," the girl said again. Just then, one of the accompanying team members suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed onto the ground.
Having not eaten for days, he had likely fainted from hunger.
"Thump!"
The heavy thud of his fall echoed.
The people around were instantly startled awake.
The atmosphere became tense.
"Hurry! If we don't leave now, it'll be too late!" The girl urged, her voice anxious. If she were discovered helping these people escape, she would surely be punished.
"No, our teacher taught us not to abandon any comrade," Xiao Guang said, rushing towards the fallen team member.
At this moment, the noise had alerted the entire village.
Suddenly, all the lights in the village blazed to life.
"Damn it, what's going on? Fatty didn't make a sound. Did I step on something?" Fatty grumbled, looking at the surrounding situation.
"It seems we can't just slip by easily," Zhang Tian said with a hint of helplessness.
He wondered who it was that made such a commotion, inadvertently causing trouble for them.