After crossing the iron chain bridge, a downward staircase about 1.2 meters wide, built of stones, wound its way up the mountain like a ladder to the clouds. Looking down from above, the misty haze lay across the mountainside, and the staircase seemed to disappear halfway up, creating an extremely ethereal and detached feeling.
Yang Lingxue's legs were still trembling, and she refused to go down immediately.
"Lanni jie, I can't, my legs are weak, I need to rest for a while."
As she spoke, Liu Yu, supporting Ren Yuanhao, walked slowly forward.
"Everyone listen to me. If you enter the village wearing these conspicuous clothes, you'll most likely cause unnecessary trouble. I'll go down with some villagers first to find some clothes. We'll all change into them before descending the mountain, and it will also be a good time to rest."
"Yes, yes, Brother Liu Yu understands me. I feel like I have shadows in these clothes, and I need to rest~"
Yang Lingxue gasped for air, her chest rising and falling, her pretty face as pale as a sheet.
"I think Miss Yang has a princess complex," Ren Yuanhao leaned against a stone with 'Feiyun Suo' written in three blood-red characters, taking a break. The mountain air was cold, and although it was already 8 AM, there was no warmth from the sun, and even the light seemed dim and murky.
"Go away, I don't have time to argue with you."
Yang Lingxue rolled her eyes at Ren Yuanhao, continuously rubbing the calves of her legs. Ren Yuanhao couldn't help but look at her more closely, her delicate and cute face.
"What are you looking at? If you want to look, go look at your new flame, hmph."
Ren Yuanhao sighed, while Liu Yu patted his shoulder with a 'hang in there, brother' expression, and then said, "Everyone, please wait, I'll be right back."
After speaking, Liu Yu, along with more than a dozen big men disguised as 'mountain bandits,' descended the stone steps. The path was winding and the forest was dense. In a short while, this group of people disappeared into the mist-shrouded mountains.
"In this scene, with these mountains and objects, I truly wish to compose a poem to express my feelings."
Qi Da Xian, seeing the vast sea of clouds, the swirling mountain air, the jade-green forests like a sea of green, the stone steps covered in moss, and looking down like a misty jade belt winding through the mountains, felt a surge of poetic inspiration. However, Tu Xingsun beat him to it and recited: "A flock of geese below the mountain, honking their way to the river, ~"
"Pah, pah, pah, stop, stop! With your interruption, my mind is full of the Four Talents of Jiangnan and Ru Hua."
Everyone heard this and burst into laughter. Ren Yuanhao suddenly remembered something very important.
"Boss Shen, during your infiltration of Lionheart Tower, did you get any news about your sister Shen Yunshu?"
Shen Lanni paused. The smile that had been on her face instantly faded, and she replied briefly and deeply.
"No."
Yang Lingxue snorted from the side and added, "Do you think it was a vacation? Their hands and feet were tied, and they couldn't speak either~"
Qi Da Xian's expression changed upon hearing this. "Shen Yunshu? I think I've heard that name before."
"What?" Shen Lanni's expression suddenly became extremely excited, her fiery red ponytail blindingly bright.
"After all, I'm the oldest one imprisoned there for the longest time, so I know a little bit about some information." Seeing Shen Lanni's agitation, Qi Da Xian didn't keep her in suspense and continued, "Actually, do you think Lionheart Tower only has that one base? I don't mind telling you, the laboratories and bases of those madmen are spread all over the southeastern sea. However, I'm not too sure about the exact number."
"So, my sister might not necessarily be at Lionheart Tower?"
"Exactly, scattering resources is the best protection. However, our escape this time is enough to make that madman suffer dearly."
After Qi Da Xian finished speaking, a long silence fell over everyone again. New hope continuously swirled in the hearts of these super-powered individuals, accompanied by a fear of society.
About an hour later, Liu Yu finally arrived at the stone steps from the villagers' homes with some local clothing. After everyone changed, they slowly treaded the steps, following Shi Kexin towards her home.
After crossing the mist that spanned the mountains, the group could finally glimpse the full panorama of the village.
The first thing that caught their eye was a river that traversed the entire village, winding towards the southwest. Lush, jade-green trees grew prominently, some reaching nearly a hundred meters high, their canopies like giant umbrellas adorned with red silk threads. According to Shi Kexin, these were for warding off misfortune and praying for blessings, and they were divine trees.
The village architecture was different from the outside world, basically built along the rock strata on both sides of the mountain. The base of the houses resembled stilt houses, hollow to prevent snakes, insects, rats, and ants from entering. On the far east and west sides stood two extremely opulent tall buildings with upturned eaves and glazed tiles, interlocking and intricate. Wind chimes hung from the four corners of the eaves, and the vermilion lacquer was dazzlingly bright. In front of the buildings stood a large drum, its mallets half a person's height, its weight unknown. Below the drum was a circular platform large enough to accommodate hundreds or thousands of people.
The buildings in the village were mostly painted in red, green, blue, and white lacquer. Viewed from above, it was as if one had stumbled into a fairyland, beautiful and indescribable.
"We call those two tall buildings 'Drum Towers.' The one to the east symbolizes 'birth,' where all joyous occasions are held. The one to the west symbolizes 'death,' where all funerals are held. At the same time, the east Drum Tower is also responsible for sacrificial rituals and ancestor worship, while the west is said to be a place to ward off evil spirits and suppress demons."
Shi Kexin introduced them as she walked, like a tour guide. Soon, everyone's attention shifted to the modern architectural style of the building in the center of the village.
"Little girl, that building is out of place with the rest of the village. I presume it was built by someone important in your village?" Qi Da Xian asked, stroking his goatee.
Unexpectedly, Shi Kexin's expression changed drastically, and her voice became extremely low.
"That's the village's big tycoon. No one dares to provoke them."
"Oh, a village bully, impressive, impressive." Tu Xingsun, being shorter, after putting on the clothes Liu Yu brought, had to roll up the sleeves and trouser legs several times to walk normally, looking quite amusing.
As they were talking, the group had reached the end of the stone steps, where there was a uniquely characteristic vermilion Heavenly Gate at the bottom. It was actually a frame made of unprocessed wood, about three meters high and two meters wide, with 'Huxiao Town' written in golden lacquer on top.
"According to the elders in the village, once you pass through this Heavenly Gate, all taboos are broken, ghosts retreat, and misfortunes are dispelled," Shi Kexin paused slightly, pointing to the rock face several hundred meters up to the right, and said, "That's where my home is."
Just then, an old man with graying hair, about 70 years old, ran down the stone path in a panic. Upon seeing Shi Kexin, he stopped.
"Grandpa, where are you going? Why are you so flustered?"
"Kexin, something, something has happened!"