After finishing the call with the old lady, Yang Kang began to arrange for personnel to connect with the Lin family.
"Patriarch, the people from the Lin family have arrived."
"So soon?" Yang Kang was slightly surprised.
He had only spoken to the Lin family on the phone not long ago, and the Lin family's old lady couldn't wait.
Was Lin Xiao Tian so important?
Yang Kang found it stranger the more he thought about it.
If this was about cherishing talent, then the Lin family was far too eager to do so.
Not only did they send people to the Kunlun Valley, but they were also willing to go in and sacrifice themselves.
Lin Xiao Tian, an outsider, receiving such treatment was truly difficult to comprehend.
Although the Lin family's old lady's tone on the phone was only a little stiff, Yang Kang could immediately tell that she was afraid.
What was she afraid of?
Meanwhile, on the other side, Lin Xiao Tian, along with Yang Xin and Yang Lin, had already entered the Kunlun Valley.
Their team consisted of ten people in total. Besides the three of them, Li Xue also came along. This was Yang Xin's request. Li Xue had performed well in Black Mountain last time, so the Yang family decided to bring her along.
Yang Lin brought a small follower named Xue Ding. This person was usually responsible for Yang Lin's daily needs, equivalent to a close attendant for a young master in ancient times, and he had no combat ability. The reason he was brought along was mainly that he had been with Yang Lin since childhood and was absolutely obedient to him.
In a dangerous place like the Kunlun Valley, sometimes the most dangerous thing was not the environment but the people accompanying you. Having someone who was absolutely loyal to you, even if they were useless, at least meant they wouldn't betray you.
The remaining five people were all seasoned adventurers.
One was a former mercenary who had served the Yang family after his discharge and was proficient in various combat techniques.
Two were martial arts masters, currently bodyguards for the main branch of the Lin family. One was sturdier and practiced a more dominant style of martial arts, while the other was the opposite, small and slender but exceptionally agile. Lin Xiao Tian recalled a killer he had encountered before; they likely practiced similar arts.
A beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, who was not only a doctor but also an underground fighter, earning a living by participating in illegal fights before coming to the Yang family.
The last one was a middle-aged man, a geologist, who was also a capable fighter.
A good horse needs a good saddle. Their equipment was luxurious. They were equipped with various communication devices and a comprehensive medical kit, and even firearms. It could be said that such a team would inspire a sense of security no matter where they went.
However, it was unfortunate that shortly after entering the Kunlun Valley, their communication equipment failed.
Just as Lin Xiao Tian had learned, the compass also malfunctioned. It was impossible to determine directions around them. Previously, in Black Mountain, they could at least estimate directions based on the growth of trees, but in the valley, the growth patterns of the trees were inconsistent.
In the same direction, some vegetation grew densely, while others were sparse.
As for the sun in the sky, Lin Xiao Tian felt that its position hadn't changed since it rose. Even though his digital watch indicated it was noon, the sun was still on the horizon.
What a cursed place!
Compared to Black Mountain, the Kunlun Valley was indeed more perilous.
And they had only been inside for four hours!
"Young Master... the compass is useless, we're lost," Xue Ding said, looking anxious.
Yang Lin directly hit him on the head, "Isn't that obvious? Can't you see it?"
Xue Ding could only apologize meekly, but Yang Lin became more and more annoyed, constantly berating him.
"Xiao Tian, what do we do now?" Yang Xin asked Lin Xiao Tian with some concern.
"It's alright, I remember the way, just follow me."
Upon hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, everyone was astonished.
"You know the way? Are you sure?" Yang Lin questioned.
"I'm sure."
"Mr. Lin, would you mind telling us how you determine direction here? We have no idea what to do." The mercenary asked Lin Xiao Tian.
"Mr. Lin, there's no need to keep secrets now. The Kunlun Valley is too dangerous. If there's any useful information, it's best to share it," the geologist added in agreement.
They harbored no ill intentions.
After all, in a place like this, knowing more meant a greater chance of survival. If Lin Xiao Tian knew something and didn't share it, and something happened to him, the entire team would be in peril.
But Lin Xiao Tian shook his head.
"Hey! Lin Xiao Tian, hoarding information at a time like this, you're too unkind." Yang Lin couldn't help but say.
"Yeah, too unkind," Xue Ding immediately chimed in.
Lin Xiao Tian was speechless, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but you can't learn my method."
Yang Lin chuckled, "Forget it! If you don't want to say it, then don't. Everyone here is a battle-hardened survival master. If you told us, would we still not be able to do it?"
"I can count the number of steps I've taken and the number of turns I've made. Can you do that too?" Lin Xiao Tian looked at Yang Lin very sincerely.
"Huh?" Yang Lin was dumbfounded.
The others present also felt quite frustrated upon hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words.
This method was indeed impossible to share.
They walked for a considerable distance. Lin Xiao Tian wasn't walking aimlessly. Ever since he received that mark on the stone tablet at the Lin family, Lin Xiao Tian had felt a connection to a certain place in the Kunlun Valley.
Lin Xiao Tian believed that once he got close to that place, the mark should react.
Thus, they walked for several more hours.
Until dusk arrived.
At this moment, Lin Xiao Tian looked up at the sky. The sun that had appeared on the horizon that morning was now returning along the same path.
Was the sun setting in the west?
Or did it rise in the west to begin with?
But in Lin Xiao Tian's mind, that direction should be north.
At least, it was north now. Throughout the entire day, it had changed direction at least four times.
Lin Xiao Tian felt as if the sun was rotating around the Kunlun Valley.
In the evening, the group began to set up camp.
Nothing had happened along the way, which eased their taut nerves considerably. However, Lin Xiao Tian was somewhat disappointed. He discovered that the number of medicinal herbs in the Kunlun Valley was far less than in Black Mountain.
From a certain spot within the camp, Yang Lin's scolding could be heard. Because Xue Ding was not adept at wilderness survival and kept causing problems, Yang Lin's dissatisfaction with him grew.
"You useless piece of trash, are you taking care of me, or am I taking care of you?"
"Say something! You're usually quite talkative, aren't you?"
Yang Lin roared, and Lin Xiao Tian could still hear Yang Xin's attempts to mediate.
But Lin Xiao Tian paid him no mind. He carefully sensed the mark in his mind. After arriving here, the mark's reaction had become more intense. It seemed he was not too far from his destination.
The guard duty was rotated. Although Xue Ding was weak, he still had to stand guard. Yang Lin and Yang Xin did not have to. Lin Xiao Tian, on the other hand, remained outside the bonfire, meditating with his eyes closed, essentially on continuous duty.
Xue Ding and Li Xue were paired together, responsible for opposite sides of the camp, while Lin Xiao Tian was in the center.
In the dark night, Xue Ding looked at the dense forest, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He was sent here to die in the first place, and before dying, he had to endure such scolding from his master, and he had also twisted his ankle. It was truly frustrating.
As he was feeling despondent, a voice reached him.
"Are you alright?"
Xue Ding turned his head and met a gentle face.
"Young Master, I'm fine."