Xiao Man patted the young man's head admiringly and took the sheepskin scroll. It was already yellowed but undamaged. As soon as Xiao Man opened it, she discovered that magic had been applied to prevent it from deteriorating over time.
The writing on it was not in the language of the wasteland nor in the language of the outside world, yet Xiao Man could strangely understand what was written.
"Do you recognize these characters?" Xiao Man asked the young man, surprised.
"I don't understand them," the young man shook his head.
"If you don't understand them, how did you know what was written on it was related to the wasteland?"
"There are pictures," the young man pointed to the illustrations. "This is the Ruoshui River, and by the Ruoshui River stands a withered old tree. It's been many years, but it hasn't decayed. I've seen this tree, so I recognized it."
"There's a tree like that by the Ruoshui River?" Xiao Man asked Huo Lei, as she didn't recall seeing such a tree.
"Oh, he's talking about a withered tree on the east side of the Ruoshui River," Huo Lei quickly replied. "Even though the tree is withered, it's exceptionally sturdy. The High Priest said it's a divine tree and must not be harmed."
"That tree is indeed a divine tree," the young man whispered into Xiao Man's ear, in a voice only they could hear. "I secretly broke off a branch and threw it into the Ruoshui River, but the branch didn't sink."
"Really?"
"Absolutely true. It's just that the High Priest doesn't allow us to go near the divine tree."
Xiao Man's thoughts stirred. If the tree's branches didn't sink in the Ruoshui River, then perhaps a raft made from this divine tree could be used to cross the Ruoshui River.
"Can you take me to see it?" Xiao Man put away the sheepskin scroll and asked earnestly.
The young man looked a bit hesitant. "My mother doesn't let me go out of the village casually, she says I'm too young."
"I'll protect you."
"Hmm..." The young man's eyes darted around. "Then apologize for what you just called me, and I'll take you."
"Little brat, still wants an apology? Xiao Man, ignore him. I'll take you."
"That's fine too. After all, there are many people eyeing us outside. It's not very safe to take a child out."
"I know more than he does. Are you sure you want to take him and not me?" The young man, seeing Xiao Man change her mind, became anxious and grabbed her sleeve. "I don't want you to apologize anymore. Take me, quietly."
"No..."
"I can tell you that besides the divine tree, I also know a secret about it," the young man tightly clutched Xiao Man's sleeve, afraid she would leave him behind.
"Tell me first."
"You're too cunning!" the young man shook his head. "Take me out, and when we see the divine tree, I'll tell you."
Xiao Man looked at Huo Lei, who shook his head. After all, the boy was from Sun Village. If they secretly took him out, Old Shi would surely blame them. If something happened, it would be even harder to explain. Sudan Novels.
"Alright, I'll take you." Xiao Man had intended to take the young man out from the beginning. She always felt Huo Lei was hiding something from her, and she would eventually find out what it was.
The three of them quietly left Sun Village and headed straight for the east of the Ruoshui River.
"This is my first time riding a wolf! It's amazing!" the young man exclaimed excitedly.
Xiao Man smiled. "Then what do you usually ride when you go out?"
"My dad's shoulders."
Xiao Man's lips twitched. Good son, comparing your dad to a white wolf! Aren't you afraid your dad will beat you to death!
"By the way, I haven't asked your name yet?"
"My name is Little Stone," Little Stone pointed ahead. "Turn right from here, there's a cave, let's go in."
"A cave?" Huo Lei looked confused. When did a cave appear here?
"Yes, we're taking a shortcut."
They followed the path Little Stone indicated and indeed saw a cave. However, the entrance was very hidden; one wouldn't notice it without careful observation.
"Where does this lead?"
"To the divine tree," Little Stone said excitedly. "I discovered it by accident. Whenever I'm unhappy, I sneak here to play. This is my secret base. You absolutely can't tell the High Priest."
"Okay."
"The other side of this cave entrance is the divine tree."
Midway through, Xiao Man suddenly called out to the white wolf and stopped. The cave contained fossilized corals of various colors. Coral, of all things, is found in water!
"What is this..."
"Coral," Xiao Man dismounted, her gaze falling on a stone platform beside her. It was more of a stone bed than a platform. "This place was once underwater."
Xiao Man reached out to touch the stone bed. It felt warm and smooth, not like stone, but like jade. As Xiao Man traced along it, her finger suddenly felt a sharp pain, and she quickly withdrew her hand. Blood beads had already welled up on her fingertip. The previously unremarkable stone bed began to change color, gradually becoming crystal clear. This was actually a crystal coffin!
"What treasure is this?"
Xiao Man looked at her finger, then at the crystal coffin. A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes. Who would lie here? Could it be related to the Ruoshui River?
Huo Lei walked forward and stared at the stone bed. "Xiao Man, is someone sealed inside here?"
Xiao Man followed him, her gaze fixed on the crystal coffin. Although the crystal coffin had returned to its original appearance, the inside was not very clear, but a vague shape could be seen within.
Huo Lei felt he couldn't see clearly, so he leaned closer, pressing his face against the stone bed. He was finally about to see clearly. Indeed, there was a person lying inside, a very handsome man. He looked somewhat familiar. Just as he was about to get a closer look, the person opened his eyes, scaring Huo Lei so much that he fell onto the ground!
"It's a zombie! It's a zombie!"
Xiao Man looked at the person in the crystal coffin, then at Huo Lei. "Are you seeing things?"
Little Stone also leaned over to look. There was indeed a person sealed inside, very handsome. He stroked his chin, looked for a long time, then stared at Xiao Man. A moment later, Little Stone swallowed with a gulp.
"What are you doing?"
Little Stone pointed at the person sealed in the crystal coffin, then pointed at Xiao Man.
Xiao Man leaned over to look, not noticing anything unusual. This person had likely been sealed inside for many years. They must have triggered some mechanism to reveal its original appearance.
"Is something wrong?"
Little Stone looked at the person in the crystal coffin again, then found it wasn't quite right. He scratched his head, wondering if he had seen wrong. Little Stone was a detail-oriented person and felt he couldn't possibly be mistaken, so he stared intently at the person in the crystal coffin.
"Little Stone, Little Stone!" Xiao Man slapped Little Stone to the ground. Little Stone lay there, dazed. "I... I saw..."
"Stop staring. This thing is a bit strange," Xiao Man warned the two and moved away from the crystal coffin. "It seems capable of causing hallucinations."
"Hallucinations?" Little Stone felt a chill of fear. "No wonder I kept feeling like he looked more and more like someone I knew!"