Chapter 64

The banquet in the evening turned out to be much simpler than Zhang Tianyuan had imagined. The people here were very hospitable and genuinely热情. They thanked Zhang Tianyuan for everything he had done for them. After all, for them, those two golden eagles were more important than their own lives. Repairing them was like saving each of their lives.

Moved by their warmth, Zhang Tianyuan eventually let go of the grievances in his heart and called over She Lin and the others who were still outside, suffering from hunger and cold.

When the villagers heard that these were Zhang Tianyuan's friends, they did not hold back and treated them all as friends. Perhaps this was what it meant to love someone and extend that love to those they care about.

There was a talented storyteller in the village who, on the spot, turned the story of Zhang Tianyuan repairing the golden eagles into a narrative. What was originally a rather ordinary event became, in his telling, a tale of Zhang Tianyuan being a revered immortal sent by the Three Pure Ones. It was quite impressive.

The villagers, who had not personally witnessed Zhang Tianyuan's prowess, also felt a deep respect for him after listening to the storyteller.

This banquet was particularly lively and joyful. The local villagers performed ancient dances that had long been lost in the outside world, delighting the guests. In return, Liu Mengxun and Mou Ying sang several modern pop songs, and everyone had a great time.

Perhaps due to his military background, She Lin drank very little and remained highly alert. For such a person, Zhang Tianyuan could only say, "A reliable guy!"

Having such a person around provided a significant sense of security. He could always remain vigilant, which was the hallmark of a soldier.

After several rounds of drinks, everyone was tired, so they settled down to rest, planning to leave the next morning.

Although Zhang Tianyuan had drunk quite a bit, he was not drunk. The effects of the earth qi were evident even in these small matters. He intended to have a serious talk with the old woman. There were things he needed to clarify, and he wouldn't be able to sleep if he didn't. Besides, what was the purpose of coming to Shenluo Valley if not to uncover its secrets?

Zhao Danfeng might not know many things, but Zhang Tianyuan believed that the old woman was a wise person.

Coincidentally, just as he was about to go find the old woman, she had Zhao Danfeng come to him, saying she had something important to discuss.

She Lin offered to go with him, but Zhang Tianyuan shook his head and said, "Stay and protect the others. I'll be fine."

He wasn't worried that the old woman would harm him. He didn't want She Lin to come because the old woman might trust him but not She Lin. If they both went, she might not reveal the truth.

She Lin also thought this was possible. Despite his eagerness to know where the people who had entered Shenluo Valley had gone, he had to suppress his curiosity and wait.

When Zhang Tianyuan arrived at the old woman's house, she had placed a tray on the table with ten golden ingots. They were genuine, not fake.

"Young man, this small village has no use for these things. I see you as a good person who has helped us greatly. Take these golden ingots and leave Shenluo Valley quickly," the old woman said solemnly.

"This is too much," Zhang Tianyuan roughly calculated that the ten golden ingots weighed over twenty kilograms, which would be worth about four to five million RMB. It was a significant amount.

"No, it's not much. I give these to you, first to thank you for repairing the golden eagles, and second, to ask you for a favor."

"What favor?"

"Once you leave, don't mention us. We don't want to be disturbed from the outside. And perhaps in a few days, we will have to relocate. This place is no longer safe," the old woman sighed.

Zhang Tianyuan understood her meaning. This was a warm and hospitable village, but they had their own lives and did not want to be disturbed by outsiders. This was understandable. They were also very concerned about the outside world, having been isolated for so long. Whether they could adapt to the outside world was a question.

"You can rest assured. We won't say anything when we leave. But I have a question. Where did the people who came in before us go?" Zhang Tianyuan asked.

The old woman hesitated, looked at Zhang Tianyuan, and then sighed. "They discovered the tomb of a deceased king and tried to take some things. They got trapped inside and I suspect they are likely dead."

"Can you take me to see it?" Zhang Tianyuan asked.

"Yes, but don't blame me for being nagging. The tomb is very strange. Without special items, once you go in, you won't come out," the old woman said. "I think you're a good person, so I don't want you to follow in their footsteps."

"Special items? What kind of items?" Zhang Tianyuan asked.

"To correctly open the tomb, you need eight True Immortal Seals. To avoid poisoning, you also need a string of bodhi beads that the king made for his daughter," the old woman replied.

Zhang Tianyuan's heart raced. He already had the eight True Immortal Seals, and he had never seen the bodhi beads, but with the antidote prepared by the Blue Phoenix, it shouldn't be a problem.

"Please take me there, just me!" Zhang Tianyuan bit his lip, deciding to take the risk. Since fate had given him the eight True Immortal Seals, he couldn't let this opportunity pass. Even if it was just to confirm that those people had indeed died here, it would be enough.

"Shouldn't you inform your companions?" the old woman asked.

"No need. I don't want them to worry. They drank quite a bit today and won't be able to come with me," Zhang Tianyuan replied.

"Alright, since it's your request, I agree. But I must warn you again, don't take unnecessary risks. It's not worth it. I don't know what mechanisms are inside, so I can't help you much," the old woman earnestly advised.

She didn't know that Zhang Tianyuan was already a bit obsessed. The idea of taking a risk had already taken over his mind, and he couldn't shake it off.

Seeing that Zhang Tianyuan wouldn't listen to her, the old woman sighed and had Zhao Danfeng prepare a lantern. She then led Zhang Tianyuan out of the village.

This was a very hidden path, obscured by weeds. If not for the locals, it would be hard to find.

Zhang Tianyuan was fully equipped, wearing night vision goggles, a flashlight, a gas mask, and a walkie-talkie. If anything went wrong, he could call for help. The gas mask could at least protect him from some toxins.

After about half an hour of walking, the path opened up, and in the middle of a valley, a naturally formed stone gate appeared. The gate was tightly closed and about seven to eight meters high. It would be difficult to open it by human effort, so it must have a mechanism.

"This is the stone gate to enter the tomb. It was prepared by the king for his descendants. His daughter didn't want to live here and left, and no one knows where she went or if she had any descendants. But the king believed she or her descendants would return, so he left all his wealth here, waiting for them to claim it," the old woman explained. "This is what has been passed down through generations. Our Shenluo Village is actually a tomb-guarding village. We can't leave until the king's descendants come. Even though we have been frequently harassed recently, we have stayed."

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