Chapter 72.3

Editor: Kat

Proofreader: Junyans

“It’s not just that.”

The tall and thin man who had taken the initiative to clean up the pots and pans shook his head. His name was Yu Chengfu, but it didn’t seem that he had much luck. Half of the man’s face was disfigured, and he looked very terrifying. The newly grown skin was gray-pink, like the skin of a reptile, making his face uncomfortable to look at.

However, Yu Chengfu’s tone was different from his appearance, it was gentle and coherent, like a school teacher explaining a question. “By looking at the brief introduction of the tour as reading comprehension, the reading material given to us by the Travel Services is ‘Are the true ruins of the Silver Palace in Garuda Valley, the capital of Xiangxiong Kingdom, or on the banks of the snowy mountain’s holy lake?’ Our questions may be developed around these points.

“First, is the capital of the Xiangxiong Kingdom the Silver Palace of Garuda Valley?

“Second, are the real ruins of the Silver Palace of Garuda Valley on the shore of the snowy mountain’s holy lake?”

“Third, are these the real ruins of the capital of the Xiangxiong Kingdom?”

“Fourth, the Travel Services’ original question is, ‘Are the true ruins of the Silver Palace in Garuda Valley, the capital of Xiangxiong Kingdom, or on the banks of the snowy mountain’s holy lake?'”

Seeing how Fei Lezhi was becoming dizzy as he said those points, Yu Chengfu smiled and explained, “This is just a Difficult-level tour, and the first scenic spot, so it is very likely that the scope is large, and it is good to confirm certain findings slightly, whether we receive positive or negative feedback. The first point can’t be proven here, so we should probably focus on points two, three, and four.”

That was to say, the scope to find evidence was very wide. Whether the tourists discovered a certain mural which proved that these were really the ruins of the capital of the Xiangxiong Kingdom, or discovered ancient books that proved that this was Tangra Xiangxiong, not the Silver Palace of Garuda City, it could be considered that the tourists had completed the task. In other words, it should be very easy to complete the task.

“And every ruin won’t have the same items,” Qin Xinrong added, smiling in a slightly mischievous manner, “So when anyone finds an entrance to the ruins, don’t go in first. Tell Leader Wei and then we’ll explore it together.”

The Travel Services determined that a tourist had completed the exploration task based on his contribution to the exploration. If everyone entered a ruin at the same time and discovered bone artifacts, iron artifacts, murals, and many other items, each of them could complete the task.

However, if some tourists explored all of the ruins, and another group of tourists went to explore the ruins after them, it wouldn’t count.

“It’s Leader Wei who treats us well. He’s really great. If we let our black-hearted tour guide off the hook, he definitely would not let us complete the task so easily, and the tour group would have to scheme against each other and be divided into factions. How irritating,” Ji Hongcai said bluntly, looking very happy.

Indeed, if IV-1 was still here, it would be impossible for the tour party to appear harmonious and united in front of him. There would be at least four factions in the tour group, and they would barely have time to guard against the other factions, let alone explore the ruins.

Xu Zishi said shrewdly, “If we’re lucky, we’ll find a ruin and we’ll complete the basic task KPI today. There’ll be two days of free time after tomorrow. If anyone wants to continue exploring the ruins, they can go ahead. They can receive more points this way.”

That was to say, once the tourists had completed the basic task, whoever wanted to pursue more opportunities and points could act freely. In this way, it was easier for all the parties/people in the tour. When everyone acted together, everyone had a title, and it would be safer this way. This was also the safest way of exploring the ruins that they could think of.

Some people wanted to pursue more rewards and become stronger, and some people solely wanted to complete the tour. Each of them pursued different goals, so there wasn’t a need to force others to heed to one goal.

In fact, the experienced tourists took the initiative to propose this suggestion, but they also proposed this for the sake of Wei Xun. Considering the tourists’ safety, Wei Xun would not go down to the ruins, sitting in the center of the ruins. The tourists also reciprocated in their own way——If there was anyone in the tour group who was strong and interested in exploring the ruins further, it was definitely Wei Xun.

This afternoon, the sites which were suspected to be the ruins by the tourists would be reported to Wei Xun. The experienced tourists knew what they were doing. Most of the suspected locations were “given” to Wei Xun, to thank him for his efforts.

When the basic tasks of the tourists were completed, they could move freely the next day and the day after that. At that time, Wei Xun would not have to sit in the center.

Once the tourists were done eating, they divided the work and temporarily tore apart each faction. Three tourists now formed three groups, with both experienced and newcomer tourists in each group. Two groups went to patrol outside to make sure that there were no dangers such as wild animals around. One group was responsible for logistics, sorting out items, and coordinating information. The three groups took turns, taking advantage of the time before the descendant of the eagle flutist arrived, and took turns to rest before going down to the ruins.

Of course, Wei Xun had to worry about none of this. Leader Wei had the freedom to do whatever he wanted to.

At this time, Wei Xun went to the mountain pass alone, waiting for the arrival of the descendant of the eagle flutist. Dog IV-1 had been ordered by him to stay at the campsite, and Xiaojin had also stayed there. Only the snow leopard was with Wei Xun. The sky was overcast, and it didn’t clear up until noon. Without the sun, the autumn weather in the highlands made the environment feel particularly gloomy and cold, and the mountain pass was so windy that it could almost blow someone away.

However, Wei Xun enjoyed the strong wind. He stood on the high, steep rock with his eyes slightly closed, letting the wind ruffle his black hair. The strands of white hair on his forehead spread out unconsciously, like a pinch of first snow falling on his temples.

Humans appear extremely insignificant in the harsh nature, but it was more impressive when these insignificant beings challenged nature and went deep into no-man’s land.

The snow leopard was lying next to Wei Xun, licking its fur lazily. The strong wind made it narrow its eyes. The expressions of one person and one leopard were very similar at the moment. Under this vast sky, far away from the crowd, amid the desolate and silent ground and rock mountains, they enjoyed the loneliness and the silent company of each other.

As if they were born to belong here.

It wasn’t until the figure of the descendant of the eagle flutist appeared on the mountain road that Wei Xun opened his eyes and jumped off the rock. The figure of the snow leopard had disappeared without a trace, and no one knew where it hid itself.

“Dgahldan Palcho, I just met Amala.”

Wei Xun went straight to the point and said, “She said she won’t stop you from going up the mountain again, saying that everyone has their own fate.”

The descendant of the eagle flutist seemed to laugh, but his face was stiff from the wind on the highlands. His lips were like knife carvings, and it seemed that Wei Xun had misperceived the smile on his face.

“Many thanks, Wei Xun.”

The descendant of the eagle flutist shook his head. “But you shouldn’t deceive your honest friend.”

“These are Amala’s original words,” Wei Xun frowned and replied.

The descendant of the eagle flutist hid matters such as “human skin coming alive” and “the devil possessed the human skin thangka.” Wei Xun had no qualms about lying to him——the descendant of the eagle flutist hadn’t told him to ask Amala about any of the things he had wanted Wei Xun to ask. Furthermore, Wei Xun had gotten clues from Amala by relying on his own charms. Why should he share them with the descendant of the eagle flutist?

Anyway, what Amala had said about the descendant of the eagle flutist was, “This is his fate.” Wei Xun was very calm as he asked, “Dgahldan Palcho, tell me. How did I lie to you?”

“No, I’m not talking about that.”

The descendant of the eagle flutist said in a slightly accusatory and dissatisfied tone, “How can you deceive me and say that IV-1 is the most powerful tour guide!”

Wei Xun: ?

“It’s obvious that he’s useless, cursed by demons, unclean, and someone disliked by the Dragon God. Compared with you, he is far worse. How can he be the most powerful?”

The descendant of the eagle flutist was loud and gloomy as he questioned, “Is he still with your tour group? Such an unclean person cannot go to the holy mountain.”

“No, Guide IV is missing.”

After listening to Wei Xun’s words, the expression of the descendant of the eagle flutist improved slightly.

“That’s good. Wei Xun, you are now the leader of the tour group, right?”

“Yes.”

“I need the help of your tour group for something.”

The descendant of the eagle flutist looked solemn, and Wei Xun led him to the campsite. It was just in time for each team to rotate their duties, so all the tourists were at the campsite now.

“Friends from afar, welcome to the Ruins of Xiangxiong Kingdom, which used to be the place where the powerful kingdom of Xiangxiong stood. But after thousands of years, the magnificent royal capital has turned into ruins, and the secrets under the ruins cannot be explored by ordinary means.”

The descendant of the eagle flutist solemnly took out the eagle flute. It was wrapped in flannel, and he placed it in his rough palm, allowing the tourists to look at it.

“I have traveled more than half of Tibet to find the most authentic place where everything began. It is said that after the first king of Xiangxiong ascended the throne, the golden-winged Garuda had sensed his royal might, and broken off its horn to bestow it to the royal crown. Its left wing had been broken off to turn into the royal scepter, and its right wing had been broken off to become the royal bone flute.

“The king rules the earth with a crown, the king uses a scepter to conquer all around him, and the king uses a bone flute to soothe the heroic souls.”

The descendant of the eagle flutist’s dark-brown skin was flushed, and he was very excited as he talked about this part of history. He lengthened his tone, as if reciting an epic.

“Later, the Garuda horn crown was lost in the Dragon God Waterway, the Garuda scepter made from its left wing was taken away by the Tibetans, and the whereabouts of the bone flute made from the Garuda’s right wing is unknown. I have read many books and roughly confirmed that it is at the ruins of the ancient Xiangxiong City, at the snowy mountain’s holy lake.”

The descendant of the eagle flutist put his hand on his chest and said sincerely, “My friends, I have been searching for the bone flute for more than 20 years. Now, I hope to achieve what I want. I hope that you can help me.”

“Of course, of course,” Xu Zishi said with a smile, his honest face full of sincerity, “We will definitely help you. This is our goal in coming to the Ruins of Xiangxiong Kingdom.”

The descendant of the eagle flute left in satisfaction. Wei Xun looked at the direction he was leaving, which should be to Amala, who was located halfway up the mountain. After he was far away, the “loyal” tourist friends immediately changed their expressions.

“Don’t worry about the crown, the waterway, the scepter that was taken by the Tibetans, or the missing bone flute made from the Garuda’s right wing.”

Jiang Hongguang waved his hand. With a rarely-seen smile on his face, he exclaimed, “We just need to prove that this is the ‘ruins of the ancient Xiangxiong city of the snowy mountain’s holy lake’!”

“Great!”

The tourists cheered, and Wei Xun was also smiling.

The Garuda horn crown was at the Dragon God Waterway, while the Garuda’s right wing’s bone flute was in the ruins. The human skin thangka which was being suppressed and the crystallized corpse were at Little Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring.

The Ruins of Xiangxiong Kingdom were truly an amazing place.

He wanted them all!

The author has something to say:

The second update will be posted before 11:30 pm, mua, mua!

Welcome to the Exploring the Secrets of Northern Tibet tour group!

There isn’t a tour guide present here——

IV-1 Gou: My face, my face, bark, bark!

There are salted fish tourists here——

The tourists: Yay! We just need to complete the minimum criteria for the task and we’ll complete the scenic spots!

There is a leader who’s the most enthusiastic here——

Leader Wei: I want them all, they are all mine!

The descendant of the eagle flutist: That, bone flute, ruins, human skin thangka——

Leader Wei/the tourists [Sincere]: Sorry, our strength is average, and we didn’t find anything. We suggest that you look for a tour guide to help you.

The descendant of the eagle flutist: ? ? ? ?

What a shocking truth! The International Thriller Travel Services’ reputation has plummeted. But if you pay up, you get to watch the sexy Leader Wei performing on the livestream——