Chapter 59: A Slip

Seeing Zhang Zhaoyang speak thus, Yan Ming Jushi knew his resolve was firm and asked Lu Yueming and Tan Feng, "I plan to stay here. What about you two?"

Lu Yueming and Tan Feng exchanged a glance, then stepped forward and said, "We will not enter either. We will guard here for Brother Zhang."

Yan Ming Jushi nodded and said to Zhang Zhaoyang, "Then, Nephew, you should go in. Do you remember the mnemonic?"

Zhang Zhaoyang smiled and said, "Straight for ten, right for eight, back for six, left for six. I have it memorized. Is it correct?"

Yan Ming Jushi said, "Yes, that's it. Master Wanjian is truly thoughtful."

This statement seemed to have a double meaning, but Zhang Zhaoyang did not pay much attention. He checked his belongings and took out a bundle of fine, white thread. Yan Ming Jushi's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Nephew Zhang, is this thread made from the silk of the snow silkworm?"

Zhang Zhaoyang nodded with a smile and said, "Uncle Yan, your eyes are sharp indeed. This is made from the silk of the snow silkworm, which is found only in the far northern icy regions, mixed with other precious silk threads."

Yan Ming Jushi asked again, "I've heard that the silk of the snow silkworm is extremely resilient and cannot be cut by ordinary swords. Is that true?"

Zhang Zhaoyang said, "Indeed, would you like to test it, Uncle?"

Yan Ming Jushi thought for a moment and said, "For your safety, I will test it." He then took out the sharp dagger he had used before and said to Zhang Zhaoyang, "This dagger can cut through iron like butter. Can this thread withstand it?"

Zhang Zhaoyang still smiled and said, "Uncle Yan, feel free to test it. When our Master Wanjian obtained this thread, he tested it thoroughly. Among the swords of Wanjian Peak, only the protective divine sword has not been tested, and none of the others could leave a mark on it."

Yan Ming Jushi, upon hearing this, picked up the dagger and, with a burst of strength, slashed down on the white thread on the ground. Indeed, when he lifted his hand, there was no trace left on the thread. Yan Ming Jushi shook his head and said, "Master Wanjian is indeed a master planner. To get the wolf, one must be willing to lose the lamb. To be willing to bring out such a treasure, it's a good plan, a very good plan."

Zhang Zhaoyang did not respond, picked up the thread from the ground, tied one end to the hawthorn tree that Yan Ming Jushi had marked with a sword, and the other end to his waist. He then said to Yan Ming Jushi, "Uncle Yan, this snow silkworm thread has another advantage. When you use internal strength to vibrate it, the vibration will be transmitted to the other end. Even if the thread is tied to a tree, the other person can still feel it. Please stay here and send a signal at intervals after I enter the forest. I will respond to indicate my safety. When I reach the other side of the forest, I will send four signals in a row. If you all still wish to enter, follow the direction of the thread. What do you think?"

Yan Ming Jushi smiled and said, "Good, then I will trouble you, Nephew. We will wait here for you."

Then, Zhang Zhaoyang took out the skin from Wanjian Peak from his chest and handed it to Yan Ming Jushi, saying, "Uncle Yan, if I encounter any mishap in the forest, please return this skin to our Master Wanjian."

Yan Ming Jushi was taken aback and frowned, saying, "Such a precious item, can your Master Wanjian trust me with it?"

Zhang Zhaoyang smiled and said, "Since Uncle has allied with our Master Wanjian, you are not an outsider and can be trusted."

Yan Ming Jushi reached out to take it and said, "Nephew, go ahead. When we meet in the secret place, I will return it to you immediately."

Zhang Zhaoyang thanked him and said, "Thank you, Uncle. I will go in now."

With that, Zhang Zhaoyang drew his long sword and was about to enter the forest.

Suddenly, Yan Ming Jushi stopped him and asked, "How long is this thread? I remember it takes a long time to walk through the forest, about four or five li."

Zhang Zhaoyang smiled and patted the other bags, saying, "Disciple has prepared more. If it's not enough, I will return."

Yan Ming Jushi looked at the bag on his waist, shook his head with a bitter smile, and thought, "This Wanchengjiu is truly a hero."

Zhang Zhaoyang bowed to everyone again, then lifted his sword and carefully stepped into the hawthorn forest, where the sunlight dappled the ground.

At first, Yan Ming Jushi and the others could still see Zhang Zhaoyang's back, but as he went deeper, they could no longer see him. Only the white thread hung motionless between the trees in the hawthorn forest.

After waiting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, there was no movement in the hawthorn forest, not even the sound of birds. Yan Ming Jushi stepped forward, pulled the thread, and found it still taut. He used his internal strength to send a vibration, and after a while, he felt a response. It seemed that Zhang Zhaoyang was still moving safely. Yan Ming Jushi's heart was somewhat relieved.

Yan Ming Jushi stepped back, and Lu Yueming and Tan Feng looked at him eagerly, waiting for news of Zhang Zhaoyang. Yan Ming Jushi smiled and nodded but did not speak. In this strange place, he felt a sense of pressure and had to focus his mind to resist it, so he was not inclined to speak much.

After another cup of tea, Yan Ming Jushi's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He thought he heard a scream from the forest, but his ears clearly heard nothing. The forest remained deathly silent. He looked back at the two people beside him and saw that Lu Yueming and Tan Feng also looked surprised, their eyes darting around. He thought, "Not good." He immediately leaped forward, placed his hand on the thread tied to the tree, and used his strength as before. After a while, there was no response. Yan Ming Jushi became anxious and sent another signal, but still no response. He thought for a moment and began to pull the thread back to see if he could pull it out.

Sure enough, it could be pulled, and it felt very light.

Yan Ming Jushi's face was grave as he pulled the thread from the forest. Tan Feng quickly came to help organize the thread that had been pulled out, while Lu Yueming drew his sword and stood beside Yan Ming Jushi, his eyes fixed on the seemingly ordinary entrance to the hawthorn forest.

A lot of the thread had already been pulled out, and they could see a knot that Zhang Zhaoyang had tied, probably to connect the second piece. Still, they saw nothing. Yan Ming Jushi sped up, and soon, Tan Feng had a large bundle of thread. Yan Ming Jushi could hear the "swoosh" sound from the forest, which changed with the speed of his hand, indicating that something was attached to the other end of the thread. Yan Ming Jushi became even more cautious, slowing down and pulling the thread out bit by bit.

Closer, closer, everyone was on high alert.

However, at the end of the thread, there was no monster, and nothing was attached to the thread. There was only a loose end.

Yan Ming Jushi frowned, picked up the loose end, and examined it carefully. The end was irregular, as if it had been pulled apart, not cut neatly by a sharp blade. He brought the end to his nose and sniffed it, detecting a faint smell of blood. Upon closer inspection, the thread was also stained with blood. It seemed that Zhang Zhaoyang had met with a dire fate and had not left any remains. Yan Ming Jushi sighed.

On the other side, Tan Feng had also taken the thread from the tree and handed the entire precious snow silkworm thread to Yan Ming Jushi. Lu Yueming, holding his sword, then spoke, asking Yan Ming Jushi, "Uncle Yan, you have been here twice. Have you noticed anything different about this place compared to others?"

Yan Ming Jushi thought for a moment and said, puzzled, "I haven't noticed anything different. Nephew, have you noticed anything?"

Lu Yueming looked at the deep hawthorn forest and said thoughtfully, "Uncle Yan, I grew up in the mountains. Although I have never seen such a large hawthorn forest, I have been to many other large forests. I have always felt that this hawthorn forest is different from others. After much thought, I realized that this hawthorn forest is strange, as if there is a fog inside, and the sunlight cannot penetrate it."

Yan Ming Jushi chuckled and said, "Yes, Nephew, you are very observant. The last time we entered, it was foggy inside, and we could not see far. There was not much sunlight, and there were many animal and human bones inside."

Lu Yueming nodded and said, "In dangerous places, people often venture out of curiosity, and animals also enter recklessly, leaving behind bones, which is not unusual. However, this place has something peculiar that others do not."

Yan Ming Jushi and Tan Feng asked curiously, "What is peculiar about it?"

Lu Yueming said, "Listen, can you hear any birds in the hawthorn forest?"

Yan Ming Jushi and Tan Feng listened carefully, and indeed, there was no bird sound in the mysterious forest. Yan Ming Jushi recalled and said, "Nephew, you are right. The last time I entered, it was also silent, with no bird sounds."

Lu Yueming said seriously, "This is what I find strange. Birds are not like beasts; they have wings and can go anywhere. Forests are their homes. This large hawthorn forest has no bird sounds, Uncle Yan, don't you find that strange?"

After hearing Lu Yueming, Yan Ming Jushi's heart suddenly sank, his hair stood on end, and he broke out in a cold sweat. Looking at the thread stained with blood, he felt a sudden unease. Looking at the silent, sleeping-monster-like hawthorn forest, he did not want to stay a moment longer. He waved his hand and said, "Nephew, this is not a place to talk. Let's leave and find a safe place to discuss further."

Lu Yueming and Tan Feng quickly said, "As you wish, Uncle Yan."

Yan Ming Jushi did not say more, put the snow silkworm thread into his bag, and, with Lu Yueming and Tan Feng, used their lightness skills to leave quickly, not looking back.

The hawthorn forest remained silent, with thick fog flowing, as if nothing had happened.

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