GBP Chapter 224 Statue of Gods
Chapter 224 Statue of Gods
The officials had already disappeared from sight.
The trees along the mountain path rustled incessantly in the mountain wind, their leaves whispering and the chirping of insects echoing through the silent valley, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?
He Shan finally managed to stop trembling and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Really, really not a ghost?"
He immediately broke the slightly somber atmosphere.
Everyone: ...Are you ever going to stop?
"That's not a ghost."
Yu Bai said with a serious and firm tone, "Because they all have feet!"
Everyone: ...You didn't have to answer him so seriously.
"How could such a strange thing happen? Why would a prisoner run away from his cell instead of staying in it properly?"
Xuanfeng frowned in thought, "Didn't they say there was a collapse inside? Then why send prisoners in?"
"Perhaps they'll make the prisoners do the work of moving fallen rocks and clearing roads to atone for their crimes?"
Knowing that it wasn't the Ghost Queen, He Shan felt relieved and curled his lip indifferently.
"Instead of that, let's hurry on our way. Taking a detour will take us much longer, and if we don't hurry, we won't be able to get into the city before dark."
But Xuanfeng skillfully ignored him and turned to Chuling for instructions: "Your Highness, why don't we go back and take a look? This matter is probably not as simple as we think."
After all, his eyes had witnessed too much along the way, and he knew all too well the dangers and unpredictability of this world.
Something unusual must be amiss. Moreover, this place is far away and the imperial court has no reach. Who knows if the officials here are outwardly compliant but inwardly disobedient, harboring rebellious intentions?
Chu Ling, who had been given a simple disguise by Xie Yan on the way, lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Xie Yan suddenly wink at him.
He raised an eyebrow and, at Xie Yan's prompting, immediately spotted a figure in official robes hiding in the distance, secretly watching the crowd.
His words immediately changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Silence, let's enter the city first."
The group quickly sensed something from Chu Ling's expression, immediately fell silent, and continued on their way with an air of nonchalance.
The mountain breeze swept past again, weaving through the gaps between the crowd. Xie Yan's nose twitched slightly as she caught a whiff of something unusual in the earthy, earthy scent of the wind.
But the scent was so faint, and it was carried away by the wind and a host of other smells, that it vanished in an instant, leaving Xie Yan unable to detect anything.
So he decided to consult an expert in this field.
"Uya, can you smell something?"
Wuya was sitting on Taoxian's horse, laughing and joking. When Xie Yan suddenly asked her a question, she was taken aback at first, and then wrinkled her nose and took a deep breath.
As she inhaled, she recited the list of dishes: "Mmm... I smell grass and dew, and the fragrance of flowers, bird droppings, horse manure, sheep manure, cow manure..."
Xie Yan: ...Why is it all excrement?
Uya kept going, still saying: "Dog poop, cat poop, people—"
Xie Yan interrupted at the right moment, "Shut up."
He silently banished certain indescribable images from his mind, calmed his slightly nauseous feelings, and decided to change the subject, "Has Xiaobai still not found Wu Li's hiding place?"
"No."
Uya shook her head, looking indignant. "That little brat has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. Not only did he hide himself very well, but he also set up a lot of obstacles along the way. Even Xiaobai could only sense his approximate location."
"But I have a feeling!"
Uya took another deep breath, and under Xie Yan's gaze, proudly raised her chin, "Wu Li must be hiding nearby, he can't escape this time!"
"Ah."
Xie Yan smiled but remained silent, not really wanting to delve into what Wuya had smelled.
The newly discovered fork in the road was overgrown with grass and rugged, slowing everyone's pace considerably.
In addition, it was already late when they disembarked, and after the earthquake and the detour, no matter how fast they traveled, they still couldn't make it into the city in time.
They could only find a secluded spot on the official road outside the city to camp overnight, and then enter the city early the next morning.
As the moon rose above the willow branches, a bonfire was lit in the night. People sat around it, the fire crackling and casting several shadows that swayed back and forth on the ground.
Chu Ling turned over the fire in front of him and asked without looking to the side, "Has the tail following behind you left?"
"No," Xie Yan stretched slowly, "not only did they follow, but their numbers have also increased."
"They just came out of the city, and together with the two who had been following them, there are at least ten people watching from the shadows."
"What? There are so many people?"
He Shan was startled by what he heard and quickly scanned his surroundings, but in the vast darkness, he could not find anything except the shadowy trees.
He could only silently grip the sword at his waist, wondering, "Could it be that we've been exposed, and they're planning to attack us?"
"Stop acting all jumpy."
Xuanfeng calmly roasted his rations. "If they wanted to make a move, they would have done it long ago. Why wait until now?"
“Xuanfeng is right.”
Yu Bai nodded in agreement, "They're following us, probably just to confirm whether our identities are genuine."
"After all, we've already disguised ourselves. Once we enter the city, as long as they confirm that we're really just a group of ordinary merchants, they probably won't be interested in us anymore."
The next day.
The sun had barely risen high when the East Street in Jinlin City was already filled with the smell of alcohol, and wine banners fluttered back and forth in the wind, dazzling the eyes.
Among these bustling taverns, only Old Huang's small wine stall at the end of the street was deserted, without a single customer.
But he was happy to have a peaceful life, since his children had all started their own families and didn't need him to worry about them. They were also very filial and took turns supporting him.
Therefore, he had no worries about food and clothing, and opening a tavern was just a way for him to pass the time.
Just like now, all the taverns are busy attracting customers, but he is the only one lying on the side of the tavern, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan, and taking a very leisurely nap.
However, his leisure was soon disrupted by two uninvited guests who appeared out of nowhere.
"Uncle, bring me two bowls of rice wine."
They were two men of ordinary appearance, one old and one young, dressed in rather rich clothes. It was unclear whether they were father and son or master and servant.
The two walked breathlessly, as if they had walked quite a distance before stopping to rest.
Old Huang quickly stood up. "Alright, please sit down, the wine is ready soon."
The small liquor stall was tiny, with only two or three tables and chairs inside, and you could see the whole thing at a glance; it was truly rudimentary.
However, within this unremarkable liquor stall, one place stands out remarkably—
It was a table placed in the corner, with incense smoke curling around it.
An altar with a four-armed deity with furious hair and a ferocious face.