stonecrandall Page 412
Page 412
Sensing the overwhelming aura of their opponents, the previously arrogant leader had to show some apprehension. "Consider yourselves lucky... but we won't give up so easily!" He gritted his teeth and ordered his men to retreat, then glared hatefully at Zhao De and his group. "Just you wait, we'll be back soon."
The onlookers breathed a sigh of relief, and some even applauded in celebration. "That's fantastic! Justice has finally triumphed over evil!" a young woman exclaimed excitedly.
“However, this adventure seems far from over,” another boy said, frowning.
Chapter 1179 seemed particularly surprising.
Chapter 1179 seemed particularly surprising.
After packing up, Zhao De and the others prepared to set off again. Just as they were about to leave, a thin figure suddenly blocked their way—it was the one who had been secretly observing them.
“Please wait a moment, I can help you solve the problem,” he said in a calm but confident tone.
Everyone was stunned, especially the mysterious leader, who seemed particularly surprised. "Who are you? How did you know we'd encounter trouble?"
The man smiled slightly, "Because I have been watching you all, and I believe that only you can uncover the truth behind this. My name is Li Ming."
“But…” Zhao Degang was about to ask for more details when Li Ming gently stopped him.
"Don't rush, everything is arranged. Follow me, something you need even more awaits discovery ahead." As his words fell, a low and mysterious chanting faintly drifted from afar...
“That voice…” Zhao De and Lin Xiaomeng exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with doubt and anticipation. They realized that the real journey might have only just begun.
"Let's go with him and see what happens," the mysterious leader suggested after a moment of contemplation.
The four followed Li Ming into a deep, dense forest. What awaited them ahead?
"Where is this chanting coming from?" Lin Xiaomeng couldn't help but ask.
"We're almost there," Li Ming turned around and smiled. "Everything will be revealed soon, don't worry."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the melodious yet slightly eerie song grew clearer and clearer…
Following Li Ming's footsteps, Zhao De and the others gradually ventured deeper into the dark forest. Animal sounds echoed through the woods, and the air was filled with the scent of earth and leaves. The melodious and mysterious song grew closer, as if some inexplicable force was drawing them onward.
"Don't you guys think this singing is a bit strange?" Lin Xiaomeng said in a low voice, "It seems to have a captivating quality."
“Something does seem off, but since we’re already here, we should at least see what’s going on,” Zhao De replied softly.
Just then, a passing woodcutter stopped and looked at the group with curiosity. "Oh, are you all heading deep into the forest? There are quite a few strange things happening there," the woodcutter said, his tone full of doubt. "Legend has it that there is a cursed ancient temple there, and you can often hear ghostly wails and howls at night."
Zhao De turned to the woodcutter, "Thank you for reminding me, but we have to go in no matter what. If you have any suggestions or things to be aware of, please let us know."
“Well, if you really have to go…” The woodcutter hesitated slightly, then nodded as if he had made up his mind: “Then you must be very careful! Especially after dark, don’t linger in the woods. That area is very dangerous at night. Also, don’t let the song cloud your judgment—it’s said that many adventurers have lost their minds because of it.”
Having said that, the woodcutter shook his head and left, leaving Zhao De and his group standing there. After exchanging glances, the four of them remained silent, simply quickening their pace to continue on their way.
Before long, the outline of an ancient building could be vaguely seen through the dense trees. "Looks like that's it." Li Ming gave the others a wink, then quietly stepped onto the path leading to the dilapidated temple.
Chapter 1180 Deathly Silence
Chapter 1180 Deathly Silence
As they approached the gate, the chanting abruptly ceased, replaced by a deathly silence. Suddenly, faint yet chilling footsteps echoed around them, as if countless eyes were secretly observing them.
Zhao De cautiously glanced around, gripping his sword tightly. "Looks like there's an ambush. Is everyone ready for battle?"
“I was ready long ago.” Lin Xiaomeng sneered, her arrow already aimed at a clump of grass not far away. “I want to see what kind of thing is hiding behind this!”
Almost simultaneously, a dozen figures dressed in black robes leaped out of the shadows, brandishing gleaming weapons and charging forward. A fierce battle was about to erupt...
"I never expected there were so many people hiding here!" a passerby exclaimed in shock. "What are these people in black robes? Could they be the guardians of this temple?"
Another pedestrian watched Zhao De and his group, who were engaged in fierce combat, with envy: "Wow, these people are really amazing! Especially that girl with the bow and arrow, she never misses a shot, so cool!"
In the midst of the fierce battle, the previously evenly matched situation suddenly changed—a powerful energy erupted from the mysterious leader's body, forming a halo that repelled all enemies who approached him. At the same time, an aged voice echoed in mid-air: "Stop this pointless fighting, brave travelers."
Upon hearing this, everyone present stopped what they were doing and looked up at the blurry figure that appeared in the air.
"Who are you? Why are you helping us?" Zhao De asked on behalf of everyone.
The mysterious voice slowly replied, "I am the guardian of this ancient ruin. In fact, I have been searching for someone who can break the seal and unleash the power of light. And you are the team closest to achieving that goal. But now is not the time to fully reveal the answer..."
Just as the mysterious guardian was halfway through his sentence, a sudden gust of strong wind interrupted him. Darkness enveloped the surroundings, and only his last words echoed in the black world: "Remember, the light will eventually come..."
When everything returned to normal, the guardian had vanished without a trace, as had the black-robed figures who had previously attacked them. Only the empty ancient temple and the bewildered Zhao De and his three companions remained.
"What do we do now? That senior didn't give any clear instructions." Lin Xiaomeng frowned and asked her three companions.
"Perhaps... we need to find our own way and the truth," the mysterious leader said thoughtfully, then turned to Li Ming with a questioning look. "What do you think, Brother Li?"
Li Ming nodded slightly, revealing an enigmatic smile: "That's right. The real mystery is still waiting to be revealed ahead, isn't it? Let's go, friends, let's continue on our journey."
At that moment, the familiar, deep, and mysterious chanting sounded again from afar, guiding them into the unknown...
"No matter what, we will not give up our belief in finding the answer," Zhao De said firmly.
“Yes, no matter what difficulties we face next, we will stand shoulder to shoulder until we find the truth,” Lin Xiaomeng replied, her eyes shining with determination.
Chapter 1181 What to do next?
Chapter 1181 What to do next.
Just as the group was encouraging each other, a faint voice suddenly came from not far away: "Hey... do you really think this is the end? The real trial has only just begun..."
Everyone turned around sharply and saw a strange figure hidden in the night, letting out a sinister laugh before disappearing without a trace.
As night fell, the darkness in the forest seemed to deepen, the surrounding trees like giant shadows enveloping them. The eerie laughter left by the strange figure echoed in the air, sending chills down their spines.
“It seems we really need to be careful,” Chai Yujie said in a low voice. “That voice sounds malicious.”
“That’s right, and that guy seems to know what we’re going to do next,” Zhao De added, her bow already reloaded, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.
"We need to find a safe place to camp for the night as soon as possible, and then continue our journey tomorrow," Li Ming suggested, looking up at the dark sky, searching for any possible light source to guide us.
Just as they were about to leave, a commotion suddenly arose from the nearby jungle. A group of villagers were hurrying towards the ancient temple. Leading them was an elderly man with a wrinkled face, his eyes filled with anxiety and unease.
The old man noticed Chai Yujie and the others, stopped, and asked, "Everyone, have you heard that song too? It's been getting louder and louder lately, and many young people in the village have mysteriously disappeared because of it..."
“We came here because of the singing,” Chai Yujie replied, briefly explaining what had just happened.
Hearing this, a young villager nearby couldn't help but exclaim, "That's amazing! He actually dared to fight against those guards and survived. He's a true hero!" His words immediately resonated with those around him, who all nodded in agreement.
Another older woman looked very worried: "I hope you can find out the cause soon, otherwise our whole village will be in danger."
After bidding farewell to the villagers who were concerned about the progress of the matter, the four continued their exploration deeper into the area. Along the way, they encountered more villagers and other passersby, everyone filled with curiosity and awe at their presence. Especially Zhao De, who wielded a bow and arrow; many whispered among themselves that she was as cool as a legendary female warrior.
"You know what? I just heard someone say that you're like a warrior who fell from the sky!" Chai Yujie said to Zhao De with a smile.
"Hehe, that's just because they've never seen real kung fu," Zhao De replied modestly, but a smug smile appeared on her face.
As night deepened, the moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft white light, with a few stars sparsely scattered around. When they finally found a relatively open space, they decided to set up their tents there to rest for the time being. "What awaits us tomorrow?" Zhao De muttered to himself as he packed his gear.
"No matter what, as long as we stand united, there are no difficulties we can't overcome." Li Ming looked at her firmly, his eyes shining with courage and determination. "By the way, Brother Zhao, what do you think that mysterious person you mentioned earlier was trying to tell us?"
Chai Yujie pondered for a moment, "He seemed to have mentioned the power of light... I think this might be the key to our trip. Hopefully, we can find the answer."
Chapter 1182 Various Speculations
Chapter 1182 Various Speculations
"Hey, have you guys noticed? That weird voice seems to be following us." Suddenly, Zhang Yong, the chubby boy who had been silently observing their surroundings, broke the silence. "I have a feeling something strange is about to happen..."
"Don't worry, we'll take turns keeping watch tonight," Chai Yujie reassured her, while starting to set up defensive measures for the camp. "Everyone, take this time to get some rest; tomorrow might be very busy."
Just as everyone was drifting off to sleep, Zhao De couldn't fall asleep. She got up and went outside the tent for some fresh air, gazing absently at the bright moon hanging in the night sky. Suddenly, she heard soft footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw the same mysterious figure that had appeared and disappeared before.
"I thought you had already run away," she said softly, but her hand was already gripping the bow tightly.
The figure slowly approached until their faces were clearly visible. It turned out to be a young woman, but her entire body was completely covered by a black cloak.
“I am a friend sent to protect you,” the stranger said. “The real enemy is more powerful than you imagine, so please be careful.”
Before Zhao De could press for further questions, the woman vanished in a wisp of black smoke. Leaving behind only her, still bewildered yet more determined, and a multitude of speculations about the impending battle.
"Lin Daiyu, who are you talking to?" Chai Yujie asked, peeking out from inside the tent upon hearing the voice.
“It’s nothing. I just saw a very special person. She said she’s here to help us.” Zhao De smiled slightly, turned around, and walked back to his tent. “However, I still think we need to be fully prepared. After all, the darkest hour is always before dawn…”
Hearing Zhao De's reply, Chai Yujie nodded, secretly on guard. He returned to his tent and began carefully checking the equipment to ensure everything was ready. Li Ming and Zhang Yong also woke up one after another, and the three began discussing their next plan.
“We need to find the location of that ‘power of light’ as soon as possible,” Li Ming said, “otherwise the villagers may be under even greater threat.”
“Yes, and I think the appearance of that mysterious woman might be a key clue,” Zhang Yong added. “Who exactly is the powerful enemy she mentioned?”
"Anyway, let's determine the direction first." Chai Yujie spread out a map, and everyone gathered around. With the help of the moonlight and the dim light of flashlights, they began to study the next direction.
Just as they were engrossed in their discussion, a commotion suddenly erupted from the outskirts of the camp. Several villagers rushed over with tense expressions, the one leading them being the same wrinkled old man from before.
"Everyone, please help!" the old man said urgently. "There's a strange light coming from over in the village, and many people are too scared to go out."
"Let's set off immediately!" Chai Yujie said without hesitation. The four of them quickly packed their gear and followed the villagers toward the village.
Along the way, Zhao De constantly and vigilantly observed her surroundings, her bow and arrows already prepared. Li Ming walked at the head of the group, holding a longsword, his gaze resolute. Zhang Yong carried a bag of dry rations and first-aid supplies, ready to provide support at any time.
When they arrived at the village entrance, they found the entire village illuminated by an eerie blue light. The villagers gathered in the village center, their faces filled with fear. An old man anxiously explained, "Ever since that song grew louder and louder, this strange light has appeared, and many young people have disappeared..."
Chapter 1183 We Need to Be Extra Careful