chsdbacks Chapter 272 The Sentinel
Chapter 272 The Sentinel
A simple lunch and a short rest allowed the three to recover much of their strength. Nie Lingfeng keenly sensed that the sudden, cold, and damp wind from earlier wasn't entirely natural. It carried a faint, almost imperceptible, sense of filth and voyeurism, reminiscent of the dark creatures from the previous night, and even of certain auras within the "Nanmu Cave" and the altar. Though faint and fleeting, it didn't escape his perception.
"That gust of wind just now..." Nie Lingfeng looked at Wang Ye, his eyes questioning.
Wang Ye was picking his teeth with a twig (though there wasn't much meat left to pick from the snake), and upon hearing this, his lazy expression softened, and he nodded: "Hmm, I feel it. It's not a good wind. In this forest, besides the visible insects, snakes, and wild beasts, there are also some... unseen dirty things. Those things last night probably weren't just attracted by Xiao Chenduo's 'fragrance,' this land itself was probably polluted and influenced by the 'Council' or that 'Blood Buddha' in some way. When the earth's energy is polluted, it easily breeds these unclean things. That gust of wind just now was probably some kind of low-level 'earthly evil' or 'resentment' that was disturbed and formed unconsciously."
He paused, looking at Chen Duo, a thoughtful glint in his eyes: "However, Chen Duo's reaction just now was quite good. The Phoenix True Fire, being extremely yang and pure, is naturally able to restrain these yin and evil spirits. The fact that even an unconscious defense could purify it shows that her affinity with this power is increasing. This is a good thing, but we must be careful not to let this power turn against us and affect our character. Flames can purify evil, but they can also burn everything, including... oneself."
Chen Duo seemed to understand, but she could sense the concern and reminder in Wang Ye's words. She nodded earnestly, "Yes, I'll be careful. My 'fire' only burns bad guys, not good people, and it doesn't burn random things." As she spoke, she secretly glanced at the snake meat she had "accidentally" charred, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face. (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)
"Good to know." Wang Ye stood up, patted the dust off his backside, and said, "We've rested enough. Let's continue on our way. The closer we get to the mine, the more of this 'dirty stuff' we'll likely encounter, so everyone stay alert. Little Chen Duo, your 'fire' is a good thing; it can be very useful in crucial moments. But you also need to learn to control it properly. Don't just unleash it all at once and waste your energy."
"Okay!" Chen Duo also stood up, clenched her little fist, and indicated that she remembered.
The three extinguished the campfire (making sure it was completely out and leaving no hidden danger), cleaned up any traces, and once again embarked on the difficult detour.
As they ventured deeper, the surrounding trees grew taller and more eerie, and the light became increasingly dim. The subtle, unsettling sense of "filth" and "being watched" in the air seemed to become clearer. Occasionally, strange rustling or chirping sounds, neither insects nor birds, could be heard coming from the depths of the dense forest, carrying an ominous connotation.
This time, however, all three were prepared. Nie Lingfeng's senses were fully activated, like the most sophisticated radar; Wang Ye's Qimen perception was constantly active, avoiding obvious "evil energy" and dangerous areas; Chen Duo also formed the Phoenix Seal, her true fire slowly circulating within her body, ready to deal with any possible attacks from "filth".
Like three sharp knives, they silently and resolutely made their way through the shadowy and malicious forests of northern Myanmar toward the Hpakant mine, hidden deep in the mountains and filled with bloodshed and secrets.
Unbeknownst to them, high above them, beyond the dense canopy of trees, in the distant clouds, a strange creature with a wingspan exceeding three meters, entirely black, with scarlet eyes, and a form somewhere between a giant eagle and a bat, was silently circling. Its scarlet eyes, like the most sophisticated cameras, were firmly locked onto the three tiny figures moving like ants in the dense forest below.
A moment later, the strange creature let out a high-frequency hiss that was hard to hear, flapped its wings, turned around, and flew rapidly toward the central area of the Hpakant mine.
Deep within the mine, in that dimly lit underground hall.
Wu Dengsheng, the "Blood Buddha" who sat cross-legged on a black jade lotus platform, slowly opened his eerie eyes. He raised his withered hand, palm up, and a scarlet, writhing point of light slowly appeared and flickered in his palm.
"They're here..." His hoarse voice, tinged with a hint of pleasure and cruel anticipation, echoed softly in the underground hall.
"The fish has been caught in the net."
"Ready, let's close the net."
The crimson candlelight cast his and the twisted statue's shadows on the cold rock wall, making them appear even more grotesque and terrifying.
The sky, obscured by the dense canopy of trees, subtly transitioned into a dusky yellow. The light in the forest grew dimmer, and the colorful insects and birds gradually fell silent, replaced by the subtle stirrings of nocturnal creatures awakening, and that lingering, viscous, "filthy" scent that only grew thicker with the deepening twilight. The air temperature also began to drop, damp and chilly with the night dew, a stark contrast to the sweltering heat of the day.
Nie Lingfeng, Wang Ye, and Chen Duo, like three lynxes blending into the night, moved silently and swiftly through the increasingly difficult dense forest. Alarmed by the strange wind of the afternoon, the three were even more vigilant. Wang Ye's "seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune" sense was at its peak; he no longer relied entirely on animal trails, sometimes climbing rock walls, sometimes wading through streams, choosing increasingly treacherous and secluded routes to avoid as many potentially undetectable "filthy" spots and natural traps as possible.
Nie Lingfeng's senses were like the sharpest radar, scanning not only what was in front of him and his surroundings, but also paying attention to what was behind him to ensure no one was following. At the same time, he was carefully sensing the pulse of the earth beneath his feet, as well as the source and direction of the polluted air, trying to find a relatively clean or weak path leading to the mine. In this environment, the resonance between the "Suppressing Mountain" scepter on his chest and the Qilin power within him seemed even clearer, subtly guiding him in a direction that roughly matched the path Wang Ye had chosen.
Chen Duo followed closely between the two, her emerald eyes unusually bright in the dim light, like those of a nocturnal animal. She tried her best to control her breathing and footsteps, minimizing any unnecessary noise. The warm and active Phoenix True Fire within her body, sensing the increasingly dense "filth" and malice around her, slowly circulated on its own, forming a very thin yet warm halo on her skin, enough to dispel the approaching chill and discomfort. Her small hands remained in a hand seal, the golden-red sparks at her fingertips flickering, both a sign of vigilance and a silent deterrent—towards those unclean "things" that might be lurking in the shadows.
"Stop." Wang Ye, who was walking at the front, suddenly raised his left hand, signaling to stop. He squatted down, pushed aside a clump of dense ferns in front of him, and gestured for Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo to come and take a look.
Not far ahead, the trees thinned out, revealing a winding, makeshift wall made of barbed wire and sharpened wooden stakes. Behind the wall, the terrain abruptly dipped, forming a vast basin that looked as if gnawed by a giant beast. Scattered within the basin were numerous rusted minecart tracks, overturned wooden derricks, and makeshift shacks haphazardly constructed from sheet metal and planks. Deeper still, several dark, gaping mine entrances, resembling the gaping maws of monsters, were faintly visible. Dim yellow lights flickered near the shacks and mine shafts, and the faint sounds of diesel generators, the clanging of metal, and indistinct human voices could be heard.
We've arrived at the abandoned mines of Hpakant. Or at least, the outer area.
"Looks like we didn't go the wrong way." Wang Ye lowered his voice, squinting as he surveyed the scene ahead. "This 'Blood Buddha' certainly knows how to pick a place. This abandoned mine is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with a complex terrain. It's like a maze inside. It's perfect for hiding some people and doing some shady things."
Nie Lingfeng carefully observed the layout of the wall and the sentry posts (there were faint figures moving around near the entrances of several shacks, presumably sentries). The wall looked very simple, but the barbed wire gleamed coldly in the twilight, and at intervals, he could see makeshift "alarms" made from tin cans or similar containers. The sentry posts were also strategically positioned, offering relatively wide views and allowing them to coordinate with each other. To climb over silently without being detected would be quite difficult.
"There are hidden sentries," Nie Lingfeng said in a low voice. His senses detected several faint but concentrated auras hidden in the bushes and rock crevices inside the wall, clearly the presence of lurking sentries. "Explicit sentries plus covert sentries, cross-surveillance, and those alarm devices. Forcing our way in would expose us immediately."
"There's no point in forcing our way in." Wang Ye's lips curled into a lazy smile. He pointed to a relatively steep, more lushly vegetated hillside to the left of the wall, where there seemed to be no obvious sentry posts. "Look over there. The wall curves along the mountainside. There's a blind spot there, and it's on higher ground. Once you get over there, you'll find yourself in the pile of rubble at the edge of the mine, making it easy to hide. But..."
He paused, then looked at Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo: "I can handle the hidden sentries, but those alarm-equipped barbed wire fences are a bit of a problem; they'll go off if you move them. Little Chen Duo, can your 'fire' instantly and silently burn through a small section of wire without causing vibrations or noise from the nearby cans? It needs to be controlled with extreme precision."