There are white clouds floating on the horizon, the blue sky has no irregular color, the sky is clear, and the sun is scorching.
A touch of loess gradually spread outward from the green grass at the edge of the forest, forming a piece of yellow sand.
Countless twisted dead trees formed a barrier at the end of the sand, revealing the canopy of green shade and faint darkness inside.
"This is the Dead Creek Forest."
A big bronze foot wearing a straw sandal stepped on the sand. The king, whose complexion had recovered a little, looked at the giant jungle in front of him, his eyes shining with reminiscence.
Behind him were Li Jing and others who had also changed into clean clothes.
"Dad, Xiao Guo Guo and the others are going to Twelve Cave. Why did you bring us to Death Creek Forest? I also want to come back early to take care of the poisonous bastard!"
Chi Meng clenched his fists, with a vicious expression on his face.
King Jiao was silent for a moment and walked slowly forward on the sand with a pair of straw sandals: "There is a very important person here... and only through her can we safely enter the Twelve Cave."
"Then who is she?"
Chi Meng trotted up and supported the still weak King Hu, looking curiously at the dark forest behind the dead trees.
King Jiao hesitated for a moment, but in the end he did not say what he wanted to say, but turned to look at Li Jing.
"Alang of the Li family, do you know which cave master the person you are looking for works for?"
Li Jing was stunned for a moment, then thought about it carefully, and slowly shook his head: "This man has been away from the Central Plains for fifteen years. When he came to find Twelve Cave alone, we really don't know which cave master he is under... "
The empress also looked thoughtful and walked beside Li Jing in silence.
"Oh dad, why don't we ask every cave owner when the time comes? Then we'll find it!"
Seeing Chi Meng's pouted look, King Jiao shook his head and chuckled, looking deep into the dead creek forest that looked like night.
Fresh ginseng...
...
Stepping into the dead creek forest that feels like another world away, there is only a faint smell of rotting fallen leaves, and the sun is still shining outside. As soon as you enter the forest, you feel like you have entered autumn instantly.
The dense forest that blocks out the sky and the sun has an umbrella-like canopy, making the entire Dead Creek Forest a dark and depressing environment.
There was total silence, not even the sound of leaves being blown by the wind.
Chi Meng leaned against the King of Snakes tightly, and kept scanning around with his big eyes: "Dad...are those Jaundice tribesmen living in a place like this?"
King Jiao looked serious, as if this place instantly brought back memories of his past.
"So the Jaundice race is also called the exiled race... They can only live in darkness all day long, without any contact with any light..."
Chi Meng showed a thoughtful expression and looked into the dark depths.
Li Jing followed Chi Meng and King Hui quietly, flanked by the Empress and Hou Qing. Fortunately, the poison-avoiding beads were useful against miasma and poisonous gas, otherwise he would not have been able to follow King Hui in.
At this moment, the sound of staggered footsteps suddenly came from all around. Li Jing's eyes narrowed and fell on the dense dead trees on both sides.
Before the group of people could react, countless figures suddenly appeared from all sides and surrounded Li Jing and the others.
Chi Meng exclaimed and stepped in front of King Jiao.
"What kind of person!"
Li Jing squinted his eyes and saw that these people were all holding iron spears, and their whole bodies were tightly wrapped in cloth strips, with only a pair of eyes on their faces exposed.
A tall and thin man in front of him glanced at Chi Meng, pointed the iron spear in his hand at Li Jing and the others, and spoke in a low voice.
"Wai!"
The people around with iron spears took two steps forward with their iron spears, and the polished spear points were about to touch everyone's faces.
Chi Meng pulled out the curved Miao knife from his waist and said with a vigilant expression: "Don't be afraid, Dad, I will protect you!"
Behind her, Li Jing hugged her chest and curiously looked at the attire of these mysterious people. But the Empress and Hou Qing remained unmoved in the face of the shining iron spears.
King Jiao smiled and pushed Chi Meng behind him, looking at the tall and thin figure in front of him.
"Kui Mu, you're fine..."
The tall and thin figure frowned and looked carefully at King Jiao's thin face. Then his exposed eyes suddenly widened: "You are King Jiao Chi Li!"
King Jiao, who had cut his long and messy hair short, smiled slightly and nodded: "These are all friends from the Central Plains of Ten Thousand Poison Cave, don't worry Kui Mu."
The tall, thin man who was called Kui Mu suddenly understood and immediately waved.
"receive!"
The iron spears surrounding Li Jing and others immediately retracted and retreated.
Kui Mu looked at Li Jing and others with a guilty look on his face: "Friends, I'm sorry..."
Li Jing smiled softly and waved his hand: "Nothing happened, we broke into your territory, it was our fault first."
Kui Mu's eyes fell back on King Jiao, smiled slightly, and bowed with the iron spear in hand and crossed his chest with one hand.
"Dead Creek Linjaundi Clan, welcome everyone..."
Chi Meng approached the King of the Snakes and looked at the people from the Jaundice tribe around him with curious eyes: "Dad, do you know people from the Jaundice tribe..."
King Jiao laughed loudly, stepped forward to help Kui Mu up, and then his face straightened: "I want to see her."
Kui Mu was stunned and glanced at Li Jing and the others behind him.
"them..."
King Jiao nodded: "These young people need her help."
Kui Mu didn't seem to understand, but he seemed to understand again. He nodded silently and looked at the other Jaundice clan members: "You continue to patrol, I will come back as soon as I can."
Then he looked at Li Jing and the others.
"Friends, please come with me..."
Chi Meng, who was standing in front of King Hui, looked confused. He didn't know what kind of riddle King Hui was playing with Kui Mu, but he still turned around and pulled the empress: "Then let's go!"
Li Jing looked serious, and when he thought about meeting that mysterious woman soon, he felt a little sense of anticipation...
...
Kui Mu led the way, passing through numerous dense forest paths and passing through the woods that were heavily shrouded in poisonous gas, before finally stopping slowly.
"Wow..."
Looking at the ancient temple surrounded by countless vines, Chi Meng held his face and exclaimed: "I didn't expect there to be such a big house in the Dead Creek Forest! Was it built by you Jaundice tribesmen?"
Kui Mu nodded: "In the past, our ancestors of the Jaundice tribe were exiled to the Dead Creek Forest. In order to worship our gods, this temple was specially built."
After speaking for a while, Kui Mu looked at King Jiao and said, "She lives here now. We never see her. We ask King Jiao to go and look for her."
King Jiao smiled and nodded: "Thank you Kui Mu."
Kui Mu glanced at Li Jing and the others, crossed his hands and saluted, then turned and left.
Chi Meng looked surprised and jumped up the steps of the temple.
"Isn't it about the gods enshrined inside? Why is there still someone living in it? Who is she?"
Li Jing's eyes glanced around, only to feel that the place was deserted, as if there were no traces of human life at all.
King Jiao coughed, straightened his clothes, and walked up the bluestone stairs: "Be good, you will know when you see him later..."
Chi Meng pouted, and together with Li Jing and the others, they followed King Hu into the temple gate.
The slightly cool draft blew across everyone's faces in the temple, bringing a damp and rotten atmosphere.
The temple is overgrown with weeds, and green wild fruits are seen scattered on the ground from time to time. Stone pillars carved with simple patterns stand silently, inspecting these foreign guests.
After a cursory glance, Chi Meng's eyes fell on the swing hanging on the big tree in the center of the temple, with a curious look on his face.
"Do gods also swing on swings?"
"Girl, the gods can not only swing, but also eat fruits."
A ragged figure fell silently to the ground. The expression on his face covered with mud could not be seen clearly. He picked up a fruit on the ground, took a bite and looked at the King.
"How did you become like this, old man."
