After listening to the story of old man Li Guangsheng, Chen Tao and Uncle Long didn't speak for a long time. The old man smoked in silence, while Xiaobao played with the dog not far away.
The story was too bloody and not suitable for children of his age, so Li Guangsheng sent Xiaobao to play at the beginning. His childhood left an indelible trauma and shadow that affected him throughout his life, and he didn't want his grandson to do the same.
"Well, it's been more than fifty years. Later, I asked someone to inquire about the current residences of those families, but found nothing."
"I didn't expect that a small jade plaque would have such a story...Old man, please give me my condolences. It's been so many years and it's time to let it go." Uncle Long said.
"Yes, after so many years, every time I see that jade, I can think of Brother Huzi, Erya, Tiedan and Agui! Sometimes I dream at night and dream that I am trapped in that terrible millet. , surrounded by black shadows, and they were waving to me in the group of black shadows."
"That incident has tortured me all my life, and I have hidden it all my life. I sold this jade today to find relief for myself. I don't intend to keep this money for myself. A new one opened in the town a few days ago. I will donate all this money to the school and donate it to the children! Let them study well and grow up well!"
Li Guangsheng extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand with a sad expression. At this moment, Chen Tao felt that the old man in front of him seemed to have suddenly become much older.
"I believe they have spirits in heaven, and they will be very happy to see you doing this!" Chen Tao advised.
"Well, after holding it in for so many years, I feel relieved to say it out. It's getting late. Why don't you two stay and have a meal? My son and daughter-in-law should be back soon."
"No, no, the old man is so kind, and our uncle and nephew understand it. It's getting dark, and we should go back."
"Okay, I won't force you to stay. Be careful on the road... From your accents, you are also from outside. Trust me, don't touch that mountain, let alone go to that valley!"
After bidding farewell to the old man, Chen Tao called Mouzi and the others, and they were almost gone.
The two of them walked to the entrance of the village. It was already dark. From a distance, there were only two dark figures and a flickering red dot. That was Uncle Long smoking.
Chen Tao asked: "Uncle Long, do you think the old man made that mountain so mysterious? Is it true?"
Uncle Long took a puff of cigarette and said: "Hmm...Looking at him, it doesn't look like he is making up a story. It should be true..."
"Are there really ghosts in the mountains that eat people?" Chen Tao asked doubtfully.
"How can there be any ghost that eats people?" Uncle Long glanced at Chen Tao, "However, after all, this is the only clue about the mountain so far. You can believe it, but you can't believe it entirely."
"Ah? What do you mean?" Chen Tao felt that he didn't understand.
"It has been so many years, not to mention that Li Guangsheng was still a child at the time. People's subconscious often exaggerates or changes certain memory fragments to make them exist as they imagine, but in fact they are not as they remember. . Just like when you look at yourself in the mirror and you in the photo, you will feel that you look better in the mirror."
"So what do you mean?"
"That incident was a demon for Li Guangsheng, and it has troubled him for so many years. The truth of the incident may have been distorted by his subconscious. Don't forget what I told you when I came here."
As he said that, Uncle Long pointed gently at Chen Tao's head, "Here, people can also be deceived."
Chen Tao said nothing, thinking about Uncle Long's words in his head.
"However, it at least explains one thing."
"whats the matter?"
"There is something in the valley..." Uncle Long took a long puff of cigarette, threw the cigarette butt on the ground, stamped it out, and slowly blew out a smoke ring, "Something that can kill people..."
"Things that kill people..." Chen Tao thought to himself, remembering the story told by the old man Li Guangsheng, and suddenly felt a little cold, and he couldn't help but shrink back.
Life and death, this was something he had never considered.
In Chen Tao's heart, there is only a strong curiosity about the unknown and a desire to explore. Death is still far away for him.
After waiting for more than ten minutes, Haozi and the others' car arrived. On the way, Uncle Long asked Haozi and the others what they had gained in the day. Shangui said:
"It's so damn hard to carry today, and I don't even have any hair on my back!"
"I didn't expect to receive anything at first. What about the others? Did you find anything?" Uncle Long asked.
Haozi replied: "I heard from some old people enjoying the cool air that a troop once entered that mountain before and then left in a hurry. I don't know what they did inside."
"The troops? What troops?"
"I don't know about this. Some say it belongs to Yan Xishan and Yan Laoxi, others say it belongs to the Kuomintang Party, and some say it belongs to the Japanese. I'm not sure." Haozi shook his head.
"Didn't an old man say he caught someone inside?" Mountain Ghost interjected.
"Did you say it? Why don't I remember it?" Haozi looked at Shangui.
"Yes! I remember the old man leaning against the wall very clearly." Mountain Ghost said.
"Hey? Taozi, what about you, have you discovered anything?" Haozi asked Chen Tao.
So, Chen Tao told them what the old man said in the afternoon, and at the end, he added:
"Anyway, that's what the old man said. As for whether it's true or false, I don't know."
"It's interesting, Mr. Long, what do you think?" Shangui asked Uncle Long.
Uncle Long frowned and said: "After today's trip, I have almost figured out the situation in the surrounding villages. Go back and have an early dinner tonight. I have something important to tell you."
"What's important?" Chen Tao asked curiously.
"Let's go eat first. I have to think about this again."
Everyone walked into the town, had a quick bite at the small restaurant downstairs, and then returned to Uncle Long and Shan Gui's room.
As soon as he entered the door, Chen Tao couldn't help but asked: "Uncle Long, what's important?"
Uncle Long didn't say anything, but took out a jade plaque from his arms. Chen Tao took a look and found that it was the piece he had taken back from old man Li Guangsheng in the afternoon.
At that time, Uncle Long just put his hand away and put it away. Chen Tao wanted to look at it, but when he saw that Uncle Long had put it away, he was too embarrassed to speak. After all, he was outside, so he still had a sense of what he should do and what he shouldn't do.
The mountain ghost said: "Is this the piece of jade you are talking about?"
Uncle Long nodded and said, "That's it."
Chen Tao picked up the jade plaque and looked through it. Unexpectedly, this look shocked him.
The jade plaque is one inch square, crystal clear, warm to the touch, and shines with the unique milky luster of jade under the light. Chen Tao weighed it in his hand. Although this jade token was not of the highest quality, it was still old and should fetch a lot of money.
The jade sign was engraved with complex patterns. Chen Tao touched it with his hand. When he looked carefully, he saw that it was a twisted branch. There was a word written in ancient script on the front of the sign. Chen Tao has studied a little ancient Chinese and knows that character. It is the character "shuo" in the Chu script of the Six Kingdoms script.
"Maybe it's an identity card, right?" Chen Tao thought to himself. He turned his hand and looked at the back of the jade card. He was shocked when he saw it.
I saw a person engraved on the back of the jade tablet. With strangely long limbs, a round head, and bumpy lines on the front of his body, he was clearly a bronze tree man!
"Uncle Long, this...!"
Haozi on the side said strangely: "What's wrong? Let me see." After saying that, he reached out and took the jade plaque from Chen Tao's hand.
"Holy shit!"
Haozi had met Shuren. When he saw the pattern on the back of the jade plaque, he instantly understood the meaning of the jade plaque.
"Isn't this the pattern of the item that the little boss took back?" Mountain Ghost also said in surprise.
Uncle Long looked at everyone calmly, as if he had known that everyone would react this way.
"When I took this piece of jade from Li Guangsheng's hand, I knew that this thing was not simple. At that time, it was inconvenient to talk in their yard. Later, after listening to what he said, I thought, this time, We’re at the right place!”
Uncle Long looked at the crowd and said.
"I see. No wonder you just put it in your pocket and didn't even let me take a look!" Chen Tao suddenly said.
"Hmph, if I let you see this jade token, the old man probably won't sell it." Uncle Long turned around to get the map, and Chen Tao scratched his head in embarrassment.
Li Hao and Shan Gui on the side burst into laughter. Uncle Long spread the map on the bed and everyone gathered around.
"Ryoko's mouth is here, Shangui, which legendary village are you two going to?"
"Here...here!" Mountain Ghost pointed.
"Hmm..." Uncle Long muttered, looking at the map with his eyes and running his fingers along the map, as if he was looking for something.
"Jupiter is in power and it's hard to find out. The four elephants are high and low and have three joints. They follow the dragon on both sides to make spiritual court. There are five and thirty-five acupoints on the five fingers..." Uncle Long pressed one hand on the map and muttered something vaguely in his mouth. Chen Tao looked on in shock.
"Hey, there's a game!"
Uncle Long took a breath, and then ignored everyone's curious eyes and squinted his eyes to draw on the map.
"The water moves from the left to the right, and the water moves from the right to the right. The two dragons move back and forth to get Zhong'an. One safety, five points and thirty battles!" Uncle Long's eyes lit up. Chen Tao followed Uncle Long's fingers and saw only the middle of the map. On the upper finger, there are three small words written clearly, Heizigou!
"It's Heizigou again..." Chen Tao frowned, "What's wrong with this place?"
"If there is a cave, the entrance must be on the mountain where Heizigou is located. The man-eating valley that Li Guangsheng mentioned is probably here."
"Ah? Then aren't we going to go into the cannibal valley?" Chen Tao asked.
"Well, yes." Uncle Long's expression became solemn.
"I thought before that the layout of this place is a bit weird. If it is too angry, there must be a very dark death spot. If this trip continues, life and death will be unpredictable..."
"Taotao, go back. It's too dangerous here, you can't follow us down." Uncle Long suddenly looked at Chen Tao.
"Ah? I... go back?" When Uncle Long said it suddenly, Chen Tao couldn't react and pointed at himself, not knowing what to say.
"This is for your own good, it's dangerous down there!"
"No! Uncle Long, you brought me here. Why did you change your mind?" Chen Tao asked Uncle Long unwillingly.
"This place is scarier than I imagined. If you have any shortcomings, how can I explain it to your parents?" Uncle Long's words contained a bit of majesty and anger.
"I..." Chen Tao clenched his fists tightly. He just had some clues about the matter and then left like this?
No, he is not willing to give in, he does not want to leave!
Chen Tao took a deep breath and calmed down. He looked up into Uncle Long’s eyes and said:
"Uncle Long, I know you are doing it for my own good, but I also have a reason why I have to go!"
"What's the reason?" Uncle Long looked at him without blinking.
"I want to become stronger and grow up. I know there are many things about this family that I don't know. I also know that you may have encountered some unsolvable difficulties and urgently need someone to help you. My father also said that the Chen family They need me, and the Spirit Alliance also needs me, and in this case, I can’t hide.”
"I have grown up under your protection since I was a child. You don't tell me anything and you don't let me touch anything. Now that I am an adult, I have my own plans!"
"I know in my heart how dangerous this business is. If I keep hiding, I will be safe and won't get hurt at all, but how will this help me, the Chen family, and the Spirit Alliance?"
"Now that you have made up your mind to do it, don't back down. Whatever comes, I will take it. I dare to resist, because I know that even if I can't bear it anymore, you will still be behind me. But if you don't even have the chance to face it, If you don’t give it to me, then what’s the point of all this?”
Chen Tao's chest heaved violently. This was the first time he talked to Uncle Long like this. He didn't know where he got the courage. He didn't want to live a useless life, and he didn't want to hide in the Chen family's greenhouse all his life.
Several people were shocked by Chen Tao's appearance. Normally, Chen Tao always looked playful and carefree, but suddenly he was so serious, which made everyone present feel very surprised.
"this……"
Shangui and Haozi both looked at Uncle Long. Uncle Long was silent for a long time. He touched his trouser pocket for a long time and took out a cigarette case. He saw that it was empty. Seeing this, Shangui took out his cigarette and handed it to Uncle Long. After lighting the fire, Uncle Long slowly blew out a smoke ring and said:
"Oh, that's all, that's all. You have to walk the road by yourself after all. But this time I have a hunch that it won't be peaceful down there. Once you enter the cave, you just follow us and don't run around alone. If you find something, you can't. Don’t touch it!”
"Yes, I understand!" Chen Tao breathed a sigh of relief and calmed down his nervous and excited emotions.
"Mountain ghost, Haozi!" Uncle Long looked at the two of them and said
"Master Long, tell me!"
"Inform Lao Wang and Mr. Zhang that the meal is ready!"
"Yes!" The two nodded in response.
"Is there anyone else?" Chen Tao asked.
"Well, this cake is too big for us to eat. Let's all go back and rest. We'll go to Heizigou tomorrow!"
After listening to Uncle Long's words, Chen Tao's eyes flashed.
"It's finally about to start. I won't back down! Chen Tao, starting from tomorrow, your life will be turned upside down..."
