Chapter 157: Withered Pool Ravine

Song Zhong has already entered Wutan Ravine?

I took a deep breath. "Mayor, I need to go into the mountains immediately. Can you help me prepare some supplies?"

"Song Zhong knows nothing about Lin Feng. Even if he could handle the original problems of Wutan Ravine, he cannot handle Lin Feng."

I paused for a moment, looked deeply at the mayor, and said, "People could die if things go wrong!"

Anyone else would certainly think I had lost my mind.

However, the mayor was different. Having experienced it firsthand, he knew the terrifying nature of Lin Feng. Especially seeing that I was not joking, he immediately gave orders to make arrangements.

The mayor was a very thorough man. Not only did he prepare a large bag of supplies for me, but he also hand-drawn a map for me himself.

"You must keep this safe. This is the route map into Wutan Ravine. No one nowadays has been to this place; only I know the way there. Furthermore, the terrain inside is extremely bizarre, winding through twists and turns, and you could easily get lost in there."

After carefully putting away the route map, I gave the mayor a grateful look. He told me that Song Zhong also had a copy.

"Jiang Huai, take me with you!"

Looking at Yin Cheng, I did not agree this time: "I'm sorry, I can't take you along this time. If I bring you, you will become a burden. I don't know if I can keep you safe."

Yin Cheng wanted to say more, but I reached out to stop him while patting him on the shoulder. "Yin Cheng, you are a good person, and a loyal one. Having this intention is enough. This matter is not something you can get involved in."

"You don't need to say anything more. I won't be able to look after you, and there is a martial hero inside already. If you insist on going in with me, call your family and have them prepare a coffin for you. As long as they agree, I will take you in."

Yin Cheng looked at me and remained silent for a long time.

I smiled slightly at him. "You are also a brave person; many people wouldn't dare go as far as you have. But you are just an ordinary person after all. Think more of your family."

I continued, "Do you remember the scene in the cave last night? The place I am going to this time is even more terrifying than that cave. Live your lives well, and leave these matters to us."

"You... must come back safely, Jiang Huai."

I smiled, asked the mayor to take good care of Yin Cheng, and then, taking my supplies, I set off toward Wutan Ravine without looking back.

I really had to hand it to that old fox Song Zhong. How could he not give me a heads-up about something so major?

Even if my grandfather was the one who sent him, he should at least have given me a word. After all, he was the one who brought me into this trade.

When I find him, I am definitely going to kick his backside and I will not let him off easily!

I didn't know how long I had been walking before the signal in the mountains disappeared entirely, turning my phone into nothing more than an MP3 player and a flashlight.

The sky gradually grew dark, and I turned on my recorder.

The caw of crows echoed from overhead from time to time, and the once-luisuriant trees around me gradually faded away.

In their place were withered trees and broken branches, with green snakes coiling around some of the dead limbs.

Relying on the hand-drawn map, I kept moving forward.

Suddenly, I noticed a cigarette pack on the ground ahead.

I picked it up and saw it was Song Zhong's brand.

I wondered how far he had gotten by now.

I had originally thought about sleeping for a bit before hitting the road again, but I was worried something might have happened to Song Zhong.

After a ten-minute rest, I resumed my journey.

The mountain night breeze felt exceptionally chilling against the skin.

At some point, dark clouds obscured the bright moon.

The mayor had told me that after crossing a small stream and then climbing over a mountain, I would be able to see Wutan Ravine.

Right then, I stood by the edge of the stream, scooping up some water to wash my face.

The water was truly freezing.

At my current pace, if I didn't sleep, I would be able to cross the mountain before me in about a couple of hours.

Yet I still decided to sleep. If something actually went wrong, I certainly wouldn't manage without having my energy restored.

I pulled out my sleeping bag and prepared to sleep right where I was.

However, the moment I lay down, I suddenly felt as though something behind me was staring intently at me.

I looked back, but found nothing at all.

Pondering for a moment, I lay back down and closed my eyes.

A soft sound of snoring came from my lips, but a talisman was already gripped tightly in my hand, hidden against my body.

Ten minutes later, I sensed something creeping stealthily up to my side.

It even seemed to stretch out a hand and wave it in front of my face. Seeing that I didn't move, the thing cautiously began rummaging through my bag.

Without altering my expression, I slowly sat up and looked at the person before me: disheveled, wearing tattered clothes, with their back covered in bloody whip marks, and of indeterminate gender.

I thought the creature was looking for something in my pack, but it ended up pulling out a large quantity of bread.

Upon seeing the bread, it began eating ravenously and even opened a bottle of cola.

I sat behind it in silence, just watching quietly.

When it had eaten and drunk its fill, I gave a gentle cough and said, "Eating the things I gave you without even saying hello—isn't that a bit impolite?"