Chapter 26 - The Qilin Guardians of Kirin Town
By the time the scattered group of people had gathered, the eastern horizon was already growing light. However, at this point, the entire group had dwindled to half its original size, leaving only Zhang Kai, the old fortune teller, the young boy, Gu Mingyu and the double ponytails, Daoist Chongming and his disciples, and two young men who were assisting them. One of the young men had been stung by a Red-Tailed Bee, resulting in a swollen lump the size of a pigeon's egg on his forehead, which was now a deep shade of red. He was in excruciating pain and trembling uncontrollably.
Zhang Kai sighed upon seeing this. It seemed that misfortune often began with the minor characters, and these two had narrowly avoided their fate.
"What's going on, Master Zhou? Didn't you bring protective items with you? How did we still come under attack from Red-Tailed Bees?" Gu Mingyu's face wore a grim expression, as their losses had been significant due to this unexpected ambush.
Master Zhou shook his head helplessly. "I brought Bone Incense, but it's primarily effective against Blood-Feeding Insects, which are the real deadly pests. Who could have known we'd encounter Red-Tailed Bees here? My sect's records didn't mention this."
Gu Mingyu was at a loss for words. "Perhaps these Red-Tailed Bees are not as ordinary as they seem. I have a feeling that there may be Spirit Bees among them," Daoist Chongming said with a solemn expression.
Spirit Bees? Gu Mingyu's face turned slightly pale. If that were the case, it would be terrifying. A swarm of Spirit Bees, led by Red-Tailed Spirit Bees, was far more dangerous than regular Red-Tailed Bees.
"It seems I miscalculated," Master Zhou admitted with regret. "I apologize for my oversight. Mingyu, should we consider returning and reevaluating our situation? We may have to wait for a more favorable opportunity."
"No," Gu Mingyu replied firmly, though she softened her tone. "Despite the unexpected challenges, we've already come this far. According to the map, we're not far from Yinwind Valley, and once we pass through it, we'll reach the forbidden area. I believe we won't face any more surprises. Besides, you mentioned that Bone Incense will protect us from Blood-Feeding Insects, and now that we've used it, the threat is gone."
"Well then, shall we continue our journey now?" Master Zhou inquired.
Gu Mingyu hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes, we must. Since we've come this far, we shouldn't waste our previous efforts. We should move forward as planned."
"Very well, let's take a short rest here, and when daylight breaks, we'll continue," Master Zhou suggested.
Subsequently, the group of adventurers sat down, rested, tended to their injuries, and checked their remaining supplies. Zhang Kai remained silent, as if he were invisible, resting alone and engrossed in his own thoughts.
In less than an hour, the first light of dawn began to shine. The surroundings were peaceful, filled with the sounds of birds and fragrant blossoms.
Gu Mingyu stood up and gave the order to proceed. Due to the recent events, the group was no longer in a mood for casual conversation, and they continued their journey with solemn determination.
However, this time, they encountered no further mishaps. They didn't even come across any large wild beasts. They safely reached the end of the mountain valley, which opened up into a breathtaking sight.
At the valley's end, two colossal stone qilins stood side by side. These stone qilins were impressive, measuring three to four meters in height, with intricate carvings depicting their fierce postures. However, the passage of time had covered them with moss, concealing much of their original detail.
Zhang Kai was perplexed. "Why are there stone statues here?"
"What's so strange about that?" the old fortune teller chuckled. "In the tombs of emperors and nobles, guardian spirit beasts like qilins are commonly placed to protect the deceased. It's quite normal."
Zhang Kai still didn't quite understand. "Emperor's tomb?"
"Yes, the burial sites of emperors and nobles are carefully selected to gather the aura of the earth and heavens, which helps conceal the spiritual energy of the tomb. How else would they avoid calamities? These imperial tombs serve as excellent protection."
Zhang Kai remained speechless. "Concealing the tomb's spiritual energy? Sounds more like taking over someone else's nest."
The old fortune teller laughed heartily.