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墨書 Inktalez
In the southwestern border, Tengyue Nation.
Surrounded by towering mountains, it was peculiar that these peaks were not draped in greenery. The mountains ahead were devoid of vegetation, instead shrouded in a thick layer of dust, and the temperature was exceedingly high, creating an oppressive atmosphere.
The entire scene was simply unbelievable. As a modern girl, I had never seen such a sight in real life, not even on television or the internet. The landscape here resembled something I had only encountered in movies or games, like the path Frodo took to melt the ring at the Great Volcano, or the desolate views of Blackstone Mountain and Scorching Gorge in various games.
The ground cracked open at any moment, releasing bursts of hot springs. Pools of steaming water bubbled everywhere, with the hottest ones gurgling vigorously. If one were to accidentally fall in, they would likely be cooked to medium doneness in an instant.
In the distance stood a tall mountain, its peak faintly glowing red and emitting black smoke—clearly an active volcano.
In modern times, I had visited colorful Yunnan, but there was no area like this. It seemed that the Tang Dynasty was indeed different from our world; the scene before me felt like a terrifying enigma.
We found a safe spot to rest for a while. After walking for quite some time, it was probably noon, and my stomach began to grumble with hunger.
Before entering this sea of ash, the mountains had been lush with greenery; I had even found a bunch of bird eggs in that dense forest. Now, I took out the bird eggs I had wrapped in cloth and submerged them in the hot spring.
The temperature of this hot water was definitely suitable for making hot spring eggs. To fight well, one must eat well.
Nie Qiuyuan, dressed in black, sat on a nearby rock, watching me with a gaze that was both affectionate and curious. I adored that look in his eyes—half mature and half innocent, perfectly split.
Such a person was reliable and dependable yet indulgent of the strange thoughts swirling in my mind, encouraging me to explore them together. As time passed in each other's company, that feeling of autumn and night merging into one person grew stronger. What could be more worthy of gratitude towards fate than this?
I fished out a hot spring egg and tossed two into his hands. He lightly raised his hand to catch them and examined them closely with a slight smile.
Hmm, these eggs should be perfectly cooked with slightly runny yolks. I wondered if people in this era liked soft-boiled eggs. I really wanted to see my idol's expression when he ate one.
I winked at Qiuyuan before standing up and handing two hot spring eggs to the figure dressed in white sitting across from me.
This could be considered a rare moment of peace and tranquility amidst the desolate landscape, just before a life-and-death battle.
Ever since we understood Ren Pingsheng's intentions, tension had gripped us. There were seven gems in total, and Ren Pingsheng had taken six of them. The message contained seven words: "Ruteng Rehai Extreme Depth." We were left with only the character for "sea." However, we all agreed that this missing character would not affect Ren Pingsheng's ability to decipher the message.
Thus, we had to act quickly. We needed to uncover the secrets beneath Tengyue Atami before the Mirror Gate did. This secret was related to Nie Qiuyuan's origins, something we were eager to understand.
We immediately reported to the Emperor. Li Shimin was overjoyed to see Nie Qiuyuan return safely, almost losing his composure. He dismissed those around him and pulled Nie Qiuyuan aside, asking numerous questions. He appeared just like an ordinary person, which genuinely moved me.
After learning about the situation in Tengyue Nation, Li Shimin expressed his willingness to provide any support without reservation. He had become much more assertive in handling affairs than when he first ascended the throne, clearly having established a solid footing.
With a simple plan and preparations in place, we departed Chang'an at the fastest speed towards Tengyue Nation.
The main force of our team consisted of Nie Qiuyuan and Luo Dachun, with myself reluctantly included. Accompanying us were dozens of elites from Snowfall Villa, all members of Shadow of the Night and Shadow of Strategy, totaling over a hundred people—a formidable force.
Moreover, this team was undoubtedly elite; each member was capable of taking on ten opponents. Unless the Mirror Gate employed some unexpected treacherous tactics, they would find it impossible to gain any advantage against us through sheer force.
Thus, we traveled day and night at top speed until we reached Tengyue Nation.
Tengyue Nation was already a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. We arrived bearing the Emperor's decree, which meant that the entire nation was at our disposal—this was our advantage. We had a place to stay, supplies, and a campsite; the Mirror Gate did not have such benefits.
The territory of Tengyue Nation was extremely limited, so when we mentioned "Rehai," everyone knew it was located fifty miles east of the palace in the mountains. However, upon hearing that we intended to go to Rehai, the ruler of Tengyue Nation became anxious.
"What’s wrong? Is it dangerous?" Luo Dachun asked.
"To be honest with you all," he replied, "we have lived here for generations but have never dared to approach that area. It is said that demons appear there; those who unwittingly wander into Rehai never return."
We exchanged glances among the three of us. It seemed that Tengyue Atami was indeed a bit strange, but that was good news for us. If this place were ordinary, then something would truly be wrong. It was precisely because of its oddity and danger that we understood our assessment was correct; the location indicated by Qiu's family must undoubtedly be here.
After some discussion, we decided that only the three of us would take the lead into the mountains where Tengyue Atami was located. We were the best fighters in our group and were essential for this mission. Given the treacherous nature of this area and the uncertainty of the situation, bringing more people would only complicate matters and create unnecessary burdens.
After a brief rest, Nie Qiuyuan, Luo Dachun, and I set off into the depths of the mountains, equipped with our necessary weapons and tools. We had made arrangements with the leaders of various factions in our group; once we entered the mountains, we would leave markers along the way to indicate our direction and note any dangers encountered. If we hadn’t returned after three days, half of the remaining personnel would come in to search for us.
Now, after a considerable trek, we had already delved deep into the Volcanic Hot Spring region. Looking around, it was vast and boundless; what did this "Hot Sea" refer to, and where was its entrance?
I couldn't help but sigh. Oh dear, could it be that your family's stronghold is in such a harsh environment? That truly is tragic!
“Zhenzhen, this is my first time tasting such boiled eggs. They taste quite good!”
In such a perilous environment, Qiu still found the enthusiasm to praise the hot spring eggs.
I felt a surge of pride at that moment.
“There are still a few left; since they’re delicious, why not boil them all together? It seems like the temperature of this Hot Spring is just right.”
I dipped the remaining bird eggs into the Hot Spring while holding onto my Cloth Bag. Sitting by the spring, I touched the hot water with my fingers. It was scorching! I quickly pulled my fingers back. I had initially thought about dipping my feet in for a soak, but that seemed quite unrealistic.
If it weren't for this situation, how enjoyable it would be to relax in a hot spring!
Just then, I suddenly felt my Cloth Bag lighten.
What happened? Did it leak? I had packed it so carefully!
I quickly raised my hand and lifted the Cloth Bag, only to be astonished to find a large hole at the bottom, with all the bird eggs gone.
The tear in the bag was perfectly cut, as if done with scissors.
Could it be... that there is something beneath this half-open Boiling Water?
Startled, I pushed myself back and flipped over a distance of about ten feet, scaring the two people behind me who were eating.
The two experts reacted swiftly; in the blink of an eye, Qiu had already moved beside me and scooped me into his arms. Meanwhile, Luo Dachun had drawn his short blade and stood up alertly.
"Zhenzhen, what happened…"
Before he could finish his question, we heard a horse neighing behind us, followed by a loud splash.
Turning around, I discovered that one of the three horses we were riding was already missing.
The nearby Hot Spring was still bubbling vigorously.
Did it... fall in?
I acted quickly, reaching for my waist where the Caiyou Sword was sheathed. With a swift motion, it came out, and a flurry of colorful butterflies scattered around Nie Qiuyuan, who was holding me.
"There’s something underwater!" I whispered urgently, raising the torn Cloth Bag in my hand.
Is it alive? I knew some fish could withstand High Temperature and survive in hot spring water. However, the temperature of these Hot Springs was quite high; if there were any living creatures here, it would be strange indeed if they weren’t cooked alive.
For a moment, I felt as if I had fallen into an adventure story. Fortunately, we were not defenseless; we knew martial arts, and the two of them were quite skilled. Even if there were monsters, we could definitely fight back.
Nie Qiuyuan waved his sleeve, and the Black Path Butterflies scattered, fluttering to either side above the Hot Spring. Just as the butterflies reached the center of the spring, a series of bubbles suddenly erupted from the left side of the Hot Spring. In that instant, several bright red tentacle-like appendages shot out of the water with lightning speed, accurately slicing through the butterflies hovering above the Hot Spring in a swift motion.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. The tentacles quickly retracted back beneath the surface of the Hot Spring, leaving behind only the severed wings of the black butterflies drifting on the hot water.
It was real—alive!
Those tentacles resembled those of a sea monster, massive in size but with an oddly bright red color. Moreover, these tentacles seemed to have blades attached to them, capable of cutting through objects with sharp precision. Such a creature was simply unheard of.
I no longer sought scientific explanations; I only wished for survival and safety.
"Zhenzhen, watch out!"
I heard Luo Dachun's urgent shout and felt a hand push me from behind, shoving me back into Nie Qiuyuan's embrace, who was directing the butterflies in their reconnaissance. Then I heard several swishing sounds as blades cut through the air.
When I turned back, I saw Luo Dachun in white standing before another Hot Spring, a segment of a bright red tentacle lying at his feet. His left arm was also stained crimson; it was blood, droplets falling steadily into the Hot Spring. (To be continued)
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