The next morning, Hong Yu's parents returned home. They had already learned from their son that Duan Chenyi and his group were no ordinary people, so they were quite apprehensive upon seeing them.
"You are too formal," Duan Chenyi said.
Hong Yu's parents were small and had a healthy, tanned complexion. As soon as they saw Duan Chenyi, they didn't know what to do with the pig feed they were holding.
"You are police officers. The village chief asked us to take good care of you."
Duan Chenyi shook his head. "Police officers are also people. Besides, we are leaving today, so you don't need to be so polite."
Upon hearing this, Hong Yu's parents relaxed.
"Will you be having breakfast here?"
"No, Uncle, we are leaving today. We arrived too late yesterday, so we only stayed for one night."
With that, Duan Chenyi took them to the village chief's house.
As soon as they entered, they were hit by a strong smell of dry tobacco, which was quite pungent.
Inside, the village chief held a portrait, his eyes bloodshot. It was clear he hadn't slept well last night. Even when he saw Duan Chenyi enter, he only raised his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
It was evident he was mourning his deceased wife.
Duan Chenyi couldn't bear to disturb him.
"Sit down. Aren't you going to Pinghanling? I can tell you about it and see if you can give up that idea."
Duan Chenyi could only offer a helpless wry smile. Even if it meant climbing a mountain of knives or descending into a sea of fire, they were determined to go to Pinghanling.
"Originally, Pinghanling was a very good place. Everything our farming families needed was there, and it was inexhaustible. Until one day, someone came and told me that his father had gone to Pinghanling to pick mushrooms and hadn't returned for two days and one night. Our village went to look for him together and found his father's body in Pinghanling."
"The body showed signs of being gnawed by wild beasts. No one took it to heart. After all, it's a deep mountain forest, and wild beasts are normal. But everyone knew it wasn't safe inside. Every time they went in, they were cautious and carried knives, just in case. That person's death was thus put behind them."
"Later, more and more villagers went missing in Pinghanling. Eventually, no one dared to go in anymore, for fear of becoming the next casualty."
"Xiangxiang went in because without Pinghanling, our lives would be difficult. She went secretly, behind my back."
"And when she went, she never came back."
After speaking, the village chief opened a drawer and took out several photos. They were still black and white, showing the gruesome state of the villagers after their deaths. They lay in the forest, their bodies unrecognizable from being gnawed by wild beasts, a scene of extreme bloodshed.
"If you don't want to end up like this, I advise you to turn back immediately."
The village chief ignored them and pulled out a hand-drawn map from under the sofa, seemingly waiting for Duan Chenyi and his group to make their decision.
However, in the end, Duan Chenyi smiled slightly and picked up the map from the table.
Seeing this, the village chief did not stop him, merely let out two cold laughs.
"Go on, go on."
"Thank you."
Duan Chenyi walked out of the village and unfolded the map.
The map was not large, slightly yellowed and a bit faded, but still largely discernible.
They needed to head north from Pinghan Village, winding through a difficult mountain path.
Duan Chenyi glanced at Mi Le's high heels. The latter coughed dryly.
"I know."
"I told you not to wear those."
Mi Xue'er pouted and complained, taking out a pair of sneakers from her backpack.
"You're quite well-prepared," Qi Qing chuckled.
"Let's go. Let's check if we've brought everything."
After the commotion last night, Duan Chenyi felt it was necessary to check their supplies.
"All here."
Climbing up from Pinghan Village, they soon reached the edge of the village. After a steep ascent, the ground became flat. Except for Mi Le, everyone else had good physical fitness. They would occasionally stop to rest and wait for him.
"Damn... I'm exhausted..."
Mi Le was determined that if Mi Buwei was truly alive, the first thing he would do upon seeing him was punch him!
He would die of exhaustion for his son!
"Rest for a bit?"
"Keep going!"
Duan Chenyi sighed and didn't hesitate, walking forward briskly.
After about an hour of walking, they finally saw Pinghanling.
Even though it was broad daylight, the surroundings were already somewhat eerie. Branches hung low, blocking out most of the sunlight. On a thick tree trunk, "Pinghanling" was written in white chalk. The writing was old and would likely be illegible in a short time.
"This is Pinghanling."
Duan Chenyi put away the map and took out the Qianhuan Pandora.
"Everyone be careful."
"Yes, understood."
Duan Chenyi did not intend to open a blind box.
"Eye of God!"
The divine perspective enveloped the entire Pinghanling. Strangely, he saw nothing. All he could see was darkness.
Suddenly, an eye opened. The eye was a eerie red, staring intently at Duan Chenyi.
"Uh!"
Duan Chenyi was startled and stumbled, stepping on a branch. If Qi Qing hadn't caught him in time, he would have fallen uncontrollably.
"Captain, are you alright?"
"What's wrong with you? You can't even stand steady?"
Duan Chenyi's heart pounded violently. Just now, he had sensed the aura of death within that eye!
What a terrifying being!
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and recounted his experience to them.
"An eye?"
"That's right. It was something that even I found terrifying."
Duan Chenyi's tone was heavy.
His ability was a form of ocular magic. An eye that could make him feel a terrifying aura... The others shivered, not daring to think further. Combined with the eerie and terrifying atmosphere of the surroundings, every step they took was exceptionally difficult.
"Be careful."
Of all the strange places they had visited, this was the place that made Duan Chenyi feel the most uncomfortable.
The moment he stepped into Pinghanling, he felt something was wrong. The place seemed to be isolated from the outside world. Looking back at the path they had taken, although there was no apparent difference, it felt like two separate worlds. The tree trunk with "Pinghanling" written on it seemed like a demarcation line, separating the two sides.
Duan Chenyi frowned.
Someone, or something, was watching him from the shadows.
That gaze was like that of a predator. Duan Chenyi felt uneasy and shivered violently.
The deeper they went, the more pronounced the eerie atmosphere became. Eventually, the branches pressed down together, allowing only a faint ray of sunlight to penetrate.
Even the usually talkative Qi Qing and Mi Le were affected by the oppressive atmosphere and fell silent.
"Jiji—!"
"Holy cow!"
Qi Qing grabbed Sheng Chen and retreated rapidly. But before they could take two steps, a black, shadowy object fell from the sky, almost hitting him in the face.
When he saw what it was, he almost threw up.
It was a giant spider!