Chapter 668
Hidden Secret
Chen Ze and Tian Siyao entered the residence of the elder Li Fan, a wooden house full of ancient style.
The room is filled with all sorts of antiques and statues of deities, giving visitors a strong sense of history as soon as they enter.
Li Fan stood in front of a wooden table, holding a teacup. His eyes were like a deep pool, unfathomable.
"What brings you here?" Li Fan asked calmly, a hint of weariness in his voice.
"Elder, you are the one who knows best what's happening in the village."
We would like to hear your opinion.
Holding the Yin-Yang Mirror, Chen Ze involuntarily glanced around the room, confirming that there were no ghosts or other supernatural phenomena.
Li Fan smiled gently and put down his teacup. "Young people are always curious, but some things are better left unsaid."
Tian Siyao gently took out the jade sword, the jade inlaid on the hilt emitting a faint glow under the dim indoor light.
She said softly, "But if we don't know, there could be many more people who suffer."
Li Fan glanced at the jade sword, his eyes wavering slightly.
He took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the weight of years of suffering into his chest.
"Very good, it seems you are determined to delve deeper into this matter."
He walked to a corner of the room, opened a hidden compartment, and took out an exquisite wooden box.
The wooden box was opened, revealing a map and several talismans inside.
"These might be useful to you, but they could also put you in greater danger."
Chen Ze took the map and talisman and examined them closely. The map was a map of the village and the surrounding mountains and forests, while the talisman was densely covered with talismans.
Tian Siyao felt as if she had stumbled into a den of snakes. The mantra for clearing the mind flashed through her mind, but she suppressed her unease.
He asked Li Fan, "Elder, what's so special about these ghosts?"
Li Fan remained silent for a moment before finally speaking: "Every ghost has its story and its resentment."
Remember, try to avoid conflict with them.
But if it has to be done…” He glanced at the Yin-Yang Mirror in Chen Ze’s hand and the jade sword in Tian Siyao’s, “then we must be extremely careful.”
Chen Ze and Tian Siyao exchanged a glance, both seeing the unwavering determination in each other's eyes.
They thanked Li Fan and left the mysterious house with the map and talismans.
"Are you ready?" Chen Ze asked.
"I've never been this prepared before." Tian Siyao gripped the jade sword tightly, as if she had grasped a sliver of courage.
The two walked out of the elder's residence. Li Fan stood at the door watching their departing figures, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.
He knew that this was just the beginning, and what they were about to face might be far more complex and dangerous than they imagined.
Chen Ze and Tian Siyao arrived at the abandoned temple. The dilapidated ancient elm tree was faintly visible under the moonlight, as if telling a story of vicissitudes.
That feeling was extremely desolate.
"This temple is really unsettling." Tian Siyao gripped the jade sword tightly; the magical artifact brought her a sense of comfort.
“Indeed.” Chen Ze took out the Yin-Yang Mirror, trying to investigate whether there were any supernatural phenomena here.
The light spots on the Yin-Yang Mirror suddenly flickered. "Something's not right. It seems like there are some ghosts around here."
Tian Siyao stiffened slightly, bit her lower lip, and then forced a smile: "Shouldn't we be more careful?"
“Absolutely.” Chen Ze took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and pushed open the temple door. The two entered the temple, where it was so quiet that they could only hear each other’s breathing and their own heartbeats.
The dusty, gray statues seemed to stare at them with empty eyes, giving them an eerie feeling.
On the wall not far away, there were some strange symbols, intertwined like a spider web, whose meaning was unrecognizable.
“Look, these symbols…” Tian Siyao leaned closer to the wall and whispered.
“It’s very strange. I’ve never seen such a mark before.” Chen Ze observed it with the Yin-Yang Mirror, but the light spots on the mirror did not change significantly.
Just then, a cold wind suddenly blew out of the temple, and the two of them almost simultaneously felt a chill run down their spines.
Immediately afterwards, a blurry shadow flashed past in their sight.
"You...you saw that shadow?" Tian Siyao's voice trembled slightly.
"I see it. It seems we can no longer underestimate this place." Chen Ze's eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the surroundings with the Yin-Yang Mirror, but found nothing.
Then they heard a strange sound, like crying and laughter coming from afar, intertwined, sending chills down their spines.
Chen Ze and Tian Siyao exchanged a glance, both realizing that this temple was no ordinary place.
They must proceed with caution and careful exploration in order to uncover the secrets hidden here.
Tian Siyao couldn't help but think of the Mind-Calming Mantra, which could calm the mind, but there was no need to use it on the spot.
She looked at Chen Ze, and Chen Ze looked at her in return; both of their eyes flashed with determination and vigilance.
"Whatever is hidden here, we must find out." Chen Ze finally voiced his thoughts.
"Yes, only in this way can we uncover the truth behind all of this." Tian Siyao gripped the jade sword tightly, full of confidence.
Thus, the two, a man and a woman, embarked on a journey into this abandoned temple filled with unknowns and dangers, determined to uncover the truth, unsure of what the future held.
Chen Ze and Tian Siyao stood in the bushes near the main square, their gazes piercing through the thick night as they watched the "ceremony" taking place.
The square was surrounded by darkness, broken by moonlight that spilled like mercury onto the stone slabs, making the contrast with the villagers' white-masked faces all the more horrifying.
“Look at that mask, that’s… no, it can’t be a human face,” Tian Siyao said softly, her hand gripping the hilt of the jade sword tightly.
The sword seemed to sense her tension, its blade trembling slightly.
Chen Ze took out the Yin-Yang Mirror. Through the mirror, he saw that the people in the square were not only people, but also some blurry shadows.
“Something is definitely not right. There are some things here that are invisible to the naked eye.” His voice turned somber.
In the square, the villagers began to form a strange shape, and the incantations they chanted grew louder and louder.
The sound seemed to stir the night sky, giving people an indescribable sense of oppression.
Suddenly, the ground in the center of the square began to tremble slightly, as if something was about to break free from underground.
Tian Siyao couldn't help but bite her lower lip, feeling a chill rise up her spine.
The villagers in the square seemed to sense this as well, and they chanted their incantations faster and more intensely.
“We need to do something quickly,” Chen Ze said, gripping the hilt of the Qingfeng sword tightly.
Suddenly, a strange black mist rose from the square, and mournful howls echoed from within, sending chills down one's spine.
"I'll test the black mist with my jade sword," Tian Siyao said. She swung the jade sword, its light as smooth as water, and sliced through the black mist.
The sword light pierced through the black mist, but touched nothing. (End of Chapter)