Chapter 619 - 391: There Must Be Treasure

Chapter 619: Chapter 391: There Must Be Treasure

After asking around, Xiaomi learned that out of the thousand people Wei Ziang originally led, over two hundred were lost.

The reason they entered the Stone Forest was naturally that the bandits used survivors from the mountains as bait.

As soldiers, it’s their duty to protect the country and its people, how could they stand by and watch those people being bullied?

So after a battle, they followed the bandits in, not expecting there were even more bandits within the Stone Forest.

As for why there were no traces outside the Stone Forest afterwards, probably because the bandits cleaned up thoroughly.

"Strange, why can’t others do it, but those bandits can move freely in the Stone Forest? Just a few extra loops in there makes me feel dizzy."

The bowls and chopsticks were already taken away, replaced by tea. Still old tea, but looking at the General’s residence, it didn’t seem very luxurious, so probably this old tea was already considered good.

Come to think of it, Lishi City isn’t actually the most important border stronghold; only fifty thousand troops are stationed nearby, and Song Wu as the general holds the highest military position.

Fortunately, even if there’s harassment from foreign enemy states, it’s all small-scale skirmishes of just hundreds or thousands of people, so the defense is still adequate.

Xiaomi was full of doubt as she listened to Wei Ziang’s explanation.

Who would have thought that the originally fine Wei Ziang, upon hearing this question, had his expression darken.

Xiaomi immediately sensed something was wrong: "What’s the matter?"

Wei Ziang shook his head: "It’s said that some people have been kept inside, with food thrown in from around the Stone Forest every day, and the locations change each time."

"Those inside wanted to survive, so they had to search everywhere inside, and even if they found an exit, they couldn’t come out. Anyone daring to escape would be killed."

Xiaomi gasped: "So cruel!"

Wei Ziang continued: "It’s said this started three years ago, over two hundred people have been sent in, and less than ten who survived could find their way inside."

"Moreover, sometimes when they can’t find the food, they directly gnaw on the corpses of their kind. In the end, they become neither human nor ghost."

Xiaomi was shocked, having never imagined such a thing could happen.

"This is practically a breeding ground for Gu."

Wei Ziang nodded. When they got this news from the mouths of a few survivors, they were stunned as well, but unfortunately, the leaders were captured and promptly poisoned themselves.

Based on the aggregated information from other people, it’s known these people had orders above them and weren’t acting independently. Unfortunately, with the leaders dead, the clues are severed.

"For them to do this near Lishi City, they must have a goal, but it’s unknown what exactly it is."

Spending so many years just to rob passing merchants? It seems impossible no matter how you think about it.

Xiaomi nodded, pondering while touching her chin: "Could it be that there’s something in the Stone Forest those people want, and the robbery is just a side activity?"

Logically speaking, a place with a disrupted magnetic field suggests there must be something underground.

Moreover, almost nothing grows within the Stone Forest, with sparse trees only on the mountaintops, and the shorter the stone hills, the less the vegetation on their tops.

No matter how you look at it, it seems there’s something under the stone hills, and most likely it’s a treasure; that’s why someone wants to find it!

Thinking more and more it seems this is the possibility, Xiaomi’s eyes gleamed: "Brother, let’s go in to find the treasure, with Xiao Ba, we definitely won’t get lost."

Wei Ziang was taken aback, somewhat tempted: "How about you rest for a few more days?"

Not refusing means there’s a chance, and Xiaomi eagerly pulled Wei Ziang and walked out.

"What rest, I’ve slept so long already. Besides, aren’t you returning home next year? Brother Ze and Second Sister are waiting for you to get married after you’re back."

Finding treasures isn’t a matter of one or two days, if lucky, ten days to half a month, if not, a year or so is possible.

But Xiaomi believed they might not need that long.

Spiritual Power allows them to feel body changes more clearly, and these changes are influenced by the magnetic fields.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt they were destined to find this treasure by heaven’s will!

Xiaomi was always a whirlwind personality, which Wei Ziang already knew.

Moreover, since people have some plans for the Stone Forest, based on survivors’ statements, he and others had some speculations.

So regarding Xiaomi’s suggestion, though he was privately reluctant for Xiaomi to take risks, knowing Xiaomi definitely wouldn’t be in danger, he was willingly dragged along.

Once outside, Xiaomi whistled, and Xiao Ba flew over from the courtyard next door to perch on Xiaomi’s shoulder.

"Good morning, Master."

"Good morning, Xiao Ba."

Touching Xiao Ba’s belly, it was bulging, clearly well-fed by people at the General’s house.

Wei Ziang was amazed and curious: "Can Xiao Ba say a lot?"

"Roughly equivalent to a three or four-year-old child, can talk and understand some simple words, but not complex ones."

Wei Ziang nodded: "That’s impressive; I didn’t expect Xiao Ba to become so smart after a few years."

Xiaomi smiled: "Indeed, when Brother has nothing to do at home, he relies on Xiao Ba to relieve boredom."

Recalling the way her brother spoke to Xiao Ba all the time, Wei Ziang couldn’t help but chuckled, then sighed. Unexpectedly, time passed so fast; it’s been four years in a flash.

"I wonder how Brother and the others are doing, and Father and Mother, haven’t gone back all these years."

Actually, Lishi City isn’t far from Cheng County, only a month round trip by carriage.

Unfortunately, he only has two days off every month.

His parents wrote to say they wanted to visit him, but he stopped them.

These years, Lishi City wasn’t particularly peaceful, with small-scale wars breaking out almost monthly.

He feared for his family’s safety on the road and that they might be frightened in Lishi City.

Unexpectedly, in the end, it was Xiaomi who needed to save him, and he personally asked her to come.

"Don’t worry, Father and Mother are well. Didn’t Father earn the title of Earl a few years ago? Now he’s an official of some stature, I heard there are people specifically protecting them, but I haven’t seen them."

This Wei Ziang knew, he nodded with a smile: "It’s great that Father and Mother are titled, this way Xiaomi is safe and free."

Xiaomi glanced at him, huffed a few times, feeling there was more to what Brother had said.

"By the way, Brother, didn’t you always call them Uncle and Aunt before? How did you change your address so quickly and smoothly?"

Before leaving, he did call them Father and Mother a few times, she thought that was just for those few days, feelings of farewell, and all.

Surprisingly, all these years in the letters, he always addressed them as Father and Mother.

Wei Ziang smiled faintly: "I was originally adopted by Father and Mother, isn’t it natural to call them that."

Xiaomi thought about it, it seemed reasonable. Initially calling them Uncle and Aunt was probably him feeling uneasy, hoping to find his own parents.

All these years, having let go, he no longer minded the address.

Speaking as they arrived at the front hall, Song Wu was talking to a deputy general.