Jin Zijin rapidly darted through the woods, gripping a sachet in his hand identical to the one given to Gu Youyou. The sachet trembled violently, signaling to him that he was getting ever closer to that place.
However, it was this very place he had visited countless times over the year, turning over every stone without finding what he was searching for.
Jin Zijin stopped and stood still, looking down at the sachet in his hand, then taking in the terrain around him.
It was no different from any other part of the mountain, ordinary rocks and trees. Had he not been certain that she was here, he probably wouldn’t have lingered at all.
He chuckled wryly, "The dubious tombs set by the hermit Xuanzong, how could they be so easily found?"
At the foot of the mountain, a tree shook violently, startling the birds perched above and catching Jin Zijin’s attention.
His gaze darkened as he raced toward that direction!
From the hollow of the giant tree emerged a small wolf cub, covered in green moss and looking utterly bedraggled.
Jin Zijin felt a tinge of disappointment, but in the next moment, his eyes widened.
The cloth around the wolf cub’s leg... the blue fabric with the tiny floral pattern. Wasn’t that the very same clothes Gu Youyou was wearing the day she was taken?
So, the tomb entrance was beneath this tree.
Despite its impressive size, the tree appeared to be no more than a hundred years old. Who could have imagined that this tree, as if planned hundreds of years ago, would grow right at the mouth of the tomb, conveniently concealing the entrance?
The little wolf cub struggled to run off into the distance. Jin Zijin paid no mind to it and approached the tomb entrance instead.
A rusted Feather Arrow shot out from the opening, causing Jin Zijin’s face to register shock as he swiftly dodged to the side.
The arrow struck the tree branch, dislodging one as thick as an arm that crashed down behind Jin Zijin with a thunderous fall.
Cool as ever, Jin Zijin’s eyes, eagle-like, stared intently at the tree hollow. He drew a palm-sized dagger from behind his leg, its blade not the usual glaring white but a fiery red color.
Another Feather Arrow shot from the hollow, but with a swift flick of his dagger, Jin Zijin sliced the arrow in two.
His gaze fixed and intense, Jin Zijin gripped the dagger tightly and jumped into the tree hollow.
Beneath was another world, the exact tomb passage he had been searching for.
Soon, he spotted a figure flashing past at the end of the passage. Without hesitation, he pursued where the shadow had vanished.
He then realized that what had seemed to be the end of the tomb passage was actually a three-way fork, with paths diverging to the left and right.
Jin Zijin had seen the figure flee down the left path, but he didn’t chase after it immediately, instead carefully scanning the area ahead.
The passage was narrow, wide enough for only one person to move through with outstretched arms. There was nowhere to run.
Tiny particles of dust drifted from above, gently landing on the tip of his nose.
Jin Zijin’s expression darkened, and as he suddenly looked up, he caught sight of a dark silhouette swiftly making its way toward the direction of the tree hollow.
He had been outmaneuvered.
Tightening his grip on the dagger, Jin Zijin immediately went after the shadow.
Sounds of clashing weapons echoed through the tomb passage, their shrillness amplified in the confined space.
The wild man, wielding a rusty knife, fought while retreating. Struggling against Jin Zijin’s rapid and accurate strikes, he was ultimately overpowered.
Thankfully, the exit was just above.
Mouth split in a grotesque, silent laugh, the wild man, who lacked a tongue, appeared frightening.
This was the first time Jin Zijin had seen the man’s face clearly. Although it was nearly unrecognizable beneath the grime, he still made out a striking resemblance to the other man!