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A soldier carrying a gun took the documents from Bai Yujing's hands, glanced at him, made a phone call for confirmation, then nodded and shouted to the sentry behind him, "No problem, let them through!"
Upon returning to Shuiyuan Village, Bai Yujing was surprised to find that it had changed so much. The military had been stationed there, and he had to request a temporary pass from Qian Jia to gain entry.
However, the military presence in Shuiyuan Village was preparing to withdraw. Important items were being loaded onto trucks and sent to the Tarim Basin, as the local government planned to develop the area into a tourist attraction.
Qian Jia had also informed Bai Yujing that aside from the 'Light Bulb,' there was nothing else of significance left in Shuiyuan Village. However, due to the increasing importance of items developed from the Light Bulb later on, higher authorities began to pay more attention to the area, packing up everything that might be relevant. If Bai Yujing had arrived a few days later, he might have seen nothing at all.
The originally bumpy dirt road leading into the village had been flattened and turned into a concrete avenue. The field ridges were filled in to create a proper road. Workers and patrol personnel were busy everywhere, and some individuals in white lab coats—whether archaeologists or researchers—were gathered together discussing something.
The overall architecture of Shuiyuan Village remained intact; the old houses and numerous wells were mostly preserved. However, many cranes and tow trucks were parked outside the village, creating quite an impressive scene.
Some inscribed bricks and pillars from the Underground Palace had been dismantled and were being dragged out piece by piece. A large number of workers were bustling about happily. After taking a tour, Bai Yujing felt somewhat disappointed; in such circumstances, what useful things could he possibly find?
He asked one of the responsible workers, "Wasn't this supposed to be developed into a scenic area? If you keep dismantling everything, won't there be nothing left?"
"What does it matter? We can just restore it to its original state later!" replied the excavation worker nonchalantly.
Bai Yujing was somewhat speechless: "Isn't that just deceiving people?"
"Who cares about that? We'll still do it ourselves later and make it look beautiful—more stunning than the original!"
The once-crowded ghost village was now filled with people. Ladders were set up at every well, leading down to the bottom, with people frequently climbing in and out. The largest well in the center had been opened up as a major entrance. Wooden frames were erected throughout the village, and trailers could be seen everywhere; it resembled a construction site.
However, because of this activity, nearby towns benefited significantly. With so many people needing food, drink, and accommodation, villages that had previously only housed elderly residents began to buzz with life.
After wandering around for a while, Bai Yujing left Shuiyuan Village feeling somewhat disheartened and settled in a nearby town for a drink.
"Hey? Isn't this the young man who came to our village before?" The old man at the convenience store immediately recognized Bai Yujing and was quite enthusiastic.
"Oh, if it weren't for you, young man, our place wouldn't be so lively now. Even before it was transformed into a tourist area, we had already changed a lot. If it becomes a tourist spot in the future, our town will benefit greatly, all thanks to you!" The old man tightly grasped Bai Yujing's hand and called over others to greet him.
Bai Yujing remembered how they treated him back when they unearthed the treasure; they were not this friendly then. He had been hit several times with shovels and carried burdens, leaving his back bruised.
However, this time he came back as a hero. The entire village came to thank him, offering food and drinks, making Bai Yujing feel quite embarrassed. "This young man seems to be very famous, even a big celebrity!"
"That's called a Treasure Hunter," an old woman chimed in. "My daughter mentioned him; he's really impressive!"
"Is he the one who goes around looking for treasures? Didn't the police confiscate those treasures last time?"
"What does that matter? My daughter said he went back to Little Devil and brought back a sixty-ton Pure Gold Buddha from Neon!"
"Oh my, how much is that worth! He really is something!"
Bai Yujing found himself surrounded in the convenience store by many townsfolk speaking in dialects, treating him like a big star. They mixed their dialect with Mandarin to communicate with him. Bai Yujing asked the old man at the convenience store, who was the only shopkeeper in town; anyone buying something would have to pass by him, so he should have heard plenty of news.
"Old Man, has anything strange happened in Shuiyuan Village recently?" Bai Yujing casually asked.
The old man thought for a moment and shook his head. "No, no, everything has been quite normal lately. Ever since you all visited Shuiyuan Village, nothing strange has happened. Afterward, the government came by with some high-ranking officials; their presence scared off any monsters or ghosts!"
Bai Yujing pondered for a moment. With Mandu sinking into the sea and drifting away with the currents, and having broken the mechanism himself, what else could happen? "Have you heard any legends or stories about Shuiyuan Village related to light or stars?"
Bai Yujing casually asked, not expecting the old man to furrow his brow as if he really remembered something: "You know, there seems to be something!"
Bai Yujing immediately inquired, "What legend is that?"
The old man replied, "I remember telling you before that every autumn, they hold a grand sacrificial ceremony. This is a tradition of Shuiyuan Village. I heard from my grandfather that it always takes place at night, shrouded in mystery, as if they are worshipping the stars or the moon!"
"Worshipping the moon?" After hearing the old man's words, Bai Yujing quickly said, "Old Man, can you help me find a place to stay? I want to settle down in the village tonight."
The old man immediately responded, "No problem, you can stay at my house. I guarantee you'll have a good meal tonight!"
After saying this, the old man suddenly remembered something and looked at Bai Yujing with curiosity: "By the way, what brings you here this time?"
Bai Yujing promptly replied, "Do you remember that young man who came with me before? We partnered up to build a seaside resort. The temple under construction on the mountain is being built by him and me together."
The old man slapped his thigh: "That's impressive! I've heard that a big boss came from there. I didn't expect it was you and that young man together. I've seen that young man too; just like you, he's quite a talented individual. It seems neither of you are simple characters!"
"Old Man, you're too kind!"
Bai Yujing stayed behind to see if there was something special about the starry sky in Shuiyuan Village. That song also mentioned this; the light from the Center would guide your direction, pursuing the distant starry sky, setting sail from Poseidonia and returning to a faraway hometown.
Bai Yujing felt puzzled and had a severe headache over it.
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