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Chapter 247: Gu Diao
"Wow~ Wow~"
Just as we were about to reach the exit, before we could even feel joy, the sound of a baby crying drew closer, carrying a chilling aura.
Leading the way, Divine Hand waved his hand, and we stopped, listening intently to the eerie baby cries. I felt goosebumps rising on my skin; after all, we were underground! How could there really be a baby beneath the surface that had not seen sunlight for years? Could it be that we encountered a ghost again? Or perhaps a baby that had died shortly after birth?
The members of Divine Hand silently exchanged glances, not voicing any opinions, nor did they seem inclined to take action. I immediately understood what they were planning.
"Feng Xiao Ge, I'm going to check it out!" Yang Bin said as he walked ahead alone.
"Be careful!" I watched Yang Bin's figure gradually fade away; it was better for someone of his kind to handle this situation.
During the brief moment we waited, the baby's cries continued unabated, "Wow~ Wow~," which was quite unsettling. Moreover, there seemed to be an energy in the sound that could captivate one's soul; those with weak Willpower might even have their "spirit" drawn away. However, those standing here today were clearly not ordinary people, so the silent group remained vigilant and composed, unaffected by the sound's allure.
Little Black’s cries resembled a woman's sobs, but what we encountered now was the cry of a baby. Could it be another Ghost Woman? As I pondered this, it wasn't long before Yang Bin returned. I noticed his expression was somewhat abnormal and filled with confusion. I quickly asked him what he had seen, as this was a concern for everyone.
Yang Bin didn’t take long to respond; he recalled the scene while still puzzled: "That thing is like a creature that resembles a bird but isn’t exactly one. It looks somewhat like an eagle, and it has a sharp horn on its head! I don’t know what it is..." Yang Bin said with a hint of disappointment.
"So it's not a ghost?" Not a Ghost Woman, then? I thought thoughtfully while stroking my chin. What exactly was that thing Yang Bin described?
"Have you seen a pool or any water?" Divine Hand suddenly asked Yang Bin.
Yang Bin thought for a moment, then shook his head and said with a complex expression, "I didn't see any. There are two Ear Chambers at the exit ahead, and inside them are coffins. That thing is in one of the Ear Chambers."
Upon hearing this, Divine Hand seemed to ponder and did not immediately draw a conclusion. It was still Evil Bird who was a bit anxious and asked, "What kind of monster is ahead, Divine Hand?"
It seemed that besides me and Divine Hand, no one else had heard what Yang Bin said. Evil Bird asking this was completely normal. I also looked at Divine Hand, feeling that he might know. Sure enough, Divine Hand did not think for long before saying two words, "Gu Diao!"
"Gu Diao?" Evil Bird raised one side of his mouth in confusion.
I was shocked; there is indeed a monster called Gu Diao in the "Shan Hai Jing." It is said to be located five hundred miles east at Deer Wu Mountain, where there are no plants, only gold and stones. Water flows from the marshes southward into Pangshui, where there is a beast named Gu Diao. It resembles an eagle but has horns, and its sound is like that of a crying baby; it eats people.
The cry of the Gu Diao sounds like a baby's wail!
Back when I was still in school, I heard some classmates say that the "Shan Hai Jing" was an ancient secret national map archive of the Zhou Dynasty, divided into the Five Mountains and the inner and outer seas. They claimed that the monsters within were exaggerated representations of animals due to incomplete knowledge by the Ancients: adding limbs, combining humans and beasts, etc. However, if you study the "Shan Hai Jing" carefully, you'll find that many so-called monsters are actually common animals today! In other words, dismantling monsters equals common animals.
Some also said that legends become more mystical as they are passed down; for example, if A says a hen laid an egg, B might mishear it as a rooster laying an egg, and by the time it reaches C, it becomes even more exaggerated. As more people hear it, it gets embellished or distorted, leading to the legends we have today.
Although my classmates did not believe in the existence of monsters from the "Shan Hai Jing," I knew that legends must have some basis. Therefore, their existence was not just made up by the Ancients out of boredom or for some other reason; isn't our current situation the best proof?
The blood in my body began to boil. If I could capture this monster on film and present it as a gift to Professor Zhang and the others, they would surely be thrilled!
Thinking about this, I took out a camera from my "backpack." After giving a few instructions to Yang Bin, he happily took the camera and went ahead. I believed this camera would be able to capture high-dynamic images in low light! Just thinking about it made me feel a bit smug; such an opportunity might not come across many people in their lifetime, let alone capturing it on film.
Divine Hand merely let out a cold laugh and did not act immediately, perhaps contemplating a countermeasure or maybe waiting for me to finish taking pictures; who knows?
The group began to whisper among themselves again, but this time they did not keep me "at arm's length." They mentioned that this Gu Diao is a man-eating monster that lives in the water. Since it could appear here, it indicated that there must be a small lake or reservoir nearby.
"Is it possible that it's groundwater?"
"That could be the case, but Gu Diao is something rare and hard to find. Not to mention it's nearly extinct; how many people can actually catch one?"
...
Divine Hand did not participate in Evil Bird and the others' discussion. Clearly, there were many knowledgeable individuals in their team. In my impression, Divine Hand is very similar to Lime. They are both independent men with a strong sense of autonomy and independence. However, Lime chose to end his solitary life because of my influence, which forged our deep brotherly bond.
As for Divine Hand, despite having many people around him, I could always sense that he often preferred to exclude himself from the group. Just like now, while the others were engaged in a heated discussion, he leaned against the wall alone, seemingly lost in thought.
In the past, I couldn't understand the quiet contemplation of Lime and Divine Hand, but for some reason, I started to enjoy looking up at the sky that seemed so close yet untouchable, with its blue and white clouds.
When you calm your mind and occasionally look up at the sky, you will notice how blue it is—like it has just been washed by water, pure and free of any impurities. It is a clear blue that captivates you at first glance.
The white clouds are equally pure. Often, when I gaze at the blue sky and white clouds, my mood lifts as well. I can clearly feel my insignificance; between heaven and earth, humanity is so small... I also ponder where we humans come from and why we are so busy throughout our lives.
In this world, we come with nothing and leave with nothing; what exactly is our purpose for existing here?
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