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墨書 Inktalez
The highway was built along the cliff, with green mountains rolling in the distance. At the foot of the mountains, one could faintly see villages and inns. As they traveled, there were not many people around. The tourists on the highway were free and scattered, parking their cars on the side or taking photos directly on the road.
This place was just as Bai Yujing had imagined, far from the bustling city. Even in this scenic area, it was not as crowded or filled with man-made structures as one might expect. The natural scenery and primeval jungle were well preserved. Crossing the highway beside the cliff and walking over a stone bridge felt like gradually delving deeper into Shennongjia, slowly distancing themselves from the urban chaos.
The surrounding mountains and jungles became more abundant, revealing many beautiful sights: winding rivers and clear pools. The entire journey was filled with scenic spots; however, only some areas were open to tourists, while most remained within the primeval jungle zone, where safety could not be guaranteed.
However, Bai Yujing and the others were quite anxious. This trip was not for leisure, so they had no mood to stroll leisurely or admire the scenery. They headed straight for their destination, passing through Xiangxi Source, and did not arrive at the famous Muyu Town on National Route 209 until evening.
This small town at the foot of the mountains was surrounded by towering peaks and dense forests. As a gathering place for tourists, it truly had a bustling atmosphere in the depths of the mountains. The lively market combined with the towering mountains and jungles created a striking contrast. Although it was summer, the temperature here still felt like spring.
"This place is nice; it feels interesting to come here in summer!" Li Hao said to Bai Yujing after getting out of the car.
Bai Yujing nodded and looked at the hotel in front of them. The lobby of the hotel was circular with a very spacious view; through the floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see the lush trees and mountains behind the hotel. The open view made people feel relaxed.
Bai Yujing asked, "Lin Ruoqiao set off from here?"
Li Hao nodded, "That's right; it's this hotel!"
Xu Lei timidly followed behind them, "Are we staying here tonight?"
Bai Yujing glanced at her and then turned to Li Hao: "You go check in and ask the staff about Lin Ruoqiao to see if they have any impressions. If Lin Ruoqiao went into the mountains, she must have prepared some things, but there are definitely items that are inconvenient to bring into the mountains. Check if anything was stored somewhere. Also, they must have driven here; since they haven't returned, where is their car? Clarify these questions while I take a look around."
Li Hao nodded, "Got it!"
Xu Lei stood behind and asked, "What about me? What about me?"
Bai Yujing said, "There’s a restaurant upstairs; you can go up and eat something first!"
Bai Yujing left the two and immediately started wandering around Muyu Town. The entire Muyu Town is not large, but there are quite a few tall buildings and hotels, a typical small town developed due to tourism. In the evening, this short street was bustling with people, with shops brightly lit and many stalls set up selling mountain goods, black fungus, mushrooms, and some Chinese medicinal herbs.
Bai Yujing visited several travel agencies to inquire and spent some money to find out if there were any guides available to take people into the mountains. He also asked if anyone had seen Lin Ruoqiao and the others since they were likely looking for similar help to enter the mountains. After asking around extensively, Bai Yujing unexpectedly made a discovery.
"Isn't this Old Smoky?" When Bai Yujing took out the photo, the old man in it was immediately recognized.
Bai Yujing quickly placed the photo in the man's hand: "Do you know him? Can you tell me about him?"
The man looked at Bai Yujing and, considering the money involved, thought for a moment before saying, "You're not a bad guy; I'll be straightforward. This fellow is no good. He's quite old, has no children or family—just an old bachelor living in a mountain hollow in Laojun Mountain. He usually survives by hunting and selling some mountain goods."
"In his younger days, back in the '70s and '80s, he often set up checkpoints on the highway near Shanxia to collect tolls. I've heard he was involved in some shady dealings too. Now that the reforms have come, he's gotten older and more honest; he even takes people into the mountains as a guide. However, once he gets people into the mountains, he often demands extra money—his character is quite rotten!"
"But generally speaking, most people wouldn't dare provoke him. Have you heard of his name? Old Smoky—not just because he likes to smoke; it also hints at something dangerous!"
With such clear information provided by the man, it was evident that money talked. Bai Yujing then handed over two more photos but received no information in return: "I don't recognize these two people. However, I heard that Old Smoky was hired to go into the mountains a few days ago; I don't know who connected him with that job—someone lacking morals."
Seeing that the man truly didn't know anything further, Bai Yujing put away the photos: "Then I'll leave finding a guide to you. We need to pass through Laojun Mountain all the way to Red Sun Bay to find a place in the mountains. We must have someone who really knows the routes. Of course, money is negotiable; you won't be shortchanged, but we need someone reliable!"
As soon as the man heard Bai Yujing mention money, he grinned widely: "Sure! I've already thought of a few people. Don't worry; I'll contact them tonight to check their availability. Once confirmed, I'll introduce them to you tomorrow—how does that sound?"
Bai Yujing nodded, "Okay, here's my phone number, write it down!"
After finishing up, it was already eight in the evening. Bai Yujing hadn't eaten much since getting off the plane and felt extremely hungry. Upon returning to the hotel, he found that Li Hao was not in the room; only Xu Lei was curled up on the sofa watching TV.
"Li Hao hasn't come back yet?" Bai Yujing glanced at Xu Lei.
Xu Lei shook his head, "He seems to have gone out for something. By the way, I brought some food back. Do you want to eat?"
Bai Yujing sat down and looked at the packed lunch boxes on the table. Xu Lei was quite thoughtful. Bai Yujing immediately said, "Your room is over there; you wouldn't want to squeeze into a room with two big men, would you?"
"What do you want to do? I must tell you, I'm underage; it's illegal. I just feel scared being alone in such a big room. I'll go back when it's time to sleep!"
Xu Lei immediately looked at Bai Yujing warily, crossing her arms as if Bai Yujing was going to attack her. Bai Yujing's expression darkened, "With that tablet of yours, what are you crossing your arms for? There's nothing to protect. Let me be honest with you: Lin Ruoqiao's trip into the mountains is very dangerous. They even brought guns when they went in, and they haven't come back yet. Li Hao and I might not even make it out alive, let alone take you along as a burden."
"But Lin Ruoqiao said I should find you to go into the mountains together. I want to go too! Without me, you won't be able to find Lin Ruoqiao!" Xu Lei pouted.
Bai Yujing looked at Xu Lei very seriously, "Stop messing around, okay? What exactly did Lin Ruoqiao tell you? If you tell us, we guarantee we can find her!"
Xu Lei fell silent again, which made Bai Yujing feel frustrated. At that moment, Li Hao pushed open the door and walked in, looking very displeased.
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