The carriage left the capital, first going west, then north, then east, and then south. It seemed like it took four or five days, but in fact it was going around the capital.
Lin Yutong and Fourth Master didn't know if others had noticed anything. Anyway, they felt that no matter how they detoured, they would be within a radius of half a day's journey from the capital. I guess these people were also afraid that they would recognize the route, so they never took the official route.
The roads go back and forth on small roads. Sometimes they pass through some villages. With such a large group of people, the villagers dare not come forward. They just take a look outside through the crack in the door. Even those wandering in the village
When the wild dogs saw this formation, they ran away with their tails between their legs. These villages had no signs at all, which were different from the towns where the population gathered. At least the towns had names and some decent shops and restaurants. These gentlemen
Even if they don't go out often, they have probably been near the capital. Even if they listen to the voices and cries of people around them when passing by, they can judge the general location. But they don't go to places with many people! The more they don't
Taking the official road and avoiding the crowds, Lin Yutong became more certain that this was near the capital.
After going around for six days, finally one afternoon, the carriage passed through a narrow mountain crevice. After walking only a few hundred steps, it entered a basin. The reason why it is called a basin is that this place has nothing to do except when entering.
The gap in the 'line of sky' that passed through was completely surrounded by mountains.
Lin Yutong got off the carriage and clearly felt that this place was warmer than outside because the cold wind couldn't blow here at all.
The one who brought his group was a eunuch, so the one who sent them should be the emperor.
Lin Yutong had a guess. She must have arrived at the emperor's secret guard camp. Thinking this, she couldn't help but look at the fourth master to confirm her guess. She saw the fourth master nodded slightly.
It was really brought to the old nest of the Dark Guard Camp!
But he brought people in so carelessly, and he wasn't afraid that his lair would be found? Lin Yutong thought so, and then denied it. It shouldn't be difficult for them to conceal their whereabouts. They just need to arrange a few more groups of people to go through different routes to disrupt the situation.
There's nothing wrong with seeing and hearing, even if you think about it. The key is that at this time, everyone's attention is focused on the capital, and their whereabouts are really not that high.
This is like a village built in a basin. It is close to the foot of the mountain and is dotted with some small farmers' courtyards. This basin should be quite large, with criss-crossing streets and streets, all of which have been reclaimed into farmland. If it weren't for the topography
It's so special, you would really think this place is a small village.
Standing here and looking around, I can see smoke rising from the chimneys of every house. Even if it is not cooking time, the Ondol must be burning.
"Fourth Young Master, please come this way." The handsome boy who followed the two men on the carriage smiled and pointed the Fourth Master in the completely opposite direction to Jin Shouren.
Before the fourth master could speak, Jin Shouren shouted over there, "I don't care where you take us. Since we are already there, we must live together as a family. We are not allowed to talk along the way. When we get there,
They are not allowed to get close to each other. They are prisoners in the sky jail. At most, men and women are held separately. I have never seen a family separated like this."
The person following Jin Shouren over there must be quite old. Although he sounded laughing, his tone was unmistakable, "Look at what you said, Master, it's no better for a couple to be locked together than to be a brother. Madam.
Can you rest assured that I'm not in front of you? I advise you to just calm down..."
Lin Yutong very much suspected that these people were afraid of getting them together. If someone attacked them, they couldn't ask anyone to protect them. Just imagine, he and others were supposedly in the hands of the emperor now, if someone didn't want to kill him and others.
Someone rushed over to threaten Jin Chengan, but instead took advantage of the situation and assassinated him, instigating the relationship between the emperor and Jin Chengan. That would be really troublesome. Killing people is much easier than saving people. If they really want to die, the root of Jin Chengan's lineage
It's completely broken. This feud is getting bigger. So, out of caution, it's better not to put all your eggs in one basket.
The Fourth Master shook his head at Jin Shouren and signaled him to stop talking. Then he pulled Lin Yulin and Yutong to follow the handsome young man.
After walking south for half an hour, we arrived at the foot of the mountain. The path leading to the mountain was built with steps. After walking along the steps for another half an hour, we reached the mountainside. There was a small courtyard built on the mountainside.
, the adobe house seemed to have been built a long time ago. Once inside, it was quite clean, with a small adobe bed covered with blue floral sheets. Under the window sill, there were several brand-new beds stacked
Quilt. There are two large packages on the quilt, which should be a change of clothes for them. On one side of the kang, connected to the kang, is a stove with pots and pans. There is a small compartment inside.
There is firewood, a bath bucket, and a toilet bucket.
The preparations are complete, and it seems that they will be kept here for a while.
"Fourth Young Master, you and the Young Mistress will have to stay here for a while." He pointed to the stove, "Rice, flour, grains, oils, vegetables, and meat are all available here. You can make them yourself, or we can deliver food. But this food delivery...
…It’s a long way to go, and it’s not very warm when you get here, so you have to warm yourself up…”
Lin Yutong smiled: "We will do it ourselves. It's just that it's the New Year now, so we have to get everything we need."
"That's natural!" The young man seemed to be relieved and agreed repeatedly.
Lin Yutong's heart sank. He probably didn't even plan to send them back during the Chinese New Year.
Fourth Master pointed outside, "It shouldn't be a problem if you walk around outside, right?"
"This..." The young man looked outside, "As long as you don't go down the mountain, it's fine."
Lin Yutong turned around and chuckled: "Aren't you afraid that we will run over the mountain?" If you don't want to go down, you can go up!
"Young lady, you're telling a joke." The young man's face looked a little complacent, "We invite a few young masters here as guests. It's more dangerous outside than here. Besides, on this mountain... you can try and see if you can
Ran out."
You are not allowed to go down the mountain, probably because there are so many people coming and going, and you are afraid of hearing something you shouldn't hear. If you are not afraid to go up the mountain, it is because there must be great sentries posted up there.
Lin Yutong knew what he wanted to know, turned around and went to add water to the pot, and then lit a fire. It was still very cold in the room.
The fourth master watched the young man go down the mountain, stood in the yard and looked down the mountain. The trees on the mountain were all low shrubs. In the cold winter, the bare branches were weighed down by thick snow, and some were frozen into tree hangings.
The afterglow of the sun spread down and shone on the trees, shining brightly. However, the line of sight was also blocked by these trees, and the basin below the mountain could not be seen at all.
No wonder we dare to keep them here like this. This angle is really tricky.
After entering the house, Lin Yutong had already boiled the water, "Go and wash up first..." It was really uncomfortable to sit in the carriage along the way.
Once the fire started, the room became warmer. This wall was also a wall of fire.
Washing, cooking, eating, all the busy work, it was already dark.
The oil lamp was lit, emitting a dim light. Lying on the hot kang, neither of them could fall asleep.
"Are we staying here like this?" Lin Yutong hugged Fourth Master's arm, "What if something unexpected happens in the meantime, it would be terrible..." Life is in the hands of others, so there is no peace of mind in being in one's own hands.
"Yeah!" Fourth Master nodded, "Don't worry, we still have time."
At least in the past few days, there is no need to rush.
Lin Yutong turned over. She couldn't feel at ease in someone else's territory. She sat up and gave Fourth Master a pill: "Take this..." Then she poured one pill herself and ate it. Then she stood up.
Sprinkle medicinal powder on the wick of the kerosene lamp. Anyone who breaks into the house will faint from the smell. "Let's take the antidote first, it will be fine!" Then I can sleep peacefully.
That night, the two of them slept very soundly. When they opened their eyes the next day, it was bright. Except for two fascinated mice, there was really nothing else in the room.
Fourth Master pointed at Lin Yutong and smiled: "It's disgusting."
Lin Yutong grinned and then blew out the oil lamp: "It's never a mistake to be careful."
After getting off the kang, Fourth Master found a wooden stick in front of the stove, picked up the mouse and planned to throw it out. However, when he took a closer look, he was stunned. There were dark blood stains on the mouse's fur and claws.
If the mouse had eaten some frozen beast, there should be blood stains around its mouth and beard. Why was it on the fur and paws? It was obviously stepped on or rubbed somewhere.
Fourth Master put this one down and picked up another one. This one only had blood stains on its paws and tail.
"What's wrong?" Lin Yutong was folding quilts on the kang. When he turned his head, he saw the fourth master holding a wooden stick and pulling the mouse to look at it.
The Fourth Master shook his head: "There are blood stains on this mouse. It's not from their own injuries or from what they ate, but from rubbing on them."
Lin Yutong put the quilt back, and then got down from the kang to take a look. He looked at both of them carefully, "Maybe there is a corpse of a small animal that froze to death on the mountain. This corpse was eaten by other large animals, leaving blood stains..."
Before he finished speaking, Lin Yutong shook his head. This guess was not true at all. If there were rabbits and pheasants that froze to death and were eaten by other animals. Then there would be blood stains left behind. When the mice arrived, the weather would be so bad.
The blood has long been frozen, and liquids will be stepped on or rubbed anywhere. Mice are timid and do not dare to go up to eat when other large animals eat. But when others leave, the day lilies are cold.
. Even if there was blood, it was like ice pimples.
Therefore, this body should be in a warm place. It may be a place where people live, or it may be a cave of some kind of animal.
It’s impossible to say for sure.
"Let's cook first." Fourth Master shook his head, "After dinner, let's take a look inside and outside."
Both animals and people have territorial awareness. These two mice would never have come over the mountain.
Neither Lin Yutong nor Fourth Master were new to cooking with earthen stoves. They were cooking millet porridge in the back pot and frying pancakes in the front pot. A meal didn't take long.
They ate in a hurry and tidied up. The two of them were not in a hurry to leave the yard. Instead, they searched back and forth in the house and yard to see where the mice had gotten in.
The fourth master went to the yard, and Lin Yutong searched inch by inch in the house. Suddenly, her eyes stopped. There was a large water tank next to the stove. The water tank was full yesterday.
There is a tank of water. I used some last night and today, and there is still half a tank left. This kind of tank is very heavy, and even a middle-aged person cannot easily move the empty tank. But now, between this water tank and the stove
There was a dead leaf scattered in the cracks. Lin Yutong took out the leaf and saw that there was a little blood on the leaf. It should have been stepped on by the mouse when it came up.
This also means that when the mouse came up last night, the blood it touched had not yet solidified. And the place where the mouse came up should be under the water tank.
"Found it..." Lin Yutong shouted. But as soon as he finished speaking, the fourth master had not yet answered, and heard the young man's voice replying outside: "What did you find?"
Lin Yutong stood up, quickly messed up the firewood in front of the stove, squatted aside, reached out to take off his earrings, rubbed some dirt on one earring, pinched it in his hand, and said with a smile: "It's just a little thing..."
The fourth master entered the house ahead of the young man. When he saw that everything was in order, he turned around and said, "There is still water...you have brought it here again."
The original place to get water was a small stream, but now it is frozen, so we can only carry water up from the well at the bottom of the mountain. This young man is here to deliver water. From the bottom of the mountain to halfway up the mountain, the buckets are covered with a thin layer of
ice.
The young man saw Lin Yutong holding an earring in his hand and making a mess in front of the stove. He laughed and said: "We are not good at this. There is dirt everywhere. But you have to keep an eye on these small objects. If they fall into the dust, rummage through them."
It’s not easy…”
While talking, he poured water into the water jar.
Following this young man, there were two silent young men, each carrying a load and pouring all the water into the jar. The six buckets were filled again.
The young man smiled and said, "Feel free to use it, it's not troublesome to carry water."
After watching them leave, Fourth Master turned back and closed the door. He pointed at the water tank and said, "You mean down here..."
Lin Yutong shook his head: "I don't know if there is another mystery underneath, or if it's just a mouse hole."
"Let's go tonight." Fourth Master took Lin Yutong out, "Let's go out for a few laps first..." It was strange for Lao Quan to be in the house.
The two of them wandered around the mountains, lassoed a rabbit, and then skinned and stewed it, passing the day.
They went to bed early and didn't get up again until midnight.
Lin Yutong moved the water tank and the water inside into the space. Immediately afterwards, the expressions of both of them changed. Because a large dark hole appeared in front of them.
There is a faint smell of blood coming from inside.
It seems that there is something else going on inside this mountain!