Next.
Chen Lusi didn't encounter anything.
He smoothly arrived at the foot of the mountain.
His cousins were sitting in the shadows playing on their phones. When they saw him coming down, they reluctantly put away their impatience and came forward.
"Why took so long?" One of the cousins complained in their hometown dialect.
"Sorry."
Waiting for such a long time, it's normal to be resentful.
After all, their clan had already finished paying respects to their ancestors.
This time, Chen Lusi went up the mountain on someone's behalf, to pay respects to someone unrelated to him.
Chen Lusi understood this, and so he sincerely apologized.
Seeing him like this, it was hard for them to continue complaining.
Even though they were of the same generation, Chen Lusi wasn't very sociable as a child, so their relationships weren't really close.
In this situation, harsh words were indeed difficult to say.
Soon, they changed the topic.
Chen Lusi hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, "By the way, Cousin, apart from me, was there anyone else who went up the mountain?"
"Yes, a team of security army went up, seemingly to prevent forest fires," the cousin replied casually.
"Was there a girl who went up?" Chen Lusi continued to ask.
"Do you count?"
The cousin looked at Chen Lusi with her ponytail and retorted.
Chen Lusi paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his head, used to it.
It seems there really was an issue with the elderly version figurine.
The group began their journey back together.
In the end, Chen Lusi didn't tell them about his experiences on the mountain.
After all, it was just like a daydream.
But thinking carefully... it really was like daydreaming.
Chen Lusi finally turned his head to look at the receding forest.
He made up his mind.
To never come again.
...if possible.
...
At the same time.
After watching Chen Lusi leave.
The soldier at the end of the security army's line withdrew his gaze, suddenly looked at his companion, and asked, "Wasn't that guy just now wearing white?"
"Um... yes, why?" The other soldier was momentarily absent, nodding.
"Oh."
Meanwhile.
The security army officer wasn't paying attention to the conversation. He hesitated for a moment, then took out his phone and made a call.
The phone rang several times before quickly being answered.
"Hello, is this Miss Xia? How's it with Ah Yue over there?" The officer got straight to the point.
"Ah Yue..."
Before the woman on the other end could finish her sentence, a slight noise sounded.
Then a sunny male voice said, "Old Li, don't worry, there's absolutely no Source Canon reference at your location. All those demons and ghosts are like paper in front of modern weapons."
The security army officer was briefly taken aback, seemingly surprised that Ah Yue answered the call personally, but he quickly responded, hesitating, "That's easy to say, but relying on us alone... especially since it's Tomb-Sweeping Day, most people are coming to pay respects, and I just met an ordinary person coming down from the mountain."
"That place has never been crucial since ancient times; even if there were anything, it's probably just folklore. Those at Kunlun vouched for it with confidence. I also don't think there will be much trouble."
Ah Yue on the other end added, then paused, "But I understand your concern. How about this, I'll come over later, what do you think?"
"...You're coming over?" The security army officer was clearly startled, "Isn't there still plenty of talent at Celestial Strategy?"
"There are a lot of issues lately, especially around Tomb-Sweeping Day. It's a peak period for problems, and manpower isn't abundant."
Ah Yue explained briefly without going into detail, then shifted the topic with a laugh, "Let's just do it like this. I'll leave in about half an hour, should be there in about an hour, rest assured."
The security army officer, hearing this, said nothing more; it was the best outcome.
He thanked him and hung up the phone.
Then, after putting away his phone.
The security army officer took a deep breath, took off the bag he was carrying, and pulled out a short rifle from inside.
... Unfolded the stock, loaded the magazine, and turned off the safety.
His entire demeanor changed with it.
It seemed.
There might be more than just preventing forest fires at stake.
...
By the time Chen Lusi returned to the ancestral hall, the meal had already started.
Clearly.
Chen Lusi and his cousins were the last to return.
The Chen Clan is quite a large lineage in the area, with many ancestors to honor, so each year they split into groups.
The other two groups returned early, having consumed a lot, they had already started eating.
They were dining next to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, where there was a drying field.
The drying field wasn't small, oval-shaped, about a hundred square meters, paved with cement, but at this moment, there was no grain drying but several round tables set up instead.
The entire Chen Clan, men and women of all ages, sat around different tables, enjoying a hearty meal while discussing recent events.
Seeing Chen Lusi and his cousins return, someone immediately came up to greet them, inviting them to sit and asking the reason for their lateness.
Mostly, his cousins handled the answers.
Chen Lusi himself was a bit socially anxious, though it didn't affect his normal life, he wasn't good at handling such occasions.
He would respond to the elders' inquiries, albeit perfunctorily.
Simply put, it was... all polite talk, without a hint of genuine feeling.
But who isn't?
Chen Lusi broke a pair of disposable chopsticks as he took a look around at everyone engaged in lively conversation, ultimately fixing his gaze on the elders at the main table.
He thought for a moment, picked up his bowl, and was about to ask them about the issue with the elderly version figurine.
But before he could move, someone grabbed his arm.
"Cousin, you like to play mobile games, right?"
Chen Lusi turned around, finding it was a younger cousin of his, about fifteen or sixteen. She probably moved over because there wasn't enough space at the children's table.
"Occasionally." Although Chen Lusi wasn't familiar with her, he replied politely.
"What do you like to play? How about we add each other as friends?"
The younger cousin smiled sweetly at Chen Lusi.
She had a good impression of this cousin, not only because of his good personality and good looks, with distinct facial features, but also the way he tied his long hair into a ponytail added to his charm.
He stood out among the otherwise average-looking Chen family.
The most important part was, he wasn't preachy.
So every year, she always looked forward to chatting with this cousin.
"...What do you play?"
Chen Lusi couldn't help but sit down and chat with his cousin, planning to inquire after the meal.
The young cousin excitedly talked about all the mobile games she played like she was reciting treasured possessions.
Chen Lusi occasionally responded.
Before long, the meal was over.
The entire process was lively.
The atmosphere was nice too.
After all, it's a time for ancestor worship. No matter what conflicts people have, they generally don't mention them now.
After the hearty meal, the annual ancestor worship event was effectively concluded.
Every year, Chen Lusi would leave after the meal.
This time, though, he delayed a bit, mainly wanting to ask the elders what exactly the Mountain God was about.
At this point, while most of the younger generation had gone their separate ways.
These few elders stayed, gathered together drinking tea, smoking, and chatting.
Chen Lusi said goodbye to his cousin and slowly walked toward the main table.
As he got closer.
The elders noticed him too, and warmly greeted him.
Chen Lusi smiled and approached, just about to say "Great uncle."
Suddenly.
A raindrop fell on his head.
Soon after.
The second and third droplets...
Chen Lusi stopped, tilted his head back, and looked at the sky.
Not far away.
One of the elders also noticed and stretched out his hand, exclaiming, "Rain's falling, rain's falling."
He spoke while reaching out to catch the rain.
Then.
He paused, puzzled, "Why is this rain... black?"
Chen Lusi: "..."