2918 The Underground Village Base?
When the old man turned around, Qiao Mu's keen eyes spotted a red rope protruding from his collar.
A faint frown creased Qiao Mu's brow as she assessed the elderly man. She had caught sight of something unusual, but chose to hold her silence.
The group of them followed the elderly man to the outskirts of the village, where a dilapidated thatched hut stood, its roof collapsed. A wordless exchange of glances passed between them.
The young monk, his curiosity piqued, leaned against Mo Lian's long, straight legs. Half of his small frame remained hidden behind Mo Lian, with only half of his petite head peering out, revealing a pair of large, round, inquisitive eyes as he observed the elderly man with the goatee.
The old man led them behind the ruined house and began tapping the ground. After a moment, he abruptly moved one of the tiles.
The floor tiles had originally been concealed beneath grass and wood, making it unlikely for anyone to notice them, even if they walked over them.
For some reason, Qiao Mu's heart skipped a beat at the sight before her.
This scene bore a striking resemblance to the underground village near the capital of Mo Kingdom, which they had encountered on the Sikong Planet.
Without a second thought, Qiao Mu followed the old man's lead, her finger tracing a message in Mo Lian's palm.
Mo Lian nodded in understanding and exchanged a silent "be cautious" glance with her.
Observing Qiao Mu's movements, the rest of the group naturally followed suit.
Just as they were about to descend into the passageway, the old man suddenly turned around, his lips curling into a stiff smile that resembled a withered corpse. "Everyone, you'll need to use a pass talisman to enter. Here's one for each of you to use temporarily. Guard it closely."
As he spoke, he handed them each a jade talisman suspended from a red string, bearing the engraved word 'peace.'
"This is a protective talisman. May it offer blessings for your journey," he added.
Qiao Mu reached out to accept it, but Mo Lian gently restrained her petite hand.
Mo Lian accepted the protective talisman from the old man with a cold and courteous nod. "Lead the way."
The old man trembled, inexplicably compelled to follow the Crown Prince's command. He turned and began to descend the underground passageway.
The passageway was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. Qiao Mu had taken just two steps when she felt a chilling breeze envelop her. It was as if a massive beast lurked beneath the ground, its gaping maw awaiting their descent.
"Why is it so cold here?"
"Ah, it's rather chilly because we cultivate an ice prismatic flower tree here! Take a look." The old man gestured towards a tree encased in a protective barrier ahead.
Its leaves glistened with frost, and delicate flowers covered in ice and snow hung heavily from its branches, resembling winter plums caught in mid-bloom.
Each flower was a masterpiece of ice crystals and snow, exuding exquisite beauty.
"Nothing unusual about walking through here." Qiao Mu and her group followed the old man to the ground and gazed upwards.
The passageway, which had previously been dimly lit, was now entirely blocked by a massive stone slab, sealing off any retreat.
Qiao Mu clenched her lips and turned to study the old man closely.
Her keen eyesight, even in the pitch-black darkness, detected a glimmer of hostility on the old man's cotton-covered face.
Anyone capable of managing such a vast underground facility was undoubtedly not to be trusted.
He might appear ordinary, but his abilities suggested otherwise—possibly ruthless.
Qiao Mu inquired with a cold tone, "Where are Erhua family's members you mentioned?"
