The lake’s surface was as tranquil as a mirror, reflecting the mountains and forests.
The soil in Ezhou was fertile, with abundant rainfall, often hosting old trees that were decades old, growing up to several ters tall and forming vast stretches of forest.
The sa was true for the surroundings of Liangzi Lake.
The rolling hills were enshrouded by dense woods, and if devoid of human habitation, vegetation would grow wildly. Many abandoned kiln sites were quickly covered in greenery and would only reveal traces of their existence if one ventured inside.
Within the forest, two groups of tomb robbers were advancing.
The underbrush was thick, and not only were there shrubs and thorns on the ground, but vines also entwined the trees, making it necessary to continuously swing a machete, which was quite laborious to walk through.
Seeing the situation, Wang the Wizened, who was out of patience, said, "Too slow; you all wait here, I’ll go up the mountain to check the Fengshui."
With those words, he took off a grappling hook from his waist, gave it a gentle toss, and it soared into the air, hooking onto a tree trunk.
Naturally, those who could make a living from this trade and made a na for themselves weren’t incompetent.
Wang the Wizened had mastered Hidden Energy; despite his corpulent figure, he used his arms with the strength of an old bear, pulling the rope quickly to climb up the trunk.
Then, with Hidden Energy bursting forth, he leaped directly to another large tree.
"Hmph, I shall follow to prevent him from any trickery!"
Chen San also grunted and followed closely behind.
Unlike Wang the Wizened, Chen San simply put on a pair of specially made spiked gloves and clambered and leaped from tree to tree like a gecko.
Soon, both were out of sight.
Their subordinates, of course, had already been instructed to face each other with glaring eyes, clearly divided, their eyes full of caution.
Naturally, what they were really wary of were the few people sent by the Bai Family.
Elsewhere, it wasn’t long before Wang the Wizened and Chen San climbed to the top of the mountain and stood on the trunk of a large tree.
"Brother Wang, what do you think?"
Chen San finally asked.
Wang the Wizened sneered, "That Bai fellow is up to no good; I already took a close look when entering the village."
"The ground is dry, and there are uneven spots; the Compass indicates ’Dazzling Needle,’ which ans there’re secret passages all beneath the village!"
"The villagers from other villages are very wary of outsiders, but the people of this village ignored us completely upon seeing us."
"The whole village, I’m afraid, is theirs!"
"This village surnad Bai is probably a nest of mountain bandits disguised as peddlers who roam around to scout, and when they encounter a fat sheep, they pretend to be bandits and plunder."
Chen San nodded, "You’re right; I’ve seen a few such villages too, even crueler than us, I suspect they’ll turn on us when the ti cos."
Wang the Wizened scoffed, "They wish. Chen San, I’ve heard that you were the first to use gunpowder to open tombs over in Yu State, you must still have so tools hidden up your sleeve."
Chen San neither confird nor denied, "I know Brother Wang is famous for choosing burial sites with the Distribution of Gold thod, but your skill with poison is not inferior; just make sure we don’t really fall out and let others profit."
"What are you suggesting, San?"
Wang the Wizened hastily shook his head and smiled, "We are all brothers here, let’s abide by the rules of our world. There are plenty of fire pits on top of Mang Mountain, so how about I assist Brother San when the ti cos?"
"Good!"
Chen San agreed without hesitation.
Tomb robbers naturally have their rules, first-co-first-served, but what truly brings two parties together is a shared interest.
With an agreent in place, their conversation beca even more straightforward.
"That Bai fellow has certainly held back, San, let’s not make a move just yet; let’s wait until we find the items before we turn on them."
"Brother Wang speaks wisely; quickly, check the Fengshui here."
Wang the Wizened nodded, took out a Compass from his bosom, looked around from a high position and after furrowing his brow for a long ti, finally said, "The Fengshui of Liangzi Lake need not be ntioned."
"The center is flat as a mirror, surrounded by mountains; it’s a first-class location for gathering wind and collecting Qi, truly a treasure basin."
"Before coming, I had already inquired that the shores of Liangzi Lake are tortuous and known as the ’Ninety-Nine Channels,’ with complex terrain that’s most suitable for hiding things."
"Initially, I had no lead, but based on the locations marked by that fellow Bai, I’ve also found sothing peculiar. The ’Ninety-Nine Channels’ of Liangzi Lake happen to form a natural Nine Palace Formation."
"The crucial spot is in the center of the lake; it is said to be the subrged site of an ancient county town, and the marked locations to the north are all in the Xun Position..."
"According to Qin Dunjia, placed in the Northwest Qian Palace, the entrance location, belonging to the tal of the Five Elents, there must be mineral veins underground."
"San, your n should all have compasses; you can command your disciples to search in the mountains around. If they simultaneously spot ’Swirling Needle’ and ’Dazzling Needle,’ they should imdiately signal."
"Great! Brother Wang, your skills are indeed extraordinary!"
Having set their plans, the two sent their disciples out to explore, scouring every hill and dense woodland in the vicinity, sparing no spot...
Their movents were all noticed by Li Yan and Lv San.
But what they paid more attention to were the unusual activities within the village of Baihe Bay.
The villagers, regardless of gender or age, had all co out of their hos and gathered outside the shrine in the center of the village.
Several bare-chested n with red headscarves lifted two shrines from the cellar of the shrine in the village.
One was of a bald Buddha, kind and compassionate, smiling, plump belly undulating, bare-chested, with a string of prayer beads in hand...
The other, clad in armor, draped in a magnificent scarf, wearing a jeweled crown, holding a treasure sword, and standing on auspicious clouds, looked vigorous and handso...
The villagers each held three incense sticks, kneeling on the ground, continuously bowing to the two Divine Statues.
And Bai Wenghai had also changed his attire, wearing a white robe and wrapping his head with a golden scarf.
With a solemn expression, he bowed to the two Divine Statues and raised his voice, "Thus I have heard, at one ti the Buddha dwelled at Shewei in the Jeta Grove, in the garden of Anathapindika, together with a great assembly of monks, five hundred in all..."
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