noveltune Chapter 792 507: Need to Pay More (Part 2)
Chapter 792 507: Need to Pay More (Part 2)
Brother Quan heard this, grabbed a branch with one hand, and aimed the gun at the boar's head with the other: "Fire together! Aim for the head and neck!"Several gun barrels quickly adjusted direction, targeting the agitated charging boar king.
Legend has it that some aged animals in the mountains can sense spirituality, and at this moment, the boar seemed to sense the threat. It abruptly stopped its charge, raised its head, and its blood-red eyes scanned the trees.
"Fire!"
At the instant Brother Quan's shout fell, several pistols fired simultaneously, bullets whistling towards the boar's head.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The gunfire erupted once again in the mountains and forests.
This thick-skinned and tough creature had a strong life force, but its head and neck were still weak points.
The boar king was hit by bullets, letting out a piercing wail. Its left eye burst into a mist of blood instantly, and its neck side and the base of its ear were also torn open by bullets, blood gushing out.
Amazingly, this heavy blow didn't immediately take its life. The boar's body swayed a few times but didn't fall!
This wild boar was like a mad bull, instead of fleeing, the severe pain incited it to roar even more furiously!
It spun around twice in place, then lowered its head, and its hind hooves suddenly kicked the ground, charging towards the tree where Brother Quan was!
The posture seemed as if it wanted to perish together!
"Watch out!" Qi Yun's pupils constricted.
"Crack—!"
The heavy impact sound was accompanied by the crisp sound of the tree trunk breaking!
The tree where Brother Quan was, was split open at a shocking gap near the base by the dying giant beast's suicidal impact, causing the whole tree to lean dramatically to one side!
Brother Quan lost his balance, gripping a branch tightly with one hand, his whole body dangling in mid-air, below him was the frenzied boar herd!
"Brother Quan!"
Everyone's hearts instantly leaped to their throats!
Afraid he'd lose grip and fall.
Fortunately, Brother Quan finally steadied himself.
And that boar king seemed to have used up all its strength too. It staggered back a few steps, its huge body swayed a few times, snorted twice, finally couldn't hold on any longer, its front legs buckled, and it collapsed on its side with a "boom", only its abdomen was still weakly rising and falling, the blood spreading around.
The downfall of the leading boar caused apparent chaos in the previously frenzied boar herd.
Without their leader, they ceased attacking and started turning around anxiously, snorting.
After about half a minute of stalemate, a boar suddenly ran towards the depths of the forest, followed by all the boars fleeing like a retreating tide into the dense woods.
Only the ground was left littered with boar carcasses, with blood staining the ground red.
"Did...did they all run away?" Ignacio's voice was still trembling, almost drained of strength.
"They ran! They ran!" The guide slid down the tree, cautiously looking around, muttering, "Today is spooky, haven't encountered boars in two or three years."
The others also descended one after the other, breathing heavily.
Qi Yun's gaze swept over to those several boar carcasses on the ground, still feeling lingering fear.
Although it was extremely dangerous just now, fortunately, no one was injured.
"Pack up and leave here immediately!" Qi Yun decisively ordered, "Guide, lead the way, proceed to the camping spot as planned, quickly!"
Nobody dared to delay even a moment, everyone picked up their backpacks promptly and withdrew quickly.
Such thick blood scent, who knows if it would attract some fierce beast.
Half an hour later, the group reached the camping spot.
It was a natural rock cave at the foot of the mountain, quite spacious, with a stove built of stones and a blackened aluminum pot.
Everyone was somewhat exhausted, dropping their backpacks and slumping to the ground to rest.
Dinner was fresh wild boar meat. During the retreat, Niu Da carried the smallest one.
Cleaned and dismembered, it was put into the pot to stew directly.
Wild boars are omnivores, with muscular fibers that are coarse and the meat dry and tough, with a gamey taste.
It looked fairly appetizing, but the actual taste was far from the wild game Qi Yun and the others had enjoyed in Changbai Mountain before.
However, in this desolate mountain wilderness, being able to eat a hot mouthful of meat was already a rare supplement.
After dinner, Brother Quan arranged for night watch, two people per shift, taking turns on alert.
Fatigue washed over them like a tide, and apart from Niu Da and An Zai on duty, everyone else soon fell into a deep sleep by the campfire, snoring one after another.
Nothing else was spoken that night; the next day, they continued on their way.
The ensuing journey was a continuous climb over mountains and ridges, with steep mountain paths, many parts having a stone wall on one side and a cliff on the other.
Time reached the afternoon of the second day, and the group finally arrived at their destination, the highest peak of Jiufeng Mountain - Crown Prince City.
The peak had an elevation of over four thousand meters, with the wind roaring, making it nearly impossible for them to stand steadily.
The view was extremely open here, with the rolling mountain ranges and the nine peaks all within sight.
Hua Weiguo pointed to the lower northeast side, a U-shaped valley embraced by steep cliffs on three sides: "According to my speculation, it should be there."
Next, it was Qin Sizhi and Yao Yuzhong's turn to perform.
Without Qi Yun needing to prompt, Yao Yuzhong stepped up two steps, eyes surveying around, finally looking towards the valley Hua Weiguo had mentioned.
Qin Sizhi took out his compass from his cloth pouch, fingers calculating, mumbling to himself.
Qi Yun did not interrupt them, just patiently waiting.
Meanwhile, Hua Weiguo and Ignacio seized the time to use binoculars and cameras to record the terrain and surrounding environment of the valley.
The systematic theory of feng shui, or geomancy, began taking shape from the Warring States period with Guiguzi. Its core is selecting sites and orientations through observation of qi, yin-yang, the Five Elements, and the Four Symbols to achieve auspiciousness and avoid misfortune.
In the period of the Ancient Shu Kingdom, this theory had not clearly developed into a system, but they also had their ways of communicating with nature, such as through witchcraft.
The exaggerated bronze masks, sacred trees, and solar wheels of Sanxingdui all reflected the awe and yearning of the people at that time for the heavens, mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars.
In fact, both have similarities. Using Qin Sizhi's words, it's called "many paths, but ultimately the same destination."
Occasionally exchanging glances, the two discussed in low voices, and about five or six minutes later, they reached a consensus.
"Director Qi, Professor Hua's analysis is quite accurate. If we were to choose a worship site within this area, it's very likely to be in the open space of that valley."
Hua Weiguo, hearing this, also showed a proud expression on his face.
Though not proficient in feng shui, he had abundant archaeological experience.
The reason he deduced that the final destination was that valley is based on evidence from the two sacrificial pits of the Ancient Shu Kingdom that have been discovered.
Both the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites are situated on flat terrain with nearby rivers.
The U-shaped valley area completely matches this characteristic, and only here in Jiufeng Mountain fits such criteria.
With a definite answer, Qi Yun didn't dawdle, immediately asking the guide to lead them down.
"Water often accumulates down there, it's a bit dangerous, we rarely go there," the guide hesitated, a bit reluctant, "Are you sure you want to go down?"
Seeing the guide's reluctance, Qi Yun didn't force him: "How about this, you point a way for us, we'll go down by ourselves, and you wait for us on the mountain."
"Once we're done, you can lead us out."
The guide sighed, seeing he couldn't dissuade them, nodded: "Okay then, I'll tell you, but you wouldn't find the way."
"Considering you're from the government, I'll lead you down, but it'll cost extra."
Qi Yun agreed readily: "No problem, I'll double your pay once we're out."
The guide, hearing he could earn double, beamed: "Alright, let's go, I'll lead you down."
The path down to the valley was extremely difficult or practically non-existent, entirely trudging down one side of the slope, and in some places, they even had to use vines to descend, which was quite dangerous.
After stumbling for two to three hours, the group finally reached the valley bottom.