parentshiftbook Chapter 127: Map
Chapter 127: Map
Spring is almost here!
In the back garden of the villa, the snow piled up on the artificial hill by the fishpond was quietly melting. Tiny green shoots stubbornly poked their heads out from the snow-covered ground beside them.
The study next door had its windows open.
Lu Wanrou leaned against the window, gazing with delight at the subtle changes in the garden, feeling the renewed vitality deep within the earth.
The warm sunlight slanted down, illuminating her gentle and serene face. Behind her, Fu Huiying glanced at her helplessly.
"Sister Rou, if you don't hurry, you won't be able to finish reading all these books by noon."
Upon hearing this, Lu Wanrou smiled sheepishly, but did not close the window. Instead, she moved back to the long desk piled with books.
There was a thick stack of books on the table, all of which were records about the Great Wei and the surrounding areas, interspersed with many autobiographies of travelers.
In the corner of the study, hundreds of books were neatly stacked—all of which they had read during this period.
Fu Huiying's attention returned to the ancient book in her hands.
This book is said to have come from an ancient ruin, from the capital of a previous dynasty. It contains detailed records of legends and strange tales of the Great Wei and the surrounding areas, and also includes the author's approximate travel route.
Because the Queen Consort of Chu had always enjoyed learning about matters outside the southern border, the King of Chu sent someone to record her information in the study of his residence, which is where the two of them are now.
After a long while, Fu Huiying finally finished reading the ancient book and rubbed her sore eyes.
"Sister Fu, do you have any clues?" Lu Wanrou asked softly upon seeing this.
"No." Fu Huiying shook her head, a hint of weariness in her eyes.
Recalling the days before Zhang Ping went to the Southern Frontier, those nights of revelry... it was from him then that the two learned the secrets of the Sealed Demon Land. Shocked, they also felt a sense of urgency.
Upon learning that Zhang Ping's trip to the southern border was precisely to solve their cultivation problems, the two women were deeply moved and dared not slack off during their stay at the Prince's residence.
After obtaining Miao Caiyan's consent, they spent most of their time in the Prince's study, trying to find a clue about leaving the old land of Wei and Zhao from the vast sea of records.
Zhang Ping rarely hid anything from them. Fu Huiying knew that the chaos caused by demons was far more dangerous and complicated than she had imagined. She was eager to find a way out for the future, so that if she really came to a dead end, she would have a plan to escape.
However, the results of the review were clearly unsatisfactory.
Lu Wanrou sighed softly and put down the book in her hand.
"This one isn't there either. Sister Fu, I think this is a lot of searching for, like looking for a needle in a haystack. It would be great if we had a more detailed exploration map."
Fu Huiying wholeheartedly agreed.
The Great Wei Dynasty had been established and spread Buddhism for over three hundred years. How could the court sit idly by after learning the truth?
Over the past three hundred years, countless martial artists have been dispatched to explore a way out, accumulating far more information and ancient books than they could possibly access in the Prince's study. The various maps and records are also countless.
Even so, the imperial court has failed to find a way out. How could the two of them possibly discover anything now?
For a moment, both women felt somewhat discouraged.
Lu Wanrou unconsciously turned the pages of the book, her hand supporting her cheek, but her thoughts drifted back to the difficult period after her husband's death.
At that time, the tribe was in turmoil, and as the lady of the house, she was forced to lead a caravan south to trade. Along the way, the caravan often got lost in the vast wilderness and could not find its way; more often than not, they only knew a vague direction.
That experience gave her some insights into the matter.
"Even a map with general directions would be helpful. Now, with the East Sea, the Western Poison Forest, the Southern Frontier, and the Northern Plains, which direction should we head to search?"
Fu Huiying gave a bitter smile. The imperial court might indeed have such maps, but it would never give them to them.
However, Lu Wanrou's words did stir something in her mind.
Map... Kitahara...
Fu Huiying's eyebrows gradually furrowed. The combination of these two words evoked a vague sense of familiarity.
The warm sunlight lazily drifted into the study, carrying with it the faint cries of a flock of ducks from some distant, unknown place.
In the center of the study, wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner, filtered through the sunlight, spreading into a pale purple haze. A slightly chilly spring breeze brushed against my forehead, bringing a touch of coolness.
Lu Wanrou was about to get up and close the window when she suddenly heard a crisp "snap" sound!
Fu Huiying suddenly stood up, knocking the chair behind her to the ground.
"I remember now!"
Before the bewildered Lu Wanrou could ask a question, she rushed out of the study. Lu Wanrou stared at the open door and the overturned chair, blinking, still not quite understanding what was happening.
A moment later, hurried footsteps sounded again, and Fu Huiying came running back, panting, and slammed a map onto the desk!
"map!"
Lu Wanrou paused for a moment, then quickly walked to the table. Looking down,
It was an antique map made of a special material, and after countless years, the dark yellow edges had turned somewhat black.
After spending dozens of days poring over ancient books, they had seen countless simplified maps of the former Wei and Zhao territories.
Lu Wanrou recognized it at a glance; it was a map depicting the former territories of Wei and Zhao. Apart from parts of the Great Wei and the Northern Plains, the rest of the area was not clearly marked, only showing blurry outlines.
However, the map depicts the Kitahara region with exceptional clarity and detail!
An extremely narrow path winds its way north from within the Great Wei territory, penetrating deep into the heart of the snow-capped mountains of the Northern Plains, ultimately leading to an unknown territory.
"What is this?" Lu Wanrou looked up in surprise at Fu Huiying.
This map describes Kitahara much more clearly than any of the ancient books they found!
A smile of excitement flashed across Fu Huiying's face:
"This is what I brought from the martial arts school. Inside the box where the map was kept, there was also Chongxin's copy of 'The Wheel of Divine Skill.' Zhang Ping happened to have the key at the time, which is how he opened the box."
"Unbelievable..."
A strange light gleamed in her eyes. What she'd initially thought was just a treasure map now seemed very likely to be an important map for exploring the outside world!
Southern Xinjiang, the royal city.
The situation in the capital is becoming increasingly chaotic.
Every day, large numbers of people attempted to flee, but they were quickly driven back by the surrounding demons. Meanwhile, even more people continued to pour in.
In the southern and western borders, countless people from the southern frontier were driven by demons and surged towards the royal city like a tide.
Within a few short days, the entire royal city became overcrowded and rife with chaos. The power of the Holy Mountain had long since lost control of the city, and its remaining strength could barely maintain order in the surrounding urban areas.
At this moment, atop the sacred mountain.
Miao Zhan was stopped on the only path leading to the mountaintop.
"I want to see the King!" Miao Zhanqiang suppressed the surging anger in his chest, gripping the warhammer tightly in his hand until his knuckles turned white.
Blocking his way was the clan elder responsible for guarding the King's Gu Bowl, who looked troubled.
"Miao Zhan, don't make things difficult for me. His Majesty has personally ordered that no one is to go up and disturb us before the first Yang day."
"Anyone? Then why is Zhang Ping on top?!" Miao Zhan's face grew increasingly gloomy.
On that day, the demon king, the one-horned Qilin, descended. Although it did not attack them, He Changhong took the opportunity to severely injure several Holy Mountain warriors and even killed a Marrow Marrow Realm expert!
All of this was because Zhang Ping suddenly took Miao Caixin away, causing the battle formation to collapse instantly.
Now that Miao Caixin lives on the mountaintop and never comes out, Miao Zhanxin is full of doubts and strongly suspects that Zhang Ping is manipulating things in secret!
His mind was suddenly filled with He Changhong's hurtful words, and his expression turned even more unpleasant.
"On the mountaintop, are there only the two of them?" Miao Zhan's voice was filled with a cold question.
Upon hearing this, the clan elder's expression changed drastically, and he shouted sternly, "Miao Zhan! What do you mean by that?!"
"Hmph! What do you mean? I want to go up and see for myself whether the King has been held hostage by that Zhang fellow!" Before he finished speaking, Miao Zhan unleashed his full power, determined to force his way through the barrier!
The elder guarding the clan was only at the late stage of the Blood Essence Realm; how could he possibly withstand his violent aura?
Just then, a sharp shout, like a thunderclap, crashed down from the mountaintop:
"presumptuous!"