Chapter 93: Eerie Gu Stone Figurine Midway, Cliff Rockfall At The Soul-severing Platform
The next day, Su Mo, along with Hu Ba Yi, Wang Pang Zi, Little Brother Zhang Qiling, and Xue Li Yang, set off for Diannan.
Da Jin Ya and Chen Xia Zi saw them off at the station. Before leaving, Su Mo cautioned Da Jin Ya to be careful and to contact Fo Ye or the New Moon Hotel if anything came up.
After the incident with the Black Flying Bugs, Fo Ye Zhang Qishan owed Su Mo a favor, and Yin Nanfeng from the New Moon Hotel seemed to have a good impression of Su Mo. Therefore, Da Jin Ya would surely receive help if he needed to find them.
As for the Huo Family, Su Mo didn’t trust them much. This was because Huo Xianggu had been forced by Su Mo to bow to him in the hotel, and he had taken her private room. She was arrogant and not very open-minded. If Da Jin Ya went to her, he would at least be humiliated.
After bidding farewell to Da Jin Ya and Chen Xia Zi, the five of them took a train southward, first arriving in Kunming.
Following the address Da Jin Ya had given them, Hu Ba Yi and Wang Pang Zi found his friend in Kunming, and from him obtained three handguns and some military explosives.
Su Mo also met Da Jin Ya’s friend.
The man’s name was Gao Wu. He was a tall, robust man in his thirties who also dealt in antiques and had a background as a demobilized soldier, possessing superior skills and knowledge.
Da Jin Ya had called ahead and told Gao Wu that his master and fellow disciples were coming, so Gao Wu was very respectful upon meeting Su Mo.
The five of them rested briefly at Gao Wu’s place for a day before preparing to drive directly to the Lancang River. The car was provided by Gao Wu – an old military jeep. Although it was a bit old, it was very practical for Yunnan’s road conditions and easy to repair.
Before leaving, Su Mo wanted to give Gao Wu money, as he had provided guns and a car, which amounted to quite a lot.
Gao Wu firmly refused:
“Master Su, Jin Ya has already told me that you are his master. Just a little bit of your ability is more than enough for ordinary people like me to benefit from. I, Gao Wu, admire capable people the most. This car is nothing. I’m already very happy to be able to help you!”
Gao Wu had the straightforward and bold demeanor characteristic of people from the jianghu. Su Mo then stopped being polite and smiled:
“Then thank you in advance. We’ll meet again in Kunming when we return!”
After parting ways with Gao Wu, the five of them drove towards the Lancang River. Hu Ba Yi drove, Wang Pang Zi sat in the passenger seat, and Su Mo, Little Brother, and Xue Li Yang sat in the back.
All along the way, Wang Pang Zi complained that the imitation Type 64 pistols lacked firepower and attack power. He decided to make a slingshot in the car.
And indeed, the slingshot he made with steel bars and rubber bands was much more powerful than a handgun at ten meters, and its ammunition could be replenished anytime, anywhere.
There was no navigation in that era, so the five of them drove, following the map and asking passersby for directions, and finally arrived near Zhelong Mountain.
The path had become very rough, not only narrow enough for only one car to pass but also covered in gravel. Hu Ba Yi drove nervously the entire way, trying to avoid falling rocks from the mountain and preventing the old jeep’s tires from being cut by the numerous small stones on the road.
As they were driving, there was a sudden bang ahead, and the jeep seemed to hit something.
Wang Pang Zi couldn’t help but complain:
“Old Hu, how can you be so absent-minded while driving? Now look, you’ve hit something!”
Hu Ba Yi retorted impatiently:
“Why don’t you drive? I have to watch out for things overhead and the cliff on the side. Damn it, who knew there was something in the middle of the road!”
Despite their bickering, they quickly got out to inspect.
Upon seeing it, the two couldn’t help but gasp in shock.
In front of the jeep was a broken stone figure, only the upper half visible, but it looked almost like a real person, with a gray face that seemed to carry an expression of pain.
This stone figure had only a stone shell on the outside and was entirely hollow inside. After being hit by the jeep, most of the shell had shattered, spilling out many maggot-like insects, looking both terrifying and disgusting!
Hu Ba Yi took a look and said:
“This looks like a Gu Burial Figure unique to Diannan. It’s truly disgusting!”
Su Mo got out and glanced at the Gu Burial Figure, saying:
“It was likely a Gu Burial Figure buried on the hillside that was washed here by a mudslide. With this here, we should not be far from the Tomb of King Xian. Let’s move it quickly and continue.”
Hu Ba Yi and Wang Pang Zi then pinched their noses and moved the Gu Burial Figures aside.
As they were busy, there was a sudden rumbling sound from above.
Immediately after, several large boulders rolled down from the cliff above, reaching the group in the blink of an eye.
Each of these boulders was over a meter wide. Falling suddenly from the cliff, it was completely unexpected. If they had hit, everyone would likely have been killed or maimed, and even this old jeep would have been smashed to pieces!
Hu Ba Yi and the others couldn’t help but exclaim.
At that moment, Su Mo and Zhang Qiling suddenly leaped forward.
Su Mo leaped more than two meters high and in an instant was above everyone. He kicked out with both feet, using the subtle strength of the Kui Xing Kicking the Dipper technique!
Bang bang!
He kicked two boulders, each weighing hundreds of pounds and falling towards the car roof, directly away!
Simultaneously, Zhang Qiling also leaped two meters high and drew the Black Gold Ancient Blade from his back.
A cold glint flashed in the air as the Black Gold Ancient Blade was fiercely swung down at another falling rock, using the Golden Crow Saber Technique that Su Mo had taught him.
Clang!
With an explosive sound, this boulder, over a meter wide, was split in two by his saber and struck backward by the power contained within the blow.
Hu Ba Yi and Wang Pang Zi dodged the remaining two smaller rocks!
Xue Li Yang, who was sitting in the car, was still shaken, looking at the cliff above with a pale face:
“Why would rocks fall out of the blue!”
Hu Ba Yi also looked puzzled:
“Yeah, the weather’s been so good, and there’s been no rain lately. There usually wouldn’t be falling rocks in this situation!”
Usually, falling rocks in the mountains were caused by heavy rain in the preceding period, which loosened the soil and rocks on the slope.
However, Su Mo and the others had checked the weather forecast before they came. There had been no rain in the vicinity of Zhelong Mountain for several days. Therefore, falling rocks or mudslides should not have occurred in this situation.
Su Mo looked up, his expression turning somewhat cold:
“Let’s not worry about it for now. Let’s find a way to leave here as quickly as possible!”
The place where the jeep hit the stone figure was a bend in the road, which was not only narrow and winding but also overlooked a bottomless cliff. The road jutted out like a stage, resembling a ‘stage of soul-severing’!
Therefore, it was best for everyone to leave this dangerous place as soon as possible!
Hu Ba Yi, Wang Pang Zi, and Zhang Qiling then worked together to move the fallen stones and Gu Burial Figures. Throughout this process, Su Mo remained focused on their surroundings, his expression very solemn.
