Azure Files, the starting point of all miracles

Under their gaze, Xiyu on the screen soon came to a fork in the road.

Faced with the two types of signs that appeared in front of him again, Xiyu not only destroyed the brand new metal sign, but also the wooden sign hanging on the tree.

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Hifumi: "Teacher?! Why--"

Hanako: "It's probably because the wooden sign is too old."

Hanako: "You have already taken 2000 steps. Dear tourists, due to management reasons, the hiking trail from 2000 to 8000 steps has been closed. The opening time will be notified separately. You can return along the same route. We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused to you."

Hanako: "In the beginning, this signboard may still serve as a warning to some extent, but as the impact on Mount Daluo deepens, this signboard not only loses its function, but even has a misleading effect."

Hanako: "After all, now that we've set foot on the mountain trail, there's no turning back - or, in other words, we can't take the same path again."

Hanako: "Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that the mastermind left it there on purpose. In short, no matter what the reason is, destroying it is the best decision."

Hifumi: "So that's how it is... Hanako-san, you're amazing~"

Hanako: "Hehe~ Hifumi, do you want to become more powerful?"

Xiaochun: "!!!!"

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As for the reasons behind the teacher's behavior, many students guessed the reasons, so it did not cause much discussion among the crowd.

However, Xiyu did not continue walking forward along the mountain trail, but turned to a fork in the road.

Following this path, Xiyu passed through a small forest and soon saw a new signboard.

Just as he guessed, the location that the new sign pointed to was Daluo Village, the gathering place for local residents of Daluo Mountain.

According to the information provided on the signboard, there is a mountain patrol team in Daluo Village.

However, Xiyu did not encounter any similar people along the way.

*So, to some extent, does it mean that something has happened in Daluo Village as well?

Xiyu muttered to herself in her heart, and subconsciously touched the bag around her waist.

Inside this was the Daluo Mountain hiking souvenir he had received at the gift table halfway through the journey.

It contains emergency food, drinks, fire, food, and tool kits - the most important "food", according to the upper class, is the Daluoshan specialty dishes used for offerings.

My thoughts returned to reality.

Regardless of whether something happened in Daluo Village or not, Xiyu must go there.

After all, the information provided by the authorities is limited, and some "useless" rumors will be subjectively excluded by some people.

Only from the local villagers could Xiyu learn what happened here in the past.

Therefore, Xiyu did not light the torch according to the latest instructions on the signboard and wait for help from the villagers of Daluo Village.

Instead, he took the initiative to go to the area where Daluo Village is located...

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It is quite different from the lifeless village image I imagined.

The Daluo Village in front of us was unexpectedly popular.

After arriving in this area, Xiyu saw the villagers patrolling in the village at first sight; similarly, the other party also noticed him.

Under the vigilant gazes of the villagers, Xiyu slowly came up to them, and after stating that she was harmless, she began to ask them questions.

"Excuse me, can I light some incense and candles here to worship the mountain god?"

"..."

Chapter 210: Since there is no meaning in living, let's become the hope of others

The General Manual of the Dalo Mountain Climbing Association—Rule 5 of the Humanistic Route.

The trail out of Fanlin leads to Daluo Village, where you can enjoy a different kind of farm scenery. Before leaving, please remember to light a stick of incense at the collective warehouse of Daluo Village or donate a piece of food to the collective warehouse. For your safety, please do the above with the permission of the villagers.

-

The act of lighting incense and candles will undoubtedly gain some protection from the mountain god.

Considering the conflict between mountain gods and mountain ghosts, obtaining shelter is likely to attract the attention of mountain ghosts.

The reason why one must obtain permission from Daluo Village before lighting incense and candles may be because Daluo Village has been invaded by mountain ghosts, resulting in a situation similar to that of a zoo or an aquarium.

If you are not sure whether you are in a normal Daluo Village or a Daluo Village invaded by mountain ghosts, and you rashly light incense and candles, if you are in an area invaded by the power of mountain ghosts, you are likely to be attacked by a group of mountain ghosts.

After coming to this conclusion through analysis, Xiyu naturally applied it to the villagers in front of him.

On the other hand, since Daluo Village had been sealed off, the villagers felt very nervous when they saw outsiders entering.

However, after the conversation and learning that the other party was planning to offer sacrifices to the mountain god, the villagers' worries were alleviated a lot.

After all, a mountain ghost who is in opposition to the mountain god has no reason to behave in this way.

"If you want to make an offering, go ahead."

"but……"

The villager leading the patrol team looked at Xiyu in front of him and said with a complicated expression: "I don't know how you came to Daluo Village when the road was closed, but you shouldn't have come here."

"This place is no longer as safe as it used to be."

"I know."

Xiyu nodded: "So, I am here to solve this matter."

"solve!?"

After hearing this, the villager seemed to have heard something incredible. He originally wanted to laugh at Xiyu's statement, but then he seemed to have thought of something and asked subconsciously.

"You...are you sent by the authorities?"

"Ah."

"Officials have contacted us before and have sent people to help us deal with the problem."

"I thought that after several previous failures, the authorities had decided to give up on this place completely."

"But, you are alone..."

Having said that, he paused for a moment, with a gleam in his eyes, as if he was struggling with something.

About a minute later, as if he had made up his mind, he said hello to his companions and came to Xiyu.

"You want to solve the problem here, right?"

"Ah."

"In that case, I'll take you to talk to our old village chief."

"He might know something you want to know."

"please……"

This is exactly the purpose of Xiyu's trip. I don't know why the other party suddenly changed his attitude, but overall, it is a good thing.

As for whether it was a trick, Xiyu was not worried.

After all, I chose to come here, and I have already made the corresponding preparations.

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On the other side, looking at Xiyu who was led by the villagers to the village chief's residence, the students of Kivotos also showed expectant expressions.

"Bang Bang Ka Bang~ The teacher found the key NPC~"

Alice cheered happily, "Next we have to go to the villagers' homes to look for treasures, right?"

"No, no, no, if you do this in real life, you will definitely be beaten..." Yuuka gently rubbed Alice's head: "The teacher will not do such a thing."

"Eh~" Alice was a little disappointed after hearing this: "If that's the case, how is the teacher going to defeat the big devil?"

"You can't fight the Demon King without the best sword in the village."

"Where on earth did you learn this?"

Yuka raised her eyebrows, then seemed to have thought of something and subconsciously looked in the direction of Xiaotao.

"Xiao-Peach?"

"Ah-"

Xiao Tao, who was originally planning to sneak away, felt her hair stand on end when she was glared at by Yuka.

But this time, before she could open the grapefruit cabinet.

Yuzu then locked the cabinet from the inside.

Xiao Tao: "Yuzu~Yuzu, open the door~"

Grapefruit:"……"

Xiao Tao: "You are capable of robbing a man, but why can't you open the door?"

Grapefruit:"……?"

Just as Yuzu was about to refute Xiaotao's words, suddenly a big hand fell on Xiaotao's head outside.

"Xiao Tao, let's talk."

"—About the weird ideas you always give Alice!"

"Gua! Yuzu! Save my teeth~"

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Not to mention the lecture that Yuuka will soon face on Momo.

On the other side, under the guidance of the villagers, Xiyu came to the residence of the village chief of Daluo Village.

At the same time, the village chief is also the oldest person in Daluo Village.

When Xiyu came in front of him and he saw Xiyu's appearance clearly, his cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.

"one person……"

"one person……"

"Is this a coincidence? Or is it God's will?"

Xiyu: “……?”

Although Xiyu was confused about the village chief's words, she remained patient and did not interrupt.

After about a few minutes, the old village chief finally came to his senses and looked at Xiyu with some shame.

"I'm sorry, kid."

"We have tried so many things so far, but nothing has worked."

"Many people in the village have given up struggling and choose to live in a muddle, and many have become one of them."

"And I... am one of the few people who are still holding on so far..."

Because you have been persisting, the burden on you continues to increase with each failure. In this situation, it is human nature to be extremely excited because of some small coincidences that cannot even be called hope.

To some extent, those who are still holding on to hope are actually the most desperate people...

Thinking of this, Xiyu sighed softly.

Although he doesn't quite understand such behavior, he doesn't mind being someone else's hope if that's what they need.

Because of himself, it was because of people like this that he survived.

Since there is no meaning for me to live on, I will inherit the will of those people.