40: Legend of Laoya Mountain

After finalizing their target as "Old Crow Mountain," the treasure-hunting atmosphere immediately became tense and organized.

That afternoon, Lin Feng didn't rush to set off. Instead, he took Wang Dalong on a thorough supply run in town. He drew up a list so detailed it was almost hair-raising, ranging from high-calorie compressed biscuits and energy bars to water purification tablets, first-aid kits, and insect repellent spray, all the way to professional climbing ropes, entrenching shovels, high-intensity headlamps, and spare batteries. He practically cleared out the town's small outdoor supply shop.

"Brother Feng, are we going treasure hunting or on a wilderness survival trip?" Wang Dalong couldn't help but complain as he looked at the trunk packed to the brim with gear. "With all this equipment, it feels like we could spend New Year's in the mountains."

"Better safe than sorry," Lin Feng's reply was concise. He was currently checking the weight-bearing label on a coil of climbing rope with an expression as serious as if he were inspecting a parachute. He knew very well that no matter how perfect the deduction on the map was, it couldn't replace the actual hardships and dangers of reality. Old Crow Mountain was a true no-man's land; any slight oversight could lead to fatal consequences.

While purchasing supplies, Lin Feng didn't forget to indirectly ask the locals about "Old Crow Mountain."

As it turned out, at the mention of the name, almost all the elderly locals shook their heads repeatedly, their faces showing secretive and profound expressions.

"Oh, young man, why are you asking about that place?" An old man selling local tobacco leaves squinted as he sized them up. "That place is very sinister; you can't go there, you just can't!"

"Sinister?" Lin Feng pressed. "In what way is it sinister?"

"I heard from the older generation that the mountain used to be a Bandit's nest—killing, burning, committing every evil imaginable. Later, the government wiped them out, and the stronghold burned for three days and three nights. So many people died! The resentment is very heavy!" The old man lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Since then, strange things have always happened in those mountains. Herbalists go in and never come out. Some say they can hear crying and the sound of weapons clashing at night. Anyway, we locals definitely don't go near that place."

Another old woman nearby, who was stitching shoe soles, chimed in: "That's right, the miasma on that mountain is heavy too. It gets foggy as soon as afternoon hits, and once you go in, you can't tell north from south. Besides, there are many wild animals in the mountains—wild boars, black bears—it's very dangerous!"

These legends and warnings, rather than making Lin Feng back down, instead made him more certain of his judgment.

The more taboos and sinister legends a place has, the more it often indicates that the secrets hidden within are deep. The "forbidden zones" formed by the locals' awe and fear served as a natural, century-long protective barrier for the treasure.

That night, the two returned to the guesthouse. Wang Dalong was responsible for organizing the gear and charging batteries, while Lin Feng searched the internet for more information about the "Stronghold Ruins" on Old Crow Mountain.

Unfortunately, due to the passage of time and the remote location, the information available online was scarce. He only found a few adventure posts from hikers in the remote corners of some local forums, but most of them only skirted the outskirts of Old Crow Mountain; no one had truly delved into the core area of the Stronghold Ruins. The descriptions in the posts were mostly phrases like "treacherous roads," "dense vegetation," and "difficult to find directions."

One post caught Lin Feng's attention. The poster claimed he had tried to find the stronghold but got lost in the mountains for three days, barely making it out by eating wild fruit. He described in the post that the magnetic field in the mountains seemed abnormal, and both his compass and GPS experienced brief failures.

"Magnetic field abnormality?" Lin Feng frowned slightly as he looked at the line. This might explain why so few people could find the ruins.

He didn't continue searching. Instead, he took out his phone and logged into his Bilibili account.

Two days had passed since he was last escorted away from the "archaeological site." Public opinion on the internet had gradually shifted from initial anticipation and shock to skepticism and ridicule.

[It's been two days, where is Feng God? He couldn't have gotten lost in Anshunchang, could he?]

[LMAO, I told you he was just bragging. If Taiping Rebellion Leader's treasure were that easy to find, would it still be his turn?]

[Break it up, break it up. He probably realized he can't find it and is too embarrassed to admit failure, so he's thinking of how to make up an excuse to save face.]

[Unfollowed. Just a pure clout-chaser, exploiting our expectations.]

Facing these comments, Lin Feng remained expressionless. He didn't offer any explanation, but just like before, he started a text-based live update and edited a short message:

"Tomorrow, into the mountains."

As soon as this update was posted, the comment section, which had been somewhat quiet, exploded again instantly.

[Holy crap! He's back from the dead! Feng God finally made a move!]

[Great! Feng God is still alive!]

[What does 'into the mountains' mean? So there's a follow-up to this treasure hunt?]

[Start a livestream! We're all brothers! What is there that we can't see?]

[Stop talking, you guys above. Feng God is clearly guarding against certain people. I believe Feng God won't covet the treasure, but the credit for discovering it can't be snatched away by others!]

Wang Dalong leaned over to take a look at the phone and was startled by the rapidly refreshing comments and bullet chats. He shook his head with a bitter smile: "Brother Feng, you're really making sure our trip this time is exciting enough. Now it's great, the whole internet knows we're going into the mountains. If something really happens, we'll probably end up straight on the social news headlines."

"Turn it off. We'll start the livestream once we reach the place and find the treasure." Lin Feng said, no longer paying attention to the noise on the internet.

He switched his phone to airplane mode, threw it aside, and then spread out the military-grade topographic map. Once more, and for the last time, he carefully scrutinized the route for tomorrow, firmly etching every turn and every landmark into his mind.

Outside the window, the night was deep and the mountain wind howled, as if it were some kind of summons from the depths of Old Crow Mountain.

Watching Lin Feng's focused silhouette, Wang Dalong silently checked the batteries for the camera and the drone. He knew that from the moment the sun rose tomorrow, they would face the most primitive and direct tests from nature.

He took a deep breath, and his gaze became firm.

Let's do it! So what if it's a haunted mountain? Following Brother Feng, even if it's hell, we've got to give it a go!