44: The souls of the heroes in heaven

Just as Lin Feng's fingers touched that "Taiping Shengbao" gold coin, the entire world instantly came to a standstill.

The beam from his headlamp froze in mid-air, Wang Dalong's open mouth was fixed in a comical "O" shape, and even the sound of the wind rustling the vines seemed to have been paused.

A cold current spread from his fingertips, racing along his nerves straight to his brain.

Lin Feng's vision began to distort and spin; the ruins of the mountain stronghold before him were like a watercolor painting meeting water, the colors bleeding and blurring frantically. He wanted to let go, but found his body completely unresponsive, as if he were nailed to the spot.

"Ding—"

[Triggered Hidden Plot: Historical Retrospection]

[Reading residual information from the item...]

[Warning: This retrospection involves a large number of death scenes; it is recommended to be mentally prepared.]

While the system's cold notification was still echoing in his ears, the scene before Lin Feng's eyes had already completely changed.

He was standing inside a military tent.

No, to be precise, his consciousness was standing there, witnessing this scene from a bystander's perspective, a hundred and sixty years ago.

The interior of the tent was dim, with only a few oil lamps flickering with weak light. Before a rough wooden table sat a lean middle-aged man with a resolute gaze. He wore the yellow battle robes of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but the robes were covered in mud and bloodstains, clearly having been through a fierce battle.

Taiping Rebellion Leader.

Lin Feng recognized this man instantly. Though it was only an illusion, that sense of tragic heroism and determination emanating from his very bones allowed one to confirm his identity at a glance.

"Centurion Li," the Taiping Rebellion Leader's voice was hoarse and low, sounding as if it had been ground by sandpaper. "I have already ordered the gold, silver, and valuables in the Sacred Storehouse to be organized. This batch of treasures is the final lifeblood of the Heavenly Kingdom; it must never fall into the hands of the Qing dogs."

Hurried footsteps came from outside the tent. A burly man, also dressed in yellow robes and with a scar on his face, lifted the curtain and knelt on one knee.

"Your Highness, I am here."

"I will give you three hundred elite soldiers to escort this treasure and move toward Western Sichuan." The Taiping Rebellion Leader pulled a piece of cloth from his chest, upon which a crude topographical map was drawn in charcoal. "This place is called Old Crow Mountain; the terrain is treacherous, easy to defend, and hard to attack. There is a Bandit stronghold on the mountain. Capture it, hide the treasure well, and then..."

He paused, a flash of pain crossing his eyes.

"And then you all should disperse on your own. Change your identities and live well."

Centurion Li suddenly looked up, his eyes instantly turning red. "Your Highness! I will follow you to the death!"

"Follow me?" The Taiping Rebellion Leader gave a bitter smile and pointed outside the tent. "Listen, what is that sound?"

From afar came the rumbling of cannons and the battle cries of countless soldiers.

"The Qing Army has already completed the encirclement, and the natural barrier of the Dadu River can no longer be crossed." The Taiping Rebellion Leader stood up, his back to Centurion Li. "My life should have been returned to the Heavenly Kingdom long ago. But you all are different; you are still young and still have a chance to live."

"Remember, hide the treasure well and live on. This is an order."

Centurion Li knelt on the ground, his forehead slamming heavily onto the mud, making a dull "thud-thud" sound.

"I... obey your command!"

The scene shifted.

Lin Feng "followed" Centurion Li and those three hundred members of the Taiping Army as they moved swiftly through the night. Each of them carried a heavy bundle on their back, filled with gold and silver items. To avoid detection by the Qing Army, the troop did not light torches or cook food, traveling only by the light of the stars and moon.

Three days and nights.

They passed through dense forests and crossed mountain ridges, finally standing at the foot of Old Crow Mountain at dawn on the fourth day.

"This is the place." Centurion Li looked up at the dangerous peak shrouded in morning mist, a flash of determination in his eyes. "Brothers, the final battle is here!"

The Bandits on Old Crow Mountain had clearly discovered this troop as well. The stronghold gate was tightly shut, and the walls were lined with Bandits holding swords and spears. Leading them was a one-eyed man who was sneering as he shouted down.

"Where did these grunts come from? If you know what's good for you, get lost! This is my territory!"

Centurion Li did not waste words.

He drew the battle saber from his waist and held it high.

"Brothers! For the Heavenly Kingdom! Kill!"

Three hundred Taiping Army soldiers roared in unison, charging toward that narrow mountain ridge without fear of death.

This was a bloody battle with no room for technique. The ridge could only accommodate two or three people side by side; the Bandits held the high ground, and logs and stones rained down like raindrops. Taiping Army soldiers fell one after another; some were hit in the head and killed instantly, while others lost their footing and fell off the cliff, not even having time to scream.

But they did not retreat.

When those in front fell, those behind stepped over the bodies of their comrades and continued to charge upward.

Blood dyed the bluestones red, dyed the ridge red, and also dyed Lin Feng's vision red.

He watched those young faces disappear one by one in this meat-grinder of a battle. He wanted to close his eyes but found he couldn't. The system forced him to "witness" it all.

Two hours later, when Centurion Li led the remaining fewer than fifty men and finally stormed the stronghold, his battle robes were no longer their original color; he looked as if he had been fished out of a pool of blood.

"Clean up the battlefield! Gather all our brothers' bodies!" Centurion Li's voice was so hoarse he could barely make a sound.

They found a natural cave halfway up the mountain and used ropes to lower crates of gold and silver treasure into it. Then, they carried the bodies of the brothers who had died in battle into the cave one by one, neatly arranging them beside the treasure.

"Brothers, have a safe journey." Centurion Li knelt at the cave entrance and kowtowed three times to each body. "In the next life, we shall be brothers again."

Afterward, he ordered all the captured Bandits to be executed, their bodies also thrown into the cave.

"Seal it!"

The soldiers used stones and mud to completely seal the cave entrance. Finally, a fire was set to the entire stronghold.

The flames soared into the sky, and thick smoke billowed.

Centurion Li stood before the fire, looking at the burning wooden houses, a struggle flashing in his eyes.

Ultimately, he did not obey the Taiping Rebellion Leader's order to "disperse on your own."

"Brothers, return to the army!"

"His Highness is still waiting for us at the Dadu River!"

The remaining forty-odd people turned and descended the mountain, disappearing into the morning mist.

A month later, on the banks of the Dadu River.

Centurion Li, covered in wounds, knelt before the Taiping Rebellion Leader.

"Your Highness, I... have returned."

The Taiping Rebellion Leader looked at him, a flash of relief and a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"Silly boy."

The next day, the Qing Army's general offensive began.

Centurion Li died in battle by the side of the Taiping Rebellion Leader, having been struck seventeen times by blades, yet he died standing.

The scene came to an abrupt end.

"Ah!" Lin Feng suddenly opened his eyes, gasping for air in large gulps, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

His hand was still clutching that gold coin, but he looked as if he had been fished out of water, his whole body trembling.

"Brother Feng? Brother Feng, what's wrong?!" Wang Dalong's voice came from the side, filled with deep concern.

Lin Feng took several seconds to recover his voice.

"Don't... go in."

His voice was terrifyingly hoarse.

"Huh?" Wang Dalong was stunned.

Lin Feng suddenly looked up and grabbed Wang Dalong, who was about to peek into the cave, with startling strength.

"I said, don't go in!"

Wang Dalong was startled by his expression. Lin Feng's eyes were bloodshot, and there were even tears in them that hadn't had time to fall.

"Brother Feng, you..."

"Call the police." Lin Feng let go, his voice regaining its calm, but the trembling was still there. "Right now, immediately, call the police."

"Why? Aren't we going to..."

"I'm sure! This is the place. Call the police!" Lin Feng interrupted him, looking at the dark cave entrance with an extremely complex gaze.

Wang Dalong was completely dumbfounded.

The bullet chat in the live stream also froze at this moment, then exploded with messages.

[Holy crap?! He really found it?! How did God Feng judge this?]

[How did God Feng know?! Was it that thing he picked up?]

[I'm getting goosebumps...]

[So the reason Chuan Army General couldn't find it back then was because he was looking in the wrong place?]

Lin Feng did notPay attention the bullet chat. He took out his phone and checked the signal—three bars, it was usable.

He took a deep breath and dialed 110.

"Hello, I'd like to report something. I'm at Old Crow Mountain in Shimian County, Sichuan, and I've discovered an important historical site... Yes, related to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom... There may be a large number of cultural relics and... remains inside."

His voice was very calm, but the hand holding the phone was trembling slightly.

After hanging up, Lin Feng looked at the camera and, for once, took the initiative to speak.

"Everyone, this live stream ends here. I'll leave what happens next to the state."

He paused, his voice low.

"Some things are more important than treasure."

With that, he turned off the live stream.

The mountain wind howled, rustling the vines at the cave entrance.

Lin Feng stood there, looking at the cave entrance that had been sealed for a hundred and sixty years, the images of those fearless figures appearing before his eyes once more.

"Have a safe journey."

He said softly, then turned and headed down the mountain.