The road up the mountain is very difficult to walk, all of them are crooked and irregular black mud paths, at the beginning at the foot of the mountain is relatively easy, because the terrain is still gentle, the people of the town will also come here to get some mountain specialties to do to support their families. Therefore, the weeds that are more than half a person tall are trampled flat and spread on the ground layer by layer, so that there is a focus point for both feet to step on.

However, after walking a long way into the mountains, when the trees around me gradually grew thicker and taller, the difficulty of moving in the deep mountains and dense forests really appeared!

Jiulong Mountain is located in the subtropical rainforest zone, where the monsoon climate and rainforest climate affect each other, and the rain is abundant all year round. Because the town below the mountain has had terrible legends about Jiulong Mountain for generations, for so many years, the townspeople did not dare to go too far into the mountain, let alone come here to harvest timber and plunder nature, so that the pristine rainforest environment here is well preserved and almost not directly affected by human activities.

Towering into the sky and thousands of miles of precious ancient trees are scattered here, and the distance between the trees is very close, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate the dense canopy to reach the forest floor. The temperature drops, the light is poor, and even if it is daylight, the forest is dim and dark, and the visual range of people is much reduced.

The dead leaves of the branches that have been falling on the ground for countless years rot in the soil and are covered by the newly fallen leaves, so that the ground of the rainforest gradually accumulates a thick layer of black mud. The air was filled with the smell of damp, rotten leaves. If you step on it, you will sink into the mud in an instant, and you will not stop until you are at the ankle level. In some places, even the calves will be covered. Then you need to put a lot of effort out your feet to move on. So it's inevitable that the speed will slow down!

I compared the map that Granny Gu had just given me, and I relied on the compass to discern the direction. Suddenly I felt a cool breeze blowing, and I stood there and shivered! I raised my hand and looked at the time, and before I knew it, it was already afternoon! The sun is preparing to return to the horizon, and night has already begun early in this dense forest! No wonder I felt a lot colder, so I grabbed the jacket around my waist and put it on, and it had some temperature.

Turning to Sanzang, he said, "Our direction is not wrong, it should be almost there!" Let's go faster! It's going to get dark. According to those people in Shangyuanmen, the night is the most dangerous time, and there will be unknown creatures coming to sneak attack! Before it gets dark, we have to hurry up and find this ruined temple! Where to rest for a while and grab a bite to eat. With cover and physical strength, I can have a good time with these unknown little things tonight! “

I looked at the map again, feeling the movement around me that seemed to be increasing and expanding, and I was a little worried. The thick trees and the darkening sky provide good cover for these unknown forest natives. I couldn't capture them. But that sense of urgency told me that Sanzang and I were being targeted!

Sanzang must have also noticed the sound of the surrounding leaves and branches rubbing and swaying, and his eyes inadvertently swept over the places where the swaying was obviously too large, and nodded towards me. "Let's hurry up, we're going to starve to death if we don't get to the small temple like this!" Brother Shuzi, listen. My stomach is already making a revolution with me! “

As the two of them spoke, they both consciously increased their speed. Almost trotting towards the front. It didn't take long for us to basically go along the mountainside. When I turned a hill, I vaguely saw a corner of the eaves hidden in the foliage not far away!

Sanzang and I are relieved, fortunately, it will not be too dark, and finding a place to stay before the evening will make our night a lot easier!

After walking into the small temple, I found that the broken temple marked on the map was really broken! I don't know exactly what age it was or who built it. When the Gu family first explored, they had already discovered this temple and have always regarded it as a temporary resting place. The small temple is like a witness, but also like a guardian, standing here silently for thousands of years, withstanding the cold wind and heat, and the changes of the years. Its exterior walls are getting old, its body is damaged, and its vitality is gradually decreasing, but it has never lost its original intention!

The entire temple is made of large blocks of stone, and only a few places can be seen showing signs of the use of wood. Come to think of it, whether it is stone or wood, it is all made of local materials in this mountain forest! Half of the walls of the ancient temple had collapsed, and even the corner of the roof had collapsed along the wall. The original wooden doors and windows have long since rotted and been differentiated in the long river of time.

Walking into the temple, there is an empty hall, only a stone platform is placed in the upper direction, and on the stone platform is enshrined a statue of a god who only has half of his body left, and he doesn't know what it is. Come to think of it, the number of people who have been here in the past years is not much, but it is not a few, and it would be strange if there was anything valuable left behind!

Judging from the architectural style of the entire temple, it still belongs to the early primitive Chinese architectural style, but there are some unknown elements on it in some details such as carvings. And although this small temple is simple but exquisite, it makes people curious about its origin!

It's a pity that how much of human history has been completely wiped out in the long river of time, and this small stone temple is just an insignificant member of this lost history! Without any clues and references, there is no way to investigate, so I have no choice but to suppress my curiosity, but secretly remember some frequently appearing graphics, hoping to have the opportunity to unravel this mystery in the future.

Re-entered the temple and cleaned up a little. A bonfire was raised in the open space in front of the stone platform! The bright light of the fire emitted heat and burned and beating, and Sanzang and I leaned side by side on the stone platform, took out the food we had prepared before departure, put it on the bonfire, heated it up, put it in our mouths, and swallowed it in our stomachs in a few bites.

As a result of the frenzied eating, it only took ten minutes to eat and drink to your heart's content! It's very comfortable to relax all over the body, and the fatigue of the day is gone! Although I don't need to eat much in my current physical condition, many times, eating satisfies not only the needs of my stomach, but also the satisfaction of my own heart!

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Shamelessly asking for recommendations, asking for collections, monthly passes or something, all thrown at me!! Thank you!!! (づ ̄3 ̄)づ(未完待continued.) )