Chapter 606: Nothing Can Be Seen Clearly

They glanced at each other.

Xiao Ningyuan asked, "Old sir, do you know the reason?"

The old hunter shook his head: "We've never been there; perhaps when you reach Camel Bell Ridge, ask the hunters there—they'll know."

"Just, the road is tough; you must be very careful."

Tuan Tuan, however, was delighted: "Xiao An'an, let's go! We're going to that... Bell Ridge! Thank you, grandpa!"

Xiao Ningxun bowed in thanks; the group mounted, left, met up with the carriage, and headed north.

Along the way, whenever they stopped to rest, Xue Tong seized the moment to give Kang An acupuncture: "Your knot is undone; after these last few needles, your speech will be just like anyone else's."

Kang An was deeply grateful: "Thank you, Divine Doctor."

Tuan Tuan was overjoyed: "Xiao An'an, from now on you can chatter away just like me!"

Xue Tong laughed: "Exactly! Just like you!"

They walked for five full days, asking several groups of hunters along the way, before finally entering a vast, towering mountain range.

When the hunter ahead said, "This is Camel Bell Ridge!"

Everyone let out a long sigh of relief; at last they had arrived!

But when they asked about White Mountain, the hunters' faces suddenly changed, and in unison they said, "You want to go to White Mountain?"

Xiao Ningxun bowed and said, "Please show us the way."

The hunters exchanged glances; the old hunter shouted, "Tie Mu'er, you take our benefactors and show them the way, then come back."

A big man stepped forward: "Okay, Dad, I won't go inside."

Tie Mu'er looked at everyone: "The horses can't go in; leave your horses here and follow me on foot."

The group dismounted, handed their horses to the hunters: "Please take care of them."

A hunter pondered for a long time, then asked: "If you don't come back, what will happen to these horses?"

The group: "……"

Xiao Ningxun helplessly said: "Then please leave them with the people in the carriage down the mountain."

Tuan Tuan smiled sweetly: "Thank you, uncles."

The old hunter looked at her, shook his head with a pained expression: "Such a lovely child—why would you go to such a place? Your parents must be heartbroken."

The group: "……"

Kang An felt uneasy; since it was so dangerous, he absolutely could not let Tuan Tuan and the others follow him.

He stepped in front of Tuan Tuan: "Tuan Tuan, I'll go myself."

Tuan Tuan glared: "How can that be? You've never met them—you don't even know what they look like."

"What if they treat you badly?"

She took Kang An's hand: "Of course I'm coming with you!"

"Don't worry, we'll definitely come back. Master is still waiting for us in the carriage."

Xiao Ningyuan patted Kang An's shoulder: "How could you forget? Even if you find your clansmen, you'll always be a member of the Ning Prince's Mansion."

Xiao Ningxun also said: "Exactly, Kang An—how could we let you go alone into danger?"

"With Tuan Tuan here, there's nothing to worry about."

Kang An's eyes reddened; he nodded: "Okay, let's go together."

He paused, tugged at Xiao Ningxun's clothes: "I think... I should go back to the carriage."

Xiao Ningyuan startled: "What?"

Xiao Ningxun, however, understood, took his hand: "Okay."

The group led their horses back to the carriage.

Kang An tightly secured the bundle containing his parents' ashes to his chest, got down from the carriage, and bowed deeply to Xue Tong: "Thank you, Divine Doctor."

Xue Tong's eyes welled up: "Go on; if those clansmen treat you badly, come back with my disciple."

"The world is vast; don't get hung up on mere blood ties."

"Wherever people treat you sincerely is where your home is."

Kang An nodded solemnly.

Tuan Tuan climbed onto the carriage, hugged Xue Tong's face, and kissed him hard: "Master is the best!"

Xue Tong grunted: "Hurry up! Come back quickly! Don't let this old bone of mine worry about you all day!"

"All right, got it!" Tuan Tuan jumped down from the carriage, took Kang An's hand: "Let's go!"

The group followed Tie Mu'er, crossing several mountains, going deeper and deeper.

Vegetation on the mountains gradually disappeared; the ground beneath their feet turned to sand, and it was all rust‑red sand.

With each step their feet sank deep into the sand, and the going got harder and harder.

Xiao Ningxun frowned: "This is clearly a mountain—why is the ground all sand? And this color?"

Tie Mu'er was taciturn, rarely speaking along the way: "In the Western Regions, only this mountain is like this."

Tuan Tuan pulled a little foot out of the sand: "Uncle Iron, are there any wild beasts here?"

Tie Mu'er shook his head: "I don't know; no one has ever lived here."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan thought, "if no one lives here, how did you guide us?"

Tie Mu'er: "My father ordered it."

The group: "……"

Xiao Er picked up Tuan Tuan: "Miss, don't ask—just follow him."

After crossing another mountain, a deep canyon appeared before them.

Tie Mu'er stopped, pointed ahead: "Enter from here; go through and you should arrive."

Xiao Ningyuan asked: "Should we?"

Tie Mu'er nodded: "Yes, because those who didn't come back all entered from here."

Everyone: "……"

Xiao Er gazed into the depths of the valley: "Brother, what's this place called?"

"Nakusi."

Tuan Tuan found it interesting: "Nakusi? It's actually quite pleasant-sounding."

Tie Mu'er: "Nakusi means 'a place that shouldn't exist.'"

Everyone: "……"

Lu Qi couldn't take it anymore: "Brother, are you just going to drop us off here and not go in yourself?"

Tie Mu'er nodded.

Xiao Ningyuan took out a piece of silver and handed it to him: "Thanks, brother. You'd better head back now."

Tie Mu'er took the silver, hesitated a moment, then slowly added: "Going back now, you still have time."

Xiao Ningyuan slapped his forehead: "No need, brother, you'd better just leave."

Tie Mu'er turned and left.

Seeing him walk away, Xiao Ningyuan let out a breath: "If that big guy doesn't leave, I feel like punching him."

Everyone burst out laughing.

Tuan Tuan shouted toward the surroundings: "Xiao Dan Dan! Come quick!"

Soon, Xiao Dan Dan's footsteps could be heard approaching, but the sand was too soft, so the sound was much fainter than before.

Xiao Dan Dan walked up to everyone with uneven steps, its pair of big yellow eyes curiously scanning the surroundings.

Xiao Er set Tuan Tuan down, as usual: "You wait here, I'll go in first to scout." Having said that, he lifted his leg and walked into the valley.

"Wait!" Tuan Tuan shouted to stop him.

She pointed at Xiao Er with her hand, tilted her head to look at Xiao Dan Dan: "Xiao Dan Dan! Could you lift him up?"

After saying that, she made a motion of lifting with her hand, then raised her hand high.

Xiao Er understood: "Miss, you're really smart……"

Before he could finish speaking, his feet had already left the ground.

Xiao Dan Dan grabbed his clothes with both hands and lifted him high above its head, straining its neck to look out.

Xiao Er jumped in fright and looked toward the inside of the valley.

Lu Qi laughed heartily: "How about it, Brother Xiao? Isn't this higher than the watchtower in the Main Camp? What did you see?"

Xiao Er also laughed, straining to look into the distance, his face suddenly turned pale: "It's all a blank white ahead in the valley! I can't see anything clearly!"

Upon hearing that, everyone's hearts sank.

Only Tuan Tuan clapped happily: "Xiao An'an! We've found the White Mountain!"

Everyone: "……"