Chapter 124: Your prayers have been heard by the Mountain God (first update)

Sun Zhenbang has already had considerable dealings with Longyuan Mountain, but the awe in his heart grows day by day; with each contact, this awe deepens, even mixed with a faint fear.

Because everything is unknown, it inspires awe, and thus also fear.

As a police officer he shouldn't believe in anything else; the former Sun Zhenbang was also a confirmed atheist, but facts prove that there truly exists some transcendent extraordinary power in the world—for example, Longyuan Mountain.

Regarding the Mountain God, his feeling differs from that of the villagers: his awe outweighs respect.

Anyone who does evil near Longyuan Mountain seems to come to no good end; the few cases we've encountered already show this.

Those criminals all ended up with their bodies and heads separated.

Whether it's coincidence or truly some mysterious power at work, it shows this mountain is extraordinary.

At some point, a sliver of moon climbed onto the treetops, shedding a faint silver glow, as if even the vague darkness around was dispelled somewhat.

As expected, Li Minghai's group went up the mountain and disappeared that very day.

After a brief moment, everything returned to calm, even the White Bone origin slowly dissipating in the air.

Although the police found Sun Zhenbang's behavior strange, they didn't think much of it; everyone knows Longyuan Mountain's supernatural nature, but their positions prevent them from speaking openly.

"Get the people at the mountain base to come help quickly, and also contact the hospital."

"Yeah, it feels as if only we are here."

After grasping the basic situation, Sun Zhenbang quickly organized personnel to enter the mountains and begin the search, following the footprints left by Li Minghai and the others.

"Team Leader, what should we do now?"

They originally went into the mountains to search and rescue, but ended up getting lost themselves, as if some unseen force were influencing their judgment.

On another front, after Sun Zhenbang and the others finished praying, they continued heading southeast.

"We may be villagers, but we can distinguish right from wrong. And we're not just scaremongering—this mountain truly has a Mountain God; they offended the Mountain God, which is why things have turned out this way."

"Visibility around is low, so everyone is being extra cautious; given this situation, the chance of getting lost should be small."

The moon hangs in the azure sky, pouring down like water, as if nothing had happened; only a green‑scaled great snake coils here, gazing at the moon.

You should know that Sun Zhenbang and his team aren't first‑timers in the mountains; they've conducted night searches before, and they've faced even harsher conditions, yet they've never gotten lost.

Now it's pitch dark; the best solution is to light a bonfire so that rescuers can locate them—this basic common sense, they ought to know.

"Could these people have run up to heaven?"

Others haven't noticed anything wrong, but Sun Zhenbang's face has grown solemn; he looks around, and the towering plants seem like ghosts lurking in ambush on all sides.

Now that they've entered the mountains to search, it's impossible for there to be no reaction at all.

After this incident, Sun Zhenbang and his group never got lost again, but a new problem arose: no matter how they shouted and searched, they received no response from Li Minghai's party.

This time getting lost is really strange.

Presumably, Li Minghai's group initially encountered the same problem, getting lost in these woods and thus continually circling nearby.

Not far from the mirror fragment, Li Minghai and the others lay scattered on the ground, eyes tightly shut, faces pallid.

Only under such circumstances could such a disordered trace be left on the ground.

So Sun Zhenbang might boldly guess that Li Minghai and the others are certainly somewhere on the mountain, only they've lost consciousness and can't hear our shouts.

Sun Zhenbang didn't elaborate further, his solemn expression leading the group down another path.

It almost became an unspoken understanding among them.

As night fell, the last sliver of sunset sank behind the western hills; the darkness spread like a great bird unfurling its black wings over the entire mountain range.

Yeah, Team Leader, we've always been careful.

Plants that thrived by day also twisted at night into bizarre shapes, glaring at Sun Zhenbang and his companions with tiger‑like vigilance.

The village chief sighed, 'I feel this matter is surely related to the Mountain God. Officer Sun, you're a good person; you once helped us speak out against this, so I want to remind you: whatever you do, don't provoke the Mountain God.'

Upon hearing Sun Zhenbang's words, the previously orderly ranks murmured with a bit of unrest.

Ye Qin and the White Bone origin lay at the center of those silver bands; the azure gleam from the heavens, like a bridge linking sky and earth, gilded the emerald scales with divine radiance.

The police's cries drifted through the empty, silent woods, yet no echo returned.

Seeing Sun Zhenbang suddenly stop, the others halted as well, asking, 'Team Leader, what's wrong?'

At this moment Sun Zhenbang finally understood why the footprints on the ground became disordered later on.

Sun Zhenbang surveyed the surroundings; because the light was dim, the flashlight illuminated only a limited area.

"Team Leader, the footprints end here—could it be that these living people vanished into thin air?"

"Did the police come too?"

Yet now this mysterious great mountain is slated for development into a tourist project, which Sun Zhenbang does not wish to happen, but he cannot stop it.

The police searched the vicinity again, but saw no new footprints or clues.

There must certainly be some reason they don't know about behind this.

"Even if it has no effect, there's no loss, right?"

The remaining police also followed Sun Zhenbang's example, bowing devoutly toward the distance.

Everyone rushed over, only to find it was a lens fallen on the ground, sunlight happening to strike it and draw their attention.

If their hearts aren't sincere, they wouldn't even need Ye Qin to act; they would fall into the formation's bewildering trap just like Li Minghai did.

"No."

Above the layered peaks, myriad rays of rosy light burst forth; clouds rose and rosy vapors spread, making the whole forest seem reborn.

After turning a full circle, looking at the not‑far‑away big tree, they seemed to have returned to the starting point.

"Team Leader, there seems to be something over there."

Sun Zhenbang furrowed his brow, 'I can't rule out that possibility.'

Based on the information and analysis they previously received, Li Minghai should be active in this vicinity.

Could it be that a Mountain God truly exists here?

"No way—we were clearly heading the opposite direction just now; how could we have walked here?"

Team Leader, how strange, it's too quiet here.

They couldn't accurately judge which route Li Minghai and the others had taken; it was as if they had suddenly lost their direction and were looping around here several times.

The sky faintly revealed a fish-belly white hue; the first ray of dawn broke through the darkness's shackles, bringing light to the world, as layers of clouds and rosy hues spread, stirring countless golden ripples.

The village chief also felt helpless, saying, "Even so, the Mountain God is reasonable; those people aren't utterly wicked, so they probably won't face mortal danger."

There were dozens of unconscious people here; carrying them down the mountain wasn't easy, and even the villagers came to help without holding grudges.

But because the light was dim, even with flashlights, searching for them brought many difficulties.

Perhaps they, too, were caught up in the anger.

But there's one thing he doesn't understand: when Li Minghai entered the mountains, it was broad daylight with excellent visibility, so theoretically the chance of getting lost should be low.

Sun Zhenbang suddenly seemed to think of something; he cleared his mind, put his palms together, and bowed devoutly.

He's quite perceptive, too—someone who knows what's important.

Village chief, we've known each other for so long; if you have something to say, just speak plainly.

Sun Zhenbang voiced his idea, gaining considerable agreement.

Everyone watched Sun Zhenbang's actions; at first they didn't understand why he was doing that, but upon hearing his later words, they suddenly realized.

We didn't mean to intrude on your territory, but police duty compels us; it's truly a helpless move. We hope the Mountain God can be lenient—we'll be deeply grateful.

Many nightjars on the treetops widened their eyes, staring unblinkingly at them, then flapped their wings and merged into the endless night.

From the footprints on the ground, Team Leader can see they likely headed west.

The mountain wind swept through at night; ghostly shadows layered, making everything seem eerie.

Officer Sun, are you alright?

The village chief wanted to speak but held back.

Now we haven't found the people, and the footprints have suddenly vanished—it's quite strange, as if they'd entered another world.

He couldn't help but sigh in relief; as long as the people are alive, that's enough.

The layered, overlapping green mountains gradually blurred, leaving only a dark, indistinct outline, like a beast lurking in the darkness.

It really makes one wonder whether there's some connection among all this.

The nightjars chirped in the treetops, lacking their usual bleakness and instead seeming lively, as if they were constantly telling Ye Qin something.

Although they were a bit panicked from being lost, they were all trained police, so everyone soon calmed down and tried to start looking for a solution.

To undo the bell, one must find the one who tied it—if it was the Mountain God's doing——

This time they didn't turn back; instead, they finally found a way out, looking ahead at a winding trail that stretched far into the distance.

How could such a coincidence possibly happen in the world?

You should know that earlier, no matter how they searched, they were like headless flies unable to find an exit; yet right after Sun Zhenbang finished praying, they inexplicably walked out.

Sun Zhenbang checked them over; these people showed no obvious external injuries, seeming merely to have fainted, and the exact cause would need further hospital examination to know.

Sun Zhenbang stared at these footprints, lost in thought; the chaotic prints extended here continuously, then abruptly stopped.

Sun Zhenbang understood the village chief's implied meaning: don't get involved in murky waters, but as a People's Police officer, his sense of duty prevented him from withdrawing.

Inside the formation, the originally boiling mist began to grow still, and the light in the eight directions gradually dimmed, as if the source of power had suddenly vanished.

The police studied the footprints on the ground, unaware that from the moment they stepped onto this land, they had shifted from outsiders to insiders of the bureau.

Then let's keep heading west, staying alert to any changes around us.

These police had previously worked with Sun Zhenbang on the Longyuan Mountain case, so they also had some understanding of its mysteries.

The project engineering team felt embarrassed, recalling that they'd once suspected the villagers of foul play and had nearly come to a verbal clash.

The villagers waved their hands.

……

The ambulance arrived quickly, carrying Li Minghai and the others to the nearest hospital.

Immediately they were given a full-body checkup; no injuries were found, only deep unconsciousness, and they might wake up soon.

Received!

Li Minghai and the others should be nearby, but after searching the area they saw nothing.

If Li Minghai and the others had gotten lost, they'd likely try to call for help and contact the outside world.

However, no matter which path they took, they found no direction, and for a while everyone felt at a loss.

Faint ripples of residual energy drifted in the air, hinting at this place's former extraordinariness; that elusive Dao resonance still lingered around, impossible to dispel.

Now Sun Zhenbang and the others could only follow Li Minghai and the others' footprints—the sole remaining clue—but halfway through, those footprints suddenly vanished, as if they'd evaporated into thin air.

Moreover, if things blew up, they'd inevitably draw official attention; confronting them now wouldn't be wise, as the state's hot weapons make him wary—he knows he's no match for now, so Ye Qin decides to call it quits.

Take another look around now.

As Sun Zhenbang said, that bunch of Li Minghai may be reckless, but they don't deserve death; a lesson would suffice, no need to take lives.

When the light swept over, the surroundings were all dark and indistinguishable, yet that big tree nearby—clearly we'd passed it before.

They won't come to harm, will they?

Will Team Leader's approach work?

Perhaps that mysterious force in the dark has accepted his prayer; if so, it probably wouldn't deal a lethal blow to Li Minghai and the others.

His intuition told him that Li Minghai and the others' lives were likely safe; from earlier one could see his prayer had worked.

They're here!

Everyone was excited, shouting, "We've made it out?!"

The more such a moment, the more we must not fall into chaos.

Otherwise, how could we explain today's getting lost?

The police followed the footprints on the ground; originally they were neat and orderly, but later they became almost chaotic and spread all around.

And at the center of the forest, the moonlight was pure, like a clear Milky Way flowing continuously within it; faintly visible was a hazy mist, like countless silver ribbons winding around nearby.

If you believe, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't—you certainly know about those things on Longyuan Mountain.

Sun Zhenbang was so deep in thought that he didn't even hear the village chief calling out several times.

Why did they lose contact for no reason? When found, they were all unconscious.

The moonlight was pure, shedding a soft glow, like a bright lamp in the darkness, guiding their direction; I don't know if it's an illusion, but they felt visibility around them had greatly improved.

These days he has been uneasy at the police bureau, unable to focus on work, always feeling something major is happening.

Rather than running around here like a headless fly, we might as well give it a try; maybe it really works.

If this were at the start, these people would surely dismiss such talk, but seeing the villagers' earnest faces now, they fell silent for a moment.

This time everyone fell silent, believing what Sun Zhenbang said.

"Officer Sun, I have something I don't know whether I should say."

"How could there be no footprints? Where did these people go?"

Ye Qin slowly opened his eyes, releasing his mental power outward, sensing Sun Zhenbang's presence and naturally hearing their words.

In everyone's heart rose an indescribable fear; looking at the distant mountain silhouette, their eyes filled with awe.

Sun Zhenbang took a deep breath, guessing this rescue wouldn't be easy; after all, perhaps the Mountain God's hand was involved, and he even prepared for the worst.

Sun Zhenbang clearly saw a large black spot on it.

Sun Zhenbang and the others searched for most of the night, looking somewhat exhausted; just as they were about to give up, they saw a strange light refracting in the east, as if something was glimmering.

"Li Minghai and his crew indeed behaved improperly, recklessly bold, but they don't deserve death; I still hope you, sir, can show leniency."

No longer did they have that hazy feeling of being in darkness; it seemed as if an invisible wall surrounding them had been lifted, and even their view became more open.

"Li Minghai—"

Sun Zhenbang didn't leave either; he simply waited nearby, after all he still needed to find out what exactly happened to Li Minghai's group in the deep mountains.

"We've already walked this route once."

Sun Zhenbang felt something odd; after they turned a full circle, his police sharpness quickly let him notice something amiss around them.

Seeing the village chief's concerned face, Sun Zhenbang shook his head: "Nothing, I was just lost in thought about the case."

"Team Leader Sun, could you be too sensitive? We've always followed the compass direction; we shouldn't have gone wrong."

"Strange, it feels like this group has walked back and forth several times, just spinning in place."

"That group hasn't come down the mountain; maybe they were punished by the Mountain God."

"Village chief, thank you for your kindness, but you know I'm a police officer; I can't ignore such matters."

"Let's take another look; maybe there are some clues around."

After searching most of the night, they finally found Li Minghai and the others at dawn.

"I'm really sorry; I previously doubted you and treated you poorly."

If I remember correctly, it seems Sun Zhenbang also came to the shrine to worship me, so he doesn't need to be punished like those who entered the mountain before.

Around, light flowed in eight different directions, faintly connecting into a line, forming a huge pattern; the mist was thick and boiling, with endless variations.

Ye Qin's thought moved, and he gathered the surrounding heaven-and-earth Qi, absorbing it all into his body.

Those police who had doubted the Mountain God's sayings now showed subtle changes in complexion.

Could all this really be the work of the Mountain God?

During the day there still