Chapter 47: I Will Absolutely Not Follow the Script

The data is looking great, and the future is bright.

Chen Shicheng, who had been lying down for a day, rolled over and sat up from the back of the giant pack ox, then began to observe the situation around Bu Xian Shan.

He had thought the forest near the Iron Refining Town was already lush and primitive enough, but after seeing the forest here, he finally understood what it meant to be a frog in a well.

Magnificent? Grandiose? Vast?

This primeval forest, undeveloped for thousands of years, features towering trees, lush branches and leaves, countless vines as thick as arms intertwining on the branches, together with giant logs as thick as several people, forming an impenetrable sea of forest that stretches out of sight.

Chen Shicheng didn't know what famous line Li Bai would write upon seeing this scenery; he only knew he couldn't write it himself, and this was merely the tip of the iceberg of the magnificent view before him, while what was even more shocking was the distant main peak of Bu Xian Shan still far away.

Although he was merely standing on the outskirts, Bu Xian Shan seemed to tower right before his eyes.

Looking up, his view was blocked by a towering green wall that connected to the sky, with no edge visible to the left or right, as if the world ended here.

The height of this mountain even made him feel dizzy.

Chen Shicheng had watched some travel videos; no matter how high famous mountains and rivers are, they at most pierce the cloud layer to reveal their peaks, and even the world's highest peak, in terms of height, is roughly equivalent to the altitude of the Middle Cloud Clan, about 8850 meters.

Yet the mountain before him was still a lush green expanse at the middle cloud layer, with no sign of snow‑capped peaks in sight.

If he tried to look higher, his sight could not penetrate the clouds, which were completely blocked by the High Cloud Clan at an altitude of 15 kilometers.

Chen Shicheng even wondered whether a light jump from the mountain's summit could directly break through the atmosphere, not knowing if there even was an atmosphere here.

"Squeak?"

Just as Chen Shicheng was marveling at Bu Xian Shan's grandeur, La Tiao, who had been playing until tired and was sleeping on the ox's horn, suddenly stood up on two legs, its little nose twitching as if it had smelled something.

"What's wrong, La Tiao? Are there any wild monsters nearby?"

Chen Shicheng was about to call Evil Ghost Pill to clean up the surroundings, but the usually clingy La Tiao not only failed to answer his question, it jumped down and darted into the nearby forest.

"La Tiao, come back!"

His shouts had no effect, and La Tiao quickly disappeared from Chen Shicheng's sight.

Looking at the forest filled with thin mist, he frowned tightly; a level‑7 little guy in the Bu Xian Shan area was basically just delivering food, and could die anonymously at any moment.

Without time to wonder why La Tiao had suddenly acted out of character, Chen Shicheng quickly tied the giant pack ox to a roadside tree, then took Evil Ghost Pill and followed the traces La Tiao had left behind.

The mountain road was hard to travel, and the forest path was even harder.

Piles of rotting leaves, hanging vines, massive tree roots—obstacles were everywhere.

After penetrating only about a hundred meters into the forest, Chen Shicheng lost La Tiao; fortunately, he still had the phase‑shifting Evil Ghost Pill, which completely ignored the forest's obstacles and kept chasing the frantic La Tiao deeper in.

He didn't know how long he had chased, but relying on that faint connection, Chen Shicheng sensed that Evil Ghost Pill had suddenly stopped.

Its stop meant La Tiao had also stopped! Chen Shicheng's spirit jolted, he hurried his steps, and soon reached where they had halted.

This place is strange—clearly deep in the forest where elsewhere one can't even set foot, each step laborious, yet here a clearing appeared.

In the middle of the clearing stood a large tree, with La Tiao crouched beneath it, arched back, as if looking at something.

"La Tiao?"

Chen Shicheng tried calling its name, but La Tiao gave no response, merely staring intently at the tree's roots as if he hadn't heard. This somewhat eerie sight made him forego an immediate check; instead, he switched to Evil Ghost Pill's perspective and controlled it to move behind La Tiao.

"Huh? A rat?"

Seeing what lay before La Tiao, Chen Shicheng froze.

He had thought something strange was attracting La Tiao, but it turned out to be just an ordinary rat?

Moreover, it wasn't the southern breed that can eat cats; it was merely a common northeastern field mouse, still smaller than his palm.

At that moment, the little mouse leaned against the tree trunk, its two forepaws spread wide in a surrender pose, its round little eyes full of fear, as if terrified by this predator La Tiao.

The scene looked perfectly normal, but Chen Shicheng knew it absolutely was not.

First, such a small mouse that lives around human settlements could not exist in a primeval forest.

Second, during that chase just now, La Tiao wasn't slow; how could such a tiny mouse keep running for so long and still lead La Tiao to this eerie place?

In short, this mouse was a fake! Realizing he might have encountered something abnormal, Chen Shicheng didn't panic; he controlled Evil Ghost Pill to circle the lone tree in the clearing, quickly finding a clue.

Among the thick vines hanging down from the tree, it wasn't the trunk but a small shrine built of stacked stones.

The shrine wasn't large, just over a meter high, with an arched door on the front; to enter, he would have to bend over given his height.

In front of the shrine sat an incense burner that looked aged, filled to the brim with ash, suggesting people often came here to burn incense.

Deep in the forest!

Strange clearing!

Abnormal La Tiao! A shrine within the tree!

"Heheh, all the elements of a horror movie are gathered—only an idiot would keep going forward to offer themselves!"

Chen Shicheng snorted coldly, controlled Evil Ghost Pill to grab La Tiao, which was still teasing the mouse on the ground, and flew straight back to his side, with no desire whatsoever to satisfy curiosity by checking the situation.

And after taking La Tiao from Evil Ghost Pill's grasp, he became even more certain his guess was correct.

La Tiao acted as if possessed, ignoring him—who usually wanted to stick together—while struggling to break free of his control and return to the tree to catch that mouse.

"Go play by yourself!" A flick to the forehead knocked La Tiao out, and Chen Shicheng turned and walked away.

"Ah"

"Sure enough, there's a ghost! Who is it? Come out!"

Just as Chen Shicheng turned, an old sigh suddenly sounded in his ear, making the hairs on his back stand up instantly.

This couldn't be blamed on his fear; mainly the atmosphere had built up to this point, and not giving a reaction would truly be sorry for the instincts ingrained in him by half a lifetime of Chinese cultural influence.

"Young friend, don't be afraid; I merely have a request, which is why I resorted to this plan—I hope you'll understand."

As the voice spoke, the vines that had completely blocked the small shrine beneath the central tree suddenly parted to either side, revealing what lay inside.

(End of chapter)