C137

Qu Ling coordinated with him by changing the topic and asked: "What strange thing?"

Xiao Jingyue covered her with the blanket and hugged her, before slowly saying this.

Today, when Xiao Jingyue went to the Huai River to check on the collapse of the river bank, he realized that the collapse of the river dam was not as serious as it was when he arrived at the capital. This was because long before the river bank collapse caused any harm, the Magistrate Zeng had ordered someone to reinforce a layer of sandbag upstream.

When the riverbank collapsed, these sandbags played a role, only collapsing a slightly large gap. Even when the river was at its most turbulent, they could only flood the villages downstream without any protection. Since the Tong Huai Manor, which was in the middle of the river, was under the protection of the city walls, not much water flowed into the river.

However, that was only temporary. If the rain continued, it would increase the burden on the remaining riverbanks. It was extremely likely that it would completely collapse.

At that time, the people outside the city would be in danger.

Thus, when the rain stopped today, Eighth Prince immediately brought people to check the river upstream and found a way to rebuild the riverbank.

While observing the terrain, they accidentally discovered a cave on the mountain wall in the middle and upper reaches.

The cave seemed to have existed for quite some time. Perhaps it was because it had previously been blocked by plants and vegetation, but no one had discovered it before.

Originally, this kind of cave should not be distracted due to the urgent matter of building a dike, but the fact that there was a metal door outside the cave with an official seal affixed to it immediately piqued one's curiosity.

Xiao Jingyue met Eighth Prince outside the cave.

The two of them questioned Magistrate Zeng for a long time, and only then did Magistrate Zeng tell them about the cave.

It turned out that three years ago, this cave had appeared out of thin air.

However, this was not the only hole in the area. The first one that was discovered was the one downstream.

The first person to find out was the farmer who had come up the mountain to chop firewood.

At that time, the farmer didn't dare to go in alone. The next morning, he brought a few neighbors and went into the cave to look around. Who knew that he wouldn't be able to come back this time.

The next day, the family reported it to the official. Coincidentally, Magistrate Zeng was there at that time, so he personally led the people to check it out.

However, just as they reached the entrance, they heard a report from the soldiers, saying that someone had found a few crazy men in the middle and upper reaches.

Magistrate Zeng and the officials who reported the news had a pair of numbers, upon discovering that the number of missing people matched the number of the family members, he immediately brought his men to head upstream.

Sure enough, those men were the farmers who had disappeared earlier.

At that time, the farmers were standing at the mouth of the cave in the upper middle reaches of the lake. One of them had his pupils dilated and was waving his hands and hips as if he was dancing, scaring Magistrate Zeng on the spot. He immediately brought him back for a doctor to take a look.

Who knew that after a few doctors asked about it, they all came to a conclusion: they had gone mad.

Qu Ling frowned and asked: "So that's why, when they entered through the entrance downstream and appeared at the entrance upstream a few days later, have they gone mad?"

Exiting a cave can make a person go crazy. Is there something inside the cave?

Xiao Jingyue gently nodded, and said: "Not only have they gone mad, those people who came back, passed away one after another within a month."

There was nothing wrong with the two of them at such a young age. Just because they entered a cave, they died not long after exiting. No matter how one looked at it, it was a strange occurrence.

Magistrate Zeng realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately ordered two powerful subordinates to check it out.

Unexpectedly, another strange thing happened.

The central and upper reaches of the cave would not be able to go in. They would also unknowingly circle the place, unable to go any further.

Magistrate Zeng was helpless, he could only order the two to enter from the cave downstream.

This journey took another two days.

When the two officers and soldiers came out again, they were no different from the farmers. They had all gone mad.

Magistrate Zeng immediately pressed down on the matter and ordered for the two caves to be sealed. At the same time, he sent people to stand guard secretly to prevent anyone from entering.

As time passed, the two caves were surrounded by dense grass and trees, and the cave was almost sealed up. Furthermore, after the construction of the waterway, the people would not walk this way anymore, so the person guarding the cave was called back by the Magistrate Zeng.

Who knew that this sudden flood would wash away the trees and expose the strange old story that had been sealed away for so many years to the light of day.

When Qu Ling heard this, he could not help but ask again, "Why not report it?"

Xiao Jingyue replied indifferently: "This kind of strange thing, normally, if it was stopped, it wouldn't be reported."

Even if it was reported, it would only come from the top to investigate. After confirming that the situation was real, and there was no solution, they would also take the same measures, which was why Magistrate Zeng was too lazy to report, lest they make this matter worse.

Two out of the cave, one in and one out. Normal people go in and crazy people come out.

To be honest, in Qu Ling's entire life, he had never heard of such a strange thing.

Xiao Jingyue saw through her thoughts with a glance and said: "You are not allowed to!"

Qu Ling, "..."

She glared at him in dissatisfaction. "What about you? Will you go?"

Xiao Jingyue didn't even think about it, and said: "I'm not going."

Hearing that, Qu Ling could only give up.

On the next day, at breakfast, Chen Linye mentioned this to the others.

Murong Shan immediately slammed the table, "After eating breakfast, I will go over to take a look, to see what exactly is doing strange things in the cave!"

Xiao Jingyue frowned, and just as he was about to speak, his Mrs. Xiao slammed the table with even more force, and imitated his tone last night: "You are not allowed to go!"

Xiao Jingyue was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He decided to just ignore it and let his wife speak up for him.

Murong Shan did not think too much and was immediately enraged: "Why are you not allowing me, I am going!"

Qu Ling blinked his eyes and said: "What if you go crazy?"

"You're the crazy one!"

Murong Shan knew that this kind of dramatic thing like how a small matter like how a war turned into friendship would absolutely not happen to the two of them.

Thus, they were still love rivals that disliked each other.

After breakfast, Xiao Jingyue reminded Qu Ling to stay in the residence and not to wander around, then he brought Chen Linye out to settle some matters.

Qu Ling walked around the house bored as he was bored, he then returned to his room to research on the Gu Worm that Murong Yan had asked someone to gift to him.

Three months was neither a long nor a short period of time, it would be best if he could find a way to remove the Gu before he returned.

Qu Ling took out a porcelain jar, held his breath and carefully poured the Gu Worm into a clean teacup.

The Gu Worm's entire body was brown, very thin and very short, almost the same as the hair residue that had just grown on her head.

However, such a small thing had the ability to bring someone back to life.

Thinking about Huo Xinyi who died because of this, Qu Ling could not help but sigh.

When one was focused on something, time would always fly by extremely quickly. Unknowingly, it had already become lunchtime.

Xiao Jingyue and Chen Linye did not come back, and the only people eating at the side hall were Qu Ling and Murong Shan.

As they peacefully ate lunch, Murong Shan suddenly called out to Qu Ling, "You still haven't told me what's going on with that Gu Worm."

"We'll talk about it another day. There's no time right now." Qu Ling just wanted to return to his room to continue pouring the Gu Worm.

Murong Shan did not give up and followed along. After walking a distance, he suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Do you want to go to the cave entrance to take a look?"

She was not a person who could restrain her curiosity. She was very curious about this fact, and from morning until now, her heart had been itching.

Qu Ling's footsteps stalled, and his gaze flickered slightly. As such, he said, "Xiao Jingyue doesn't want me to go out."

Murong Shan exposed her ruthlessly: "Are you an obedient person?"

Qu Ling secretly thought: I really am not.