Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 502 501 Heading West

Feng Xiuhu was also greatly surprised by this.

Yesterday, Liu Weisen and Chen Dejin were discussing something, and Feng Xiuhu, hiding in the shadows, overheard everything. Chen Dejin had mentioned the current situation, saying that every year when the Huazhong bell tolls, the clouds west of the Empress Temple change.

But to be honest, Feng Xiuhu didn't really take it to heart. He thought it was probably just some kind of natural phenomenon that the Chen family ancestors had discovered and then used as a baseless clue.

But now, looking at it again, Feng Xiuhu was no longer sure.

He tried to verify with Liu Weisen: "Since this happens every year when the bell is rung, why didn't anyone notice it before?"

Liu Weisen knew that Feng Xiuhu was getting stuck on a single point, so he pointed it out: "If that poem hadn't been the one that brought up the theme, who would have thought of it in this way?"

Feng Xiuhu suddenly realized—that's it! If it weren't for the hint in that poem, who would have associated the sound of bells with the clouds?
The clouds in the west gradually thickened as they moved, but as the bells stopped ringing, the clouds ceased to change.

Below the courtyard, bandits were shouting at the shrine atop the bell tower, "Don't stop! Keep ringing for me!"

People all looked towards the main hall, and many shared the same thought.

The shrine master descended the steps and replied indifferently, "It has always been the same every year, three times each in the morning, noon and evening. If you all want to break this centuries-old rule, then you can't blame anyone else if you can't find any clues afterward."

Once everyone realized the logic in the argument, they fell silent and stopped arguing.

Ci Zheng left with his hands behind his back, no longer paying attention to these people.

Feng Xiuhu and Liu Weisen found a place to sit and rest under the corridor.

Are we just going to wait like this until the bell rings tonight?

Feng Xiuhu asked.

Liu Weisen's eyes darted around, as if he had other ideas: "Do you think there are still clues at the Queen's Shrine?"

Feng Xiuhu shook his head: "I don't know, but I'm willing to wait—there should be some excitement tonight. I guarantee they won't let Empress Yun's grave go."

Liu Weisen pursed his lips: "I want to leave. The Chen family ancestors have already proven that there is nothing in the Empress's tomb, and if the treasure were really here, why would they leave behind the last two lines of poetry? So it's better to head towards the western clouds first and seize the initiative."

Feng Xiuhu said with some reluctance, "I really want to see what that underground palace looks like."

Liu Weisen curled his lip: "They're just some dark passageways and dark rooms, not exactly nice places, nothing to see."

His mind is completely occupied with the treasure, and he has no time to think about anything else.

Feng Xiuhu patted his bottom and stood up: "You're the master, of course I'll listen to you."

So the two of them left behind the group of treasure hunters, each with their own agendas, and turned to leave the Empress's Shrine.

At this time, there were many people who wanted to enter the Empress's Shrine, but only the two of them came out on their own initiative, which made them quite conspicuous.

As soon as they stepped out the door, the crowd outside cast surprised glances and began whispering amongst themselves.

They probably suspected they had already found a clue, which is why they came out so quickly.

"Big brother!"

Shunzi's joyful shouts came from afar.

Feng Xiuhu looked up—no need to look closely, Shunzi's figure was particularly conspicuous, standing on the side of the street like a crane among chickens, waving in their direction.

Feng Xiuhu led Liu Weisen to squeeze over there. Liu Weisen was pulled and tugged many times along the way, all in an attempt to get a few words out of him.

After finally squeezing his way to Shunzi's side, Feng Xiuhu looked around and saw that Steward Zhang and Zhang Kuisheng were also beside him.

Feng Xiuhu almost laughed in anger: "I told you to bring a few people, why did you bring these two along?"

Shunzi scratched the back of his head: "Butler Zhang asked to come on his own initiative, saying that he had to serve Master Liu. Zhang Kuisheng is the only person I know in the team. Who else should I bring if not him?"

Feng Xiuhu sneered, "I told you to bring some useful people! Hunters familiar with the mountain paths, blind fortune tellers who can read stars and compasses, or at the very least, a few guards." Zhang Kuisheng replied hesitantly, "I brought a basket...it can help carry things."

Butler Zhang was displeased: "How am I useless? Do you think anyone else knows how to serve the master?"

As he spoke, he eagerly handed the thermos to Liu Weisen: "Sir, please hold this and warm yourself up."

Liu Weisen took it casually, but he didn't have time to argue with these people. He immediately ordered, "Don't waste time, get out of the city quickly."

Without further delay, the five left the city gate and headed west. Soon after leaving the main road, they plunged into the mountains.

Liu Weisen was pampered and walked with a limp on the mountain road, soon looking disheveled.

Steward Zhang blamed himself: "It's my fault for being so forgetful. I forgot to bring the sedan chair to the master. Otherwise, why would the master have to suffer like this?"

Feng Xiuhu glanced at him: "Even if you bring it, you and Kui Shengzai will be carrying it—can your old bones even lift it?"

Butler Zhang looked at him and said, "Let's not talk about Warrior Ye. He should use his skills where they are most needed. But you are also strong and healthy. Can't you help the master?"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Liu Weisen quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "It's alright, I can still walk."

By noon, Liu Weisen was too exhausted to walk any further, so the group stopped to rest and eat their rations.

Liu Weisen took a piece of flatbread and walked to a clearing by the mountainside, eating it while looking up at the sky.

A short while later, he suddenly turned around and shouted to Feng Xiuhu, "The clouds are moving again."

Feng Xiuhu took out his pocket watch and saw that it was exactly noon.

He walked quickly to Liu Weisen's side and looked up at the western sky.

The clouds over there began to slowly move again, becoming thicker and heavier than in the morning, their color turning gloomy, as if gathering for a heavy rain.

Liu Weisen said in a low voice, "We have to get there before the bell rings tonight."

Feng Xiuhu nodded: "There should be enough time."

He then asked Liu Weisen, "But why do you seem a little unhappy to me?"

Liu Weisen pursed his lips: "This road... was traversed by our ancestors."

Feng Xiuhu understood—this was a route that had already been marked as wrong.

But the clues did indeed point them here, so much so that they had no choice but to leave.

Feng Xiuhu asked curiously, "What's below that cloud?"

Liu Weisen slowly uttered: "...The Cliff of Death, the place where officials of Nanyu died for their country."

"master."

Butler Zhang suddenly spoke up to remind them.

Liu Weisen and Feng Xiuhu looked back and saw a group of people climbing up the mountain path not far away, almost reaching their resting place.

The group of people were dressed in different ways, and although they were traveling together, they were clearly distinct from each other, obviously coming from many different teams.

Feng Xiuhu laughed and said, "It seems there are still quite a few smart people."

The reasoning behind this is actually quite easy to understand—since the clues point to the clouds in the west, if we wait until the third bell to ring before setting off, there will definitely not be enough time.

Therefore, some smart people will realize that they must set off in advance.

(End of this chapter)