Behind Shen Le, separated by two ridgelines, people really were stomping their feet in anxiety, just short of charging out themselves.
The archaeological team that had come with Shen Le were all stamping their feet and craning their necks.
Seeing Shen Le take three steps in two and vanish from sight at a run, looking as though he had discovered something, the oldest teacher leading the team instantly rushed forward several steps.
Just as he was about to follow Shen Le in a mad dash up the mountain, his foot slipped and he nearly sprawled across the slope. The Bearded Guest caught him by the arm:
"Professor Yu! Professor Yu, slow down! Shen Le isn't the kind of person to act on his own. He'll definitely send word back! Let's head over slowly! No rush!"
"Xiao Zhang, you don't understand." Professor Yu shook off his hand and raised his head toward the mountaintop, his eyes burning.
"We've always believed this area should have traces of Tang Dynasty garrisons. Beacon towers, armories, things like that. But—
we haven't found them. We've never found them—"
The professor was nearly at retirement age. His hair was grizzled, his build thin and slight, and his face weathered by the elements. At a glance, he was no different from an elderly local farmer.
Yet when he turned back toward the city and then looked at the surrounding mountains, an intangible force about him made people catch their breath and regard him with solemn respect.
"If only we had enough manpower and resources. Then we could search every inch of every place around here. Unfortunately, we don't. Now that we've finally found a lead—"
"Then please wait just a little longer. This mountain isn't easy to climb. If locals lead the way and take us along