The Tomb of Prince Jing

After discovering the potential for profit, Song Ran became extremely enthusiastic. Not only did he bring out the oxcart, but he also laid a fairly new-looking blanket on it.

Leading the oxcart covered with a blanket to Yin Yunze, Song Ran greeted him, "Lord Fox Immortal! Please get in!"

Although riding in an oxcart was considered low-class, Yin Yunze had no reason to complain. Clear Creek Village was more than ten miles from the county town; without the oxcart, Yin Yunze would have had to walk for half a day with Zhao Wan's short legs.

With the help of the Earth Vein Power, Yin Yunze lightly touched the ground with his feet and flew several meters into the air. Then, using the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to slow down, he slowly floated down onto the oxcart.

The whole process was so graceful and ethereal that even Sun Qin was somewhat surprised, let alone Song Ran.

Let's go!

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Yin Yunze felt secretly pleased, but his expression remained calm and composed.

Having lived Land God for a month, Yin Yunze had become quite proficient in using the Earth Vein Power and the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and naturally had many small tricks and applications.

While it's impossible to actually fly, achieving a level of lightness similar to the martial arts techniques in wuxia novels isn't difficult.

"Alright! Lord Fox Immortal, please sit down!"

Upon hearing Yin Yunze's order, Song Ran cracked his whip, and the oxcart, accompanied by creaking sounds, swayed and wobbled away from there.

Sun Qin also left the Song family, but she stayed where she was, watching him leave for a long time, worried that Yin Yunze would be angry.

Yin Yunze certainly understood who Sun Qin was worried about.

However, after silently lamenting the plight of parents everywhere, Yin Yunze had no other options.

Some things can't be put off indefinitely!

As the oxcart swayed and rattled out of Clear Creek Village, Yin Yunze felt a chill run through his body, as the authority belonging to the Land God was completely severed from him.

This feeling of being severed from the Land God Divinity and suddenly returning to being an ordinary little girl is truly not a pleasant one.

It was as if someone dressed in thin clothes had been thrown out of a warm room into the cold wind.

Touching the bulging, specially made belt around his waist, Yin Yunze finally regained a little sense of security.

Fortunately, Yin Yunze still carried with him the fruits of his labor over the past month!

Bathed in the warm sunshine, the somewhat old oxcart slowly made its way along the village road leading to the county town.

However, the silence along the way made the atmosphere somewhat somber.

Song Ran didn't know what to say. After all, Yin Yunze was a fox spirit, and a single wrong word could cause trouble.

As for Yin Yunze, he had absolutely nothing to talk about with Song Ran. The information Yin Yunze wanted to know, he would probably have to ask his father, Song Zhao.

However, although he didn't say anything, Yin Yunze was actually chatting with Zhao Wan in his mind the whole way.

Along the way, Yin Yunze also took the opportunity to answer many questions Zhao Wan had about natural science.

However, after discovering something, Yin Yunze lost interest in chatting with Zhao Wan.

Yin Yunze discovered that the source of the malice causing the drought was also in the direction the oxcart was moving.

As Yin Yunze made his way towards Qingling County, he continued to get closer to the source of that malice.

It wasn't until he reached an intersection that Yin Yunze noticed the change.

Qingling County needed Yin Yunze to continue eastward, but the source of that malice was located at the foot of a mountain to the south.

"Stop."

Sensing this, Yin Yunze gave the order without hesitation.

"Whoa!"

Upon hearing Yin Yunze's order, Song Ran immediately obeyed and stopped the oxcart.

Fortunately, the oxcart was smooth and came to a stop without any major incidents.

"Lord Fox Immortal, what happened?"

Turning to look at Yin Yunze, Song Ran couldn't help but ask a question.

Yin Yunze didn't answer, but pointed to the source of the malice not far away and asked, "What's that place over there?"

"Over there?" Song Ran looked and immediately replied, "Isn't that Tomb of Prince Jing?"

"Tomb of Prince Jing?"

Upon hearing the place name, Yin Yunze felt as if he had grasped something.

"Yes, it is. Tomb of Prince Jing." Song Ran nodded upon hearing this and said directly without waiting for Yin Yunze to ask, "It seems to be the tomb of a prince from the previous dynasty. Speaking of which, the reason why our Qingling County is named this seems to be because of the Tomb of Prince Jing."

My grandfather mentioned that this place was originally called Jingling County. Later, something seemed to have happened in the previous dynasty, so it was renamed Qingling County... Anyway, the county name is inextricably linked to the Tomb of Prince Jing."

As the village head, Song Ran knew much more about these matters than the average villager.

Silently accepting this news, Yin Yunze felt that, if he wasn't mistaken, the source of the malice might be within the Tomb of Prince Jing.

For a moment, Yin Yunze hesitated.

Should we go in and take a look now?

Should we go to the county town to take care of things first, and then investigate on the way back?

After a moment's thought, however, Yin Yunze chose to jump off the oxcart.

What's meant to be will be; what's meant to be will be.

They've already bumped into each other, but they still don't dare to look...

After I get back, should I find another excuse for myself? Nothing happened during this trip, so maybe I should wait and see next time? Next time for sure!

And then, it's definitely not going to happen again next time!

One should press on with full force, but the momentum wanes with each attempt, and exhausts it completely with each subsequent effort!

When faced with such situations, Yin Yunze often chooses to push himself, regardless of the outcome, it's always better than regretting it later.

Moreover, Yin Yunze also intends to contact the county magistrate this time. If he can find out the situation, this matter might be handed over to the imperial court for handling.

There are definite targets and evidence, or it's just Yin Yunze's guess based on a feeling that he can't find any evidence for.

The two were placed before the county magistrate, and naturally, they carried different weights.

Having made up his mind, Yin Yunze turned to Song Ran and said, "You go first, I will look for you later. Tell your father not to run around."

Yin Yunze didn't know if anything unexpected would happen during this expedition, but in any case, Song Ran staying here would obviously only be a burden.

Fortunately, it's not far from the county town, so if there's really nothing else, it won't take Yin Yunze too long to walk there.

"... yes."

Song Ran naturally dared not have any objection to Yin Yunze's unpredictable and capricious behavior.

Just as they were about to set off, Yin Yunze suddenly flicked his hand, and a strange-looking box appeared on the oxcart. On the square, brown box was printed a strange-looking little fox. Upon closer inspection, the little fox even had nine tails.

Ignoring Song Ran's thoughts, Yin Yunze tore open the seal on the cardboard box and took out several Little Fox Immortal brand compressed biscuits that were supposed to be samples.

"Take these foods if you are hungry!"

As a final remark, Yin Yunze casually tore open the packaging and put the compressed biscuit in his mouth.

Although he was just sitting, children get hungry easily. After most of the day, Yin Yunze felt his stomach was empty.

How can you fight someone on an empty stomach!

While chewing on compressed biscuits, Yin Yunze walked towards the source of the malice, which was the Tomb of Prince Jing.

After seeing Yin Yunze's actions, Song Ran hesitated for a moment before taking out a pack of compressed biscuits from the cardboard box as well.

Looking at the strangely shaped packaging of the compressed biscuits with a Nine-Tailed White Fox pattern printed on it, Song Ran followed Yin Yunze and tore open the packaging.

"What is this thing? Is it a mud brick? Can you really eat it?"

Hesitating, Song Ran thought of Yin Yunze's behavior, but still put it in her mouth.

When Song Ran took her first bite, she almost thought she had bitten into a rock; it was so hard that Song Ran wondered if it was really something edible.

However, soon, as the compressed biscuit was bitten into and then dissolved in saliva, a rich flavor filled Song Ran's mouth.

"Hmm, it's sweet, is there sugar in it? Hmm, and a little salty? Did they add salt? Hmm, it also tastes a bit like hawthorn!"

Compressed biscuits, which aren't particularly tasty to modern people, elicited gasps of amazement from Song Ran, an ancient farmer. "Is this what immortals eat? It's so delicious!"

Savoring the compressed biscuits, Song Ran glanced around at the deserted surroundings and quickly hid the box of biscuits in a corner of the oxcart with a blanket.

After carefully hiding it, Song Ran then drove the old ox away again.

As they moved forward, Song Ran would occasionally take the compressed biscuit out of her pocket, take a small bite, and savor it for a long time.

For farmers living in ancient times, even a village chief would be Song Ran for a long time with just a piece of compressed biscuit.

Just as Song Ran set off for the county again, Yin Yunze also entered the area of the Tomb of Prince Jing.

Perhaps, as Song Ran said, it was the royal tomb of a previous dynasty, and there was no tomb keeper here.

He quickly swallowed the last of the compressed biscuits in his hand, then carelessly tossed the packaging on the ground. Next, Yin Yunze reached down and swiped his belt, revealing a string of Fire Character Talisman and Expel Character Talisman between his fingers.

Carefully approaching while holding these characters, Yin Yunze quickly discovered the first place that caught his attention.

The land and trees within the area of Tomb of Prince Jing were covered with countless charred marks.

Because it hasn't rained during this period, these charred marks haven't been washed away by rain and have been preserved to this day.

At first, Yin Yunze didn't see anything suspicious about it.

It wasn't until he actually stepped inside that Yin Yunze felt a faint, tingling sensation.

It's like the static electricity that builds up when you take off your sweater in winter.