Sighing, she said, "It's just that the last 'Waning Moon Time' came too quickly and with such ferocity that the Moon Gazing Mirror was left behind in the family shrine. We haven't been able to retrieve it to this day."

Four Directions Huixue solemnly requested,

"Therefore, before reactivating the Four Directions Shrine, we must first find the Moon Gazing Mirror."

With her explanation, Beichuan Si quickly sorted out his thoughts.

First, the shrine had already sunk underground. To raise it again, the lost Moon Gazing Mirror from the shrine was needed. Once the mirror was found and the shrine summoned, Four Directions Huixue would use the Moon Obscuring Mirror to reactivate the shrine.

"There isn't enough time. It's basically impossible to finish all this in one night. Moreover, we too need to rest; it's just not possible to get all these done in one night."

After thinking it over, Beichuan Si spoke straightforwardly.

Indeed, there was too little time. The location of the dropped Moon Gazing Mirror was unknown, and as Four Directions Huixue had mentioned earlier, the Four Directions Family's shrine was definitely not small.

Under such circumstances, finding the Moon Gazing Mirror in one night would already be a miracle, let alone allowing Four Directions Huixue to use the Moon Obscuring Mirror to reactivate the shrine afterward.

It would be impossible without two or three days of exploration.

"Indeed. I understand the concerns of Beichuan Master."

Four Directions Huixue nodded and then explained, "It's basically impossible to meet these demands in just one night, and that's why I want to conserve the goodwill within the Moon Obscuring Mirror, to spare more time for everyone to search for the Moon Gazing Mirror. If one night isn't enough, then two; if two nights aren't enough, then three."

Her words also reassured Master Yutian and Master Onodera.

Actually, they too were just about to tactfully suggest to Four Directions Huixue that there might not be 'enough time,' but to their surprise, Beichuan Si was even quicker and didn't hesitate to speak his mind after a moment's thought.

Beichuan Si didn't pay attention to their gazes; assured by Four Directions Huixue, he simply nodded and said,

"Then I have no issues."

"Since that's the case, let us continue forward—," Four Directions Huixue nodded and was about to speak.

However, her expression suddenly changed, she staggered, and a trace of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

But Four Directions Huixue quickly steadied herself, and with an outstretched hand, she stopped Master Onodera and Master Yutian who tried to come to her aid, "I'm fine... let's move on. Everyone."

...

Four Directions Huixue's expression clearly didn't look alright; her face turned deathly pale, sweat beaded on her forehead, and her steps were particularly unstable. She seemed to have suffered some form of invisible heavy blow.

But since Four Directions Huixue herself insisted, everyone continued forward.

Of course, since Four Directions Huixue was unwell, no one in the group felt like talking.

They maintained their silence for about thirty more minutes until everyone stopped in an area.

"Is that... the Four Directions Family...?" Master Yutian paused, looking towards the gentle valley hidden by the twilight forest.

What appeared before everyone was clearly a rundown village.

Some houses were burned down, others were directly destroyed by mountain mudslides.

Some places were left with only posts and frames, making it impossible to discern what the houses once looked like.

A winding creek around the village had dried up, making everything look desolate and dilapidated.

"According to the family records, this area was where the main residences of the Four Directions Family Head were located... but our destination is not here."

Four Directions Huixue extended her hand, pointing to the mountains behind the small village.

Everyone shifted their gaze.

Bypassing the now dry pond, climbing upwards...

A long path of stone steps continued step by step up the mountain. Along these steps stood piled-up layers of torii gates.

At the end of the torii gates, the shrine was faintly visible under the twilight, as if existing in this world, yet hidden in another...

"Four Directions Shrine."

Four Directions Huixue muttered to herself, sadness flickering in her eyes.

...

The group descended the mountain and arrived at the desolate and ruined Four Directions Village.

Xia Chan's voice rang out, grasping the grass-covered rooftops and broken wooden doors.

From some of the better-preserved houses, one could still see furniture and even some rotting hemp clothes.

This revealed how swiftly the Four Directions Family had evacuated.

Four Directions Huixue lowered her head towards these dilapidated houses, and after being silent for two to three seconds, she said, "Let's rest nearby for ten minutes."

Her suggestion was approved by everyone, even Beichuan Si nodded in agreement.

Indeed, they had been walking for an hour, and there was still that unreasonably long trail to climb. A brief rest was indeed welcome.

"How are you feeling now, Beichuan Master?" Four Directions Huixue, while replenishing her water, glanced at Beichuan Si.

Responding to her excessive concern, Beichuan Si, after taking a sip from his water bottle, calmly replied, "I feel nothing. If you really want to worry, you should be concerned about your own condition."

"Are you referring to what just happened?" Four Directions Huixue waved her hand, "It's just that it's my first time hiking for such a long duration. I didn't adjust my breathing rhythm right and got a bit of heatstroke, that's all."

"Is that so." Beichuan Si casually responded, clearly unconvinced by Four Directions Huixue's words.

Just then, when Four Directions Huixue had collapsed momentarily, Beichuan Si had already manipulated the energy of death to check her condition.

Something of concern to Beichuan Si had occurred.

Initially devoid of any benevolent thoughts, Four Directions Huixue's body began to slowly emanate benevolence, which was radiating from the Moon Gazing Mirror at her chest.

Yet now, this wave of benevolence had been completely suppressed by Four Directions Huixue.

That was why she could speak so naturally.

But what Beichuan Si couldn't understand the most was... why did the benevolence surrounding Four Directions Huixue's body cause her harm?

If one were to say it's the benevolence of the Moon Gazing Mirror impacting Four Directions Huixue, that seemed unlikely. After all, she had always carried the Moon Gazing Mirror closely, and such family spiritual tools generally don't harm their own family members.

Beichuan Si thought and turned his head to look at the mountain beside them.

This mountain was named Yueyou Mountain, and it was precisely because the mountain was close to the Yellow Springs that the Four Directions Family had to suppress it greatly each year.

Why then were the Four Directions Family so determined to suppress the Yellow Springs beneath this mountain?

Irresponsibly speaking, the family could simply leave this land for another habitable place to live. There was no need to face such enormous risks.

After all, they were not like the Shenzhu villagers, entangled with destructive curses, nor were they like the Yihui Island residents, who would die if they left Yihui Island.

There was no reason for them to stay here.

And this... was something Four Directions Huixue had yet to tell Beichuan Si and his companions.

What could be the reason behind this?

Intuition told Beichuan Si that this was directly connected with why the Four Directions Family had hired them to come here and restart the Four Directions Shrine. And this connection was what they were seeking.

But now—

Thinking too much was useless.

Beichuan Si shook his head.

Indeed, pondering so much when they hadn't even officially entered the Four Directions Shrine was simply looking for trouble.

Upon entering the shrine, Beichuan Si believed the main reasons for the Four Directions Family's suppression of the Yellow Springs would inevitably be revealed.

And until that investigation was out…

He should first find the necessary tool, the Moon Gazing Mirror.

Beichuan Si looked thoughtfully toward Four Directions Huixue, affirming his goal.

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