The next day, Gu Fuyou followed Si Miao and Gu Huaiyou to see Si Gonghou.
Si Gonghou's injury was more serious than Gu Fuyou thought. If it weren't for the rare spiritual plants that Gu Fuyou brought back from Xianluo, which allowed Si Miao to refine the elixir to prolong his life and heal his injuries, the consequences would be disastrous.
Not only did Si Gonghou suffer external injuries, his spiritual altar was also damaged and his mind was not clear. This was the main reason why he had been in a coma.
Si Miao was eager to go down the cave, hoping to find out how Si Gonghou was injured so that he could start treatment based on the cause of the injury.
Gan and Song were standing outside the door. When the three of them came out, Si Miao talked about the candidates for going down the cave this time.
This matter concerns her father and the people of Ningcheng, so she must go there in person this time.
Seeing her firm attitude, Gan and Song couldn't help but look at Gu Huaiyou, hoping that he could help persuade her.
Gu Huaiyou said, "If you want to go down, you can, but you must take me with you."
Si Miao smiled softly, a little coquettishly: "Of course you can't be left out."
Gan and Song: "..."
Gan Fengzhong clasped his fists and said, "If you insist on going down to the cave yourself, I beg to go with you."
Si Miao nodded in agreement and said, "Me, Gu Huaiyou, Uncle Gan, and Ah Man, a total of four people..."
She paused, holding her forehead in thought. It was not clear what the situation was like in the cave, and four people were not enough, not to mention that Gu Fuyou alone had no ability to protect himself.
Although there are three Jindan-stage cultivators in the city, if more manpower is mobilized in the city, there is a fear that Zuo Tianyi will take the opportunity to attack and no one will be able to respond.
Jindan period, Jindan period...
Si Miao suddenly understood and looked at Gu Fuyou: "Ah Man, Senior Sister..."
Before Si Miao could finish her words, Gu Fuyou immediately refused, "No."
Si Miao smiled and said, "I haven't finished speaking yet."
Gu Fuyou crossed his arms and said, "I know what you are going to say, no. I invited Senior Sister Zhong to Xiaoyao City to have fun, not to help. It doesn't make sense to ask a guest to help the host."
Si Miao looked her up and down. Gu Fuyou met her suspicious gaze, hugged himself with both hands, and jumped back: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Si Miao said, "Hiss. Gu Huaiyou, does this sound like something your silly sister would say? When did she change her personality?"
Gu Huaiyou lowered his head and smiled. Si Miao said, "Who was the one who shamelessly ran to Gushen Peak and used sweet words to get others to respond to your call and help you when you were in trouble?"
Gu Fuyou blinked: "Really?"
Si Miao said, "Who goes to Gushen Peak every other day. 'Senior Sister Zhong, how can I put it? Even if I don't like you, if something happens, I will still help you out of this little bit of friendship.' Who said that? This time, we are in trouble, but you are being polite."
Gu Fuyou pursed his lips guiltily: "Although it seems that I said it, but... things are different now. Besides, I promised her that I would bring her to Xiaoyao City for fun. Now I drag her into this matter. What does that mean? Isn't this just breaking my promise?"
Si Miao smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I'm not asking you to go and ask her. I'll go and ask her myself, hoping that she'll lend a hand out of friendship. It's understandable that she doesn't want to intervene. If she's willing to help, then Ning Cheng will owe her a favor."
Si Miao turned around and went to Zhong Michu's residence.
Gu Fuyou followed him, all the way to Zhong Michu's room. Si Miao raised her hand to knock on the door. Gu Fuyou shouted, "Wait."
"Do you really want to call her?"
"Hmm. Of course, it should be her or not."
Si Miao raised her hand to knock on the door again, but Gu Fuyou called out again, "Wait."
"what happened again?"
Gu Fuyou said hesitantly, "... Forget it, if there is anything to say, let me say it."
Si Miao acquiesced and stepped aside to let her go in. Gu Fuyou walked to the door, holding her arm with her left hand, hesitating and not knocking. Si Miao glanced at her, then stepped forward and knocked on the door.
After a while, Zhong Michu opened the door and saw the two of them. Si Miao looked at Gu Fuyou, who looked at Zhong Michu and lowered his head again.
Zhong Michu asked, "What's the matter?"
Gu Fuyou said: "I... um... Senior Sister Zhong, we need to go down to the cave and need help. Can you..."
Zhong Michu said: "Okay."
Zhong Michu agreed straightforwardly. Gu Fuyou smiled and said, "I haven't even said what I'm going to do yet."
Zhong Michu said: "You want me to go to the cave with you, right? Sure."
Zhong Michu responded readily. Si Miao didn't say much, and said apologetically, "Big Sister, I'm sorry to bother you this time."
Zhong Michu shook his head: "It doesn't matter."
Zhong Michu tilted her head slightly, facing the golden light of the morning sun, a strand of black hair slid down from her snow-white neck. She looked at Gu Fuyou: "If she was in danger, she would call me over."
She said it as a matter of course, as if solving Gu Fuyou's troubles was her duty.
Gu Fuyou felt dazed. Zhong Michu was speaking very seriously. Of course, Zhong Michu was always serious when speaking, but this time, this "seriousness" was more like a promise.
Her heart softened, and she felt the same joy as when she first obtained the Qimen. She had no place to put her joy, and she couldn't help but rush forward to hug Zhong Michu, humming and humming: "Hmm, hmm, hmm~, Senior Sister Zhong, you are so good, what should I do, I like you too much."
Zhong Michu took a step back as she hugged him. He wanted to protect her with his left hand, but in the end he just protected her waist loosely.
Si Miao called out in a deep voice: "Ah Man."
Gu Fuyou's body froze, and she came back to her senses, realizing that she had started to behave unruly again. She obediently left Zhong Michu's arms, looking embarrassed: "Senior Sister Zhong, I'm so happy..."
Zhong Michu took back his hand and said calmly, "It's okay."
If it were usual, Gu Fuyou would be relieved when Zhong Michu said this, but now Si Miao was beside him, and feeling Si Miao's helpless eyes, Gu Fuyou pinched his fingers nervously, was silent for a moment, and said: "I'll go see if Gu Huaiyou and the others are ready."
Having said that, he left.
Si Miao sighed as he looked at her back. He thought she had changed her personality, but she was still like this.
Si Miao said: "Ah Man sometimes behaves inappropriately."
If they are close, it is normal for girls to hug each other. But if they are not close friends, such hugging and such words would seem frivolous and beyond the rules. In the eyes of serious people, they would definitely not like someone they just met to cross the line and be too affectionate.
Si Miao thought that Zhong Michu was a steady person, and felt that although the relationship between Zhong Michu and Gu Fuyou had improved, it was not as close as they were, so she made this explanation, hoping that she would not blame Gu Fuyou wrongly.
Zhong Michu hadn't spoken yet. Si Miao continued, "Big Sister, but her original intention was not bad. She treats people close to her like this."
Zhong Michu was startled suddenly, and slowly turned around to look at Si Miao. Si Miao thought she had something to say, but Zhong Michu frowned slightly and remained silent for a long time. Si Miao thought she might be thinking about how to tactfully express her dislike for Gu Fuyou's frivolous character.
In the end, Zhong Michu finally spoke up, but what he asked was: "Does she... treat others like this too?"
"Uh..." Si Miao was stunned, then nodded: "She is just like that. Everything is written on her face. Once excited, she can't control her hands, feet and mouth. But after getting to know her for a long time, you will find that although she has many shortcomings, she is generally a good child. As long as others treat her well, she is willing to repay them tenfold or a hundredfold."
Si Miao glanced at Zhong Michu. Although her expression was the same as usual, Si Miao could sense that she was a little depressed. Si Miao said, "Big Sister, if Ah Man does anything inappropriate, please forgive her. She may not mean it. If you can't tolerate it, before you spank her, you must explain it to her clearly and let her know where she is wrong."
Zhong Michu: “…”
Zhong Michu asked that question and didn't answer. Si Miao gradually ran out of things to say. The two of them were silent for a while. Si Miao felt particularly awkward. She smiled and said, "Big Sister, let's go together. Gu Huaiyou and the others should be ready."
Zhong Michu responded lightly: "Yeah."
Si Miao breathed a sigh of relief, and the two of them went together to look for Gu Huaiyou and others.
When they got there, they had already prepared the elixirs, instruments, and talismans that might be needed. After Si Miao gave some instructions to the managers in the mansion, they headed straight to Wengshan.
We arrived at Wengshan at noon. The entrance to the Lingkuang Mine is in a cave on a mountain peak. The cave is naturally formed into the shape of a gate, and there is a shallow stream at the entrance.
The crowd waded in and soon saw a plank road built on the mountain wall on one side.
Everyone got on the plank road, and after walking for a cup of tea, the road began to tilt downward. Gan Fengzhong led the way, and Zhong Michu led the rear.
The entrance of the cave was deep and the light was dim. Gu Fuyou released the candlelight dragonfly he bought at Youzou City Gate.
Although the candlelight dragonfly is a small gadget, it is very useful. Just inject a little spiritual power into it and the dragonfly will fly up and emit light from its belly.
At the beginning, she made tens of millions of spirit stones, and when she was excited, she bought a bunch of these candlelight dragonflies. Gu Fuyou gave one to each person.
The candlelight dragonfly would always follow the person who injected spiritual power into it. In an instant, five candlelight dragonflies flew up, illuminating the dark passage.
Once the plank road ended, it was solid ground. There were traces of artificial excavation on the rocks on both sides, and the snow-white and transparent original spiritual stones could be vaguely seen in the yellow-brown rocks.
Gu Fuyou asked: "Si Miao, where is the cave?"
Gan Fengzhong led the crowd to turn two corners and leave the water. There were traces of rock collapse in front of the road, with huge rocks piled up together, and a gap was made on the left side for one person to pass through.
Si Miao said: "It's just in front."
After passing the pile of boulders, there is a four-meter-wide cave in front of you, which is bottomless.
The group rode the wind down, and after descending about ten feet deep, the cave began to tilt, and the slope became flatter and flatter. Finally, when they could walk on the ground, the ground became open. But it was still a long passage with no end in sight.
The group continued to move forward, and the passage began to bend and had many forks. After walking for an unknown amount of time, they found themselves back at the starting point.
I walked four times in a row and returned to the starting point.
Gan Fengzhong said: "Just like the last few times I came here, I have been going around in circles."
Gu Fuyou pondered and said, "Walk again."
Although everyone felt that the situation would remain the same if they walked through it again, they still followed his instructions.
This time, Gu Fuyou led the way and after walking once, they returned to the starting point.
Gan Fengzhong sighed: "It's still the same."
Si Miao frowned and said, "It's different. The path is longer this time."
Gu Huaiyou said: "Yes."
In fact, Gan Fengzhong's cultivation was higher than the other two, so he should have felt it more, but he had come too many times, and the result was the same every time, so he took it for granted and did not pay attention to these details.
Si Miao asked: "Ah Man, are you thinking about something?"
Gu Fuyou stood on tiptoe, looking excited: "It's the Nine Palaces and Eight Diagrams Formation."
How could she not be excited? This was the formation recorded on the first page of the half of the Qimen book she had obtained. Now, by chance, she could see it with her own eyes and even give it a try.
Gu Huaiyou asked: "Is it an ancient formation?"
Gu Fuyou nodded. "This is a formation used when two armies are facing each other. It has many variations and can stop millions of elite soldiers. Later, it was slightly modified for ordinary people to use. Eight gates were set up, which go back and forth. It is difficult to get out once you enter, and difficult to get in once you get out."
This is the exquisiteness of the ancient formation. If you say it is powerful, this kind of formation will not actively hurt people. If you say it is not powerful, it uses the entire mountain as a barrier, and the entire spiritual mine provides spiritual power for its operation. If you want to destroy it forcibly, you must at least be a cultivator in the Void Stage who can move mountains and seas.
But sometimes you can't just destroy it. It's like a secret treasure box. If you want to take out the treasure inside, you have to find the key to open it. If you destroy the box directly, the treasure inside will be destroyed as well.
Therefore, if everyone wants to rescue the people in the formation, there is only one way, which is to break the formation.
Gu Fuyou folded his arms, snorted, and said, "It can be seen that in this world, it is not enough to just have cultivation, you also need brains."
Si Miao said: "Yes, yes, yes, you are the smartest and the most powerful, so how do we get in?"
Gu Fuyou didn't say anything. Si Miao nudged Gu Huaiyou with his elbow. Gu Huaiyou also smiled and said, "A'man is so smart, he must have figured it out."
Gan Fengzhong also said: "Third Miss saw it at a glance, even though we didn't notice it."
Gu Fuyou glanced at Zhong Michu from the corner of his eye. The man was standing at the back, as if he was out of the situation, and he didn't say anything.
After waiting for a while, there was still no praise from Zhong Michu. Gu Fuyou's heart dropped a little, and breaking this formation didn't seem so interesting anymore.
She lost interest in showing off and said directly, "The Nine Palaces and Eight Diagrams have eight gates: Rest, Birth, Injury, Du, Scenery, Death, Shock, and Open. We need to find one of them to enter."
Si Miao asked: "Which one?"
Gu Fuyou glanced at Zhong Michu again and pouted: "Born and died, born and died, exit from the gate of life, enter from the gate of death."