Chapter 52: To Nine Barren Mountains

After paying homage in ?Qianzhou, Lorraine Hill went to Baimanzhou, where the Tiger Roaring Nine Barren Mountain was located, and it was also the most remote place among the Southwest Continents.

Baiman Continent is located in the middle of the southwest. It is a mountain within a mountain and a forest within a forest. The road to get there is also extremely rugged. It can be said that it is a rather backward and sparsely populated place, but there is a big school here, which is a curious thing.

Flapping the light golden wings on his back, Lorraine Hill landed on a steep mountain, overlooking the path below that was almost submerged in forest shade. Although this was the main road leading to Baiman Continent, it often took a long time to see a carriage passing by.

Baimanzhou is located in a remote area, and there are many monsters and poisonous insects, so it is not suitable for people to live in. If you want to stay here for a long time, you must at least learn some skills to fight monsters, otherwise you may encounter monsters entering the village when you sleep at night.

After descending from the air, Lorraine Hill moved forward along this path. At this time, he had reached the interior of Baiman Continent, and there was a small village in front of him.

Walking on this gravel path, the girl can occasionally see long ropes pulled among the woods on the roadside, and there are bell-shaped gold and copper objects hanging from them, but these copper bells do not make sound, and there are medicine bags wrapped in cloth hanging inside. When passing by, they will smell a pungent smell, similar to realgar powder.

For humans, this smell is already very unpleasant, but it is even more disgusting for animals and monsters with a sensitive sense of smell. It seems that these things are specially used to drive away animals and monsters, and they are also effective against some snakes, insects, rats and ants.

It seems that the locals have come up with a lot of ways to survive here for a long time.

Looking past the knots and copper bells hanging on both sides of the road, Lorraine Hill gradually stepped onto the small hillside, and at the end was a village surrounded by stone walls.

Before reaching the entrance of the village, Lorraine Hill heard a sound of barking dogs. When she looked up, someone on the high tower at the end of the village was already looking at her.

"Why--"

"Where are you from?" The man shouted in a rough voice, and then asked Lorraine Hill.

"I came from Huiluzhou and wanted to visit Jiuhuang Mountain."

"Then you go along the road and don't need to enter the village. If you lack food and water, we can give you some."

"No, thank you." Seeing that the other party didn't want him to enter the village, Lorraine Hill didn't feel any discomfort at all. After all, in such a remote place, the security is up to the villagers themselves, and they probably don't want outsiders to enter the village. What accidents will happen?

However, with her current ability, she doesn't need to enter the village to 'know' what's going on inside.

So a slight wind blew through the mountains, blowing off a few leaves and drifting into the distance.

There are about thirty families living in this small village. They live in a special way. Most of them sleep in a huge cave. There are many small rooms in the cave, separated by wooden doors and the main road in the cave. There is also a granary inside, where some dried grain and firewood are piled up.

Outside the cave, there are also some stone houses, some of which are full of sundries, and some are working places, which can be used for blacksmithing, carpentry, weaving, breeding and so on.

Although relatively rudimentary, it can also be self-sufficient and does not need to trouble outsiders.

It seems that these villagers are very considerate. If there are monsters coming, they can hide in the cave to resist them, as long as they guard the entrance of the cave, and the cave is warm in winter and cool in summer, so it is not bad to live in. The only bad thing is that it may be relatively dark, but they can only sleep at night.

After observing, Lorraine Hill opened his eyes, waved to the villager on the watchtower in the distance, then turned and continued along the mountain road.

Along the way, she also gradually saw several villages like this, some on the mountainside, some on the top of the mountain, most of them were protected by wooden and stone fences, and they were generally unwilling to receive outsiders, being very conservative.

However, when they treated some acquaintances, they were not always so indifferent. Once Lorraine Hill saw a group of villagers escorting three carriages to another village for trading. They traded the surplus grain for some iron, salt, and some medicinal powder. They did not receive cold reception in other villages. Instead, they chatted enthusiastically and drank the more luxurious wine in the mountains.

Probably because these villages are familiar with each other and trust each other, there is such a scene.

Along the way, Lorraine Hill saw such hidden mountain villages one by one, and saw many monsters walking in the mountains and shaded forests. Some of them attacked Lorraine Hill, but unfortunately they were easily dealt with by her, and finally fled in a hurry.

As the distance to the Tiger Roaring Nine Barrens Mountain got closer, the roadside surroundings gradually became lively, and villages began to appear frequently on the roadside, and it was rare for Lorraine Hill to see some towns. These towns were hidden in the mountain depressions and formed by agglomeration of wooden buildings from hundreds of families.

Compared with those cautious villages, such a small town is obviously much more open. Outsiders can enter as long as they are not too suspicious and strange. There are also restaurants and places to stay inside, as well as small markets. Occasionally, caravans can be seen passing and stationed.

In the verdant mountains and forests, wooden buildings are scattered here and there, and they are connected with each other by wooden plank roads and paths, which has a unique style.

After entering the town, Lorraine Hill found a restaurant.

At noon, there were already several guests sitting inside, including a fat businessman, three swordsmen in black, and a herbal picker with a medicine basket on his back.

"Miss, what do you want to eat?" Like the second child in a big city, the clerk came over skillfully.

It wasn't until here that Lorraine Hill felt a little lively atmosphere in Baiman Continent.

"What do you usually prepare for this?"

"Generally, there are some common foods, such as rice, fried meat with vegetables, etc. The better ones include kiln chicken, rice cakes with plum vegetables, and yellow rice wine."

"That's it..." Lorraine Hill thought for a while, and then chose a kiln chicken and rice cake.

"Well, please wait a moment, my guest. It takes a little effort to make this kiln chicken delicious."

Afterwards, he walked towards the back kitchen, and soon Lorraine Hill heard the sound of killing chickens from the backyard.

I'm sorry, I didn't expect them to be killed fresh. Lorraine Hill silently prayed for the dead chicken, but suddenly looked forward to it again, as if he hadn't eaten some snacks and food for a long time. Xiangyu pie's food is also good, but after all, it's a bit tired of eating.

When sitting for a long time and bored, Lorraine Hill sat at the table and looked at the scenery outside. There were many people here. Among them, cocks were crowing and dogs were barking, which was quite pleasant. You could also hear the conversation of some women in the bamboo forest when they were carrying their clothes to wash.

"Sister Liu has another child, and I haven't seen her come out recently."

"It's probably confinement. I see her mother-in-law is very happy, and she is going to buy a fat duck for the daughter-in-law to make up for her body."

"By the way, I heard that Pharmacist Hu, who sits in the pavilion, has a batch of medicine bought from outside, which is very good at stopping bleeding. In the past two years, there has been no news of giving birth to an adult in the town."

"What kind of medicine, did you buy it from Huaxuzhou?"

"It doesn't seem to be. I heard that Medicine Master Hu's nephew brought them when he returned from the West. They are all packed in special glass bottles, so use less."

[To be honest, I have been using Yeguo to read and read books recently, change sources and switch, read aloud with many timbres, and both Android and Apple are fine. 】

"That Hu Yaoshi has no children, so he is very kind to his nephew. When he was a child, he also sponsored him to study outside. He is the only one in our mountain who has stepped out."

"I'm so envious. It would be great if our children could do the same."

"Isn't that right? That child went to Jixia Academy to study, and later traveled with his classmates. Now he is a big shot."

"In the past, people from Nine Barren Mountains came to ask questions, inquired about his affairs, and asked the town to take good care of his family."

"That's great..."

Several people were talking, and their footsteps disappeared into the distance. It seemed that they went to wash clothes in a distant pool. Lorraine Hill could hear faint sounds from the breeze, which seemed to be the sound of splashing water and slapping clothes.

Just when the girl was wondering what kind of potion it might be, a swordsman in black came over from the store. He looked about thirty or forty years old, with a little beard on his chin, and a white scar from a knife wound on the corner of his face.

"This lady is also from the outside world." He spoke first, and then sat in front of Lorraine Hill.

"I am, what's the matter?" Lorraine Hill raised his head, and the long black hair behind him shook slightly, sliding over his shoulders and slender waist.

"This young lady is able to safely pass through the mountains of Baimanzhou alone. She must be quite skilled. We are going to the gate of the Nine Barren Mountains, and we may be on the way, so I would like to ask this young lady for a favor."

"It's indeed on the way." Lorraine Hill nodded thoughtfully.

"What's the matter with you?"

"The few of us are going to escort something to the Nine Barren Mountains, but we met our opponents on the way. They have followed us for a long time. Once we leave the town, they may attack on the way, so we need some helpers to protect us."

"I see...but can you tell me what it is? If it's very precious, why don't you use the Floo?"

"The airship and pontoon are not something ordinary people can sit on. Besides, in the Baiman Continent, where monsters are rampant, no pontoon would dare to pass by. They all avoid it." He shook his head.

"In terms of things, it's a box of medicines, and a few special pieces of heartwood. These are urgently needed on the Nine Barren Mountains, and they can be sold at a good price. Of course, it's not just for money. Nine Barren Mountains are located in a remote place, and it's not easy to transport some things in and out."

"It's only more than seventy miles away from the gate of Nine Desolation Mountain. It can be completed in two days. In fact, as long as it is close to thirty miles, those villains dare not catch up, but the last forty miles are still a bit dangerous." He said, untiing the tightly bound cuffs, revealing the bandaged wound inside. Lorraine Hill could smell a trace of blood, and it seemed that the wound was only a day or two old.

Do you want to agree? It seems to be a good look.

After pondering for a few seconds, Lorraine Hill nodded slightly, and then asked about the other party's reward.

"Here are 10 gold dishes. This young lady can accept them first. After arriving at Nine Desolation Mountains, we will present 20 more gold dishes."

Seeing Lorraine Hill nodding, he readily took out a small bag containing the golden vessel, put it on the table and unwrapped it, revealing the golden

Judging from the faint breath of dragon veins on them, the golden dishes on the plate are not fakes. In fact, the golden dishes of Panlong in the Eastern Continent are also extremely difficult to fake.

"Then let's not disturb the lady's meal for now, and I will explain in detail after the lady finishes eating." After that, he returned to his own table, continued to eat with his companions, and asked the clerk to prepare some cooked food for them to take with him.

Judging by his skillful appearance, he should be a swordsman who has been out darts all year round.

Lorraine Hill watched the three prepare and thought for a while. At this time, the kiln chicken and rice cakes she ordered were also ready.

The roasted, browned and tender whole chicken was still steaming white when it was served. The belly of the chicken was cut open, and there were xianggu and leftover ingredients inside. The chicken was also baked with salt before baking, so it was not too bland, and because it was wrapped with special materials during roasting, the internal moisture did not lose too much, and it would be more tender and soft instead of rough.

On the other side are three square rice cakes, fried with a little oil, and served with a little pickled vegetables, which smells quite appetizing.

There is no loss, the girl blinked, picked up the fast food and ate it in small bites. After entering the tender meat, you can still feel the fragrance of scallions, green onions and garlic. It tastes slightly salty and spicy, which makes people aftertaste.

After a long time, Lorraine Hill sat down with satisfaction and stood up to pay the bill.

"Thank you, the guest will come again next time." Although it is delicious, the price is not cheap. The location here is cheap, and the price is much higher than outside.

Seeing Lorraine Hill having dinner, the three of them also came over and asked if they could leave.

"We can't stay here for a long time, it will be much safer to leave as soon as possible." The swordsman with white marks on his face said.

"Well, okay." Lorraine Hill didn't care, so he followed the three of them out of the town and continued along the road.

Walking on the road, Lorraine Hill asked the other party some things.

"Why did Brother Lin invite me directly just now? I was actually quite surprised at the time."

After listening, the swordsman walking in front also shook his head, "Actually, we were even more surprised just now."

"This kind of remote barren mountain, where monsters and beasts are infested, it is very special for Miss Yi to appear alone. If my guess is correct, the eldest lady should be a disciple of the Great School, otherwise she would not be so calm and composed."

"That's right." Is that so, the girl thought to herself.

"Then you are not afraid that I am also a villain?"

"Of course I'm afraid, otherwise I won't let you go in the middle. We won't worry about it in the end, but with a background like the eldest lady, I definitely don't care about the few money I have to sacrifice my life for. She shouldn't do evil so easily." According to the swordsman's description, the set of moon white silkworm gauze clothes worn by Lorraine Hill is worth a lot, and it should not be short of the money.

"Do you trust others that much when walking outside?" The girl became even more curious.

"It's not about trusting others, but trusting you now, miss. The risk is lower than the three of us traveling alone. Sometimes we can only choose the one that seems to be less risky. It can't be perfect." He patiently explained to the girl.

"Okay, I'm done asking." Lorraine Hill nodded, and then the three saw that the girl was really good at walking and could easily keep up, so they speeded up again. Although it wasn't running, the fast walking was almost the same as running.

Each of these three people is carrying a sturdy rattan wooden box, which should contain things to be transported, but it seems that there are not many, the box is not very heavy, but rather light.

And when walking, alternate positions from time to time, there is always a person in front observing the surrounding environment, the person in the middle relaxes for a while, and the person at the end looks back from time to time, and is also on guard.

On the way, Lorraine Hill also asked the three of them why they didn't use livestock to pull the cart. The other party replied that the animals walked extremely slowly and tended to leave smells. They were far less flexible than the three of them. They could enter the mountains at any time and even cross the river.

In this way, although the four of them were a little nervous all the way, nothing happened, until dusk approached, a special black panther lay in ambush by the side of the road, and suddenly rushed out.

This black panther has a fifth-level (rare gold-level) strength, and its aura is very well concealed. If it weren't for Lorraine Hill, the other three people would have been concealed by it.

The blades of grass flew up from the forest, wrapped around Lorraine Hill's wrist, and then flew out, forcing the panther to jump out. At the same time, the pair of dark blue eyes stared at the four people present and let out low growls.

"Let's go with Brother Song, Miss, you and Brother Xu are waiting at the side." After finishing speaking, he put down the panther, pressed the handle of the knife on his waist, leaned down slightly, and looked directly at the black panther that was roaring and walking away in front of him.

These three swordsmen all have the strength of Sequence 4-5. It is not a problem to defeat this black panther, but the problem is to defeat this black panther without getting injured, otherwise it will be a big loss.

He licked his dry lips, fixed his eyes on the ferocious monster in front of him, slowly adjusted his breathing, and his body muscles gradually entered a state of being ready to go.

Then, the swordsman moved.

A streak of silver light flashed suddenly, carrying blue thunder and lightning, brightening up the dark woods.

"Chi--"