Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 967 - 963: Survivors of the Spring and Autumn Era
"Si Yuan."
Seeing that streak of rosy light descending, even before seeing the person clearly, Ruan Hongzhuang stood up from the driver’s seat with a start.
As the light faded away, who else could it be but Shen Siyuan.
Looking through the car window and seeing everyone safe, Shen Siyuan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He was really worried that when he returned, he might not find everyone, and even with his current abilities, it would be difficult to locate them quickly.
"Si Yuan."
Taozi waved happily at Shen Siyuan through the car window.
Shen Siyuan glanced at the car roof, noticing the Ten Thousand Soul Banner floating quietly, emitting a bluish glow, enveloping the RV.
"So it was you who protected them."
Shen Siyuan reached out, and the Ten Thousand Soul Banner quickly shrank, returning to his palm within an instant, its surface warm to the touch.
Shen Siyuan stored the banner safely, smiled, and waved at the people inside the car, motioning for them to come out.
Seeing this, Taozi eagerly opened the RV door, and Tang Tang darted out in a flash.
Her short legs moved quickly, and she immediately leapt into Shen Siyuan’s embrace.
The group got out of the car and followed Shen Siyuan deeper into the village.
Upon reaching the village entrance, Dou Dou and Duoduo were already waiting for them.
Seeing Xiao Ya and Tang Tang, they immediately ran up and pulled them into the village.
The four little ones circled around the stone grinder at the village entrance, while Li Laosan smiled and demonstrated how to push the grinder.
Tang Tang, getting excited, imitated Li Laosan, putting her chubby little hands on the grinder, only to make it slightly wobble, sparking laughter from everyone present.
The village wasn’t large, with dozens of adobe houses scattered neatly across the mountain hollow. In the village center stood an old locust tree, its trunk so robust that several people were needed to embrace it, its branches and leaves forming a canopy. Beneath, a few elders sat on stone benches chatting, and upon seeing Shen Siyuan and the others, they warmly waved them over.
"Young folks, come and sit for a while!"
An old man with grey hair called out with a smile, holding a bunch of freshly picked wild fruits.
Shen Siyuan and the group walked over and sat down. The old man handed over the wild fruits and said with a smile, "Judging by your clothing, you don’t look like mountain folk, are you from outside?"
"Yes, we’re just passing through and accidentally lost our way."
Shen Siyuan took the wild fruits and gave a few to the children beside him.
"I heard from Brother Li that this village is called Stone Grinding Village?"
"Yes, Stone Grinding Village, handed down for several hundred years."
The old man sighed, his eyes reflecting distant memories.
"They say our ancestors moved here during the Spring and Autumn Warring States period. At that time, there was chaos everywhere, constant wars, and our ancestors, residents of Shu, fled deep into the mountains to escape the turmoil, eventually settling in this hollow."
Ruan Hongzhuang curiously asked, "Has no one ever left in all these years?"
"Some have left, but the mountain roads are treacherous, and the outside world is unstable. Many who left never returned."
The old man shook his head.
"Eventually, no one dared to leave anymore, and generations thrived here. However, over the years, some lost travelers have stumbled into the village, some stayed, others left once the fog cleared, but you all seem a bit different."
"Different, how are we different?" Shen Siyuan asked curiously.
"You look like people from a wealthy family; those who can survive in these mountains are usually those who struggle to make ends meet, and your clothing is quite peculiar. Currently, in the outside world, which Emperor is...?"
Shen Siyuan momentarily didn’t know how to explain, and from what the old man said, their ancestors entered during the Spring and Autumn period, with others gradually joining and integrating to form today’s Stone Grinding Village.
Furthermore, they seemingly had no idea that this was a uniquely independent alternate space.
Taozi looked at the village scene and couldn’t help but comment.
"The environment here is wonderful, and the villagers are so rustic, like a utopia."
"It’s not exactly a utopia, just peaceful."
The old man smiled, "In the mountains, there’s plenty of wild fruit to eat, and crops can be grown in the fields to stave off hunger. We don’t seek wealth, just a life of peace and safety."
Shen Siyuan listened silently, filled with many emotions.
During the chaotic Spring and Autumn period, citizens of Shu moved here to escape war, remaining isolated from the world for centuries yet still preserving their simple ways — truly a remarkable dedication.
He looked around at the surrounding forest, and suddenly had a thought.
The fact that Stone Grinding Village could exist securely deep within Qinling must be related to that altar.
The altar could reverse time; perhaps this wasn’t its first use.
"Old man, do people in the village know about the altar across the hollow?" Shen Siyuan probed.
The elder’s gaze dimmed as he nodded, "Yes, it’s an altar left by the ancestors, said to protect the village. Each year after the autumn harvest, the village worships there, praying for good weather and prosperity. But sometimes, that altar emits strange lights, which the village elders say is the Divine revealing itself."
Shen Siyuan understood in his heart that the secret of the altar was unknown to the villagers, who merely viewed it as a protective "Divine Altar."
He asked no further questions in order not to alarm the villagers, simply smiled and said, "It seems this altar is truly effective, protecting the village for so many years."
As dusk fell, Li Laosan warmly invited everyone to his home for dinner.
The dinner was simple, a bowl of corn porridge, a few dishes of pickles, and a plate of steamed potatoes — yet the best the villagers had to offer.
From these items, one could see that over the course of history, not only had others besides them entered, but some even left and returned, as corn and potatoes weren’t known during the Spring and Autumn period.
After the meal, the villagers lit a bonfire under the old locust tree, singing and dancing around it. The songs, rough yet melodious, brimmed with vitality. Shen Siyuan and Ruan Hongzhuang sat aside, watching the scene, touched in their hearts.
"These people are truly happy, though poor, yet full of joy," Ruan Hongzhuang said softly.
Shen Siyuan nodded, "Indeed, without worldly disturbances, guarding a pure land is a form of happiness."
He gazed into the direction of the altar, intending to explore under cover of night.
Whether it was the altar itself or the patterns on it that were special, he had to uncover the truth.
The singing by the bonfire continued, starlight sprinkling over the village, tranquil and beautiful.
Shen Siyuan knew that this beauty was hard-won, and he needed to quickly find the core of the altar, unravel the mystery of time travel.
Thus they could not only take everyone out of the alternate space, but also protect this centuries-old isolated village, preserving its simplicity and tranquility.
That night, Shen Siyuan and the group didn’t stay in the villagers’ homes but rested in the RV and space capsule parked by the village edge.
These, of course, Shen Siyuan had stored in advance inside the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, as the mountainous terrain made it impossible for vehicles to enter the village.
However, what puzzled Shen Siyuan most was that the villagers seemed unfazed by the magical feats he displayed.
Overall, the village appeared harmonious yet subtly out of tune.
