0p0 Chapter 123 Still in vain
Chapter 123 Still in vain
This is the official version of the story. However, a more mysterious theory circulates privately: that East Island harbors supernatural forces, such as ghosts. Someone was once frightened to the point of insanity, repeatedly muttering "ghosts" after escaping.
"Brother, which statement do you prefer?" Shen Wei couldn't help but ask curiously.
The boatman pondered for a moment, then finally confided, "Personally, I think the ghost story might be closer to the truth. Strange things have been happening all over Dongshan in recent years, and some islanders have even chosen to leave out of fear."
Lin Fan's eyes lit up at this. The arrival of a divine artifact is often accompanied by strange phenomena. Could these strange occurrences be the very omens of the divine artifact's arrival? Compared to the silent Qianlong Mountain, Dongshan Island was clearly a more likely place for the artifact to appear.
The boatman continued, "Someone once planned to develop a tourism project here, but they had to give up because of the frequent strange incidents."
"Even the military intervened, and the entire East Island was blocked at one point, but in the end, nothing was accomplished."
"Did this happen last year?" Lin Fan asked.
"Yes, it was last year," the boatman replied. "But the news was kept strictly secret. Only a few people knew about it. Only those of us who were born and raised on the island knew about it."
Lin Fan's heart raced. It seemed the higher-ups had already noticed the Ten Divine Artifacts last year. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to blockade East Island. He'd have to call Lao Gu once he got to the island to get more information.
The boatman also talked about the changes in explorers on the island: "In the past, most of the explorers were young people, but recently, for some reason, there have been more middle-aged and elderly people coming."
"There are even quite a few foreigners here. Has Dongshan Island's reputation spread abroad?"
"How are these foreign tourists behaving on the island?" Lin Fan knew they weren't just ordinary tourists, but rather powerful forces from various quarters. They included mercenaries, assassins, cultivators, and special agencies from major powers. They were all seeking the Ten Divine Artifacts and, at the same time, hoping to disrupt China's stability.
"They're quite well-behaved," the boatman nodded. "These foreigners rarely go to West Island. They only hang out on East Island and bring their own supplies."
"There are soldiers stationed on Xi Island. Although their number is small, they have the entire garrison area and the Chinese nation behind them. Under the protection of the five-star red flag, these foreigners dare not act rashly." When he said this, he revealed his pride in being a Chinese.
"Haha." Lin Fan smiled as he looked at the hazy outline of the island ahead. "Is that Dongshan Island?"
"That's right, the East Island is two or three times larger than the West Island." The boatman explained.
After the boat docked, the two said goodbye to the boatman and set off on their adventure. "Brother Fan, why don't we get a luxury yacht? This junky boat is shaking my butt off," Shen Wei complained.
"The yacht is too ostentatious. Let's keep a low profile." Lin Fan responded.
"But there are beautiful women on the yacht, and they are wearing cool clothes." Shen Wei muttered unwillingly.
"Okay, let's rent one and enjoy the pleasure of yachting on our way back." Lin Fan glanced at Shen Wei and readily agreed. "I'm not here to see the beauty, I'm mainly concerned about your delicate butt," he added with a smile.
"Hehehe, thank you Brother Fan for your understanding." Shen Wei laughed happily. "So where are we going next?" he asked.
"Let's go to West Island first and talk to some of the older generation. They might know some ancient legends," Lin Fan said, heading towards the nearby village. "Legends? Are you saying there really are ghosts?" Shen Wei asked in a low voice, glancing at the pitch-black East Island.
"Even the ten great artifacts have appeared. What do you think?" Lin Fan asked leisurely.
A terrifying image of a roaring ghost immediately emerged in Shen Wei's mind, which made him shudder involuntarily.
As the two entered the village, they soon discovered a group of old men leisurely basking in the sun, enjoying the comfort of the afternoon.
After a few packs of cigarettes were handed over, the old people's faces immediately broke into bright smiles, as if they had opened their chatterboxes, and they talked incessantly about those old stories, especially those fascinating ancient legends.
Legend has it that beneath East Island lies a ferocious beast, whose desolate remains a delicacy for all who have vanished. Elderly people vividly describe the beast, even claiming their ancestors witnessed its majesty firsthand.
The frequent strange phenomena on the island now seem to indicate that the great beast is about to awaken. If it weren't for their deep attachment to this land, they might have already migrated to Ancheng or other prosperous places.
"Old man, take a look at this picture. Does it have any impression?" Lin Fan carefully unfolded a piece of animal skin.
"Did Dongshan Island look like this before?" he asked curiously.
The old man squinted his eyes and carefully examined the pattern on the animal skin. "Oh, isn't this the Wanghai Stone on Dongdao Island? You can get there directly by boat." The old man said excitedly, pointing at the pattern.
"Are there any other landmarks here?" Lin Fan was secretly delighted. It seemed that the pattern on this animal skin did indeed depict Dongshan Island.
"Look, that mountain is the highest peak on Dongshan Island. It's where the island got its name," the old man continued enthusiastically. "Is that mountain also drawn on your map?"
Lin Fan carefully compared the pattern on the hide and confirmed that it matched the topography of Dongshan Island. Receiving this hide at this crucial moment felt like destiny. Wouldn't it be a waste of this rare opportunity if he didn't acquire all ten artifacts?
"Young man, listen to my advice. If you want to go to East Island for adventure, you'd better give up the idea as soon as possible." The old man stared at Lin Fan and advised him earnestly.
"In recent years, the number of missing people on East Island has continued to rise, and no one knows what happened to them. Those young and strong men just disappeared inexplicably." The old man sighed.
"Well, we just plan to wander around the periphery and won't go deep into the island." Lin Fan nodded in response.
"Then you have to be careful. Not to mention you outsiders, even we, the native islanders, have not dared to set foot on Dongdao easily in the past two years." The old man said, with a hint of fear in his eyes.
He pointed to a burly man not far away and said, "Do you see that guy? His family has been hunters for generations, and he's one of the best hunters on the island. But in recent years, he rarely even approaches the edge of East Island."
Lin Fan looked in the direction the old man pointed and saw a sturdy man in his forties preparing to set off with two of his younger brothers.
"Xiaowei, are you going to take people to Dongdao for a trip?" an old man asked curiously.