Female Novel
Chapter 5503
Maria’s words prompted Charlie to ponder the possibility of Morvel Bazin’s existence more seriously thanever before. Initially, this question had seemed somewhat ludicrous.
The ‘Apocalyptic Book’ offered no accounts of anyone living for over a thousand years, making this ablind spot in Charlie’s knowledge. Even the ‘Apocalyptic Book’ lacked any mention of the Eternal GreenPill.
Maria herself represented another gap in Charlie’s understanding, let alone Morvel Bazin. Though directevidence regarding Morvel Bazin’s current status was lacking, Charlie couldn’t afford to take this matterlightly. Caution was paramount. He turned to Maria and said, “I wholeheartedly concur with yourperspective. Since we’re already here, there’s no reason to turn back now. Why not proceed as yousuggest and investigate together?”
Maria knew Charlie wouldn’t easily give up, and the fact that he was willing to take her along was alreadya significant concession. She nodded without hesitation. “Agreed! You have my full support.”
Charlie nodded in acknowledgment and then sighed softly. “Given our circumstances, descending fromthis point isn’t practical for the two of us. Let’s turn back and venture into the mountains in the oppositedirection from the town where Morgana appeared.”
“Very well,” Maria obediently agreed. “I’m at your disposal in all matters.”
With a consensus reached, Charlie wasted no time. He swiftly exited at the next ramp after the spotwhere Morgana had descended, continued forward for dozens of kilometers and disembarked from thehighway at the town where Morgana had left.
According to the map, this town had only one rugged mountain road leading to the outside world inaddition to the expressway. The beginning of this mountain road was near a mountain named Chiandaonovelbin
Mountain. It extended further to connect with the entrance and exit of the highway. If one didn’t accessthe expressway here, they could continue driving ahead to reach a national road.
Morgana appeared on the road between the starting point of Shiwan Mountain and the midpoint of thetown.
Jagoan drove to the location where Morgana had last been seen and decided to hike into the mountainsfrom there, following the general direction of Morgana’s abandoned car, in hopes of discovering anyclues she might have left behind.
Given Morgana’s hurried departure, Jagoan suspected she hadn’t had time to erase her tracks.
After the two disembarked from the car, Jagoan equipped himself for mountain hiking, and they begantheir ascent into the mountains.
Beyond the country road, the landscape transitioned from the rugged virgin forest. Alongside the roadwere terraced fields cultivated by local farmers, complete with paths for humans, livestock and evenmotorcycles.
The path’s direction coincided with Jagoan’s intended search direction, so they followed it deeper into themountains.
They traversed a low mountain covered in terraced fields and continued deeper into the wilderness.There were fewer signs of human activity on both sides and the area had clearly been untouched bydevelopment.
Upon descending a second mountain and heading downhill, Jagoan noticed that the once lengthy khakipath in the valley ahead had narrowed into a slender Y-shape. Additionally, there was a meanderingriver, just over a meter wide, flowing down the valley towards lower ground.
The river intersected the Y-shape, with five tiers of stone piers constructed at the junction. These piershad slowed the river’s flow, creating a buffer zone of four to five square meters on the left side of the Y-shape. The one-meter-wide stream expanded to nearly three meters in width at this point.
At the foot of the mountain, the path forked, with the right branch leading deeper into the wilderness. Theleft branch ascended another smaller mountain ahead. Compared to the one Jagoan and Maria wereascending, this mountain was shorter. At its peak stood a small cluster of brown-red low-rise buildings,their purpose a mystery.
Shiwan Mountain, located in the warm and humid southwest, maintained its lush, green appearancethroughout the year. The slopes, mountaintops and valleys teemed with vibrant foliage, appearingpristine and untouched by modern labels.
Maria followed Jagoan, captivated by the scenery. She couldn’t help but express her admiration, “Theancients often spoke of secluded, winding paths, but I never imagined that the landscape along suchpaths, like the legendary Eternal Mountains, could be so serene and beautiful. Living here for a whilewould surely be comfortable and enjoyable.”
Jagoan smiled and responded, “Once we no longer have to worry about being disrupted, I’ll buy yousome land here. You can choose a mountain to build a house and the rest can be used for growing teatrees.”
Maria shook her head gently and said, “The climate here isn’t suitable for Pu’er tea trees, but it’s perfectfor cultivating green tea. Young master, while I do appreciate tea, I don’t intend to spend my life toiling asa tea farmer. There are already countless tea trees on Erlang Mountain and my knowledge of them isvast. If you buy land here for me to cultivate tea, wouldn’t I then be devoted to tea-related work all daylong?”
Jagoan chuckled, “That wasn’t my intention. I just noticed how much you appreciate this place andthought of buying it for you.”
Maria blushed and replied softly, “With such a thoughtful gesture, I would be delighted.”
As they continued their journey, they encountered a bald woman in a gray robe at the Y-shapedintersection ahead. She had been squatting, washing clothes in a wooden basin, which seemed tocontain clothes and a flat wooden stick.
As the terrain was lower on the side of the mountain where the nun was, the girl had reached the Y-shaped intersection ahead of Jagoan and Maria. The nun stopped at the intersection, leaned against theroad’s left side in the Y-shape and proceeded to wash her clothes. She took a wet robe from the woodenbasin, scrubbed it and then beat it vigorously with the wooden stick.
The crisp sound of the stick striking the wet clothes resonated softly throughout the valley.
Maria observed and listened, then remarked to Jagoan, “I used to wash clothes this way. I can’t believepeople still employ this method after all these years.”
Jagoan gazed at the nun from a distance and commented, “She appears to be a nun and the red-walledstructure on the left mountain must be a convent.”
Maria nodded and sighed, “Being a nun in this environment must be tougher than most.”
The two proceeded along the mountain path, drawing closer to the Y-shaped intersection. After a stick ofincense had burned, they reached the intersection.
At this point, the nun was still squatting and washing clothes. Since Jagoan and Maria had agreed topretend to be a couple in front of outsiders, Jagoan stopped by the stone pier, extended his hand toMaria and said, “I’ll carry you across.”
Maria nodded shyly and offered her hand to Jagoan.
Jagoan guided her across the stone pier and was about to continue along the right branch of the Y-shaped intersection.
However, the young nun, who had been squatting and washing clothes, suddenly stood up, clasped herhands together and gave a slight bow to Maria. She spoke, “Amitabha, benefactor, our abbot has beenawaiting your arrival for some time. May I ask that you come to the nunnery for a visit.”