Chapter 348 Searching for Clues

"Xiaoxi, are you alright?" Hongying asked anxiously, holding her hand.

Seeing that she had suddenly become obsessed, his eyes were full of worry.

Li Xi gently shook her head. "I'm fine, I just remembered some things from the past."

The three decided to split into three groups to carefully search for any clues they might have missed.

Time flies, and more than a decade has passed. This place has become dilapidated.

Back then, the Red Lotus Cult looted all the valuables they could carry, and burned the remaining items that they couldn't take.

At this moment, Hongying softly hummed an ancient ballad, her voice melodious and graceful, like heavenly music.

Li Xi leaped onto the back of the golden eagle. From the air, she surveyed the terrain below and discovered a small village not far away.

This is a forgotten little village, nestled at the foot of the mountains, surrounded by green hills, with a crystal-clear stream flowing gently in front of it.

The village buildings are scattered in a haphazard manner, but they appear exceptionally deserted and quiet.

There was no smoke rising from the chimneys, nor the sounds of roosters crowing or dogs barking; the entire village resembled a tranquil painting.

Li Xi strolled through the village, looking around, a sense of curiosity and doubt rising in her heart.

Many houses are dilapidated, some have even collapsed, leaving only ruins.

She walked into a dilapidated wooden house, and when she pushed open the door, a musty smell hit her.

The room was filled with the smell of dust, mixed with a faint musty odor, which made people feel uncomfortable.

She couldn't help but cough, then covered her nose and carefully observed everything inside the room.

The room was simply and plainly furnished, with a wooden table, a few chairs, and a bed placed against the wall.

However, these pieces of furniture were covered in a thick layer of dust, indicating that they had not been used for a long time.

Judging from the room's layout, this should belong to an ordinary family.

Perhaps for some reason, they had to leave this place and find a new life.

Perhaps it was war, perhaps it was natural disasters, or perhaps it was other uncontrollable factors that forced them to leave their homes.

She left the cabin and continued exploring the village.

Just as she was about to open another door, a voice suddenly came from behind her: "Wait!"

Li Xi was startled and turned around to see an elderly man with white hair standing there.

The old man's face was etched with the marks of time, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if he could see right through people's hearts.

He wore an old gray robe and held a rough wooden cane in his hand.

It looks very ordinary, yet it exudes an extraordinary aura.

"Young man, what are you doing here?" The old man's voice was deep and powerful, carrying a hint of authority.

Li Xi composed himself and replied, "Old man, I have been traveling around and have just arrived here. I would like to find a place to rest."

The old man nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Li Xi for a moment.

He then said, "This village has been uninhabited for a long time, and it's full of ruins and dangers. If you want to find a safe place to rest, you'd better leave as soon as possible."

She nodded, but then asked curiously, "Old man, why are you still here?"

The old man's eyes were indifferent: "I am old and have difficulty walking."

"Old man, where have all the people here gone?" Li Xi looked at the dilapidated houses around him. It was strange that he was the only old man living here.

The old man remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "If you can't survive there, you go to other places to find a way to live."

Li Xi nodded thoughtfully after hearing this, pondering the old man's words.

Then she asked, "So, do you know anything about the Xuanming Sect, sir?"

Upon hearing this question, a strange light flashed in the old man's eyes.

He looked up and scrutinized Li Xi, as if trying to discern something from her face.

After a while, the old man slowly spoke, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Li Xi felt a tightness in her chest, but she tried her best to remain calm.

She smiled and replied, "I... I was just passing by and was curious about the Xuanming Sect, so I asked."

Her expression seemed so natural that it was hard to doubt her true intentions.

The old man didn't completely believe Li Xi's words, but he didn't press the matter further.

He simply sighed and said slowly, "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. This is not a place you can just barge into."

Li Xi nodded in response to the old man, indicating that she understood his meaning.

The old man said nothing more, turned around and slowly walked towards home, his steps appearing somewhat heavy.

Li Xi couldn't help but feel a little suspicious of the old man. Although he looked old, he exuded an indescribable strangeness.

He claimed to be an ordinary member of the village, but he was wearing a slightly worn training uniform.

This made her feel that the old man was not as simple as he claimed.

"Old man, could you please have a bowl of water? I've traveled a long way to get here and I'm really exhausted," Li Xi asked the old man earnestly.

The old man stopped and glanced back at Li Xi, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He nodded slightly and said calmly, "Come in."

Li Xi followed the old man into his small house. The interior was simply furnished, yet neat and orderly. A wooden table, two wooden chairs, and some faded calligraphy and paintings on the wall exuded a rustic and tranquil atmosphere.

The old man walked to a ceramic pot in the corner, scooped up a ladle of water with a wooden spoon, and handed it to Li Xi. Li Xi took the water and drank it down in one gulp, immediately feeling refreshed and her fatigue dissipated.

"Thank you, sir," Li Xi said gratefully as she handed the pottery ladle back to the old man.

The old man took the pottery ladle, put it back in its original place, and then sat on the wooden chair, looking at Li Xi with deep eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you here to test me?"

Li Xi was slightly taken aback, a blush flashing across her face. "Grandpa, please don't misunderstand. I just happened to be passing by."

However, the old man chuckled lightly, his tone carrying a hint of mockery: "Everyone who comes here says the same thing."

Clearly, the old man was used to this kind of talk.

Li Xi smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

After all, she wasn't just passing by by chance; she had a specific purpose.

Since that's the case, she simply stated frankly, "This junior was actually sent by the imperial court to investigate the massacre of the entire Xuanming Sect back then..."

However, before she could finish speaking, the old man rudely interrupted her.

"Oh?" The old man raised an eyebrow and said in a cold tone, "I don't know anything about the destruction of the Xuanming Sect, nor do I want to know. You people always like to stir up trouble."