The Location of the Red Dust Base
Looking at the small town full of willow trees and peach blossoms before him, it was naturally impossible for Chen Ling to mistake it.
This was the first place Chen Ling arrived at after reaching the Red Dust Domain. He still remembered up to now that he was being hunted by the Clown at that time, and ran all the way into the white flower bushes of the Gray World. Because he couldn't find the entrance to enter the Red Dust Domain, he fainted on the spot...
When he woke up, he had already appeared in Willow Town.
Until now, Chen Ling still didn't know how he suddenly moved from the Gray World to Willow Town... To enter the Red Dust Domain, one had to first find the most inconspicuous flower among the bushes, and then perform some actions to enter. If he was in a coma at that time, then who took him to complete the ritual and enter the Red Dust Domain?
Moreover, according to what Li Qingshan said, he found Chen Ling in a mountain forest in Willow Town at that time, which was completely different from the starting point when Chen Ling actively entered the Red Dust Domain... What caused such a difference?
Also, there were hundreds of small towns in the Red Dust Domain, why did it have to be Willow Town??
Returning to Willow Town once again in the posture of a prisoner, more and more doubts surged into Chen Ling's heart. He looked at the peaceful willow trees and village here, and everything suddenly seemed to be covered in a mysterious veil... The way he thought now was completely different from when he first entered the Red Dust Domain.
After arriving at Willow Town, Yang Muquan didn't stay, but walked along the moist bluestone road in a certain direction.
Chen Ling leaned against the edge of the Comic Frame, looking at this peaceful small town, suddenly feeling as if a lifetime had passed...
"The Yang Family generals willingly risk their lives to protect the country, their loyal and heroic names will be praised for ten thousand generations～～"
In the Alleyway in the distance, a melodious opera Singing sound came out from a Radio. Perhaps the Radio was a bit old, but this Singing sound was accompanied by rustling static electricity sounds, which instead had a trace of charm amidst the misty rain.
Chen Ling turned his head to look and found that it was exactly the door of Li Qingshan's house.
At this moment, the door of Li Qingshan's house was wide open. A white-haired Elderly Lady was sitting on a small stool, with a Radio placed next to her. While snapping vegetable leaves with her hands, she would follow the Radio and sing a few lines from time to time, shaking her head.
She didn't notice Yang Muquan passing by the door, so naturally she didn't see Chen Ling either. She just sang to herself like this. The firewood beside her burned with crackling sounds, and the fragrance of food wafted out.
Chen Ling only caught a glimpse before being led by Yang Muquan past the door... It was also at this time that he realized this was exactly the road where Li Qingshan picked him up and took him home back then.
The willow trees on both sides swayed gently in the wind, and the fragrance of the earth assailed his nostrils. Familiar scenes flashed before his eyes. At this moment, Chen Ling felt as if he was sitting back in Li Qingshan's firewood cart, slowly advancing in the exact opposite direction of the past.
"I seem... to have seen this scene somewhere."
Chen Ling pondered in his heart, and as if realizing something, a memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.
...
"Sister Zhiwei! I brought you a gift!"
Yao Qing's voice echoed in Chen Ling's ears, and that Embroidery Diagram packed in an exquisite packaging box gradually became clear in his memory.
The scene in the Embroidery Diagram gradually overlapped with everything around him. At this moment, Chen Ling remembered the source of this familiar feeling.
August 9th, 2024, presented by Yao Qing to Sister Zhiwei:
——"Red Dust".
...
Chen Ling remembered. When he saw this Embroidery Diagram back then, he was shocked by its similarities with Willow Town. At that time, he only felt that the two were extremely similar, and coupled with the signature of "Red Dust", he almost confirmed Su Zhiwei's identity.
But when Chen Ling walked on this road again, he found that the relationship between the two wasn't simply "similar" at all... This road was exactly identical to the road embroidered on "Red Dust". Even the number of willow trees by the roadside, the length of every willow leaf, and the mottled outline of the wall peeling beside the house were completely identical!
But... how is this possible?
How could an Embroidery Diagram that appeared hundreds of years ago be completely identical to the current Willow Town? Even if someone deliberately arranged it like this, it couldn't be restored to such an extent. After all, no one could control the height these willow trees grew to, or how many willow branches there were... Moreover, the appearance of willow trees would also change with the change of seasons, how could it be exactly the same??
The moment he realized this problem, a chill went down the back of Chen Ling's neck... Behind just this seemingly insignificant detail hid too many secrets and unknowns, just like an iceberg resembling a giant beast lurking beneath the surface of the calm sea.
This is definitely not a coincidence.
Just as Chen Ling's brain was frantically turning, Yang Muquan had already walked along the bluestone road all the way to a mountainous forest in the Wilderness.
This seemed to be the outskirts of Willow Town, without the slightest sign of human habitation. Wherever the eye could see, there were only lush and dense big trees, and withered branches and broken leaves covering the ground. The sun left a lattice of light and shadow intersecting between the complex branches, like a code of light and shadow covering the earth.
Yang Muquan arrived among the woods, slowly stood still, and spoke calmly towards the intersecting light and shadow among the branches:
"Eighth Hall Yang Muquan, requesting to return."
Chen Ling was stunned. He looked up at the sky in puzzlement. The next moment, those intersecting lights and shadows among the woods suddenly seemed to come alive, materializing into tangible lines, pulling apart towards both sides like a curtain!
To enter the Red Dust Base, one actually had to verify their identity? But there didn't seem to be anyone else here, who was he verifying with?
A series of questions flashed across Chen Ling's mind. Immediately after, Yang Muquan raised both hands and clapped them gently in front of his chest!
Clap——!
A feeling of the sky spinning and the earth turning surged into his heart, and the scene before Chen Ling's eyes instantly twisted.
Chen Ling was too familiar with this feeling. Previously, when he Transmigrated across the boundary of the Domain and arrived at the Gray World from the Red Dust Domain, it was this feeling... When he opened his eyes again, before him was a familiar expanse of white flower bushes.
"This is..." Chen Ling's pupils contracted slightly.
Leaden gray clouds shrouded overhead, and the world seemed to only have three colors left: black, white, and gray. Chen Ling's Great Crimson Theatrical Robe fluttered within the Comic Frame, and Yang Muquan also completely turned into a spotted character in a black and white film, standing quietly by his side.
Beside the two of them was an endless expanse of white flower bushes. As the breeze blew across the black earth, pieces of petals lingered around the two with the wind...
Gray World?!
The Red Dust Base, wasn't in Willow Town, or even in the Red Dust Domain... but in the Gray World?
How is this possible...
Chen Ling turned his head blankly, and saw that Small Flower carrying the "Red Dust Domain" floating gently among the soil not far away... At this moment, an idea exploded like thunder in his mind!
"The more important something is, the more it will be hidden in an insignificant place."
"To Su Zhiwei, her most important thing isn't her own life, nor is it the Red Dust Base..."
"But the Red Dust Domain."