"How can such a beautiful place be called Death Valley?" Yang Ruxin couldn’t help but shake her head, "I think it should be called Lover’s Valley instead, but..."
"What’s wrong?" Gu Qingheng could tell something was different the moment he saw Yang Ruxin’s expression.
Yang Ruxin grabbed a handful of soil and sniffed it, then ran to the riverbank to look at the water. She suddenly called Lin Xiwang over: "Do you know how the people who left from here died?"
Lin Xiwang thought for a while: "I think I overheard my dad mention that they had bloody diarrhea or something, and then died shortly after..."
Gu Qingheng also grabbed a handful of mud and studied it carefully. After a moment, a meaningful look flashed in his eyes.
But Yang Ruxin suddenly laughed: "Gu Qingheng, I think, we might be about to get rich again."
Gu Qingheng nodded: "However, this is a serious matter, we’d better keep it quiet."
Yang Ruxin nodded: "We also need to have someone survey the area properly, so let’s make a quick exit, and then, should we take our time to plan this out?" Iron poisoning causes symptoms like bloody diarrhea, and if the ground here is rich in iron ore, then the soil and water here would definitely exceed the normal iron content. If the mountain people who came here to forage drank water from this river, caught fish from here, hunted the animals, or dug up and ate the plants, they would surely suffer from iron poisoning and would not survive.
Lin Xiwang was confused by the explanation, but he didn’t dwell on it, since following his Sister Xin and Brother Gu, who were both capable people, was definitely the right choice.
This time, the three of them didn’t delay any longer and quickly passed through the valley and over the hillside.
The cry of an eagle came from the sky.
Xiaoyin, who was originally coiled around Yang Ruxin’s wrist along with Xiaolun, suddenly tensed up, unable to help it since eagles are natural predators of snakes, and it was normal to be scared.
Xiaolun, however, stuck out its tongue, signaling that there was no need to be afraid.
Xiaoyin then relaxed.
Yang Ruxin whistled to the sky, and Xiaohei swooped down directly, but when it got close to Yang Ruxin, it suddenly slowed down and landed gently on her shoulder.
Xiaobai immediately let out a howl.
Xiaohei responded with an "Aguda" call to Xiaobai, then turned its head in a haughty manner, ignoring him.
Xiaobai seemed to be displeased and jumped up, aiming to pounce on Xiaohei.
Frightened, Xiaohei quickly flew off, and Xiaobai let out a mournful cry.
Xiaohei didn’t dare to come down anymore.
"What are they doing?" Gu Qingheng, who couldn’t understand the languages of birds and beasts, had to ask Yang Ruxin.
"Xiaobai is protecting me," Yang Ruxin petted Xiaobai’s head, "He’s blaming Xiaohei for not protecting me well and won’t let him land on my shoulder, saying he’s too fat, too heavy..."
"Haha..." Gu Qingheng immediately cheered up, reaching out to pet Xiaobai’s head as well, "Xiaobai is the best, indeed."
Xiaobai howled, its eyes filled with disdain: "Do you even need to say it?"
Gu Qingheng actually understood the meaning behind those eyes and, feeling discouraged, touched his nose and glanced at Yang Ruxin. She had so many guardians; it made him feel rather unaccomplished.
"Alright, what are you competing with them for?" Yang Ruxin rolled her eyes at Gu Qingheng, "Let’s hurry out of the mountains; that’s what’s important."
The three of them quickly crossed over the hillside, and a road appeared before them. They waved back at Xiaobai and its followers, watching them return to the woods before descending the hillside.