Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 367 Wood Carvings and Signals

Chen Anran ignored the three excited people.

Perhaps every young person harbors a desire to travel through time.

Meanwhile, Chen Anran, accompanied by Shen Zui and Lin Xiaoman, arrived at Zhang Laoshi's small workshop.

The workshop door was ajar. Chen Anran pushed it open and went inside. A smell of fresh wood, old sawdust, and varnish hit him. The workshop was small, but very tidy. Various saws, chisels, planes, and rulers hung on the walls, and some half-finished tables, chairs, and benches were piled on the floor, along with a few exquisite little wooden boxes.

By the window, Zhang Laoshi was bending over, carefully shaping a palm-sized piece of wood with a fine plane in the daylight, his movements incredibly steady.

Hearing the noise, Zhang Laoshi stopped what he was doing, straightened up, saw Chen Anran, and showed no surprise. He simply put down the plane, wiped his hands with the old towel hanging around his neck, and said, "Master Chen."

"Uncle Zhang," Chen Anran approached, his gaze sweeping over the workshop, "I heard you refuse to leave?"

Zhang Laoshi paused for a moment, picked up the pipe on the table, but didn't light it, just puffed on the pipe: "I've worked here almost my whole life. The renovation of the Yunyin Sect's halls, the stone railings in the square, the mortise and tenon joints of the pavilion in the back mountain—many of these were done by me and my apprentices, bit by bit." He raised his head, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deep, but his eyes clear and bright. "This place is like half my home. If I lose my home, where can I go?"

Chen Anran was silent for a while before saying, "We're leaving, going to... a very far place, and we might never come back. This mountain, this resort, will be closed off, perhaps for a long time."

"Leave?" A flicker of emotion flashed in Zhang Laoshi's cloudy eyes. "What about Sect Leader Su, Immortal Master Wei, and Immortal Master Feng...?"

"They've already left."

Zhang Laoshi tightened his grip on his pipe, and after a long while, he let out a long sigh, as if trying to expel all the pent-up emotions in his chest. He shook his head, then suddenly turned around and walked to a wooden cabinet covered with an oilcloth in the corner of the workshop. He lifted the oilcloth, opened the cabinet door, and carefully took out several items wrapped in soft cloth.

He walked back, placed the items one by one on the carpentry table next to him, and untied the soft cloth.

They are several wood carvings.

A lifelike, adorable deer clutching a bamboo shoot, its eyelashes perfectly capturing the spirit of Feng Xiaolu; a profile of a woman standing with a sword at her side, her robes seemingly fluttering in the wind—this is Wei Qingyi; and a smaller one depicts Su Wan sitting serenely by the window, blending incense, even the wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner are sculpted with a sense of movement. Finally, an unfinished figure, roughly outlined, reveals Chen Anran herself in a sword-wielding pose.

The wood used is top-quality pine, and the carving is exquisite, capturing the expressions with unparalleled precision, clearly showing the great effort and emotion poured into it.

"I had nothing better to do, so I carved it from memory. I even said that after I finished carving yours, I would choose a time to bring it up to you as a small token of my appreciation for the care you've given me over the years." Zhang Laoshi said honestly, "They are all the best people. In the past, every time Miss Feng came down the mountain, she would bring me some pastries, saying that Uncle Zhang worked hard; Miss Wei looks cold, but she has a kind heart. When my apprentice injured his leg, she gave him ointment, and it healed very quickly; Master Su... every time he came to inspect the project, he always spoke softly and gently, never treating us like servants."

He raised his head and looked at Chen Anran, his eyes holding something else: "Immortal Master, is the place you're going to... very dangerous? Do you need... people who can do the work? I, this old man, may not have many other skills, but these hands are still nimble enough to do some rough work, repairs, building a shed or a stove. My apprentices are all quite skilled and honest people."

Chen Anran looked at the lifelike wooden carvings and then at the calm yet firm request in Zhang Laoshi's eyes, and her heart stirred slightly.

"The place we're going to is very far, beyond time," Chen Anran said slowly. "It's three thousand years in the past, an era called the Great Qian Dynasty. There might be chaos and war there, demons might roam freely, and everything will have to start from scratch. If we go there, we might very well die and never come back."

Zhang Laoshi was visibly stunned when he heard "three thousand years ago" and "the Great Qian Dynasty," his hand holding the statue trembling slightly. This answer was clearly beyond his expectations. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but no sound came out.

Only the faint sound of the wind outside the window and the distant noise of supplies being moved could be heard in the workshop.

After a long while, Zhang Laoshi seemed to have digested this incredible information. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. His eyes gradually calmed down from the initial shock to a kind of resigned calm, and even a bit of relief that came with a sense of resignation.

"Three thousand years ago..." he repeated softly, a strange smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "No wonder...no wonder he brought so many strange and unusual things." He glanced at Chen Anran. "Master, I've lived most of my life. My wife passed away early, and my children have all settled down and started their own families in other places. I only see them once or twice a year. This mountain, this craft, and the care of these young ladies are all I have left. Now that those memories are gone, there's no point in me staying here, guarding an empty shell."

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "Three thousand years ago... back then, there probably weren't so many fancy machines, right? Building houses, making furniture, crafting tools—didn't you still rely on the hands of a craftsman?"

Chen Anran nodded: "Most likely."

"Then I'll go," Zhang Laoshi said decisively. "My carpentry skills will still be useful over there, enough to support myself and help everyone settle down. My apprentices... I've asked them, they're all orphans who learned the trade from me to make a living. If I leave, they'll definitely leave too."

The weariness of before was gone from his eyes; instead, a flame ignited within them—the pride of a craftsman, and the glimmer of recognition that his own worth was being reaffirmed in the face of adversity.

Chen Anran looked at him silently, then at the wooden carvings. This taciturn old carpenter, in his most skillful way, remembered the most vivid and warm side of the Cloud Hidden Sect, and at this moment, chose to follow it with the most resolute determination.

"Okay." Chen Anran finally nodded. "Bring all your tools and meet at the mountain gate at 8 a.m. seven days from now."

A relieved smile spread across Zhang Laoshi's face, and he nodded vigorously: "Okay! I'll go pack it up right away! I'll talk to the apprentices!"

After leaving the woodworking workshop, Chen Anran, accompanied by Shen Zui and Lin Xiaoman who had been waiting outside for a long time, went to Yunyin Bar.

The bar was quiet and dimly lit during the day, with only a small light shining behind the bar counter.

Bartender Yin Xiaohao was wiping glasses. He was no more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing a well-fitting black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearms. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, saw Chen Anran, stopped what he was doing, and smiled. The smile was somewhat complicated, carrying a hint of youthful recklessness, but also a trace of nervousness.

"Boss Chen." He put down his glass and came out from behind the bar. "I knew you'd come."

"You refuse to leave." Chen Anran got straight to the point.

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Yin Xiaohao scratched his head and sighed, "It's not that I don't want to leave... it's that I don't know where to go if I leave. Boss Chen, I've worked here for two years, since the opening. This bar... to be honest, at first I just wanted a job to make a living. But after staying here for a while, it's different." He looked around at the understated yet luxurious decor, the shelves full of bottles of liquor, and the musical instruments placed in the center.

"It's lively here at night, with all sorts of guests. I listen to their stories and mix drinks that suit them. Master Qi Lan sometimes comes to sit for a while, orders the strongest drink, but only takes a small sip and stares out the window in a daze; Master Feng Xiaolu occasionally sneaks in for a special cocktail, and blushes when I catch her; Sect Leader Su... came once, drank a glass of warm water, and said it was relaxing here." Yin Xiaohao's voice lowered, "I feel... like I'm not just a bartender, I've become a part of this place, a small interface connecting Yunyin Mountain to the bustling world outside."

He looked at Chen Anran, his eyes frank: "Section Chief Shen told me that there's a big change on the mountain, and it has to be closed completely. They offered a lot of money, enough for me to open a small shop in another city. But Boss Chen, no amount of money can buy back this feeling. I didn't sleep a wink last night, just thinking that if I leave, this bar will really die. Along with all that... indescribable stuff I've accumulated here, it'll all die. I'm not willing to accept that."

He paused, as if making a great decision, and lowered his voice even further: "And... I think I sense something... different."

"What?"

Yin Xiaohao pointed uncertainly to his head, then to his chest: "It's just... sometimes, in particularly quiet moments, or when I've mixed a drink that a customer really enjoys, and they drink it and show that relieved or happy expression, some strange images flash through my mind, and I feel a very subtle... warm current in my heart? I can't explain it, but since coming to Yunyin Mountain, this feeling has become more and more obvious. I've secretly looked up some information and suspect that it might be... related to 'spiritual energy' or 'cultivation' or something? Although I don't know any cultivation techniques."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Maybe I'm just overthinking things. But Boss Chen, if what really happened on the mountain was... something mysterious, and if the place you're going to needs someone to lighten the mood, or... well, what if my inexplicable feeling actually comes in handy? Take me with you. I learn quickly, I have good stamina, and I can mix drinks to help everyone relax."

The young man's eyes were filled with longing and a stubborn determination not to miss any opportunity for spiritual practice.

Chen Anran looked at him, recalling the equally fervent gazes of Wang Rui, Zhang Hao, and Sun Wei. Perhaps taking away these ordinary people—those with varying degrees of ties to the Yunyin Sect, filled with curiosity and courage for the unknown world—wasn't a bad thing. They represented different facets of this era, and perhaps they could shine unexpectedly in new soil.

"We're going to the Great Qian Dynasty, three thousand years ago," Chen Anran announced this shocking news again.

"Meet at the mountain gate at 8:00 AM seven days from now. Don't bring anything, as the entire resort will be going with us."

After dealing with the two of them, Chen Anran went outside.

Then Chen Anran led Shen Zui and Lin Xiaoman toward the village entrance.

Upon arriving at the village parking lot, Chen Anran suddenly said, "Since we're already here, Fellow Daoist Shen, why don't you drive us around a bit?"

Shen Zui paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, where do you want to go? In town? Or in the county? I know a few good outdoor equipment stores, and some old-established dried goods stores..." As he spoke, he had already taken out his car keys.

Lin Xiaoman also showed a slightly relaxed expression: "Yes, Brother Chen, it's getting stuffy staying up on the mountain all the time. It's good to go out for some fresh air. I know a shop that makes really good hiking backpacks—they're spacious and lightweight. Shall we go check it out?"

Chen Anran didn't explain, but simply nodded: "Drive wherever you want, leave the resort, and go far away."

Although Shen Zui had some doubts, he didn't ask any further questions. Soon, his somewhat old SUV, carrying the three of them, drove away from Yunyin Resort, descending along the winding mountain road and merging into the early summer afternoon sunlight.

The car was initially quiet. Lin Xiaoman tried to start a conversation, pointing to the scenery flashing past the window and making small talk, with Shen Zui occasionally chiming in. Chen Anran sat in the back seat, eyes closed, as if resting.

At this moment, Chen Anran's consciousness sank into his body, clearly sensing that vast and dormant power.

The authority of the "Soul-Severing and Source-Reversing" grand formation is like another hidden network permeating the world, connected to his mind and spirit. It seems that if he so desires, he can pluck this string and influence the birth and death of the sealed spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The car drove further and further away. The outline of the resort grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, until it was finally completely obscured by the mountains.

Ten kilometers.

The formation's structure was clear and intuitive. He could even "see" the invisible force field radiating from the blood pool, enveloping the entire Cloud Hidden Mountain area.

Fifteen kilometers.

The sensor remained stable, but the sense of control seemed to have faded slightly. It was like a phone with excellent signal reaching the edge area; it still had full bars, but lacked the smoothness of the core area.

Twenty kilometers.

The changes became obvious. The perception of the array's network began to become "blurred," not disappearing, but as if seen through a thin veil. The feeling of mobilizing spiritual energy changed from "a mere thought was enough" to "requiring a bit of focused activation."

Shen Zui glanced at Chen Anran in the rearview mirror and, seeing that he still had his eyes closed, couldn't help but say, "We'll be on the highway soon if we keep going."

"Keep going straight." Chen Anran didn't even open his eyes.

"Okay," Shen Zui replied, stepping on the gas. The SUV roared past the fork in the road, leaving the bustling town behind, and continued along the more deserted provincial highway.

Twenty-five kilometers.

The sense of alienation intensified. The array's patterns seemed to have retreated to the edge of consciousness, requiring conscious "searching" to grasp them clearly. That overwhelming feeling of controlling the world had vanished, replaced by a... sense of "remote control," and the signal was weakening.

Chen Anran's heart sank slowly.

Lin Xiaoman also sensed that the atmosphere was a bit strange. She turned around and looked at Chen Anran, then asked softly, "Brother Chen, are you tired? Why don't we find a place to stop and rest for a while?"

"No need." Chen Anran finally opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on the rapidly receding fields and distant mountains outside the window. "Keep driving."

Shen Zui and Lin Xiaoman exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes. This didn't seem like shopping, nor did it seem like a relaxing getaway.

Thirty kilometers.

Chen Anran's body trembled slightly as a faded blue kilometer sign flashed by on the side of the road.

The connection with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been severed.