After spending most of the day's effort, the temporary camp gradually took shape under everyone's arrangements.
To avoid disturbing the Restraint Officers, the outer area was occupied by yamen runners while the inner section was reserved for Restraint Officers, with a distance of about a hundred meters between them.
The military tents were reinforced with supports, and firewood was stockpiled for future use. Wild rabbit meat hunted earlier was now roasting over the campfire.
A rich aroma of meat wafted through the air.
As the sun dipped low, everyone gathered around the campfire, chatting and laughing.
Compared to the two days of continuous travel, staying at the camp was undoubtedly much more relaxed. Moreover, there were no signs of carnivorous beasts nearby.
The only troublesome issue was the water supply.
Ren Qing had only found a small mountain spring nearby, its trickling flow insufficient for the daily needs of dozens of people, let alone the additional yamen runners who might arrive later.
Wang Wen suggested, "Runner Ren, why don't we search for a water source in the mountains tomorrow?"
Ren Qing shook his head. "Let's wait until the Restraint Officers return to camp before deciding."
The Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone might very well be nearby. Venturing too far from the camp risked accidentally stumbling into it, death would come without warning.
Xiao Wu, drooling over the roasted rabbit meat, interrupted, "Let's eat first..."
It couldn't be helped that seven people had to share one roasted rabbit. Most of the other hunted game was reserved for the Restraint Officers.
Just as Ren Qing was about to divide the rabbit meat with a small knife, he suddenly noticed footsteps echoing from the cave. Two figures were approaching.
Everyone exchanged glances before turning their attention to the cave entrance.
Song Zongwu and a green-haired woman emerged. Judging by their waist tokens, they were indeed Restraint Officers.
The two exuded an aura that warned others to keep their distance. Though their loose clothing partially concealed their mutated features, traces of strangeness were still visible.
Everyone swallowed hard. Apart from Xiao Wu and Zhu Ding, the others had some prior exposure to Restraint Officers.
Wang Wen kept shooting meaningful glances at the two, fearing they might offend the Restraint Officers.
Song Zongwu walked straight to the campfire, indifferent to the fearful gazes around him, his target clearly being Ren Qing.
He said solemnly, "Ren Qing, you will manage this camp. Starting tomorrow, dispatch yamen runners to transport sand and soil in and out of the cave."
"Huh?"
Ren Qing was stunned. He had thought coming to the forbidden zone would involve some danger, never expecting it would literally mean assisting the Restraint Officers in mining.
Song Zongwu nodded. "Ren Qing, come with us. We need to mark out the accessible areas."
The green-haired woman looked slightly surprised.
She hadn't expected to be summoned just for this, were they planning to visit the forbidden zone as well?
Ren Qing quickly stood up and followed the two.
He couldn't help but glance upward. From the mountainside onward, the twin-peaked mountain was densely covered in vegetation and shrouded in thick mist, making even his Double Pupils useless.
The three set off along the cleared path.
As they walked, Song Zongwu chatted casually with the green-haired woman. From their conversation, it seemed the forbidden zone was located within this very mountain.
Ren Qing hadn't expected the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone to be so close to the temporary camp. Weren't they afraid of sudden accidents?
When the topic turned to the forbidden zone, the green-haired woman glanced at Ren Qing several times, clearly hesitant.
Noticing this, Song Zongwu said, "Ren Qing has been exposed to techniques. Though he hasn't reached the level of a Restraint Officer, knowing some information won't hurt."
Ren Qing didn't argue. He understood Song Zongwu's goodwill.
Song Rong's interference had introduced variables into sealing the forbidden zone. If Ren Qing encountered danger, he would inevitably have to use his techniques.
If the Restraint Officers were unaware of his situation, misunderstandings could arise.
He simply admitted, "Senior, I came into contact with techniques by chance, but I've only just begun."
The green-haired woman's expression softened, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
If Song Zongwu held him in such high regard, he must possess remarkable talent. Perhaps he would soon join the Restraint Officers.
With that, the two resumed their conversation, no longer holding back.
Ren Qing listened carefully along the way.
According to them, the more Supernatural Remnants involved in a forbidden zone, the more exaggerated its manifestations, some even turned the land into scorched earth for miles.
The core Supernatural Remnant of the Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone was at the Ghost Envoy realm. But by devouring numerous other Supernatural Remnants, its power had reached the peak of that realm.
Such a terrifying forbidden zone had already become distorted inside and out.
On the surface, it might span only a few miles, but stepping inside could mean facing an endlessly vast plain.
Moreover, the mutual influence of Supernatural Remnants made the interior extremely unpredictable.
After winding through the mountains for several hours, they finally approached their destination late at night.
The main reason was that the twin-peaked mountain covered a much larger area than ordinary mountains.
By then, rain had begun to fall, mixed with hailstones the size of fingernails, stinging wherever they struck.
Ren Qing couldn't help but glance back, there was no sign of rain at the foot of the mountain.
Given that summer was approaching, such abnormal weather was undoubtedly caused by the forbidden zone.
The temperature grew increasingly frigid. Ren Qing noticed that despite the lush vegetation on the mountaintop, it seemed unnatural.
The leaves were verdant, but the branches showed signs of decay. No insects or small animals could be seen.
The path upward was blocked by dense foliage.
Song Zongwu said, "Muyi, you handle this. I'll check if the forbidden zone has changed."
"Understood."
The green-haired woman, Muyi, stretched out her hand, and the plants parted on their own, leaving a half-meter gap.
Before them lay thick, churning mist, surging like turbulent waves.
Using his Double Pupils, Ren Qing noticed that beneath Muyi's jade-like skin, her veins were actually plant roots, and her blood flowed in an ink-green hue.
Clearly, the vegetation had been planted by this Restraint Officer named Muyi to temporarily seal off the forbidden zone.
Song Zongwu halted, his six blood-red eyes glowing as he observed intently.
Curious, Ren Qing asked, "Senior Song, are we already at the periphery of the forbidden zone?"
"Far from it. The actual Disaster Dispelling Forbidden Zone might only occupy a tenth, or even a hundredth, of the sealed area."
Muyi also patiently explained, "Whether it's the plants or the mist, these are just temporary measures we've taken to contain it. If you truly approach the forbidden zone, you'll be drawn inside in the blink of an eye."
The two led Ren Qing forward a few more meters.
Instinctively, Ren Qing activated his Double Pupils, only for a sharp pain to shoot through his head. Memories from the past two days began to blur.
His gaze remained fixed on the thick mist, his expression turning vacant.
Song Zongwu's six blood-red eyes snapped open. He placed a hand on Ren Qing's shoulder, attempting to pull him back by force.
At this moment, Ren Qing found himself immersed in the mist, his vision gradually penetrating deep into the mountain. It was as if his soul had left his body.
He felt neither joy nor sorrow, aware that he could return at any moment, even faintly sensing impending danger.
Unbeknownst to him, through sheer coincidence, he had tapped into a sliver of the Twin Nightmare Ghosts' ability, a power unlocked after the Double Pupil's mutation.