"Alright, my dear, let's go down." Song Xiaodong kissed Qingluan on the cheek again and pulled her up.

"Dear..." Qingluan repeated the word in her heart, and a sweet feeling instantly arose, sweeping away her earlier embarrassment. Her eyes also brimmed with tenderness.

Song Xiaodong didn't notice Qingluan's gaze, and he led her below, where they found a group of giant birds.

Those giant birds surprisingly remembered them, going about their business without any attacking.

Soon, the two found the two trained giant birds and mounted them directly.

The two giant birds initially resisted and struggled, but eventually they obediently allowed the two to ride.

After adjusting for a while, they directed the birds to venture deeper.

Upon arriving at a certain place, the birds refused to proceed further. Song Xiaodong and Qingluan urged their birds, which slowly moved inside, clearly showing fear.

This made Song Xiaodong and Biao Luan tense as well. It clearly indicated that this place housed creatures that scared the birds, and such creatures would undoubtedly be formidable.

Chapter One Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Nine: Subterranean Humans

"There's someone!" Song Xiaodong suddenly whispered to Qingluan, his expression turning peculiar; his perception ability hinted at two people hiding not far away in the shrubs.

"Someone?" Qingluan, lacking a perception ability, nevertheless had keen hearing. She sensed something hidden in the bushes but wasn't sure it was people.

Upon hearing Song Xiaodong's words, she was greatly astonished. Imagining others in such a place was truly difficult.

"Hmm!" Song Xiaodong nodded and then clasped his fists, speaking clearly: "We entered here by mistake; please forgive us for any disturbance."

Qingluan paused, her reaction to Song Xiaodong was entirely in the style of ancient customs.

The shrubs parted, and two men emerged. They wore robes of coarse fabric style, with hair tied into knots; one held a bow and arrow, the other a wooden shaft spear.

These two indeed appeared dressed anciently, resembling ancient farmers or one could say hunters' attire.

Both men scrutinized Song Xiaodong and Qingluan, revealing vigilant curiosity in their eyes.

Qingluan was equally curious; this was unlikely a movie set here; could these two have always lived here?

She shot a glance at Song Xiaodong, this guy greeted them using ancient customs, clearly recognizing them as ancient people. She hadn't noticed, suggesting his prowess might surpass hers now.

Song Xiaodong dismounted and clasped his fists again, saying: "Brothers, we mean no harm. We stumbled here inadvertently."

The man on the left with the spear spoke: "You are from the outside world?"

Song Xiaodong nodded, replying: "Yes, we are from the outside world."

The two men's expressions suddenly changed, revealing hostility; their spears and bows aimed at Song Xiaodong and Qingluan.

"Brothers, we mean no harm." Song Xiaodong raised his hands, smiling to show goodwill.

"Be honest and follow us!" Demanded the man with the spear, glaring fiercely.

Qingluan frowned, and Song Xiaodong swiftly signaled her, saying: "Alright, we will follow you."

Qingluan then dismounted, while the two men escorted Song Xiaodong and Qingluan onward.

The two giant birds promptly turned and fled.

After walking for over an hour, Song Xiaodong attempted casual conversation, but the men maintained hostility, refusing to engage.

Soon, more people arrived; the two men shared their situation, treating it as an emergency, and joined the escort team of Song Xiaodong and Qingluan.

Song Xiaodong and Qingluan exchanged glances, Song Xiaodong commented: "Peach Blossom Spring Record!"

Qingluan nodded, agreeing with Song Xiaodong's assessment.

From their behavior, they knew the outside world, probably having come here from outside to escape war.

They harbored instinctive fear of the outside world, and knowing Song Xiaodong and Qingluan came from there, they feared outsiders would come to capture them.

After over an hour they arrived at a city-like place, surrounded by towering walls reminiscent of ancient city walls.

This astonished Song Xiaodong; such walls seemed structured to repel not beasts, but enemy attacks—suggesting possible wars here.

Soldiers bearing spears stood atop the walls, and there were guards at the gate.

Those escorting Song Xiaodong handed them to the gate guards.

The gate guards were similarly shocked, detailing four individuals to escort Song Xiaodong into the city.

Entering the gate led to a street lined with stone-walled, thatched-roof houses.

The small city wasn't vast; shortly, they reached a spacious courtyard, presumably the residence of the city's top authority.

Song Xiaodong and Qingluan were locked into a side chamber.

They exchanged glances, Qingluan said: "Never expected this many people here."

Song Xiaodong remarked: "I think this is only a part; it's quite possible there are many more here."

Qingluan nodded, agreeing: "Yes, the city's defensive structure suggests it guards against others, implying further vastness of this underground world."

At that moment, footsteps echoed outside, and the door opened, revealing a tall, robust man in his forties.

The robust man scrutinized Song Xiaodong and Qingluan, then said sternly: "You came from the outside world? How? Explain fully or face my wrath!"

Song Xiaodong clasped his fists, replying: "My wife and I were playing in the mountains, bathing in a pond when a giant serpent bit my leg, dragging us underwater and somehow bringing us here."

"Surviving a giant serpent?" The robust man regarded them, showing astonishment in his eyes.

Song Xiaodong explained: "We possess basic kung fu, not enough to escape the serpent's mouth; we exploited serpent traits, seized its tongue, it released us, and we escaped through a small hole in the stone wall, arriving here."

"You mean to say you didn't know about us?" The robust man questioned sternly.

Song Xiaodong laughed wryly, answering: "We had no idea; discovering humans here completely exceeded our expectations—this is deep underground."

"Very well, tomorrow we'll check your route. Any lies, you face death!"

Song Xiaodong promptly stated: "No problem, brother, is it possible to get us some clothes?"

The robust man nodded, instructed: "Stay put today. Dare venture out, and be killed without mercy!"

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