Chapter 2741: First Stop
The route map corrected through the instance would not officially take effect until the player obtained the first token. Before that, the route map could still be exchanged, as long as there was a player willing to do so.
Zhou Juanjuan and Levi had already chosen their locations, but now that the map had suddenly added new points, they considered changing their route map. Xu Huo's side was definitely not an option, so they waited nearby to see if any other players needed to exchange maps.
As it turned out, quite a few people wanted to change maps. They gathered in small groups, probing others for their basic routes.
Of course, not all of these people were genuine players who needed to clear the instance. There weren't many lurking around with other motives either, though it seemed someone was specifically collecting players' route maps.
Zhou Juanjuan and the others didn't waste much time. They quickly exchanged their maps and set off together with Xu Huo.
The three different route maps all started from the same point—a scenic mountain town far from Youzhu Station. When Xu Huo and the others arrived by aircraft, the corresponding locations on each person's route map began to glow—the route maps had officially taken effect.
From this moment on, no one could change their route map anymore.
"Checking in at scenic spots is a small matter, but how will the tokens appear?" Levi looked around. "They call it a town, but it's quite a large area."
According to the strategy guides under the dimension, tokens could appear anywhere, with no specific hints, and they wouldn't necessarily show up in crowded places.
"Sir, would you like to try an ice cream?" The town's shops were scattered, and Xu Huo and the others were standing in front of a cold drink stall. The automated ice cream cart could proactively attract customers and make products without needing someone to watch over it, so the owner wasn't around.
Xu Huo stepped forward and bought several ice creams. Taking a bite, he said to the others, "There are many players passing through here. The locals have seen a lot and should know where it's easiest to find tokens."
"The shops are all automated, and the owners are gathered together relaxing. They might not tell the truth," Zhou Juanjuan said.
Especially if they were just treating the players as entertainment.
They walked a bit further and encountered a few elderly people playing cards. One of them took the initiative to greet Xu Huo and the others, "You're players from out of town, right? Earlier, quite a few people went to check in at the Fairy Stone up ahead, then happily left. Instead of wandering around here, you might as well go over there and try your luck."
Players had sharp hearing. Before Xu Huo and the others could move, several nearby players had already vanished.
"Fairy Stone..." Xu Huo flipped through the promotional brochure in his hand and casually said, "Is it a stone that looks like a fairy? I wonder what the fairies around here look like..."
The old man laughed heartily. "What stone that looks like a fairy? It's a stone with the words 'Fairy' written on it. The place was originally called Fairy, but after a natural disaster buried the town, only a stone tablet was left."
"Speaking of which, it's a bit magical. Not a single person died in that natural disaster. They say a few days before the incident, the Fairy Stone rolled into the river, and everyone went to help retrieve it. Not a single person was left in the town, so no one died."
"Is it really that magical?" Zhou Juanjuan said. "Even the children went along?"
"How would I know? I'm not a local," the old man said matter-of-factly. "I came here for business and to retire. These are just things I've heard."
"If you want to inquire about old stories, go to the riverbank ahead. There are still original residents there," another old man said.
Xu Huo thanked them and headed toward the riverbank.
There was still some distance from their current location, and boats were one of the paid services here. So Xu Huo and the others called for two boats and drifted downstream along the river.
The boats played local tunes as they glided slowly across the calm water. When they rounded a bend, a forest of red and yellow trees appeared ahead, their colors so vivid that even the sky and earth seemed to expand.
Xu Huo opened his terminal to record the beautiful scenery, then casually scooped a leaf from the water and brought it to his nose. "A very unique fragrance."
"This area is famous for a type of perfume. The raw materials might come from these trees," Zhou Juanjuan said. "I wonder if the token will be related to the perfume."
The boats automatically docked at the ferry. Unlike the commercialization of the previous town, this place deliberately preserved some old buildings, and the new facilities were designed to blend with the overall style.
The population here was sparse, but every household displayed handmade items for sale, mostly wood carvings and woven grass products. The locally produced perfume was also stored in wooden containers. Many places hung wooden bottles strung on ropes, and the fragrance seeped through the holes in the strings, varying in intensity and character.
"Are you buying perfume?" A half-grown boy walked out of the house. He glanced at them briefly, showing little interest in making a sale, and perfunctorily stated the price before sitting down nearby, picking up a piece of wood to continue carving.
"Little brother, what kind of perfume would suit a young girl like me?" Zhou Juanjuan asked with a smile.
"We only have three kinds of perfume here. For clothes, for shoes, and for the house," the boy looked up at her. "Which one do you want?"
It was obvious he wasn't too welcoming to customers, but Zhou Juanjuan still bought two bottles. As she paid, he added, "If you're looking for some token, go to the new town. We don't usually have what you're after here."
"Why do you say that?" Levi asked. "Can't we just be here to have fun?"
The boy clearly didn't believe them. He pointed at the flying surveillance drone nearby. "If you break my stuff, you'll get fined."
It was experience talking. Xu Huo and the others understood. After all, with no hints given, players could only try their luck everywhere. When they failed to find anything for a long time, they might take it out on others. They wouldn't dare cause major trouble, but venting a little frustration was possible.
"We won't break your things." Xu Huo smiled and pointed at the items beside him. "You can carve small animals. Can you carve people? How long would it take to carve one in my likeness?"
The boy studied him carefully for a moment before turning back into the house to call out his mother. "My mom can carve people, but portraits cost more than animals."
"No problem." Xu Huo agreed readily and emphasized his request, "Try to make me look as good as possible."
The woman sized him up and quickly offered some flattery. "Sir, you're already very handsome. You'd look even better in one of our local outer robes. How about I carve you in that?"
Xu Huo didn't refuse.
The boy brought a chair for him to sit on and pointed at a passerby in the distance. "That's the traditional patterned outer robe passed down in our town. Taller people look better in it. My second aunt makes them, and we have several ready-made ones at home."
Seeing the boy's enthusiastic sales pitch, Xu Huo nodded and added, "Is there anyone who can take photos? Let's take a group picture together."
The boy eagerly ran off. When he returned, he said they could help stick the photos by the grass waterfall under the Fairy Stone. Placing photos or recorders there usually cost a fee, but locals could do it for free.
"That's great!" Zhan Erliu also chimed in, inviting Zhou Juanjuan and Levi to join.
The four of them each bought a set of matching outfits and took several photos with the boy. Half an hour later, when they went up the mountain to see the Fairy Stone, one of the photos was already pasted on the stone wall along the necessary path.
"Pretty efficient." Xu Huo looked from a distance. Below the Fairy Stone was a cliff, covered only by a waterfall of vines, which the locals called the Grass Waterfall. The plant's scientific name was Fragrance-Retaining Vine. Originally, names of people who had contributed to the area were carved into the stone wall. Later, as more tourists came, photos and recorders popped up everywhere, and some places even showed various clips playing.
When they reached the top and saw the Fairy Stone, they waited for a while but nothing resembling a token appeared. Looking at the other players lingering around, it was clear this was useless.
Still, Xu Huo took a photo for himself.
"Does this help?" Levi asked while imitating him.
"Since it's a trip, we have to try all the famous spots." Xu Huo registered an account on the Message Collection Terminal and casually posted a travel log.