Mysterious Hunting Ground

Chapter 145 145. The Journey

According to the plan, Dean will drive east through Arizona into Salt Lake City, Utah, then turn to I-80 Interstate Highway, and then follow Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. The route traveled, and finally arrived at the destination Indiana.

The journey is close to [-] kilometers, and with a short rest in the middle, it is estimated to take three days.

It's only four hours by plane, but Dean's parents traveled by car along this long path nine years ago, so Dean has to walk it all over again to collect clues for a long-term event that has been shelved in the system-blood relationship (Chapter 109 ):

Event Difficulty: Undecided

Progress (0/100)

Duration: unlimited
Reward: Undecided (gradually accumulating)

Penalty: None…

……

From early morning to afternoon, after 06:30 hours of non-stop driving, Dean passed through the cool Arizona and arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Get out of the car and take a rest.

Salt Lake City is sunny, warm and dry, not as hot as Las Vegas, but the temperature is not low as it is approaching July.

Dean bought a hamburger on the street and rested against the car door to satisfy his hunger, looking around comfortably at the surrounding scenery——

Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau and the Great Salt Lake, the city is surrounded by verdant greenery. You can take a deep breath of fresh air, and the natural environment is very good.

The streets in the city are wide and tidy. Because today is the weekend, there are basically no cars on the road. On the contrary, there are many men wearing short-sleeved white shirts, black trousers and ties riding bicycles leisurely, and women wearing conservative long skirts Then take a walk on the street.

None of them are ordinary people——

Utah is the base camp of Mormonism, and Salt Lake City is the holy land of Mormonism. More than half of the residents here are Mormons.

According to the "Book of Mormon", believers must abide by a lot of rules and regulations: the Ten Commandments of Moses, the Proverbs of Wisdom, and even some strange regulations that must discriminate against black brothers, regard black as the descendant of Cain, pollute the blood, and believers who marry black will be executed .

In addition, to this day, the polygamy system within the church has not been completely eliminated, and many disputes have arisen from it.

"A Study in Scarlet" in the classic detective novel Sherlock Holmes was born against this background.

……

The male and female believers noticed Dean's unfamiliar Asian face on the street, and they all smiled and nodded in a friendly manner.

After half an hour, Dean got countless "hellos", and for the first time, he didn't encounter a single eye roll. Well, the people here are very friendly.

"Hi."

A crisp and melodious girl called out to him. A blond girl in her twenties, wearing a conservative and tight long skirt, walked from the street waving her hands. Her white-toothed smile was full of the friendly temperament of an American girl. , people can't help feeling good,

"Thunder Monkey? Lihou? I'm a Mormon missionary, Suzie." The girl directly sent a very substandard Cantonese and Hokkien greeting.

"Dean Lu." Dean forced a smile and replied,
"Is this your first time in Salt Lake City?"

"Ah."

Susie smiled brighter and spoke directly, "Please allow me to take you around the attractions in Salt Lake City...the state government building that is more luxurious than Capitol Hill, the endless Great Salt Lake..."

"Sorry, I'm not planning to hire a tour guide."

"You misunderstood, I don't charge money, but I hope that when you travel, you can visit the church with me and read the "Book of Mormon"... It's like this, after the girls here grow up, they have to preach at their own expense. Eight months."

The girl held her hands in front of her chest, and the afternoon sun cast a pious and holy light on her beautiful face,
"But trust me, you won't regret it, God's faith will make you sunny, happy, happy..."

Dean smiled and shook his head,

"Thank you for your kindness, but it suddenly occurred to me that I didn't have time." He swallowed the remaining half of the burger in one gulp, his cheeks puffed up like a squirrel, "I have to get to Wyoming before dark, Let’s talk about it next time when you have time.”

"Please accept my number... Contact me next time." The girl's big eyes were shining with sincerity and purity, like a cute little deer.

boom!
The door was closed heavily.

"What are you talking about? I can't hear you clearly." Dean waved his hand through the car window, stepped on the accelerator and accelerated to escape.

"Don't go, please leave your contact information, please!"

"goodbye!"

Dean stared at the beautiful girl missionary with an unwilling face in the rearview mirror, turned the steering wheel, and set off towards the I-80 interstate highway passing through Salt Lake City.

"So what about polygamy? Don't try to trick me into believing in religion."

He keeps a respectful distance from all religious beliefs.

……

Dean was worried about being brainwashed and preached again inexplicably, so he didn't dare to stay in Utah. He followed the I-80 highway and entered near Evanston in the southwest of Wyoming, Russia. According to the map, he found a remote rural town. parked the car.

The time came to seven o'clock in the evening, the night was low, and the mid-air was as dark as the mouth of a monster.

Most of the commercial buildings in the town have closed their doors and there are no people on the street. Except for the bars, which are still brightly lit, only a few hotels are open.

Guided by a vague sense of intimacy, Dean turned up the collar of his trench coat and walked into a hotel restaurant called Papa Mike in the town center that was still open.

There were already two cars parked outside the hotel, a red Ford pickup and a pure white Chevrolet.

A gray-haired but hale and hearty old man at the front desk immediately greeted him loudly,

"Guests coming from afar, welcome to our store. Are you tired after a long day's journey, why don't you rest at Old Mike's house for a night? Old Mike guarantees that you will enjoy the service of being at home, hot water, comfortable rooms, and Wyoming's specialties Everything you need."

Hungry, Dean nodded his head and looked around. Although this hotel is not big and the decoration has been in a certain period of time, it has all internal organs. The floors, walls, tables and lampshades are all in warm colors, which makes people feel very warm.

And there are not many customers, it is time for dinner, but there are only two tables of customers in the restaurant on the first floor opposite.

"Okay, a single room, three steaks..."

"I suggest you have a piece of our Wyoming Rocky Mountain oysters...everyone has tasted good, and it is very nourishing, especially suitable for a strong young man like you." The white beard on Old Mike's face trembled, his eyes flickered Shining the light of sincerity, with an expression of no regrets after eating.

"Rocky Mountain oysters?" Dean raised his eyebrows. The Rocky Mountains are located inland, so where else can they produce oysters?
But traveling, it’s also good to try some local specialties,

"Then add another oyster."

"Oysters are best paired with red wine..." Old Mike continued to push hard. "This kind of backcountry small place, as long as you are full."

"I don't drink, a jug of grape juice,"

"Great guy, you made a wise choice. Accommodation, steak, oysters, drinks, and tips, it's a total of seventy dollars." Old Mike accepted the money, his face was full of wrinkles, and his eyes were so enthusiastic that he seemed to see his long-lost relatives . "Please wait a moment in the restaurant, the dishes will be here soon."

……

After paying the payment, Dean left the front desk and walked towards the side restaurant. He suddenly noticed that there were a variety of decorative photo frames hanging on the wall. There were many family photos in the photo frames, and the father, mother, and children were smiling in a circle.

The date is outlined with a black pen in the center of the photo, along with a few lines of short descriptions.

"March 1981, Lily, Johnny, I had a mouth explosion at Daddy Mike, thank God I'll always remember that."

"In July 1980, Apple, Lisa, Kathy, and Wyoming were dry and cold, but Daddy Mike kept us warm and full of firepower."

Dean followed the photos on the wall one by one, and found that there were even family photos from 10 1971 years ago. This old Mike's is still a time-honored shop.

"Sorry, little brother, can you come here?" When Dean walked to the north corner of the restaurant, a middle-aged man who was dining stopped him. The middle-aged man was wearing a shirt and woolen vest, with black hair and a rectangular face. Wearing a pair of thick tortoiseshell glasses, he looks refined.

Beside him, a woman with blond curly hair who still has charm still folded her arms around her chest and bowed her head puffed up. Next to him, a petite, sweet and well-behaved blonde girl who looked eighteen or nineteen years old was stuttering. with vegetable salad.

"I'm Leo Bernard from Los Angeles and this is my wife Camille and daughter Julie Jr."

The man explained and held out his hand.

Dean shook hands, grinned, and accepted the invitation to sit at the table,
"Dean, from Las Vegas."

"Can you do me a favor and see if Julie looks better in that outfit?" The man handed Dean a photo, and his wife's eyes turned as well, looking expectant like a contestant waiting for the judges to score,
"Sorry, three, I have no fashion sense, I can only talk about my feelings," Dean glanced at the girl in the red dress who was making salad with a stinky face, and then looked at the girl in the blue dress at hand. "Well, the red dress, with tulle sleeves and a bow, just fits Julie's shape and makes her look...well, more delicate and sweet."

The corner of the daughter's mouth twitched uncontrollably when she heard this,
"Haha, look!" The husband looked at his wife proudly, "I just said that red is more suitable for Julie!"

"You win, cheapskate!" The wife rolled her eyes coquettishly at her husband, propped her chin and looked at Dean with a beautiful smile,
"Are you visiting Wyoming?"

"That's right, I heard that Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park here have excellent scenery and are worth a visit. So is your family?" Dean was full of nonsense,
The man's eyes lit up, he raised his eyes on the bridge of his nose, and said with restraint,

"We're getting ready to send Julie to college in West Lafayette, Indiana."

He and his wife were showing off endlessly, and the family was driving to the philosophy department of Purdue University in Indiana to go through the formalities for their daughter to enter the university.

"Congratulations, Purdue University ranks well in the United States, and your daughter's future is boundless." Dean complimented, Leo smiled from ear to ear, Camille trembled, her chest trembled, and Zhu Li snorted softly, raised her chin arrogantly and proudly, revealing her slender and white neck...

"Your food has arrived." At this time, Old Mike pushed the dining car to the front with a smile.

"Wow...three steaks, young people's appetite is good." Leo rubbed his beer belly, his face was amazed and envious,

"Detective Asia, you eat so much in one night, aren't you afraid of being overwhelmed?" Julie propped her chin with both hands, and couldn't help joking about her peers in a black trench coat and a deerstalker hat.
"I didn't eat much during the day, so I have a bigger appetite now." Dean smiled and opened the grape juice and poured a glass for the Leo family.
"Let's raise a glass to today's fate."

A group of four had a drink.

Sipping his drink, Dean noticed that at the opposite table, a tall man with denim overalls, mid-length hair, and a "sharp jaw" stood up and nodded friendly.

He left the table and went straight out of the hotel gate.

Under the unnoticed light, the man shrugged his nose like a dog, got into his Ford pickup with excitement in his eyes, and drove away.

……

"Wait, Papa Mike," Dean glanced at a strange dish besides the three steaks. It looked like slices of meat breaded in flour and fried to a crispy brown and garnished with salt and pepper. "I ordered Rocky Mountain oysters, why do you serve me fried tenderloin?"

"It's the right dish, this is the Rocky Mountain oyster..." the old man said meaningfully, "you will know it when you taste it."

Dean raised his eyebrows, inserted a piece with a knife, and put it in his mouth. Suddenly his nose moved, and his powerful perception took effect instantly.

"Why does this oyster have a strange smell?"

"Dude, I suggest you dip some chili sauce..." Leo had a courageous expression on his face, "It can effectively remove the strange smell."

"OK."

"May I help you taste it?" Julie stuck out her pink tongue and licked her lips, carefully stretched out the knife, but was stopped by Camille, who was pale.

And Dean had already put the food into his mouth.

As soon as the teeth are chewed, the thick and fresh juice, the natural savory taste, the mellow aroma of the grapes, and the spicyness of the chili sauce blend together.

It was like throwing a bomb into the mouth, and the powerful impact directly hit the mind in an instant, breaking the sky spirit cover.

"Woh... um... hiss... ah..."

Dean screamed strangely, his whole body was shaking non-stop, his body was warm, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and two tears dripped from the corners of his eyes.

"It's so powerful, it's definitely not an oyster!"

"Rocky Mountain oysters, also known as Montana tenderloin, cowboy's caviar, rubbed nuts, and swinging beef." Old Mike smiled flatteringly. During the festive season, cowboys can eat this supreme delicacy and draw the strength of the bull from it to become strong."

"So, lucky you, man, as of today, you're officially a Wyoming cowboy."

"Pfft! This guy ate the balls!" Julie pointed at Dean and was overjoyed.

And Dean's complexion is getting darker and darker. It is obvious that Dark Food has made up a foolish name.

But not to mention the unique taste, the more you chew, the more addictive you will be.

"One piece is eaten, and a plate is also eaten,"

He simply picked up the Rocky oyster and chewed it.

"Take it easy, buddy," Leo said solemnly, "Be careful of overdoing it when you're young!"

……

Dinner was spent in such a pleasant atmosphere.

"meet tomorrow!"

Satisfied with food and drink, Leo's family said goodbye to Dean happily and returned to the room on the second floor.

And Dean was sitting in the dining room in a daze, his cheeks were flushed, and there was an unstoppable flow of heat from his lower abdomen.

Grape juice, add steak, add authentic dark cuisine Rocky Mountain oysters.

Unlimited power.

"Hey, buddy, if you really can't stand it, don't hold back?" At this moment Mike approached very intimately, rolling his eyes, "How about I find a caring lady to help you put out the fire? The price is negotiable .”

Dean's eyelids twitched, is it so fancy in the countryside?

"One ring, one ring, and one-stop service?"

"Then do you need it?" The boss' enthusiastic smile was shrewd and wretched, "Fifty dollars will let you release the passion of your whole body!"

"unnecessary."

Dean took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil, and thought about going out to fly for a while at night to vent his energy and desire.

"Seriously, old Mike, how long has your store been open?"

"In 18 years, I plan to develop it into a century-old store and pass it on to future generations." The old Michael opened a chair and sat beside him. "What's the matter, do you want to find a job?"

"NO, I want to know if there was a couple staying in the hotel 9 years ago, in July 1972. The man is Asian like me, named Guangming Lu, and the woman is Lena Lu, an Indian ..." Dean asked casually with an attitude of giving it a try.

"Sorry, I'm getting old," the old man rubbed his temples distressedly, "I can't remember because of my poor brain."

"Now?" Dean grabbed two dollar knives from the void like magic and stuffed them into his withered palms.

"I remember!" The old man stood up excitedly clapping his hands, and quietly stuffed the money into his pocket, "If the couple staying here is right, I usually take a picture of them! I'll find Look, July 1972..."

……

The old man turned and left, and brought back a framed photo in less than 5 minutes.

In the photo, the man has a Chinese character face, tall and burly, and the woman is holding his arm, tall, beautiful and heroic.

The eyebrows and eyes of the two are somewhat similar to Dean.

Underneath the photo was written:

Bright Lou, Lena Lou, July 1972, 7.

Dean, my boy, don't try Rocky Mountain oysters at Papa Mac unless you have a girlfriend, and by the way, our next stop is Hawkins, Indiana, to visit Jane Seymour.

"It's too late for you." Dean hugged the photo and smiled, "However, Hawkins happens to be the end of this trip, so I'll ask Jane when the time comes."

The system shook.

An unknown event that has been on hold for months, with no progress—the progress of the Mist Journey jumped from zero percent to one percent.

"I'm sorry, man, it's been so many years, and there's nothing I can do about it except this photo." Old Mike said regretfully,
"It's okay, just sell me the photo."

(End of this chapter)