The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1706

Wynter took a few steps closer to the river, intending to inspect further.

However, Dalton, who was standing beside her, grabbed her arm firmly. "There's something there."

Wynter followed his gaze. She had to admit, Dalton had incredible vision. Even from this distance, he had spotted a piece of golden parchment pinned under a stone near the water's edge.

Wynter frowned. "Has someone been burning parchment here?"

The golden parchment was commonly used in funerary rites or ancestral worship, and it certainly wasn't something one would expect to find in a place like this. And, judging by the parchment's condition, it didn't seem like it originated here.

She bent down to pick up the parchment and inspected it before turning to the others. "Balmond, did anyone check the mountains?"

The mountains?

Balmond shook his head. "This river doesn't flow down from the mountains."

Wynter smirked slightly. "Not now, maybe. But it might as well be a mountain stream during heavy rain."

She moved to another spot. "Do you see these marks? This area was clearly scoured by water. Look into the weather records—was there a heavy rainstorm about a month ago?"

The black serpent in Wynter's backpack couldn't hold back and hissed, "Yes, Master! I remember it vividly. The rain that day was torrential, and the wind was howling! I couldn't control it—it wasn't my doing! That stall owner came to the river that day!"

It suddenly thought of something and quickly continued, "And now that I think about it... the river changed after that rainstorm! Could this be what humans call 'acid rain?'"

Wynter didn't reply to the black serpent. Despite its awakened intelligence, it was obvious it hadn't done much studying.

With a decisive nod, Wynter instructed, "We'll head to the mountain."

"Ten thousand!" Martin glanced over his shoulder. "I'll think about bringing you guys in then."

Wynter frowned and made a show of turning to leave.

Martin quickly called out, "Alright, eight thousand! I can't go lower than that. We have had events going on recently. The chieftain doesn't like outsiders coming in. If he finds out I brought you in, he'll chew me out!"

Wynter looked back at his words. "Events? What event?"

"It's the Ritual of Devotion. Things are lively in there right now—every household has meat on the table! You outsiders wouldn't get to see something like this, especially you northerners. You're from the north, aren't you? I can tell by your accent," Martin said with confidence.

Wynter didn't bother bargaining the price anymore. Instead, she opened her phone and transferred him the money. "Since you've made it sound so fascinating, I really want to see this ritual now.'"

Whether they were offering tribute to gods or something else entirely remained to be seen.