Chapter 50: Mountain Village
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Yan Qing, Yan Ding, dual swords!” The couple proudly presented their swords.
“Chi Defeng, staff technique,” Chi Defeng declared.
“Feng Yu, crutches!” An elderly woman tapped her walking stick with determination.
As Chen Fei glanced at the old woman, a faint, sweet scent wafted into his nose. It was the scent of poison. He couldn’t help but sniff lightly, recognizing the distinctive odor.
“Chen Mu, archery!” Chen Fei announced, patting the longbow on his back.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s set off,” Qian Jijiang spoke, acknowledging the time constraint. If all went well, they would reach Apricot Fen City in approximately five days.
With a nod, Qian Jijiang led the way, and the rest followed suit, embarking on their journey.
…..
Being martial artists, they possessed superior physical strength and movement techniques, making them much faster than ordinary individuals. While they couldn’t rival the speed of a horse, their pace was definitely not sluggish.
Chen Fei cast a glance back at Pingyin County, but due to the distance, only faint outlines were visible. Having spent several months in this county, he had transformed from a struggling handyman who could barely afford meat to a skilled individual. It brought a wave of emotions to Chen Fei’s heart.
Glancing down at the mark on his arm, Chen Fei observed that the further he moved away from Pingyin County, the less active the mark became. Previously, he had worried that the mark would attract formidable adversaries. However, it appeared that the mark served only to afflict Chen Fei with a negative state.
The mark’s effects were potent, capable of draining an ordinary person completely. However, Chen Fei’s rapid improvement allowed him to suppress the mark’s influence. Another possibility was that, compared to the abundant food source in Pingyin County, Chen Fei, as an insignificant ent.i.ty, did not attract the attention of the mysterious creature at all.
After traversing for over two hours, the group halted to take a break. In the dense forest, Chi Defeng eagerly looked at Qian Jijiang and remarked, “There’s n.o.body here. Let’s hurry up and divide the money.”
Qian Jijiang chuckled, observing Chi Defeng with a mixture of amus.e.m.e.nt and scolding, “What’s the rush? It’s not like I’m not going to give it to you.”
“You old fool, you’re actually willing to leave Pingyin County,” Qian Jijiang continued, shaking his head with a smile. “I thought you would die of old age there.”
“There’s something strange happening at Mount Pingyin, and 1 can’t bring myself to stay there any longer,” Chi Defeng responded, accepting the several hundred taels of silver from Qian Jijiang. He shook his head, expressing his unease. “Especially in recent days, I’ve been unable to sleep or eat well. 1 have a feeling that something significant is about to occur in Pingyin County.”
Qian Jijiang’s expression shifted, realizing the gravity of his old friend’s words. It explained why Chi Defeng had been insistent on leaving Pingyin County.
“Will you continue on after we reach Apricot Fen City?” Qian Jijiang inquired.
Chi Defeng pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “We’ll a.s.sess the situation when the time comes.”
A few dozen meters away, Chen Fei returned from the restroom and noticed Chi Defeng and Qian Jijiang engaged in a hushed conversation. His teeth clenched with antic.i.p.ation. Although he was unaware of the specifics, he knew that money was undoubtedly involved.
At first, Chen Fei had suspected that Chi Defeng and Qian Jijiang knew each other, as Chi Defeng had readily handed over the money without hesitation. Such behavior didn’t align with someone driven by greed. However, Chen Fei didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward the money. Compared to leaving Pingyin County, the sum was insignificant. With his mastery of alchemy, earning that amount would merely require a few batches of pills.
After a brief rest, the group resumed their journey. Initially, they followed a well-defined main road. However, as they ventured further, the road became increasingly indistinct. It was evident that it had been a long time since trade caravans had traversed these routes, with weeds now overgrowing the path.
The group pressed on, encountering no significant events along the way. They did, however, come across a few refugees, whom they intentionally kept their distance from.
Qian Jijiang mentioned, “There should be a dilapidated temple nearby. We can find shelter there for the night.”
Qian Jijiang surveyed the surroundings and identified the direction of the dilapidated temple. In his earlier years, Qian Jijiang had been a member of the Bodyguard Agency, allowing him to gain extensive travel experience. However, he had retired in recent years with the intention of enjoying a peaceful life in Pingyin County. Fate had other plans, forcing him to embark on this journey due to unforeseen circ.u.mstances.
Leading the group, Qian Jijiang guided them through a few twists and turns until they finally reached the dilapidated temple. Chen Fei’s heart tightened upon seeing the temple. It reminded him of the two previous encounters with the monsters, both of which had taken place in similar settings. However, given the need for rest and shelter from the elements, it was inevitable to seek refuge there.
The dilapidated temple appeared ancient, with a disarrayed interior. It was evident that many people had recently sought solace within its walls.
The group gathered together, quietly consuming their dry rations. Chen Fei maintained a vigilant gaze, scanning his surroundings but finding nothing out of the ordinary. He felt the presence of the mark on his arm, but there was no indication of anything unusual.
Chen Fei pondered the usefulness of the gangrene mark. It had become a peculiar sensor for him, proving effective in most situations. This led him to consider continuing to leave similar marks on his body once his inner strength grew stronger.
The night pa.s.sed peacefully, devoid of any run-ins with evil ent.i.ties. Chen Fei sighed in relief, realizing that while the outside world may be tumultuous, not every place was plagued by abnormalities.
In the blink of an eye, three days had elapsed.
As the journey progressed, the weariness became evident on the faces of the group. However, they also grew more acquainted with one another along the way, fostering a sense of camaraderie. The smooth progression of their journey helped to calm their hearts.
Qian Jijiang’s exceptional sense of direction proved to be a valuable a.s.set, and Chen Fei felt grateful to be part of this team. Without their guidance, he would have been lost and left to wander aimlessly once the food in his s.p.a.ce grid ran out.
“We’ll be spending the night in the forest. Let’s pick up the pace, everyone,” Qian Jijiang urged, glancing at the sky. The others nodded in agreement, instinctively quickening their steps to keep up with his instructions.
“There’s a light up ahead.”
The group directed their attention towards the flickering lights in the distance, their curiosity piqued. Yan Qing’s surprise was evident as she pointed toward the source of the lights.
Chi Defeng turned to Qian Jijiang, questioning whether there was a nearby village.
“Is there a village nearby?”
Qian Jijiang’s brow furrowed slightly as his memory was not as sharp as it once was. Having been out of the loop for many years, he only retained general knowledge and couldn’t recall everything with precision.
Feng Yu, the old woman, suggested, “Should we stay in the village? It would be safer than the wilderness. If we have the option, I think it’s better to go to the village.”
The others turned their gaze towards Qian Jijiang, allowing him to make the final decision. After some consideration, Qian Jijiang spoke, “No. The outside world is in chaos, and the sudden appearance of a village seems suspicious. We should go around it.”
Qian Jijiang and the others shook their heads, maintaining their determination to avoid the village. They altered their course, veering away from the flickering lights, and continued onward with an increased speed. It seemed as though an unspoken urge compelled them to distance themselves from the village as much as possible.
Once again, Yan Qing pointed out, “There’s a light up ahead.”
Everyone’s gaze shifted toward the direction Yan Qing indicated. They could see lights flickering in the distance.
Chi Defeng turned to Qian Jijiang, inquiring, “Is there a village nearby?”
Qian Jijiang sighed, realizing that his memory was failing him. He couldn’t recall such specific details. “I’m not certain. We should proceed with caution.”
Feng Yu, the old woman, lowered her voice and asked, “Should we stay in the village? It would be safer than the wilderness. If we have the option, 1 think it’s better to go to the village.”
The group exchanged glances, uncertain about what to do next.
As Chen Fei listened to the conversation, he suddenly felt a surge of clarity as the Clear Heart Formula spontaneously activated within him. His mind became clear, and he couldn’t help but notice that something was amiss. This conversation, this scene—it had already occurred. Why were they going through it again? And hadn’t they just decided to avoid the village?
An unsettling realization struck Chen Fei. Could it be that they had all lost their memories?
He surveyed his surroundings and noticed that a thin veil of white fog had started to envelop the area, reducing visibility significantly. Strangely, the village in the distance seemed to be growing clearer amidst the fog..