A steady drizzle fell.
Looking out over the grassland, endless dark clouds poured down from the sky.
Hooves splashed through puddles, the soft earth swallowing the horseshoes, making for a bumpy ride across the grassland.
Damp mist seeped through clothing, touching the skin, giving a chilling, enveloping sensation.
Jiang Wen wore a raincoat, water droplets dripping from the brim of his finely woven bamboo hat. Yan Gongli sat in front of him, also draped in a raincoat, dozing in his arms.
The large horse beneath them wore bells that jingled as it led the way.
The young man behind Jiang Wen twirled a blade of grass, his mood exceptionally good, holding the reins in one hand as he gazed at the hazy scenery in the distance.
“We should be able to find lodging before nightfall; there's a small village there. The last time I went, it was also raining, and I even stayed overnight at some of the villagers' homes.”
The middle-aged man on the white horse said loudly, seemingly very familiar with the area.
“What are all of you going to Su City for?”
“A demon?” Chi Gong's expression was blank.
“Let's split up and see if we can find anyone, but be careful.”
They discussed splitting up to look around. The village wasn't large, so they didn't need to spread out too far. After reminding everyone to be careful, Jiang Wen looked towards the village chief's residence.
Jiang Wen's encounter with these people was an accident. After he and Yan Gongli collected the spiritual spring water, they planned to go to Su City first to take a look. The matter of the mountain stronghold wasn't urgent, because it involved the Tai Shen Palace, so Yan Gongli told him to act cautiously. After all, the Tai Shen Palace was the orthodox Daoist sect of the Great Qian Dynasty, overseeing all the immortal sects in the world.
Fragmented and intermittent, it felt both illusory and real. Everyone on horseback was skilled; they sensed that something was wrong with the village and quietly reined in their horses, looking at the old wanderer in front.
The small village seemed exceptionally quiet; even the most cheerful birdsong was absent. However, there was the occasional creak of a wooden door, and the faint sound of a baby crying.
How the old wanderer had agreed, no one knew, but looking at his simple dwelling and his several-month-old grandson, it wasn't hard to guess. They were just people struggling to make a living; otherwise, who would be willing to do a job that could cost them their lives at any moment?
So, the two of them agreed and headed for Su City. After all, Su City was the largest in the state, and the news was the most well-informed.
“It's really strange; are the people in this village all sleeping so early?” Wang Yong asked curiously, looking at the low earthen houses. However, no one answered him; turning his head, he saw that Lu Huaimin and Xue Changming seemed to have gone elsewhere.
“Senior Zhao, what should we do?” Lu Huaimin rode his horse to Chi Gong's side, surveying the surroundings.
He could feel a faint demonic aura somewhere.
“They're all asleep.” The old man's voice was weak and raspy, like sandpaper rubbing against something, making people uncomfortable.
The two beside the young man were his guards, named Lu Huaimin and Wang Yong. It was said that they were highly skilled in martial arts, innate masters.
“The border village is ahead; let's go tidy up.”
“Go to Yunze, don't seek demons. Those who seek demons will not have a good end.”
He shook his head, stroking the restless horse beneath him. He jumped down from it and walked into an earthen house.
“These two just abandoned me like that.”
“Squeak—”
Chi Gong frowned slightly; such a quiet place didn't seem like a place where people lived. He saw footprints on the ground that hadn't been washed away by the rain, probably left not long ago.
If he mistakenly entered the game of some important figure, he was afraid that it would be difficult to control his own destiny. Even if he had more trump cards, how many times could he use them?
“That day, I woke up and wanted to relieve myself, and then, then I saw that person facing me, tearing open his face. Bloody, replacing his face. I shouted and woke up the others, thinking that the others would be vigilant. They tore open their faces and looked at me, those slender eyes, I can't forget them to this day. That was, a demon, a human-faced demon. I don't know how I got back; when I woke up, I was already lying outside Yunze. Later, I heard that the entire Pingxi Prince's manor was not spared.”
“The barbarians are so black-hearted, why doesn't the government fight them?” The one speaking was Wang Yong, also a guard hired by Xue Changming.
On the way, they met a few people who were going to Yunze to explore and were passing by Su City. They decided to join the group, so they could take care of each other along the way.
“The case of the Pingxi Prince's manor, where three thousand two hundred people, including the Pingxi Prince's head, disappeared overnight, caused a stir throughout the entire court that year. Even after more than a decade, there are still no clues.”
“Initially, the Pingxi Prince heard about cultivators and wanted to go to the Yunze Illusion to find demon cores. These demon cores are the essence of demons. Legend has it that absorbing a demon core can prolong life by a hundred years. So, he formed a merchant caravan, which actually concealed more than two hundred elite guards. I was responsible for clearing the way at that time, and just this Ze area alone claimed half of the people. Over there, we found the demon.” The old wanderer paused, swallowed, and continued.
However, he had also dabbled in some ancient and modern strange tales, which described demons, but they were strange and fearful of people's hearts.
The young man behind him was named Xue Changming, the son of a wealthy family. It was said that his family was quite rich, and he wanted to hire a guard for himself, so he spent a lot of money to invite the old wanderer to come out of retirement.
This person was named Chi Gong, and he was with the young man behind him.
“Is anyone there?” The wooden door was old, having become rotten after weathering wind and rain. Touching it would leave some black grime on your hand, like soot that hadn't been washed off a pot for a long time.
Jiang Wen was quite interested in the affairs of these people.
Hearing Wang Yong's words, Chi Gong curled his lips and looked at him mockingly: "What do you know, you bumpkin? This Yunze area is filled with miasma all year round. Not to mention thousands of city guards, even the Qiyun Army of Yangzhou doesn't dare to say they can come out safely. Those government cubs, however many go in, just get buried. These barbarians live in the miasma all year round and have long adapted to it. How many of the government's useless soldiers can endure it?"
“Senior Chi Gong, have you seen a demon?” Xue Changming raised an eyebrow; he didn't believe in these supernatural things.
Lu Huaimin remained silent as the others urged their horses forward.
The words "Pingxi Prince's manor" exploded in the back of everyone's minds like a thunderclap. That shocking case that alarmed the entire court was still a mystery to this day, even after more than a decade.
“Although there are treasures in Yunze, it is also extremely dangerous. There are many people who want to go to Yunze to do business, but many also die. There is a kind of poisonous insect deep in Yunze, only the size of a palm, but its venom is extremely potent.”
“Hey, I thought there was no one. Old man, may I ask why there is no one else in the village?” Although he was reckless, Wang Yong still knew some manners.
“When you get to Yunze, never talk about demons to people.” As if recalling something bad, the old wanderer's wrinkled face showed fear.
“Those big households like this kind of thing the most. Every time the poisonous insects are transported, people buy them in advance, and the deposit pours out of the cloth bag like rain. Only ordinary people can't catch them; they have to rely on the barbarians to use a secret technique to capture them. Every spring, during the rainy season when the miasma is weakest, they wait to trade with merchants from the mainland. Some barbarians have dark hearts; as soon as the merchants bring things, they poison them to death, without even bothering to trade the goods.”
Hearing this, Jiang Wen was naturally not stupid. Instead of confronting them head-on, it would be better to find Li Yunshang first and then make plans. She was a direct disciple of the Tai Shen Palace, and naturally had power behind her.
After all, Yan Gongli said that Yunze was extremely dangerous, and there were many great demons within.
“Then why don't you report it to the authorities?” Xue Changming asked.
The few people rode their horses into the village on the border of Yunze, the sound of hooves splashing water echoing in their ears.
The old wanderer looked at the sky, the atmosphere, which had been somewhat relaxed, now seemed a bit heavy: “How can I report it to the authorities? Say I encountered a demon? Would anyone believe me? During that time, everyone in the village thought I was crazy, even my wife thought I was beyond saving. Every day I dream of those faces, they tear at me, laugh, and look at me.”
He disliked that his clothes were damp, so he took off his upper garment, exposing his dark, scarred muscles. His wrists were calloused, from years of practicing with a pudao, the handle rubbing against them.
The low black-tiled houses were somewhat dilapidated, and weeds grew on the muddy path. The already dark sky became even more gloomy with the arrival of night. There were no lights anywhere, and the entire village seemed to be painted in black ink on gray paper.
“I heard that there are demons in Yunze; I wonder if Senior Chi has seen them.” Wang Yong wanted to say something, but Lu Huaimin stopped him.
“This kind of thing sticks to you, enough to make you wish you were dead, and a large piece of flesh will rot off in an instant. There are merchants who are not afraid of death who trade salt and iron with the barbarians in Yunze, bringing a few bags of this poisonous insect meat and selling it on the black market for thousands of times the price. The meat of this poisonous insect is a delicacy, and eating it can prolong life.”
“This village, I'm afraid, is doomed.” Yan Gongli said softly.
The old wanderer liked to talk; judging from his appearance, he was also a dashing man when he was young, but time had taken its toll. Only this love of rambling remained, amusing a few ignorant children.
The door opened, and an old woman with white hair poked her head out, age spots covering her thin face. Her eyes, protruding because her eye sockets were sunken, were white and devoid of any agility.
“I didn't expect the people in this village to be sleeping so early; no wonder there aren't many people. Old woman, may I ask if we can stay here for the night?”
The old woman looked at him, grinned, revealing a few yellow teeth, and tremblingly opened the door.
“Crack—squeak—”
