Chapter 28: Locust Valley Village

"Daoist, please speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse," Wu Chang replied immediately.

Chi Yuan spoke slowly: "It is quite a coincidence; my own business brings me to Huaigu Village as well."

"Are you also going to attend the festival, Daoist?"

"Not at all. I passed by Huaigu Village a few days ago and saw an overwhelming demonic aura rising from the village, as if some formidable monster were about to be born. My usual ritual instruments were not with me at the time, so I departed to prepare properly before returning to subdue the demon."

"Unexpectedly, on my way to deal with the demon, I encountered these two Mountain-Blocking Ghosts. One managed to escape, and I fear that in its ferocity, it may harm the innocent. It must be eliminated as soon as possible. As for the demonic matter in Huaigu Village, I must ask for your assistance, young hero."

"After you enter Huaigu Village, would you be able to investigate and locate the source of the demonic aura for me?"

[Hidden Side Quest: Find the source of the demonic aura in Huaigu Village. There is no penalty for failure. Do you accept the quest?]

Does that even need thought? Accepted!

Wu Chang said, "Rest assured, Daoist. For those of us wandering the pugilistic world, subduing demons and eliminating evil is our duty. I would be honored to help."

Chi Yuan cupped his hands in a salute and took a white command flag from his sleeve. "Young Hero Wu, if you can find the source of the demonic aura, inserting this flag into it may suppress the aura and prevent the monster's resurrection."

[Item Name: Soul-Cleansing Command Flag.]

[Item Type: Instance Item (Cannot be taken out of the instance plane).]

[Item Grade: C.]

[Item Description: An item passed down from ancient times, inscribed with orthodox Daoist methods.]

[Item Skill: Soul Cleansing.]

[Skill Description: Activate the Soul-Cleansing Command Flag to enter a spectral perspective, allowing you to see nearby ghosts and spirits. It can soothe and purify spirit-type monsters, suppress evil energy, and dispel obsessions and grievances, bringing peace to souls.]

Is this the real deal?

Confirming that the Soul-Cleansing Command Flag was not booby-trapped actually made Wu Chang suspicious. Although Chi Yuan himself did not carry any lingering resentment, his ritual sword, copper bell, and iron mirror were each stained with seven or eight strands of resentment, many of which were the remnants of players.

The death scenes recorded in these resentments had nothing to do with Chi Yuan; they were mostly scenes of battles against monsters. However, bearing so much resentment still made him wary.

But if the item Chi Yuan gave was legitimate, could the resentment on his ritual instruments be a misunderstanding?

He asked Chi Yuan, "I have one more question for you, Daoist: how does one distinguish between demonic aura and resentment? For instance, is the resentment on your instruments actually demonic aura?"

"Monsters are born from the grievances of heaven and earth, so they share the same origin as resentment. Young Hero Wu is truly worthy of a prestigious sect; your innate spiritual perception surpasses that of ordinary people to be able to discern the resentment on my instruments."

Chi Yuan's expression remained unchanged as he answered without hesitation.

"To my shame, my sect is composed of wild, wandering cultivators. Our methods of refining instruments are incomplete, lacking the crucial 'consecration' step. I have no choice but to use the monsters I slay as a conduit to consecrate my instruments."

"This is a shortcut, not the righteous path. The karma and resentment of the slain monsters are inherited by the instruments. Over time, they turn into instruments of slaughter."

Wu Chang realized, "I see."

With the misunderstanding cleared, the two got along much better. After the attack by the Mountain-Blocking Ghost, neither felt like sleeping, and Wu Chang took the opportunity to learn about the world of this instance plane from Chi Yuan.

Chi Yuan, having come from a Daoist background, possessed a solid theoretical foundation and had been at the forefront of demon-slaying during these past few years of monster resurgence, giving him plenty of practical experience.

Combining theory with practice, his systematic understanding of monsters benefited Wu Chang greatly.

As the sky brightened, Chi Yuan packed his belongings, mounted the black donkey from the stable, and set off in the direction the horse-faced ghost had fled. Wu Chang also led his horse and headed toward Huaigu Village, as indicated by Chi Yuan.

The Hundred-Mile Huai Mountain was indeed a place that even Chi Yuan treated with caution; the road was far from peaceful.

After traveling for half a day, he had seen at least thirty or forty traces of player resentment.

Poisonous miasma that could dissolve bone and flesh, snowdrifts that swallowed travelers whole, venomous snakes and insects that could easily bite through leather and cotton clothing... combined with eerie monsters like the Mountain-Blocking Ghost, the deadly threats in the forest were countless.

It was no wonder that the first main quest of the instance was to reach Huaigu Village. The fact that the instance could be pushed to the brink of spiraling out of control by players was largely due to this mountain road.

Some of the dead players had been careless, but many had been deliberately courting death.

For instance, one trace of resentment Wu Chang was currently examining was located in front of a forest of red trees, only three or four miles away from Huaigu Village.

"That Daoist said never to enter the red mountain forest. Let me see what's going on."

The player, overconfident in their martial prowess, had left this final testament before dying in the red forest, without even seeing what the monster that attacked them looked like.

Thanks to these skeptical pathfinders, most of the dangers on the road had been cleared for Wu Chang. The players' resentment was undoubtedly the best signpost.

Guided by these many markers, not only did he step only on safe ground, but he also took quite a few shortcuts. Even the most seasoned hunters in the mountains would not dare to travel as he did.

Normally, it would take two days and two nights to reach Huaigu Village, but he managed to cover the distance in just one day, successfully avoiding the high-fatality event of "camping in the wild" and arriving at Huaigu Village before dark.

Approaching the entrance to the valley, Wu Chang dismounted and led his horse, observing the village.

Huaigu Village, as the name suggests, was built in a mountain valley.

The terrain inside the valley was flat, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with a clear spring flowing down from the peak, forming a small stream that traversed the valley.

Farmland was cultivated along both sides of the river, and clusters of cottages were distributed around the fields, utilizing the space in the valley perfectly. It had an atmosphere of peaceful, agrarian life.

Its superior terrain made Huaigu Village the only one of the five villages in the Hundred-Mile Huai Mountain that didn't need to hunt or trade, surviving solely on its own agriculture.

Unfortunately, what should have been a relaxed and idyllic landscape was now permeated with oppressive gloom, as if it had been filtered through a morbid, otherworldly lens.

Before even entering the valley, he felt a damp, chilling sensation, as if wearing clothes that hadn't dried.

A thick, dark aura echoed throughout the valley, making any living being feel uneasy.

The villagers guarding the valley entrance at night soon spotted him and went to report to the village chief.

Before long, he saw a few young men accompanying an old man walking out of the village.

The old man was thin and lean, his back slightly bent from years of hard labor. Although he looked to be nearing seventy, his voice was resonant and full of vigor, showing no signs of frailty.

"I am Liu Shan, the village chief of Huaigu Village. Why has the young hero come here so late at night?"

Wu Chang cupped his hands and said to Liu Shan, "I am Wu Chang, a disciple of the Tang Sect, currently traveling to gain experience under the orders of my sect. I heard the Year-End Festival in Huaigu Village is quite lively, so I wished to come and see it."

Liu Shan shook his head upon hearing this. "In previous years, it would be no problem to let a hero observe the ceremony, but the village is currently plagued with trouble and is at its wits' end. We cannot attend to you, young hero. I hope you will forgive us and return next year."

Wu Chang removed a cloth bundle from behind his horse, untied the knot, and shook it forward, revealing its contents.

Amidst the gasps of the villagers, the corpse of the ox-headed Mountain-Blocking Ghost appeared before them.

"Young hero, this is?"

Wu Chang said loudly, "This monster is known as a Mountain-Blocking Ghost, formed by the condensed grievances of those who fell from cliffs. I happened to eliminate it while passing by yesterday. Perhaps I can be of some use regarding the troubles in the village."

A villager cautiously approached the corpse and pulled a yellow talisman from his robes. As the talisman drew within a meter of the ghost, it burst into flames.

"Chief, it really is a monster!"

With the identity of the Mountain-Blocking Ghost confirmed, the atmosphere in the area shifted instantly.

Liu Shan, who had been standoffish just moments ago, moved with remarkable agility, covering the distance to Wu Chang's side in two or three strides. He grabbed Wu Chang's sleeve like an elder who hadn't seen a relative in years.

The old man had quite a grip; Wu Chang nearly stumbled.

"Why didn't you say so sooner, Hero Wu? I nearly slighted you. Tie-Zhu, what are you standing there for? Go have the people prepare wine and food, and clean up a guest room!"

"Hero, please, this way. Don't let the remote location of Huaigu Village fool you; this place gathers the essence of the Hundred-Mile Huai Mountain. Especially our local mountain goods—the taste is exquisite, something you might not even be able to buy with money outside."

Because of the Mountain-Blocking Ghost, Wu Chang felt a bit triggered by the mention of mountain goods, but he figured the goods in Huaigu Village were likely legitimate, so he endured it and followed Liu Shan into the village.

Entering Huaigu Village so smoothly was largely thanks to Chi Yuan.

At the inn, Chi Yuan had told him that while mountain folk might seem simple, they were, in fact, the most pragmatic.

If blocked from entering a village, one should either use gold and silver to pave the way or simply lay the corpse of a monster on the ground.

Wealth and power are more persuasive than any words.

Thanks to Chi Yuan's method, Liu Shan was unusually enthusiastic. Not only did he allow him to enter the village, but he also designated him a special VIP for the previously inaccessible ceremony.

Main Quest One was thus completed.

Liu Shan brought out the highest standard of the village to entertain Wu Chang. The mountain goods served were even more enticing than the illusions conjured by the Mountain-Blocking Ghost, leaving Wu Chang savoring every bite.

During the meal, Liu Shan tried to build rapport while subtly probing into Wu Chang's background.

Wu Chang drew upon the many fantasy novels he had read and combined them with the information he gained from Chi Yuan. He spoke eloquently throughout the feast, depicting the Tang Sect as an ancient, hidden sect, leaving the villagers stunned and wide-eyed.

Wu Chang's words soon spread throughout the village. As the story was retold, it grew more exaggerated with each layer of artistic embellishment. By the end, he had transformed from a disciple of a hidden sect into a divine star descending to earth.

After three rounds of wine and many dishes, just as Liu Shan was about to take Wu Chang to rest, a young man ran in, flustered and anxious.

"Chief, it's bad! Little Ning has been possessed by an evil spirit!"