"What’s happened?"
Sha Lifei was first puzzled, then his expression turned ugly as he cursed, "The cowardly thieves, it couldn’t be that the old driver intentionally gave us the wrong directions just now!"
The seasoned driver, Old ng, shook his head, "It should not be, as I have traveled far and wide across Divine State, with each village’s selection of place bearing significant consideration, not just recklessly nad."
"This place should originally be backed by mountains and facing water, an excellent residence. Perhaps sothing has happened..."
Saying so, he looked around, ca to a pile of wild grass at the roadside, rummaged through it, and dragged out a rotten wooden sign.
By the moonlight, one could see the three characters "Wu Family Gully" on it.
"Stay here, I’ll go have a look!"
Li Yan waved his hand to signal his team to stop, then flicked the reins and rode slowly into the village.
In the dead of night, naturally, one had to be cautious.
Li Yan pressed his left hand on his knife’s hilt, ready to activate the Three Talents Demon Suppression Coin at any mont; his right hand pinched the Yang Jue and took a deep breath.
In an instant, the scent of decayed wood, green grass, and the various slls of small animals swept into his nostrils... Li Yan’s vigilance slightly eased.
Though he didn’t know what had occurred here, at least there were no yin souls causing mischief.
After circling the village on horseback, Li Yan quickly returned to the village entrance and shook his head, "Nothing’s wrong, the villagers have already moved away. Let’s go in, we’ll rest here tonight."
The group imdiately drove their wagons into the village.
Indeed, along the way, every farmhouse was emptied, not to ntion pots and pans; even the door fras were taken away.
Moreover, the areas linking the door fras and stones had grown patchy moss, indicating that the villagers had moved a long ti ago.
In the center of the village, there was a cluster of sizeable buildings.
Like other places, the inside was completely empty, even the plaques over the doors had been removed.
Wang Daoxuan lit a torch and burned so dry mugwort, walked several rounds inside and out, touched the altar, and then ca out shaking his head, "This place should have been the village’s temple, the ancestor’s tablets were moved with proper rites, not in a rushed manner."
"People in Divine State value their native land deeply, it seems sothing major happened that forced them to move."
Sha Lifei scratched his head upon hearing this, "This trouble us, we don’t even know where exactly Elder Wu’s family lived, let alone the location of his wife and daughter’s graves... This is problematic..."
Li Yan pondered for a mont, "Let’s just settle down and rest for tonight. Such a big event as a village relocation must be known by soone. Tomorrow we shall inquire and talk to so elderly villagers."
At this stage, everyone had no choice but to settle down.
They chopped wood for fire, cooked food, and fed the mules, unknowingly it was already deep into the night.
The previous experience at Niu Bei Ridge exhausted the porters both physically and ntally, although it was a deserted village, it was still a safe place.
As their minds relaxed, each of their snores resounded loudly.
Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan still staggered their ditative shifts to guard the night, being protectors for each other. The battle at Niu Bei Ridge made it clear to them that the pugilistic world road was perilous, and they still fell far short.
Past midnight, Wang Daoxuan finished ditating.
He opened his eyes and saw the bonfire roaring, with the night air damp outside the temple as an unnoticed drizzle had started.
Li Yan wasn’t by the bonfire, but stood with his back towards him at the temple’s entrance, motionless, gazing outside.
Such a sight and scene would startle ordinary folks.
Yet, Wang Daoxuan had an inkling, walked over to Li Yan, and asked in a low voice, "You saw it again?"
Li Yan nodded, his expression grave, "The direction has changed."
Outside the temple in the rainy night, the Cold Altar master reappeared.
Covered in tattered clothes, blotched with blood, but its pointing direction had shifted.
Wang Daoxuan looked towards the area Li Yan pointed to, "A change in direction, it seems we’re not far now. Where did Elder Wu say the Magic Veins of the ancestors were located?"
Li Yan replied, "Tianzhu Mountain."
"Oh..."
Wang Daoxuan thought for a mont, then bent down to take out an ancient book of geography and searched through it, "No wonder, I’ve heard of this place vaguely. Though not listed among the Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, it is also a place where Xuann Practitioners seclude themselves."
"Rumors say Ancestor’s Grotto, Jiaozan Cave, ngliang Cave are all in these mountains. Elder Wu’s ancestral Magic Veins altar should also be there."
Seeing Li Yan’s brows still furrowed, Wang Daoxuan smiled, "Don’t worry, there’s a road in front of every mountain. Once we’ve buried Elder Wu, we’ll be headed out."
"No matter what’s there, we will figure it out clearly."
Li Yan nodded, yet his heart felt inexplicably uneasy.
Looking at the blood-stained, chained figure of the roving master, he had a vague premonition.
Things probably wouldn’t go that smoothly...
...
"Everyone, stay calm."
Sha Lifei put on a straw coat, donned a bamboo hat, and laughed heartily, "Daoxuan and I will be right back, and we’ll bring you so fine drinks and food."
The old driver expressed enthusiasm, "Then this old man won’t be modest. Being close to Ezhou, with its water and drought docks, this area is replete with fine liquor."
"It’s the custom in Ezhou to make rice wine on the Double Ninth Festival, and with less than a month left, the rice wine from last year would just have been unsealed, its flavor at its best..."
"Old ng, admirable!"
What more could Sha Lifei say? He gave a thumbs up, turned, and with Wang Daoxuan, they left the temple and disappeared into the autumn rain.
This had been the plan set this morning.
With Sha Lifei’s rich experience in the pugilistic world and Wang Daoxuan’s familiarity with local customs, retrieving information would be easier with the two working together.
And with Li Yan being the strongest in combat, staying behind in the deserted village, should anything happen, he could protect everyone.
After the duo left, everyone else relaxed.
The porters felt particularly at ease, the destination was reached, they just needed Wang Daoxuan to select the auspicious site for burial, then they could carry the coffin up the mountain, bury it properly, and this task would finally be concluded.
Because of the previous encounter at Niu Bei Ridge, Li Yan had promised to add fifty percent to their wages.
And with plenty of ti left on their journey, they could find so petty jobs to earn a little extra money. If so, they would have a prosperous year.
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