Chapter 403: Primitive Tribe

The moonlight was like water.

Zhang Xingyu set the small boat down and leapt over the side.

At the moment he jumped, he glanced back at the cabin. It was pitch black there; Tang Yunxi was probably already sound asleep.

"Farewell, senior sister; farewell, my beloved. If there is a next life, we shall meet again."

Taking advantage of the moonlight, Zhang Xingyu steered the small boat away from the dragon boat, hurrying toward the storm zone.

The sea water lightly lapped the hull, making crackle‑crackle sounds.

Zhang Xingyu recalled that night.

That night, he piloted the small boat away from Gold Coin Island, drawing his sword alone to slay the great demon.

How nostalgic for those times.

Zhang Xingyu reminisced about the past. The small boat, driven by spiritual energy, surged forward against the raging wind and waves.

At that moment, a purple meteor streaked across the night sky and gently fell in front of the small boat.

Tang Yunxi stood at the bow, giggling at him: "Rogue, you're going to venture into the Ancient God Forbidden Land; how can you abandon me?"

"Yunxi, this journey to the Ancient God Forbidden Land is likely a certain death. I have to go because of a life‑and‑death pact with the witch Harry; why must you insist on accompanying me to our doom?"

"If the witch can share life and death with you, why can't I? Stop urging me; I won't leave. If we venture, we venture together; if we walk, we walk together; if we live, we live together; if we die, we die together."

Zhang Xingyu stopped insisting and simply stepped forward, holding her tightly in his arms.

Two hours later, the small boat passed through the storm zone.

Zhang Xingyu wiped the sweat from his forehead and finally let out a gentle sigh.

He looked up toward the distant Ancient God Forbidden Land, then lowered his gaze to Tang Yunxi at the bow; his hands steering the magic boat trembled slightly.

Bathed in the sky‑wide glow, the magic boat drifted slowly toward the Ancient God Forbidden Land.

When they neared, Zhang Xingyu folded away the magic boat and, hand in hand with Tang Yunxi, flew onto the golden Hundred Flowers Grand Ship.

They drew their flying swords and carefully inspected the grand ship.

The ship was completely empty; not even a single helmsman remained.

Such a scene was truly eerie.

The two returned to the deck, about to discuss matters.

At that moment, the purple qi within the Ancient God Forbidden Land suddenly roiled, and golden rays burst outward.

A moment later, the qi subsided, and the surroundings returned to silence.

On the Hundred Flowers Grand Ship, Zhang Xingyu and Tang Yunxi had vanished.

When Zhang Xingyu awoke, he found himself lying on a flat meadow.

Tang Yunxi lay beside him with eyes closed, clasping her own arms tightly.

He lowered his head to check and saw that Tang Yunxi's breathing was even; she must be asleep.

That's a relief.

Zhang Xingyu let out a long breath.

He slowly sat up and scanned the surroundings.

The sky was a clear blue, and the mountains resembled ink wash.

The plains were verdant, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance.

A clear stream meandered, and more than ten wooden huts were scattered about.

It was evening; the setting sun cast orange‑red afterglow, and wisps of cooking smoke rose lazily from the rooftops.

What a tranquil, serene pastoral scene.

Is this truly the dreaded Ancient God Forbidden Land?

At that instant, a soft whisper reached his ears.

Zhang Xingyu turned his head and saw Tang Yunxi's eyes already open.

"Where is this?" Tang Yunxi asked.

"I don't know. It doesn't look like the Ancient God Forbidden Land," Zhang Xingyu replied, gently helping her to her feet.

Tang Yunxi sat up, resting her head lightly on Zhang Xingyu's shoulder.

"It's truly beautiful," Tang Yunxi whispered.

"Yes. It's indeed beautiful. If possible, I'd like to build a wooden house here and live with senior sister forever."

Zhang Xingyu softly described their idyllic life together.

"I'll till the fields, you'll weave cloth, and then we'll raise a bunch of cute children."

Tang Yunxi listened quietly, her pretty face flushing bright red.

At that moment, a series of thudding footsteps came from behind them.

The heavy footsteps instantly shattered the couple's sweet, intimate atmosphere.

Zhang Xingyu turned his head and saw a towering figure.

The newcomer was a burly man, about twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight years old. He wore a slashed beast‑skin short coat, his arms and chest bulging with muscle, his bronze‑toned skin glinting in the sunset.

On his back he carried a massive longbow, and on his shoulder he bore a black bear weighing several hundred jin.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu turn, the burly man halted, opened his mouth, and showed a set of white teeth.

"Are you two outsiders from the outside world?" the burly man asked.

His pronunciation was a bit odd, but still understandable.

"Outsider?" Zhang Xingyu was puzzled.

"Are you two outsiders from the outside world?" Seeing Zhang Xingyu not answer, the burly man asked again.

"We indeed come from elsewhere. It's just that we don't know if we're the outsiders you speak of," Zhang Xingyu thought for a moment and replied.

The strong man heard that and nodded, "That's it."

Seeing the strong man's friendly attitude, Zhang Xingyu mustered his courage and asked, "May I ask, brother, what place this is?"

"This place is…" the strong man thought for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

He set the black bear from his shoulder, scratched his head awkwardly. After a moment, he said, "I don't know what this place is either. However, the outsider from outside said it should be called the Ancient God Forbidden Land."

"The outsider from outside—could there be other people from other lands here?"

"Of course. Our ancestors passed down that every few thousand years, outsiders descend from the heavens to this place."

After some exchange, Zhang Xingyu not only learned the strong man's name, but also clarified the situation here.

The strong man's surname is Ji and given name Da; he lives in Ji Village by the river, and his father is the village chief.

Most villagers in Ji Village bear the surname Ji, said to be descendants of the ancient god Ji Fa.

The elders recount that in this Ancient God Forbidden Land, five primordial deities once dwelled, and Ji Fa was one of them. The ancient god Ji Fa possessed boundless strength, could crush mountains with his feet and pluck stars with his hands, and was revered by the locals as the Mighty God.

Besides Ji Village, this world has many other villages. Ji Da has heard of Jiang Village, Ping Village, You Village, Yuan Village, and Zhu Village. The villages are scattered far apart; although Ji Da has heard of them, he has never visited any.

At Ji Da's enthusiastic invitation, Zhang Xingyu and Tang Yunxi decided to first settle in Ji Village.

Upon arriving at Ji Village, they saw villagers from afar, supporting the elderly and carrying the young, come out to greet them.

They came to see the outsiders.

Like clowns watching a circus, they surrounded Zhang Xingyu, scrutinizing him, pointing and whispering softly.

Tang Yunxi's face flushed bright red from their gazes.

Zhang Xingyu held her hand and gently reassured, "Don't be afraid; they mean no harm."

"Hello everyone!" Zhang Xingyu smiled and greeted the villagers one by one.

After entering Ji Da's courtyard, a few children lingered outside, unwilling to disperse.

Ji Da is already married. His wife is a virtuous lady.

Upon the guests' arrival, she silently poured tea, then excused herself to the kitchen to busy herself.

In less than an hour, dish after dish of fragrant food was carried to the table.

Zhang Xingyu and Ji Da clinked cups and exchanged drinks, soon becoming familiar.

"Brother Zhang, tomorrow we will ascend the Desolate Mountain to sacrifice to the Mountain God; you both come with us!" Ji Da, burping, said to Zhang Xingyu.