Chapter 384: Guimen Village (Combined Three Parts)

On the imperial lands of Ming, there are many legends of “Guimen Villages.”

The strangeness within a Guimen Village repels other strangeness.

It is like a small patch of “land beyond the realm” suddenly appeared.

But unlike the lands beyond the realm, where evil spirits abound in many forms, this is different.

Even among the Seven Great Sects, there is no unified explanation for why such places as Guimen Villages arise.

Moreover, these places almost always appear in villages near towns, rarely directly within the city walls.

Now, Shiyang Village shows signs of this.

After nightfall, the Captains on watch were vigilant, yet outside the ancestral hall, there was none of the usual nocturnal presence—no small or large evil spirits, visible or hidden, distant or near, prowling and peering from outside.

It remained utterly silent.

Not even strange sounds came from far beyond the village.

At the time, they had not realized it, but after Xu Yuan and Xiang Qinghuai mentioned it, they understood: the village had been sealed off by some strange force.

Guimen Villages always carry a piece of their own “past.”

The evil spirits within a Guimen Village are all tied to this past.

The tricks of these evil spirits, and all the village’s oddities, are closely linked to this “past.”

For Shiyang Village, that past was the gold rush of years ago.

Since no other evil spirits would appear in the village now, the group collectively requested: “We’ll go too…”

Xu Yuan waved his hand: “No need for so many; too many would only hinder our actions.”

Xu Yuan also did not bring Xiang Qinghuai—someone had to remain at the ancestral hall. While Xu Yuan was away, everyone would follow Xiang Qinghuai’s orders.

Xu Yuan and Lang Xiaoba stepped out together, moving with light, silent steps toward the river.

There, they saw Zhao Xian and the other four, earnestly and greedily panning for gold in the river.

Their bodies slowly turned golden.

Xu Yuan frowned, noticing a detail: Zhao Xian’s lower body was tightly wrapped… why?

Aside from Zhao Xian and the other three, the remaining gold-men smeared the gold dust they panned directly onto their bodies, growing stronger with each application.

Xu Yuan split his awareness: half focused on the river, half on Lang Xiaoba beside him.

This was precisely why Xu Yuan had brought Lang Xiaoba along.

“What do you feel?” Xu Yuan suddenly spoke, his voice low.

To Lang Xiaoba’s ears, the voice was like thunder, instantly jolting him awake.

Xu Yuan had already noticed: as Lang Xiaoba stared at the gold-men in the water, his gaze gradually grew hazy, then a fierce, greedy heat surfaced in his eyes.

In this question, Xu Yuan subtly infused a sliver of the “Hundred Taboos” destiny trait’s power.

Once a destiny cultivator reaches the Sixth Flow, they can draw out the trait’s ability and condense it into a “Destiny Art.”

Xu Yuan faintly sensed his destiny cultivation had already brushed against the threshold of the Sixth Flow—only a spark was needed to ascend.

Though he could not yet manifest a Destiny Art, he could already draw out a sliver of the trait’s power.

If Lang Xiaoba had already been corrupted, like Zhao Xian and the others…

That sliver of power would do little.

But since Lang Xiaoba had only just been clouded, there was still time.

Xu Yuan felt this advancement in destiny cultivation was not merely progress in destiny alone—it seemed the improvement in his other cultivated arts had pulled his destiny cultivation upward.

This, perhaps, was one path of destiny cultivation.

Destiny cultivation was too mysterious; Xu Yuan had been groping in the dark.

And since so few practiced it, even a high-level destiny cultivator dared not claim full understanding of its secrets.

Lang Xiaoba’s back broke into a cold sweat: “Thank you, my lord!”

He then recalled: “Your servant… fell into the trap without realizing it. Watching those gold-men, greed quietly overwhelmed every other thought, and reason vanished.”

Xu Yuan nodded—he had brought Lang Xiaoba along precisely to observe and confirm how the gold-men’s tricks operated.

Now it was clear: just as he had suspected, it acted directly on the mind through the eyes.

Of course, ordinary people would feel greed upon seeing gold.

But the gold-men’s effect was far stronger—even Lang Xiaoba, a Seventh Flow cultivator, could not resist.

Xu Yuan said: “Return first. Turn your back on the stream. Do not look at those gold-men again.”

Lang Xiaoba hurriedly replied: “I cannot leave my lord alone…”

Xu Yuan waved him off: “Go back. Your presence hinders my actions.”

Lang Xiaoba felt ashamed—he had become a burden.

Xu Yuan smiled slightly: “Don’t think that way. These evil spirits are too strange. You’ve done well.”

Lang Xiaoba clenched his lips, silent, and returned.

Xu Yuan watched his back in secret, quietly following him all the way back to the ancestral hall.

During this time, Lang Xiaoba slowed his steps several times, clearly struggling.

This was within Xu Yuan’s expectations.

The gold-men’s tricks must have left an “imprint” in the hearts of all who had seen them.

For Lang Xiaoba, though external force had snapped him awake, the imprint would continue to subtly influence him, stirring endless greed, urging him to turn back and glance once more at the gold-men.

If he turned back even once, greed would surge again, drowning all reason.

Lang Xiaoba held firm—he did not turn back.

Xu Yuan silently nodded in approval—the boy was worth cultivating.

Yet he quietly chuckled to himself: I’m even younger than Lang Xiaoba…

Xu Yuan turned and walked upstream along the river.

At the village’s edge, Xu Yuan tried to leave—but found himself trapped in a “ghost wall,” walking endlessly only to return to his starting point.

Xu Yuan quietly gripped the “Yin-Yang Guillotine” and used his right eye to observe.

In the Yin-Yang Guillotine’s vision, the village was shrouded in strange, dusty mist.

Floating in the mist were countless fine particles—mostly ordinary sand, mixed with a few grains of gold dust.

Neither the “sand” nor the “gold dust” was pure in color; both carried a dark, shadowy hue.

Xu Yuan put away the Yin-Yang Guillotine and returned to the riverbank.

Looking downstream, hundreds of zhang away, the gold-men still panned endlessly in the water.

Their bodies, coated repeatedly with gold dust, had rapidly grown to seven chi tall!

Previously, their tallest had been six chi.

Xu Yuan released Pi Long, letting it silently slip into the river.

Pi Long first swam upstream.

To test whether it could escape Shiyang Village through the river.

The result was the same: at the village boundary, it hit a “ghost wall.”

Xu Yuan then guided Pi Long toward the section of the river where the gold-men were.

The river itself was lifeless.

All other evil spirits and strangeness that once dwelled in the water had vanished.

As Pi Long neared the gold-men, it suddenly spotted several small fish swimming past.

The fish were entirely golden.

They, too, had become “gold-fish,” just like the gold-men!

They flicked their tails, darted into the riverbank, swallowed a mouthful of mud and sand, then excreted the sediment from their rear ends—gold dust settled inside their bodies, causing them to grow slightly larger.

Zhao Xian in the water was intently panning for gold; now, like the others, his hands had turned into golden basins.

Suddenly, he saw a small gold-fish swim beneath his feet.

His five fingers instantly elongated, piercing the fish with a hiss.

Zhao Xian grabbed the fish and shoved it into his mouth, chewed a few times, then swallowed.

His body swelled slightly.

The other gold-men showed no initial reaction.

They continued intently panning for gold.

But soon, a second, then a third gold-fish drifted down from upstream—accidentally caught, eaten, and causing growth far faster than panning gold.

The gold-men then began hunting for gold-fish in the water.

Occasionally, one would drift down from upstream.

The moment they saw one, they lunged—whomever grabbed it first kept it.

They had lost all reason; they never questioned why, with so many people panning gold, fish would keep swimming one by one toward them.

Of course, these fish were being driven by Xu Yuan’s Pi Long.

Not only driven—Xu Yuan had secretly cast a vast net.

The net was given to him by his stepmother this morning.

Woven from corrupted silk, Fu family fishing nets, and Spider Lady’s spider silk, finally refined into one.

The corrupted silk was complex to process, so Lin Wanmo spent several extra days.

Unfortunately, it never reached the Fourth Flow—but within the Fifth Flow, its quality was extremely high, bordering on the peak of the level.

Xu Yuan used Pi Long to silently unfurl the net, letting it spread infinitely across the river.

It blocked off half the river upstream.

In truth, Jin Dan could do this too, but this net still retains some of the original Evil Filth Thread’s abilities, making it more suitable.

Every so often, Master Xu quietly opened a gap, then used the Leather Dragon to drive a few fish downstream.

The gold men lost their reason, yet grew greedier.

Hard work panning for gold couldn’t match the speed of simply catching fish.

Soon, the gold men stopped panning altogether and fixated on the water, terrified of missing any fish that passed by.

But gradually, the fish grew fewer and fewer.

Finally, after waiting a full incense stick’s time, a single fish drifted down from upstream. One gold man lunged for it, while the others behind grabbed and pinned it beneath the water, then scrambled to swarm over it.

The river erupted into chaos as the gold men fought violently over the tiny gold fish!

…

Inside the ancestral hall, everyone strictly obeyed Master Xu’s orders, none daring to step outside.

But the village was small, and the continuous sounds of fighting and splashing from the other side of the stream made the Captains exchange glances: What’s going on?

Has Master Xu clashed with the malevolent spirit?

But why has it lasted so long?

Some Captains could no longer hold back and wanted to go out and assist Master Xu.

But Xiang Qinghuai stopped them with a low voice: “No one moves! Do you know why your Master ordered me to stay? Don’t think I can’t see—the greed in your hearts has already spread!”

“Once you step out and see those gold men, you too will be corrupted, and become one of them!”

Those men examined their own hearts… and were suddenly gripped by dread.

It was truly so!

Just earlier, behind doors and windows, they had watched those gold men trudge along the village path toward the river—and at that moment, the seed of greed had silently taken root in their hearts.

…

By dawn, the river was a seething mess.

Dozens of gold men lay shattered, then reformed from molten gold.

But they were slightly smaller than before.

Then, all the gold men suddenly seemed summoned by some unseen force, standing together in the river, gazing eastward.

Afterward, they splashed out of the water and returned along the village paths, each to their own home.

Xu Yuan left the Leather Dragon and the Evil Filth Net in the river, then returned to the village—but did not go to the ancestral hall. Instead, he followed several of the gold men to the old village head’s house.

These gold men were Zhao Xian and the other four, plus his second daughter-in-law.

Xu Yuan had carefully observed these gold men.

They retained human faces.

As a family, they gathered together.

Even when fighting over the tiny gold fish, they stood united against outsiders, never turning on each other.

After seizing the fish, they tore off pieces and shared them equally.

Xu Yuan thus realized only the second daughter-in-law had come from the old village head’s household.

That meant the rest of the family had not yet been corrupted.

…

The rest of the old village head’s family huddled together in one room, trembling all night.

The old village head and his two sons gripped their hatchets and axes tightly, guarding behind doors and windows.

As dawn neared, a sudden noise came from outside.

Several gold men crawled back through a hole in the wall.

Peering through the door crack, they saw the second daughter-in-law—now transformed into a gold man!

And behind her, the other five.

The old village head’s family groaned inwardly: What are we to do now?

Xu Yuan followed behind. If these gold men harmed the old village head’s family, he would intervene.

But once the gold men entered the house, they froze, standing motionless.

They remained like that until daylight.

Their golden hue suddenly faded, reverting to living human form!

“Wu-wu-wu…” The second daughter-in-law covered her face and ran out, sobbing.

As if her memories still lingered in that moment of humiliation.

Zhao Xian and the other four also returned to normal. Zhao Xian’s groin throbbed with agony, and he let out a cry of pain.

His four subordinates rushed forward: “Sir!”

Zhao Xian pointed at the fleeing woman and roared: “Wretched woman! Ungrateful! Kill them all!”

Two subordinates immediately gave chase.

Xu Yuan frowned inwardly: Why did this happen after dawn?

The first four villagers to turn to gold had transformed during the day.

Why did those who transformed at night revert by day?

Xu Yuan held back, waiting to see how things would unfold.

The two subordinates charged out—one was a Wu Xiu.

He carried a massive axe.

The second daughter-in-law ran back to her room—empty.

She threw herself onto the bed, sobbing into the quilt.

The Wu Xiu kicked the door open and charged in, swinging the axe at the bed.

Puff!

The axe cleaved through the woman’s back and buried itself deep into the bedframe!

Her body twitched a few times, blood gushing out—she died without a cry.

Xu Yuan had a suspicion: “Are these people trapped within this single day?”

Only after tonight would he know if his guess was right.

The Wu Xiu had already pulled his axe free and strode off to find others.

Xu Yuan could no longer stand idle.

The Wu Xiu collided with a supple membrane.

He was thrown backward.

He landed on the ground, glared at Xu Yuan, and snarled: “What’s your meaning, Master Xu?”

Xu Yuan stood with hands behind his back, face grim: “Do you truly believe the laws of the Great Ming cannot touch you?”

The Wu Xiu smoothly framed her: “This woman attempted to assassinate our Master—he’s gravely wounded! This entire family must be accomplices!”

Xu Yuan sneered: “Do you really think I don’t know what happened last night? Zhao Xian’s lust brought this upon himself!”

Zhao Xian, supported by two subordinates, stepped out—pale, eyes full of venom, his face already resembling that of the dead.

“Xu Yuan!” he hissed. “You’d defend these commoners? Think carefully—how will you answer to Lord An?”

Xu Yuan’s thoughts stirred.

Zhao Xian thought he had Xu Yuan cornered and grinned wickedly: “The Princess Consort was murdered—this will shake the entire Jiaozhi bureaucracy!

You’re the Chief Justice of Zhan Cheng. Lord An could kill you as easily as swatting a fly!”

Xu Yuan was still thinking when a door behind him opened.

The old village head stepped out with his family, knelt behind Xu Yuan, and bowed his head hard to the ground.

The old village head spoke bitterly: “Master Xu, you are a rare good official. Don’t sacrifice your future for our worthless lives. We… are simply destined for this.”

Xu Yuan did not turn, did not speak—but suddenly, a rope shot out with a hiss.

Like a spirit-dragon darting, swift as lightning, it weaved among Zhao Xian and the other four, binding them all in an instant!

Zhao Xian and the others had no time to react.

Zhao Xian roared in fury: “Xu Yuan! You truly seek death!”

He would not surrender—his shadow writhed, and from the darkness, spectral soldiers and demons thrust forth their heads—

But Xu Yuan had already released his Sword Pearl:

Swoosh—

Five noble heads crashed onto the yellow earth, spraying dust and dirt!

Puff!

Blood spurted three feet high from five severed necks!

The old village head’s family screamed “Ah!” and collapsed onto the ground, staring in terror.

Xu Yuan was wondering: If I kill these corrupted beings now, will they revive tonight?

Zhao Xian thought Xu Yuan was cowed by An Chengyuan’s power.

Once Xu Yuan decided to test it, he acted without hesitation.

It had nothing to do with the old village head’s family behind him.

Xu Yuan knew he was no Bao Qingtian—but under the Great Ming’s rotten governance, this official is a true good man.

The old village head was the first to recover, trembling, unable to form a complete sentence: “M-M-Master, this… this…”

Xu Yuan waved his hand: “Chief, don’t worry—I won’t come to harm.”

Footsteps approached from outside the courtyard; Xiang Qinghuai arrived with his men.

He entered first, saw the corpses of Zhao Xian and the others on the ground, and immediately retreated toward the gate, pressing his back against it to block the captains behind him from entering.

“Fall back!” Xiang Qinghuai barked. The captains all stepped back, unwilling to follow.

Xiang Qinghuai slammed the courtyard gate shut and stamped his foot at Xu Yuan: “Why did you kill them outright? This cannot be allowed to leak out!”

Xu Yuan snorted, glancing at the corpses on the ground: “A pack of scoundrels—deserved to die.”

Xiang Qinghuai sighed deeply: “You… I know they’ve all turned into malevolent spirits, but how will you prove it to the River Ya ? They’re dead now—the River Ya will never believe you!”

An Chengyuan has surely been waiting for a chance to catch you in error!”

Xiang Qinghuai clenched his teeth, thinking of a solution: “Burn the bodies! Deny to anyone that you killed them!”

And make sure your captains keep their mouths shut.”

Xu Yuan had absolute confidence in his men.

He had previously dealt with the traitor Lu Xiang, and later established a private treasury to comfort and support comrades who died in the line of duty.

None of them would be bought by the River Ya .

But Xiang Qinghuai turned his gaze to the old chief and his family, his expression troubled.

The old chief hurriedly said: “Master Xu acted for our family’s sake—though I lose all conscience, I would never betray Master Xu!”

Xiang Qinghuai snorted: “How many in this world repay kindness with betrayal?”

The old chief didn’t know how to express his resolve, so Xu Yuan grabbed Xiang Qinghuai’s arm: “Brother Xiang, don’t worry—I didn’t act on impulse.”

Xiang Qinghuai thought he was shielding the old chief’s family, and couldn’t help saying: “Xiao Xu, in our line of work, you can’t be too soft-hearted.”

Xu Yuan waved his hand: “Leave the bodies alone. Have the old chief’s family move to the ancestral hall. And immediately send men to guard the village entrances—no one else must stumble in.”

“Alright.”

Xiang Qinghuai agreed.

Xu Yuan then asked the old chief: “Where did the old man who first turned into a golden figure live yesterday?”

The old chief replied: “I’ll take you there.”

Xu Yuan left the courtyard and summoned Lang Xiao Ba and Ji Shuangqiu to join him.

…

Just after noon, a party emerged from the River Wharf, mounted the official road, and galloped toward Shiyang Village.

At the front rode a Regional Commander from the River Camp.

Slightly behind them rode a man and a woman.

The woman Xu Yuan recognized—Zhu Zhanlei.

The man also wore the official robes of the Shanhe Bureau, and was a Zhanglu.

The Zhanglu and the Regional Commander rode close together; Zhu Zhanlei deliberately kept some distance from them.

The Zhanglu said to the Regional Commander: “By now, Director Zhao should have brought Xu Yuan back by noon. But he hasn’t shown up. Only two possibilities: either Xu Yuan is defiant and refused orders, or he’s incompetent and hasn’t solved the mystery yet.”

Zhu Zhanlei heard his words dripping with disdain and slander toward Xu Yuan, and faintly furrowed her brow.

The Zhu family had secretly aided Xu Yuan, enabling him to take the position of Zhanglu of Zhancheng.

Moreover, Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei were close to Xu Yuan; the Zhu family had long regarded him as “one of their own.”

The Zhanglu continued: “If it’s the former, the General must intervene and send troops to arrest him.”

“If it’s the latter, it’s my job. I’ll solve the mystery on the spot and let him see how the Shanhe Bureau truly investigates cases!”

This Zhanglu was one of the few best investigators who had come to Zhancheng with An Chengyuan.

It was he who deduced that the Princess had sent assassins to kill Xu Yuan twice.

(End of Chapter)