Chapter 11: Searching for Supplies

The two Wen brothers have been in the Village for three months now, nearly four.

When they first arrived, the grass wasn't this tall; now, the fast-growing patches have already swallowed the houses.

Fortunately, they have already entered a period of decay.

The autumn wind is bleak, and all things are withering.

It looks very desolate, but for the current situation, the autumn wind brings more of a sense of security.

The movement speed of those Evil Creatures is different from the spring and summer seasons; as the weather gets colder, the contrast will become more obvious.

The team in front has already cleared a path, and everyone is following this road into the Town.

Burning the wilderness certainly cannot mean burning the Town all at once.

It is only burned up to the vicinity, so one can see the many grasses and trees in the front and back yards of the houses in the Town.

Liu Liehu, who has his face covered with only his eyes exposed, walks over. He carries a large bow on his back and holds a Firewood Knife with an extended handle in his hand.

The blade is stained with brown blood.

Although the color of the blood is not bright red, it is all fresh, stained from the Evil Creatures.

Qingyi Daozhang said that flames can remove Evil Poison, so the team that entered the Town first chose a spot to light a fire, and used the flames to scorch all the blood-stained knives and sticks.

Previously, while burning the wilderness outside the Town, they had already used smoke to fumigate and drive them out once, but the Evil Creatures in the Town were certainly not all driven away; perhaps they are hiding in the dark. Liu Liehu reminded everyone to stay vigilant upon entering the Town and not to act alone.

"We have cleared a courtyard; everyone, put the things you are carrying here first."

The Wooden Board Cart for loading and unloading goods, spare farm tools and weapons, and supplies that are inconvenient to carry on one's person are all placed in the small courtyard first.

There is smoke from burning Medicinal Herb inside the courtyard; with so many living people gathered together, the blood-Qi is thick, and it is necessary to use Medicinal Herb or smoke to mask the scent.

Two fires are lit in the courtyard, one for cooking food and the other for "expelling evil" and disinfecting.

The warnings of the Daoist Priest, as well as the Storybook written by Wen Gu, have both mentioned using fire to expel evil, which is high-temperature disinfection.

The villagers with hunting experience are high in spirits after entering the Town.

The Village Chief said that killing one Evil Creature can earn quite a few Work Points, and killing a few more can support the whole family, earning more than moving things.

In groups of three or four, they will first discuss among themselves how to divide what they earn.

Use smoke to fumigate and drive out the Evil Creatures that are hiding, waiting for them to jump out.

The villagers, having been prepared, use a Large Wooden Fork with a long handle to pin them down; although this does not cause actual damage, it provides a brief obstruction, and another person takes the opportunity to swing the Firewood Knife and cleanly decapitate them.

The coordination is tacit.

For the decapitated Evil Creatures, there are villagers specifically responsible for cleaning who use tools to drag them to one spot to be burned later.

Wen Gu observes the wounds of those Evil Creatures.

"Possessed by Evil," which is to say, after a person is parasitized by Evil Gu, their body undergoes alienation; the muscles and fat appear severely atrophied, but in fact, they have become tougher, and they possess higher defensive power than ordinary people.

The blood is reduced, more viscous, and brownish in color.

Piercing wounds can cause damage to them, but it is limited; it can affect their overall movement, but it will not be fatal.

The villagers have figured out the conclusion: it is still necessary to decapitate them.

Wen Gu analyzes. In that case, after the Gu insect parasitizes the human body, it is most likely staying in the head.

If this is so, for Gu insects infecting other parts of the body, can they be intercepted before the Gu insect enters the head?

It is a pity there are no conditions, otherwise Wen Gu would really like to dissect one.

Looking at the other villagers again.

Those who were timid and honest have also changed their appearance, gaining a bit of ruthlessness.

In this world today, everyone is just living for three things—

Survival! Survival! And damn it, survival!

After a short rest, the personnel who arrived later began to work.

"I'm eyeing that stone slab; we can pry it up and take it back to pave the road!"

"Pry it up and leave it there for now, clear the dirt, burn it, and then move it to the cart."

The dirt roads in the Village become muddy whenever it rains, easily breeding insect Gu; although they are currently paved with some wooden boards and gravel, who doesn't like them to be flatter?

Once the road is flat, transporting things is faster.

The Village is going to carry out construction this winter, so they should fix up the roads in the Village too!

"These clothes, the fabric is so good!"

"The Village Chief said, don't take the ones outside; they are stained with Evil Qi. The ones in the clothing chests inside the house are okay."

Expensive clothing that the villagers could once only look at from afar. Fabrics they couldn't even dream of touching are now right before their eyes.

It is a pity that many cannot be taken; taking them back would require a lot of effort to "expel evil." Since they have a choice, they would rather choose those clean clothes and fabrics. Things in the Town, as long as they can be brought back, are all theirs.

Those who feel regretful about those clothes are only saying it with their mouths.

They have all heard the Storybook and know that those clothes are "unclean."

"That house over there, the crossbeam can be dismantled."

"I found an ox cart! The ox is gone, but the cart is still there; it's quite clean and can be used!"

"The shops over there, the door panels are easy to dismantle; dismantle them and take them back first."

The dismantled items are first placed in a designated spot to be sun-dried; anything damp is dried out.

The drier the object, the harder it is for Evil Gu to survive.

Amidst various discussions, a serious-looking villager stands guard in the courtyard, holding several sheets of paper; he knows a few characters and compares them with what is written to remind others. That is the instruction manual written by Wen Gu and the leaders after consultation.

"Forget about the large stone slabs, and don't take the floor tiles! The things on the ground are enough for us to use; don't covet dangerous items!"

Some are responsible for dismantling, some are responsible for loading the carts, and once full, they pull them back. Go back and forth as quickly as possible.

The Daoist Priest said they only have three days at most; when they see Evil Creatures appearing outside again, they must retreat, which means the fire from burning the wilderness has lost its deterrent effect, and the blood-Qi of living people will attract them again.

The Medicinal Herb used for burning is also limited; they cannot keep consuming it here.

Someone wanted to dismantle these houses in the Town and take them back, but Liu Liehu stopped them.

"We can't finish dismantling them all at once. Pick a few intact houses on the edge and seal them up before we leave. When the snow falls in winter, we'll come back again, and we'll have a place to stay."

An older villager looked longingly at a large house in the Town, "Can we really not move into the Town to live? If we leave more houses, people fleeing here could also have a place to stay."

Before Liu Liehu could explain, his son shouted from the side, "Oh, my dear father! Don't just think about the good side. Just think, if it's bandits who come to the Town, and they settle down here, it would be a threat to us!"

"Our Village is different. According to the Storybooks, that's called easy to defend and hard to attack! If we're really pushed to the limit, we can just flee into the mountains!"

There is also a risk of Evil Plague in the mountains, but in this world today, nowhere is safe. When it really comes to fleeing for one's life, can one still worry about such things?

By comparison, the Village is still better; unlike the Town, which is accessible from all directions and has no surrounding walls, it is not safe.

Liu Liehu stopped talking about this and had people go into the Town to search carefully again for any usable weapons.

Some weapons were previously forbidden for commoners to privately manufacture or practice with.

The Strong Bow he carried on his back was something he could not have used before.

The clothes and armor he wore, given his status, were all things he could not have used.

"Official Clothing, Residence, and Sedan Chair, to distinguish the noble from the lowly."

This was what the tutor said when Liu Liehu used to go to the noble families in the County to work.

Whatever one's class or status, one used the corresponding things.

Now, there is no distinction.

At least, here, whoever finds it, it belongs to them.

The villagers can take back whatever they find to use, hoarding a bit more for backup; survival comes first.

Wen Gu also wanted to search around to see if there was anything useful for the journey.

Liu Liehu had his son follow by Wen Gu's side; as locals, they were more familiar with the layout of the Town and could help out.

Xiao Liu Liehu was also very willing and immediately leaned over: "Brother Wen, where would you like to take a look? Don't worry, my archery is no worse than my father's!"

He was very curious about what Wen Gu had seen and heard during his Study Tour and asked about a few things.

Wen Gu also patiently told him about them.

Qingyi Daozhang had not originally planned to follow, but upon hearing "Study Tour," he moved his feet again.

I would like to see what else you, this Gou Shusheng, can spout nonsense about.

Although every time Wen Gu mentioned what he saw and heard during his Study Tour, it put him in a bad mood, but thinking back on it afterwards, hmm, it could be used for reference.

Besides...

The Daoist Priest's gaze swept over the elder Liu Liehu and the younger Xiao Liu Liehu.

The Liu family father and son have their own calculations.

Various scents were gathering in the Town now, and from time to time, a puff of smoke drifted over; Qingyi Daozhang popped a medicinal pill into his mouth to clear his mind.

Wen Gu walked through the Town with Xiao Liu and his cousin, followed by a Daoist priest.

However, they did not chat much, as they still had to be on guard against their surroundings.

Only after Wen Gu confirmed there was no danger nearby and that there were villagers active all around did he divert his attention to the things in the Town.

The density of houses in the Town was higher than in the Village, and most were built of wood; only a few could use blue bricks and large tiles.

He also saw a public water well.

Whether it was a private well in a small courtyard or a public well outside, the well water was already polluted. In the words of the Daoist Priest, those well waters had already been tainted by Evil Qi. The villagers drank the water they brought with them, which had been boiled.

Along the way, one could see tea stalls and wine shops, which had now become dilapidated.

The Evil Plague spread, dealing a heavy and tragic blow to this dynasty, and the Dark Era began.

Those who survived remained trapped in fear of the unknown.

No one knew how long this Dark Era would last, or perhaps, would it eventually head toward an end?

"That over there is the largest shop in the Town." Xiao Liu Liehu pointed to a shop in front.

Villagers were going in and out of there; clearly, everyone knew that the largest shop also had the most things, and someone was carrying out a large roll of cloth.

Wen Gu looked up slightly at the plaque outside.

The world has changed, times have shifted, and the entire Town has become a dead land. The plaques bearing the local imprint still remained here, growing dim day by day, covered in a layer of haze.

Hopefully, one day in the future, they can shine with brilliance once again.

The Daoist Priest following behind wore an expression of "I'm just here for a stroll" and had no interest in the items in those shops.

Last time, which was half a year ago when he first arrived at the Village, he had brought the villagers to the Town to search roughly once, with the main targets being grain and medicinal herbs.

They had almost emptied the medical clinics and pharmacies in the Town.

This time, he had no particular interest; the things he wanted were not in this small place.

What remained in the Town were mostly daily objects, and the villagers might pick what they could use to take back this time.

Robes and boots, pots and pans, mattresses and bed curtains, chests and containers—the villagers could take away whatever they could find from each household.

If there was still time, those beds, tables, and stools would all be moved away. What could be used could continue to be used, and what couldn't would be chopped up for firewood. Anyway, leaving them in the Town meant they would be used by no one and would gradually rot.

Houses need "human vitality" to be maintained; without people living in them, they naturally fall into disrepair quickly.

At this moment, a villager excitedly hugged a basket and came out, saying loudly:

"Come quickly! Look what I found!"

Others who were busy moving things glanced over and, equally surprised and excited, crowded around.

In the large basket were Peach Charms and rolls of Door God Paintings.

They were likely leftovers that the shop hadn't sold back in the day.

Wen Gu walked over to take a look.

The Door God Paintings in the large basket were mainly of two types: one was the Wealth Gate Blunt Donkey, and the other was the Looking Back Deer Horse.

A fat donkey carrying firewood, symbolizing wealth and making a big fortune.

The Looking Back Deer Horse symbolizes the favor of fortune and prosperity, and success in officialdom.

Rising in rank and getting rich—this sort of thing must have been quite fashionable in the past, and merchants stocked quite a lot of them.

If it were peaceful times in the past, everyone would also like them.

But nowadays...

The villagers who crowded over first snatched up the other kind: those for Exorcism and ghost-catching!

If they couldn't snatch those, they would go for the military general door gods; if there were truly none left, then... keep looking! Perhaps other houses still had some?

Surely there must have been families in the Town who bought them back then; perhaps they could be dug out.

Wen Gu watched them.

They held "rising in rank and getting rich" in disdain, while everyone scrambled for "Exorcism and ghost-catching."

They even snatched up Peach Charms carved with patterns; couldn't snatch one?

Go look for more!

Can't find any?

Go pry them off other people's houses!

The Daoist Priest, who was watching this scene with great interest, glanced at Wen Gu: The villagers are foolish and crude by nature; I wonder what this scholar thinks of it?

Wen Gu's expression was strange—astonished, understanding, and thoughtful.

Daoist Priest:???

What is that Gou Shusheng thinking about again?

Wen Gu was merely curious about the local customs and was thinking that if he were to settle down in Beidi in the future and had no other means of making a living, perhaps he could try painting New Year pictures or making Peach Charms?

Not looking any further, Wen Gu also went to search for things he could use. He found what he wanted in the house of one family.

In an inconspicuous clothing chest, he found more than ten wide-brimmed hats, somewhat resembling the Fanyang Hat in his memory.

Xiao Liu Liehu took a look, "This family must have taken on work making large hats."

Of the dozen or so hats found, Wen Gu kept half for himself and gave the other half to the Village.

This was the current rule in the Village.

Wen Gu kept two for himself, gave two to his cousin; the Daoist Priest had a specially made Bamboo Hat and didn't need one. Hmm, give Xiao Liu two as well.

It was enough to use, and the extras could be traded with the Village for other things.

What surprised Wen Gu even more next was that he found a Small Copper Stove in another house.

It was a bit like the Dyeing Stove in Wen Gu's memory, only smaller and more exquisite, convenient to carry when going out, so one could cook food on the road.

This family seemed to have a bit of wealth; the house door was shut tight, and no obvious bloodstains were seen inside; perhaps they had already left at the beginning of the chaos.

Subsequently, Wen Gu pushed open that family's study and saw the Brush Rack on the desk, the hanging writing brushes, as well as some good-quality calligraphy and painting paper and an Inkstone.

His eyes lit up instantly, his gaze filled with longing.

"An empty bow cannot blame the archer for his aim, a fast sword is what allows Meng Ben to strike. To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools! Brush and ink are the scholar's blades; how can one not choose them with care!"

The Daoist Priest "spat" out the residue of the pill in his mouth.

Which dog-thing was it that said "a skilled writer does not choose his brush" in front of me a few days ago?!

Happy New Year to everyone!