Chapter 316: Departure for the Village! (5/15, Autumn Subscription)

Fang Yue turned back to Wei Ba and Ni Dongmei: "You two go back; we'll handle the rest of the journey ourselves."

"I've been wanting to go back all along," Ni Dongmei rolled her eyes. If it weren't for Wei Ba insisting on seeing them off, she wouldn't have stepped outside for a second—wasting her split-body energy.

"Ye Ge, Wu Wu, remember to keep in touch by phone! I'll work hard at the Extreme Ice Sect—you must come visit me often!"

Fang Yue merely nodded in response, but Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu was deeply emotional; she hugged Wei Ba and burst into wailing sobs—anyone unaware would've thought it was a heart-wrenching farewell, though both were in the same school and could meet anytime.

Giving the two some private space, Fang Yue led the team forward a short distance.

After chattering for a while, Wei Ba wiped away her tears and smiled through them, glanced around, then lowered her voice: "By the way, my friend replied—he had some free time and checked for me. The news about the headless corpse at the neighboring boys' school? It's real. And he really died playing the game—exactly this game we're heading into!"

"Whoa! Don't scare me like that… I'm already such a coward…"

Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu trembled violently: "Did he say why? Was it a problem with the game equipment? What's Tengli Group saying?"

"The official side hasn't responded—we don't know their stance—but the incident seems to have been suppressed. If you're interested, we could investigate together."

"... Never mind. I'm scared."

"That headless corpse died suddenly while playing our game—don't you want to know why? Aren't you afraid your own head might explode while you're playing?"

"It's probably a rare occurrence… and the official side will definitely explain…" Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu whispered weakly, exhibiting a classic ostrich mentality; she added at the end: "Worst case, I just won't play this game anymore—then there won't be any danger…"

"Fine. I'll look into it myself during my days off."

Wei Ba, being more perceptive, felt the incident at the neighboring boys' school couldn't be a simple game equipment accident—it might be murder or something else. The idea that someone's head suddenly exploded while playing? That was too absurd.

While the two were talking, Fang Yue finally grew impatient and urged them on.

"Then… then let's say goodbye here!"

"Mm, be careful on the road!"

They waved goodbye; Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu ran a few steps and climbed onto the horse beside Fang Yue, who handed her a bright red fruit. After hesitating, she ate it through her tears.

"Eat well—look at Xiao Xuedou the Blood Hunter, how good he is at eating. Can't you even beat a dog?"

Can't beat him, can't beat him, absolutely can't beat him!!

The tears streaking down Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu's cheeks were the water that had once flooded her brain. Why, why did I ever tell Ye Ge my talent was gaining stats just by eating? Why couldn't I have kept it secret? Then I wouldn't have to suffer this pain…

Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu, whose life had improved, had completely forgotten that without this talent, she couldn't have even stayed in Gu Yue Cun.

Watching the team depart into the morning sun, Wei Ba's eyes were filled with envy.

"Let's go. In a few more days, the Extreme Ice Sect's reception team should arrive."

These past few days, Wei Ba suffered, and Ni Dongmei wasn't faring well either. She didn't mind being cooped up in the inn like in prison—she just hated how the Extreme Ice Sect's team kept delaying. She waited day after day, counting the hours, utterly tormented.

The two returned to the inn and stayed there for several more days.

During these days, Mo Cun finally finalized the selection of its third Captain.

The winner, as expected, was Deputy Captain Lang Mo.

Some suspected Chief Captain Lang Wu had pulled strings for him; others claimed Lang Mo bribed Captain Wu for the position.

In any case, his reputation was tarnished—but his position was now secure.

To rehabilitate his image, Lang Mo began patrolling day and night, appearing publicly—and his popularity among the villagers soared.

"Being a Captain isn't that hard!"

Lang Mo felt good about himself, but Captain Wu shook his head slightly—he understood this was merely because Lang Mo hadn't yet faced a powerful anomaly, hadn't yet felt the pressure when the entire village looked to the Captain for salvation.

The burden of carrying the entire village's hopes on one's shoulders—that's what truly measures whether a Captain is worthy.

Right now, Lang Mo was merely on probation.

The departure of Fang Yue's team seemed to have no impact on Mo Cun; everything continued to turn at its usual slow pace.

People came and went, carts rolled in and out—nothing changed.

But only Chief Captain Lang Wu knew.

Whether Fang Yue could return safely, whether Fang Yue could convince Lord Han to protect Mo Cun—this determined the very survival of Mo Cun!

"Must… must make it!"

That's what Chief Captain Lang Wu thought—but tomorrow and disaster, no one knew which would come first.

Several days after Fang Yue's escort team had departed.

What Mo Cun received was not the Extreme Ice Sect's reception team, nor any good news from Fang Yue… but a massive Black Cloud.

The Black Cloud was thick, lightning flashing and thunder roaring within it, drifting straight toward Mo Cun.

"An ill omen…" Captain Wu frowned slightly.

"Is it going to rain heavily?" Lang Mo scratched his head.

"..." Chen Xiaomiao, mentally drained, said nothing.

Villagers scrambled in fear back to their homes; the Guard Team sprang into action, standing alert against this anomaly.

Only Chief Captain Lang Wu stood at the very center of Mo Cun's ancient array, his entire body trembling!

…It wasn't him shaking—it was the entire ancient array vibrating, a massive tremor so vast it shook the whole structure—and dragged his body along with it.

"That Black Cloud… the ancient array is reacting to it!!"

Upon realizing this, for the first time, it was Chief Captain Lang Wu himself who trembled—in pure, terrified shaking.

He lifted his head, gazing at the colossal Black Cloud far on the horizon; a suffocating pressure rose in his chest, as if a vast black cloth were smothering everything, leaving not a single ray of light visible.

…

Qing Ya Ke Zhan.

Ni Dongmei stood on the rooftop, staring fixedly at the distant Black Cloud, face filled with disbelief.

"How… how could there be so many!"

She was terrified—even considered fleeing immediately—but she couldn't escape, and had nowhere to run.

Beside her was Wei Ba—she absolutely could not let Wei Ba die in Mo Cun!

She channeled her internal energy into the Communication Meatball and initiated a call.

"Uncle, where are you and the other Elders? Are you not here yet!"

"..."

In response to her, only a deathly silence—just like the immense Black Cloud far in the sky, oppressive, silent, terrifying!

Though the tail did not know what had happened, it understood that Mo Cun had once again fallen into crisis.

Fortunately, Fang Yue and the others were not in Mo Cun.

(End of Chapter)