Chapter 413: There's News (4/10, Autumn Subscription)

This phenomenon has a term that describes it quite precisely: the backflow tide.

If you happen to run into a Possession during the backflow tide, that would be troublesome.

So everyone kept their hearts in their throats and quickened their pace; only Fang Yue paused for a moment at that fork in the road, his gaze turning toward Mo Cun.

At that instant, a strange feeling suddenly welled up inside him.

It was as if a person about to leave home on a long journey felt a deep surge of longing for his hometown.

He already knew the tragic fates of Mo Cun, Luoye Cun, Man Shui Cun, and the other villages.

Those villages had all been raided by the Wu Yu tribe; most of them must have been reduced to ruins by now.

Memories of these villages welled up in his heart, firmly etched there.

"As long as I'm still alive, these villages will have proof that they once existed — they won't count as completely destroyed!"

Fang Yue silently thought.

Luo Shenyi, An Shenyi, Lin Duoduo, Captain Shan… the faces of many people flashed through his mind one after another, like a revolving lantern.

"This grudge — I will definitely avenge it!"

Fang Yue took one last deep look in that direction, then caught up with the group.

Lin Ling's route planning was very orderly, and the schedule was arranged with great precision.

The only problem was that, because of Meiyu Xianzi, they had been delayed, so they could only make camp and rest halfway along the road.

Resting in the wilderness — that was truly nerve-wracking.

Every now and then, eerie wailing sounds would ring out around them, and they had no choice but to keep their Human Soul torches lit to avoid being eroded by the night's chill.

Fortunately, they had set up camp right on the village road, so the night passed without any real mishap.

After walking for another half a day, Fang Yue and the others finally arrived at the first tool-village.

The reason Fang Yue called this village a tool-village was that, apart from staying one night there, they would have no interaction at all with anyone in the village.

At least that was what Fang Yue thought, so he hadn't even bothered to remember the village's name.

But the villagers were damnably enthusiastic — they nearly carried them in on an eight-person bridal sedan.

This left Fang Yue's group completely baffled, but when they saw Lord Han's lone head blinking its eyes, they were all scared into drawing their blades.

"A-a Possession!!"

"Everyone be careful, they've been Possessed!"

Seeing the situation, Lin Ling hurried over to explain.

After a long explanation, plus the demonstration of Possession-detecting talismans and the like, and Lord Han's renowned reputation, the crowd finally believed Lin Ling — though they were still very wary of Lord Han and posted many people to watch over him.

This left Lord Han a bit sullen.

In a room on the second floor of the inn where they had settled, he shook his head and said to Fang Yue: "How about you just put me on the cart? I'll keep my eyes shut and not move, play the part of a statue, save us the trouble."

"Not a chance!"

Fang Yue said hurriedly.

Lord Han had done him a great kindness; how could he let Lord Han suffer such an indignity?

But outwardly, it really was hard to explain.

If it were him, and he suddenly saw a stranger from outside carrying a living head, he'd certainly treat it as a Possession too.

"Fine, then I'll try to show my face as little as possible." Lord Han sighed, paused, then asked: "By the way, Xiao Ye, you've been cursed by the Wu Yu tribe — have you felt anything?"

Felt anything…

Fang Yue touched the Xinghong Banyue Yinjie on the back of his hand and shook his head slightly.

He had only felt the curse heat up on that night of the village's destruction, when the Night Rain was about to fall — and that was all.

Fang Yue vaguely suspected whether the two might be connected.

After all, this was a curse from the Wu Yu tribe's royal family — a curse bearing the very name 【Wu Yu】 at that. Even Meiyu Xianzi had specifically mentioned this curse, which showed it was no simple matter.

But Meiyu Xianzi had also pointed out a path for Fang Yue to take, so for now he was still fairly calm.

While Fang Yue and Lord Han were chatting, someone arrived outside the inn.

It was none other than the Chief Captain of this village's Guard Team.

He first exchanged pleasantries with Lin Ling, then asked the question he had been wanting to ask ever since Fang Yue and the others had entered the village.

"Captain Lin, how is Gu Yue Cun now? And that terrifying Black Cloud — where has it gone? Has it been chasing you toward our village?"

Clearly, they assumed Fang Yue and the others had come fleeing from disaster.

But given that premise, they were still willing to take Fang Yue's group in — which showed they were good people, willing to honor the ancient mutual-aid pact between villages.

Lin Ling didn't beat around the bush; he told them of Gu Yue Cun's ordeal, and of the Black Cloud's final fate.

Except for the last segment — the part about killing Chen Lao — the credit was pinned on Lord Han.

"Lord Han was actually that brave?!"

"Lord Han — truly worthy of being the legendary Lord Han!"

"What a shame, Lord Han is now… Sigh! Those cursed Possessions!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion; after getting the news they wanted and sharing a moment of shared outrage, they took their leave.

Held in Fang Yue's arms, Lord Han watched the people departing below and said: "Xiao Ye, I'm sorry you've been put through this."

"It's nothing."

Fang Yue shook his head slightly — this was the story he and Lord Han and the others had agreed upon beforehand.

Outwardly, all the credit for repelling the Wu Yu tribe would fall on Lord Han; Lord Han was already half a step into the Rain-tier, and indeed had the strength to repel the Wu Yu tribe — he just lacked a bit of luck. Added to that, Lord Han's fame had spread far and wide for years, so the claim would be accepted, and the others could swallow it too.

The real truth only needed to be told to the people of the Qing Division.

The Qing Division had strict rules; they would keep the matter confidential, and Fang Yue's share of the credit would not be shorted either.

Fang Yue cared nothing for fame — only for profit.

If there's a benefit to be gained, that's enough.

But Lord Han, who gave his all for Gu Yue Cun, ended up in such a state.

Now, just entering the village gets him treated as something strange, met with odd looks — this made Fang Yue very uncomfortable.

If Lord Han's defending the village and driving back the Wu Yu tribe led to this, and a reputation like that of a half-martyr spread out, then in the future when Lord Han entered the village, he wouldn't have to endure those strange looks, but would be regarded with respect wherever he went.

Lord Han deserves such treatment!

"By the way, Lord Han, is there really no way to restore your body?"

"Very difficult, and there's no need. I was already a husk nearly at the end of my wick, a withered shell — whether I have a body or not makes little difference. I'm a man about to die either way."

Though Lord Han said so, Fang Yue still wanted to do something for him.

An ordinary village was hopeless; if he could get to Qingsi County, perhaps he could inquire at the Qingsi Office for information on this matter.

In a world with immortals, reshaping a body should be possible.

Just as Fang Yue thought of this, the room's door was suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in, gasping for breath as he spoke.

"Ye Ge! There's news!"

Fang Yue was stunned for a moment, then suddenly grew excited.

The one who came was none other than Jing Yan.

(End of chapter)