Chapter 137: Setting Out for Nanjiang

This is the intelligence of the Southern Frontier Gu Tribe.

Zhou Hexuan handed Jiangnan a slip of paper.

It seems we can only slowly search after venturing deep into Nanjiang.

Zhou Hexuan sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Jiangnan took the slip, glanced at it, and his brows furrowed slightly.

We must not delay; let's set out now.

Jiangnan's voice was low, carrying an indisputable tone.

The three walked out of the hotel; the night was already deep.

A Land Rover was parked at the entrance, its driver having waited a long time.

The three got in, and the Land Rover sped off, disappearing into the vast night.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was heavy.

Zhou Hexuan closed his eyes to rest, while Xia Yurou gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Jiangnan fidgeted with the slip in his hand, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Nanjiang, a place full of mystery and danger.

Their journey is destined to be anything but peaceful.

The car sped along, soon leaving the urban area and entering the desolate suburbs.

Along the road, tree shadows swayed, appearing especially eerie in the night.

The driver seemed somewhat familiar with the area, quickly finding a county town and leading Jiangnan and the others to lodge there.

Xia Yurou still lingered in Jiangnan's room on the pretext that her residual poison had not cleared.

But she was quite honest today and did not deliberately cling to Jiangnan.

The night passed in silence, and early the next morning,

Zhou Hexuan, as if seeking credit, told Jiangnan that he had prepared everything.

Jiangnan nodded, took out the map Zhou Hexuan had given him, studied it for a moment, then pointed to a village and said:

Our first stop will be this Grass Mountain Village.

Zhou Hexuan blinked slightly, for Grass Mountain Village was indeed the best location for penetrating deep into Nanjiang.

But only locals know this; outsiders could hardly possibly know.

How do you know Grass Mountain Village is the best spot?

Zhou Hexuan couldn't help asking, his voice a bit hurried.

Jiangnan lifted his gaze, his eyes calm as water.

The mountains surround this place; Grass Mountain Village lies within them, like a pearl set among the hills.

He paused, then continued.

In feng shui, this is called 'jade belt around the waist,' a place that gathers wind and qi.

Jiangnan's voice was low, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hexuan's eyes filled with even greater admiration.

He had thought Jiangnan merely skilled in combat, never expecting him also to be versed in feng shui.

I see; thank you for the lesson.

Zhou Hexuan clasped his hands, his tone full of respect.

Xia Yurou stood to the side, her lovely eyes shifting.

She looked at Jiangnan, her affection growing stronger.

This man always manages to surprise her.

Let's set out.

Jiangnan put away the map and took the lead.

Zhou Hexuan immediately followed, arranging the vehicle.

Xia Yurou closely followed, and the three once again embarked on their journey.

This time, they headed straight for Grass Mountain Village.

The county town is not far from Grass Mountain Village, but the road is rough and hard to travel.

The deeper they went, the worse the road conditions became.

The originally wide asphalt road gradually turned into a narrow dirt track.

The vehicle jolted, emitting a 'creak-creak' sound.

Outside the window, the scenery shifted rapidly.

Dense forests, layered mountain ranges, and occasional streams flashing by.

Everything seemed primitive and mysterious.

Xia Yurou felt a bit uneasy, her brows slightly furrowed.

She gripped the car door handle tightly, striving to keep her balance.

The car pressed on, finally reaching Grass Mountain Village in the evening.

At the village entrance stood an ancient stone archway.

Above it were carved the three large characters 'Grass Mountain Village,' the strokes vigorous and powerful.

On either side of the archway stood two towering ancient trees, their branches lush and leaves thick, blocking out the sky.

A sense of antiquity and vicissitude washed over them.

The car slowly entered the village.

The houses in the village are mostly wooden structures, arranged in a pleasingly irregular pattern.

The path paved with bluestone slabs winds and twists, leading to the deeper part of the village.

At this moment, the setting sun casts its afterglow over the village, coating it with a layer of golden light.

Cooking smoke curls upward, and the air is suffused with a faint scent of firewood.

A few dog barks break the village's tranquility.

Zhou Hexuan parks the carriage in an open space.

The three of them get out and look around.

"Is this Grass Mountain Village?"

Xia Yurou asks softly, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"That's right."

Zhou Hexuan nods.

"We'll find a place to stay first, then make plans."

Jiangnan scans the surroundings, his gaze landing on a relatively spacious courtyard.

"There, then."

He points at the courtyard.

Zhou Hexuan and Xia Yurou raise no objection, and the three walk toward the courtyard.

The courtyard gate hangs ajar; Zhou Hexuan steps forward and knocks lightly.

"Is anyone there?"

He calls out.

A moment later, footsteps echo from within the courtyard.

The gate creaks open, and a middle‑aged woman sticks her head out.

She is dressed plainly, with a trace of wariness on her face.

"Who are you looking for?"

The woman asks, her eyes scanning the three of them.

"Sister, we're from out of town and would like to borrow a room for one night in the village."

Zhou Hexuan quickly explains.

"Borrow a room?"

The woman furrows her brow slightly.

"It's not convenient for us to host outsiders here."

She seems a little uneasy.

"Sister, we'll pay."

Zhou Hexuan says this while pulling a bundle of cash from his pocket.

Seeing this, the woman's eyes brighten and her attitude changes instantly.

"Then... you may come in."

She steps aside and ushers the three into the courtyard.

The courtyard is small, but kept clean and tidy.

A few wooden houses form a quadrangle.

In the center of the courtyard stands an old locust tree, its branches dense and leaves lush.

Under the tree, a Stone Table and several Stone Stools are placed.

"You can stay in this room."

The woman points to an empty room.

"Thank you, sister."

Zhou Hexuan thanks her and leads Jiangnan and Xia Yurou into the room.

The room is simple, containing only a bed, a table, and a few chairs.

But it is fairly clean, sufficient for one night.

"You rest first; I'll go prepare dinner for you."

Having said that, the woman turns and leaves.

Jiangnan puts down his luggage and walks to the window.

He pushes the window open, and a rush of fresh air hits his face.

Outside the window are rolling mountains.

The sunset has fully set, and night descends.

Between the mountains a thin mist rises, like a fairyland.

"The air here is truly wonderful."

Xia Yurou walks to Jiangnan's side and says softly.

"Hmm."

Jiangnan nods.

"Nanjiang truly lives up to its reputation."

The two stand side by side, admiring the scenery outside the window.

Dinner is simple farmhouse fare, but it tastes quite good.

The three sit around the Stone Table, eating and chatting.

"Big sister, has anything strange happened in your village?"

Zhou Hexuan asked tentatively.

"Strange things?"

The woman thought for a moment.

"To call it strange, the village hasn't been peaceful lately."

"Not peaceful?"

Zhou Hexuan pressed further.

"Lately, people have been disappearing from the village frequently."

The woman lowered her voice.

"Missing?"

Jiangnan and Xia Yurou exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of solemnity in the other's eyes.

"Yes, they're all young people who vanished inexplicably."

The woman sighed.

"The villagers say the Mountain God is angry."

"Mountain God?"

Zhou Hexuan furrowed his brows.

"We've always worshiped the Mountain God here, to protect the village's safety."

The woman explained.

"But lately, the incense in the Mountain God's shrine has gone out, and misfortunes have struck the village one after another."

"Did you call the police?"

Jiangnan asked.

"We reported it; the police have come a few times, but they found nothing."

The woman shook her head.

"Those who vanished are as if they evaporated from the world, leaving no trace at all."