Chapter 138: The Tragedy of Grass Mountain Village

It seems this Grass Mountain Village is more complicated than we imagined.

Zhou Hexuan said in a low voice.

"Since we're here, we make do."

Jiangnan's voice was calm.

"We'll rest first and make plans tomorrow."

After the meal, the three returned to their rooms.

Xia Yurou still lived together with Jiangnan.

She had become accustomed, or rather, she simply didn't want to be apart from Jiangnan.

The night was deep and silent, all sounds hushed.

Jiangnan sat cross‑legged on the bed, closed his eyes to cultivate.

Xia Yurou lay beside him, yet she couldn't fall asleep.

She turned her head toward Jiangnan; his handsome profile looked especially charming in the moonlight.

A flutter rose in Xia Yurou's heart, and she couldn't help moving closer to Jiangnan.

A faint fragrance drifted from Jiangnan.

Xia Yurou inhaled deeply, feeling a refreshing serenity.

She quietly watched Jiangnan, her eyes full of tenderness.

Suddenly, an odd sound came from outside the window.

"What was that sound?"

Xia Yurou startled and quickly sat up.

Jiangnan also opened his eyes and tilted his ear to listen.

"It sounds like... someone is crying?"

Xia Yurou's voice trembled.

"Go out and take a look."

Jiangnan rose and opened the room door.

Xia Yurou followed closely, and the two stepped out of the room.

The courtyard was pitch black.

The crying seemed to come from deep within the village.

"Let's go."

Jiangnan whispered and led the way toward the source of the sound.

Xia Yurou clung tightly behind him, uneasy in her heart.

The two walked along the bluestone path, moving forward.

The crying grew clearer and more mournful.

Suddenly, Jiangnan halted.

He pointed at a courtyard ahead.

"The sound is coming from there."

Xia Yurou looked in the direction his finger indicated.

It was a dilapidated courtyard, its gate tightly shut.

The crying was indeed emanating from within the courtyard.

"What should we do?"

Xia Yurou asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

"Let's go in and see."

Jiangnan didn't hesitate and stepped forward to push the courtyard gate open.

With a "creak," the gate opened.

A chilling aura brushed his face.

The courtyard was empty of people.

Only a single house glowed with a faint light.

The crying was indeed coming from that house.

Jiangnan and Xia Yurou exchanged a glance and cautiously approached the house.

They reached the window and, through the crack, peered inside.

Inside, a young woman knelt on the floor, sobbing bitterly.

In front of her lay a Spirit Tablet.

On the Spirit Tablet was written a name: Li Qiang.

"Let's go in and ask."

Jiangnan pushed open the door and entered the room.

The woman, hearing the movement, jerked her head up.

She saw Jiangnan and Xia Yurou, a flash of terror crossing her eyes.

"Who are you?"

Her voice was hoarse, with a hint of wariness.

"We were just passing by, heard your crying, so we came in to see."

Jiangnan explained.

"You... why are you crying?"

Xia Yurou asked.

"He's dead... he died saving me..."

The woman began to sob again.

"Who was he? How did he die?"

Jiangnan pressed.

"His name is Li Qiang, he's my boyfriend..."

The woman spoke haltingly.

It turned out that Li Qiang and the woman had been childhood sweethearts.

The two were very close and were preparing to marry.

But just a few days ago, Li Qiang suddenly disappeared.

The woman searched everywhere but found no trace of him.

Until today, villagers found Li Qiang's corpse on the back hill.

His death was tragic, his body riddled with wounds, clearly murdered.

"Who killed him?"

Jiangnan asked, his voice cold.

"I don't know... I don't know..."

The woman shook her head, her eyes full of despair.

"Could... could he be one of those missing people?"

Xia Yurou suddenly asked.

"It's possible."

Jiangnan nodded.

"It seems this village hides a huge secret."

The two walked out of the house, heavy‑hearted.

"We must uncover the truth as soon as possible."

Jiangnan said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"But where should we start our investigation?"

Xia Yurou asked, her face blank.

"Start by investigating the missing people."

Jiangnan pondered for a moment.

"Tomorrow, we'll go into the village to inquire and see if we can find any clues."

"Alright."

Xia Yurou nodded.

The two returned to their lodging, sleepless through the night.

Early the next morning, Jiangnan and Xia Yurou stepped out of the courtyard.

They planned to inquire in the village to see if they could find clues about the missing, and also look for a guide who could lead them deeper into Nanjiang.

Zhou Hexuan also got up; after learning of their plan, he said he would join them.

The three walked along the village path, asking the villagers about the situation.

But the villagers seemed tight‑lipped, unwilling to talk much.

Jiangnan and his two companions walked side by side on the village road, heading straight for the Village Chief's house.

The previous investigation yielded nothing.

The villagers were reticent, as if hiding some secret.

This only strengthened Jiangnan's resolve to uncover the truth.

The Village Chief's house stands in the center of the village.

A typical southern dwelling, with blue bricks, gray tiles, and a tightly shut wooden door.

Zhou Hexuan stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.

"Dong dong dong."

The sound rang especially loud in the tranquil morning.

After a moment, the wooden door creaked open slowly.

An elderly man with speckled hair appeared at the doorway.

He was indeed the Village Chief of Grass Mountain Village.

"Who are you?"

The Village Chief sized up the three, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"We would like to learn about the village's population disappearances."

Jiangnan got straight to the point.

The Village Chief's complexion changed slightly upon hearing.

He sighed once and invited the three inside.

Inside, the furnishings were simple: an Eight Immortals Table and a few wooden chairs.

A landscape painting hung on the wall, its ink washes vivid and its artistic conception profound.

"Please sit."

The Village Chief pointed at the wooden chair.

The three of them sat down, their gazes all focused on the Village Chief.

"Regarding the disappearances, I am also very distressed."

The Village Chief's voice was low.

"In recent years, people have been disappearing from the village one after another, all of them young."

"We reported to the authorities and searched for people, but there is not a single clue."

"Alas, it's all fate!"

The Village Chief shook his head, his face full of helplessness.

"Village Chief, what do you think is the reason these people vanished?"

Xia Yurou couldn't help but ask.

"What other reason could there be?"

The Village Chief gave a wry smile.

"The Mountain God is angry; this is his punishment toward us."

"Mountain God?"

Zhou Hexuan frowned.

"What era is this, still believing in that?"

"You can't not believe it!"

The Village Chief became emotionally agitated.

"We, Grass Mountain Village, have worshipped the Mountain God for generations."

"He blesses us with favorable winds and rain, and keeps us safe."

"But in recent years, to make money, we have brought too many outsiders into Nanjiang."

"We disturbed the Mountain God's purity, so he sent down punishment."

"This..."

Zhou Hexuan was momentarily at a loss for words.

He hadn't expected the Village Chief to blame the disappearances on the Mountain God.

"I don't believe in that."

Jiangnan suddenly spoke.

His voice was not loud, yet it rang out.

"In this world, how could there be any Mountain God?"

"Someone must be playing tricks, pretending to be divine."

"Young man, you shouldn't speak recklessly!"

The Village Chief's complexion changed drastically.

"The Mountain God will hear it!"

"If a Mountain God truly exists, why wouldn't he punish those who commit evil, but instead punish innocent villagers?"

Jiangnan retorted.