Chapter 163: South Cao Village
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At the entrance of South Cao Village, the group led by You Bing Yue finally found their way in the darkness. From a distance, they could discern three bold characters adorning the large doors at the village’s threshold. These red characters stood out vividly against the night, visible even from a mile away.
You Bing Yue stood beside Ou Yang Shuo, with Du Zi Heng on her other side.
Frowning at the plaque, Du Zi Heng felt an inexplicable unease creep into his chest just by glancing at it.
“It’s already late,” he suggested, his voice tinged with hesitation. “Perhaps we should come back tomorrow.”
He kept Yu Zhi Yi’s words firmly in mind: this place was a domain of extreme malevolence. Worse, Ou Yang Shuo was destined to encounter a blood calamity here. Should he shed blood, the malign entities within the village would only grow stronger.
The earlier excitement on You Bing Yue’s face upon reaching their destination was swiftly replaced with a cold demeanor.
“If Young Master Du is so frightened, you’re free to leave,” she snapped. She had struggled too much to find this opportunity to compete with Yu Zhi Yi and could not afford to abandon it now.
As long as she unraveled the unsolved murders from thirty years ago and vanquished the female ghost haunting the village, her fame would spread far and wide.
Unlike Yu Zhi Yi, who relied on empty words and unsubstantiated claims, You Bing Yue prided herself on solving problems with both intellect and action rather than relying on laughable metaphysical arts.
But this Du Zi Heng…
When she had learned earlier that morning he had taken a leave of absence to accompany them from the capital, she had been pleased. Now, however, it seemed he had joined them solely to hinder her progress.
The others’ expressions also darkened. Li Chang Huai, gently tapping his palm with his folding fan, smirked as he spoke, his words cutting:
“It seems our dear Young Master Du is still mulling over the ominous predictions for his wife. Are you frightened?”
The Crown Prince of Yunnan, Liu Fei Yang, a man who thrived on excitement, had been reveling in the unfolding drama over the past few days. Between the tangled web of relationships involving Yu Zhi Yi, Du Zi Heng, and You Bing Yue, and the truth behind the female ghost case of thirty years prior, his interest was thoroughly piqued.
He chuckled. “Brother Du, there’s no need to worry. All five of us are skilled in combat. Besides, Young Master Ou Yang is the chief disciple of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, an expert in slaying demons. Should there truly be malevolent forces here, I have no doubt he can easily vanquish them.”
Crossing her arms, You Bing Yue shot back coldly: “If you’re so afraid, Young Master Du, you’re welcome to leave.” Her tone turned mocking. “And if I’m not mistaken, your wife should be arriving soon. Since you trust her more, you might as well stay here and wait for her. She’s bound to protect you, given her remarkable abilities.”
“Bing Yue!” exclaimed Du Zi Heng, exasperation coloring his tone. “This isn’t the time for petty squabbles. This concerns our very lives…”
Ou Yang Shuo, his expression unyielding, cut him off: “Are you doubting me? Or are you doubting the capabilities of Dragon-Tiger Mountain?”
“Of course not,” Du Zi Heng replied, his voice subdued.
Ou Yang Shuo let out a cold laugh. “Then keep quiet.”
Despite the warning, Du Zi Heng persisted: “Even if we must enter, there’s no need to rush. Night has already fallen; we could return in daylight. There’s no harm in waiting.”
Ou Yang Shuo’s disdainful smirk deepened. “Young Master Du, leave the work of professionals to the professionals. In the daytime, when yang energy is at its peak, malevolent entities will hide. If this really is the doing of a female ghost, then waiting until daylight will render any investigation meaningless.”
Left with no choice, Du Zi Heng could only watch as the others stepped into the village. With a reluctant sigh, he touched the protective talisman against his chest, gritted his teeth, and followed them.
None of them noticed that as soon as they crossed the threshold into South Cao Village, the already oppressive night deepened into a suffocating blackness, thick as ink.
A dark vortex suddenly emerged above the village, looming like a dormant beast poised to devour, its sharp talons ready to strike and kill in an instant.
Yu Zhi Yi hurried, but despite her haste, she failed to catch up with the others at the village entrance. She knew then that she was late.
Traces of familiar auras lingered at the entrance—clearly those of the three strangers she had encountered last night at Du Zi Heng’s, as well as You Bing Yue and Du Zi Heng themselves.
Her expression darkened.
She had expected only three people. Who would have thought two more had joined in for the spectacle?
She almost laughed in anger.
Was this chaos so entertaining to watch?
If they weren’t careful, they might become permanent residents of this spectacle themselves!
Yu Zhi Yi glanced up at the blood-red characters spelling “Cao Nan Village,” as though the words could drip with blood. Then, resolutely, she stepped inside.
As she approached, an overwhelming chill of yin energy surged toward her from all directions.
However, none of it came within a meter of her. A radiant, golden light enveloped her like a barrier, scattering the oppressive energy.
The golden light shimmered, and the yin energy, upon contact, sizzled like droplets of water on a hot surface, evaporating into white smoke that vanished into the heavens.
Yu Zhi Yi arched an eyebrow.
She hadn’t even made a move yet.
Her mind stirred with thought.
The protective power of merit-born golden light was extraordinary. Those shielded by it could not be touched by ordinary malevolent spirits, nor would even the hundred-year-old killing aura dare approach.
Still, despite her confidence in the golden light, Yu Zhi Yi did not let her guard down. Taking out a few copper coins, she performed a brief divination before setting off in a chosen direction.
Suddenly, her expression shifted.
Someone was ahead.
An elderly man approached with stiff, jerky movements.
Though his gait was awkward, his pace was unnervingly quick.
Before long, he stood before Yu Zhi Yi, lifting his head to reveal a pallid, aged face. “Outsider, what brings you to our Cao Nan Village?”
Yu Zhi Yi’s calm gaze dropped to the elder’s feet—which stood bare on the cold ground. Unperturbed, she replied evenly, “I’m here with friends on a trip. We got separated along the way. I was wondering if they’ve passed through this village?”
“So, you’re looking for friends.”
The old woman reached out a hand, seemingly intending to pat Yu Zhi Yi’s shoulder. Yet the moment her hand drew near, it recoiled as though scalded, accompanied by a sharp hiss. Her expression twisted briefly in pain.
Suddenly, her face contorted in anger. “Leave! Cao Nan Village does not welcome you!”
Yu Zhi Yi touched her nose, suppressing a smile, and retracted the golden light into herself. Then, she lightly patted the woman’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Auntie. We won’t take anything for free. We’ll pay our way, and we’ll only stay for one night. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”
The woman’s stiff gaze lingered on Yu Zhi Yi’s hand resting on her shoulder, her dull eyes momentarily flickering with confusion.
After a moment, she nodded. “Fine. You may stay.”
But her tone darkened, turning icy and menacing. “However, let me warn you: don’t wander or look where you shouldn’t. No matter what you hear at night, do not step outside.”
“Understood.”
As the woman turned to leave, Yu Zhi Yi abruptly called out, “By the way, Auntie, I heard there’s a river at the entrance to Cao Nan Village. Yet, I didn’t see one on my way in. Why is that?”
The woman’s face, which had just calmed, instantly contorted in hysteria. “Nonsense! There’s no river here! No river!”