Chapter 156

Chapter 156: The Ugliness of Human Hearts 3

In the end, nothing came of the accusations, but Yin Yong soon noticed a change in the family. Except for his eldest brother, everyone else began guarding against him, watching him from the shadows as if hoping to catch him making a mistake.

Yin Yong was no fool. He quickly guessed that his nephew must have suspected him of stealing the bronze mirror and was watching closely, hoping he’d reveal its hiding place. Despite their prying eyes, he continued to build the new house calmly, paying their surveillance no mind.

A month later, the house was completed. After airing it for another half-month, his eldest brother’s family moved in and even hosted a joyful housewarming banquet, inviting all the villagers to celebrate.

Yet, barely a month after they moved in, a violent thunderstorm struck one night, and lightning split the sky. In that storm, his eldest brother’s sturdy new house was struck down, crushing all twelve family members beneath it. The noise of the storm drowned out the sound of the collapsing walls, and no one discovered the tragedy until dawn.

When villagers arrived with hoes and shovels to clear away bricks and tiles, all they found were cold, lifeless bodies. The sight shocked the entire Peach Source Village, and whispers flew in every direction.

“Did the Yin family commit some grave evil and bring Heaven’s punishment upon themselves? Ever since their younger sister married out, it hasn’t even been a year, yet their family members keep dying one after another.”

“It’s true—dying away from home, murdered, and now crushed under their own new house. That house was built of bricks and tiles, sturdier than most. How could it collapse so easily?”

“Yes, my mud-brick hut stood firm through the storm, but their new house crumbled. Strange indeed.”

Yin Yong stared blankly at the row of corpses lying on the ground, his legs trembling until he collapsed, sitting in the mud. He felt as if all the breath had left his body.

That very night, Yin Yong climbed the mountain to the spot where he had buried the bronze mirror. Yet, all he found was an empty hole; the great rock had tumbled away, and the earth beneath lay hollowed out. Refusing to accept defeat, he dug frantically but found nothing. It was clear someone else had already stolen the mirror away.

Yin Yong returned home with a heavy heart, recalling every small detail, hoping to find a clue about who took the mirror, yet no answer came to him.

Gritting his teeth, Yin Yong arranged his eldest brother’s family’s funeral, then made plans to sell the old house and fields and leave Peach Source Village forever. The place held too many terrible memories; he wanted no part of it anymore.

However, because of the consecutive deaths, the villagers considered the Yin family home inauspicious. Nobody bought the house, though the farmland sold quickly and at a good price.

Just as Yin Yong received his travel papers and prepared to leave, another tragedy struck. A village family’s house caught fire in the night, and with the wind fanning the flames, the fire quickly swallowed everything. By the time villagers arrived, the entire family had perished.

This news became the final straw that crushed Yin Yong’s spirit. The very next day, he entrusted the unsold old house to the village chief, packed his belongings, and fled. He didn’t even dare stay long in the nearby town. After wandering aimlessly for half a year, he finally found work in Spring Peach City as a waiter in an inn.

Since he was literate and skilled at arithmetic, the shopkeeper valued him highly and hoped to keep him permanently. Exhausted from his wandering, Yin Yong agreed, intending to settle there forever, determined never to return to Peach Source Village.

After hearing Yin Yong’s account, the four cultivators fell deep into thought. Things couldn’t be as simple as he described. With almost all those involved already dead, much of Yin Yong’s tale was his own speculation, yet even so, it was terrifying enough to keep him away from his hometown for good.

Liu Hao Tian spoke calmly, “You may go now. Don’t speak of this matter to anyone.”

“Yes, this humble one understands.” Yin Yong rose shakily from the floor and backed respectfully out of the room.

When he was gone, the four companions began their discussion.

“Senior Brother Liu, do you think that bronze mirror might be a demonic artifact?” Yu Qing Cheng asked.

“If everything truly began with that mirror, it certainly must possess evil properties,” Liu Hao Tian said thoughtfully. “Whether it’s demonic or not, we’ll only know if we see it ourselves.”

Xia You added, “While Yin Yong spoke, I activated a recording jade. His story provides us both a clue and indirect evidence.”

“Xia You, you’re so quick-witted! I forgot entirely about recording,” Yun Xi praised her.

“We’re together now, so one recording is enough. If we split up later, we should each stay vigilant.”

Finally, Yun Xi made a decision. “Since we all feel there’s something suspicious, let’s visit Peach Source Village to investigate.”

“I agree,” Liu Hao Tian said. “If it truly is a demonic artifact harming people, it mustn’t remain in the mortal world.”

“I also agree,” Yu Qing Cheng affirmed.

“Then let’s rest for today and leave tomorrow,” Yun Xi declared. “Hopefully, it’s not too late.”

With their plans settled, each rested and prepared for the journey ahead.

Early the next day, they approached Yin Yong, intending to take him back to Peach Source Village. Yin Yong refused immediately.

Yun Xi sighed, softly saying, “Yin Yong, all this began with you. You’re the one who fished the bronze mirror out of the river, and you’re the one who brought it home. When it disappeared, instead of warning the others, you fled. Have you ever considered the villagers’ fates?”

Yin Yong’s face twisted, and he replied stubbornly, “As long as they’re not greedy, nothing will happen to them. Just like me.”

Liu Hao Tian replied flatly, “Are you so certain you escaped? You only have one month left to live. Otherwise, why would we suddenly find you?”

Yin Yong’s expression shifted to despair. He thought he’d escaped death, yet they told him he had merely a month left. Bitterness filled his heart and mouth.

Seeing his fear, Yun Xi relented, “If you’re unwilling to come, we won’t force you. Just tell us exactly where Peach Source Village is.”

“Fine.” Yin Yong had no courage left to return, so he described the village’s location and walked away in a daze.

“It seems we’ll miss Spring Peach City’s lantern festival after all,” Xia You sighed lightly as they departed the city.

This time they did not dawdle. When no one was around, the four threw out their flying swords, speeding towards their destination. What Yin Yong had called a distant journey took them merely two hours. Yet, upon arriving, they wandered the area Yin Yong described without finding any trace of Peach Source Village.

“Did he lie?” Yun Xi asked, puzzled.

“Probably not,” Liu Hao Tian replied, holding a compass as he carefully adjusted it and continued forward. “Such a large village can’t just disappear. I suspect the mirror, having absorbed enough souls, has fully restored itself and created its own hidden realm, quietly waiting for prey.”

Yu Qing Cheng’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Senior Brother Liu makes sense. This is, after all, the mortal world. Without spirit stones or heavenly treasures to consume, the mirror can’t move unless it tricks someone into taking it.”

Yun Xi nodded in agreement. “According to Yin Yong, if no one makes a wish or forms a pact, the mirror cannot act.”

Xia You said softly, “Your guesses all make sense, but Yin Yong left long ago, yet he still has only a month to live. Isn’t that odd?”

Liu Hao Tian’s voice was solemn, “You forget—the Yin family ancestral graves are in Peach Source Village.”