fynovel Chapter 58 Guanjiang Village
Chapter 58 Guanjiang Village
The night was dark and the wind was howling.
Outside the city, screams and wails rose and fell, while inside the city, lights shone brightly as the lanterns were lit.
Clang, clang, clang...
The piercing and penetrating sound of gongs and drums shook the heavens.
This is a curfew signal; anyone who dares to disobey will be captured and used as a volunteer to guard the city walls.
Just as the watchman was about to strike the gong again, he was jostled aside by the neatly lined-up, armored soldiers with gags in their mouths. No one in the ranks paid any attention to the fallen watchman; they hurried on their way into the distance.
"Get out of the way! You'll be held responsible for delaying military operations!"
The clanging of scales and metal plates echoed through the streets, and the panicked people scattered like birds and beasts.
The bustling streets and alleys instantly transformed into a desolate and quiet place.
"If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have come... Those two taels of silver were my mother's life-saving money... My wife had to beg and plead to borrow it from her family... I'm such a beast..."
One man beat his chest and wailed loudly. His face was filled with endless regret, as if someone had threatened him with swords and forced him to gamble.
"So close! So close to breaking even! I should have bet less..."
One man's eyes were bloodshot, and his entire being was overflowing with remorse. He clenched his fists and stared fiercely at the nearly faded gambling table seen through the crack in the door.
...
Countless disappointed people gathered at the entrance of the gambling den, reluctant to leave.
"Make way, make way!"
The leading soldier roughly shoved away the hooligans and lazybones who were blocking their way. The already creaking wooden door was kicked over.
The shop owner, who was about to close up shop, turned a deep shade of liver when he saw the two wooden doors lying on the ground. Lu Yan wasn't exactly all-powerful in Chengjiang City, but he was certainly a well-known figure in the underworld. When had he ever experienced someone kicking down his door?
Lu Yan was about to call his men to teach the man who kicked the door a lesson when the eerie light emanating from the armor instantly brought him to his senses.
"This soldier has arrived without even a proper greeting... I should have prepared some fine wine and meat for everyone, and had a good drink with you all."
The leading soldier glared coldly at Lü Yan, his former amiable demeanor completely gone, and questioned him sternly.
"We received a report that someone saw Ji Quan's shadow at your place. Where is he now?!"
Do not cover for him. If something happens, even if they smash your Liangyi Pavilion and conscript you all into the suicide squad, it will not be enough!
"My lord, we expelled them from the Liangyi Pavilion before nightfall. We have no idea where they are now."
"If I may be so bold as to ask, what exactly has Ji Quan done to warrant such a thorough search by you gentlemen?"
"Hmph, don't ask about things you shouldn't..."
The group of menacing soldiers left the gambling den with cold faces.
Lu Yan, whose face was plastered with obsequiousness, changed his expression several times before finally regaining his composure after a long while. He waved his hand, signaling the waiter to come closer.
"That soldier, he's still restless even after being thrown out. Zhang Da, Zhang Er, you two go and fetch him... the cost of this gate will have to be on his tab..."
"Leave it to us, boss."
"Shopkeeper, just wait and hear the good news."
The two men who received the order carefully slipped out through the back door. They naturally knew where Ji Quan usually stayed.
However, to avoid getting into trouble, no one told the truth about the menacing soldiers.
...
Ji Quan huddled in a corner of an alley at the end of the city. He was not a resident of Chengjiang City, but a refugee who had fled here from Guanjiang Village.
"Hmph, no matter how fortified this city is, it can't escape the fate of falling and turning people into corpses... No, I have to escape from here as soon as possible..."
As for why he spends all his time in gambling dens, the reason is simply that his hopes have been dashed, and he can only drown his sorrows in gambling.
Tian Guangzu, dressed in a black robe, stopped Ji Quan outside the alley, looking at him with great curiosity.
"And how did you know this place was about to fall?"
"This is my lodging; please do not disturb me..."
Ji Quan rudely tried to get up and drive him away, but Tian Guangzu grabbed him. His eyes bulged out, his tongue lolled out, and his neck was tightly gripped.
Her hands weakly pounded Tian Guangzu's face, but such soft fists were nothing more than a tickle to Tian Guangzu.
Boom!
Ji Quan, flung against the wall, howled weakly, but his cries were hoarse and silent. He curled up, his eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth, and he was about to faint.
A swift and precise kick struck his sore spot, the intense pain instantly bringing him back to his senses.
"Can you tell me now?"
"Cough cough cough..."
Tears streaming down his face, Ji Quan clutched his neck, taking a long time to come to his senses. He looked timidly at Tian Guangzu, no longer daring to hide anything.
...
Guanjiang Village, surrounded by water on three sides and backed by mountains, has a story passed down through generations.
Legend has it that there is a paradise on Mount Menglong behind the mountain, where the people live in peace and contentment, with the young cared for and the elderly supported.
However, for nearly sixty years, no villagers have ever been heard of finding the entrance to Peach Blossom Spring, and not even a single peach tree has been seen on Menglong Mountain.
As for why Ji Quan believed it so deeply?
This was simply because his grandfather had a habit of writing on bamboo slips. Going back several decades, the Ji family could be considered a fallen noble family.
The bamboo slips record that a Peach Blossom Spring does indeed exist, but it can only manifest itself to save people from calamities.
The last time Peach Blossom Spring opened, it was during a mysterious plague. Those who were afflicted all turned into those terrifying walking corpses.
Even if they eat until their bellies are round, they don't necessarily feel bloated.
At first, Ji Quan didn't believe it either. After all, the matter was too mysterious, and his grandfather had become mentally unstable in his old age, so he was more inclined to believe that his grandfather had unintentionally fabricated it.
One day
Ji Quan saw the river flowing backwards, its color a bright red. Only then, with some skepticism, did he take out the nearly decayed bamboo slips again.
Due to improper preservation, the contents of the second half of the volume are blurred and unclear.
"escape"
These were the last words he saw. Fortunately, he escaped quickly; in just half a day, everyone in Guanjiang Village had been turned into walking corpses.
...
"You're so magnanimous, just let this lowly person go."
Ji Quan knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.
Tian Guangzu looked thoughtful, then nodded to Ji Quan with great satisfaction.
"Although the mission to collect the toad sap was a complete failure, if we can investigate the matter thoroughly, it might be enough to atone for our mistakes..."
"Indeed, this is significant news. Since you have rendered meritorious service, I will naturally reward you handsomely."
An inexplicable chill swept over Ji Quan, making his hair stand on end. He banged his head even harder, not caring about the blood and gore on his forehead.
"I dare not ask for any reward, I only beg you to spare my worthless life."
Ignoring everything else, Tian Guangzu forcefully pried open Ji Quan's jaw and took out a black medicine bottle from his pocket.
"This pill is made from the juice of the three-clawed poisonous toad, the blood of the plague demon, and the corpse poison from the Rakshasa. Such a treasure, you've gotten it for free..."
...