Chapter 8: The Strange Spirit of the Mountain Village
“My little lover, where are you going!”
The girl, clad in white from head to toe, had white hair, white eyes, and a pale, bloodless face.
Barefoot, she leaped in front of Ye Yang and grabbed his hand.
Her hand was icy cold, devoid of any human warmth.
Ye Yang turned his head and saw that she was cradling a mummified infant, wrapped in a shroud. Its face was purplish-green, and its fangs protruded like bamboo skewers.
It was curled up, hands clasped around its knees, but it had a long, snake-like tail dragging on the ground—though only bones remained of the tail.
This mummified infant slowly stood up.
The tail dangling from the corpse's backside swayed continuously, and a human head hung from the tail.
The human face was gnawed and pitted.
“Don’t run, don’t run, aren’t you going to take care of our child anymore?”
Ye Yang shook her off, ignoring her, and instead slapped the Tuo Yun Horse’s rump. The Tuo Yun Horse whinnied in pain, picking up speed and charging forward madly.
…
The eerie woman pursued him relentlessly.
Fortunately, the Tuo Yun Horse was fast and could manipulate vines, trees, and grass, moving through the forest as if on flat ground, maintaining a consistent distance from the strange woman.
The Tuo Yun Horse ran all night without rest.
It wasn’t until the next day, when the sun first rose and a fiery red glow appeared in the east, that Ye Yang felt the chill on his body recede, and his body gradually warmed up.
Sighing in relief, Ye Yang continued riding the Tuo Yun Horse towards Bihu Marsh.
Bihu Marsh, with its interconnected waters and lakes stretching for a hundred miles, boasted fertile soil and was a vital fishery and aquaculture territory of the Flying Heaven Gate.
The first Old Ancestor of the 'Chazi Zhang' Family was originally a fisherman by the river. He saved a century-old turtle, and later, the old turtle, to repay the life-saving kindness, bestowed upon its first Old Ancestor a Cultivation method and a Legacy method for a thousand-forged elite weapon, the 'Flying Fish Harpoon'.
The Zhang Family, using this harpoon as their primary weapon, gradually earned the name Chazi Zhang.
As Bihu Marsh primarily focused on fishing, there were numerous docks here. Along the way, many men were casting nets and shouting out their wares on the lake.
However, Ye Yang noticed many disheveled, grimy, ragged, and pale-faced outsiders.
Their eyes were vacant, and some were even selling their children on the streets, or selling themselves to bury their fathers, looking as if they had suffered some disaster.
The Chazi Zhang, as the nominal overseer of Bihu Marsh, was also the largest Family in Bihu Marsh.
The Family’s stronghold was not built on land, but on the largest dock in Bihu Marsh.
Instead, it was formed by countless sampans, covered boats, iron boats, and giant ships, secured by iron chains as thick as human heads, creating a spectacular fortress on the lake.
The Fork Zhang Family seemed to have received the news early, as the decks of their Family stronghold were meticulously cleaned, and seven or eight high-ranking members of the Family were already waiting at the dock.
Upon seeing Ye Yang riding the Tuo Yun Horse, they immediately gathered around and asked, “May I ask if Protector Ye is approaching?”
Ye Yang nodded, not surprised.
It had been two days since he left the Flying Heaven Gate for the Fork Zhang Family, so the Sect must have already sent his information to the Zhang Family.
Protector Ye was a respectful title. As a Disciple of the Flying Heaven Gate, if he were to Breakthrough to the Martial Person Realm, he would earn the title of Protector.
Although he wasn't one yet, his visit to the Zhang Family represented the superior Sect, and the Zhang Family’s addressing him a rank higher was quite thoughtful.
The Zhang Family was a local hegemon, and these seven or eight individuals wore uniforms styled after the Zhang Family’s “Flying Fish Harpoon.”
Their waiting to be addressed by a young man immediately drew the astonishment of countless passersby.
“Who is this person, to be greeted so grandly by the Zhang Family?”
“I haven’t seen him before. Could he be a Disciple of the Flying Heaven Gate?”
“Look at the horse he’s riding—that’s a Tuo Yun Horse. Only high-ranking members of the Flying Heaven Gate use them for travel.”
“Hiss! This person is so young, yet he’s already a high-ranking member. Could he be a Cultivator of the Martial Person Realm?”
Everyone was filled with surprise, discussing animatedly, their eyes filled with a complex mix of envy, fear, and flattery.
“Protector Ye, you must be tired from your journey. We have prepared fine wine and delicious dishes. Please rest your feet first.”
Ye Yang dismounted, and immediately, a bearded, pot-bellied Cultivator helped Ye Yang lead his horse.
Zhang Tong smiled, “This is our Zhang Family’s Head Butler.”
Watching the Zhang Family’s Head Butler, who was above tens of thousands of people in Bihu Marsh and could decide the fate of countless individuals, lead his horse and hold his stirrup, Ye Yang was somewhat surprised.
Ye Yang, however, did not know that while the Zhang Family valued ordinary Sect Disciples carrying out missions, they would not give such a high-level, grand reception.
The reason for such a grand reception this time was twofold.
On one hand, the Zhang Family already had Family Disciples within the Flying Heaven Gate, and Ye Yang’s performance, martial arts, and talent in the Flying Heaven Gate were widely praised and had long been listed as a key focus of the Zhang Family’s attention.
On the other hand, it was because Ye Yang was the descendant of a former high-ranking Sect member. The current Three Elders, Four Vajras, and Hall Master Protectors had all been in contact with his parents when they were alive.
Although things had cooled down now, at that time, fighting to the death at Peach Blossom Dock in the Flying Heaven Gate, they were exemplary figures, and the Sect naturally had to take great care of their descendants.
Thirdly, at this very moment, the Zhang Family’s Old Ancestor had gone missing after accompanying the Sect Leader on an outing.
The Family had few Expert and limited combat power, which was why the Giant Crocodile was allowed to run rampant. They had no choice but to seek help from the Flying Heaven Gate, and they still had favors to ask.
“Why are there so many displaced people on the streets?”
Entering the main gate, Ye Yang asked with a hint of confusion.
Zhang Tong replied.
“It is because of a great disaster that befell Jiuyang Prefecture and the surrounding areas. First, there were three years of no rain, causing a thousand miles of barren land. Then, floods swept through, followed by locust plagues like clouds, making it impossible for people to live, leading to widespread banditry and mass exodus of the populace.”
After speaking, Zhang Tong continued, “In recent years, under the leadership of the Flying Heaven Gate and the governance of the Zhang Family, our Bihu Marsh has seen flourishing industries and bustling commerce.”
“That’s why the displaced people have flocked here, hoping to find a way to survive.”
In the main hall, there were antique tables and chairs, laden with plates of delicacies.
Ye Yang sat in the main seat, eyes downcast, not saying a word, lost in thought. To his left sat Zhang Liaoyuan, the current Clan Chief of the Zhang Family.
Zhang Liaoyuan had a Qi Channeling eighth-level Cultivation, but years of pampered living had made his eyes somewhat unfocused, his muscles flabby, and his belly quite portly.
Although he had an eighth-level Qi Channeling Cultivation, Ye Yang estimated that in a true life-or-death struggle, he probably couldn't even defeat a sixth-level Qi Channeling Cultivator.
To Ye Yang’s right was Zhang Feng, the leading figure of this generation of the Zhang Family.
Zhang Feng had a stern, unsmiling face. He was not old, around thirty, and wore a fire-spitting Chi Beast-wrapped sword at his waist.
Although seated, his left hand never left the hilt of his sword.
Ye Yang guessed that the other party was skilled in left-handed swordsmanship. He had heard of Zhang Feng’s reputation, known as the Zhang Family’s Fire Sword.
Although he was a direct Disciple of the Zhang Family, he did not practice the Zhang Family’s “Flying Fish Harpoon” Legacy, but instead specialized in a “Fire Dance Swordsmanship.”
Although he also had an eighth-level Qi Channeling Cultivation, in the thousand-mile-wide Bihu Marsh, where water vapor was abundant, he could probably only unleash seven or eight tenths of his skill.
Seeing this, Ye Yang couldn’t help but sigh. After their earlier conversation, he already knew that the five-point Water Spirit Field newly discovered by the Fork Zhang Family was deep within Bihu Marsh.
Zhang Feng’s fire sword technique would likely be difficult to rely on in a major battle.
While Ye Yang observed the two, Zhang Liaoyuan and Zhang Feng were also secretly observing Ye Yang.
“Although this person is good, is his Cultivation too low? Only Qi Channeling seventh-level. That Giant Crocodile is no ordinary opponent.”
“The Sect seems to be underestimating that Giant Crocodile, or perhaps overestimating this Ye Yang?”
Zhang Liaoyuan subtly frowned. As the Clan Chief of the Zhang Family, he would only accompany high-ranking Sect members. If he had to accompany every Disciple from the Flying Heaven Gate, he wouldn’t be able to do anything all day, just greeting them would be overwhelming.
The reason he accompanied them this time was also because they had learned about Ye Yang’s background in advance.
The Giant Crocodile had a massive body. They had prepared powerful crossbows and strong bows, but as soon as the Giant Crocodile encountered many people, it would dive into deep water, rendering their shore-based methods completely useless.
Ordinary people were no match for it. If the Family’s Great Old Ancestor hadn’t been away, there would have been no need to travel far to the Flying Heaven Gate for help, and even the five-point Water Spirit Field would not have been exposed.
Thinking this, Zhang Liaoyuan’s expression remained calm, and he occasionally inquired about Ye Yang’s well-being.
Zhang Feng’s face was cold. He sat next to Ye Yang but didn’t say a word, merely sensing Ye Yang’s aura.
The strangeness in this chapter is a prelude to many later stories, such as Chapter 123, and is not a useless or jumbled setting.