The villagers of Fort Zachary crowded around, one of them urgently crying out, "The night watchman is dead!"
The old man paused to think, then said, "Has the night watchman's body been buried yet? He was most likely a demon, and could turn into a corpse fiend."
The villagers of Fort Zachary jumped in fright, then quickly led the two over to the night watchman's grave. "We buried him yesterday, Masters..."
The old man extended a finger, and the earthen grave split open to either side. A thin wooden coffin rose slowly from the pit, floating before everyone.
Tap, tap, tap—
One by one, the coffin nails popped free, the lid flipped open, and the coffin thudded to the ground. But the night watchman's corpse remained floating in midair, its face shrouded by a white banner.
The old and young Daoists took up the white banner and examined it, exchanged a look, and silently nodded. The old man chanted under his breath, pointed, and the night watchman's corpse burst into flames, burning to ash in an instant.
The villagers hurriedly bowed in thanks, presenting gold and silver as payment. The youth tried to wave it away, but the old man said, "Without merit we don't take reward; with merit, we must. Take it."
Only then did the youth accept the payment. The old man asked, "Where does the youth who slew the serpent live? Who's with him?"
"He's from Oldridge Village, with a blind man and Granny Sue. Head upstream along the river—it's more than forty li from here."
Granny Sue seized the opportunity to snatch up the egg. The Brood-Hen Dragon, unable to catch Quinn, strutted back to its coop in triumph—only to find its egg missing. Enraged, it launched another furious chase, relentlessly pursuing the boy.
After the commotion, Quinn shook off his bruised pride, strapped the Pig-Slaughter Saber to his back, slung on the Sword Pack, hefted a heavy iron hammer, stuffed several Core-Stabilizing Pills into his chest, and grabbed the Thunderclap Monk’s Staff. In high spirits, he set out from the village.
Today was his first time going out hunting alone—a day Quinn had long awaited. But after being thrashed by the Brood-Hen Dragon, his excitement was somewhat dampened.
He had barely left the village when he saw the elderly master and young disciple approaching Oldridge, looking every bit like two wandering Daoists.
The pair stopped at the village entrance, glanced at the Village Chief and Apothecary who were drinking tea, and politely greeted them. “Might we trouble you for a cup of tea?”
The Village Chief raised his brows slightly and replied, “Guests from afar—how could we dare be inhospitable?”
Apothecary poured tea for the old and young Daoists. The two sat down; the youth took a seat opposite the Village Chief, while the old man stood respectfully to the side.
“Is this the youth who slew the serpent?” The old man, kindly-eyed and gentle, looked at Quinn and asked with a smile.
Quinn was about to reply, but the Village Chief said coolly, “Quinn, this doesn’t concern you. Go mind your own business.”
Quinn nodded and headed off toward the mountains and forest.
Once Quinn was out of reach, Granny Sue quickly snatched up the egg. The Brood-Hen Dragon, unable to catch him, strutted proudly back to its coop, only to find its egg gone. It flew into a rage and launched another relentless chase after the boy, pecking and battering him with renewed fury.
After all the commotion, Quinn shook off his bruised pride. He strapped the Pig-Slaughter Saber to his back, slung on the Sword Pack, hefted a heavy iron hammer, stuffed several Core-Stabilizing Pills into his chest, and grabbed the Thunderclap Monk’s Staff. In high spirits, he set out from the village.
Today was his first time venturing out to hunt alone—a day he’d long anticipated. But after being battered by the Brood-Hen Dragon, his excitement was somewhat dampened.
He had barely left the village when he saw the elderly master and young disciple approaching Oldridge, looking every bit like two wandering Daoists.
The pair stopped at the village entrance, glanced at the Village Chief and Apothecary who were drinking tea, and politely greeted them. “Might we trouble you for a cup of tea?”
The Village Chief raised his brows slightly and replied, “Guests from afar—how could we dare be inhospitable?”
Apothecary poured tea for the old and young Daoists. The two sat down; the youth took a seat opposite the Village Chief, while the old man stood respectfully to the side.
“Is this the youth who slew the serpent?” The old man, kindly-eyed and gentle, looked at Quinn and asked with a smile.
Quinn was about to reply, but the Village Chief said coolly, “Quinn, this doesn’t concern you. Go mind your own business.”
Quinn nodded and headed off toward the mountains and forest.
Once Quinn had gone, the youth opposite the Village Chief spoke, his voice ancient and resonant: "We've met before, haven't we?"
The Village Chief nodded. "We have."
The youth smiled. "So few of our generation are still alive. It's a rare thing to meet you—I'm glad."
"Me too," the Village Chief replied blandly.
The youth said with a smile, "I've come to see Granny Sue. Our cult has been without a master for forty years—she must give us an explanation."
The Village Chief shook his head. "Once you've entered this village, you're severed from the outside world."
The youth's eyes flashed. "Then I won't go in. Call her out—I have questions for her."
The Village Chief shook his head. "She's gone out."
The old man couldn't help himself and was about to speak, but the youth raised a hand, smiling. "We've waited forty years—no need to rush. Enforcer Elder, since the Cult Mistress isn't here, summon the laborers and build a compound. We'll stay here tonight."
The Enforcer Elder bowed in acknowledgment. A column of demonic qi shot up from his head, forming a giant 'Command' character in the sky.
The youth sipped his tea slowly. An hour passed before the villagers of Oldridge put down their chores and came outside, gazing upward in curiosity.
In the forest, hulking giants with knotted muscles strode through the trees, toppling them in their wake. Four at a time, they hefted massive stone statues—four in total—panting with exertion. Where they stepped, stones were crushed to mud, oozing between their toes.
Sixteen giants, faces flushed red with strain, struggled beneath the weight, proving even such laborers could barely handle the load.
With great care, the sixteen giants set the statues at the southeast, northwest, and other corners—right beside Oldridge Village.
Soon after, a river barge arrived. Over a hundred carpenters disembarked, felled trees, and rapidly built rows of wooden houses next to Oldridge. In half an hour, a fully furnished hamlet arose. They unloaded gold and silver utensils, pots, bowls, and spoons, then sailed away.
Another ship brought lacquersmiths to varnish furniture and walls; they departed as soon as their work was done.
A third boat arrived with stonemasons, who quarried stone, sculpted more statues, ground slabs, and paved the compound’s ground before leaving as well.
Not long after, a burly, bearded man hurried in, bowing respectfully. "Patriarch! Enforcer Senior Brother."
The Enforcer Elder said, "Left Emissary, the hamlet is ready. Choose a room for yourself."
The Left Emissary entered the newly built compound, picked a room, and sat in meditation, silent and unmoving.
A ragged old woman arrived, greeted the youth and old man, and found an empty room in the hamlet. Next, a fisherman came, moored his leaf-thin skiff by the river, and settled in with his basket and fishing rod.
Soon after, more odd figures arrived—landlords, merchants, tutors, examinees, courtesans—people from every walk of life.
Grandpa Mark’s face grew grim. He muttered, "The Cult of the Heavenly Demon’s three hundred and sixty trades, three hundred and sixty halls, three hundred and sixty hall masters—once they were scattered across the world, shrouded in mystery. Who’d have thought that, over the past forty years, all the hall masters would enter the Great Ruins searching for their mistress? Looks like they’re all settling right next door!"
Crippled Joe grinned even wider. "Where’s Granny Sue? All these folks are here for her!"
Deaf said, "I saw Granny Sue turn into a roe deer and slip out of the village ahead of Quinn. She’s probably worried about him hunting alone and wants to protect him in secret. She likely doesn’t know the cult has found her—practically the whole sect has moved in next door!"
Quinn headed deeper into the forest. After a while, a roe deer with dainty hooves trotted up, searching for him, but couldn’t find a trace. As it fretted, Quinn dropped from a tree, smiling. "Granny, since this is my solo hunt, please go back. I can take care of myself."
The roe deer snorted in annoyance. "Brat, watch you don’t die out here!" With a shake of its stubby tail, it scampered off.
Quinn continued onward. Soon he spotted a woolly mammoth drinking at a pond. He called out, "Granny, I really can take care of myself—you don’t need to follow."
The mammoth stamped its feet, charging at him. Quinn’s yuanqi surged as he drew the Pig-Slaughter Saber, killing intent flaring. "If you’re not Granny, then I’ll kill you!"
The mammoth spun and fled, spitting out human words: "If you even kill Granny, you’ll get your butt whipped when we get back!"
Quinn shook his head, walked several more li, and looked up at a big bird circling overhead. "Granny, you really don’t need to keep following me."
The big bird glanced at him but kept circling, unmoved.
Quinn grabbed a handful of stones, flicked them skyward at varying heights, then leapt between them midair—using them as footholds—to intercept the bird.
Startled, the bird spoke human words: "Alright, alright, I won’t follow you anymore!" With a flap of its wings, it flew off.
Quinn crashed back to the ground, his feet sinking a foot deep into the mud. He looked up—the bird was gone.
"Granny will probably keep following me anyway," he muttered.
He checked his surroundings, found nothing strange, and walked on. After a few more li, he came upon a waterfall, its waters clear and the mountains beautiful. Next to it stood a thatched hut, with a crooked half-buried stone statue outside.
Smoke curled up from the hut—clearly, someone lived there.
Quinn wondered aloud, "Why would anyone live in such wild mountains? Maybe some hidden master is in seclusion here."
Just as he thought this, a white fox walked out of the hut, took a bamboo tube, and went back inside.