C9 Strange Village

Chapter Nine: The Strange Village

Emerging from the Teleportation Array, Lu Feng's mind was a bit foggy. Although this wasn't his first encounter with teleportation, things were different now. Presently at the One-soul Stage, he couldn't shrug off the effects of spatial distortion as he once could.

"Ugh…"

A few steps forward, and dizziness overwhelmed him. The environment was a blur as he doubled over and vomited.

Then, from nearby, Lu Feng heard the soft sobs of a child. Wiping his mouth, he looked up to find a young girl crying. Standing beside her was a young man, probably seventeen or eighteen, trying to console her.

The girl appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen, her tears making her large, round eyes glisten with a pearlescent sheen, enhancing her innate cuteness. Despite her plain, worn sackcloth, her natural grace shone through.

The young man by her side seemed rather plain by comparison, with disheveled hair and sun-darkened skin. His sackcloth attire was stained with the grime of the earth.

"Who are you?" the young man asked, positioning himself protectively in front of the girl, eyeing Lu Feng with suspicion.

Lu Feng, still somewhat out of sorts, was at a loss for words. He didn't even know where he was.

"You're a bad person," the girl accused through her tears, her sorrowful expression tugging at the heartstrings.

Confused, Lu Feng wondered how he had been labeled a villain. His pallor might have been a result of his nausea, but surely that didn't make him a bad person.

Unable to ignore the girl's continuous weeping, Lu Feng asked gently, "What's wrong? Do you need help?"

The young man's response was heated and defensive. "No need. Just leave us alone and don't interfere with our business," he barked.

"Don't leave. You owe me for my Black Green Snake," the girl said from behind the young man, her crying ceasing. She spoke with a hint of resentment, her voice barely above a whisper, as if fearful of provoking Lu Feng.

"Compensate for what?" Lu Feng inquired, still bewildered.

"It's all your fault for wailing over there. You scared off the Black Green Snake we were trying to catch," the little girl said, her face etched with disappointment.

"Wailing like ghosts?" Lu Feng couldn't help but smile ruefully. His unintended retching had inadvertently caused quite a bit of trouble.

Realizing what had happened, Lu Feng said apologetically, "Don't worry, it's just a small black snake. Watch, I'll catch it for you in no time." He knew it was his mistake that had caused the inconvenience.

With their eyes fixed on him, Lu Feng retrieved an incense stick from the tail ring on his little finger and placed it at the spot where they had previously tried to catch the Black Green Snake. He then struck a flint to light it.

"What's that?" the young man asked, his face still marked by caution and suspicion.

"This is Beast Moss Fragrance. Ordinary beasts that lack spiritual wisdom are immediately enchanted by it and will come over obediently, just like a drunkard following a bottle," Lu Feng explained with a gentle smile, signaling for them to wait patiently.

As predicted, various creatures such as rats, centipedes, and insects soon gathered around.

The little girl looked somewhat alarmed by the sight of so many snake species and bugs, instinctively stepping back.

"Look, look!" she exclaimed, tugging excitedly at the young man's hem.

A dark green snake with unsightly patterns was making its way toward them, staggering along—it was the Black Green Snake they needed.

The young man sprang into action, grabbing a basket from his waist and deftly capturing the snake by its midsection before securing it inside.

"Brother, look! There's another one!" The little girl was ecstatic, seeing the fearsome creatures as though they were delectable treats, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Thank you so much, big brother! With the Black Snake's gall, my mother's illness will finally improve," she called out to Lu Feng, her earlier aversion replaced by gratitude. In her eyes, Lu Feng was now nothing short of a miracle worker.

Realizing it was all to save her mother, Lu Feng felt a pang of emotion.

"Be careful!" the young man bellowed, swiftly placing the Black Snake he had just captured into the basket before dashing toward the little girl.

His cry redirected Lu Feng and the little girl's attention, and they noticed a Wild Wolf lurking not far behind them, drooling as it eyed the trio.

"Get behind me!" Lu Feng commanded, spreading his arms to shield them both, then took a defensive stance, keeping a vigilant watch on the Wild Wolf.

A flicker of intrigue passed through the young man's eyes as Lu Feng took his stand. His gaze softened, while the little girl, trembling with fear, took refuge behind Lu Feng, too terrified to even open her eyes.

Lu Feng kept his focus on the Wild Wolf, not daring to make a move. The wolf seemed wary of something, resulting in a tense standoff.

The little girl, unable to contain her fear any longer, burst into tears.

Her cry triggered the Wild Wolf's attack. Caught off guard by her sudden outburst, Lu Feng didn't react in time, and the wolf's claws viciously raked across his arm.

The Wild Wolf hit the ground and immediately leaped for another attack.

As the Wild Wolf was about to strike...

"Swoosh!"

A flying arrow, whistling with force, struck the Wild Wolf through the eye and out the back of its head, instantly ending its life. The strength of the archer was undeniable.

Staring at the fallen Wild Wolf, Lu Feng was momentarily paralyzed. The brush with death had jolted him to full awareness; he was no longer the formidable figure he once was.

He was now exceedingly weak, so weak that he couldn't even best a common beast.

If things continued this way, he feared not just for the next four years, but for his immediate survival in this harsh world.

"Looks like we've got wolf meat for dinner tonight. Consider it an extra meal," said a middle-aged man, the very archer who had just saved them. His name was as common as they come: Huo Gen.

As Lu Feng was momentarily lost in thought, Huo Gen had already reached the Wild Wolf's carcass, swiftly dealt with it, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

Regaining his composure, Lu Feng observed the middle-aged man before him. The man stood tall, his physique solid and muscular, exuding a sense of raw power. A scar, no wider than a pinky, adorned his left cheek, adding to his rugged and unrestrained demeanor.

"Come, follow me to the village, and I'll dress that wound for you," Huo Gen said, balancing the Wild Wolf on his left shoulder while casually draping his right arm over Lu Feng's shoulder, as if they were brothers well-acquainted with each other.

Admiration shone on Huo Gen's face as he exclaimed, "I saw you standing up to protect the calf from a distance. I wouldn't have guessed you'd be so frail, yet you acted like a true man. Well done indeed."

Lu Feng felt a touch of embarrassment at Huo Gen's words and couldn't help but smile wryly at the mention of his frailty. If not for the Seven Souls, he would be as robust as Huo Gen, but alas, his current weakness was such that even carrying the Wild Wolf was a struggle.

"I've just left the valley; it might be good to find a place to get my bearings before heading to Azure Dragon Town," Lu Feng mused to himself.

"Mr. Huo Gen, you shouldn't lean on Big Brother like that; his arm is still bleeding," the little girl chirped as she followed them. From her perspective, it seemed as though Huo Gen was weighing Lu Feng down, but Lu Feng himself felt no such pressure.

"It's alright, little one. I'm Lu Feng; you can just call me that," Lu Feng replied, slowing his pace and smiling back at her.

"Alright, Mr. Lu Feng. My name is Huo Yu, but everyone calls me Xiaoyu," the little girl said with a sweet smile, then brought over a young man to introduce him, "This is Huo Niu, my brother. He's quick-tempered. He didn't recognize you earlier and was a bit rude. Please don't hold it against him, Mr. Lu Feng," she said, her smile tinged with embarrassment.

Huo Niu chuckled and affectionately ruffled Huo Yu's hair, teasing her, "So you were polite earlier? I seem to recall someone insisting that Mr. Lu Feng owed her an apology," he said, followed by a hearty laugh.

"Brother!" Huo Yu called out with a hint of playful annoyance, followed by a leap and a kick aimed at Huo Niu.

"Mr. Lu Feng, please don't mind them. These siblings have been roughhousing since they were little," Huo Gen chuckled as he explained. "Our home is in the village just ahead. It's a small place with not many folks, but everyone is warm and welcoming."

"Indeed, we really need to show our gratitude to Mr. Lu Feng tonight," Huo Niu said with a grin, sidestepping Huo Yu's mischievous kick. "Mr. Huo Gen, you missed it earlier. Mrs. Bai Ji's snake gall was also retrieved with Mr. Lu Feng's help."

Under Huo Gen's guidance, Lu Feng arrived at a village encircled by mountains, accessible only by a slender path that snaked through the terrain. From above, the village resembled a massive pit with a fissure running through it, much like a cracked teacup.

Stepping into the village, Lu Feng was greeted by distant calls.

"Come on, lend a hand! Huo Gen has returned from hunting!"

"Mrs. Bai Ji, your daughter is back!"

"..."

Surveying the village, Lu Feng noted its sparse population, barely twenty souls, each one busy yet wearing a smile, exuding a sense of contentment.

"Mom, look what we caught!" Huo Yu, clutching Huo Niu's arm, ran excitedly toward a wooden hut, calling out.

A middle-aged woman stood at the hut's entrance, her back to the door, her eyes filled with expectation. Her features bore signs of weariness, and she seemed quite frail.

"You're not to sneak out again, understood?" she said, pulling Huo Yu's hand with a firmness softened by affection.

"I got it!" Huo Yu responded, playfully sticking out her tongue.

Huo Gen set down his catch and approached, giving Huo Niu a pat on the shoulder. "What are you standing around for? Get moving and take care of these black snakes!"

"Sure thing, I'm off to find Grandpa Muh Tong!" Huo Niu cheerfully called back as he dashed off.

"This kid, he's nearly an adult but still acts like such a child," Huo Gen remarked with an affectionate laugh.

Mrs. Bai Ji pursed her lips, offering a smile tinged with resignation, and turned her gaze towards Lu Feng. Her eyes softened as she inquired of Mr. Huo Gen, "And who might this be?"

For the residents of the village, Mr. Lu Feng was an unfamiliar face, yet the fact that Mr. Huo Gen had brought him into their midst meant he was received with nothing but warmth and enthusiastic hospitality. Their genuine and unpretentious nature was evident in this simple act of welcome.