Chapter 2252: New Environment and New Situation

A giant grey rat, almost as big as a native dog, was so plump it looked as if it could barely move its legs.

"That's because the inn and restaurant are just ahead," Pu Daren kindly reminded him. "Be careful, they will bite when hungry. These past few years, everything in the wild has grown larger; even centipedes are three feet long!"

Qingyun Inn was just ahead.

The inn offered comprehensive services. Guests could bathe, change clothes, and dine there, and for a bit more money, enjoy a bone-setting massage and foot reflexology.

The two men stopped for a meal, bathed and changed to wash off the smell of the sea, then came down to eat.

The inn's front hall was bustling with business; seventeen of the twenty-five tables were occupied. The room was lively with chatter and laughter, and someone was even telling stories of old, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

On the counter, the innkeeper had four or five food baskets stacked, all orders placed by external guests for takeaway.

Just as Sun Xiansheng finished ordering, he heard the storyteller, fan in hand, swaying his head: "Beijia and Mou were known as twin powers; back then, they fought fiercely, with such carnage that it created mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. Neither side would yield..."

A guest at the table next to Sun Xiansheng, cracking melon seeds, commented, "Aren't 'mountains of corpses and rivers of blood' redundant, Mr. Lu? Don't you have any new phrases to use?"

The storyteller glared. "You, surnamed Wu, I don't even charge you, and you're still nitpicking? Do you know what I'm about to say?"

It seemed they were quite familiar, as the guest laughed and waved his hand, "Alright, alright, you tell your story; I won't nitpick anymore."

The storyteller then continued, "Does anyone here know why Beijia and Mou, who were battling fiercely just a few years ago, later ceased hostilities?"

A guest humored him, "They just got tired."

"Even if they got tired, they couldn't show it, otherwise, their enemies would see they were weary and beat them to death!" the storyteller said. "They stopped almost simultaneously, but does anyone know what happened?"

The diners shook their heads; nobody liked to use their brains while eating.

"The Beast Tide arrived."

At these words, a long "Oh—" swept through the room.

Everyone understood, and no one offered a rebuttal.

"The result of a massive surge in spiritual energy between heaven and earth is that beast tides have appeared in various countries in recent years, causing severe impact on local areas," the storyteller explained. "Whether it's Beijia, Mou, or our Cangyan, it's unavoidable. You all must have a deep impression of this, right?"

"Indeed."

"We remember, we remember!" Everyone nodded.

"At that time, internal troubles outweighed external threats; their own backyards were on fire. How could they find time to fight outsiders? So, Mou and Beijia gradually ceased hostilities and stopped fighting..."

Two young men next to Boss Wu then asked, "Since Beijia is called the Northern Demon Nation, don't they have the ability to control newly emerging demons?"

Mr. Lu rolled his eyes. "What kind of question is that? Just because it's called a 'Demon Nation' means it can control demons? Does being called a 'Human Nation' mean it can control humans? Look at how many countries are plagued by bandits; aren't they all people from human nations, yet they can't be controlled?"

The two young men were left speechless.

Sun Xiansheng smiled at this but said nothing.

The beginning and end of the Mou-Beijia War had complex reasons. What Mr. Lu said was not entirely without merit, but it wasn't necessarily the primary reason.

Just as Sun Xiansheng's large bowl of beef noodles was served, a sturdy young man rushed in from outside and whispered to the guests at the two tables next to Sun Xiansheng: "Boss Wu, near the Small Stone Forest on the official road north of the city, four or five black bears and a pack of wolves have appeared. They are extremely fierce! Last night and this morning, they attacked two merchant caravans, devouring one traveler and injuring more than a dozen others. The department wants your team to go and clear them out."

The guests at these two tables were all sturdy men; their eyes gleamed with vitality, showing their cultivation and martial arts prowess.

Someone grumbled, "It's been peaceful for several months; why do we always run into trouble when we're on duty?"

Their leader, Boss Wu, asked, "Did they attack people on the official road or in the Stone Forest?"

"In the Stone Forest, but very close to the official road. They could wander onto it within dozens of steps."

"Those senseless creatures! Instead of staying in the vast mountains, they come to our territory to seek death!" Boss Wu gobbled down his remaining noodles, wiped his mouth, and strode away with seven or eight of his subordinates. "Let's go! Time to skin some black bears!"

A subordinate said, "Let's still be careful. Bai Su's team, who participated in the military's hunt for the West Ridge demons three months ago, never returned."

Another added, "I heard that over a hundred years ago, this place was called Julu Kingdom, and there were bear demons and wild wolves rampaging and devouring people back then too..."

The captain smacked them each on the back of the head. "Keep bringing bad luck, and I'll feed you two to the bears and wolves first!"

After they left, Sun Xiansheng asked, "These people aren't mercenaries, are they?"

"No, they are official patrol teams." Pu Daren watched their retreating backs. "Actually, in the first few years after Cangyan was founded, the Dragon God Army pacified the land, thoroughly eliminating mountain bandits, highway robbers, and powerful demons. Even merchants dared to travel the Shanjin Plains at night. Unfortunately, this good fortune didn't last. The Imperial Nectar continued to fall endlessly for many years. The newly emerging mountain spirits and wild monsters were like bamboo shoots after rain, appearing in endless waves, day after day, month after month, year after year! They are impossible to fully eliminate or control."

"They understood no reason, couldn't even comprehend human speech, and didn't know which areas were human territory. They often came near cities and official roads, disrupting transportation, disturbing public order, and capturing and devouring people. Both domestic and foreign powers called this a 'Beast Tide,' meaning that when their numbers increased, they would disrupt normal human life. Therefore, the authorities organized patrol teams to ensure travel safety."

"I heard it was like this in ancient times too, with humans constantly harassed by beast-demons. The Fu Kingdom where I was before also had similar countermeasures, but the official manpower and financial resources were insufficient, so they entrusted it to escort agencies and mercenaries. As a result, it caused more trouble, with skimming off funds in between. Some mercenaries, after working for a while, started collecting tolls themselves. Over time, hardly anyone dared to travel those roads anymore." Sun Xiansheng sighed. "So, what about the mountain paths and trails beyond your official roads?"

"Safety is your own responsibility; it's beyond the reach of the authorities. Unless you are highly skilled and courageous, don't take them," Pu Daren shrugged. "Besides, the wilderness is never safe for the weak to travel, no matter when."

"That's a fair point."

After dinner, eager to continue their journey, the two departed from the port.

The official road was still very safe. Sun Xiansheng looked back, watching the buildings of Julu Port grow smaller in the distance, while carriages and horses flowed past them ceaselessly. He couldn't help but say, "This place is as lively as the Yangshan Archipelago."

They had traveled by boat and stopped at Yangshan midway, and he had been deeply impressed by Yangshan.

Pu Daren chuckled, "What's the difference?"

"Yangshan has beautiful scenery, while Julu Port had a magnificent presence."

The carriage they were riding actually climbed higher and higher, finally stopping at the side of a cliff to drop off passengers.