Chapter 305: Quiet Village

The next day, early in the morning, Gu Mo went to the Yun family.

The Yun family of Cangzhou was originally one of the Three Sects, Four Factions, and Seven Great Clans of the Qian Dynasty’s martial arts world, considered a top-tier clan. Two years ago, the eldest daughter, Yun Xiu, took over as head of the family. Seizing the opportunity, she became one of the four imperial merchants personally appointed by the Qian Emperor, achieving a semi-class transition in one leap, moving from a martial arts clan to a court family.

Afterwards, Yun Xiu decided to split the Yun family into two. One part remained in Cangzhou, continuing to maintain their identity as a martial arts clan and preserving their base in the jianghu. The other part moved to the capital, establishing the Chang'an Yun family.

Currently, while not at the absolute peak of their power in Chang'an, the Yun family is steadily rising, gradually gaining some renown and establishing a firm foothold.

When Gu Mo arrived at the Yun family, everyone there was extremely excited and received him with great solemnity. Yun Xiu, the family head, who was originally scheduled to attend the ceremony in the Imperial City, immediately changed her plans.

Although the Crown Prince Investiture Ceremony was simplified this time, it still involved a three-day process. As an imperial merchant family, Yun Xiu, by rights, should not have been absent. However, no one in the Yun family found anything wrong with Yun Xiu changing her plans today.

In the imperial court today, anyone with a clear head knew how high Gu Mo's status was in the Qian Dynasty. If necessary, even the Crown Prince Investiture Ceremony could be halted directly.

With Gu Mo in Chang'an, countless people wished to visit him. However, without exception, whether they were court officials or royal nobles, unless Gu Mo actively wished to see them, they would all be blocked by people from Ye Jinglan's residence.

The Yun family was also among those who wished to see Gu Mo but couldn't. Fortunately, Yun Xiu had maintained close contact with Gu Chutong and had, in fact, met Gu Mo once a few days prior, accompanying Gu Chutong.

Even such a small matter had elevated the Yun family's reputation in the capital. Therefore, given that Gu Mo had taken the initiative to visit today, unless the Yun family members had lost their minds, they would never neglect Gu Mo for the sake of attending the Crown Prince Investiture Ceremony.

At this moment, in the Yun family's main hall.

Only Yun Xiu and Gu Mo were alone together. The other Yun family members had retreated far away. No one worried that a man and woman being alone would negatively impact Yun Xiu's reputation. On the contrary, the Yun family wished something would happen between Yun Xiu and Gu Mo. If not for fear of offending Gu Mo, the Yun family might even have considered spreading rumors themselves.

In the hall, Yun Xiu poured Gu Mo a cup of tea. She asked, "Why is Sir Gu considering going to Beizhou?"

"To find someone," Gu Mo replied.

Seeing that Gu Mo had no intention of elaborating, Yun Xiu, being perceptive, did not press further. She said, "When do you plan to go, Sir Gu? You don't need to wait for a merchant caravan; I can directly send familiar people to guide you."

"The sooner, the better."

"Would tomorrow be acceptable?" Yun Xiu asked.

"Yes," Gu Mo replied. He then asked, "How chaotic is the situation in Beizhou now?"

Yun Xiu thought for a moment and said, "In the north, there are no fewer than ten rebel factions vying for power, locked in chaotic warfare, with chaos everywhere. The south is relatively better; after the Beizhou court relocated to Wutong City, their control over the southern regions is currently quite good. Our Yun family primarily conducts trade with the Beizhou court in Wutong City."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and added, "Oh, by the way, I'm going to Beizhou to apprehend a notorious bandit. It's inevitable that I might need to deal with the court. I dislike such interactions, so I'll need your arranged guides to negotiate with the court on my behalf. Therefore, please give extra thought to selecting the right people to lead the way."

Yun Xiu quickly replied, "No problem. I will arrange for two experienced veterans who frequently deal with Beizhou's Ministry of Rites to guide you. They are familiar with the routes and the Beizhou authorities. If you have any other needs, Sir Gu, just command us. The Yun family owes its current standing entirely to you, Sir Gu. You have shown great kindness to the Yun family. Therefore, let alone such minor matters, the Yun family would not hesitate to go through fire and water for you!"

Gu Mo asked, puzzled, "What kindness have I shown the Yun family? Family Head Yun, don't mention my apprehension of Shangguan Shang; you paid me to do that, which was a transaction, not a favor."

Yun Xiu said, "Even for that matter, we must thank you, Sir Gu. If you hadn't helped me then, my clothing exhibition wouldn't have succeeded, and I wouldn't have become the family head. However, I wasn't referring to that incident. Sir Gu, when you went to Yunzhou to investigate the case of the Azure Leaf Sect Master, you eventually discovered that the Azure Leaf Sect Master was Old Madam Lin of the Lin family. But in reality, Old Madam Lin, or rather the Lin family, was backed by His Royal Highness Prince Qi."

Gu Mo nodded. "I know. Last year, when I entered the palace, His Majesty the Emperor told me that although Old Madam Lin of the Lin family was the Azure Leaf Sect Master, it was because the Lin family was struggling, and to prevent its decline, she collaborated with Prince Qi Li Zhongyi to secretly establish the Azure Leaf Sect."

Yun Xiu nodded slightly and said, "Actually, after the Lin family was exposed, Prince Qi's schemes in Cangzhou were half-disrupted. He continued to support new replacements, and my Yun family and I were the ones he chose. It was precisely because of his mediation that our Yun family gained the opportunity to become imperial merchants. However, last year, the Emperor, in his efforts to establish a Crown Prince, suddenly began to purge Prince Qi and his subordinate forces. Our Yun family was originally unable to escape this calamity. But because of my old connections with you and Sister Chutong, our Yun family was given an opportunity: as long as we actively severed ties with Prince Qi's manor, past grievances would be disregarded, and we would not be pursued. This is how our Yun family escaped the disaster and still retains its status as imperial merchants."

Gu Mo said, enlightened, "So there were these matters in between. This is truly a case of good fortune and disaster being intertwined. From now on, the Yun family's fortunes will reverse, and they will surely soar."

Yun Xiu chuckled lightly and teased, "Fortunately, I've never refused Sister Chutong's request for me to be her sister-in-law..."

Gu Mo smiled faintly and did not respond.

Although Yun Xiu said this in a joking tone, she had been carefully observing Gu Mo's expression. Seeing that Gu Mo did not respond and showed no change in emotion, she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Many times, a joke is a test.

Of course, Gu Mo also understood this principle, so he didn't rise to the bait. He had no plans to settle down yet.

The next day, early in the morning, just as dawn broke, the Yun family sent people to see Gu Mo. The Yun family was extremely proactive regarding Gu Mo's matters. If they could use this opportunity to deepen their relationship with Gu Mo, it would undoubtedly be immensely beneficial for the Yun family.

The Yun family sent two direct lineage masters. They were brothers, the elder named Yun Song, and the younger Yun Qing. Both were around forty years old, and their martial arts cultivation was not low. They had long been responsible for leading entire merchant caravans between Beizhou and Qian.

These two were not only familiar with the routes but also frequently dealt with Beizhou's government officials. Moreover, they were seasoned in their dealings and highly experienced in the jianghu, perfectly meeting Gu Mo's requirements for guides.

At the entrance of the Ye Residence.

Gu Chutong saw Gu Mo to the door, saying reluctantly, "Brother, how long will you be gone this time? You won't be gone for months again, like when you went to Penglai Island, will you?"

"No," Gu Mo smiled faintly. "I have a secret weapon now; I should be able to find my target quickly."

Similar to his trip to Penglai Island last year, Gu Mo did not let Gu Chutong accompany him to Beizhou this time. This was because the opponent he was facing was not human; it was a demonic entity that had roamed the mortal realm for seven hundred years, rumored to be the one who single-handedly blocked the path to immortality.

Therefore, he would not take Gu Chutong into such danger.

"Then you must be careful!"

Gu Chutong felt a little worried. Although she had great confidence in Gu Mo's strength, firmly believing him to be invincible, when Gu Mo said he wouldn't take her along, she still couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

Because Gu Mo not taking her meant the danger level was very high.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon," Gu Mo smiled faintly and continued, "After I leave, don't slack off. Practice according to Hong Yi's instructions, and always take Hong Yi with you wherever you go."

"Got it!" Gu Chutong said with a grin. "Brother, you're the strongest in the world, and Sister Hong Yi is second! It's safest to follow her!"

Just then, a sound of hooves emerged, and a fast horse galloped up.

"Big Brother, I'm not late, am I?"

The person who arrived was Ye Chen. Ye Chen now was different from his listless self yesterday. He was completely exhilarated and looked refreshed, with the scent of rouge and powder all over him. Evidently, the "Ten-Perfect Great Tonic Pill" Gu Mo had prepared for him yesterday had taken effect.

In reality, Gu Mo's "Ten-Perfect Great Tonic Pill" wasn't some miraculous elixir. It simply stimulated qi and blood, enhanced desires, and stimulated the user's mind, preventing them from dwelling on their psychological shadows.

Gu Chutong saw Ye Chen and immediately pouted. "Brother, you're taking him but not me... My martial arts aren't weak, you know!"

Gu Mo said, "Ye Chen is my secret weapon."

"Why?"

"You wouldn't understand if I told you," Gu Mo said. "With Ye Chen, my bounty hunting career can ascend another level. He's incredibly important to me!"

Ye Chen said, deeply moved, "Big Brother, am I really that important to you? My martial arts aren't even worth mentioning compared to yours. When you asked me to go to Beizhou, I was actually afraid of holding you back!"

"Don't underestimate yourself. You are very important to me. I truly hope to have you accompany me in apprehending wanted criminals in the future!"

"Big Brother..."

Ye Chen was truly touched. He knew Gu Mo's strength was on a completely different level from his own; taking him along would be like carrying a burden. Yet, he never imagined his position in Gu Mo's heart was so significant!

Gu Mo patted Ye Chen and said, "Let's go. The Yun family's merchant caravan is already waiting for us outside the city."

Gu Chutong looked at Gu Mo, then at Ye Chen. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was some hidden meaning behind Gu Mo saying Ye Chen was his secret weapon!

In fact, Gu Mo truly wasn't exaggerating. Ye Chen really was his secret weapon. The reason he didn't directly fly by sword to Beizhou, aside from the trouble and time-wasting involved in dealing with the court alone in Wutong City, was primarily that he needed to bring Ye Chen along.

He was very confident that his trip to Beizhou wouldn't be in vain, precisely because Ye Chen was with him. After all, who else but him possessed the "Mine-Stepping Holy Physique"!

The Yun family brothers had long traveled between Beizhou and Qian. They were extremely familiar with the routes. And along the way, all the necessary arrangements for the Yun family were already taken care of; even after entering Beizhou territory, their journey remained unimpeded.

Furthermore, since all of them were martial arts masters, their speed was incomparable to ordinary people. Departing from Chang'an, they entered Beizhou territory within half a month.

However, once they entered Beizhou territory, even with the Yun family's trade routes being well-managed, their speed inevitably slowed down. This was because Beizhou was currently too chaotic; there was fighting everywhere, and displaced people were abundant. They passed through many areas where even the local government had ceased to exist.

Even for Gu Mo and Ye Chen, who had traveled the jianghu for years and witnessed countless tragedies, their moods grew increasingly heavy after entering Beizhou.

That evening, the sky suddenly grew gloomy, and a heavy rain was imminent. The group of four arrived outside a small town.

Yun Song cupped his hands and said, "Sir Gu, this town is called Mud Bottle Town. It's the only market town within twenty to thirty li, and it has an inn. We can rest here for the night and replenish our provisions. From here, we're almost at Wutong City, probably about five days' journey."

Immediately, the group of four entered the small town.

Mud Bottle Town.

The town lived up to its name, resembling a broken clay bottle casually discarded in the wilderness. It was dusty and lifeless. As the four led their horses into the town entrance, an indescribable chill and desolation washed over them.

However, as they walked on, Gu Mo and the others felt something was amiss; it was too quiet. It wasn't the silence of an uninhabited place, but an unsettling "emptiness" that sent shivers down their spines. The bluestone road was fairly clean, and the doors and windows of the low mud-brick and wooden houses on both sides were tightly shut, yet not locked. Under the deepening twilight, it exuded an indescribable strangeness.

"This..." Yun Song pulled on his reins, his brows furrowed. His long-honed jianghu instincts immediately put him on edge. "How can there be no one?"

Yun Qing said, "Could it be that there's fighting about to break out nearby, so everyone in town has fled?"

Yun Song nodded slightly and said, "We'll see. If it's a mass exodus, they would definitely take all their food and valuables."

"That makes sense," Yun Qing said, cupping his hands. "Sir Gu, Sir Ye, let's go take a look."

Immediately, the Yun family brothers walked towards the nearby residences. Soon, after entering four or five different residences, they returned with very grim expressions.

Gu Mo asked, "What's the situation?"

"Something's not right," Yun Song said. "It's not a mass exodus, nor has there been any banditry. We just checked a few homes; the furnishings were all orderly, and their rice, flour, food, and valuables were all still there. It seems these people vanished all at once, and not long ago, as there are clear signs of recent habitation."

Gu Mo's gaze swept over the deserted streets and tightly shut doors and windows. His spiritual sense spread out like invisible tendrils, but he only perceived a dead, blank emptiness, with no spiritual fluctuations from any living beings. He said in a deep voice, "It's going to rain heavily. Let's find a place to rest first."

The Yun family brothers exchanged glances, suppressing their unease. They led Gu Mo and Ye Chen towards the town center. Hooves clopped on the bluestone, producing crisp, abrupt echoes, which sounded particularly jarring in the dead silence.

Soon, they saw a relatively tall, two-story wooden building. A crooked, dust-laden sign hung at the entrance: "Youfu Inn." The inn's main door was ajar, and it was dark inside.

"This must be it." Yun Song stepped forward and carefully pushed open the creaking wooden door.

The inn's main hall was also empty. Tables and chairs were fairly neatly arranged, and the counter behind was deserted. The wooden staircase leading to the second floor, in the dim light, resembled a gaping maw leading to an unknown abyss.

Yun Song lit a candle, then took dry rations and a waterskin from his satchel, placing them on the table. He said, "Sir Gu, Sir Ye, please wait here. Yun Qing and I will go upstairs to check for clean rooms and see if there's anyone around."

Gu Mo took the waterskin and nodded, "Alright."

Yun Song and Yun Qing drew the daggers from their waists. One hand holding a candle, they cautiously ascended the stairs. Their footsteps echoed in the empty hall. Each step seemed to land directly on one's heart.

Soon, the two brothers were upstairs.

Gu Mo and Ye Chen, meanwhile, sat downstairs. Gu Mo drank water, while Ye Chen ate a dry biscuit. They watched the dim street, where a strong wind howled, scattering various debris across the road.

Time passed, little by little. The two downstairs waited in silence. Outside, the sky grew darker, and dark clouds hung low. The air was oppressively stuffy, making it hard to breathe. The forecasted downpour seemed ready to unleash itself at any moment.

However, no sound came from the Yun family brothers upstairs. No shouts, no sounds of struggle, not even footsteps.

Dead silence.

A dead silence, heavier and more viscous than that at the town's entrance, descended upon them.

Ye Chen stuffed the last bit of dry biscuit into his mouth, wiped his mouth, and said, "Huh, Big Brother, the Yun family brothers... they've been up there for a while, haven't they? Why is there no sound at all?"

Gu Mo was slightly startled and said, "Oh, right!" Immediately, Gu Mo stood up abruptly: "Come on, let's go up and see!"

Immediately, the two went upstairs.

The corridor on the second floor was extremely dim, with only a faint, pale light filtering in through a broken window at the end. Ye Chen held up a candle, and the two quickly advanced. As they turned the corner into the second-floor hall, their pupils suddenly constricted, and a chill immediately shot from their feet to the top of their heads!

Terror!

An indescribable scene of horror!

They saw dozens of corpses hanging densely in the hall! All of them had rough hemp ropes around their necks, hanging from beams and doorframes. Judging by their attire, these corpses did not look like local villagers, but rather like strongmen or bandits. Each corpse still had weapons like knives, swords, or axes attached to them. Many had fierce and sinister faces, but now their faces were bruised purple, tongues protruding, eyeballs bulging. Their bodies swayed gently with a breeze from an unknown source, like a slaughterhouse hung with cured meat!

They were all dead, but their deaths had occurred within the last two or three days.

And among those corpses, two familiar figures were conspicuously hanging—Yun Song and Yun Qing! Like the other hanged individuals, both had rough hemp ropes around their necks. Their toes were barely an inch from the ground, and their bodies swayed slightly. Their faces were bruised purple, just like the other corpses, and their eyes were wide open, staring blankly towards the staircase.

"What in the world is this?" Ye Chen said. "Do these two think others are swinging on a swing and decided to join in?"

Gu Mo: "..."

Jokes aside, Ye Chen was swift in his actions. His figure was like lightning, appearing beside the Yun family brothers in an instant. A sharp burst of qi energy condensed at his fingertips, precisely severing the hanging hemp ropes. The two quickly laid the Yun family brothers flat on the ground.

Gu Mo quickly placed both palms on their chests, infusing genuine qi to stimulate their heart meridians. Under the stimulation of Gu Mo's genuine qi, Yun Song and Yun Qing's bodies suddenly twitched. Then they began to cough violently, gasping for air. Their purplish faces quickly faded, regaining their normal color.

The two opened their eyes blankly, their gazes initially vacant, then focusing. When they clearly saw Gu Mo and Ye Chen squatting before them, their faces were filled with extreme confusion and a hint of terror.

"Cough, cough... Sir... Sir Gu? Young Master Ye?" Yun Song struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse. "What... what happened to us?"

"You don't remember?" Ye Chen asked urgently, pointing to the horrifying scene of hanging bodies around them. "You came up to check, and ended up hanging yourselves! Just like these people!"

"Hang... hanged?" Yun Qing's eyes widened in terror. He instinctively reached for his neck, where there was indeed a clear, burning ligature mark. He looked around, seeing the hellish scene, and was immediately scared out of his wits, his face turning ashen again. He said, "We just came up, and then... I think I saw someone, who suddenly smiled at me, and then I don't remember anything..."

Yun Song also looked shaken and said, "I remember it that way too. I also suddenly saw a person. Before I could react, I saw that person smile, and then I lost my memory."

Ye Chen frowned and said, "Big Brother, did these two just encounter a ghost?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "Someone must have used some trickery."

Ye Chen said, "Then why did only they two see someone smiling? We also came up, but didn't see anything?" Ye Chen shrugged, held up the candle, and swayed it towards the hanging corpses, saying, "It couldn't possibly be them smiling, could it...?"

And then, before he finished speaking, Ye Chen suddenly saw a few of the hanged people next to him smiling at him.

"Oh, you really are smiling?"

As soon as Ye Chen finished speaking, he suddenly attacked. With several direct palm strikes, the corpses broke their ropes and flew backward.

"Big Brother, did you see those corpses smiling just now? Oh my goodness! The corpses smiled! We really encountered a ghost, did you see it?" Ye Chen asked.

Gu Mo shook his head: "No."

Ye Chen's expression changed, and he said, "Oh my God, Big Brother... are there really ghosts?"

Gu Mo waved his hand slightly and said, "There are no ghosts, and I didn't see the corpses smiling. However, I just felt a spiritual fluctuation; someone used a trick here..."

As he spoke, Gu Mo pointed out several sword qi strikes through the air. With several clanging sounds, several black stone pieces fell from the beams and walls.

Ye Chen leaned in to look and said, "It's Balin Stone. This is a renowned exotic stone in the martial arts world, highly sought after by martial artists who cultivate illusion techniques. This stone contains extremely powerful spiritual energy, allowing illusionists to achieve twice the results with half the effort!" As he spoke, Ye Chen looked up and said, "Big Brother, did someone use these Balin Stones to set up a mental array here to harm people? Can we track down who's behind this?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "This is just an array; there's no one controlling it remotely, so it can't be traced."

Ye Chen looked at the corpses and frowned. "These people don't look like good folk; they seem like horse bandits or robbers. Could it be that some righteous martial artist laid down this array to eliminate these bandits? If that's the case, I'm afraid we might have been caught in the crossfire!"

Gu Mo slowly said, "If we explain it that way, did everyone in the town disappear to hide from these horse bandits and robbers?"

"Boom!"

A deafening clap of thunder suddenly exploded in the sky without warning. A ghastly white flash of lightning instantly tore through the dim space within the inn, illuminating the hanging corpses as if they were demonic figures dancing wildly. Immediately after, raindrops the size of beans poured down like a heavenly river, pelting the rooftops and streets densely, creating a deafening "whoosh" sound, instantly enveloping the entire Mud Bottle Town in a misty curtain of water.

The sounds of rain and thunder intertwined, as if to completely engulf the eerie, silent town.

Gu Mo frowned slightly, not because of the thunder and rain, but because his spiritual sense, far keener than ordinary people's, clearly detected a hint of "life" that was completely out of place in this dead environment amidst the echoes of thunder. That aura did not originate from within the inn but was approaching Youfu Inn slowly from outside the town.

"Someone's coming," Gu Mo said.

Ye Chen immediately narrowed his eyes and sharply scanned the staircase entrance. Yun Song and Yun Qing, furthermore, instinctively tightened their grip on their dagger handles, standing back-to-back, tensing up in vigilance. Having just survived a strange brush with death, any slight disturbance was enough to make their nerves taut.

The group descended the stairs; the hall was even dimmer than before, with only faint light filtering through the rain curtain outside the door and occasional flashes of ghastly white lightning providing illumination. They walked to the inn's entrance, stood under the eaves, and peered through the dense curtain of rain towards the deeper parts of the town.

The rain curtain was hazy, obstructing their vision. But in Gu Mo's perception, that aura became clearer and closer. Before long, a blurry figure appeared in the rainy mist, gradually becoming distinct.

The newcomer was holding an oil-paper umbrella. Its surface seemed to be an ordinary yellow, but under the dim rain curtain, it appeared somewhat old. Beneath the umbrella was a young monk, approximately twenty years old. He walked directly to the eaves of Youfu Inn, stopping a few paces from Gu Mo and the others. He slightly raised the brim of his umbrella, revealing his entire face.

The young monk pressed his palms together, bowed slightly to Gu Mo. His voice was clear and tone even, yet it distinctly cut through the drumming sound of the rain:

"Amitabha. Esteemed patrons, this humble monk has come by the decree of the Maitreya Buddha to specifically invite you to visit the Little Leiyin Temple."

Ye Chen couldn't help but whisper, "Big Brother, is this monk crazy?"

Gu Mo stared at the young monk, feeling a little strange. Because when the monk spoke of the Little Leiyin Temple and the Maitreya Buddha, there were no signs of him lying. With Gu Mo's current cultivation, he could sense if anyone was lying in front of him.

Gu Mo remained silent. Ye Chen asked, "Monk, what does your Buddha want with us? And where is this Little Leiyin Temple?"

The young monk bowed again with pressed palms, his face still bearing that calm, almost indifferent smile. "The Buddha says, all your worries and desires, esteemed patrons, can be fulfilled upon reaching the Little Leiyin Temple. As for the temple's location, you will naturally know it when you accompany this humble monk. The Buddha says this is a good affinity; esteemed patrons need not worry too much."

Ye Chen transmitted his voice, "Big Brother, this seems a bit off, a bit strange. What do you say? Should we go?"

"Yes."

Immediately, the group opened their umbrellas and followed the young monk, leaving the town. Soon, they were out of the town and ascending a mountain. From a distance, they saw a brightly lit manor.