Zhang Chu and his companions had already escaped the bounds of Mangdang Mountain. As they passed by Wuliu Village again, they found several villagers waiting for them on the road.
"Great, you're finally back safely," said the Hunting Team leader, whose arm had transformed into an octopus tentacle, with a look of relief on his face.
Zhang Chu and his group stopped, wary and unsure why they were being blocked here.
"What is this about?" Zhang Chu asked.
The Hunting Team leader replied, "Actually, we want to invite you into the village to discuss some matters."
"Into the village? To discuss matters?" Zhang Chu and his companions immediately took several steps back.
Are you kidding? Once we enter your village, can we even get out? What if we get corrupted without knowing and bring it back to our village? That would be a huge problem.
However, the Hunting Team leader quickly waved his hand, "We know the Great Horned Python's anger is related to you, but rest assured, we don't intend to take your treasures."
Zhang Chu realized they misunderstood his intentions but remained cautious, "Then what is it?"
The Hunting Team leader explained, "To be honest, our village suffered a disaster a few months ago. More than half of our Hunting Team was killed or injured, and many men died."
"So?" Tong Qingshan asked.
The Hunting Team leader continued, "Now, there are far more women than men in our village."
"But Wuliu Village has a rule that a man can marry at most three women. Now, many women can't find husbands. So, we wanted to invite you to our village to see if you could..."
Tong Qingshan breathed a slight sigh of relief, "So that's what it is!"
He then said, "Not today. You see our situation; we need to hurry back, or our village will worry."
The corrupted Hunting Team leader didn't insist. He just nodded, "Alright, we won't force you. If you have the chance in the future, feel free to visit our village."
"Sure!" Tong Qingshan casually agreed.
The corrupted villagers made way without any trouble.
Zhang Chu and his companions passed safely. These corrupted villagers showed no abnormal behavior; they only appeared terrifying on the outside but were quite peaceful.
After passing through Wuliu Village, Zhang Chu and his companions dashed towards Zaoye Village as if fleeing for their lives.
The villagers of Wuliu Village watched Zhang Chu and his group depart, discussing among themselves:
"Hey, people from other villages have been acting strange lately."
"Yeah, our village is hospitable. In the past, people would stay for a few nights, but recently, they don't want to stay at all. I wonder what's happened."
"Maybe they angered the Great Horned Python and are afraid it will catch up. Remember, if an old man enters our village and asks about this, don't reveal anything."
Not far away, an old man with half of his neck rotten approached. He was the Old Village Chief of Wuliu Village.
The Old Village Chief sighed, "Perhaps the mountains have been restless lately, and they're all wary. Don't think too much."
"Once the mountains calm down, everything will be fine."
...
Zhang Chu and his companions returned safely.
Tong Qingshan went into seclusion immediately; the effects of the Dragon Scale Orchid had taken hold.
Zhang Chu noticed Tong Qingshan's ears had grown long, resembling an elf, adding an exotic charm to his already handsome appearance.
"Forming a Demon Core, will he turn into a Great Demon?" Zhang Chu thought curiously.
Of course, Zhang Chu didn't say much. It was just a minor change in the ears, nothing serious.
Now, Tong Qingshan needed to focus entirely on breaking through the first barrier.
Zhang Chu sought out the Old Village Chief to inquire about some matters.
What he had witnessed this time left Zhang Chu with many questions and a sense of foreboding.
Under the bright light of a lard lamp, the Old Village Chief and Zhang Chu sat at a stone table, and Zhang Chu spoke of the events in Wuliu Village.
The Old Village Chief smoked his old pipe silently, not showing much alarm.
Zhang Chu was surprised. Such an event spreading to a village should frighten most people, yet the Old Village Chief seemed unusually calm.
So Zhang Chu asked, "Old Village Chief, don't you find it terrifying?"
The Old Village Chief replied calmly, "There's nothing to fear. What will come, will come. We just need to endure it."
"Endure it... Have you seen this kind of thing before?" Zhang Chu asked urgently.
The Old Village Chief took a deep drag from his pipe before saying, "I've heard the elders mention it. Sixty years ago, there was something similar."
Zhang Chu's eyelid twitched. Sixty years ago again!
Zhang Chu couldn't help but ask, "Old Village Chief, I remember you mentioned that outsiders and Great Demons caused trouble, and it also happened sixty years ago."
The Old Village Chief nodded, "Yes, this chaos is just like sixty years ago."
He took another deep drag before continuing, "Corruption, turmoil, many beings died, and many villages disappeared..."
Zhang Chu was shocked. He realized the Old Village Chief might know a lot.
So Zhang Chu asked, "Old Village Chief, can you tell us more about what happened sixty years ago? We need to prepare."
However, the Old Village Chief smiled wryly, "I was only three or four years old then, how could I remember much? Most of it I heard from the elders, and I have little personal recollection."
"Did the elders ever mention what the corruption was about?" Zhang Chu asked.
The Old Village Chief fell into deep thought, puffing on his pipe, brows furrowed, as if trying hard to recall.
Finally, the Old Village Chief spoke, "I only remember that the elders were very wary of the nights in Yaoxu."
"Perhaps the nights in Yaoxu not only devour people but are also related to the corruption. When I was young, there was a custom of sending night spirits, but it gradually disappeared."
Zhang Chu directly asked, "Sixty years ago, were there cases of entire villages being corrupted?"
The Old Village Chief nodded, "Yes, there were such cases, and quite a few. Entire villages were corrupted, looking like ghosts but speaking human words and doing human things."
"As long as you don't provoke them, they won't cause trouble."
"What happened to those corrupted villages later?" Zhang Chu asked.
"They disappeared," the Old Village Chief said.
"Disappeared???" Zhang Chu exclaimed.
The Old Village Chief nodded, "Yes, those things suddenly vanished, along with their Guardian Deity and the villagers."
"And the corrupted animals also disappeared suddenly, just like that."
Zhang Chu found it strange, "This... is a bit odd, isn't it?"
The Old Village Chief sighed, "That's why I say, don't think too much. Just endure it."
"This chaos will surely end. We just need to stay in the village, guard the Old Jujube Tree, and we'll be safe."
The Old Village Chief's thoughts were simple and straightforward; he didn't overthink.
But Zhang Chu felt something was off. He wasn't someone who muddled through life; he wanted to find the truth in the face of the unknown.
Zhang Chu asked again, "What about those outsiders and Great Demons? Why are they fighting every day?"
The Old Village Chief was silent for a while, seemingly reluctant to speak.
But Zhang Chu persisted, "Old Village Chief, since you know, please tell me. Rest assured, if it's harmful to the village, I won't speak carelessly."
The Old Village Chief was silent for a moment before saying, "I heard those outsiders and Great Demons are fighting over a herb."