Free Web NovelChapter 381: Chapter 355: Isn’t This Contrast a Bit Too Stark?
The speaker was an old man, well past fifty, upon whom the years had left their deep marks.
His salt-and-pepper hair was sparsely scattered across his scalp,
like a desolate field in winter.
Yet, this couldn’t hide the sharp glint that shone from his cloudy eyes.
His gaze was as piercing as a hawk’s.
The old man’s body bobbed slightly up and down as he walked, each step taken with some difficulty.
It was clear he had a problem with his legs.
Perhaps the ravages of time had eroded his joints, impeding his movement.
As he slowly approached,
all the villagers of Xia Shui Village looked at him with a mixture of reverence and awe.
Their gazes were filled with respect and fear,
as if this old man were a god in their hearts.
Just from the villagers’ reactions,
it was clear that the old man held an extremely high status in the village.
He was like the soul of the village, in control of everything.
The surroundings fell so silent as the old man walked that you could hear a pin drop.
No one dared to even breathe loudly. Without a single command,
the villagers automatically formed two lines, leaving a path down the middle for the old man to pass through. The scene was like subjects welcoming their king.
The old man walked to the front of the courtyard. After seeing the incredibly bizarre scene inside,
his face showed not a hint of surprise. He appeared utterly unfazed,
as if everything before him was within his expectations.
With the old man’s arrival, the other villagers, whose faces had been etched with panic,
gradually calmed down.
The old man was their pillar of strength; his presence alone was enough to dispel the fear in their hearts.
"For this round of sacrifices, the designated families should make their preparations in advance.
It will begin promptly at eight o’clock tomorrow night."
The old man said this with a grave expression, his steady tone directed at the scene in the courtyard.
His voice, though not loud, carried an undeniable authority. "Now, everyone, return to your homes."
Hearing this, the residents of Xia Shui Village wore heavy expressions.
They looked at each other, speechless, then turned and left in twos and threes,
each returning to their own home.
Once home, they quickly shut their doors and windows,
as if to shut out the unknown terror that lurked outside.
In an instant,
the whole of Xia Shui Village fell back into a deathly silence.
Only the old man and a few able-bodied followers remained at the courtyard gate.
The old man frowned slightly.
His gaze swept over Chu He and the others. He spoke slowly, "You’re not from our Xia Shui Village, are you?"
"We can’t get out.
What on earth is wrong with this village?"
Lai Yu Yao slowly stepped out from the crowd.
Her eyes, showing a trace of anxiety and confusion, were fixed on the old man.
Chu He, however, said nothing. He stood there quietly,
like a silent statue, merely observing the unfolding situation.
’Actually, he was fully capable of using his own power
’to directly tear apart the strange aura enveloping Xia Shui Village,
’as easily as ripping a piece of old, black cloth.
’But the problem was, this Xia Shui Village was just too strange—
’so strange that even someone as experienced as him couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
’To this moment, Chu He still hadn’t found the root of the problem.
’The village was like a giant enigma.
’It seemed every corner of the village emanated the chilling aura of an Evil Spirit,
’yet he couldn’t find a single trace of the Evil Spirit’s true body.
’Chu He wasn’t sure if the Evil Spirit in the village had already left,
’leaving only its residual aura to affect people invisibly.
’Or perhaps the Evil Spirit had become so powerful that it was terrifyingly omnipresent.
’Or maybe this Evil Spirit was extremely cunning.
’It sensed outsiders had intruded,
’so it deliberately spread its aura everywhere, scattering it throughout the village,
’precisely so no one could find its true body.
’Therefore, Chu He didn’t act rashly.
’He planned to wait and see what other tricks this Evil Spirit would play.’
"It has nothing to do with you. Since you can’t get out, just find a place to stay.
Outsiders are not allowed to interfere with our Xia Shui Village’s upcoming ceremony."
the old man said flatly, his eyes devoid of any ripple of emotion.
"I just said that none of us can leave, and you don’t seem surprised. Who are you?"
Lai Yu Yao, ever perceptive, immediately caught the subtle change in the old man’s expression.
"I am the chief of Xia Shui Village. My name is Chang Bailin."
The old man fell silent for a moment, as if contemplating something, but ultimately answered truthfully.
Hearing this, the several strong young men beside him
immediately gathered around the old man.
They stared warily at this group of unfamiliar young men and women, their eyes full of vigilance,
as if worried these youths might, at any moment, act disrespectfully toward the village chief,
or even endanger his safety.
Chang Bailin paused briefly.
A complex look flashed through his cloudy eyes.
He said slowly, "It’s a common occurrence for Xia Shui Village to suddenly cause everyone to lose their way.
"This happens often.
"We villagers have experienced this situation many times.
"You don’t need to be afraid.
"As long as you wait for our village’s sacrificial ceremony to be completed,
"you will naturally be able to leave.
"But there is one condition.
"You must obediently follow our village’s arrangements and not act recklessly."
