Free Web NovelChapter 121: Chapter 119: Tales of the Strange
"After receiving the news, the Imperial Court was enraged and sent troops to attack again, vowing to completely exterminate these mountain people. But this time, the situation was entirely different. The Official Army not only failed to find any trace of the mountain inhabitants but also suffered significant losses."
"The records in the book describe the scene as very bizarre. These Official Army soldiers disappeared at night, and their bodies would be found in completely unrelated locations the next morning with their heads severed and nowhere to be found."
"What’s even more strange is that there were no signs of struggle nearby. It’s as if these soldiers were just standing there, waiting for the mountain people to kill them."
"What happened afterward?" Yang Xiao asked eagerly. "How was this matter resolved?"
Teacher Zhou shook her head, "Most of the records in the books end there. I think it probably just fizzled out without conclusion."
Yang Xiao could understand what Teacher Zhou was thinking. After all, these things involved accounts of mountain ghosts and were certainly not aligned with official history, nor within the consideration of professionals like Teacher Zhou. But he didn’t give up. "You said most books, does that mean there are others with different records?"
As Teacher Zhou discussed these topics, she gradually relaxed, "Yes, there is a fragmented manuscript by an unknown author. This book mentions a follow-up explanation to the incident, but it’s very bizarre. Every era has authors who write sensational stories to catch eyes, and this person must be the same. The narrative shouldn’t be taken as the truth."
Right now, Yang Xiao wanted to hear these incredible stories. An unknown author and an ancient manuscript sounded like it was full of information. "Please go into detail."
Seeing that Yang Xiao was earnest, Teacher Zhou couldn’t refuse, "The book only mentions it briefly. A large troop of the Official Army encountered an evil spirit at night, resulting in heart-pounding fear, and dozens of soldiers were killed one after another, with the rest fleeing in panic, never daring to step foot on Dragon Head Mountain again."
"Even more far-fetched is the book’s record that those Official Army soldiers who escaped returned only to fall gravely ill, talking nonsense. Some said they saw strange things lurking outside their army tents at night, and others claimed to have seen their fellow soldiers who were killed by the evil spirit. These soldiers had blood all over their faces, with eerie expressions, smiling and beckoning them over and over, wanting to lead them away."
Teacher Zhou was speaking when she suddenly stopped. She noticed that the expressions of Yang Xiao and his companions had turned ghastly, which panicked her. After all, these were the leaders that the museum director had talked about, and what she had been talking about was obviously pure fiction. She panicked, "Leaders, I was wrong... I shouldn’t have spouted such nonsense. These... these are all unofficial histories, and as a staunch materialist, I don’t believe in these stories."
After calming himself, Yang Xiao took a deep breath. He knew that the so-called unknown author wasn’t fabricating tales, quite the opposite, what he wrote in his book was the truth. The experiences of these soldiers were very similar to those of the art student who had been in the hospital.
Yang Xiao even suspected that this so-called unknown author might have been part of the army that was involved in the subjugation of the bandits, someone who had seen the evil spirit and thus was too afraid to sign his real name in the book.
If that were the case, then the problem was serious. As far as he knew, everyone who had directly faced this headless ghost had died, and those who escaped were claimed by it shortly after. How then did this unknown author survive?
If they could find more information about this author, could they use his survival methods to help Yu Shu survive as well?"
"Teacher Zhou, don’t be nervous. We came here today to gather as much information on this matter as possible. We are very interested in the information you’ve provided," Yang Xiao reassured Teacher Zhou, steadying her. "By the way, does the book mention any information about this evil spirit? I suppose it’s what’s known as Nine-Eyed Duo Luo, right? Is there a specific record?"
Seeing that Yang Xiao and his companions were so interested in this legend, Teacher Zhou didn’t dare to be negligent, "Leaders, could you wait a moment? I will go and find the book for you?"
"That would be much appreciated!"
Teacher Zhou moved through the bookshelves, brought over a ladder, climbed to the top of one shelf, and took down a book.
Contrary to what Yang Xiao had thought, the book was quite new, with a blue cover, stitched binding, and the paper quality was not much different from the present, except that the edges were slightly yellowed. freewebnøvel.com
"The original text is long lost to history; this is a copy made by later generations. Many of the books in our hall are passed down in this manner," Teacher Zhou explained before she opened the book and began to search through it, page by page. It was clear that she was not very familiar with this book.
After a moment—
"Found it!" Teacher Zhou adjusted her glasses and excitedly turned the book around. Upon seeing the painting on the page, Yu Shu’s face suddenly changed color.
Yang Xiao and Beibei were also startled. On the page was a drawing of a headless corpse standing upright, its arms crossed in front of its chest holding a human head. What was more chilling was that this head was densely covered with nine eyes that were not symmetrical, resembling festering sores embedded in the flesh of the face, creating a nauseating sight.
Next to the painting were several lines of crooked, slightly blurred script. Teacher Zhou read it out softly at her side, "Nine-Eyed Duo Luo symbolizes an undying vengeful corpse. It has no head, so it is always searching for its own head."
Beibei, holding back her disgust towards the nine-eyed head, asked, "Isn’t the head it’s holding its own head?"
Teacher Zhou seemed to find the creature too frightening as well, forcing her gaze away from the image and said, "This... I’m not sure about this. The book doesn’t say, or perhaps it did, but after all, this is an incomplete text; the second half has gone missing."
"Is it possible to find the second half now?" Yang Xiao asked urgently, as it was a matter of Yu Shu’s survival.
"This..." Teacher Zhou shook her head helplessly, "Sorry, that’s nearly impossible. After all, it’s been hundreds of years; the original is long gone."
Even so, Yang Xiao insisted on asking Teacher Zhou for help in searching and emphasized the importance of the matter, to which Teacher Zhou could only agree.
Having asked everything that needed to be asked, the group left the Town Annals Hall. Before leaving, Yang Xiao approached Manager Tang and sought his assistance, to which Manager Tang readily agreed, saying he would fully cooperate with Teacher Zhou.
After all the back and forth, it was nearly dark when they came out, and the group settled for a quick meal at a nearby restaurant before finding a guesthouse close to the Town Annals Hall to spend the night.
The Dragon Head Mountain loomed behind the town, and they planned to explore it together the next day. Zhuge Zhijie had sent a message: they had made contact with the surveillance personnel stationed near the Yin Soldiers’ Cave, and upon ascending the mountain tomorrow, they would provide intelligence for Yang Xiao and the group.
Although it was unlikely that they would enter the Nightmare World tonight, as a precaution, everyone decided to sleep separately, with Yu Shu in his own room and Yang Xiao and Beibei sharing another.
Lying in bed, Yang Xiao mulled over the clues they had gathered that day. The image of the headless corpse holding the nine-eyed head flashed repeatedly through his mind, foreshadowing that Yu Shu’s nightmare mission was destined to be tumultuous.
"Nine-Eyed Duo Luo..."
