Eternal Saber-Chapter 256 - 41: Strange Village

To the east of Qingzhou, adjacent to the East Sea, there lies a marsh spanning eight hundred li in circumference.

During the rainy season, the extent of the marsh exceeds a thousand li, even merging with the East Sea.

Legend has it that a Divine Dragon resides in this great marsh!

Chen Tang rode his Thunder Leopard, galloping swiftly day and night, and after about four days, finally reached the vicinity of this marsh.

Along the way, the severity of Qingzhou’s water plague was evident: houses destroyed, villages submerged, official roads washed away, and corpses lying scattered in the mud.

The flash floods left families shattered and lives lost.

Some starved to death, some died of illness, and some families perished together...

The horrific scenes encountered along the way were truly shocking!

After leaving Cloud County, the murderous intent in Chen Tang’s heart did not dissipate but intensified!

As he drew closer to the Eight Hundred Li Marsh, the surroundings became increasingly dry and refreshing, showing no signs of being inundated by floodwaters.

Chen Tang frowned in confusion.

If the floods originated from this Qingzhou Marsh, then why were there no traces of destruction near the marsh itself?

Chen Tang moved a few more li forward and glimpsed faint strands of smoke rising in the distance.

Approaching closer, he saw a village ahead. It was almost noon, and the villagers were busy lighting fires and cooking meals.

Chen Tang twitched his ears and could even hear the sounds of chickens and dogs in the village—an unusual haven of purity amidst the water disaster in Qingzhou.

No signs of flooding could be seen around the village.

This place seemed like an idyllic paradise, totally out of touch with the world outside Qingzhou.

Chen Tang prepared to enter the village for some inquiry.

At that moment, sensing something, he glanced around and casually eyed an ancient tree nearby, then quickly averted his gaze.

Pretending to be unaware, Chen Tang continued toward the village, drawing ever closer.

Whoosh!

The sound of a blade slicing through the air rang out.

A white light shot out from behind the large tree, its cold glint streaking swiftly toward Chen Tang!

An Alchemist?

Chen Tang was too familiar with such a tactic.

Just as the enemy’s Flying Sword was unleashed, Chen Tang leapt off his horse, taking only three strides to reach the tree!

A young alchemist hiding behind the tree was maneuvering the Sword Point, stealthily controlling the Flying Sword to kill this outsider.

But the sword missed!

The young alchemist instinctively peered out for a look.

"Hmm?"

The young alchemist was startled.

Where is he?

The position where the horse stood was now vacant, the rider vanished!

This shock was no trivial matter.

Just moments ago, he clearly saw someone riding over!

"Are you looking for me?"

At that instant, a cold voice rang beside his ear!

Startled, the young alchemist rushed to redirect the Sword Point, to recall the Flying Sword.

Chen Tang extended a hand, seizing the man’s neck joint, lifting him!

"Mm!"

The young alchemist groaned, kicking the air wildly, unable to control the Flying Sword, grabbing aimlessly but unable to even touch Chen Tang’s hem. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Where are you from, Alchemist?"

Chen Tang exerted a slight force with his palm.

"Ah!"

The young alchemist winced as pain surged from his neck through his spine, piercing to the bone, and he cried out in agony!

"I- I- I’m an alchemist from Profound Celestial Temple in Longpan County. Hiss..."

Gasping for air, the young alchemist stammered.

"Why are you guarding outside this village?"

Chen Tang asked again.

The young alchemist, grimacing with pain, clammed up.

With a cold snort, Chen Tang tossed him to the ground and crushed his wrist beneath his foot!

"Ah!"

The young alchemist screamed once more, quivering as he stared viciously at Chen Tang, "You... such audacity... Ah!"

Before he could finish, Chen Tang stomped again, shattering his other wrist!

Rolling his eyes in pain, the young alchemist fainted.

Yet soon he was roused by another surge of pain.

Chen Tang was stepping on his ankle, applying pressure!

"I’ll talk, I’ll talk!"

The young alchemist finally yielded.

He had planned to rely on his status within Profound Celestial Sect to intimidate the intruder.

Unexpectedly, his affiliation meant nothing to this person!

Swallowing his fear, the young alchemist confessed, "The Observatory Master sent us to guard near Longyin Village. Anyone attempting to leave the village is to be killed."

"Why is that?"

Chen Tang pressed.

"I don’t know."

Shaking his head rapidly, the young alchemist said, "We’re just following orders; we don’t know anything else."

"How many more alchemists are around Longyin Village?" Chen Tang inquired.

"Besides me, there are three others in different directions."

Chen Tang pondered before asking, "How many have you killed in this village?"

"Not... not many."

Trembling, the young alchemist said, "After killing a few, the others dared not leave."

"Very well."

Nodding, Chen Tang swung his blade, slitting the man’s throat!

Gazing toward Longyin Village, he narrowed his eyes.

Why did the Profound Celestial Temple send four alchemists to guard this village, forbidding villagers from leaving?

What secret lies within this village?

Hiding his presence, Chen Tang scouted around Longyin Village, locating the other three alchemists.

Interrogating them revealed similar answers.

Having dealt with the alchemists, Chen Tang thoroughly searched the area for traps or suspicious signs, returning only after finding none to his Thunder Leopard, riding toward Longyin Village.

At the village entrance, villagers eyed Chen Tang with suspicion and wariness.

"Sir, don’t enter. Leave at once!"

A boy of twelve or thirteen, with a round face, ran up, waving him away.

Smiling slightly, Chen Tang said, "Little brother, I just want a drink of water. Sorry to intrude."

With that, Chen Tang entered Longyin Village on horseback!

The boy’s face fell, too late to stop him.

"Oh no!"

Sighing, the boy looked at Chen Tang, filled with regret and sympathy, "Sir, you don’t know. Once inside Longyin Village, you can’t leave!"

"Oh?"

Chen Tang dismounted, patted his Thunder Leopard to let it roam, and asked, "Why is that?"

Earnestly, the boy explained, "Once someone leaves the village, they suffer divine punishment and even the wrath of the Divine Dragon! Anyone who left died!"

Indeed, those who left had died—the circumstances, however, were not divine but man-made.

"Who told you this?" Chen Tang asked.

"The village witch."

The boy replied, "Many have seen it: someone barely leaving when a white light flashed, and their head flew!"