Chapter 2883 - 2884: Mind Your Own Business

Chapter 2883: Chapter 2884: Mind Your Own Business

"Let’s start looking around," Ao Song took the lead this time, carrying a compass, searching everywhere, but to no avail.

After all this fuss, it was almost dawn, the darkest time before the break of day.

Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared at the alley’s entrance, and a vortex formed mid-air, from which people started walking out one by one.

Weren’t they the ones who had previously gone to the Cliff Village?

But now, they seemed different, with no spirit left in them, each ignoring the other and appearing unusually quiet.

"What’s wrong with them? They seem to have lost their spirits." Bai Ruozhu, with her sharp sight, immediately noticed the emptiness in their eyes.

Ao Song sneered, "They were spirits to begin with, how could they lose them again? It’s probably the Thousand-eyed Monster’s art of confusion, just in case they discovered something. Let’s go, we should hurry in as well."

With that, she jumped into the vortex first. Bai Ruozhu followed immediately, with Jiang Yichun quickly grabbing his wife’s hand to jump in together.

Upon exiting, they were back in Cliff Village. The Village was eerily quiet, as if everyone was still asleep.

The Astrologer hastily emerged from the shadows upon seeing them, "Good you all came back, nearly closed."

Just as he finished speaking, the vortex vanished.

"We almost couldn’t make it back," Ao Song patted her chest, "Couldn’t find the entrance. Luckily, those wandering souls needed to return, and we saw the entrance and came back immediately."

"Did you find anything?" the Astrologer inquired.

"Let’s talk inside," Ao Song signaled to him with a wink.

Bai Ruozhu chuckled secretly; these two made a good pair, answering each other so closely connected.

The group returned to the Tree House, none realizing that behind them, a flash of white light signaled something leaving the cliff, destination unknown.

Even things unnoticed by Ao Song and the Astrologer must have been quite formidable.

"How did it go?" the Astrologer asked curiously.

"You’ll never guess where we went," Ao Song teased.

"Where did you go?" the Astrologer asked again.

Ao Song smirked, "Admit that I’m more capable than you, and I’ll tell you."

The Astrologer’s ears reddened, quickly looking towards Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun, "I’ll ask you two instead."

"I don’t dare to say; Ao Song won’t protect me afterward," Bai Ruozhu replied, trying to suppress a laugh.

The Astrologer knew Bai Ruozhu wouldn’t speak, and Jiang Yichun certainly wouldn’t either, so he was resigned to looking at Ao Song, "Fine, you’re better than me, satisfied?"

Ao Song was delighted, "We went to Xunyang City!"

She observed the Astrologer’s reaction, satisfied to see his eyes widen with surprise, smiling so her eyes curved like crescents.

Bai Ruozhu figured it was about time and started discussing their suspicions, but the Astrologer’s expression grew increasingly grave.

"It’s said the Thousand-eyed Monster kills to collect eyes, and if it has a hundred eyes, it becomes extraordinarily powerful," the Astrologer remarked.

"You mentioned that before; I’m puzzled though, why isn’t a Thousand-eyed Monster collecting a thousand eyes but rather a hundred?" Ao Song showed disdain, "Do demons in Fusang exaggerate like that?"

The Astrologer sighed helplessly, "It’s not exaggeration. Ordinary Thousand-eyed Monsters collect a hundred eyes, but there are very rare royal lines requiring a thousand to reach full power. However, the process is so prolonged that many die before accomplishing that."

"How do you know this is a royal Thousand-eyed Monster?" Ao Song questioned.

"I don’t, and I hope not," the Astrologer said gravely, "Royal Thousand-eyed Monsters require a pair of Emperor’s eyes to complete the thousand."

The thought of a body covered with a thousand eyes caused Bai Ruozhu’s fear of clusters to flare up. She shivered, saying, "A thousand eyes, even the soles wouldn’t be enough space."

"No, it appears as if there are only a hundred eyes, but each hides nine more. We can’t let it succeed, or we could all join forces and still not be a match," the Astrologer stated sternly.

Bai Ruozhu was speechless. Fusang’s demons have their royalty to torment them, why come to Zhongyuan? It made her so uncomfortable.

The sky was already bright by then, and the rain from last night had ceased, barely dampening the cliff, which had dried up.

There was some morning dew, which would have to evaporate under the sun before they could descend.

Before Bai Ruozhu and her companions left the Tree House, Zhao Shu’s mother was waiting for them under a tree with him. She had packed a small bundle for Zhao Shu, a corner of which revealed a piece of animal-skin clothing.

Zhao Shu’s eyes were red, showing reluctance to part.

"Ma’am, I entrust Zhao Shu to you. He is strong and can work. Give him any laborious chores you have," Zhao Shuniang said, her voice choking with emotion.

Poor Zhao Shuniang, Bai Ruozhu smiled at her, "Rest assured, his condition may improve in six months."

"Thank you, ma’am, you’re truly a living deity," Zhao Shuniang said as she tried to kneel in gratitude, only to be supported by Bai Ruozhu. Despite thinking herself strong, Zhao Shuniang couldn’t manage to kneel with this seemingly delicate lady lightly holding her.

Definitely not an ordinary person, Zhao Shuniang joyfully thought.

"Zhao Shu, make sure to return when you’re better, don’t forget your mother’s words," Zhao Shuniang told Zhao Shu one last time.

"Mom, I’ll... return," Zhao Shu replied, his voice choked, playing the fool.

Just then, Kuai Zheng arrived with people, furious, "Zhao Shuniang, haven’t I told you? No one can leave the Village; if your Zhao Shu breaks the rules, you and his father should leave with him, and you’ll no longer belong to the Village."

Hearing this, Zhao Shu’s eyes lit up. He wished for his parents to go with him.

But Zhao Shuniang’s face changed dramatically, kneeling on the ground with a thud, "Village Chief, please don’t expel us. We have done so much for the Village. Besides, Zhao Shu will be better in half a year; he’s a filial child and promised to return."

"What can a fool remember?" Kuai Zheng said angrily.

Then Zhao Shu’s father also came running, kneeling and crying pitifully, "Village Chief, don’t drive us out. What will we do then?"

Bai Ruozhu scoffed inwardly. Are these people fools? To bow and scrape for a lie about going to Immortal Land after death?

Forget it, these ordinary folks are plain and honest, which is why they are easily deceived.

"Zhao Shu leaving is against the rules, what if he brings danger back to the Village? If you insist on sending him away, you must leave with him!" Kuai Zheng said mercilessly.

"May I ask, Village Chief, if someone wants to leave, are they breaking the rules, resulting in the whole family being expelled?" Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but inquire.

"That’s the rule. Ma’am, you are an outsider. It’s best you don’t plead for Zhao Shu’s family, and let them think it over," Kuai Zheng almost explicitly said: mind your own business.