Chapter 185 - 173: Xiaoshi Village

Chapter 185: Chapter 173: Xiaoshi Village

"Qingyu? Does that mean Qingyu Village?"

Bai Shasha cautiously walked to the side of the Stone Boundary Stele. She stared at the characters carved on it and muttered to herself.

Based on his prior information, Li Heng knew this was Xiaoshi Village. However, he didn’t know the meaning of the name carved on the Stone Boundary Stele.

After her murmur, the flat-chested girl said no more. Li Heng also stared at the Stone Boundary Stele, silent for a long while.

During that time, Li Heng considered digging up the stele and taking it with him. ’But my medium-sized Space Stone is almost full,’ he thought, ’and I don’t even know how big this whole stele is.’

Besides, what would he even do with it? Create an illusion inside his Space Stone to mess with himself?

’Even if it’s an item of epic value, I shouldn’t be so insatiably greedy, wanting every good thing I see. Most importantly, this thing is genuinely useless to me.’

"Let’s go check out the village!"

Although Li Heng understood that this was a Smoke Illusion Mountain Stone Boundary Stele and that this place was likely an illusion, he didn’t let his guard down just because of it.

After all, according to the information he had gathered, the illusions produced by a Smoke Illusion Stone were nearly indistinguishable from reality.

He decided he would figure out the specifics after entering the village and assessing the situation.

Hearing Li Heng’s words, Bai Shasha nodded, gripped her weapon, and continued forward.

Li Heng didn’t dare to be careless either, stepping cautiously onto the gravel path.

CREAK~

Just as the two of them stepped onto the path, the door of a stone brick house suddenly made a sound. Li Heng and Bai Shasha both immediately assumed combat stances.

Xiaoshi Village Militiaman Zhao San: Smoke Illusion

Level: 15

Tier: Soul Apprentice

Strength: 13 (+3)

Agility: 12

Spirit: 11

Soul Energy: 88

Soul Energy Skills: Li Liang City Militia Blade Technique

Possible Drops: Li Liang City Standard Long Saber, Simple Waterskin, Mended Cloth Clothing, Soul Crystal Coin x5.

"You two honored Soul Masters, may I ask your purpose in coming to our village...?"

After the wooden door was pushed open, a young man wearing Mended Cloth Clothing and holding a long saber appeared before the two of them.

The flat-chested girl’s expression was cold, and she never loosened her grip on her curved blade. Whether it was his clothes, his speech, or his mannerisms, Bai Shasha felt that this person who had suddenly appeared was not from Meteor University. As such, her grip was incredibly tight.

Li Heng looked at the man’s information. ’Judging by his status, his name is yellow, so he probably won’t attack on sight,’ he thought. ’But I’ve never seen this ’Smoke Illusion’ status before.’

"My sister and I mean no harm! I was wondering if your village has seen any other Soul Masters passing through?"

Li Heng had only spoken to Zhao San after quickly analyzing the situation in his mind and organizing his thoughts.

Bai Shasha, who had been on high alert, suddenly heard Li Heng’s words, and her ears instantly perked up.

When she heard Li Heng use the term "brother and sister," she couldn’t help but look at him. Her gaze held a trace of confusion, and her expression changed, but she didn’t interrupt him.

Hearing this, Zhao San looked at Li Heng and Bai Shasha, then broke into a smile. "Of course! It is an honor for Xiaoshi Village to host you two honored Soul Masters. We hope you won’t mind how crude our village is."

Li Heng continued to exchange pleasantries with Zhao San, even putting away his Empty Cicada Longsword at the right moment. However, he didn’t put away the throwing knife in his left hand, even though the man’s name remained a neutral yellow.

After a few more polite exchanges, Zhao San led Li Heng and Bai Shasha to see the village chief of Xiaoshi Village. After all, outsiders who wanted to stay had to report to the village.

As Bai Shasha followed Li Heng, she didn’t comment on his earlier statements, only muttering under her breath, "Do I really look that young?"

Although the flat-chested girl’s voice was quiet, Li Heng heard her clearly. He knew Bai Shasha had a slight issue with him calling them "brother and sister," but he also knew she wouldn’t make a big deal out of something so trivial.

Walking on the gravel path of Xiaoshi Village, neither of them relaxed their guard. At first, when Bai Shasha saw Li Heng put away his Longsword, she thought he had let his guard down. But then she saw the throwing knife still faintly gripped in his left hand and understood—Li Heng was only pretending to be relaxed; he was ready to attack at any moment!

In truth, Bai Shasha had no idea what was going on with this village, nor did she understand the situation with this villager in his Mended Cloth Clothing.

However, the one thing she did know was that Li Heng had not let his guard down, so she certainly couldn’t be a burden.

If Li Heng attacked, she would naturally have to follow up.

Bai Shasha admired Li Heng’s ability to remain so calm and communicate so smoothly with the man. She admitted to herself that she wouldn’t have been able to do the same.

With the militiaman Zhao San leading the way, Li Heng noticed some villagers secretly cracking their doors open to peek at him and the flat-chested girl as they headed to find the chief.

Li Heng watched these villagers out of the corner of his eye. They were all in the same "Smoke Illusion" state as Zhao San, with their names also showing a neutral yellow.

The chief of Xiaoshi Village was not old, a middle-aged man of about forty. His cultivation was at the Soul Warrior realm, and his name was Shi Dazhuang.

Shi Dazhuang first welcomed Li Heng and Bai Shasha, but he also made a point of reminding them that Xiaoshi Village was under the protection of Li Liang City. If they were just here to rest, Xiaoshi Village would always welcome them. But if they had any malicious intent, they would have to answer to Li Liang City.

Bai Shasha was already clueless about the situation. Li Heng, on the other hand, knew of Li Liang City and the geographical location of Xiaoshi Village. Still, upon hearing the chief’s words, he simply nodded lightly and continued to exchange pleasantries.

Then, Shi Dazhuang arranged for the cleanest room in the village for Li Heng and Bai Shasha, and also had some fine dishes sent over, telling the two "siblings" to rest well.

Bai Shasha didn’t speak the entire way. It wasn’t until the two of them had entered the clean room arranged for them that the flat-chested girl finally took the initiative to ask a question.

"Li Heng, do you have any idea what’s going on with this Xiaoshi Village? What... what should we do next? I’m sorry, I’m completely clueless."

Meanwhile, Li Heng was also thinking, ’How exactly do I break this illusion?’