XingYing quickly smiled. "Then let's go." XingYing stated, beggin to follow the brick, but Hsien Lian quickly stopped. "It could be unsafe." Hsien Lian stated. XingYing turned around to look at Hsien Lian, a frown still on his face. "But your spirit said it was safe." XingYing stated, though Hsien Lian still shook his head. He didn't want to take risks. Even if it was safe, doesn't mean it's the best. XingYing gave him a look even before Hsien Lian didn't say anything. "You know, you were the one that took the brick inside, even if it was unsafe. Technically you're being a-"
"Fine. Fine. Let's go."
And with that the two walked, following the floating brick to the best of their abilities. Food, money, and sleep were all left behind at the lavender field, the two walking over dead trees and small streams. Hsien Lian crouched down to scoop up water. It was crystal clear, and a small lily that must have also been caught in Hsien Lian's hand. The god smiles happily, watching as the water slowly dripped from his hands.
"Hsien Lian? Do you know all the cities in the Jiangxi?" XingYing asked hesitantly, causing the new god to look up. THere in front of them, as the green leaves and dark brown branches opened up, was a large wall. It seemed to go on forever on one sice, while the water dips in slightly to the stream that then branches into a large river. "Um, yes."
"Name them."
Nanchang, a stunning and flat town in Jiangxi. Hsien Lian has been there many tiems on behalf of the Han Dynasty. Nanchang's wealth was one of the best, meaning elegant parties and other social events seemed to always be placed in the beautiful geographic city. With stunning visuals, also comes stunning people. Rich noblemen with a plentiful amount on concubines by their side, all to help with every simple thing that the male might need. Nanchang was always such a nice city to Hsien Lian, yet the people weren't for him.
Jiujiang, Hsien Lian didn't know much about the city. But something he did know was the amazing water views any person could get. China itself had some of the best views for anyone to gander at, but Jiujiang was the perfect jackpot. Blue shimmering waters that seemed to span all of Earth's surface, yet the understanding that Jiujiang's Bali Lake had an ending, only made the water seem priceless.
Ganzhou, a city that has been grand since it's creation. With the widest amount of variety when it came to worshipping gods, even the most unpopular gods had a temple in Ganzhou. Hsien Lian, he was an exception. Ganxhou, similar to Nanchang, had many influential people. Even at one time, an Emperor. However, Ganxhou still had plenty of people around.
Each of those cities were the most popular and most functioning of the Jiangxi Province. Yet, none of them had a brick wall around them. Non of these cities looked anything like this. As water dripped from his hand, he shook his head. "This isn't it. Are we even in the Jiangxi Province?" They had been walking till day break, the sun now brightly shining as it waved at the two polar opposites. Hsien Lian silently shrugged, walking towards the building.
The brick that had been floating in the air fluttered itself gently to the ground, as if it didn't want to get hurt. Hsien Lian reached down to grab the light item, walking up to the brick wall. He scanned it carefully, finding a small space to slide in the brick. It look just the same as the others, almost identical with a few differences. Differences that made each one unique.
Hsien Lian slid in the brick, letting it settle in nicely. Almost instantly, the walls began to crumble. Beginning at the top, bricks fell like heavy rain onto the ground. Hsien Lian felt himself getting yanked back by a ghost in red, right before a brick fell on his head. Hsien Lian stumbled back slightly, before regaining his balence, watching the bricks fall and reveal a small village hidden behind a square barrier.
The village had many small tee-pee houses, with a small Tao Wu temple and a well for water. A small farm was set in the middle, allowing crops to grow throughout the day. It seemed like a nice and calm village, the only worrying things was the smell. A sharp aroma that seemed to come from… head animals? Hsien Lian froze at the sight in front of him. Not because it was a village he had never heard about. No, it was because it was a village that seemed to be frozen in time. In the most gruesome way.
A top the farm, was a skeleton person, with it's hands articulately placed to grip the hoe that was moving the dried dirt around. Another skeleton walked on a dirt path, holding a child by it's hand, the young one also only bones. A white skeleton sat atop a porch, watching the scene as if nothing was wrong. Ghosts. That was Hsien Lian's first thought.Ghosts that had hid themselves using the brick wall and made a village. That was the only way. However, soon it was understood that it wasn't ghosts.
Instead, a real life painting.
No skeleton had dared to move, each of their bodies stratigectly placed to make the painting much more realistic. As if it wasn't a skeleton, but a real person. With skin, flesh, and muscles. "Only a demon could create such an intrinsicate design." XingYing pointed out,walking towards the scene. Neither one touched the bones of the dead humans, barely unstettling the dirt that had laid there for some time. "It must have been recent, however. Look at their tools." Hsien Lian's eyes went back to the bones atop the farm. The person held a large hoe, with shiny iron attached. "During they were alive during the Han Dynasty." Hsien Lian stated, before continuing to walk. His footsteps light as he did so. He shivered at the smell of dead animals. Was it the humans that were rotting, or something else?
As a gust of wind blew, a paper made of papyrus fluttering into the village, right at Hsien Lian's feet. The god picked it up, flipping it over to reveal a written message on wet ink. Hsien Lian read it out.
How did they all die?
Find it out and you will see.
Y __r _ex c_ue _s h_me
XingYing looked over at him with a weirded look, before jogging over, reading the message over Hsien Lian's shoulder. They were playing this demon's game. Whoever it was, they were playing, and Hsien Lian had a feeling the demon was watching from somewhere. Laughing at the two struggle to read the letter. "We're not doing this." XingYing stated, shaking his head. Hsien Lian quickly went ot disagree.
"Look around! Look at all these people. What if the demon killed them all just so they could have a doll to show off. XingYing, I'm not going to let this demon get away with it." It all made sense. He had a feeling the demon picked Hsien Lian and XingYing for a reason. After all, if the domon is going to make another scene like this, Hsien Lian wasn't going to let it all go to waste. XingYing pointed to the skeleton that sat casually on the porch. One elbow leaning on their knee, with it's face turned to the other two skeletons walking in unison, a parent and a child. Just thinking that the three could have been a family made the god sick.
"Hsien Lian, analyze that skeleton. It wasn't struck in the head, or hurt in any possible way. Demons can't just make a person brain dead with a snap of their fingers. Blow their organs until they were red paint, yes. But kill someone without hurting them, where their skeleton is still intact perfectly. It's impossible. The demon didn't kill them." XingYing stated. He had a firm look on his face.
"They all died naturally."