Because Lu Dakun had a disagreement with Dr. Xiao Cai, he didn't have time to introduce me to them. I felt a bit awkward and watched as Lu Dakun limped away into the distance. Helplessly, I followed him.
I originally wanted to chat with Secretary Hao and learn about the situation in the village through him, but now I missed my chance.
However, even without their introduction, I had already observed much of what was happening in the village during my journey here. The village wasn't very big; there were only around two hundred households. The main part of the village centered around a courtyard managed by the village committee and was located on a flat plain surrounded by fertile rice paddies. It was early spring when grass grew tall and birds flew everywhere - it was an idyllic scene that filled one's senses with fragrant smells.
To the west of the village stood a mountain covered in lush forests and bamboo groves where several paths led up from below including two stone staircases.
Looking up at those woods shrouded in trees revealed glimpses of eaves like wings which indicated that people lived on that mountain.
It seemed like Lu Dakun's home was also located on this mountain so he hobbled his way up while leading me along until we arrived at an extremely secluded mansion gate.
Honestly speaking, when I saw that mansion gate back then, I couldn't believe it belonged to Lu Dakun because it was too large and ancient-looking - typical for wealthy landlords' homes where hundreds could live inside if not more.
The pink walls were adorned with blue tiles; three entrances led inside while red doors hung beneath flying eaves supported by twin tigers statues - this house looked like an inheritance left behind by great landowners from long ago.
Lu Dakun knocked on its door before someone quickly came out to open it: an elderly woman whose hair had turned white over time who seemed to be Lu Dakun's wife.
Upon seeing Lu Dakun, she asked: "What happened?"
"Old Seven is gone," replied Lu Dakun as he wiped his mouth. He then asked her while walking inside, "Is Xiangdong and Xiaoqing here?"
"Only Xiangdong's wife is here; everyone else is busy with spring farming," the old woman said before noticing me and asking Lu Dakun, "Who is this?"
"He's an extraordinary person," stopped by now, Lu Dakun briefly introduced me to his wife before saying to her, "I won't stay long. Please prepare a bag of rice along with some dried fruits and vegetables for us since we'll be out for a while.
Upon hearing this, the old lady led us into the living room and hurriedly went to prepare things. Soon after, she came out carrying a bag of rice and a basket of dried fruits and vegetables, placing them in front of Lu Dakun. Without saying much, Lu Dakun gritted his teeth and lifted the bag of rice onto his shoulder while turning to me: "Little apprentice, you take the basket. Let's go." I nodded my head and picked up the basket following him. I couldn't help but feel sorry for this disabled man.
The old lady followed us all the way to the door with tears in her eyes before finally breaking down: "Master, please give up. Let's not fight that monster anymore. I'm afraid we'll all end up dead including you."
"Go back! What does a woman know?!" Lu Dakun shouted angrily at her: "My arm, my leg, as well as Xiao Lian's grudge - it will never be avenged even if it takes several lifetimes! Why did so many people have to die?!"
Lu Dakun finished speaking then turned around continuing on towards downhill; The old lady could only follow him for a few steps before leaning against a big tree by roadside crying alone.
I followed behind Lu Dakun feeling inspired by his heroic spirit but also sensing something strange about what had just happened.
I noticed that when he spoke earlier he mentioned his own arm and leg as well as someone named Xiao Lian but didn't mention Xiaoping who was supposed to be his daughter that died at hands of water demon too; why didn't he mention Xiaoping? What was going on?
This left me puzzled but since I couldn't ask directly about it without offending him so I buried these thoughts deep inside my heart.
As we walked downhill towards our boat again,I caught sight of an area where trees seemed missing from one side of the mountain. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a logging site with a waterway below where cut trees could be transported directly to Siyun River.
However, for some reason, the logging site seemed abandoned and no longer in use.
Looking at the entire village from afar made me feel uneasy instead of relieved; there seemed to be something mysterious hidden within this village that nobody knew about.
Fortunately, we didn't stay in the village for too long before returning back to our boat with everyone carrying their own things. Once everything was ready, we set off again upstream on our journey.
That boat had oars and poles, making it easy to maneuver, but its speed was very slow. By noon, we had only traveled a dozen or so miles, which wasn't much faster than walking.
As the boat sailed upstream, the environment on both sides gradually changed. The mountains became steeper and more dangerous in some places with rugged rocks exposed. In areas where the forest was dense, it looked like a primitive forest that was pitch black inside with who knows what kind of creatures lurking within.
We discovered many tributaries along the way as well as some shallow rapids and waterfalls. Fortunately, the river channel remained open enough for us to continue our journey upstream.
By afternoon we were deep in the "Ten Thousand Mountains" where monkeys' cries echoed endlessly between both banks of clear and calm waters typical of mountain forests. Looking around at both sides revealed large cracks and caves on rock walls where wild animals must be hiding inside.
"We won't be able to go much further," said Lu Dakun standing at the bow of the ship introducing me: "Little Master, why don't we set up an ambush here tonight? The water surface is relatively wide."
Lu Dakun's words made me somewhat amused: "A wider water surface would give that monster more room to move around; instead we should play to our strengths by finding narrow spaces to fight against it." I finished speaking then looked at Lu Dakun saying: "Let's keep moving forward until we reach swampy land; smaller space is better."
Upon hearing my words Lu Dakun hesitated for a moment before finally ordering his men to continue sailing forward. After this ordeal without realizing it nightfall arrived; finally leaving behind deep waters into an area filled with decaying leaves and overgrown weeds - a marshland zone.
The water in that marshland was relatively shallow while tree canopies covered overhead except for one central path several meters wide filled with dead branches and leaves making it difficult for the boat to move forward. Soon after entering, we found ourselves with no way out; in the end, we had to tie the boat to a large poplar tree then began setting up traps while waiting quietly for that water monster's arrival.