"You really know how to bluff."
Squatting in the bushes, imitating Zhou Li by shoving her hands in her sleeves with none of the demure demeanor expected of a gentlewoman, Tang Wan nudged Zhou Li with her elbow and whispered:
"Why are you even considering staying here? With your personality shouldn't you have set the place on fire and run away by now?"
"Would you believe me if I said I'm worried about our country and its people?"
Gazing at the concealed Guo Lingyun on the distant locust tree, Zhou Li spoke without turning his head.
"Then I'd believe you're Emperor Qin Shi."
After her sarcastic comment, Tang Wan stepped lightly in her embroidered shoes and crushed a small snake that had appeared out of nowhere, frowning as she said, "Why are there so many bugs here?"
"With the mountains and rivers nearby, if it weren't for what they call the Mountain God, I reckon you could open your mouth right now and get full."
Zhou Li shifted his gaze back to Tang Wan and said quietly, "Are you staying or not? If you're not staying, just pull back and let my elder sister know, that's all."
"No need."
With a casual wave of her hand, Tang Wan said with an indifferent expression, "People from the Tang Sect don't have the habit of abandoning their friends."
"Be honest."
"I can't find the way."
After earnestly admitting the truth, Tang Wan then asked with some confusion, "So, why do you want to stay?"
"Didn't you notice something off about that Qianhu?"
Faced with Zhou Li's words, Tang Wan was initially stunned, but then she nodded and said with a mix of confusion and certainty, "Right, he's a demon, the Scorpion Spirit, the Golden Snake Lady's Number One Villain under the Heaven."
"What?"
Zhou Li was suddenly stunned, turned his head, and said with a shocked face, "What's wrong with you? How did you get so smart? How did you figure it out?!!"
"Eh?"
Tang Wan was also taken aback, and after a moment, she scratched her head and said with some puzzlement, "Didn't the Pangolin tell us both when we were on the cart?"
Zhou Li was immediately dumbfounded as long-forgotten memories began to assail him.
After reminiscing for a moment, he finally recalled that the Pangolin did seem to say something when they were on the cart, but he was too busy analyzing "what does Guo Lingyun's sneer mean as he got on the cart" to truly listen to the Pangolin's words. And later, just as Tang Wan was about to bring it up again, the Ghost Monk set the carriage ablaze, turning it into a hearse.
"Damn it."
After a while, Zhou Li came back to his senses, chuckling at the absurdity and feeling somewhat helpless. He then looked at Tang Wan and whispered, "You know he's a demon, and yet you're still with me?"
"Hey."
Tang Wan hooked her arm around Zhou Li's shoulder, gave a thumbs-up, tilted her head back proudly, and boasted:
"Who could trouble us when we used to hang out together? Even that Third Rank scholar would have to steer clear of us. What could this demon possibly do to us? Worst comes to worst, if we had a falling out with the demon, one of us could always run to find reinforcements. It's better than facing him one by one, right?"
Zhou Li stared at the adorable face that seemed to say, "Look how clever I am," feeling a mix of emotions.
To be honest, he was truly touched to have such a good friend, but when he thought about the owner of this cute and delicate face, who was just like him a few years ago—a big guy crouching at the school gate picking fights—he felt as though he'd bitten into a dumpling with a crispy and delicious outer layer but filled with a strawberry and papaya filling.
Silently pulling his gaze back, Zhou Li vigorously rubbed his face. At that moment, Guo Lingyun, who had gone to scout at the village entrance, had finished his task and quietly made his way back to the bushes, finding Zhou Li and Tang Wan.
"Strange."
Guo Lingyun did not squat down gracelessly like Zhou Li and Tang Wan, but instead bent over and whispered with a serious expression:
"The road we took here has completely disappeared, along with the bridge. The entire village is shrouded in fog, invisible and impenetrable – we must be trapped here."
"I knew it."
Zhou Li scratched his head; in fact, the moment the bound man was about to start mutating, Zhou Li had sensed that his group would probably not be able to leave.
After all, if outsiders could freely enter and leave such a bizarre place, it would have long been reported to the government office and the entire village eradicated. The government isn't afraid of how powerful monsters are; they are afraid of monsters that can print money.
Even if monsters are strong, they only eat a few peasants for fun – what harm could come from that? But if you can print money, the wealth of the higher-ups becomes worthless paper - could they ever let you off the hook?
Clearly, Zhou Li and the others were trapped in the village. Zhou Li guessed that either they had to solve the mystery of the village, killing the sinister perpetrator to break the eerie confinement,
or, they had to join Mountain God Village, lavishly throwing around money with Silver Handkerchief Openings, living a happy and affluent life as rich people.
Damn, why does the latter option feel so tempting?
Zhou Li touched his chin and internally made a sarcastic remark, then set his gaze on the village where cooking smoke was gradually rising, sinking into thought.
"Hundred Household Sir."
After a moment, Zhou Li spoke up, addressing Guo Lingyun standing beside him, "Do you think these people are still human?"
Zhou Li's words made Guo Lingyun blink, then his brow furrowed as he said in a grave voice, "Brother Zhou, you're not really planning to massacre this village, are you?"
"Huh?"
After a pause, Zhou Li raised his eyebrows, puzzled, "Why would you say that? Am I that extreme?"
Guo Lingyun immediately fell silent, and Tang Wan looked up at the sky, whistling awkwardly.
"You got me all wrong."
Zhou Li wasn't annoyed and explained:
"I'm not some villain; these villagers are people too, merely deluded by demons or ghostly immortals. How could I possibly slaughter the village without saying a word? I just have a slight strategy in mind and am considering how to implement it."
"Oh, I misunderstood you, Brother Zhou,"
Realizing his mistake, Guo Lingyun felt ashamed.
Just then, the Thousand Household who had gone to explore the Mountain God Temple returned. Emerging from the nearby woods, the Thousand Household gripped the knife at his waist and spoke with a serious expression:
"The 'Mountain God' of Mountain God Village may be even more troublesome than we imagined."
Earlier on, the Thousand Household had snuck into the Mountain God Temple where Tang Wan had stolen offerings, hoping to find some clues. However, as he entered the dimly lit temple, devoid of candles or lamps, he first felt a sense of dizziness, and the next second, he found himself back at the entrance of the Mountain God Temple, with seven eerie statues appearing before his eyes.
No matter from which direction he tried to enter, he would end up back at the start.
"No Demon Qi, no Spirit Qi, truly the work of immortals."
The Thousand Household emphasized the words "work of immortals" heavily. As a monster and a Jinyiwei Thousand Household who enjoyed Fourth Rank Dragon-Tiger Energy, he was fairly experienced. But this time, he felt an unprecedented sense of confusion, which inexplicably made him feel both angry and helpless.
Dammit, I really want to set fire to this village and eat all its people.