Chi Village,
The bright sun hung high in the sky, casting a bright golden light over the village. The whole village was gathered in the big yard of the village head as the air was filled with festive and joyful energy. Red lanterns were hung around the house and the nearby streets, lighting up the grand decorations of the yard.
A bright red double happiness banner hung above the door of the main hall. The occasional loud and happy sound of drums filled the air, accompanied by the lively gossip and laughter of the villagers.
Today was the wedding day of the village chief, and anyone with eyes could see that no expense had been spared to make it grand.
Although the bride-to-be was a poor orphan, she was a stunning beauty. No one in the village could compare to her. Many would have even believed she was a noble lady from a faraway city, accidently lost in this remote village.
However, today this beautiful flower was about to be plucked by an old decaying groom whose hair had turned ash grey, yet still full of filthy desires.
~~
"Hold still. If you ruin your face, not only you but I will be punished as well."
Inside a small, poorly ventilated room, a woman hissed, dabbing a thick pad of cotton into a rouge container.
Gu Xinyue looked at the snow-white powder the woman was about to put on her face and stubbornly turned her face aside. The last thing she wanted was to look like a New Year doll. If it weren't for her hands being tied, she would have long sent this annoying woman to die.
The woman felt her resistance and gritted her teeth annoyingly. She violently grabbed Gu Xinyue's face, trying to forcefully apply the powder. But before the cotton pad touched her face, Gu Xinyue spat directly at the woman's face.
The warm spit landed on the woman's cheek, and her hand holding the cotton pad froze. After the initial shock, the woman's face quickly twisted with anger as she wiped at her cheek with trembling hands.
"You wretched girl! How dare you!" she screamed, smashing the rouge on the floor with a loud 'bang'.
Controlled by anger, the woman raised her hand, ready to slap the insolent girl before her but just as her hand was about to hit, she froze.
Bright almond-shaped eyes locked onto hers, glistening under the narrow rays of sunlight. A strange, unearthly light flickered across them. The woman's breath hitched, and her raised hand began to tremble before sluggishly falling.
The look of anger in the woman's eyes faded, replaced by emptiness. Soon the woman's expression also fell into dullness as she stood there lifelessly.
Gu Xinyue narrowed her eyes, a slow smile curving her lips. She didn't expect it to succeed. Although it was extra effort, the effects were almost the same.
Mind Controlling.
This was a skill she had awakened and used to control both zombies and humans in her previous life. It was also one of the skills that took most of mental strength and one she had rarely used on humans.
For zombies without consciousness or strong will it was easier to use on. But for humans, it was effective to use only when they were emotionally stimulated and unstable.
Unexpectedly she could still use it after coming to this strange world. However, it was indeed mentally draining to use it.
Now she felt a bit weak, but what mattered the most right now was to get out of this place and escape this village. If only this body wasn't so delicate, she wouldn't have to go through all this trouble. She could have simply killed everyone and left.
Suppressing her thoughts, Gu Xinyue lifted her head, her gaze locking onto the woman's empty, unfocused eyes.
"Untie this rope", she spoke softly yet the voice was heard by the woman.
The woman stiffly reached behind Gu Xinyue and started untying the rope that had tightly bound her hands. The knots loosened, and soon the ropes slipped away, leaving behind a dull ache and red mark on those delicate wrists.
Once her hands were freed, Gu Xinyue moved it around in the air before rubbing the aching spot where the rope had left its mark. She let out a slow breath. This was much better.
She looked at the woman who was still under the effect of control. After thinking for a bit, she got up from the chair and moved around the room.
That Wang Situ had well prepared to lock up this body so she couldn't escape anywhere. The room was poorly ventilated with little to no sunlight from outside. There was a window on the back of the wall, however, this window was tightly sealed with rows of iron bars around it and closed with thick dark curtains.
The door was watched by this woman who was also tasked with getting her ready. For the previous owner of this body, it was impossible to get out of here without alerting or getting caught.
Wang Situ might have never expected the little girl he thought of to be a coward would courageously hang herself. Although the previous Gu Xinyue was indeed a bit cowardly and naive, she also knew this marriage was equivalent to jumping into a firepit.
A pity her resistance was useless.
After the death of her grandfather who had protected her extremely well within this courtyard, that lustful old man couldn't wait to lay his hand on her.
His grandchildren were older than this body, yet he still clung to his insatiable lust, refusing to let go of his filthy desire in his decaying old age.
Although the previous Gu Xinyue couldn't escape, it wasn't a big deal for her. Her only weakness was that she didn't know the way around this village.
Gu Xinyue looked at the woman still standing stiffy and called her over. The woman quickly stood before her, her dull eyes staring straight.
This body had rarely gone out before, it was impossible to know anything from the memories she received. However, this woman might know a lot given how that Wang Situ had trusted her to watch over her.
"Tell me, how do I get out of this village from here?" She asked.
The woman's lips parted slowly, her voice flat. "The back road, following the old water well, leads to the north side of the village. From there, you'll see a river not far away. The bridge of the river is located on the northeast, a bit further up. Once you cross the river, you'll enter the Heiyan mountain range."
"Heiyan Mountain?" Gu Xinyue frowned. There was no recollection of such a place in this body's memories.
"No villagers dare enter that mountain," the woman replied. "It is said dangerous beasts live in there. Especially at night… no one dares go near it."
Even under control, the woman's voice trembled slightly.
Beast.
Another strange word that was not in the memory of this body. The previous Gu Xinyue was really well protected by her grandfather.
What a pity this protectiveness caused her to naively give up her life without trying to fight back.