CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103: HEMU VILLAGE (PART 3)

"Huff...Huff...Are we not there yet?"

Lin Xiaoyan, supported by Xuan Shisan and Shi Wu, was hiking up the mountain, gasping for breath, her vision turning dark.

Others shook their heads when they saw Lin Xiaoyan’s state.

"Your fitness level is way too poor! Climbing a mountain is like taking your life..." Xuan Shisan said disdainfully.

Lin Xiaoyan smiled bitterly, "I’ve never liked exercising since I was young, always staying home during vacations. Sigh, this time when I go back...I must exercise!"

Xuan Wu couldn’t stand it any longer, "Fine, to prevent you from slowing down the team, here, I’ll give you one more talisman!"

Xuan Wu took out a talisman and handed it to Lin Xiaoyan.

"What kind of talisman is this?"

"Speed Talisman!"

"I want it!" Lin Xiaoyan was overjoyed inside, as her legs had no strength left.

"This one is not a gift, 500!"

"Okay!" Lin Xiaoyan immediately took out her phone to transfer money to Xuan Wu.

As soon as the Speed Talisman was attached to Lin Xiaoyan, she felt light as a swallow, not tired at all, and her speed was truly fast. She only needed to use a little effort to keep up with everyone.

Lin Xiaoyan looked at Xuan Wu again, "Mr. Xuan Wu, you’re amazing! This talisman paper is incredible!!!"

Xuan Wu’s lips lifted into a smile, "Of course, in the future, when you buy talisman papers, I’ll give you a 10% discount!"

...

They walked from morning until nearly nightfall, and darkness enveloped the mountains.

Finally, they saw Hemu Village.

When everyone saw Hemu Village, they were drawn to the thick black aura above the village.

"Why is there such heavy yin energy in Hemu Village?!"

"The Ghost King, right? It must be the Ghost King!"

"Is the Ghost King really that powerful? Just look at that, it’s as black as can be..."

At this moment, Gongben walked over with a heavy expression.

He walked to Xuan Er’s side, "It seems this journey will be more dangerous than lucky, what do you think?"

Xuan Er looked at the sky-high black aura of Hemu Village, having just divined a fortune. Although the journey would be fraught with dangers, there was a chance to turn bad luck into good.

Xuan Er glanced at the frowning Gongben, "Not thinking much."

After saying that, Xuan Er raised his step and walked boldly toward Hemu Village.

Lin Xiaoyan listened to the others talk and looked at the village ahead, feeling goosebumps rise.

She quickly took out the talisman papers from her backpack, put them around her neck, wrists, ankles, and even tied a circle around her waist.

Everyone was drawn to Lin Xiaoyan’s frantic actions, and when they saw what she was doing, they were stunned.

Xuan Shisan looked woodenly at Lin Xiaoyan covered in talisman papers and said blankly, "You...are over-exaggerating!"

Lin Xiaoyan, now clad all over with talisman papers, exhaled lightly. Hearing Shisan’s words, she immediately retorted, "How can it be exaggerating? You all have your skills, I’m just an ordinary person, that thing could probably kill me with one move..."

Xuan Shiwu curiously looked at the ropes on Lin Xiaoyan, "When did you get these ropes?"

Xuan Wu also leaned over, eyes gleaming, "I must say, it’s rather convenient. I’ll sell like this next time!"

Lin Xiaoyan said awkwardly, "After we arrived at the inn at the foot of the mountain yesterday, I bought the elastic ropes from the boss."

"Do you want any?" Lin Xiaoyan offered politely.

"Sure!"

Lin Xiaoyan looked at the outstretched hands and, clutching her talisman papers, took a small step back.

She took out a handful of elastic ropes from her bag, "Here you go!"

Everyone had twitching lips, looking at the elastic ropes in Lin Xiaoyan’s hands and then at her talisman papers.

Lin Xiaoyan averted her gaze, her face heating up, and said through gritted teeth, "You guys buy talisman papers from Xuan Wu, tie them with my elastic ropes..."

Her voice trailed off, feeling extremely embarrassed.

But she couldn’t part with the talisman papers she gave out; they were all life-saving items.

Xuan Wu immediately stood up, took out a stack of talisman papers, "Come, come, considering we’re colleagues, one for 998, two for 1588, three for..."

Seeing Xuan Wu approaching, the others dispersed in a rush, unwilling to buy!

Lin Xiaoyan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw everyone leaving.

"Don’t be afraid, they’re just teasing you. They won’t really ask for your talisman papers; everyone has their life-saving items."

Xuan Shiwu whispered nearby.

Lin Xiaoyan felt even more embarrassed upon hearing that.

Reaching the entrance of Hemu Village, everyone stopped, watching the village enveloped in nearly overflowing black mist, hesitant to proceed.

It was almost six o’clock, and outside, it would still be bright.

But here in the mountains, it was already dark.

The village was silent, though some homes had already lit lamps.

"Let’s go!"

Xuan Er took the lead and stepped into the village.

Participants from other countries hesitated at the sight of the village, finding it quite eerie.

People from the Southern Country squatted at the village entrance and released their pets.

Lin Xiaoyan looked back and saw all kinds of disgusting bugs crawling out from those people and bamboo tubes.

Goosebumps surfaced immediately, and Lin Xiaoyan quickly turned back, rubbing her arms, it was too disgusting!

Centipedes even crawled out from the hair!

With so many people entering the village, not a single house door was opened.

Everything was pitch black, and the village was eerily quiet.

Hemu Village was quite large. After walking for a while, they saw a giant ancient tree in the middle of the village.

The tree was likely hundreds of years old, with an extremely thick trunk that would require four people to encircle it.

Next to the ancient tree was a well.

Not far from the ancient tree stood the Hemu Village ancestral hall.

Faint lights flickered from inside the ancestral hall, and Xuan Er and the others headed towards it.

Xuan Shisan and Shi Wu hesitated, given what Lin Xiaoyan had said earlier, they now had a great aversion to the ancestral hall.

Other participants from different countries gradually gathered behind them.

"That well must have something wrong!"

"I think there’s something fishy about that tree!"

...

The participants from other countries huddled around the ancient tree and well, discussing animatedly.

The people of Hemu Village, having heard the commotion outside, immediately turned off their lights and tightly locked their doors, not daring to make a sound.

Lin Xiaoyan clung tightly to Xuan Shiwu, cautiously observing her surroundings.

But looking at the dark village made her even more afraid, so she quickly diverted her gaze, not daring to look around carelessly.

"Who are you?"

Suddenly, the area lit up, leaving everyone nowhere to hide.

They found a massive floodlight overhead, illuminating the surroundings.

A frail-looking old man with a cane emerged from the ancestral hall.

His appearance coincided with Xuan Er and the others who were about to enter the hall.

The old man gazed unkindly at the strangers, "What are you doing? Get out! This is our Hemu Village ancestral hall, you can’t enter!"

Hearing this, Xuan Er and the others withdrew their steps and retreated.

Entering the bright room, Lin Xiaoyan finally felt a hint of safety.

Xuan Er and the others were talking to the old man, who was the village chief of Hemu Village, discussing the matters of Hemu Village.