Vol. 2 - Chapter 427 - Hope & Fear

Zhang Nu and the others, being cultivators with keen senses, immediately stirred at the sound of knocking. Upon realizing it was the farmer who had taken them in the night before, they let down their guard.

“Oh, it’s you, sir. We’ll be out in a moment,” Zhang Nu said.

The farmer nodded and left them to prepare.

About half an incense stick’s time later, the three of them stepped out of their room. By then, the farmer had already prepared breakfast, and it was clear he had gone out of his way to make sure they had a meal before departing.

“You three should eat before you go,” the farmer said.  “Once you’re done, it’d be best if you left as soon as possible.”

Zhang Nu, Liu Hai, and Lin Xiao exchanged glances. They had no intention of leaving so easily.

After what they had seen last night, there was no way they could simply turn their backs on this town.

“Sir, we’re in no hurry to leave just yet,” Zhang Nu said.  “But we do want to ask—what exactly happens here at night?”

They needed answers. Zhang Nu wanted to know if the townspeople were aware of the creatures lurking in the dark.

The farmer stiffened at his words. For a moment, he remained silent, studying them with wary eyes. He had a bad feeling about this. Something told him these three wouldn’t leave quietly.

“This is a matter concerning our town,” the farmer said firmly.  “There is no need for you outsiders to involve yourselves.”

“If you have no business here, you should leave at once. I agreed to shelter you for one night and that is all. I cannot help you further.”

Zhang Nu narrowed his eyes. So the farmer did know something. If he was this adamant about keeping quiet, then he must be hiding something crucial.

“Sir, let’s not dance around the truth,” Zhang Nu said.  “We already know there are YaoGuais roaming your town at night. We are here to help. But we need to understand exactly what’s going on.”

At this, the farmer’s frown deepened. His mind raced.

Had these three really seen the creatures? He had warned them repeatedly not to go outside—had they ignored him? And if they had, why were they still alive? More importantly, why hadn’t his family been harmed as a result?

“What do you mean by that?” the farmer asked, his voice tense.  “Did you three leave the house last night?”

“I told you not to step outside! I warned you how dangerous it was!”

“Do you have any idea what would’ve happened if you were seen? You could have *doomed* us all!”

Zhang Nu held up a hand, trying to calm him down.

“Sir, you misunderstand,” he said.  “We never left the house.”

“But we did see something pass by our window.” He continued, “That’s why we need to know the truth—What is happening in this town?”

The farmer exhaled sharply.  It seemed he had misjudged them. But even if they hadn’t broken the rules, he still couldn’t afford to speak freely. This wasn’t just about him. It was about his entire family. If he said too much, the consequences would be unbearable.

“Listen to me,” the farmer said, his voice lower now. “If you truly value your lives, then leave this place.”

“Our town stopped accepting outsiders a long time ago. The only reason I took you in last night was because I had no choice—you had nowhere else to go.”

“But today, you MUST leave.”

Zhang Nu and Liu Hai exchanged another glance. There was no way they were leaving. Not without solving this mystery.

“Sir,” Zhang Nu said, his voice steady.  “We’re going to be truthful with you.”

“The three of us are cultivators. We have traveled far, dealing with all sorts of demons and spirits. If this town is in danger, we will help.”

The farmer’s eyes widened in shock.

Cultivators?

He had suspected these three were not ordinary travelers, but he hadn’t expected cultivators.

If they were truly cultivators, then maybe—just maybe—his town had a chance.

“You… you swear you speak the truth?” the farmer asked, his voice wavering slightly.  “You’re truly cultivators?”

There was a flicker of something in his eyes.

Hope. But also fear. It was clear that he had been through similar scenarios before.

Zhang Nu, Liu Hai, and Lin Xiao all nodded without hesitation.

“We are,” Zhang Nu said. “You don’t need to doubt us. If you tell us what’s happening, we will do everything in our power to help.”

Translator’s note: Half an incense stick time = 15 minutes.

Our editor has been under the weather recently, so we missed a couple of updates. But to make it up to you, we'll release three chapters today! Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy!