Chapter 117: Chapter 109: Staying in Wuxi Village
Tang Mo could clearly feel the Sect Leaderās hostility. He wasnāt surprised by her words at all; instead, it felt like he wanted her to shut up.
The stark contrast between his reaction and the surprise of those around him made Tang Mo think, āThis is getting more and more interesting.ā
"Itās raining today, so the path over there is probably a bit muddy. The insects have likely all hidden in their nests.
How about I stay here for now and take you there when the weather clears up?"
Tang Mo completely ignored the Sect Leaderās dark expression, offering her "kind" suggestion.
"That would be too much trouble for you. Why donāt you just tell us the address? Iāll send people over myself."
The Sect Leader of Wuxi Village had hosted outsiders before, but this was the first time heād met someone so utterly oblivious.
"No trouble at all! The location is very remote; Iām afraid you wouldnāt be able to find it. Itās better if I lead the way. Besides, I donāt have much to do recently."
Tang Mo said to the Sect Leader with a smile, looking as if it were no bother at all.
"I donāt need any payment, either. Just cover my room and board for a few days; my standards are very low. The Medicinal Insects seem really important to you all, so Iāll definitely help with this!" Tang Mo spoke with the earnest air of a good samaritan.
Everyone in the room, except for the Sect Leader, instantly looked at Tang Mo with eyes full of respect.
To think such a good person still existed in the apocalypse! It was truly moving.
"Why donāt you stay at my place? We have a spare room," the young boy who had opened the door and led her in was the first to extend an invitation.
āThose are Medicinal Insects!ā
āThey can save lives! And given his sisterās current condition, what she needed most were Medicinal Insects.ā
That was why he was the happiest one to hear Tang Moās offer.
There were no vacant houses in the village. Although she was a guest, she couldnāt exactly stay with the Sect Leader. His home was the best option.
"Okay, thank you for the trouble," Tang Mo agreed in a heartbeat, before the Sect Leader could even speak.
āBased on what Uncle He and his wife said, I was a bit wary of Wuxi Village. But if this is all there is to their legendary insects, then thereās really nothing to be afraid of.ā
āAnd because of their long isolation, I get the feeling that the villagers here are even more naive than people on the outside.ā
Tang Mo was bold. Without any hesitation, she immediately decided to stay in Wuxi Village.
She would put the matter of Lin Yu aside for now. The secrets of Wuxi Village were far more interesting to her at this moment.
"Since itās decided, Xiao Hu, you can take her back with you. In a few days, Iāll send some people to investigate that place."
The Sect Leader waved his hand dismissively, his face dark. Right now, he didnāt want to look at this uninvited guest for a second longer.
If so many people hadnāt heard what Tang Mo said, he would have thrown her out immediately.
After the Sect Leaderās very polite goodbye, Tang Mo cheerfully followed Xiao Hu home.
Xiao Hu was about seventeen or eighteen years old, his face still quite boyish.
"Xiao Hu, what exactly are those Medicinal Insects?"
Tang Mo asked Xiao Hu on the way. She still didnāt know what the Medicinal Insects were used for.
"I canāt say. The Sect Leader said not to," Xiao Hu said, still remembering the Sect Leaderās warning.
"You couldnāt say just now, but in a couple of days, Iāll be taking you to catch a whole batch of Medicinal Insects. After making such a huge contribution, shouldnāt I at least know what they are?"
"What if you use them for something bad? That would be like aiding an evildoer, and I canāt be a part of that."
Tang Mo spoke with an air of self-righteousness, declaring she would never help evil forces.
"How could it be for something bad? Medicinal Insects can save lives in the apocalypse!"
Hearing Tang Mo speak ill of the Medicinal Insects, Xiao Hu immediately grew anxious. The Medicinal Insects were the lifeline of Wuxi Village.
"Save lives? You mean the ones you keep in these jars?"
Tang Mo pointed to the clay pots under the eaves of a house by the roadside.
Xiao Hu now realized his slip of the tongue and quickly covered his mouth, shaking his head.
"If you donāt tell me, Iāll tell your Sect Leader that you told me the Medicinal Insects can save people. And I wonāt take you to find them, either."
When it came to bluffing a kid, Tang Mo really knew what she was doing.
"You..."
Tang Moās words had thoroughly intimidated Xiao Hu. The boyās nerves really werenāt strong; the slightest scare was enough to frighten him.
"Okay, Iāll tell you, but you have to pretend you never heard it, okay? Please donāt tell the Sect Leader I told you, or Iāll be punished."
Only after seeing Tang Mo nod did Xiao Hu hesitantly continue.
"Medicinal Insects are special bugs that can be processed into medicine using a special method. If someone gets sick, they just need to eat a few, and theyāll get better quickly."
"That amazing? Are all of these Medicinal Insects?"
Tang Mo pointed at the clay pots under the house.
"These are just semi-finished products. They have to be taken to the Sect Leader for the final step.
All the finished Medicinal Insects are with the Sect Leader. If someone is sick, the Sect Leader will give them some, and their illness will be cured quickly."
Xiao Huās tone was full of respect whenever he mentioned the Sect Leader.
"Has this Sect Leader been in charge for many years?" Tang Mo asked curiously.
"No. Shortly after the apocalypse began, our old Sect Leader was attacked and injured by mutant beasts. It was the current Sect Leader who brought him back and treated his wounds. Later, when the old Sect Leader stepped down, he appointed him as the new Sect Leader."
"An outsider whoās only been here a year can become the Sect Leader?"
Tang Mo was surprised. āThe people of Wuxi Village just accepted that?ā
"Donāt say that! Our Sect Leader is very capable. Heās the one who discovered the thing about the Medicinal Insects. Without him, we wouldnāt have this life-saving medicine."
Perhaps sensing Tang Moās disrespect toward the Sect Leader, Xiao Hu immediately corrected her.
Tang Mo fell silent. She could see that the people here held a deep-seated reverence for their Sect Leader. Until she figured out what these Medicinal Insects really were, she couldnāt jump to any conclusions.
āIām sure thereās nothing special about the insects themselves. I have to find a chance to see what the semi-finished product in those jars looks like.ā
āIf the semi-finished product is also unremarkable, then that final step with the Sect Leader becomes very intriguing.ā
āFor an outsider whoās only been here a year to become the Sect Leader, he must be extraordinary in some way.ā
Xiao Huās home was a relatively large wooden house, partitioned into four rooms.
When Xiao Huās mother saw him return with someone and heard the reason for Tang Moās stay, she excitedly grabbed Tang Moās hands to welcome her.
This level of enthusiasm left Tang Mo feeling genuinely overwhelmed by the favor.
āIām just here to freeload. This kind of welcome is actually a little embarrassing.ā
But soon enough, Tang Mo would understand the reason for the attitude of Xiao Huās parents.