WBICDPH Chapter 60 Part 1

Chapter 60: The Desolate Town of Sanyang

Shuangxi Village was located in an inconspicuous corner of the southern mortal world. The three of them followed the map’s markings all the way there, only to lose their bearings as they drew close.

Lin Jin and Hua Nanzhi were relying on Xiao Yunkong’s directional artifact. Xiao Yunkong carried nothing but high-quality magical items, so in theory there shouldn’t have been any problems. Yet every time they reached the area marked on the map, the artifact’s needle began spinning wildly, unable to lock onto a precise location.

They took out every artifact they had and tested them one by one. In the end, they realized it wasn’t that the tools had malfunctioned—there was something unusual about this place. With no other option, they landed in a slightly larger town near Shuangxi Village, planning to ask the local mortals for directions and then continue on foot.

Even from the map alone, one could sense how desolate Shuangxi Village was. A few scattered hamlets dotted the surrounding area, and within a hundred-mile radius, there was only this one small town—Sanyang Town.

Although the town’s name sounded bright and auspicious, Lin Jin quickly discovered upon arrival that the reality couldn’t have been more different.

Whether it was the weather or something else, Sanyang Town looked gray and gloomy. The houses were dilapidated, the streets barren. Even the plaque at the town’s entrance bearing the words “Sanyang” had a broken corner; whenever the wind blew, it creaked and swayed as if it might crash down at any moment. Just looking at it made one uneasy.

There was only a single street in the entire town. From where they stood, they could see straight to the end.

The road was empty—nothing but dust. After a long while, the only movement was an abandoned straw cage from some unknown household, rolling past in the wind.

The atmosphere was classic Chinese horror, and it made Lin Jin’s heart tremble. Glancing at the imposing Hua Nanzhi beside him, he suddenly felt much safer. Quietly, he sidestepped and positioned himself behind her.

“This place is way too run-down. Are there even people here we can ask for directions?”

Hua Nanzhi narrowed her eyes, trying to spot any moving figure in town. After scanning for a while, the only thing she saw was a small stray cat darting past a wall.

“Let’s try to find an inn,” Lin Jin suggested from behind her nine-ring broadsword, sounding noticeably more confident. “In a remote town like this—far from any villages or stores—there may not be much, but there’s usually at least a place for travelers to stay.”

Hua Nanzhi adopted his suggestion and strode forward first through the gates of Sanyang Town.

From the moment they descended from their flying artifact, the assessment had officially begun. Unless necessary, Xiao Yunkong would not interfere with their task. He faithfully carried out his duty—once they landed, he stood silently behind his junior brother and sister. When they walked, he walked; when they stopped, he stopped. Not a word from him. Like a silent specter at their backs.

Truthfully, dressed all in white, he was rather frightening.

Lin Jin kept glancing back at him from time to time. Each time he did, Xiao Yunkong would meet his gaze and blink blankly, as if puzzled.

Lin Jin couldn’t help but wonder if it was just his imagination, but their top-tier senior brother seemed… a little slow.

As it turned out, Lin Jin’s guess about the inn was correct. Before long, Hua Nanzhi spotted one along the street.

Credit went to her sharp eyes, because the place was so shabby it barely looked like an inn at all—more like a drafty wooden shack. There was no signboard, only a greasy, dust-covered wooden plank propped outside the door. Faintly visible on it were the crooked words: “Rooms Available.”

Hua Nanzhi glanced at the plank, then at the grimy door, her expression full of disgust. After a brief internal struggle, she stepped forward and knocked on the wooden door.

“Hello? Anyone there—”

Creeeak—

She hadn’t used much force, but the door swung open at her light knock.

Inside was just as dark. Hua Nanzhi caught a strong smell of moldy wood mixed with dust and wrinkled her nose in discomfort.

After waiting with no response, she prepared to push the door further open and step inside. But before she could move, something flickered before her eyes. Out of the darkness emerged an old woman, hunched over, staring at them from behind the door.

She was thin and stooped, looking almost like a walking cane. The flesh on her face sagged heavily, pressing her eyes into narrow slits.

“Ah!!!”

Hua Nanzhi was so startled she nearly jumped into the air. Instinctively, she drew her Xiaoyue Blade.

The old woman was also frightened by the sudden movement. She stumbled back several steps, the wrinkles on her face twisting into a look of fear.

“Miss! Calm down!”

Seeing things about to go wrong, Lin Jin rushed forward and grabbed Hua Nanzhi’s raised arm, afraid she might reflexively swing her blade.

The silver blade reflected the daylight faintly. After a moment, Hua Nanzhi finally calmed down under Lin Jin’s restraint.

She frowned, ready to snap, but seeing that it was an elderly woman, she swallowed her anger and muttered instead, “Couldn’t you make a sound? You scared me to death…”

Lin Jin patted her shoulder in comfort. Once she sheathed her blade, he looked at the old woman and asked gently, “Ma’am, may we come in and sit for a while? We’d like to ask you something.”

The old woman did not respond.

She stared blankly at Lin Jin’s moving lips. After a moment’s hesitation, she pointed to her ears and made a few unclear gestures with her hands.

Lin Jin could only understand that she was indicating she was deaf and mute. The rest of her signs were beyond him.

He glanced back at Hua Nanzhi. She shrugged helplessly—she didn’t understand sign language either.

What a complicated attempt at asking for directions. Lin Jin felt a headache coming on. He wondered whether the old woman could read and whether writing things down might work, when suddenly a calm voice spoke from behind him:

“She’s deaf and mute, and her eyesight isn’t good either, so she didn’t see us. She’s asking us to sit. She’ll call her son downstairs—whatever we need, we can tell him.”

Lin Jin was surprised. He turned to Xiao Yunkong, who explained succinctly, “I know a little.”

Lin Jin gave him a grateful look, then nodded to the old woman.

The old woman shuffled hurriedly to the inn’s only table, wiping it and the chairs casually to invite them to sit.