WBICDPH Chapter 61 Part 1

Chapter 61: The Secret of Shuangxi

“Thank you.”

Xiao Yunkong gave his thanks seriously before reaching a hand toward Xiao Lanqi.

He extended only his index finger and very lightly touched the top of the puppy’s fluffy head.

Xiao Lanqi was still reeling from the shock of Xiao Yunkong asking, “May I pet him?” and didn’t dodge in time. By the time he came back to himself, the man’s fingertip had already brushed against his fur.

A jolt of alarm ran through him. He had assumed Xiao Yunkong was only saying that to placate Lin Jin and would surely have some ulterior motive once he reached out. But to his surprise, there wasn’t a trace of spiritual energy in that touch. It was simply a gentle pat with the pad of his finger.

“?!”

Outrageous! Who do you think you are? You think you can just touch this sovereign’s head whenever you like?!

Xiao Lanqi leapt back to avoid him and bared his teeth.

“….”

Xiao Yunkong’s fingertip paused. He withdrew his hand quietly.

“He doesn’t like me.”

“Oh, no, it’s not that—haha! Our little guy’s just a bit feisty. He doesn’t really like being touched. It’s not personal, Senior Brother. Don’t mind him.”

Embarrassed, Lin Jin quickly scooped the puppy up from the table and set him on his shoulder as usual.

While doing so, he noticed Xiao Yunkong still gazing at Qiuqiu with faint reluctance. After a moment, Xiao Yunkong gave a soft sigh and lowered his eyes, finally abandoning the stare.

Lin Jin let out a breath of relief.

Wait—no one told him Xiao Yunkong was like this.

He wasn’t the cold, distant sword cultivator of the Emotionless Dao that Lin Jin had imagined. In fact, he was fairly easy to get along with. The problem was that normal conversation with him was difficult. No one could keep up with his train of thought or predict what he would say or do next. Talking to him always left one feeling faintly awkward and unsure.

Who understands this kind of pressure?!

Lin Jin was on the verge of breaking down, but before the atmosphere could freeze again, footsteps sounded from the inn’s second floor. The old woman’s son finally came down, rubbing his eyes.

The boy looked about sixteen or seventeen. He seemed freshly awakened and was still yawning as he descended the stairs. When he came closer, he rubbed his eyes again and tried to focus on the three people at the table.

“Hello. Sorry—been sleeping a lot lately. My apologies for the delay.”

He looked utterly drained.

“Are you staying the night? Or would you like something to eat or drink? We have… porridge.”

Lin Jin smiled politely and waited. When no further menu items followed, and his smile began to stiffen, he realized the inn likely had nothing but porridge, which covered both food and drink.

He gave an awkward chuckle.

“No need. We’re just passing through and wanted to ask about something.”

“Oh. Then go ahead. I don’t know much, but whatever I can say, I’ll… ha… do my best.”

The boy yawned again and scratched behind his ear.

Lin Jin frowned slightly, wanting to examine him more closely, but the lighting inside the inn was too dim to see clearly.

Instead, he asked, “Do you happen to know if there’s a place called Shuangxi Village near Sanyang Town?”

“Shuangxi Village?” The boy gave them a strange look. “Are you cultivators? You’re going to investigate Shuangxi Village too?”

He shook his head.

“For years now—whether travelers or cultivators—anyone who’s gone looking for that place hasn’t come back alive. It’s dangerous. You’d do better to turn around now.”

Lin Jin raised an eyebrow.

He thought of the nine recorded attempts on the mission jade slip.

Could it be that all of them…?

“All right, don’t worry about whether we live or die,” Hua Nanzhi cut in impatiently. “Just tell us how to get there—and what happened that turned this place into such a wasteland.”

The young man sighed, clearly used to being ignored.

“Sanyang Town used to be lively. And Shuangxi Village was once a fairly prosperous place. But seven years ago, something happened—no one knows what—and the entire village was suddenly shrouded in thick black fog. Anyone who went in never came out. And those inside couldn’t send word. No one knows what’s in that fog, or whether anyone’s still alive in there. But it’s been cut off from the world for six or seven years. Even if someone survived, they’d have long run out of food and water by now.”

He paused.

“Shuangxi Village became a haunted place. Naturally, everyone nearby moved as far away as possible. The surrounding villages emptied. Most of the people here in town moved or fled, too. Now, only my family and a few scattered households remain.”

“If you’re determined to find it, head out from the north end of town. Follow the southern path for two li. You’ll see an old crooked tree. Walk another li in the direction it leans, and once you enter the fog—that’s Shuangxi Village.”

“Thank you,” Lin Jin said, taking out a small piece of silver from his storage ring as payment.

The boy stared at the silver blankly for a moment before reaching out to take it.

But Lin Jin seemed to remember something and asked casually, “One more thing—if only you, your mother, and a few others remain in town, where do you get your food and water?”

The boy scratched behind his ear again, hesitating.

“We have a well for water. We grow vegetables. If it’s not enough, we push a cart to a neighboring town to buy more. It’s simple. Why ask?”

Lin Jin smiled faintly.

“No reason. Just curious.”

He handed over the silver and bid farewell.

But once outside, instead of heading straight to Shuangxi Village as directed, Lin Jin quietly circled to the back of the inn.

Hua Nanzhi found his sneaky behavior suspicious but followed him anyway.