WBICDPH Chapter 63 Part 1

Chapter 63: Crimson Nails on Ice

The uncle led them deeper into the thick fog. Following behind him, Lin Jin lowered his gaze slightly and suddenly noticed something behind the man’s ear.

Taking a few quicker steps to get a better look, Lin Jin saw what appeared to be a small patch of red rash behind the man’s ear. As for what it actually was, Lin Jin wasn’t a medical cultivator and couldn’t tell.

He stared at those tiny red spots—almost like pinpoint bleeding—lost in thought, until someone behind him grabbed his collar and gave it a tug, halting his steps. Only then did he come back to himself.

Turning around, he found Miss Hua glaring at him, cheeks puffed out in irritation. Seeing his clueless expression, she angrily pointed at her mouth.

Oh!

She was still muted.

Lin Jin had completely forgotten. He quickly dispelled the Silencing Talisman on Hua Nanzhi. When she inhaled sharply, clearly about to explode, he hurriedly pointed at the uncle walking ahead and made a shushing gesture with his finger.

Hua Nanzhi rolled her eyes but lowered her voice anyway.

“Lin Jin, you’re such a hypocrite!”

“?” That’s not how you use that word!

He tugged at her sleeve and pulled her closer. “Why are you scolding me for no reason?”

“He was so rude and mean! He even cursed us to be eaten by ghosts. Why are you still speaking to him so politely?”

Hua Nanzhi pouted.

Lin Jin couldn’t help but smile at her expression. “And how would you prefer to handle it, Miss? Argue with him, storm off, and never see him again? Or draw your blade and cut him down on the spot?”

“I…!” She was left speechless.

“My dear Miss, try to stay calm next time something happens. Think before you speak. Solving problems isn’t about who can shout the loudest. Arguing is the worst form of communication. Sometimes being the first to step back isn’t shameful.”

“…Hmph.” She snorted lightly. “I can’t stand that kind of injustice. He insults me, and I still have to apologize politely? It’s like I’m begging him to let us help. What kind of logic is that?”

“Maybe it’s a little unfair,” Lin Jin conceded gently, “but the current direction of things is exactly what we need. That’s what matters, isn’t it?”

He continued soothingly, “If we’d argued, who would lead us into Shuangxi Village? Venting for a moment but ruining the mission—that would be putting the cart before the horse.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“Exactly. If anyone has to swallow the grievance, it’s me. If anyone has to speak softly, it’s me. You don’t have to bottle things up. Just leave situations like this to me. What you need to do is manage your temper and avoid making things harder, all right?”

Hua Nanzhi had grown up as the spoiled and domineering young lady of Chixia City. She wasn’t used to tolerating even the slightest insult. Lin Jin understood that well and didn’t dislike her personality.

After all, she was still just a girl who hadn’t quite grown up yet.

She looked at him, lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she swallowed the words and muttered instead, “Then don’t call me your little sister anymore. Who’s your little sister? You should be calling me your older sister.”

Lin Jin laughed. “By age, I’m older than you.”

“I don’t care.”

“Ring, ring—”

Lin Jin had been about to continue teasing her, but the bell chime echoed again from somewhere ahead in the fog.

Raising a brow, he stepped forward and addressed the uncle. “Sir, may I ask—what does that bell mean?”

The uncle shot him a look. Though his tone remained rough, he explained, “The fog is strange. Once people enter it, they lose their sense of direction and eventually get trapped and die inside. Why do you think we’re stuck in this cursed place? Because we want to be? So whenever someone enters the fog, someone else stands outside and rings the bell to help guide them back out.”

“Oh… thank you.”

Lin Jin lowered his head in gratitude.

By the time they finished speaking, the uncle had led them out of the fog.

Just as he said, in the clearing beyond stood a wooden frame supporting a rusted bell. A woman stood beside it, ringing it absentmindedly. When she saw people emerge from the mist, she froze for a moment before her face twisted with displeasure.

“Didn’t I tell you to drive them away? Why bring them in?!”

The uncle spat. “They insist on coming in to die—what can I do? Enough, you old hag. Stop yelling at me and go cook! I’m starving…”

The couple continued arguing as they walked away, not sparing the three of them another glance.

Watching them disappear, Lin Jin surveyed their surroundings.

Now that they were inside, he realized the fog hadn’t submerged the entire village. Instead, it was like an enormous overturned bowl covering Shuangxi Village from above.

Compared to Sanyang Town, this place actually seemed more normal. At least there were living people here—and quite a few of them.

But…

Lin Jin wrinkled his nose.

He glanced at Hua Nanzhi and Xiao Yunkong. “Do you smell something strange?”

Xiao Yunkong nodded.

Hua Nanzhi answered, “Yes. It smells… nice. What is it?”

“I’m not sure.” Lin Jin sniffed again but couldn’t identify it.

The scent didn’t drift from any particular direction; it was everywhere, mixed into the air.

It was like floral perfume—or the scent of a young woman’s cosmetics.

And the closer they moved toward the heart of the village, the stronger it became.

For now, aside from being somewhat cloying, it didn’t seem to cause any harm. Even Lin Jin’s fragile constitution felt no discomfort.

So he set the matter aside and focused on observing Shuangxi Village.

At the village entrance stood a large wooden frame like a gate. A wooden sign hung from it by hemp rope, bearing the words “Shuangxi.” To Lin Jin’s surprise, the characters were beautifully written—balanced structure, sharp strokes, reminiscent of a master calligrapher’s hand. It felt oddly out of place against the rustic simplicity of the village.