Chapter 281: What Are You Babbling About?
On the back mountain of the small fishing village.
Nan Yuanman and Feng Congqian hid in the grass, both holding their breath as they gazed from afar at the brightly lit village in the distance.
Nan Yuanman leaned close to Feng Congqian, her voice tiny: “Father, Second Brother is in that village.”
Feng Congqian nodded slightly, staring intently at the ‘people’ patrolling back and forth not far away.
Calling them people wasn’t quite accurate, because they were wearing the kind of samurai uniform from ancient times in R country anime, with a katana at their waist and a particularly ferocious and weird ghost mask on their faces.
Their walking posture was even weirder, tiptoeing like ghosts in a ghost movie, floating along.
Feng Congqian hadn’t noticed their presence at first; it was Nan Yuanman who timely pulled him back and dragged him into the grass, avoiding a direct collision with them.
Nan Yuanman’s gaze also fell on these ‘people’. She was certain they weren’t living people—their life force was very faint, almost entirely wrapped in strong yin energy and grievance, neither human nor ghost, just like… just like…
Nan Yuanman racked her brains, thinking hard, until she finally remembered what these ‘people’ resembled: Old Master Zhou who had risen from the dead before!
But she also sensed the presence of living people from that village.
Can walking corpses live together with living people?
While Nan Yuanman was lost in wild thoughts, pondering how to sneak into the village without alerting them, a crisp, curious female voice suddenly came from behind: “(Outsiders, what are you doing here?)” (Outsiders, what are you hiding here for?)
Nan Yuanman: “!!!”
Feng Congqian: “!”
The two turned their heads in unison on instinct, seeing a young girl in a gray dress, carrying a large bamboo basket full of firewood on her back, with a delicate appearance, squatting behind them at some point.
The young girl blinked at them, a look of realization on her face: “(Have you come seeking the Great Miko’s protection?)” (Have you come seeking the Great Miko’s protection?)
Nan Yuanman squatted on the ground, looking bewildered at Feng Congqian, leaning close to whisper: “Father, what is she chattering about?”
She hadn’t understood a single word.
Moreover…
This girl was clearly a living person, so how had she discovered her, who had a concealment talisman on?
Hearing the word miko, Feng Congqian’s eyes flashed slightly, and he replied in R country language: “Yes, we have come seeking the Great Miko’s protection, but we got lost by accident.”
“It’s very late now. Can you show us the way?”
A smile appeared on the girl’s face: “(Sure, follow me.)” (Sure, follow me.)
The girl stood up first and walked outward. Feng Congqian held Nan Yuanman’s hand, eyeing warily the ‘people’ in samurai uniforms who had suddenly stopped not far away.
The girl followed his gaze and softly comforted in R country language: “You don’t need to be afraid. These are the Great Miko’s guards. As long as you don’t anger them, they won’t harm you.”
Feng Congqian took a deep breath, picked up Nan Yuanman, and slowly followed behind the girl.
Sure enough, following behind the girl, those strange people didn’t attack them. But even after walking far away, Feng Congqian and Nan Yuanman could still feel that sharp sensation on their backs.
It was as if… someone was watching them from the shadows.
This suddenly appeared unfamiliar girl talked a lot. She told Feng Congqian her name was Ueda Yuki, abandoned by her parents from childhood, and picked up and raised by the Great Miko from outside.
Not just her—most of the villagers in this small fishing village were rescued from outside by the Great Miko: abandoned by relatives, or disabled and rejected by society, vulnerable groups.
Feng Congqian listened while quickly translating her words to Nan Yuanman, then asked at the end: “Do outsiders often come to this village? You discovered us, but you don’t seem surprised at all.”
“Yes.” Ueda Yuki nodded vigorously, full of admiration for that Great Miko in her words: “Because the Great Miko is very powerful and can heal illnesses and exorcise evil, people from nearby small villages occasionally come seeking her help.”
“The Great Miko is also very generous. She only needs a little food, and she’ll heal the sick.”
“But the Great Miko isn’t that easy to meet, and it’s already very late. Do you two want to stay at my house for the night? Tomorrow night, I’ll take you to the shrine to find the Great Miko.”
Ueda Yuki had rarely left the small fishing village since childhood, and the villagers were exceptionally simple and honest. Outsiders seeking the miko’s help were also particularly friendly to her, so she was completely unguarded against Nan Yuanman and Feng Congqian.
Pure in a way unlike anyone from this era.
Nan Yuanman and Feng Congqian exchanged a glance, deciding for now not to alert the enemy and to stay at Ueda Yuki’s house for the night.
At the same time, coax more information from her about that Great Miko.
After all, from her earlier words, that ‘miko’ seemed like a very kind person, so it was questionable whether she would help Xie Qingya perform the art of stealing fortune.
However…
“Shrine?” Feng Congqian naturally looked around left and right, a hint of curiosity on his handsome, mature face: “Along this whole way, how come I haven’t seen any trace of the shrine?”
“The Great Miko’s shrine isn’t in the village; it’s in a place like a fairyland.” Ueda Yuki stood on tiptoe, speaking longingly: “Only those who become the Great Miko’s guards are qualified to live in the shrine.”
“Every year, the Great Miko selects four people from the village to become her guards. Unfortunately, I’m still too young and wasn’t chosen this year. Maybe next year I can become one of the Great Miko’s guards!”
Feng Congqian’s eyes flashed slightly as he carefully memorized the information points Ueda Yuki said, to discuss with Yuanman later.
As they entered the range of the small fishing village with Ueda Yuki, Takubo Fuga in the shrine raised her eyebrows slightly, tilting her head as if listening to something.
Yue Yaxin relaxed a bit in her chest, but before she could exhale, she heard her muttering to herself: “Oh? Outsiders have come?”
“And one of them has very strong fortune in their spirit body? Not bad… good material for a puppet.”
Yue Yaxin’s heart sank slightly. Outsiders? Spirit body? Had someone accidentally entered here?
Takubo Fuga turned her gaze back to Yue Yaxin possessing Xie Qingya, a hint of displeasure in her pitch-black eyes: “No matter what you’re holding, you’ve achieved your purpose here. Behave yourself and don’t make trouble.”
Takubo Fuga’s expression was cold: “My patience is limited. Don’t keep challenging my bottom line, or even with the Cult Leader protecting you, I’ll refine you and that trash son of yours into puppets.”
Yue Yaxin pursed her lips without speaking, looking scared. Only then did Takubo Fuga happily carry the head in her hand and leave.
