Chapter 168: Tranquil Valley

"Mmh, mmh, mmh—"

This sudden turn of events stunned the woman.

If Luo Sheng was here now, didn't that mean...

Suddenly, sheer terror crossed her face, and her thoughts abruptly ceased.

Fei Yu had seized the opening to lunge forward, her hand forming a blade that struck the woman's throat.

Melody cultivators were not known for their physical prowess.

With her throat crushed, her death was all but declared.

Meanwhile, Yan Jing had already moved away, arriving at the Old Man's side.

The battle here looked far more brutal than the clash between Fei Yu and the melody cultivator.

After all, both the Old Man and the burly man were the type to rely on physical combat. As a result, dark red blood dyed the ground as far as the eye could see. Trees were snapped and collapsed, dust filled the air, and shattered stones lay scattered.

A massive fissure marred the ground.

The Old Man and the burly man currently stood within this rift. It seemed both had tacitly chosen the spot to minimize the commotion of their fight.

The burly man was covered in blood. Bowl-sized bloody holes riddled his scarred flesh. Most of the tiny hands growing from those blade scars had been snapped off; only a sparse few remained, still clutching an assortment of weapons.

The Old Man appeared to be in relatively better shape. His injuries weren't as visibly glaring, but his right arm—which had noticeably shrunk in size—was trembling madly, blood streaming down it. His chest, too, seemed to have taken a heavy blow and was steadily seeping blood.

Yan Jing knew well that these were hidden injuries left behind from Old Sin City.

With a frown, he charged straight to the bottom of the pit.

The burly man, who had been wearing a ferocious expression, understood the moment he saw Yan Jing.

His expression immediately turned bitter, and he offered a helpless smile.

"How could this be? How could the young master lose to you?"

"Could it be you've already reached the Seventh Trade?"

"Even if you just stepped into the Seventh Trade... he shouldn't have lost so quickly..."

He raised his head, looking toward the sky beyond the fissure, and muttered, "I just can't figure it out. I really can't figure it out."

He looked at the Old Man opposite him and started laughing.

"I, Guang Deqi, have spent my whole life fighting heaven and earth for scraps, yet I never once managed to snatch a bit of good luck. I followed Mei Baitang, the head of the Mei Family, and he got himself killed by Landlord Lin. Then I followed Young Master Mei Changfeng, and he was killed by Young Master Luo. Tell me, can you really blame me?"

"Hard to say," the Old Man said.

"Hard to say?"

"Hard to say."

"What do you say, Young Master Luo?"

"If you ask me, it's also hard to say."

"Hahaha, what a good 'hard to say'!" the burly man burst into loud laughter.

"Damned heavens!—"

Crack!

He forcefully slammed both hands together against his own head. Like an overripe watermelon, the top of his skull split open with a massive crack. He collapsed amid a spray of blood, his eyes gradually losing focus.

[Loyalty Level +2]

"Master Liu, clean this up. We need to hit the road once you're done,"

Yan Jing said softly. Immediately after, the Paintbrush materialized in his hand. He drew a flight of ink-wash stairs and stepped out of the fissure one step at a time.

Although he and Fei Yu were already "dead" in the outside world, compared to taking the risk of sneaking back to Bianliu County to hide, Yan Jing much preferred finding a quiet Domain to live peacefully for a few days.

As for the Dungeon, "Yi Ji" was still in the city.

Today's battle had given him a new understanding of this place called Minhu.

The people who died today all had the strength of the Third Tier.

If placed in Old Sin City, they would be the leaders of their own Domains. Even in Bianliu County, they were considered top-notch experts, more than capable of leading a faction without any issues.

Taking a step back, across all of Minhu, according to Young Master Luo's memories, anyone at the Third Tier could live a very comfortable life no matter what.

But... today, they had all died on this forgotten, secluded dirt path.

Compared to Old Sin City, the people of this Domain seemed to have a certain hot-blooded drive flowing in their veins, compelling them to climb higher and fight for more.

Minhu, the Republic.

Just like that era in his memories, this was a time brimming with the most vibrant sense of daily life, yet it was also an era filled with upheaval and chaos. Perhaps seeking peace and stability here was indeed a pipe dream.

Everyone here had a goal in their hearts.

To carve out a piece of the world for themselves.

As for Yan Jing...

"Xiao Yu, where does this lead?"

"Isn't this the path you chose?"

"Sigh... the maid has grown up and become disobedient. She even knows how to talk back now. Someday I'll find a nice match and marry her off..."

"The path ahead should lead to Tranquil Valley."

"Correct answer. As a reward, Xiao Yu gets to rest tonight. You don't have to cook; we'll eat rations."

"You just don't want to drink the Herbal Tea I brew, do you?"

"Hard to say. Actually, it's Master Liu who doesn't really want to..."

...

At the end of this dirt path lay a half-wasteland known as Tranquil Valley.

Wastelands in Minhu were Domains where no Pathways could grow.

Such Domains were often infested with all sorts of eldritch creatures. Aside from specific cultivators who went there for medicinal herbs or special items, they were virtually devoid of human presence.

A half-wasteland, on the other hand, was a Domain capable of growing Pathways, but hadn't fully done so yet.

Such Domains already possessed certain unique rules of their own and had the potential to become normal Domains.

However, they didn't have Pathway Seeds yet.

The time required to generate a Pathway Seed was unfixed. It could take as little as a few months or as long as several years; no one could say for sure.

And while these Domains still hosted some eldritch creatures, their numbers were far fewer than in true wastelands.

Moreover, some people would actually settle down in these places.

However... Tranquil Valley was rather special.

No one had ever heard of anyone settling in Tranquil Valley.

Because the rule of Tranquil Valley was to maintain absolute silence.

If one made a sound, it would attract eldritch creatures.

Of course, it was impossible not to make a single sound. As for where the boundary of this rule lay...

Yan Jing released a Little Bird from his hand, sending it flying into the distant sky.

Its wings flapped continuously.

When the sound grew to be about as loud as a snap of the fingers, a massive, ghastly white human face sped over from the distance and swallowed the barely visible Little Bird in a single gulp.

Judging by the fluctuations of its weird energy, it was at least at the Second Tier.

[This is a good place]

Yan Jing wrote a sentence in the air with his Paintbrush.

[Have you finally decided to be a mute?]

Fei Yu sent out a cyclone of qi, gently brushing away those words and rewriting her own.

[I think I have an affinity with this place]

Yan Jing wrote another sentence:

[Let's walk further in; we should be able to find a place to rest]

The group continued forward.

Tranquil Valley merely lacked permanent residents, but people still came from time to time to search for herbs and materials. Because of this, it didn't take much effort for them to find a rock cave.

Fei Yu released several cyclones of qi, enveloping the surroundings of the cave to block any sound from escaping.

"It's going to rain," Fei Yu said softly.

The sky outside the cave had grown incredibly gloomy at some unknown point.

The damp air, carrying the scent of earth, gradually permeated the surroundings.

"If it rains in Tranquil Valley, things get interesting. All sorts of ghosts and monsters will come out to play."

The Old Man casually pulled out his Smoking Pipe and took a puff.

"Xiao Yu, could you make a reclining chair for me?"

Yan Jing asked as he sat on a straw mat left behind by previous visitors.

When they left the city this time, the sheer size of the reclining chair had been too absurd to bring along, so they had left the one from Eldest Young Master Luo's house behind. Now, he was starting to miss it.

He decided that once he got out of the Inner World, he would have Teacher Shen buy one.

"You don't plan on returning to the county?"

Xiao Yu asked in a low voice, fiddling with the firewood.

Yan Jing laughed.

"Do you and Master Liu want me to go back, or would you rather I didn't?"

"If you don't plan on returning to the county, then I'll make one for you,"

Fei Yu said slowly, keeping her head down.

"And what about you, Master Liu? What do you say?"

Yan Jing looked over at the Old Man.

"Do you want to hear the truth, Young Master, or something pleasant?"

"The truth."

"If you ask me, you and Xiao Yu should just stay here, and I'll make a trip back to the county."

"To look for your friends?"

"I do need to find them."

Yan Jing smiled.

"From the sound of it, neither of you wants me to go back."

At his words, both Fei Yu and the Old Man raised their heads and looked at Yan Jing, their eyes flickering.

Of the two, one hadn't even had time to wash the blood from her mouth and nose, while the other's long robes were completely soaked through with the blood from his chest.

Just Mei Changfeng's group had pushed the three of them to such lengths. If they had to face Landlord Lin and Boss Bai, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Yan Jing chuckled.

"Then we won't go back for now."

He hadn't planned on returning to Bianliu County anyway.

A lousy county magistrate position didn't interest him in the slightest.

At the end of the day, a hard fist was the only truth that mattered.

However, he couldn't leave Bianliu County just yet.

The Personal Dungeon being here was the first reason.

More importantly, he wanted his next multiplayer Dungeon to be here as well.

Once they found a secluded spot to settle down in this place, he had to figure out a way to get his hands on this Domain.

Just as he had said, he was very satisfied with this Domain.

Hearing Yan Jing's words, a flash of joy crossed the eyes of Old Master Liu and Fei Yu.

Fei Yu stood up.

"I'll go make you that reclining chair right now."

"Wait until the rain stops,"

Yan Jing smiled. "There's no rush."

Tendrils of cooking smoke soon rose inside the cave, only to gradually dissipate into the cyclones of qi swept out by Fei Yu.

The firelight illuminated the rock walls.

Before long, it indeed started to rain outside.

The downpour grew heavier, and thus, horrifying scenes began to unfold.

The ghastly white human faces they had seen earlier floated into the air and danced wildly. Ear pressed against ear, they stuck out their long tongues and spun in a chaotic frenzy.

"Those are called Mountain Men Faces. It's said they are dead body cultivators who weren't buried in the river, but were buried in the mountains instead. That's why they ended up like this."

As she spoke, Fei Yu glanced at Old Master Liu.

"When you die, you'll have to be cast into the river, right?"

"Hard to say."

The Old Man chuckled.

"Might end up in the Lake, who knows."

As soon as his voice faded, several Little Birds with massive ears flew past in the sky. They looked like cranes, but on either side of their heads grew two giant monk's ears, their earlobes as large as the wheels of a rickshaw.

"Buddha Ear Birds."

The one speaking was once again Fei Yu. "If they hear you speak filthy words, they'll pluck out your heart and liver."

"If they hear you speak pleasant words, they'll pluck out your mouth."

"If you make any other sound, they'll swallow you whole. And after that, their guilty consciences will drive them mad, causing them to attack everything in sight."

Next, the group spotted a troop of monkeys the size of a palm, moving patches of man-eating grass, and withered branches and wild fruits growing human-like legs.

There was also a colossal ear that swept across the sky, flying away amidst the roar of thunder and lightning.

The group immediately fell silent. Only after the ear disappeared did Fei Yu speak up in a whisper, explaining that it was an Ancestor Ear. It possessed strength nearing the Fourth Tier and was likely just passing through this half-wasteland.

Aside from the Ancestor Ear, people had also sighted other body parts. Rumor had it that if they were to fuse together, their power would be unimaginable.

These eldritch creatures generally wouldn't approach ordinary Domains on a normal day, because forcefully intruding would lower their Tier by one tier.

Therefore, it was rare to hear about massive battles against eldritch creatures happening in Minhu.

Just as the group was chatting idly, the faint sound of footsteps suddenly came from the cave entrance.

The Old Man instantly stood up, gathering strength in his right arm.

Fei Yu also manipulated the cyclones of qi in the air, ready to strike.

A few seconds later, a figure appeared at the mouth of the cave.

It was a "boy" in his early teens.

He looked no different from an ordinary person, save for his mouth, which had been forcibly sewn shut with needle and thread.

The stitching didn't seem to be the work of an external force, but rather something the boy was born with. Its proportions looked remarkably harmonious, and even the wounds pulled taut by the thread were perfectly identical and pristine.

"The Unspeaking."

Fei Yu spoke softly, "Also known as a silent cultivator. He hasn't entered the ranks yet."

"Humanoids like this generally possess very kind natures."

"It seems this Tranquil Valley isn't as devoid of inhabitants as the rumors claim."

The boy looked out of the cave with terrified eyes, seemingly being chased by some creature. This was normal; after all, a violent storm was raging outside, and it wouldn't be strange for any bizarre entity to be prowling about.

Upon seeing the group, the boy's expression grew tense. He waved his hands frantically and pressed a finger to his lips, gesturing for them to keep quiet.

Following that, he began using sign language. Unfortunately, none of them could understand a thing.

However, Yan Jing also knew sign language.

He waved his hand, signaling the boy to scram.

Then, he pointed his index finger at the ground and jabbed his thumb at himself, indicating that they had already claimed this spot.

If he didn't leave...

He dragged a finger across his own throat.

Unexpectedly, the boy actually understood.

Moreover, he actually bowed and nodded, indicating he would leave right away.

Then, just as he was about to run out of the cave entrance...

In the next second, the head of a crane sporting two enormous monk's ears entered everyone's line of sight from outside.

The boy, who had been ready to leave, wore a horrified expression, yet he still desperately clutched his own throat. The crane poked its head in, its wheel-sized eyes swiveling as it stared at the boy.

Under the rules of this Domain, it could only attack the boy if he made a sound.

And it clearly knew exactly how to goad the boy into making a noise.

Next, it slowly opened its beak, hovering it right above the boy's head.

Facing that gaping, bloody maw, the boy trembled all over, yet he continuously made gestures at the group in the cave, telling them not to speak.

Then, he slowly began moving back toward the outside of the cave.

Just as the boy was about to step on a rock and trip, his vision suddenly went black, and he fainted outright. His body was immediately wrapped in a gentle cyclone of qi, lowering him softly to the ground.

Inside the cave, Yan Jing lowered the Paintbrush in his hand with a cold smile.

Since he was taking forever to leave, knocking him out was the only option.

That's right, he, Young Master Yan, was just that cold and ruthless.

Just like that, several hours later, the rain cleared and the sky brightened. Yan Jing and the others ignored the unconscious boy and relocated to a much more secluded cavern.

Having learned their lesson, they even put up some camouflage around the entrance.

Then, they temporarily settled down.

Yan Jing had specifically chosen this cave because it was deep enough, boasting eight or nine branching paths. Each of them picked a different offshoot and decided to get a good night's rest.

They would begin their construction activities tomorrow.

That night, Yan Jing took out Mei Changfeng's family heirloom. Watching the faint, dark light flickering upon it, his own eyes flickered with thought.

With this item in hand, all he had to do was wait for the Dungeon to start.

Over the next dozen days, Yan Jing continuously swapped between his three identities until, finally, the day before the Dungeon began arrived.

However, during these past dozen days, Bianliu County had undergone earth-shattering changes.