Chapter Thirty-Five: The End

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The scene was not as mystical as Cui Xiu had imagined, nor was there any display of dazzling sorcery.

The techniques used by Guan Yuan and his two companions, as well as the creature, were largely physical, straightforward exchanges that felt almost austere.

But the more unadorned the confrontation, the more powerful the impact. The sheer strength of their bodies, the extreme speed—when such things unfolded before one’s eyes, no ordinary person could remain calm.

Moreover, that grotesque, towering creature, over twenty feet tall, skinless, its body writhed with tentacles—its movements alone were astonishing. Despite its massive frame, it did not lag in speed.

To Cui Xiu and his companion, the monster was merely a blur of crimson.

From time to time, the creature’s tentacles lashed out, cleaving the air, pursuing the three men. The trio could only dodge in haste and disarray.

As for the transformed villagers of Liu Family Village, they were now of little consequence in this battle.

Before long, however, Cui Xiu found himself unable to continue watching. While the power displayed by the monster and Guan Yuan’s group captivated him, when Guan Yuan called out a warning and Cui realized the monster’s attention had shifted back to him and Wu Yu, he had no choice but to take Wu Yu and flee back to the ancestral hall.

...

He did not know how much time had passed. As worry gnawed at the hearts of Cui Xiu and his companion, Guan Yuan at last emerged from the ancestral hall, battered and disheveled.

His expression was grim.

In his hand was a blood-red, spherical crystal, about the size of a thumb—a mysterious object.

What unsettled Cui Xiu and his companion was that, including Guan Yuan, only two men emerged.

Of the brother Zhao, with whom they had shared some brief camaraderie, there was no sign.

“Captain Guan…”

The two exchanged uneasy glances, dark suspicions rising, and stepped forward.

Receiving their wounded companion from Guan Yuan, they looked at him with concern and questions in their eyes.

But Guan Yuan seemed unwilling to say much. Noticing their gaze, he shook his head with a sigh and merely asked, “Does Young Master Wu still have the short rod?”

He was inquiring about the short rod.

“It’s with me.”

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Seeing Guan Yuan’s manner, Cui Xiu wanted to know more of what had happened, but dared not press further.

He took out the short rod from his coat. Though it was now back in his possession, it rightfully belonged to Guan Yuan, and he could only hand it over.

Guan Yuan accepted the rod, looked down at the two items in his hands, sighed again, then put both the rod and the blood crystal away. He turned to Cui Xiu and the others. “...The matter here is, for the most part, settled. However, there are still things I must stay behind to handle. Brother Deng is wounded and may trouble you two gentlemen to escort him back to Anyuan County. Once there, he’ll know where to go for treatment.”

Brother Deng, whose name was Deng Yun, was Guan Yuan’s other companion.

“You are too courteous, Captain. If not for your aid, who knows what fate Yu might have met. Lending a hand was the least I could do,” Wu Yu replied, relieved that the ordeal was over.

Though he was glad things were resolved, seeing Guan Yuan’s gloomy mood, he knew it was not the time to show his feelings.

He refrained from asking about Brother Zhao, glanced at Cui Xiu, and took his leave with Guan Yuan, together helping the wounded Deng Yun out of the ancestral hall.

Guan Yuan did not come to see them off. The two found their horses and departed Liu Family Village.

Along the way, they learned a little of what had transpired from the injured Deng Yun.

Brother Zhao, whose name was Zhao Wei, had indeed died at the hands of that creature.

Deng Yun did not give specifics. It seemed he had been close to Zhao Wei, and the loss weighed on him. Now injured and dispirited, Cui Xiu and Wu Yu did not press him further.

Thus the journey was somber and subdued.

Wu Yu felt a twinge of regret, for the whole affair had, in some measure, begun because of him.

The three traveled slowly, for Deng Yun’s injuries required frequent stops to rest. It was only by the next day that they returned to Anyuan’s county seat.

Following Deng Yun’s directions, they first took him to a place for treatment before returning to the Wu household.

Wu Yu went to inform Master Wu of their return, and Cui Xiu retired to his guestroom to rest.

...

What he had witnessed at Liu Family Village had given him a glimpse into the extraordinary powers of this world.

Though the abilities displayed by Guan Yuan and his companions, as well as the creature, were not as eerie as those wielded by the ghostly old woman, their directness and brute force gave Cui Xiu a clearer sense of their power.

Yet he still did not know the true source of their strength.

Of course, he had his suspicions.

Whether it was Guan Yuan, the creature, or the old woman, all had coveted the short rod.

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The existence of the short rod seemed to be the main reason all three parties had been drawn into this affair.

Cui Xiu could not help but suspect that the extraordinary powers of this world might be closely linked to objects such as the short rod.

He also recalled the primal energy he himself had absorbed from the rod…

Thus, Cui Xiu spent the morning pondering this matter.

Until Wu Yu hurried in.

“Brother Cui, there’s some news I think you’ll want to hear.”

Seeing Wu Yu’s urgency, Cui Xiu’s curiosity was piqued.

When they returned that morning, Wu Yu had gone to find Master Wu. For him to seek Cui Xiu out now, as though he had learned something valuable, was indeed curious.

What could this news be that would interest him?

“May I ask what it is you want to tell me, Brother Wu?”

Could it be about the secret manual? That was Cui Xiu’s chief concern, and it was the only thing Wu Yu might know about.

Cui Xiu could not help but speculate.

“It’s about Liu Family Village.”

Once they were seated at the table and Cui Xiu had poured two cups of tea, Wu Yu explained, “When the patrol rescued me that day, some villagers resisted. Not wanting to cause too much commotion, the patrol only detained a few of the most unruly as a warning.”

“Earlier, Captain Guan had dealings with the county magistrate on my account. Today, news came from the county office: they managed to learn from those detained the origins of the so-called deity worshipped by Liu Family Village.”

Wu Yu’s words did arouse Cui Xiu’s curiosity.

The so-called deity had now been dealt with by Guan Yuan and his companions, so that was settled. What Cui Xiu wanted to know was whether any of the villagers might reveal information about the old woman.

After all, the old woman was still at large. There was no telling if they would cross her path again; she was a lingering threat.

Wu Yu seemed to sense Cui Xiu’s thoughts. Back at the ancestral hall, he had faced the old woman’s menace alongside Cui Xiu, and so he said, “Now that Captain Guan has dealt with that deity, the matter is more or less resolved. But I thought you’d want to know the connection between the old woman, Liu Family Village, and that wild god. That’s why I sought you out as soon as I heard the news.”

Cui Xiu understood—what Wu Yu was about to share must concern the old woman.

“Please, Brother Wu, go on.”