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墨書 Inktalez
Yin Yang Demon Suppression
After the battle, it was time for everyone to move on. However, this time Scarred Ghost was much more respectful, not overly flattering but still courteous. Scarred Ghost was very powerful, which made him proud and arrogant. Yet, strong individuals often admire those who are even stronger than themselves, especially those who could easily overpower them. This sentiment is strange but undeniably real.
The jungle was shrouded in thick mist, with the arrangement of vegetation hinting at some mysterious formations. One could easily get completely lost if not careful, but thanks to Scarred Ghost's guidance, they managed to navigate through smoothly. Soon, they were approaching the edge of the misty jungle.
Looking ahead at a village that appeared faintly through the swirling smoke, Ye Mingshang took out two blood-red stones from his pocket. The stones were cold to the touch and very smooth, unlike jade, amber, or crystal; they seemed to be a completely new type.
"This contains my blood; wearing it will protect your safety." Ye Mingshang said as he handed the thumb-sized blood-red stones to Lin Qianqian and another person.
As Lin Qianqian touched the stone, which felt as smooth as jade, her heart raced, and her face flushed slightly.
"Is there a stone with Brother Ye's blood...?"
The two received the stones and placed them close to their bodies, understanding that the dangers here were extraordinary. Previously, Ye Mingshang had not taken out such items, indicating their preciousness and that the situation they were about to face was even more perilous.
Seeing the two happily holding the Crimson Bloodstone, Joan looked pitifully at Ye Mingshang with a sad expression.
"Master~ You wouldn't forget about me, would you?"
"No." Ye Mingshang replied flatly.
Joan hung his head in disappointment and squatted down to draw circles in the dirt, expressing his grievances and dissatisfaction.
Seeing this, Lin Qianqian felt a bit sorry for him; although Joan often caused trouble, wasn't this a bit too harsh?
"Brother Ye..." Lin Qianqian began to speak, but Ye Mingshang interrupted her.
"I know what you're thinking; this Fellow has something even more precious and doesn't need these." Ye Mingshang glanced at Joan, who looked like a child throwing a tantrum, secretly thinking how pathetic he was.
Lin Qianqian nodded. It turned out he had something better. After all, how could being Brother Ye's disciple not come with good things? However, why wasn't I unique...
Joan, who had been squatting on the ground drawing circles, immediately stopped upon hearing Ye Mingshang and jumped up.
"Master, we can't do this! You have to be honest with yourself; when have you ever given me any treasures on this journey?!" Joan looked extremely aggrieved, his expression a mix of frustration and sadness.
"Smack!" Ye Mingshang slapped him without hesitation. The pain made Joan cry out.
Ye Mingshang looked at his right hand, puzzled. Why had he been getting better at hitting him lately? It felt quite satisfying!
"Smack!" Almost instinctively, Ye Mingshang delivered another slap.
Now, tears of grievance were about to spill from Joan's eyes as he ran to the side and hugged a tree, banging his head against it. "My master is bullying me! Life is meaningless!"
Ye Mingshang watched him and truly regretted his decision. Why did he impulsively take in such a troublesome disciple? This was just ridiculous!
"Shut up! You've eaten the Dao Seed and still have so much to say!" Ye Mingshang could no longer hold back and cursed before walking away.
Joan suddenly froze. "That's right! I have the Dao Seed! Old Ma said this thing is incredibly precious!"
Thinking of this, Joan stopped banging his head against the tree and replaced it with a beaming smile, his face lighting up with joy. He then noticed that the others had already walked far away and hurriedly shouted, "Wait for me!" as he chased after them.
After they left, a figure emerged from behind a large tree. The person was short, slightly plump, with dark skin, wearing a blue Daoist robe and carrying a large wooden box on their back.
"Hehe! Limitless Respect~ This Fellow seems interesting!" chuckled the Fat Taoist as he cautiously followed behind.
...
In Peach Blossom Village, inside a dilapidated thatched cottage.
"They are already at the door, what should we do?" A shadow suddenly appeared in the darkness, completely black and lacking legs. It resembled a Japanese ghost but was entirely dark. The figure was thin, and although its face was not very clear, it had a somewhat angular appearance.
"I didn't expect the Mountain Ghosts to fail to trap them. It seems we underestimated them," a deeper voice emerged from nowhere, followed by another black figure similar to the previous 'ghost,' but much taller and looking quite robust.
"Others are not a concern; that Black-Clad Youth is the real trouble. I was watching from a distance, and it was this youth who dealt with the Mountain Ghosts," a hoarse voice accompanied another shadow's appearance.
"The enemy is very powerful! This is going to be difficult..." the thin 'ghost' spoke up.
"Hmph! No matter how strong they are, what does it matter? When have we, the Imperial Japanese Army, ever feared anyone?!" the robust 'ghost' snorted coldly.
"Yamamoto, when will you start using your brain? You've been dead for so long, and your head is still filled with muscle," the hoarse voice glanced at the robust 'ghost' and mocked.
"Kameyama! What the hell are you saying?!" Yamamoto exploded like a lit powder keg, raising his fist as big as a sandbag, ready to strike.
...
"Shut up!"
As the group continued their bickering, the Japanese Officer sitting in a chair frowned slightly. With a stern shout, everyone fell silent, clearly afraid of him.
Looking at the few people before him, the officer displayed an expression of disappointment mixed with anger.
"Look at what you all have become! Do you still resemble the Imperial Japanese Army in any way?! When did our imperial forces fall to being afraid of a mere Chinese brat?!" The officer's face turned fierce as he scolded them harshly.
The others lowered their heads in shame, not daring to retort.
"Hmph! With the protection of our Emperor, we will surely eliminate these Chinese. After so many years, China has probably already fallen under our Yamato People. No! The entire world belongs to our Empire of Greater Japan. These people are merely remnants of refugees. As long as we defeat them and use their bodies to escape this place, we can take this secret with us. With our status, we will undoubtedly become first-class contributors to the empire! We will surely be recorded in history!"
The Japanese Officer raised his head slightly, his expression filled with fervor. A few subordinates were also inspired by his words and began waving their right hands while shouting slogans like "Long live the Empire of Greater Japan!"
"Alright! Ye, Kameyama, Yamamoto. You all lead your subordinates to set up an ambush immediately and aim to end the battle as quickly as possible," the officer commanded with a wave of his hand.
"Yes!" several responded, and their figures quickly transformed into a cloud of black smoke and vanished.
...
Ye Mingshang and the others could already see the outline of the village from a distance, although it was still shrouded in darkness. However, after such a long time, their eyes were gradually adapting.
"That should be Peach Blossom Village ahead. Are the Japanese Devils hiding inside?" Ye Mingshang looked at Scarred Ghost.
Scarred Ghost shook his head. "I’m not sure if they are here. The last time I came here was ten years ago, and at that time, they indeed used this place as a stronghold."
Well, there was nothing that could be done about that. It was clear that Scarred Ghost also did not want to linger in such a place. Although it was uncertain whether the enemy was present, monsters also had a sense of belonging; generally, once they occupied a stronghold, they wouldn’t change it casually.
Moreover, whether they were here or not could be determined by taking a look. Ye Mingshang was bold and unafraid of these things. The two from the Lin family also had their own Crimson Bloodstone, which contained their blood. It was enough to ensure their safety. Joan also had his own Dao Seed given to him. This was precisely the time he needed to hone himself; the test between life and death could greatly stimulate his potential.
If he died, then so be it...
"Achoo!" Joan rubbed his nose, secretly wondering if someone was thinking of him.
"Let’s go." Ye Mingshang took the lead.
It wasn’t far; they arrived in no time after covering a few hundred meters. Looking at the dilapidated village before him, Ye Mingshang couldn’t help but feel emotional.
"In Jin Taiyuan, fishermen make their living. Following the stream, one forgets the distance of the road. Suddenly encountering a peach blossom grove, flanked by hundreds of steps on both sides, with no mixed trees in sight, fragrant grass flourishing, fallen flowers scattered everywhere; the fisherman is quite astonished. Continuing forward to explore the grove, when reaching the water source, one finds a mountain with an opening that seems to emit light. He leaves the boat and enters through the opening. Initially very narrow, it just fits a person. After walking several dozen steps, it opens up suddenly. The land is flat and vast, houses are neatly arranged,
with fertile fields and beautiful ponds surrounded by mulberry and bamboo. Paths intersect with each other; sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard. People come and go for farming; men and women are dressed just like outsiders. The old and young are enjoying themselves."
This passage from Tao Yuanming's Peach Blossom Spring Record describes what one sees and hears in a paradise beyond the world. Its leisurely lifestyle and fairy-tale-like scenery evoke endless imagination.
Although the paradise described in "Peach Blossom Spring Record" is not this one, one can still imagine the beauty and tranquility that once existed here.
There are no conflicts, no disturbances, and certainly no scheming. Living happily in this peach orchard for decades is a dream for many.
However, looking at the dilapidated village before him, Ye Mingshang really cannot imagine anything resembling a paradise. The sun is absent, and dark mist swirls around. This place might even be considered quite backward in the underworld.
“Wow! This is not Peach Blossom Village at all; it’s basically a ghost village!” Joan frowned and complained.
“A ghost village? Yeah, it really does look like one,” Ye Mingshang did not argue with Joan this time; he sighed and walked in first.
“Once a paradise, now it’s a complete wreck! Sigh…” Lin the Old Man also sighed with emotion as he followed in.
Walking along the village road and looking at the houses on both sides, he vaguely recalled one of the most appealing lines from "Peach Blossom Spring Record."
“There are fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry and bamboo groves. Paths crisscross, and the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard. People come and go to farm, men and women dressed as outsiders. The elderly and children live joyfully.”
But now, what remains of that beauty in this village?
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