Chapter Nine: Willow Leaf Village

Mysterious Mountain lies to the northeast of Xinyang County, encircled by a broad river, with the only road leading southward. Traveling south from Mysterious Mountain, one must pass through a place called Willow Leaf Village...

After two days on foot, Chen Jiu finally glimpsed a village ahead on the main road. Although it was the season of autumn harvest, the sun overhead blazed fiercely. He wiped the sweat from his brow, tightened the bundle on his back, and walked toward the village.

"I'm parched..." His mouth was dry, and he intended to beg a bowl of water. Though he could abstain from food and drink while cultivating, relying solely on his inner energy to nourish his body, once he ceased cultivation, he had to confront the mundane needs of eating, drinking, and so on.

Suddenly, an old farmer in coarse linen rose from the vegetable patch at the roadside. The man bore a hoe on his shoulder and a basket in one hand, squinting as he scrutinized Chen Jiu.

Seeing this, Chen Jiu was delighted. He quickly clasped his hands in salute. "Kind sir, might a wandering priest beg a bowl of clear water?"

But before Chen Jiu could finish, the old farmer's brows drew tight with a sudden scowl, his face darkening. "Priest? You filthy priests dare to show your faces here!"

Startled by the man's outraged tone, Chen Jiu protested, "Sir, what do you mean? I have never set foot here before!" He felt utterly perplexed.

"Don't feign ignorance!" Without further ado, the farmer hurled down his basket, gripped his hoe in both hands, and stood to bar Chen Jiu's way. "Villagers! Another filthy priest is here! Come quickly!" he shouted.

Almost at once, the quiet fields erupted as scores of villagers in rough clothing emerged, like bamboo shoots after rain. Catching sight of Chen Jiu on the road, they surged forward, encircling him.

Chen Jiu was taken aback. What is the meaning of this? I'm a priest, not a bandit!

"Kind sir! There must be some misunderstanding!" he hastened to assure the old farmer. Clearly, something had happened before his arrival to arouse such hatred toward priests.

"Filthy priest! Give me back my husband's life!" Suddenly, a farmwife with reddened eyes lunged at Chen Jiu, clawing at his robe.

Just as he tried to evade her, a young man stepped forward to restrain the woman, then turned on Chen Jiu with angry accusation: "Aren't you priests supposed to rid the people of evil? Why are you helping monsters harm us instead?"

Now Chen Jiu felt utterly lost. The villagers were fired with righteous wrath; their hatred for priests was palpable. This was no time for protestations of innocence; now was the time to gather information.

"Sir, your first words are true, but your second accusation is gravely mistaken," Chen Jiu replied coldly. He must not appear intimidated or let himself be cowed!

The young man sneered, "Let me ask you—two days ago, an old priest came to our village. Was he sent by your Mysterious Temple?"

The old farmer, unable to contain himself, rushed out the tale. "Two days ago, an old priest arrived, claiming there was an Everlasting Spring Tree deep in the ravine. He said that if one picked its leaves and brewed them, one could regain one's youth... At first no one believed him, but then he produced a leaf, brewed it, and drank the infusion. Before our eyes, the white-haired elder became a black-haired youth!"

"Afterward, many villagers became obsessed with the so-called Everlasting Spring Tree. They rushed into the thick woods to find it... But two days passed, and not a single person returned." As he spoke, grief etched itself deeply into the farmer's features.

"When I found my husband, half his head had been gnawed away!" the farmwife sobbed uncontrollably.

"All who entered the ravine searching for the tree met the same fate—their heads devoured. If this is not the work of a monster, what could it be? And since that day, the priest vanished. We searched the village but found no trace," the young man said, his gaze cutting toward Chen Jiu. "There's only one Mysterious Temple in these parts. I assume you're from the same sect."

"Kill this filthy priest! Avenge our kin!" someone shouted.

Chen Jiu's face darkened. You believed the priest's nonsense and rushed to your deaths—what does that have to do with me? If you want to kill me, don't blame me for defending myself!

A flash of coldness crossed his eyes. He swiftly pulled five yellow beans from inside his robe. "Go!"

A series of sharp pops exploded around him, and white mist erupted, shrouding his figure.

"Stop them!" Chen Jiu commanded inwardly. Taking advantage of the confusion, he slipped away through the field, fleeing into the vegetable patch.

"He's running!" someone shouted, spotting the priest darting through the greenery like a rabbit.

"What—what is this?!" A farmer found his leg seized in an unbreakable grip by a plump, white-skinned child, preventing him from moving.

Five chubby little figures blocked several villagers trying to give chase. Despite their childish forms, their strength was such that even these hardy farmers could not break free.

"This must be the priest's sorcery!" the young man fumed, but by now, the field had swallowed all trace of Chen Jiu.

Suddenly, as if by silent signal, the five little ones released their captives and bounded away into the fields, vanishing from sight.

Tricked by the priest, the villagers seethed with anger, clenching their fists and cursing Chen Jiu under their breath.

Thanks to the power his cultivation bestowed, Chen Jiu ran a full ten miles without stopping. He had left the fields behind and now found himself in a densely wooded ravine.

"Now I understand why this technique is so despised..." Long Spring Method was not a forceful art; it simply generated a steady flow of energy to nourish the body—and nothing more. Yet, it supplied him with unending strength for fleeing, which suited him just fine.

"At least it's good for staying alive!"

Suddenly, he heard a rustling from the field behind, and saw the thick vegetables shaking.

"They're coming!" Relief washed over him—the five little figures had saved him this time.

Moments later, the five chubby little ones leapt out of the field and landed beside him.

Their faces still bore blank, inhuman expressions, but Chen Jiu could sense the vibrant life force within them.

"Don't worry, I will make you true living beings." He formed a seal with his hand, gathering the five little ones into his robe.

Though he had escaped disaster, he was now completely off his intended path. If he wanted to leave the bounds of Mysterious Mountain, he would have to pass through Willow Leaf Village.

"I can't go back now..." Chen Jiu muttered in frustration. Everything had been fine until this absurd incident—he truly felt aggrieved.

Just then, an old man suddenly emerged from behind a large tree ahead.

Chen Jiu tensed, backing away several steps. Only now did he sense the thick, chilling energy in this place, and his heart quailed. Though the old man looked frail enough to be toppled with a slap, his abrupt appearance here meant he was no ordinary man.

"Do not be alarmed, Priest," the old man said gently, seeing his wary posture.

Chen Jiu frowned. "Elder, I had nothing to do with what happened, nor do I wish to offend you. Please, go on your way." Even as he spoke, he edged along the ravine, keeping his distance.

The old man sighed and pointed toward a brook winding through the ravine. "Follow that stream. If you lose your way here and encounter the mountain ghost, you may well lose your life for nothing..."

Chen Jiu looked back and saw, not far off, a stream running toward the heart of the ravine. When he turned again, the old man had vanished.

He stood in silence, frowning. If the villagers spoke truly, this ravine was no place to linger.

He resolved to pay no heed to the mysterious old man and headed straight for the stream; perhaps he might find shelter yet.

By now, the sun had sunk behind thick western clouds. Half an hour later, dusk had fallen and darkness crept in.

The road before him grew ever dimmer, and he could only follow the sound of running water.

Suddenly, his eyes caught a faint gleam ahead—ten yards distant, a tiny light flickered.

"There really are people here!" Chen Jiu was delighted, though a hint of doubt lingered—Could it be someone from the village?

He decided to investigate.

In a few breaths, he had drawn near.

Lifting his head, he saw that it was a temple.

"Willow Ravine Temple..."