“Don’t worry about it. You’ll understand everything soon enough,” Lin Xiao said flatly.
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai exchanged glances. They could tell Lin Xiao was deliberately withholding information, but why? Still, neither of them had the patience to press him for answers. Their immediate concern was finding a place to stay for the night. If there were no inns, were they expected to sleep on the streets?
“I don’t think we’re going to find an inn at this rate,” Zhang Nu finally said. “We should try asking a local family if they’d be willing to let us stay the night.”
Since their search had yielded no results, this was their only option. Liu Hai and Lin Xiao nodded in agreement. They had no choice. If there had been an inn, they would have found one by now.
Soon, the three of them approached a farmhouse and knocked on the door. A few moments later, the door cracked open just enough for the owner to peek out. But as soon as he saw that they were outsiders, his expression turned to fear, and he immediately slammed the door shut.
Zhang Nu, Liu Hai, and Lin Xiao barely had time to say a word before they were shut out. The strange reaction only deepened their curiosity.
“What’s going on here?” Liu Hai asked, frowning. “Why did that man look so scared of us?”
Zhang Nu shook his head. If one family refused them, they would simply try another. But when they went to the next house—and the next—the result was the same. Every door was shut in their faces. With each rejection, their suspicions grew. Why were the people in this town so afraid of them?
The sky darkened, and the night deepened. Midnight was fast approaching.
Just when they thought they would be left stranded outside, a single door creaked open. A man stood in the doorway, waving them over.
Zhang Nu immediately noticed him and stepped forward.
“You’re travelers, aren’t you?” the man asked in a hushed voice. “Why would you choose to stay in this town overnight?”
Zhang Nu and the others exchanged glances. Why shouldn’t they stay overnight? There had been no warnings about Xinghua Town. As far as they knew, it was an ordinary place.
“Why wouldn’t we stay here?” Zhang Nu asked cautiously. “We’re passing through, and when we saw this town, we thought we’d rest here for the night.”
The man’s face tensed, his brows furrowing deeply. He hesitated, clearly struggling with something internally.
Should he help them, or should he turn them away? If he let them stay, there was a chance they wouldn’t survive the night. If he left them outside, they would definitely die.
Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
“Fine. You can stay at my house for the night,” he said. “But listen to me carefully—no matter what happens, you must not make a sound. And do not step outside until morning.”
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai exchanged another glance. Something was definitely wrong with this town. The people were hiding something. Otherwise, why would the man be so strict about them staying inside?
“Sir, can you tell us what’s going on?” Zhang Nu asked. “Why did every other family refuse to let us in? What’s happening in this town?”
The man’s face darkened. He knew the travelers wouldn’t understand, but it wasn’t their fault.
Once, Apricot Spring Town had been a place that welcomed visitors. But somewhere along the way, something changed. Even the town’s own residents feared stepping outside after dark. Some families had been wiped out entirely just for sheltering outsiders. That was why the townspeople were too afraid to open their doors.
“This… isn’t something you should concern yourselves with,” the man said finally. “I’ve already taken you in. That’s all you need to worry about. Now hurry inside before anyone sees you.”
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai both knew there was more to this than he was letting on. Whatever secret this town was hiding, it was dangerous enough to make even its own people live in fear. If that was the case, they couldn’t just leave things as they were. They had to figure out the truth and put an end to whatever was happening here.
“Understood,” Zhang Nu said. “We’ll follow your rules. We won’t step outside or make any noise tonight. But please, let us inside. It’s nearly midnight.”
The man nodded quickly and ushered them inside. But as he led them through his house, he didn’t light a single lantern. Zhang Nu immediately realized why—he didn’t want anyone to know they were here.
But that wasn’t a problem for them. As cultivators, they had excellent night vision. Even in the dark, they could clearly see the man’s face.
His fear was evident.
Soon, he led them to a small room. It was simple, almost barren, but it was the best he could offer.
“We appreciate your kindness,” Zhang Nu said. “We’ll be sure to repay you in the morning.”
But the man shook his head. He didn’t need their thanks. He only wanted one thing—for them to leave this town before it was too late.