When Zhang Nu heard the heartfelt unity among the YaoGuais, he couldn’t help but feel that the scene before him was incredibly moving.
Although Ling Xi lost her parents at a young age, these YaoGuais gave her all the warmth and support she needed to grow. Every time she was in trouble, they would step forward without hesitation to protect her from harm.
Zhang Nu truly envied that kind of bond. If possible, he too hoped he would have companions like them.
Just then, his warm, genuine smile caught the attention of the surrounding YaoGuais. Only then, did they realize these humans, who looked so righteous, were nothing like the hypocritical cultivators they had feared.
“You’re going with Ling Xi, right? Then we’ll be ready to help from the sidelines,” one YaoGuai said.
“But you must protect her. Under no circumstances can anything happen to her.”
“That’s right! We’d give anything to keep her safe.”
“Exactly. If you do everything in your power to protect Ling Xi, all of us will be forever grateful.”
The YaoGuais’ words deeply moved Zhang Nu and the others. Seeing how much Ling Xi meant to them, she was clearly loved as family. Ling Xi herself was also touched. These weren’t just allies, they were her family. No one would say such things unless they meant it from the bottom of their hearts.
“What are you all saying?” she replied with a bright smile. “We’re going to fight together, and we’re going to return together.
“Our cultivation may not be high, but we have numbers on our side. Maybe we can overwhelm the enemy just with that.”
Everyone laughed, though they all knew she was being idealistic. Only someone like Ling Xi, so pure and full of hope, could believe in such an outcome. Still, no one had the heart to crush her optimism.
And so, Ling Xi led the group of YaoGuais down the mountain with Zhang Nu and his companions.
When they arrived at Apricot Spring Town, the YaoGuais disguised themselves as ordinary humans, trailing behind Zhang Nu’s group like curious newcomers. Many villagers had already recognized Zhang Nu and his team from earlier. They had been seen wandering the town multiple times. Some of the remaining villagers who hadn’t fallen under the black mist’s control approached them with worried expressions.
As soon as they saw Zhang Nu again, they called out and brought him over. One older woman stepped forward, her expression full of concern.
“Young man,” she said softly, “can I have a word with you?”
Zhang Nu nodded. “Of course, madam. What would you like to say?”
The woman’s gaze grew complex as she studied them. She could sense that these weren’t ordinary travelers, they carried themselves differently. Still, if they were going to go up against the YaoGuai that haunted this town, they were as good as dead.
“I’ve seen you three wandering around the village for a while now,” she said. “If you have no business here, I beg you to leave. Don’t stay any longer.”
“This town is cursed. The longer you remain, the more danger you’ll bring upon yourselves…”
Zhang Nu was stunned by her words. Apricot Spring Town wasn’t cursed, it was being controlled by a YaoGuai.
“Madam, are you sure about that?” he asked. “This town seems perfectly fine. It even has a lovely name. How could it be cursed?”
The old woman shook her head quickly, “Yes, the name sounds beautiful, but the town is no longer what it used to be. If it weren’t for that terrible YaoGuai controlling the mayor and refusing to allow the name to be changed, we would have renamed it long ago.”
“I’m telling you the truth. Please leave. If you stay any longer, the possessed villagers will recognize you—then
Zhang Nu understood she was genuinely worried about them.
“Don’t worry, madam. We’re cultivators,” he said kindly. “We’ve stayed here to observe the strange things happening in this town, and now we’ve identified the true culprit. Once we eliminate it, this town can return to peace.”
Upon hearing this, tears welled in the woman’s eyes. She could see Zhang Nu meant well, but many cultivators had come before, and not one survived. She was only pleading with them to leave because she didn’t want to see more lives lost.