Discontent with the current state, yearning for growth, the pursuit of self...
When there’s room for choice in everything, naturally, life becomes more colorful.
......
The mountain path is rugged and winding, seemingly carved out along the angle between the riverbank and the mountain’s base.
Walking feels unpleasant, and the road is really quite narrow, just enough for two adults to walk side by side... coupled with the pitch-black river surface beside, listening to the sound of rushing water at night, it’s somewhat unsettling.
One careless slip into the water in this desolate mountain area doesn’t even require a Monster to appear to claim a life.
Not long after moving forward, Gu Mo saw some signs of human life, a section of a dilapidated wooden boardwalk built along the riverbank, with part of the bridge’s remnants seemingly in disrepair for years, with the other end already washed away.
This side of the bridge deck is half-submerged in water, it’s uncertain if the wood has rotted, the river’s too black to discern, and he doesn’t wish to approach the water under such circumstances, having tried to stick closely to the inner side just while walking...
Retracting his gaze, Gu Mo frowned. Seeing signs of human life is indeed a good thing, but from the roads and bridges, one can discern a place’s economic development and craftsmanship level—
So, is this scenario a place isolated from modern prosperity, deep in the mountains?
Or... a backward ancient world?
With such doubts and expectations, Gu Mo cautiously continued forward, neither slow nor fast, striving to take lighter steps. He had some confidence, but not to the extent of being reckless, restraining when necessary.
After walking another distance, faint and strange sounds came from ahead, he stopped to listen for a good while, unable to ascertain, it sounded like the crackling noise of wood burning in Flame, brought by the night wind.
He held his breath, cautiously continued forward a bit more, rounded a mountain path’s bend, and a wide scene unfolded before him—
An ancient village built surrounding the river, situated on the high ground ahead.
Wooden workshop gates, wooden fences, together forming an outer wall, yet at this moment, it’s wide open, clearly showing the village’s ramshackle wooden houses, seemingly with even paper-covered windows...
—Is it really an ancient scene?
Although he had vaguely thought so, Gu Mo was still a bit surprised at that moment. At the same time, he finally knew where the earlier sounds originated from. His judgment was correct; multiple directions within the village faintly emitted firelight, wooden buildings were burning, collapsing in the raging Flame.
Not just Flame and charcoal; after just a few more steps, a night breeze brought a strong scent of blood directly at him.
His face slightly changed, Gu Mo felt a chill in his heart, instantly heightening his alertness two more Levels. His already tense nerves became extremely taut. This scene seemed less friendly compared to the previous one, starting off with violence and gore upfront?
He carefully swallowed his saliva, glancing back, contemplating if there were more hidden dangers outside the village in the pitch-black night, simultaneously striving to lighten his steps further and move forward, strange thoughts arising in his mind.
What am I doing? Why am I doing this here?
These thoughts came when he was overly tense, his mind scattered with uncontrolled, aimless, chaotic thoughts. He tried hard to restrain and gather them, while slightly missing the self of yesterday who couldn’t yet determine the truth.
Now that he knows what’s going on, it’s hard to remain so carefree.
"No one... Strange, have they all been harmed?"
Entering the village’s workshop gate, slowly proceeding along the riverbank road, Gu Mo looked around and didn’t see anyone nor hear voices, which is quite an ominous sign... It’s very likely that no one alive is in this village now.
So, who is the culprit behind all this? In ancient times, with such villages, could it be bandits or raiders?
"Sakura...?"
Lightly reaching out to catch a bit of dark purple drifting down from above, Gu Mo seemed to sense something, looked up, somewhat realizing belatedly, maybe because his attention was initially fully drawn by the Flames and blood scent, he hadn’t noticed the numerous Sakura trees still present in the village.
Not saying it was a grove or forest, but indeed many places had them upon looking ahead...
At this moment, dark Night Cherry Blossoms were whimsically falling, presenting a dreamy, mysterious allure, if not for the burning village backdrop and pervasive blood scent, this Sakura bloom would be breathtakingly beautiful.
Gu Mo blinked, this scene seemed somewhat familiar, like something he had just recalled...
He hesitated and walked a bit further, soon making a new discovery.
Bam! Bam! Bam!...
Heavy giant objects moved nearby, seemingly dragging something equally heavy, making scraping noises on the ground.