The middle-aged man escorts Huo Zaiyuan and the others into the ancestral hall. The interior of the house is a bit dim. Due to being under siege by zombies, every door and window of this old house is shut tight and secured as best they can. Within, a slight stench permeates the place, but compared to the nauseating smell of rotting flesh from the horde of undead, this light stink is barely noticeable.
"Thank you for coming" In the middle of the house, a thin and frail old woman with a face full of wrinkles sits cross-legged on a straw mat. It was her who spoke, words slow and unhurried.
Looking at the elderly, Huo Zaiyuan frowns because he can see the aura of death hanging around her, an aura only those close to their death date possesses.
"You"
"Hehelittle Taoist's ability is not bad. You can actually see it already. This elderly don't have much time left." Esteemed grandmother Zhang chuckles lowly, inviting the four men to have a seat.
"Esteemed grandmother, don't say that. You are so formidable, surely you will" An approximately seventeen or eighteen years old female says from her position kneeling beside the elderly. Her face is stained with dirt, deep concern in her eyes.
"Foolish lass, this elderly has already lived a fulfilling life. Go on, I have matters to discuss alone with this young Taoist." Grandmother Zhang gently pats the girl's hand.
The lass' large dark eyes turn to regard Huo Zaiyuan for a moment, then stands and leaves.
"Little Yuan, take your time chatting with grandmother Zhang, I'll take the villagers to find another house to stay." Long Zhanye says before bringing Li Qing, Qin Jun, and the surviving villagers to exit the small building.
Within the dim room, only the shaman and the Taoist remains. A moment passes, then grandmother Zhang takes out a tattered book and pushes it in front of Huo Zaiyuan.
If it was another person, they will definitely look at the text and think it is a pile of waste paper, but not to Huo Zaiyuan. Since the more-than-a-century-old woman before him is capable of reaching out with her consciousness to contact him, and this book looks so well used by her, then it must definitely be something awesome.
"This is?"
"This book, if read by an ordinary person who cannot make heads or tails of it, is only a bundle of waste paper. But for someone who understands its contents, it is a very valuable treasure. This is my honourarium to you." The elderly's wrinkled face shifts into a kind smile. "This book will surely be helpful towards your cultivation."
"This is too precious." Huo Zaiyuan finally speaks, looking at the ancient text in front of him.
"Hehe" Esteemed grandmother Zhang laughs again. "The Zhang family has always been filled with shamans and fortune-tellers. This elderly had the same luck and managed to learn from this ancient book. I have read it all multiple times, and even before setting up this barrier, I knew you will appear. You are destined to have this text."
"I understand esteemed grandmother Zhang's heartfelt intentions." Huo Zaiyuan doesn't protest anymore, reaching out to touch the book and sending it into his space.
"Little Taoist, is it possible to tell this old woman your name?"
"Eh, I apologise for my oversight. Esteemed grandmother Zhang, my surname is Huo, given name Zaiyuan."
"Huoof course. It's no wonder you have fate with that text." Grandmother Zhang chuckles.
"What does grandmother Zhang mean by those words?" Huo Zaiyuan has this indescribable feeling that the elderly possess some deep and immeasurable power.
"That book has been passed from generation to generation in my Zhang family, but the original creator if it is someone surnamed Huo. Now it returns into the hands of a member of the Huo family. Once this elderly die, I will see the end of the Zhang family. It is good I hand the book over, hehe"
Seeing the old grandmother with such exceptional spirit, Huo Zaiyuan's heart is moved.
Because he knows that the elderly got to see her innermost desires fulfilled just as her sun sets[1].
Footnotes:
[1] In other words, just before she passes.