Qing Lingyan had arrived at the eastern region of the Miao Border hinterland. She was searching for someone…
The eastern region of the Miao Border hinterlands was full of scraggly trees, their sparse branches knotted, looking like monsters under the hazy moonlight.
Behind the leafless forest was a large swamp. Thick miasma rose from the swamp, giving off an eerie and peculiar aura. Within a hundred mile radius of the swamp, there were no living things at all, and even the chirping of insects and buzzing of mosquitos couldn’t be heard.
That swamp was known as the Devil’s Swamp by the people of the local tribes, and was the scariest and most mysterious place in the entire Miao border. The miasma was present all year round, and contained a poison so potent that even birds couldn’t fly above it. Rumours said that there was a terrifying monster beast that lived within the swamp, and anyone who dared to enter would be swallowed till no bones or corpse was left.
Meanwhile, in a barren space three hundred miles from the Devil’s Swamp, a few tribesmen sat around a bonfire after hunting. Above the bonfire was a roe deer that had been roasted till golden-brown and was dripping with oil, emitting a tempting fragrance.
“Ah San, next year, you will already be 16. You will marry Cui’er soon, right?” An elder hunter said to an honest-looking young man.
“I am still young. We should wait a couple of years before discussing it,” the shy young man mumbled, his face turning red.
“It’s time you build a family. When your father was still alive, he always thought about it. It is only when you have your own family that he can truly rest in peace,” the old hunter said emotionally.
“Alright, uncle, I got it. Why don’t we try hunting over there for a change? Perhaps there’ll be more prey over there.” The young man quickly changed the topic and pointed at the swamp.
“That is a place where divine people live. How can we go there?” The older hunter scoffed.
“Divine people? Are there really divine people in this world?” The young man asked doubtfully.
Whack! The older hunter smacked the young man’s back lightly, and said anxiously, “Ah San, don’t ever say those kinds of things again! Doubting the divine people will bring about retribution, and our tribe has been living peacefully thanks to them. I heard the village elders mention that if not for the actions of those divine people, our village would have long been ruined by ferocious monster beasts. For thousands of years, our village has been safe from monster beast attacks because of their protection.”
“Alright, I will be careful of my words in the future.” The young man nodded, gazing at the swamp contemplatively.
“Ah San, you must never enter that swamp. Not only will you harm yourself, but you will also harm us all,” the old hunter reminded him urgently.
“Alright, uncle, don’t worry.” Seeing the older hunter so panicked, even if the young man did not believe him, he no longer dared to speak about it.
As the few of them were talking, the older hunter suddenly raised his hand, signaling for silence, and quietly drew the hunting knife from his waist. An experienced hunter had an innate perception for danger that far surpassed ordinary people’s.
The young man and the other hunter held their breaths as they gripped the hilts of their blades, turning around very slowly.
Behind them, soft breathing could be heard, and it was clearly not human. Hot breath emerged from the creature’s mouth, emitting a faint stench that tainted the night breeze.
The older hunter was the most famous hunter in the tribe’s mountain village, and it was said that he had once killed a black bear all on his own. Although the other two were a little lacking in experience, they were at an age where they were unafraid of anything. However, at this moment, beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads and dropped to the ground. Their bodies were quickly drenched in cold sweat.