novelraw Chapter 769 412:
Chapter 769 412:
Because the environment is so dark and secluded, when people find themselves in the Black Bamboo Forest, they always have the illusion that someone is following them or watching them secretly from the shadows.
Duan Yun had ventured down there before, smelling the decay of bamboo leaves in the forest, and felt the atmosphere was off.
Indeed, the Black Bamboo Forest has mercilessly claimed many lives.
Even local people from Yu State, if they rashly enter the depths of the Black Bamboo Forest, may never come out again.
Those who don't come out add to the local ghost stories.
It is said that a child's grandfather once got lost in there, never to be seen again, neither alive nor dead.
Yet the child often ran into the bamboo forest, once going especially deep.
At dusk, the family noticed something unusual and rushed into the forest to search.
Thankfully, the family's yellow dog recognized the child's scent and pursued it, leading them to find the child sitting on a stone in the bamboo forest.
The family naturally beat and scolded the child for being naughty and thoughtless, but the child kept insisting that his grandfather was there, calling him over.
"Right there, Grandpa was watching me!"
At that moment, the child pointed at a clump of black bamboo and said this.
The adults were scared stiff, breaking out in a cold sweat because when they looked in that direction, there wasn't a shred of human shadow.
Eventually, the husband of the family gathered his courage and went over. After a while, the man's voice could be heard.
There was indeed someone behind the bamboo.
But it was a corpse.
The body was mostly rotten, with a large hole in the chest, looking rather horrifying.
Yet the man soon cried out.
Because through the torn cloth of clothing and the rotten tobacco pipe by the side, he had recognized it as his own father.
The child's grandfather was really there, only dead.
Afterward, they took the corpse back and had a Taoist perform rituals for several days until the matter was settled.
This was the story Duan Yun heard before entering the bamboo sea.
The storyteller was the leader of a caravan, suggesting that although this bamboo sea seems like a shortcut to Yishui City, saving a few days by not having to take a detour over the mountains, it is not a path for humans to tread.
Few who attempt to cross the Black Bamboo Sea emerge alive.
Not only does it possibly harbor man-eating beasts and monsters, the dense bamboo makes it easy for people to get lost.
Additionally, there is a local saying that the Black Bamboo Forest is where the Bodhisattva closed its eyes, a territory even the Immortal Gods wouldn't tread, so how can humans dare to venture deep inside?
And now Duan Yun is venturing in.
Because he wants to take a shortcut.
While within the bamboo sea, he indeed feels like he's in a secluded ghostly land, matching the saying about the Bodhisattva closing its eyes.
This scenario actually makes Duan Yun somewhat excited, as traveling is a rather dull task.
He also has an interest in matters of ghosts and gods.
Because he has tasted the benefits.
Previously, he gained the Secret Technique "Dream Building" from a Source Palace Noble, and perhaps if these things truly involve ghosts and spirits, there might be some other treasures as well.
Young Hero Duan likes to slay demons and bring order and justice, and equally likes to use treasures from monsters and demons on the righteous path.
Unfortunately, this time he doesn't have much time to explore this thoroughly.
Because he is in a hurry to kill someone.
Someone who wants to kill him.
After a relatively long journey heading north, walking through the bamboo, the end of the place where the Bodhisattva closed its eyes is finally in sight, and Duan Yun can see the households on the distant mountain ridges.
Yu State is mostly mountainous, so most towns and villages are also located on the mountains.
Duan Yun used his movement technique to enter this town descending from the mountain.
It was just at dawn and many people in the town had not yet awakened, everything seemed quite peaceful.
Duan Yun leaped gracefully over the rooftops, like a light, agile bird.
I must say, leaping over rooftops is a very special experience.
Some of the people inside the houses were still asleep, while others were already up making meals, with kitchen smoke rising.
Duan Yun swept over their rooftops, as if sweeping over their lives.
Duan Yun quite enjoyed this feeling.
It could only be said it was more interesting than drifting in the bamboo forest.
With a swish, Duan Yun landed in a courtyard.
In the courtyard was a Big Beard who looked quite brave.
Duan Yun landed here precisely for this reason.
He wanted to ask for directions; rashly entering someone's courtyard, a timid person might be scared out of their wits.
But he miscalculated.
At the moment he landed in the courtyard, that seemingly valiant Big Beard who was brushing his teeth with a twig suddenly sat on the ground, hugged his chest with both arms, and, in a coquettish voice, pleaded, "Spare me! I won't resist if you rob my money or my body!"
Apparently, the reason for the excessive fear was that the muscles on his face were constantly twitching.
Duan Yun quickly explained, "Don't be afraid, I won't rob your money or your body."
"Then rob what? My man went out." Big Beard said.
Duan Yun: "...."
"Just borrowing the latrine."
With that, Duan Yun went to the latrine to relieve himself, and when he came out, Big Beard seemed somewhat calmer.
Only then did Duan Yun ask the question he wanted to ask – "Which way to Yishui City?"
He had received information that Gu Dile was in Yishui City.
After Big Beard pointed out a direction, Duan Yun leaped away, disappearing from the courtyard.
Big Beard was still shaken, and suddenly the courtyard gate made a sound and opened.
Big Beard was nearly startled into jumping up.
In the next moment, he saw the person who entered.
A similarly big-bearded fatty.
Big Beard rushed over, thumping the other on the chest a few times, "You, scared me half to death just now."
...
The sun moved over the ridges, casting golden and jade glows, revealing a mountain city before Duan Yun's eyes.
Yishui City is located by the Jialing River. Because of its bustling docks and many visitors, it gradually developed into the second-largest city in Yu State.
Unlike Wangchun City, which builds on flat ground, Yishui City is built against the mountains, with buildings of varying heights, showing quite a sense of layering.
Duan Yun paid the entry fee and entered the city.
Thinking of the Silver Coin he spent, Duan Yun silently kept it in mind, even taking out a small booklet to write it down.
Yishui City charged me a Silver Coin entry fee today; in the future, I shall see if Yishui City uses it for the people or if some secretly line their own pockets.
If it's the latter, families must be slain!
Duan Yun almost confirmed that many major cities in the Martial World have the habit of charging entry fees.
The roads in Yishui City intersect, mostly sloping paths.
Two carriages crossing on a steep slope, the turn comes right at a cliff edge, yet the skill of the drivers was remarkable.
They managed to elegantly drift around the bend, giving the impression of man and horse being one.
It must be said, driving here really requires a bit of skill.
But most of what came into Duan Yun's eyes were laborers.
From the docks outside the city to the steps inside the city, there were often porters with shoulder poles.
They called themselves "stick bearers," earning Silver Coin by helping to transport goods.
At this time, a stick bearer stopped Duan Yun's way, asking, "Sir, need to move goods? Got family waiting for rice to cook at home."
Duan Yun replied, "I don't have any goods to move."
The stick bearer quickly said, "Moving people works too."
With that, he folded a bamboo stool behind him, forming a chair that looked like it could carry people up the mountain.
Duan Yun thought about it, then said, "Alright then."
He promptly sat on the chair, and the man said, "Sir, hold on tight."
With that, the man straightened his body and carried Duan Yun.
"Sir, where to?"
Duan Yun marked the mountain, "What's that tallest tower up there?"
"That's Kui Star Tower! The best restaurant and brothel are there."
Duan Yun said, "Let's go there."
The stick bearer couldn't help but laugh, "Looks like sir is here to enjoy himself."
Duan Yun gave it some thought; demon-slaying was indeed a kind of enjoyment, and said, "Yes."
"Sir, you've come to the right place. The enjoyment spot in Yun State is Wangchun City, but it turned into a Demon Cave. Now our Yishui City of Yu State is the legitimate enjoyment spot for both Yun and Yu States."
"Girls here have everything, even those with illnesses!"
Duan Yun getting off halfway.