novelraw Chapter 812 433: A Cloud Drifting from the Horizon_2
Chapter 812 433: A Cloud Drifting from the Horizon_2
This insight was gained from observing more than half of the Martial World with his own eyes. Meanwhile, he increasingly agreed with the "Heroic Land" that Duan Yun spoke of.
This Heroic Land is truly exceptional.
After a brief rest, the convoy continued on its journey.
Due to fatigue, the escorts gradually fell silent, focusing solely on guarding the cargo and hurrying along without speaking.
But at this moment, Wang Datie heard someone whispering.
Escorting a shipment is tiring work, and Wang Datie's team never shunned talking and joking to alleviate weariness.
Yet, upon hearing this voice, an unsettling emotion rose within Wang Datie's heart. Even when he tried hard to listen, he still couldn't make out what they were saying.
Escorts need to be vigilant and perceptive, and he had been a chief escort for many years, priding himself on his good hearing.
But this time, unable to discern what the other party was saying, he couldn't help but feel they harbored ill intentions.
Yes, ill intentions, as if they were secretly conspiring something nefarious.
As the murmuring continued, Wang Datie felt uneasy, so he turned back and said, "Stop talking, focus on the journey. There'll be plenty of time to chat once we arrive."
The convoy immediately fell silent, and those rustling voices disappeared.
But after a short while, those voices reappeared.
Feeling annoyed, Wang Datie rode on, solemnly chastising, "I said no talking! Who still isn't listening?"
During this escort trip, he had brought along some newcomers from the escort agency. It seemed that each year's newcomers were less disciplined than the last, not even understanding basic rules.
He thought to find an opportunity to properly train them, as such rule-ignorant individuals were most likely to cause trouble on an escort mission.
This time, because Wang Datie was quite stern, the convoy became even quieter, even the cargo-pulling horses seemed to hold their breath.
Only the sound of the wind howling remained around them.
Only then did Wang Datie continue on the road.
He could only say that his previously relaxed mood had been completely ruined by those rustling voices.
But just after proceeding for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, those rustling voices appeared again.
Things happen no more than three times, and this time Wang Datie was truly angry. He waved his hand, signaling the convoy to stop, and with a sullen expression, he demanded, "Who's whispering?"
The team once again fell into deep silence.
Wang Datie dismounted. Earlier, he vaguely heard the voice coming from the back of the group, so he ordered, "Chen Dayong, count the people and the goods!"
"Yes!"
He wanted to observe carefully. With his rich experience as a chief escort, he should be able to discern who might be cluelessly talking nonsense.
After all, when he gets angry, who wouldn't be scared if they were guilty?
But at that moment, due to the dense forest lining the path, it was dimly lit, and he couldn't immediately tell who it was.
His old hand, Chen Dayong, efficiently counted the members of the convoy, but as he counted, he gradually slowed down.
Wang Datie raised his brow and asked, "What's wrong?"
With a frightened expression, Chen Dayong whispered to him, "Boss, there's one more."
The worst thing during an escort journey is when someone unknowingly falls behind, losing someone, but suddenly gaining a person is just as taboo, and subtly terrifying.
With Wang Datie's abundant experience, he thought perhaps someone had infiltrated the group.
In the Martial World, among the Green Forest People, there are those skilled in disguise. Such individuals sneaking into a convoy with ulterior motives, either conspiring behind the scenes or secretly taking away valuables, isn't impossible.
Either way, it's a disaster for those escorting the cargo.
A chill ran down the back of Wang Datie's neck as he ordered, "Count them clearly!"
Li Dayong counted again, face turning pale as he said, "Boss, there really is one more. We have twenty-one."
The convoy had a total of twenty people, something he had verified upon entering Yun State.
Wang Datie gripped his sword handle tightly and said in a deep voice, "Identify each one for me!"
Among them were new recruits from the agency, whom he was only familiar with. In this dim environment, identifying who was who was not easy.
The wild forest beside the road was pitch-black, as if harboring numerous watchful eyes with ill intentions.
Li Dayong began identifying people, one by one.
But after checking them all, he said, panic-stricken, "Boss, it seems I know everyone."
By now, cold sweat had started to bead on Wang Datie's forehead.
At the same time, he noticed those rustling sounds reappearing.
He scanned his subordinates sharply, trying to locate the source of the voice.
But the sound seemed to blend with the wind, imperceptible.
Listening closely, Wang Datie suddenly sensed the direction of the sound. He discovered it was right beside him?
Beside him?
Besides Li Dayong, who was bringing the people forward to be identified, there was only a thin coffin by Wang Datie's side.
This coffin was used to hold their only good brother, Sun Lin, who had died on this escort journey.
Could the sound be coming from the coffin?
Was Sun Lin not truly dead?
This is impossible!
Could Sun Lin have resurrected, become a ghost?
At this moment, Wang Datie's scalp tingled with fear.
He waved his hand and said to Li Dayong beside him, "Get someone to open the coffin."
Seeing his grave expression, Li Dayong reacted and quickly gathered manpower.
These men were all old masters from the escort agency, who had traveled far and wide, with nerves of steel.
At this moment, three men held large knives, pointing them at the coffin.
Li Dayong was responsible for opening the coffin.
They had heard of zombie legends, and even seen corpse chasers along the road.
But now discovering there might be a zombie inside the coffin, the group could feel sweat beading on their foreheads.
"Good brother Sun Lin, you were too enthralled in killing, that you died from excitement, surely this can't be blamed on us, right?"
"Don't worry, the boss said, when we get back, he'll add money for you!"
"A lot more money! He'll even take care of your wife, er, support her, I mean."
Li Dayong mumbled to himself as he began opening the coffin.
With a flick of his knife, the lid of the thin coffin fell to the ground, and at the same time, the remaining escorts menaced it with their knives.
If the body inside dared to move, they would chop it to pieces.
But inside the coffin, there was a corpse with bulging eyes.
The corpse lay quietly, without making any sound.
This didn't look like it was resurrecting.
So where was the sound coming from?
Could it be he had misheard?
At this moment, Wang Datie also started doubting himself.
Just then, he suddenly shivered all over.
Because in the dim environment, he noticed several tears in Li Dayong's clothes.
Within those tears, were mouths of various sizes.
Human mouths.
They were gently flapping, emitting a low, deep sound.
This time, Wang Datie finally heard what they were saying.
"You've discovered it, huh."
A light, airy voice drifted into Li Datie's ear, carrying a chill to the core.
Wang Datie flicked his knife, aiming straight for Li Dayong's head.
As a chief escort, his sword technique was naturally the fastest here, both swift and ruthless, without any unnecessary flourishes.
During previous escort missions, he had even decapitated a bear's head with ease.
At such close range, he believed that Li Dayong wouldn't be able to dodge.
But Li Dayong dodged.
His body suddenly shrank down a notch, performing the most difficult Bone Shrinking Skills in the Martial World, something Wang Datie knew Li Dayong could not do.
At this moment, Li Dayong chuckled and suddenly bounded onto the coffin, saying, "Time's almost up."
"Look over there."
Wang Datie didn't look, knowing full well this was likely a trick from the enemy, attempting to distract him, and in turning, he could lose his head.
But the escorts who hadn't grasped the situation couldn't resist looking in that direction.
Upon seeing it, they all displayed expressions of shock and fear.
Those expressions also entered the corner of chief escort Li Dayong's eye.
He did not look that way, yet he could see the expressions of his subordinates.
This could only prove there truly was something there.
Cringing slightly, Li Datie then saw a giant cloud.
A giant cloud had landed in the forest, standing there.
Li Datie believed he had seen countless clouds, even across Jiu Zhou.
But clouds belong in the sky, yet this one was on the ground.
This cloud was very white, like cotton, appearing soft, yet at this moment, an overwhelming sense of fear filled Wang Datie's heart.
Never did he think, a cloud could be so terrifying.
On the road, suddenly there was a strange scream, then it vanished....