The Frail Scholar at the End of Ancient Times

Chapter 15: Go, Daoist Master

Leaving Ge Village far behind, the road became unfamiliar and even more treacherous. The surroundings were desolate.

Fortunately, the vegetation had withered, and the weeds that had once aggressively encroached on every patch of land now lay flattened, revealing the country paths. A wheelbarrow was quite useful at this time, able to carry goods over these narrow and uneven surfaces.

Without the villagers' help, it was now Wen Gu's cousin, Tietou, who was responsible for pushing the wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow was equipped with a stand, so if danger arose, Tietou could abandon it and immediately engage in combat.

However, in Wen Gu's opinion, they were still too few in number. If they had enough people, they could take turns, with each person pushing for a short stretch.

Wen Gu wanted to upgrade their transportation. The roads they would travel in the future might not always be these country paths; it would be great to have a two-wheeled cart.

It could carry people and more goods. He didn't dare to dream of horses.

Ordinary villagers couldn't afford horses. Where they could be afforded, horses would have been snatched up by various factions when the world first descended into chaos.

Those not snatched might still be attacked by evil creatures outside and become food.

Without horses, an ox cart or a donkey cart would suffice.

Donkeys should be more common in villages and towns. Many villages in the surrounding areas, even if they couldn't afford horses and oxen, could still afford donkeys and mules.With lower maintenance costs and decent endurance, some remote caravans used donkeys for transporting goods. Wen Gu noted this down as a task and kept an eye out along the way for any unattended donkeys.

Not long after, Wen Gu saw another ox skeleton. Little Liu sighed, "Half a year ago, when we came out, we even saw water buffalo bathing in the water.

But back then, everyone was afraid to touch the muddy water, so we had to give up. Later, when my father and the others came out, they didn't see any living cattle."

Seeing the ox skeletons in the fields during the burning of the fields indicated that many livestock outside couldn't escape their fate.

Under the epidemic of evil, poultry, livestock, birds, fish… these animals were normal and showed no signs of being possessed.

Only people were possessed. And after people were possessed and turned into evil creatures, they would attack those animals.

Flying or swimming creatures were better off, not easily preyed upon. But poultry and livestock suffered.

In areas where evil creatures were active, not even a chicken would be left.

However, evil creatures also missed their prey.

As Wen Gu and the others traveled, they would search for any opportunities. Little Liu was experienced and knew which places had a higher chance of success.

"Eggs!" Little Liu spotted another target. He examined the eggshells, picked one up, and gently shook it to gauge its freshness before carefully placing it in a cloth bag.

These were their rations. Since leaving the village, they had collected five eggs.

In fact, they had found several nests mid-journey, but those had gone bad from being left too long.

"These three should still be edible."

They were clearly eggs laid by domestic chickens.

"I didn't see any chickens around.

Perhaps they've already become meals for evil creatures or beasts," Little Liu said.

"This also suggests there might be evil creatures or beasts nearby," Wen Gu noted.

An hour and a half later, they didn't encounter any evil creatures, but they did see a weasel standing upright in the grass. With normal human activity reduced, some wild animals had become bolder.

The weasel stared at them for a while before hopping into the grass and disappearing quickly as they approached.

"Perhaps that weasel snatched the chicken, or even took some of the eggs from the nest," Little Liu speculated.

Perhaps it was as he said, or perhaps there were other possibilities. The four continued onward, cautiously observing their surroundings.

No one knew how many survivors were still in this area. There might not be any at all.

They chose to travel through areas with relatively open visibility, rather than dense forests or overgrown paths. If evil creatures or other large beasts appeared, they would see them immediately.

Furthermore, they had a lookout in the sky. The bleak autumn wind brought a chill, but it was soon replaced by the warmth of the sun.

However, this warmth served as a reminder for them to be even more vigilant.

"There's a village ahead.

Shall we rest there for lunch?" Little Liu hadn't been to this area before, but he generally knew there was a village nearby. Wen Gu's map also marked it, and according to their travel plan, they should reach it before noon.

Soon, they saw familiar thatched cottages and earthen walls. The villages in this region shared a similar style.

"My father and the others searched this village last winter; they didn't leave much behind." What were once lively villages were now desolate.

They could see scattered white bones in the distance, bearing the marks of animal teeth. Plants grew wildly from the skeletons in front of the dilapidated thatched cottages.

Little Liu had seen similar scenes several times, and each time it shook him deeply. Who could say this wouldn't be his own future? They didn't meticulously search each house within the village.

After a general assessment for danger, they found a house on the outskirts. The house was empty; some wooden tables and stools had been removed.

Liu the Hunter and his men had been there before and transported them back to their village. Those they couldn't use were chopped up for firewood.

They burned some medicinal herbs and started a fire with dry twigs and dead grass. Chopsticks, bamboo clips, and other utensils they carried were briefly roasted over the fire to ward off evil.

Of course, a brief scorching was sufficient; prolonged roasting would cause them to burn, as they were made of wood. Tools and weapons were also scorched in this manner for sterilization.

Wen Gu took out a small bamboo clip specifically for picking up food, lightly toasted it over the fire, and then opened a small jar to pick out the Bu Ji Wan pills within. These were convenient food items prepared by the Daoist Master for travel.

They were indeed convenient.

During their rest, the atmosphere became somewhat somber.

Wen Gu noticed Little Liu was lost in thought, his hand clenched around a wooden token. It was a pendant made of ironwood by Old Liu and given to Little Liu to wear around his neck before he left home.

Little Liu's name, "Zuo," contained the character for ironwood. It was understandable; this was the young hunter's first time traveling far from his family.

He was too young, the current situation was precarious, and his future uncertain. Coupled with the tragic scene of the village they had just witnessed, he couldn't help but miss home.

He was still performing his duties well, but his spirit was far less buoyant than when he first left the village, and his nerves were constantly on edge. Wen Gu felt the need to lighten the mood.

At a time like this, words of comfort and encouragement were hollow. After some thought, Wen Gu spoke, "Have you heard the story of the weasel asking for a title?"

Little Liu the Hunter's attention was immediately diverted, and he asked with great curiosity, "A weasel asking for a title? You mean the kind that used to steal chickens in the village, the one we saw on the road just now?"

Daoist Master Qingyi's expression remained unchanged, but his ears perked up.

He wanted to hear what this "dog scholar" would babble about.

Wen Gu: "I heard about it during my travels."

Daoist Master Qingyi: "…" Here we go again!

Wen Gu: "Let me state upfront, this is all hearsay, made up and fictional, something from storybooks."

Little Liu the Hunter: "Uh-huh!" I love storybooks!

So, Wen Gu briefly recounted the story of the "weasel begging for a title," asking a passerby if it looked more human or divine, and also mentioned a few other versions circulating among the folk.

Little Liu immediately thought of the weasel that had stood up on the road earlier. He stammered, "Then… then which category do we fall into? Did it speak at that time? What should we answer if we meet it again?" Under a strong self-suggestive influence, Little Liu suddenly felt his memory of the encounter becoming blurry, unsure if he had heard anything at that moment.

He asked the Daoist Master, "Is the story of the weasel begging for a title true?"

Daoist Master Qingyi smiled enigmatically and did not reply. Internally: I haven't heard of this either! I'll have to learn! Where exactly was this dog scholar traveling? Can he share the route?

Wen Gu said, "It stood up just to observe vigilantly; it wasn't like the stories made it out to be."

Little Liu nodded, "Uh-huh!" What he was truly thinking was anyone's guess. Wen Gu decided he should tell fewer stories of this type in the future.

During their casual chat, they didn't let down their guard regarding their surroundings. The courtyard walls of this house were slightly higher than elsewhere, but still not entirely secure.

"Has Ma Tuan'er gone out to forage?" Wen Gu asked.

"Yes.

It's been keeping watch all along, and now it needs to replenish its energy," Little Liu the Hunter replied.

"Don't worry, I've set up some traps in the courtyard…"

*Crash!*

A sound came from outside.

The people inside the house instantly fell silent, on high alert. Looking out through a gap in the window, they saw a highly mutated evil creature that had scaled the courtyard wall.

It had triggered Little Liu's trap, making a noise to alert those inside. Little Liu drew his bow, aiming at the dilapidated window.

However, with the obstruction, if he couldn't deliver a fatal blow, it would pose a significant threat to them.

Tietou shielded Wen Gu, gripping a wood chopping knife, his muscles tensed.

Although not clever, he had survived this long because he followed Wen Gu's instructions precisely. It was now a conditioned reflex, formed during their travels.

Wen Gu, meanwhile, picked up a wood chopping knife placed beside him and heated the blade over the flame. He simultaneously observed the evil creature outside.

Being able to scale the courtyard wall so easily indicated that the creature's mutation was advanced. Its skin and flesh were tougher, its movements more agile.

This was not an ideal place to fight; evasion was the best option. Wen Gu looked towards Daoist Master Qingyi.

Let's go! Daoist Master!

Daoist Master Qingyi reacted swiftly. He held a small censer in one palm and extended it below the window, while with his other hand, he silently fanned the smoke outwards.

The evil creature outside approached the window step by step. Its pale eyes were vacant, its skin, shriveled like dehydrated parchment, clung to its bones.

Purple-brown markings covered almost its entire face, and its teeth were broken and uneven. The remaining teeth had become sharper due to their "heterogenization," making its appearance terrifying.

It sniffed the air, emitting a low, guttural sound from its throat. Gradually, it drew closer to the window.

It sniffed again, its keen sense of smell capturing the scent of food. However, it was quickly stimulated by the scent of medicinal herbs, letting out a low growl, shaking its head, and turning to climb over the wall and flee.

Not long after, distant howls could be heard, as if two evil creatures were fighting. Perhaps over food, or for other reasons.

They were like wild beasts, fighting over territory, food, or other disputes. As the evil creature moved away, the people inside lost any appetite for conversation.

They quickly finished their lunch and conserved their strength.

A few chirps could be heard from the sky – Ma Tuan'er had returned from foraging.

It found a high perch to rest, also keeping watch. The weather changed from clear to cloudy.

The clouds obscured the sun, and the gusts of autumn wind brought more chill. Wen Gu and the others emerged from the village and continued their journey.

Not long after, they encountered the same evil creature again. However, this time the field of vision was wide and unobstructed.

Little Liu the Hunter shot an arrow that pierced its brain. He would never waste a second arrow if one would suffice! The arrows he shot were recovered whenever possible, but arrows that hit evil creatures were not retrieved.

He dared not take the risk. Little Liu worried.

When his iron arrowheads ran out, and he had to make arrowheads from other materials, their lethality would decrease. He wondered how many arrows it would take to kill then.

Wen Gu also worried. Their equipment and manpower were insufficient to meet the demand.

(End of Chapter)