novelraw Chapter 55: The Competitors Have Arrived
Chapter 55: The Competitors Have Arrived
Chapter 55 The Competitors Have Arrived
The massive movements of the giants were beyond Wen Gu's perception.
The northern lands were vast. Even with numerous teams migrating north from the south during this period, they had only encountered a very small fraction of them.
They continued to move closer to the Zhao Clan.
Along the way, they collected some branches and dry wood that could be burned, so they could use them directly when resting, saving the need to walk far to gather firewood.
The most dangerous period had passed. Nowadays, many areas in the northern lands had sparse forests, and the cold waves brought low temperatures. As long as they kept warm, there was nothing else to worry too much about.
Not entirely true, the threat from evil creatures had decreased, but there were still people to contend with.
However, overall, the team was filled with positive emotions.
Take Little Liu for example. Having witnessed the power of Jin Wu City, he was filled with even greater anticipation for the future. Carrying the heavy responsibility of "the hope of the entire village" on his shoulders, he now felt full of energy!
Others felt similarly.They had finally reached the northern lands alive. As long as they kept moving forward, they would reach the Zhao Clan, and a new life was about to begin!
Before that, they all wanted to perform well in front of Wen Gu.
Once they reached the Zhao Clan's territory, they would have to rely on Wen Gu's relatives for support.
Daoist Master Qingyi's emotions fluctuated continuously recently.
It was still because of those monks that uncertainties filled his heart, but he quickly adjusted his mindset.
He couldn't control other places, but within this team, there couldn't be any other "masters"!
Daoist Master Qingyi's business capabilities were not weak.
As a result, while the team initially discussed the monks of Jin Wu City and talked about Buddhism, after a few days, they stopped discussing it. In comparison, their current Daoist Master Qingyi was more worthy of awe.
Wen Gu paid no attention to these minor ripples within the team.
He pondered that if his aunt and uncle's status were as he guessed, then these relatives would not be people who acted purely on emotion.
For Wen Gu to achieve his goals, he needed to make these relatives value him and prove his abilities.
However, proving his talent would take time.
In this era, distant relatives did not know each other well.
Upon arriving in a new place, the most direct way to increase one's value from the outset was to see how many people you brought with you!
There were more survivors in the northern lands than in the southern lands. The six great clans now only occupied six prefectures in the north, with vast areas still beyond their control. There should still be many hidden survivors.
Wen Gu considered where else he could gather some people before reaching the Zhao Clan.
Before nightfall, the team found a small courtyard to use as lodging for the night.
The cold wave had swept through these past few days, causing a significant drop in temperature. However, the night sky tonight was quite clear.
The moon was nearly full, so it wasn't completely dark at night. If one had good eyesight and no night blindness, they could see things outside in the dark.
In autumn and winter, all things withered, and this area was already sparsely wooded, making it look even more desolate.
"This courtyard is usually maintained by someone. The walls have clearly been repaired recently, and there are remnants of burnt material inside," Escort Leader Lin said.
"It indicates there are survivors nearby," Wen Gu replied. "But it seems they only come here every few days, not for frequent habitation."
The courtyard walls were built with stones and earth. There was no shed to shield from the wind and rain; the residual traces suggested it had been dismantled, perhaps used as firewood. Inside, there was nothing but crushed tiles, stones, and earth.
Fortunately, it hadn't rained these past two days. The courtyard walls and the carriage provided some shelter from the wind. Bundling up tightly in thick clothes and starting a bonfire, they could endure the night.
The trees nearby had all been cut down, so they had to walk a bit further out to gather firewood.
They assigned some people with good eyesight to take turns keeping watch, while others rested.
Wen Gu rested in the horse-drawn carriage without lighting a candle; everything had to be used sparingly now. Early to bed and early to rise.
Closing his eyes and leaning against the carriage, he pondered his next plan.
He did want to bring more people to the Zhao Clan, but there was no need to force it. The most important thing now was to bring the current team to their destination as quickly as possible.
As for other matters, if he encountered any opportunities, he would seize them. If not, he would let it be, not forcing it.
There were survivors nearby, but they were in a hurry to get to their destination and would not deliberately search for them.
Unless those people came to them.
However, their group was only staying here for one night and would depart as soon as dawn broke.
Who would be foolish enough to bump into them on such a cold night?
As he was thinking, he was almost asleep, and some people outside were already snoring loudly.
Suddenly.
Jingle—
A faint sound of bells could be heard.
Wen Gu opened his eyes, quietly discerning in the darkness.
Jingle— Jingle—
One sound followed another, seemingly approaching from a distance.
The night watchmen outside also heard it. Those who had fallen asleep were awakened by the commotion around them.
"What's wrong?!" The awakened person grabbed their weapon, thinking it was a surprise attack by evil creatures.
"There's a sound! Listen..."
They quieted down and soon heard the sound of bells.
This kind of noise did not sound like it came from evil creatures.
Wen Gu got out of the horse-drawn carriage, and the others also gradually got up.
After their eyes adjusted, and if they had no night blindness, on a moonlit night like this, they could still vaguely see the situation outside.
Under the silvery moonlight, in the dimness, it appeared as if a line of figures was rhythmically rising and falling with the faint, continuous ringing of bells in the night.
The bare branches of the distant trees looked even more menacing.
The night wind was biting.
The swaying shadows of the trees were cast upon the figures moving forward with their specific steps.
It seemed there was incense burning at the very front, with the light flickering with the rising and falling footsteps and the faint evening breeze.
Jingle—
Jingle—
Sound after sound, they gradually approached.
Those with poor eyesight were like blind people at night, seeing nothing but feeling an eerie atmosphere. They nervously asked.
But no one answered him.
Huddling deeper into their clothes, they felt even more frightened.
Those with good eyesight, at this moment, had their hair standing on end, and their knees felt weak.
Little Liu, upon sensing the commotion, had bravely prepared to nock an arrow and defend, standing by Wen Gu's side.
However, at this moment...
His fingers on the bowstring trembled.
The basic qualities of a hunter's family crumbled at this moment.
Others who could see also chattered their teeth in fear.
County Lieutenant Zhou, who also believed in ghosts and spirits, could only grip his saber by sheer bravery, his muscles tense, and cold sweat breaking out on his face.
Jingle—
The sound of the brass bells grew closer, and they could see more clearly.
Apart from the person at the very front shaking the bells, the figures behind them moved almost in unison.
Their arms were raised, with one person's arm on another's shoulder, jumping forward mechanically and stiffly in time with the bells.
They were like ghostly figures, not like living people.
Under the moonlight, they appeared even more sinister.
It was as if the swaying brass bells were gradually drawing away one's soul with each step.
Making everyone feel their minds tighten and their vision blur.
There were not many figures on that side, but the ghostly aura emanating from them was enough to scare a group of brave men who had been fighting evil creatures for so long, almost to the point of losing their courage.
Little Liu's knees buckled, and he almost fell to his knees. Wen Gu grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him to the side.
Turning back, he continued to watch the approaching line of figures.
He was not afraid; instead, he found the way they approached carried a kind of retro, netherworldly aesthetic.
Wen Gu said to the Daoist Master beside him:
"The competitors have arrived."
(End of Chapter)