Stranger Danger

Granny Xia did not take Chu Nianjiu’s words seriously, however. She said, “You’ve saved over ten thousand lives in August Hill Village, my lord. We may never be able to repay this favor. The least we can do is to show you the depths of our respect!”

She bowed deeply after saying that.

“Thank you for saving our lives, my lord!”

Lin Hu, Ye Qing and everyone else who survived bowed to Chu Nianjiu as well.

“Heavens, you really don’t have to—if you must repay me somehow, then I implore you to get me two jugs of fine wine instead! Do we have a deal?” Chu Nianjiu said in a hurry while summoning a gust of energy that prevented everyone from being able to lower their backs.

“You jest, my lord,” Granny Xia said smilingly.

Chu Nianjiu laughed. “I’m serious! I’m called Chu Nianjiu for a reason. There is nothing I love more than alcohol! Speaking of which, I’m almost out of alcohol, and I’d rather die than continue living in this world without it. Since I saved your lives, you can spare me two jugs of fine alcohol and save mine, am I right? I think it’s a fair trade!!”

Granny Xia smiled again. It didn’t look like Chu Nianjiu was joking, so she said, “Very well. I shall instruct my fellow villagers to prepare a hot meal right away.”

Chu Nianjiu visibly perked up. “Wonderful! I’ve been languishing in the mountains with only the sky as my blanket, the earth as my bed, and the insects as my friends for the past few days! I haven’t had a single hot meal throughout this time either. I would be most grateful if you would cure this bland taste on my tongue as soon as possible!”

Granny Xia nodded before ordering a watchman who wasn’t hurt too badly to make the preparations.

Seeing that Chu Nianjiu was an amiable, easygoing man, Granny Xia dared to ask, “Can I ask you a question, my lord? How did you get to August Hill Village so quickly? We sent word to the Anyang Pacification Bureau just yesterday. It should have taken at least one or two days for someone to be dispatched.”

She was also a little worried that Chu Nianjiu might not be who he claimed to be. Although the badge was one hundred percent genuine, and the young man had undoubtedly saved all their lives, she was sure she would have heard someone like him serving the Anyang Pacification Bureau. While she didn’t think it would be a problem, caution had served her well for decades, and she saw no reason to relax her guard now.

Chu Nianjiu chuckled. “Oh, about that. Do you still remember the report regarding a sarcophagus you sent us some days ago? I’m the one the higher-ups have dispatched to look into this matter. In fact, I’ve been loitering around Little August Hill for the past few days until I received a new message saying that your village is in grave danger a while ago. Since Little August Hill is pretty close to the village, I decided to rush over immediately. That is why I was able to arrive in time to save you.”

Realization dawned upon Granny Xia’s features. “I see! Your dedication to your duty is most appreciated, my lord.” Who would’ve thought that their cautiousness would be the final straw that saved their village from the brink?

“Since you were in the area, did you find out who or what is controlling these human skin Strangers, my lord?” Granny Xia asked another question.

Chu Nianjiu took a sip from his drinking gourd before answering, “In fact, I do. I believe that these human skins are created from a Strange Artifact.”

“A Strange Artifact?” Granny Xia repeated the word darkly. The term had caught Ye Qing’s attention as well.

During one of his mandatory lessons with Lin Hu, the watchmen captain had explained that a Strange Artifact was a weapon created from the body parts of a Stranger. That said, it didn’t necessarily have to be shaped like a saber, spear, stick, sword or other weapons. It could be a comb, a mirror, a book or other items. Its abilities and power were incredibly varied as well. There was no such thing as a useless Strange Artifact, only one that didn’t fit the situation it was in. In the legends, some Strange Artifacts were said to be capable of flight, underground travel, severing mountains, parting seas, and even stealing a celestial object from the sky itself.

So why wasn’t everyone in the world carrying a Strange Artifact to protect themselves from danger? It was because they were cursed just like the Strangers they were made from. Their staggering power was balanced by a plethora of adverse effects. For example, the user could be afflicted with unnatural drowsiness, hunger, a severe lack of sense of direction, deadly diseases and so on, and these were just some of the mildest adverse effects one could experience.

Generally speaking, the more powerful a Strange Artifact was, the worse the adverse effects became. It was quite common for a particularly potent Strange Artifact to cost one or multiple lives to activate. In fact, it would not be inaccurate to describe a Strange Artifact as a controllable Stranger!

On a related note, Ye Qing had suspected the Annon Sutra was a powerful Strange Artifact for a long time. It was also why he was extremely wary of it. It was common sense that powerful Strange Artifacts required a terrible cost to wield, and yet the Annon Sutra only required him to pay it some blood. He just couldn’t shake the feeling that the Strange Artifact was going to give him a devastating wake-up call one day.

“That is correct!” Chu Nianjiu paused for a second before adding, “Specifically, it’s a Strange Artifact that has gone out of control. I know this because I’ve witnessed something similar in the past.”

“What should we do?” Granny Xia asked worriedly. For as long as the Strange Artifact was allowed to rampage, August Hill Village would never be safe.

Chu Nianjiu assured her with easy confidence, “It’s no big deal. Tomorrow, I will borrow some men from your village and head to Little August Hill. We will deal with the Strange Artifact and settle your troubles once and for all.”

Granny Xia thanked him profusely, “Thank you so much for your help, my lord.”

Chu Nianjiu smiled and yawned a little. “Like I said, it’s no big deal. I’m not done with my investigation with the sarcophagus anyway, and trust me, I’m glad to be able to kill two birds with one stone.”

Judging from how easily he had annihilated the human skin Strangers, an out-of-control Strange Artifact probably was no big deal to Chu Nianjiu.

It was at this moment a villager ran up to Granny Xia and said, “The food’s ready, Granny!”

“Fantastic. I was just beginning to feel hungry!” Chu Nianjiu declared with sudden passion. Their savior had been looking somewhat listless this entire time, but the mention of food had immediately injected a fire in him.

“Okay! Let’s go enjoy a well-deserved supper!” Granny Xia chuckled lightly before ordering some villagers to lead Chu Nianjiu to the venue. She then looked at Lin Hu and said, “Huhu, I know it’s been a long day, but please round up the men, tally our casualties and calm the villagers. I do not want our savior to be disturbed.”

“Also, please select a team from those who aren’t too wounded to accompany our savior to Little August Hill tomorrow.”

“At once!”

……

The next day, Ye Qing got up at the crack of dawn and took a moment to clean himself. Then, he ran straight to the village entrance.

Lin Hu was already waiting when he arrived. Chen Zheng, Liu Jinshui, Wu Biao and Zheng Tao were present as well.

The watchmen captain gave Ye Qing a nod, and the others greeted him cordially as well. Chen Zheng was the only one hiding killing intent in his eyes.

Ye Qing smiled and nodded politely at everyone except Chen Zheng. Then, he walked over to a corner and closed his eyes to catch a small nap.

They weren’t gathered here for a patrol today. They were going to embark on a proper expedition into Little August Hill and take care of the Strange Artifact with Chu Nianjiu!

The group waited for about an incense stick until Chu Nianjiu finally showed up with a huge yawn. Granny Xia was right beside him.

“Good morning, everyone!” Chu Nianjiu greeted them lazily after he got close.

“We greet you, my lord!” Everyone saluted.

“Right.” Chu Nianjiu leaned against a tree and stared at the group for a bit. Then, he turned to Granny Xia and asked, “Is this everyone? The team that’ll be accompanying me to Little August Hill?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Chu Nianjiu frowned and shot Ye Qing a glance. “Look, I’m not trying to be difficult, but why did you pick a journeyman Reforged to join me? He can’t possibly be of much help, can he?”

Granny Xia smiled sadly. “I’m sorry, my lord, but most of our warriors are dead or severely wounded. This is all we have left to spare!”

“I suppose it’s better than nothing,” Chu Nianjiu acquiesced before looking at Lin Hu with a stern look. “But not you, Captain Lin. You’re out.”

Lin Hu immediately scrunched up his eyebrows. “My lord, I can still—”

The young man interrupted him because he could finish, “Captain Lin, you have a head wound, a collapsed chest, severe internal injuries, and even a moderately damaged dantian. You’re going to be crippled as a warrior if you do not rest. Even if I do allow you to come with us, how can you possibly help in your state? You’re only going to drag us down.”

Lin Hu was going to argue further, but Chen Zheng interrupted the conversation, “He’s right, Captain Lin. You should just stay home and rest. Lord Windcatcher is the famous ‘Wine Gentleman’ of Luo Shui. There is no Stranger in Little August Hill that can stop us with him around, so you don’t have to worry about anything!”

Everyone was surprised to hear this. Luo Shui was not a backwater like August Hill Village. It was a massive commandery overseeing nine counties and thirty-six villages in Chu. In fact, Anyang was one of the nine subordinate counties.

If Chu Nianjiu really was famous throughout Luo Shui, then he must be a seriously impressive warrior. He was someone backwater people like them could never dream of meeting in the norm.

“You recognize me?” Chu Nianjiu asked curiously. He knew he was famous, but he didn’t think he was so famous that a villager this far out would recognize him.

Chen Zheng answered carefully, “I do. My older brother told me many things about you, my lord!”

“And who’s your brother?”

A hint of pride flashed in Chen Zheng’s eyes. “His name is Chen Cang!”

“Do you mean Chen Cang, the ‘Sword Gentleman’?” Chu Nianjiu raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Chen Zheng nodded. “That’s right! Chen Cang, the ‘Sword Gentleman’ is my older brother!”

Chu Nianjiu clicked his tongue in astonishment. “I can hardly believe it! Chen Cang and I have been colleagues for many years, but I never knew the guy had a younger brother! I know that he came from a small place, but that’s it! The guy is just so stiff and wooden and like—you know what I’m saying. Say, are you sure the two of you are related by blood?”

Chen Zheng: “...”

“Hahaha! I’m just joking. Please don’t take offense,” said Chu Nianjiu with a laugh. “I just don’t understand why he would keep quiet about you. It’s not like you’re a peerless beauty of the ages.”

Chen Zheng explained, “Oh, my older brother actually explained that to me. He said that he had offended a lot of people and killed many intelligent Strangers throughout the years. While there his enemies are no match for him, they could hurt me or use me to threaten him if they knew about our relationship. That is why he refrains from telling anyone about me, and why he told me to be tight-lipped about our relationship.”

Chu Nianzhou exclaimed in understanding, “I see! Yes, that makes a lot of sense. It’s definitely wise of him to ensure that his family is protected.”

Meanwhile, the rest of the group were wearing stunned looks on their faces. It was because they knew that Chen Cang was, in fact, Chen Zheng’s older brother. The two brothers had grown up together until Chen Cang displayed an uncanny talent for martial arts. He was the kind of genius who could pick up anything so long as he put his mind to it. One day, an old man passed through the village and happened to notice Chen Cang’s talent. He immediately decided to take him as his disciple. Since then, the young man left August Hill Village and was never heard of again.

They might not have believed Chen Zheng if there was no one to corroborate his story, but since Chu Nianjiu himself confirmed that Chen Cang had, in fact, become a famous warrior known as the Sword Gentleman, they knew it had to be true. Against all odds, the chicken coop that was August Hill Village had somehow produced a rising phoenix! Everyone knew then a bright future awaited their tiny little village, and that it might just be what they needed to finally break free from their eternal status quo!

Everyone grew excited when they realized this. Some of them were even looking at Chen Zheng with envy and greed. Now they understood why Chen Zheng always acted like he was above them all. If they had an older brother like Chen Cang, they would have grown an inflated ego as well!

“It’s too bad your brother’s talent doesn’t extend to you though. No offense, but your cultivation is so-so at best!” Chu Nianjiu commented while taking another sip from his drinking gourd.

Chen Zheng’s grin stiffened in an instant. A few seconds later, he replied awkwardly, “Well, yeah. I don’t have my older brother’s talent in martial arts!”

Chu Nianjiu shrugged. “I think that’s a good thing actually. I can tell you right now you’re way more intelligent and sociable than your older brother. The guy isn’t just stiff and boring, he wears a permanent scowl on his face like everyone in the world owes him a couple hundred silvers. Seriously, that guy…”

“H-haha…” Chen Zheng let out an awkward chuckle but didn’t say anything. Chu Nianjiu was bold and strong enough to criticize his brother, but not him. His brother would just beat the crap out of him if he did.

“Alright, time’s a wastin’. Let’s move!” declared Chu Nianjiu while looking at the sun.

“We wish you all the best, my lord.” Granny Xia saluted him. “And please, do take good care of our younglings!”

“Don’t think I can’t hear your subtext, woman! What you really mean to say is, ‘please take care of Chen Zheng’, right?” Chu Nianjiu joked. “Don’t worry. I am here. I promise you that nothing bad will happen!”

With that, they left for Little August Hill.