Yagu

The terrifying buzzing and the bloodthirsty aura radiating from the blood-winged monstrous bees terrified every living creature in the mountains. Even the wolves, jackals, tigers, and leopards were scared out of their wits, and the surrounding mountains instantly fell into chaos. Strangely, they seemed to have no interest in the corpse on the ground; not a single blood-winged monstrous bee flew over to trouble him. At that moment, the dead body on the ground actually moved. He rolled over and plunged back into the water. As though having spent every ounce of his remaining strength, he used his only arm to cling tightly to a thick log and moved no more, letting the current wash him away, thus sparing himself the agony of being devoured by ten thousand bees. *** At dusk. The mountain rain grew gentle and persistent once more, cool winds stirring the fine threads of drizzle. The mountains lay misty and vast, appearing like dark indigo in the distance. Upon a steep mountain encircled by a river stood stilt houses built close to one another, rising tier upon tier. A rough count numbered over a thousand households. This settlement was called Qianhu Stockade. In the surrounding area, Qianhu Stockade was neither particularly large nor small. The surrounding hundred li were under the control of Qianhu Stockade and a few neighboring stockades, though most of the territory consisted of treacherous lands beyond mortals' ability to explore. Though night had not yet fallen, lanterns had already been lit throughout the stockade, shining like starlight against the gathering gloom. Yet on the back mountain stood a low, dilapidated thatched hut, standing solitary in the wilderness, enclosed only by a sparse fence. At this moment, outside the fence, several young women dressed in pretty clothes and decked out in finery were gathered before the door, chattering away as they urged the girl inside to open up. "Yagu, we heard you pulled a man out of the river! Let us have a look!" "Exactly! Why keep him hidden away? Are you afraid we'll steal him from you?" "Who would've thought Yagu would get a taste of a man first? And here I thought no man would ever want you! Tee-hee..." "Yagu, you're not even sixteen yet! Making a secret pledge of love—watch out, or the Great Elder will break your legs if he finds out..." "Aiya, who knew a jinx could actually save someone? Why haven't you sent him away yet? Otherwise, give it two more days and you'll jinx him to death, and all your saving will have been for nothing!" Even as they sneered and mocked, they shoved hard against the fence, trying to barge in to see the man. Inside the fence, the young girl looked frantic and helpless. She let out "ah, ah" sounds, seemingly trying to persuade them to stop making trouble, but she could not speak a single word. She was mute, and the people of the stockade called her Yagu. The clothes Yagu wore formed a sharp contrast with those of the other girls: they were covered in patches, though very clean. She kept her face turned to the side, her eyes filled with self-abasement and timidity. Looking closely, one would discover a large birthmark on her left cheek that completely ruined her looks. Just as Yagu was frantic and at a loss, a light flared along the mountain path. An old man carrying a bamboo lantern was walking toward the hut. Seeing what was happening, the old man rebuked them sharply, "Night is falling, and you're still running wild out here! Why haven't you scrambled home yet?" The girls seemed quite afraid of the old man. Not daring to cause any more trouble, they made faces at Yagu behind the old man's back and skipped off in a hurry. "If I catch you bullying Yagu again, I'll break your legs!" The old man raised his lantern and shouted a warning at the girls' departing backs. "Grandpa Witch Doctor, you're always partial to Yagu..." one of the girls muttered back under her breath. The old man shook his head in slight annoyance, walked up to the fence, and asked across it, "Yagu, has that man woken up again? Can he get out of bed and walk yet?" Yagu nodded and made a few gestures. After watching her, the old man gave an "Mm." "Good. Once his injuries improve a bit, we'll have Bachai and the others send him away during the Witch God Festival!" Yagu looked terribly anxious and gestured frantically. The old man interrupted her with a cold huff. "Yagu, you have a simple heart and don't understand how the world works. "That man had an arm chopped off, and he told you not to let any outsiders see him. He's hiding his head and showing his tail—he must have done something shady! Don't let his delicate looks fool you, and don't be sweet-talked into thinking he's a good person just because he said a few pleasant words. "He is simply taking advantage of your kindness! "If not for you being such a stubborn girl, far from treating his wounds, I would've thrown him back into the river long ago. If not during the Witch God Festival, then we can wait until a merchant caravan comes by and have him leave with them. In any case, he cannot stay in our stockade. "Letting him stay this long is already kind enough of us. The Great Elder has already asked about him once. He definitely cannot be allowed to remain; he will bring disaster upon our stockade! "Don't worry, Yagu. Once you turn sixteen, Grandpa Witch Doctor will definitely find you a good young man." Yagu's eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head, not daring to argue further. The old man handed over a pouch from his other hand. "Take this. There are some herbs inside, enough for three brews. Let that punk heal up quickly and get the hell out." Yagu took the pouch. Seeing the old man turn to leave, she let out a few "ah, ah" sounds, sprinted into the hut, brought out a thick coir raincoat, and hurried back to catch up with him. "Grandpa's body is strong; I don't need it. Your health is frail, so hurry back inside before you catch a chill..." The old man waved his hand, urging her away, but Yagu shook her head stubbornly and draped it over him anyway. "Sigh!" The old man touched the birthmark on Yagu's face and said pityingly, "Such a good girl—why must your life be so bitter? The Witch God is truly unfair! Grandpa Witch Doctor will definitely find a way to remove the birthmark on your face! By the way, if Youning and the others dare come looking for trouble again, go lodge a complaint at the ancestral hall. Grandpa Witch Doctor will stand up for you and invoke clan discipline to teach them a lesson. Once is all it'll take to stop them." Yagu merely shook her head repeatedly, using sign language to urge him not to. "Silly girl, they're not playing with you at all..." The old man shook his head with a sigh and departed. After seeing the old man off, Yagu walked back into the small yard. Looking at the fence gate that had nearly been pushed down, she felt somewhat downcast. Returning inside the hut, she lit the fire pit, set up the medicine pot, and then took out a packet of herbs from the pouch to begin brewing the medicine. She was already very adept at all this; clearly, it was not her first time. Just then, a clatter suddenly came from the inner room. Her face filled with worry, Yagu hurriedly rose, only to see a one-armed man walking out from within. His steps looked extremely frail, as though a gust of wind could blow him over, yet he was already able to walk. "I'm all right. My body is getting better day by day." The one-armed man sat by the fire pit, warming himself. Taking the hot water Yagu offered, he said to her, "I've dragged you into trouble." This person was none other than Qin Sang! Where was there even half the bearing of a False Core stage cultivator left in him? He was as weak as a mortal who had suffered a severe illness. During this time, once he fell asleep, he would sleep for an entire day. Just now, hearing the clamor outside, he had been jolted awake from his stupor. Warming himself by the fire, he used his inner vision to inspect his body. His sea of qi and meridians were all firmly sealed by strange restrictive talismans; his entire cultivation of spiritual power had become completely useless. His spiritual sense was also utterly depleted. Over the past few days, there had been signs of improvement, but the progress was excruciatingly slow. It would take two more days before a wisp of it recovered enough for him to open the Qianjun Ring. To think that a dignified immortal cultivator had fallen to the point of burdening a mortal and being driven away. Qin Sang could not help but sigh with emotion: it truly was a case of dragons in shallow waters mocked by shrimp, and tigers on barren plains bullied by dogs!