novelzi Chapter 52 The Mysterious Village in the Mountains
Chapter 52 The Mysterious Village in the Mountains
Amidst this idyllic scene, a young woman and a young man walked side by side. At first glance, they seemed like a couple. Their steps matched, their presence complementary.
But a closer look told a different story.
"Xiao Xi, how many times do I have to tell you not to venture outside the village borders?" The young woman's voice carried a mix of frustration and worry as she fixed her gaze on her younger brother. She looked to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, her black hair strikingly vivid against the soft pallor of her near-perfect complexion. Her warm brown eyes locked onto him, stern yet filled with concern. She had been scolding him all morning, but the boy, ever the troublemaker, only pouted in response, his expression filled with practiced innocence.
"Jiejie... I..." Xiao Xi attempted to plead his case, trying to feign innocence, but under his sister's unrelenting gaze, he quickly crumbled. Shoulders slumping, he lowered his head in defeat. "I'm sorry... I won't do it again."
He looked fourteen or fifteen, his long black hair falling over his face as he avoided her eyes. His youthful yet defined features, combined with his deep brown eyes, already hinted at the striking handsomeness he would grow into.
The young woman let out a long sigh, her expression softening, though a trace of exasperation remained. "I know how much you want to explore beyond the village, but the elders have given us a strict warning. We are not allowed outside without adult supervision, and even then, we must be cautious—we cannot lead outsiders back here."
Her voice dropped slightly, as if the very thought unsettled her. "Just imagine what could happen if someone were to find us..."
But those words made the boy frown, his frustration clear. He didn't seem to believe in his sister's warnings. "And what's the worst that could happen?" he scoffed, crossing his arms. "We'd all live in harmony and peace, and maybe—just maybe—I could find myself a beauty outside the village." He tilted his chin up in smug satisfaction, feeling proud of his own words.
That pride lasted exactly two seconds before a fist came crashing down onto his head.
"You cheeky brat!" his sister growled, her fist grinding into his skull. "Aren't there already enough beauties in the village? What about the girl the village chief wanted to marry to you—don't you like her?!"
One force, in particular, was especially daring.
A tall, bulky man with a bald head stood with his arms clasped in front of the village entrance. The muscles beneath his robes rippled with power, and on his broad back rested a massive saber, its sheer presence radiating a sharp, oppressive aura. Behind him, hundreds of cultivators stood, their expressions filled with greed and ambition. Each of them exuded the Spirit Flow Stage's energy, and judging by their ragged attire and chaotic presence, they were clearly no ordinary sect—this was a gang of rogues.
The man stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder, shaking the very foundations of the village.
"People of this paradise land," he declared, his tone leaving no room for defiance. "Let us in, and we promise not to make things difficult for you. We only request three things!"
His voice carried a weight of undeniable authority, not giving the villagers even the slightest chance for negotiation.
Inside the village, the people gathered hurriedly, whispering among themselves, their once peaceful lives now shattered. The tension in the air was suffocating.
At the center of the discussion stood an elderly man, his presence commanding respect. His age was evident—seventy, maybe eighty years old, his once-dark hair now completely gray, each strand a testament to the many hardships he had endured. His wise, weathered eyes swept across the gathered villagers, knowing that this moment would decide their fate.
"We will send the children away for now through the secret passage. The rest of the village will fight to drive these invaders away. These lands are no longer safe." The elder's voice was calm yet firm, the weight of centuries of responsibility resting upon his shoulders. His gaze flickered toward the distant sky, where the remnants of that crimson pillar still lingered in his mind. "I'm not sure what triggered that phenomenon, but that crimson light is the reason we are now in this situation."
He turned toward the gathered children and teenagers—twenty or so in total—each of them filled with tears, their faces pale with fear and reluctance.
The eyes of the elder shone with reluctance and pain, but deep in his heart, he had already made his final decision.