Chapter 75: Pingyuan Ancient Town

Led by a hunter, Mu Feng traveled east, crossing mountains and rivers. Before dark, he finally arrived at a remote small town.

The town was surrounded by mountains, sitting in a deep valley within the great mountains. The only way in and out was an ancient plank road. Standing on the high hill and looking down, the blue bricks, black tiles, and white walls formed rows of well-arranged houses. From the tall horse-head walls above to the bronze locks on the doors below, everything carried a strong aura of an ancient dynasty.

The long streets were paved with old bluestone, faintly showing the prosperity of the past. Unfortunately, the entire antique town was now empty of people. There was no human presence, no children’s cries, no barking of dogs—the large ancient town had no life at all; it was lifeless and dull. The setting sun shone on courtyards overgrown with weeds, making it appear even more lonely and desolate.

Pingyuan Ancient Town!

Stepping on the ancient bluestone slabs, Mu Feng walked step by step into this thousand-year-old ancient town.

According to the hunter beside him, this ancient town was the largest and oldest in the mountains. No one could say exactly which dynasty it was built in. For a thousand years, legends of blood-sucking zombies had circulated here, and only those who were extremely brave or homeless would live here. Slowly, after many peaceful years, more and more people came. Until not long ago, they all suddenly scattered and fled.

It was unclear exactly when it started, but people found that the chickens, ducks, and other poultry they raised at home suddenly disappeared. When they were found in remote corners, without exception, their bodies were withered. First, it was chickens and ducks; later, it gradually spread to cats, dogs, cattle, and sheep. Finally, it even reached some elderly people and children. The story of blood-sucking zombies reappearing in the thousand-year-old ancient town quickly spread throughout the Hundred Thousand Mountains. People panicked and fled in haste.

Soon, this thousand-year-old ancient town became a dead city.

“Young Master Mu Feng, do you believe in the legend of the blood-sucking zombies?”

The hunter guiding him was named Chu San. People in the mountains had little education; he was born on the third day of the first lunar month, so he was simply named Chu San. Although he had hunted with the villagers for many years, he was thin and small, probably only twelve or thirteen years old, with a face still full of childishness. As he spoke, he kept his eyes darting around, uneasy and nervous.

When faced with the unknown, people’s first reaction is often fear and dread!

If a fierce tiger suddenly leaped out of the darkness, Chu San, who had been accustomed to wild beasts since childhood, would not be so afraid. But thinking about the legend of the blood-sucking zombies, he couldn’t help feeling anxious and scared.

“No.”

Mu Feng’s face was calm as he walked, concentrating on sensing the surroundings and searching for his elder brother Sky Splitting Tiger’s whereabouts. He glanced at the uneasy young hunter Chu San and said lightly, “Even if there really is a so-called thousand-year zombie, it’s no big deal. We’ll just kill it.”

Seeing how calm and composed Mu Feng was, the very nervous Chu San felt a little more at ease. Somewhat shyly, he looked up at Mu Feng and said, “Young Master Mu Feng, I heard you are very powerful, the pride of all Jianning people, a great hero and a top expert. If it’s convenient someday, I wonder if you could teach me, so I can learn some powerful skills too!”

“No problem, but if you want to learn powerful skills, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I’m not a great hero, and certainly not a top expert. I’ve only learned some basic cultivation techniques. Right now, I’m just an ordinary disciple of Mu Manor who has just broken through to the Early Mortal Realm.” Mu Feng smiled and subtly quickened his pace, walking ahead to secretly protect the still-childish Chu San.

Outside, it seemed fine, but the moment he stepped into this thousand-year-old ancient town, he vaguely sensed a hidden power fluctuation. It was everywhere, permeating every corner of the town.

In the dark corners, it seemed like a pair of cold eyes were coldly watching his every move, like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness. But when he stopped to focus and sense carefully, it seemed like there was nothing—just a momentary illusion when he first entered the town.

This feeling made him feel a bit uneasy too. What was worse, after arriving here, he still couldn’t sense his elder brother Sky Splitting Tiger’s presence and had no idea where he was trapped. In front of the anxious child Chu San, he appeared calm on the surface but couldn’t help feeling worried inside.

“Ah… you’ve only just broken through to the Early Mortal Realm?”

Chu San cried out in surprise. Seeing that Mu Feng didn’t seem to be joking, his face turned bitter, and he nervously tightened his grip on the crossbow arrow in his hand.

Sky Splitting Tiger—who was he?

A mighty man who could tear apart tigers and leopards with his bare hands, daring to charge in and out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains alone late at night. Even he was trapped, his fate unknown. One could imagine how dangerous Pingyuan, this thousand-year-old ancient town, was. If someone at the Late Mortal Realm or a strong expert at the Elite Realm had come, it might be okay; but an ordinary person who had just broken through to the Early Mortal Realm coming in now—wasn’t that just seeking death?

“Since we’re already here, what is there to fear?”

Mu Feng remained calm and composed. Suddenly stopping, he said lightly, “Sky Splitting Tiger is my brother, my brother for life! His fate is unknown. Even if he were trapped in a mere small town like this, I would definitely save him, even if he were trapped in a mountain of knives or a sea of fire. Chu San, if you’re really scared, it’s not too late to regret now. I’ll take you out first!”

“No, Sky Splitting Tiger is your brother, but he is also the benefactor of everyone in Jing Family Village. Without his help, I would have starved to death when I was little. Without Sister Wushuang’s treatment, my mother would have died from a snake bite. Young Master Mu Feng, wherever you go, I will follow. We must save Sky Splitting Tiger. We hunters in the mountains have our own way of communicating that outsiders don’t know. Only I can find where Sky Splitting Tiger is trapped!”

Chu San tightened his grip on the crossbow arrow and, as he spoke, resolutely quickened his pace, walking ahead to search for the marks left by Sky Splitting Tiger and the others.

“Good! Having loyalty, righteousness, wisdom, and courage—this is truly worthy of a fine young man nurtured by the Hundred Thousand Mountains!”

Watching Chu San’s young back, Mu Feng nodded and followed closely behind. Outwardly calm, he secretly formed a Sorcerer Seal with his hand, ready to summon the Eighteen Blood Witch Commands at any moment, preparing for the worst. Such a young, loyal, and righteous hunter must not be allowed to die here!

Remembering the past kindness of Sky Splitting Tiger and his sister, the young Chu San seemed to gain great courage, forgetting his nervousness and fear as he focused on finding clues along the way. Sure enough, before long, he suddenly cried out with joy. He found a cross mark on a large tree by the roadside and was overjoyed. Leading Mu Feng, he quickened his pace, gradually going deeper into the thousand-year-old ancient town swallowed by the night.

Dark, cold, gloomy… The antique thousand-year-old ancient town was dead silent under the night sky.

The entire town had only the rustling sound of their footsteps. There was no human presence, no chirping of insects or birds—it felt as lifeless as a tomb forgotten by the world for thousands of years.