007CCG Chapter 104 - 20: City of Depression (50,000 words, please subscribe)
At sunset, Su Jie and his companions finally arrived at Nanyang City.
Nanyang City was a large city with a dense population and bustling commerce. According to Dong Hongtian, there were bound to be many remarkable and unique individuals here who might be able to resolve the village massacre.
Yet, upon actually entering Nanyang City, things were a bit different from what Dong Hongtian had described.
From the outside, Nanyang City had tall walls reaching up to six Zhang, towering and sturdy buildings, and a wide area. It indeed possessed the grandeur of a major city.
But the city was not bustling at all. The desolate streets had only sparse foot traffic, and the occasional pedestrians hurried along without stopping.
The street-side shops were mostly closed, and many usually crowded places like pubs, gambling dens, and brothels were eerily deserted.
“What’s going on? It wasn’t like this when I was here last time!”
Dong Hongtian was baffled, even wondering if he had mistaken the city.
“Could it be an epidemic? It might explain why everyone is afraid to come out on the streets. Have you seen that? Many houses have white mourning banners hanging in front of them, and some passersby are also dressed in plain garments.”
Gan Huren spoke, and his theory seemed quite plausible.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”@@novelbin@@
Cui Bingyuan and Xiao Chang were a bit panicked. Epidemics didn’t discriminate, and regardless of whether one was a martial artist, contagion was contagion. Their cultivation levels were also not very high as far as resistance to epidemics was concerned.
“Let’s just ask and find out.”
Dong Hongtian saw a passerby and, without waiting for him to leave, rushed over and said, “Excuse me, sir, we’ve come from outside and are passing through Nanyang City. Why is this city so desolate? Could there be an epidemic here?”
The intercepted passerby, a scholar, looked up at Dong Hongtian and said, “You still dare to enter the city? Here—here… Anyway, I advise you to leave quickly and not stay in the city.”
The scholar seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty. He hesitated as he spoke, merely urging Su Jie and the others to leave Nanyang City.
After talking, possibly wary of something, the scholar looked around, then hurriedly dodged past Dong Hongtian and ran off.
“I hate it when people don’t finish their sentences.”
Xiao Chang was visibly annoyed. Was there anything that couldn’t be said outright?
“I have a bad feeling.”
A chill wind swept through, and Gan Huren shrank his neck. Perhaps due to the past experiences with Yin Souls, he felt a shadow over this somewhat desolate and quiet city.
“Let’s go to the government office first, then find an inn to rest.”
Dong Hongtian checked the sky, worried they wouldn’t make it in time, and hurriedly set in motion.
“Stay alert.”
Su Jie discreetly released the Reconnaissance Dragonflies and alerted Chen Yun.
Dozens of Reconnaissance Dragonflies buzzed around, observing the tightly shut doors of every household in the city.
The dragonflies flew through the cracks of doors and windows, and inside most of the houses, people were present, but many households had constructed mourning halls, clearly having had deaths in the family.
“What’s this?”
Su Jie also noticed that each household had a red stone hanging.
These red stones appeared quite vibrant overall, with the red hue spreading over the surface of the stones, hung by people at their doors, rooms, and windows.
Without much time to ponder, Su Jie and his companions arrived at the government office area of Nanyang City.
However, contrary to expectations, although the government office was not completely closed off, there was no sign of any work being conducted. Instead, a group of officials in scarlet robes were devoutly kneeling on the ground, paying their respects to a statue of a deity with utmost reverence.
The statue depicted a kindly old man with a benevolent and gentle appearance.
Beside the statue, several men dressed in black ceremonial robes embroidered with auspicious beasts of the four directions could be seen sitting cross-legged on the ground, chanting complicated and esoteric phrases.
“What are they doing?”
Wild Sword Dong Hongtian was taken aback but, remembering the incident in the village, he steeled himself and stepped forward.
“Esteemed officials, I am Wild Sword Dong Hongtian. I have urgent matters to report. Today, as we passed through Tianjia Village, we found that over three hundred villagers had died mysteriously, their bodies…”
“This matter isn’t my responsibility, go find someone else.”
An official interrupted Dong Hongtian’s report, his expression full of impatience.
“May I ask where the local head of the Heavenly Patrol Department is?”
Dong Hongtian paused. Unlike constables, the Heavenly Patrol Department, established by the Da Li Dynasty specifically for dealing with demons, cultivators, and demon cultivators, was crucial because ordinary constables surely perished trying to arrest cultivating criminals.
For this reason, the Da Li Dynasty had set up the Heavenly Patrol Department, recruiting cultivators to handle incidents involving demons within the kingdom and crimes committed by cultivators.
In the past, the Heavenly Patrol Department had its glorious days, not only capturing demons outside but also arresting corrupt officials within. They even stormed into cultivating sects to apprehend individuals, holding a position akin to the Jinyiwei in the history of Hua Country.
However, as the Da Li Dynasty decayed, the Heavenly Patrol Department underwent several weakening reforms and had significantly lost its power, with many top experts fleeing and its combat ability severely depleted.
Typically, most major cities would have a branch of the Heavenly Patrol Department stationed there.
Thus, it was natural for Nanyang City of its size to have one, which led Dong Hongtian to his question.
“The Heavenly Patrol Department? Who knows where Lao Wu has gone? I can’t find him; you’ll have to search on your own.”
“Could I please…”
“No, can’t you see I am worshiping the Miao Mo Venerate? Leave quickly and do not disturb me here.”
The official glared furiously at Dong Hongtian, extremely displeased with him for talking too much and interrupting.
Dong Hongtian’s forehead pulsed with veins as he choked out, “That is the lives of hundreds of people. Are you truly indifferent?”
“What does it have to do with me? Just a bunch of impoverished peasants; if they’re dead, they’re dead.”
The official lifted his head disdainfully and scoffed, “You rangers always like to meddle in affairs that aren’t your concern. Our Da Li Dynasty has its own laws and national conditions. Meddle any further, and believe me, I will arrest you.”
Dong Hongtian was embarrassed and even more furious, unable to restrain himself from cursing, “You corrupt official! You dare to act so wantonly as the local parent official. Are you worthy of the black gauze cap on your head, worthy of the clothes you wear?”
“Guards, guards! Seize this insolent man who dares to insult me. I shall punish him severely.”
The official, not expecting Dong Hongtian to be so bold as to actually insult him, was momentarily furious.
“Let’s get out of here.”
Gan Huren and others turned pale and hurriedly dragged Dong Hongtian away.
This offense against an official could be seen as either significant or trivial. Ranger knights, typically nomadic and fearless, still needed to behave in the city.
The group of officials, including the one cursing, continued to kneel and pray on the ground, not taking it upon themselves to genuinely pursue the matter any further, instead turning back to continue worshiping the deity, as if Dong Hongtian was not worth the effort.
Su Jie turned back to look and noticed among the men in ceremonial robes beside the statue, one of them followed them with his gaze, seemingly observing something attentively.
Then the man turned his head briefly, his gaze slightly shifting toward the direction of the Reconnaissance Dragonfly, which sent a chill through Su Jie’s heart.