"Let's go. Since we're here, we'll know by going down and taking a look," said True Master Tiangang, seeing Su Xi's lack of reaction.
Su Xi looked at True Master Tiangang, who had suddenly become so proactive, with a hint of confusion. "Grand Ancestor, why are you so eager?"
True Master Tiangang pointed to a small black dot below and said as a matter of course, "Because I smell food, and I don't want to miss mealtime."
Although Su Xi didn't lack food for him on a daily basis, it didn't stop him from seeking out other meals. After eating too much delicacy, one always craved something different.
Hearing True Master Tiangang's serious reply, several deep lines appeared on Su Xi's forehead.
The reason was unexpected yet plausible.
However, it was truly exasperating.
"Let's go," Su Xi thought to herself, criticizing True Master Tiangang inwardly, and steered the spaceship towards a village below.
She had already checked with the supercomputer. The village below had the most abundant spiritual energy of fire, which was undoubtedly the place where the treasure originated. However, to find the whereabouts of the sacred artifact, she still needed to see it for herself.
After all, each appearance of a sacred artifact was accompanied by related miracles. Therefore, if she asked the villagers if they had witnessed anything miraculous, she was sure to find the sacred artifact.
As Su Xi was feeling proud of her clever plan, she was suddenly stopped at the entrance of the village. "Halt, what are you here for?"
Seeing the glinting weapons before her, Su Xi felt no tension at all.
These weapons could not harm her, and if she wished, she could easily deal with these people.
However, she disliked killing and did not want to disrupt the order of the human world. Facing the inquiries of the soldiers, she casually replied, "I'm here to visit relatives."
"Visit relatives?" The guards at the village entrance scrutinized Su Xi for a few moments, then asked doubtfully, "Who here is your relative?"
The other guards, seeing that there was a situation, surrounded her, ready to act if Su Xi couldn't explain herself clearly.
They knew almost everyone in the village, but they had never seen Su Xi before.
Su Xi, seeing the soldiers' hostile intentions, was about to make a move when she suddenly heard a young boy's surprised voice, "Sister, you're here! We've been waiting for you for a long time."
The soldiers looked at the child not far away and asked with a hint of doubt, "Damao, is this your relative?"
The boy named Damao nodded, stepped forward, and took Su Xi's hand, explaining, "This is my distant sister who came to visit me today."
Although the soldiers eyed Su Xi with suspicion, they chose to let her pass with the villagers' testimony.
Their mission was only to prevent villagers from leaving, not to stop people from entering. Therefore, as long as they strengthened their vigilance, they would not be disobeying orders.
Looking at the soldiers who were on high alert, Su Xi couldn't understand what they were doing.
Why was a village so heavily guarded?
Following Damao, Su Xi arrived at a dilapidated thatched hut, inconspicuous in the village.
As soon as she entered, she saw an old woman with gray hair trembling as she walked towards her.
The old woman scrutinized Su Xi and asked with great confusion, "Girl, who are you?"
Su Xi looked at the white-haired old woman and briefly introduced herself.
Of course, she chose to omit many details, only saying that she had gotten lost and ended up here, looking for something to eat.
After hearing Su Xi's explanation, the old woman sighed deeply, a look of sympathy appearing on her face. "Girl, this is not a place you should have come to."
"Why?" Su Xi's doubts deepened upon hearing the implication in the old woman's words.
The soldiers outside were on high alert, and even within the village, everyone seemed to be in low spirits. What significant event had happened in the village to make everyone so reticent?
The old woman glanced at Damao. Damao, understanding, carefully closed the door and then listened at the entrance for a while. Assured that no one was outside, he nodded at the old woman, indicating that it was safe to speak.
Seeing this, the old woman breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but explain, "Recently, a strange illness has been spreading in the village. Anyone who contracts this illness develops a fever and difficulty breathing before dying."
"The court has sealed off our village to control the spread of this fever, allowing entry but no exit. Now that you've entered, even if you haven't fallen ill, it will be very difficult for you to leave later."
"Are you saying there's a plague in the village?" Su Xi pondered. As she walked, she didn't seem to see anyone who looked ill.
"Heh heh." The old woman chuckled helplessly. "Who cares nowadays if you're truly sick? With a word from above, even those who aren't sick can become so."
The old woman brought Su Xi a bowl of noodles she had made herself and urged her to eat quickly.
Having lived for most of her life, the old woman had seen it all. She only felt heartbroken that Su Xi, so young, would have to die here with them.
Su Xi looked at True Master Tiangang, who was drooling beside her, and reluctantly gave him the noodles.
True Master Tiangang didn't hesitate, picked up the bowl, and began to eat. It was a bowl of plain noodles, yet True Master Tiangang ate as if he were feasting on a banquet, even shedding tears.
Exaggerated, overacting.
Seeing True Master Tiangang beside her, Su Xi could only think this.
However, mindful of the people present, she could only smile.
She had just used an illusion spell, so to others, it appeared that she was eating the noodles, not True Master Tiangang.
The old woman was about to tell Su Xi to eat slowly, but before she could speak, she saw that the bowl in front of Su Xi was already empty. She blinked, her eyes filled with even more sympathy.
How many days had she been starving to eat so quickly?
Indeed, in any place, there were people worthy of pity.
Su Xi noticed the pity in the old woman's eyes and knew she had been misunderstood, but she could only maintain her smile and refrain from explaining.
"Don't rush, there's more food here. I'll make some more for you," the old woman said, turning back to the kitchen.
"Grandma, let me help," Su Xi felt her face wasn't thick enough to just eat for free.
After a flurry of activity, Su Xi watched True Master Tiangang eat a lot more, looking still unsatisfied.
Frowning, Su Xi took out a silver ingot from her person and placed it on the table. "Grandma, this is for the meal."
"No." The old woman quickly waved her hand, refusing. She had only made a little noodle soup; how could she accept so much silver? She could never earn this much silver in her lifetime, so she naturally couldn't accept it.
Seeing the old woman's insistence, Su Xi did not push. She took out some loose silver and pressed it into the old woman's hand.
The old woman did not insist this time and instructed Damao beside her, "Take your sister out of the village tonight. Be very quiet."
"Okay." Damao looked at the old woman with reluctance but answered resolutely.
This was their prearranged plan, so they did not hesitate now. The fever was terrifying; staying in the village was equivalent to seeking death.
To survive, they had to leave the village.
After all, there were rumors these days that the court was preparing to slaughter the village to completely eradicate the plague.
Su Xi couldn't help but interrupt their conversation. "Has anything unusual happened here?"
She had just arrived and was being told to leave. She hadn't even gathered the information she wanted.
Moreover, as a cultivator, she would not fall ill. Obtaining the information she wanted was the most important thing.
Hearing Su Xi's words, Damao looked confused and opened his mouth to speak.
But before he could say anything, he was reprimanded by the old woman, "Don't talk nonsense. Just do your work."
Su Xi knew the old woman didn't want to tell her, but she wasn't in a hurry.
When she left tonight, she would find a way to get the information she wanted from Damao.