“Lost your way?” The Blood Rune Beast on the left seemed to have the voice of a man.
His voice was deep, and a long sword was strapped to his back.
Apart from their appearances, their words and actions were no different from humans.
“This is Wukong Village, located within the borders of the Dark Kingdom. Do you know where your home is?”
Although the man explained, his expression remained guarded.
“This is Wukong Village?” Xu Zimo thought for a moment, then casually made up a name. “My home is in the Floating Village. Have you heard of it?”
Hearing Xu Zimo’s words, the two Blood Rune Beasts glanced at each other and shook their heads in secret.
“Never heard of it.”
“In that case, I’ll go ask elsewhere,” Xu Zimo said with some disappointment.
Seeing Xu Zimo about to leave, the Blood Rune Beast on the right quickly called out.
“Please, friend, stay.”
Xu Zimo turned his head and looked at him in puzzlement.
“We know the surroundings of Wukong Village very well. There is definitely no such place as Floating Village. If you keep asking around, you’ll most likely get lost again. Why not stay in the village for a few days? When we go to the Dark Kingdom, we can take you along. At that time, you can ask in the capital city. Perhaps you’ll find some clues,” the Blood Rune Beast on the right suggested.
“Wouldn’t that be a bother to you?” Xu Zimo asked cautiously. “After all, I’m a stranger.”
“It doesn’t matter. When traveling, we should help each other,” the Blood Rune Beast on the left nodded and replied. “Our Blood Rune Beast clan always advances and retreats together. That’s one of our guiding principles.”
“May I know how to address the two elder brothers?” Xu Zimo quickly asked.
“I am Han Shengxiao, and he is Han Shengtao,” the Blood Rune Beast on the right explained.
Xu Zimo quickly gave his own name in return.
In his heart, he thought that from what the two just said, this indeed seemed to be the Blood Rune Beast Race. He hadn’t come to the wrong place.
But why was the atmosphere so different from what he had imagined?
…
Following the two into the village.
Along the way, Xu Zimo saw many things.
There was no difference between this place and a human village. Shops, elders, children, all sorts of Blood Rune Beasts walked about.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” Han Shengxiao asked while leading the way.
“I picked some wild fruits along the way,” Xu Zimo replied a little embarrassed.
“Well, here we are,” Han Shengxiao stopped and pointed at a courtyard ahead with a smile. “This is my home. You can stay here for now. In a few days, when we go to the kingdom to sell animal hides, we’ll take you along.”
“Then I’ll be troubling Brother Han,” Xu Zimo quickly expressed his thanks.
He looked carefully at the courtyard. It was rather simple, the outer walls built from ordinary stones.
The houses inside were either thatched huts or built from clay.
Not just this yard, on the way here, it seemed the entire village’s construction techniques were very primitive.
At the center of the courtyard stood a grapevine.
The vine climbed along a wooden frame, covering the sky above the yard.
At the entrance, a young girl sat on a chair washing clothes.
When Xu Zimo saw her, he was slightly surprised.
Because unlike the Blood Rune Beasts, she looked human.
Her features were very clear, with two lamb-fat braids, and her clothes were plain.
When she smiled, a small dimple appeared on the left side of her face, and she had two small canine teeth above the corners of her mouth.
Seeing the two men return, the girl quickly called out, “Father, Uncle.”
Han Shengtao nodded slightly.
“This… this is…” Xu Zimo looked at her with surprise.
He had carefully sensed her. She should not be human.
It must be some transformation technique of the Blood Rune Beasts.
He couldn’t very well use the Heavenly Dao Eye to check.
“Brother Xu, don’t be nervous,” Han Shengxiao explained from the side. “My niece’s bloodline is a bit different, so her appearance is not quite the same as ours.”
“Oh, of course. It’s just my first time seeing it, so I find it interesting,” Xu Zimo smiled and shook his head.
“Uncle, who is he?” the girl looked at Xu Zimo curiously and asked.
“My name is Xu Zimo, from Floating Village,” Xu Zimo quickly explained. “But later, when I was picking herbs in the mountains, I accidentally fell off a cliff. When I woke up, I was lost.”
“Yes, I intend to let him stay at our house for a few days. Then we’ll take him to the kingdom so he can ask the way back home,” Han Shengxiao explained.
The girl nodded slightly, looking at Xu Zimo with a mixture of timidity and shyness.
“My name is Han Yanrou,” the girl softly introduced herself.
“Little Rou, is the meal ready?” Han Shengxiao asked with a smile.
“Yes,” Han Yanrou quickly replied.
She hurried into the kitchen and brought out the meal, placing it on the stone table in the yard.
Han Shengxiao invited Xu Zimo to eat.
Xu Zimo didn’t know what kind of food the Blood Rune Beast clan ate.
A bowl of pitch-black food, it was impossible to tell what it was made from.
He tried a bite. The flavor was strong, but apart from that, it was acceptable.
During the meal, Han Yanrou kept sneaking glances at Xu Zimo.
Whenever their eyes met, she quickly looked away, her gaze filled with curiosity and shyness.
“Based on your age, I’ll call you Little Zimo,” after the meal, Han Shengxiao said with a smile.
Xu Zimo nodded slightly.
“We’re going to prepare animal hides later. You can rest here, or take a walk around the village to get familiar.”
Han Shengxiao instructed.
“Little Rou, prepare a room for him to rest in later.”
“Got it,” Han Yanrou nodded gently.
…
After the meal, Han Shengxiao and the others left.
Han Yanrou returned to the kitchen to clean up, leaving Xu Zimo alone in the courtyard.
He felt a bit bored.
Not wanting to appear suspicious, he didn’t go out. Instead, he leaned on the stone bench and dozed off.
“Master Xu,” Han Yanrou’s soft voice came from the side.
Xu Zimo slowly opened his eyes.
“What is it?”
“The room for you to rest in is ready. You can take a look,” Han Yanrou pointed to one of the houses, speaking softly.
“Thank you,” Xu Zimo nodded.
He entered the room. Inside, it was rather simple.
A bed, a rectangular cabinet at the bedside.
Opposite was a chair like a small sofa for resting.
The air carried a faint fragrance.
“Do you like it?” Han Yanrou asked timidly.
“It’s very good. Thank you,” Xu Zimo nodded with a smile.
“Then I’ll go back to washing clothes,” Han Yanrou said quickly and hurried out.
Xu Zimo felt she was a little too shy, as if she didn’t dare speak with him.
The day passed quickly, and soon night fell.