MDZS Fanfic

Red Strings of Connections

Chapter 32 The Candidate of Night Snow Village

No matter how or what method Hua Xie use the villagers wouldn't budge and won't spill even a bit of beans. But it's not all helpless, the House of Zhang's disciple able to find some spill milk somewhere.

Every three days, the village chief and some villager men would climb up the mountain: what's wrong with that? Simple, that very mountain is just not covered in snow but also there's a nonstop snowstorm, yet every time those people would climb, a path is being open, the path they were taking clears out from the storm of snow.

Hua Xie sees this opportunity to learn more about the rumors, so he follows them, sneaking just behind them. Despite the lack of martial skills, as someone who is experts at information gathering, O Dokun's teaching includes silent sneak, which even the most guarded and alert cultivator or even monster won't sense them, and these people? They are just simple human, no foundation or whatsoever. He tailed them every three days, and what he saw is a huge cavern atop the mountain... And instead calling it mountain it is now more like a hill. A hill with caves, and the most nerve wrecking one is this cavern atop.

The hill itself is abundant in spiritual energy, but other than that, Hua Xie could also sense something that he considers not good.

"We must find a maiden soon, or else the "Divine Beast" will get angry!"

"But where we will find a maiden that is ready to become a priestess?"

"Let's search for an orphan, or household maids, any girls that have insignificant value."

"That's easy, no sweat. But will those maidens be willing to serve themselves to our "Divine Beast"?"

"Just tell them that the ritual will be for just one night. After that either she is willing to stay here, or get paid, she could choose."

"We will lie?!"

"Do you have any choice?! Unless you want your family to perish, then be righteous!"

"Could we not tell that sect disciple about all of this? He might could ask for help from his sect!"

"Tell me, how will he able to send a message to his sect huh?! He cannot leave this village, just like us, and you think he can help us?!"

Shi Ying's eyes narrows, finger on her chin, and in deep thought. Those kinds of conversation have always something on it. "Serve herself", a maiden either orphan, a household maid, anyone that has no relative, and no value. She only could wish for the best; that what is she thinking is overall wrong.

"Have you ever entered that cavern?"

Hua Xie shook his head, "Every time I'll try, a barrier would erect and blocked my way. This shidi apologizes for his powerlessness."

Shi Ying shook her head with smile, she knew that her shidi done his very best to gather information as many as possible, as accurate as possible, and to think that he done this investigation alone and with such difficulty.

"You've done a great job, and that's enough. From here in on, leave everything to your Shijie."

Yes, the only solution now to gather more information is Shi Ying herself, as the villagers are desperate for a maiden who could be their "priestess". A maiden that is a virgin.

Heaving a breath, she's now finally understood her Sect Leader's reasoning for such a strange order.

"Shidi, if ever they ask you about me, just answer them that would benefit us."

Benefit them, means they must announce to the whole village that Shi Ying is well-fitted to the requirements they are needed. Hua Xie understand this, so he nodded in response.

"By the way, you've said that there's a nonstop snowstorm on the mountain." Hua Xie nodded, "But when I saw it before we entered, it was so clear..."

Hua Xie hanged his mouth in realization, that he quickly stands from his chair and look out the window, on the direction of the snow-covered mountain. His eyes widen in bewilderment, flabbergasted that the nonstop snowstorm really did went quiet, letting his golden eyes to witness the whiteness of it.

This created another question within him.

"This shidi will ask some locals about it."

Shi Ying nodded but added, "It's alright if they won't answer, I'll do it instead. I'm sure they are more willing to answer if the potential "priestess" would ask."

"Shixiong is so confident that she will be chosen."

She smiles, a smile that full of confidence. "Is there anyone else?" Hua Xie smile as well, indeed there's no anyone else.

Immediately, not caring about coming from long travel, Shi Ying went out and start to wander, knowing that everyone in the village would be willing to talk with her; and just like she expected, there's already someone who approaches her. An older woman, around thirty in age.

Shi Ying smile at her, greeting the woman.

Within the Zhuque Sect, Shi Ying is known to have strong charisma, so it's no wonder that she quickly got to be friends with almost everyone; and this woman is no different. Through Shi Ying's charm and good conversationalist, in no time, the older woman begun babbling on various things.

"Atop the mountain our Divine Beast is living. The Divine Beast is the one that protecting our village away from harm of the world. Every 50th year, a maiden was being chosen to run a ritual to praised and thank the Divine Beast."

"Why every 50th year?"

The older woman doesn't know, it is their ancestor that set it up. Their ancestor that is also their hero, the person who created this village for people who lost their homes during the war between Gods and Demons.

"It is alright for a maiden from different place and birth, would become the Priestess?"

"Of course! Of course! What? Are you interested? I could recommend you to our village chief... umm by the way what exactly is your relationship with Xiao-Hua? You see, it is important for the potential maiden to be pure."

"We're childhood friends."

"Oh, then you are also a disciple in his sect?"

"Oh no! I'm from the town near the Zhuque Sect. I would also want to study cultivation but one of the Xianjun there said I don't have the ability."

"Oh... that's too sad."

"Really."

"So... do you have, you know a lover or something?"

Lover, the word made Shi Ying smiles as an image of a person flashes on her mind, "I do... not have a lover but I'm in love with someone, but that person is so prestigious that he won't even going to look at my way." half lie, and half true.

"Such saddening life you have missy. What about this, after the ritual, if ever you'll be chosen, would you like to live here? And maybe get married here! That isn't bad choice, right?"

OH ITS SO BADDDD ONE!!! Shi Ying wanted to say but prevent her mouth to run out the control, and so she only smile, showing that she's agreeing to her words.

"So then, I'll inform the village chief about you A-Ying, wait for his reply alright~"

The older woman left, hopping like a young teen that is so relieve, satisfied and excited.

Shi Ying sighs, at least now she passed the first hurdle in this mission.

But then she remembers that she failed to ask about the snowstorm. Another sigh escape from her mouth, she could ask anyone tomorrow about it, no rush.

Day passed, Shi Ying's first night has become so sleepless, thinking all night everything concerning their case, and thinking of a white-robed cultivator that she claimed living in her heart.

What the good thing is, she could stay awake for at least a month, so when the morning came, she didn't feel anything bad, and still look all pretty and fresh.

Their morning start with a good breakfast prepared by Hua Xie. It's a peaceful breakfast, Shi Ying praise Hua Xie for how good his food is.

Their conversation has cut off when they heard a knock on their door. At first, the disciples of Zhuque Sect look at each other before Hua Xie stand up and opens the door. Outside, an old man with long hair and long bear, wearing white robe and seems to be still in good shape greets Hua Xie with cold smile, Shi Ying who is standing behind her shidi narrow her eyes; along with the old man are two adult men.

"Good morning Village Chief, may I ask what you need from me so earlier?"

"Xiao-Hua, I heard that your friend that came yesterday is interested in becoming our village's Priestess. This ancestor wants to meet this young maiden."

Hua Xie turns his head at his Shijie who only nodded in response. They already talk about this just now, and sure they didn't expect that the devil would show itself earlier this morning, though, this didn't shock the disciples knowing this village is so desperate to have a virgin maiden, of course they wouldn't waste time to secure things.

The shijie and shidi welcomes the three men inside their house, the old man apologized for coming so earlier that they interrupted their breakfast.

"Don't mind it. Please have a sit Village Chief."

With a nod, the Village Chief sat down while the other two stand behind him, stiff, chest out, hands clap behind and always focus straight ahead: guards... but what for? Aren't they claimed that their village is safe from anything? Or are they thinking that Hua Xie or her will resist?

They drop the question behind their minds as what's important right now is to make them think that Shi Ying is the perfect candidate, though even she's not, they don't have anyone else.

At first the Village Chief looks at Shi Ying from head to toe, after a moment of silent he nodded in affirmation. Next, he asks Shi Ying various question which is the same question as anyone else: if she's married, have a lover or previous experience in man, and Shi Ying answer of all of it the same way she answered previously. The Village Chief is satisfied and well pleased, and the shijie and shidi take this as a good sign.

"The ritual will be done four days from now, atop the mountain where our Divine Beast is living. So, please prepared yourself Lady Shi Ying."

"Understood. Atop of the mountain huh... isn't a good thing?"

"What it is?"

"I've heard from Xie'er about the snowstorm atop the mountain has been nonstop for many years, till yesterday. Fortunately, it finally stopped."

"The Divine Beast is blessing us and showing his gratitude of your arrival. Stopping the snowstorm must be his way of welcoming you."

"So... are you saying, the Divine Beast have chosen me?"

"Yes."

"But why? There are many pretty maidens here, so why he chose an outsider?"

"It's in the will of Divine Beast to choose you to become his priestess, and those maidens you were talking about were all rebelling against their parents."

"That's a lot of them."

"Well... you know, once done by one, others will micmic. I'm actually glad that you came. Perhaps, our Divine Beast must have summoned you."

"Such gibberish." Shi Ying said right after closing the door when the Village Chief finally left with his guards.

There are far too many lies; no—actually they got nothing but lies from the Village Chief, clearly hiding something.

"Shidi..."

"Yes Shijie?"

"There's must be one here that could tell us the truth about this village, their Divine Beast and the snow mountain. Go, find that person."

"This shidi understood. But may this shidi could inquire to shijie?"

"..."

"What will shijie plan from here and on?"

"Oh~ nothing special. Your Shijie will just going to check that cavern."

"Then this shidi wish for my shijie's safety."

"This shijie wishes for her shidi's success."

Both nodded at each other.

Just like what she said, Shi Ying climb up the mountain, surprisingly and curiously, no one tries to stop her from going, more than so, they are actually coaxing her to climb and see the place of their Divine Beast, with smiles that is similar to a fox.

It's quiet, its cold, and lonesome... Shi Ying couldn't understand why she felt that last part, it's like something is trying to convince her to feel lonely, feel sad, to feel bad. She doesn't know if it's the effect of the whiteness of her surrounding—no, this is... this mountain has something that isn't right. Shi Ying could feel abundant spiritual energy but there is something mix on it, and she couldn't tell yet. It was something that she should be familiar at the same time, she couldn't figure it out.

Thinking of these things let Shi Ying failed to realize that she finally arrived at the said cavern, atop the mountain. She narrows her eyes and start to question things. Why was it called mountain if it doesn't have a mouth? Instead, it has cavern.

Sighing, Shi Ying enters the cave. At first glance she sees nothing but further darkness, these things doesn't scare her in slightest bit, so she went further in. But it was too dark, and she must know what the darkness is hiding within, so she summoned a small ball of flame to light up the cave. Her eyebrows knitted and her usual smiling lips turns upside down as she is gazing at the bones of seem to be human's piling on the sides, as if some decoration to welcome the next victim. Upon closer inspection on those bones, it was obvious that it all came from maidens, around fourteen to eighteen years old. Shi Ying made her fireball to float then offer a prayer for these people.

She stays there for at least an hour, but through curiosity, there is no signs of this Divine Beast, even though she already reaches the end of the cave. With a sigh, she left the cave finding only those bones, and more questions pop up on her mind. If there's bones then there must be blood, at least stains of dry blood. But there are none.

Stepping out and greeting the light from sun, and whiteness of her surrounding, Shi Ying felts something—no, rather, someone's presence, she summoned her sword that has named Suibian and place her hand in sword's hilt as Shi Ying ready herself from any kind of ambush.

Coming from bushes, a white robed cultivator with cloud insignia on his forehead ribbon came out.

Her eyes widen in shock and bewilderment and scream his name,

"LAN ZHAN?!"