Chapter 613: Chapter 613

The terrifying hum of wings and the bloodthirsty aura exuded by the Blood-Winged Ghost-Headed Wasps struck fear into the hearts of every living creature in the mountains. Even wolves, tigers, and leopards were frightened into submission, urinating in fear as chaos erupted across the ranges.

Strangely, the swarm seemed uninterested in the corpses littering the ground. Not a single wasp flew over to trouble him.

Just then, the corpse on the ground moved.

With a sudden roll, he slipped back into the river, as if summoning every ounce of strength left in his body. Using his one remaining arm, he clung tightly to a thick log, then stopped moving altogether. Carried by the current, he was swept away, narrowly avoiding the agony of being devoured by the swarm.

By evening, the rain had returned, misty and lingering. A cool wind stirred the fine drizzle.

The mountain range lay shrouded in haze, its silhouette like indigo ink from afar.

On a steep peak encircled by a winding river stood a cluster of stilted wooden dwellings. They were built close together, rising in tiered layers up the slope. A rough count revealed over a thousand households.

This was the Thousand-Household Village.

Its size wasn’t particularly grand among nearby settlements, but it wasn’t small either. The surrounding hundred-li region was under the joint control of this village and several others. However, much of the land was perilous and unsuitable for exploration by ordinary folk.

Although night had yet to fully fall, lamps were already lit across the village, twinkling like stars in the dark.

Yet behind the mountain stood a dilapidated little thatched hut, small and solitary, nestled in the wilds. A sparse fence was all that marked its boundary.

A few brightly dressed girls, adorned with colorful garments and playful flair, gathered outside the hut, chattering noisily and calling for the girl inside to open the door.

"Mute Girl, I heard you dragged a man out of the river. Come on, let us have a look!"

"Exactly! What, you think we’re gonna steal him or something?"

"Who would've thought Mute Girl would be the first to taste a man? I figured no man would ever want you! Hehe..."

"You're not even sixteen yet, Mute Girl. Planning a secret marriage? Better watch out or the grand elder will break your legs..."

"Tch, who knew a jinx like you could actually save someone? Hurry up and get rid of him! If you wait any longer, he’s gonna die from your curse anyway. What a waste of effort!"

While jeering and ridiculing her, they pressed against the fence, trying to push their way in to get a glimpse of the man.

Inside the fence, the girl’s face was full of anxiety and helplessness. She kept uttering faint "ah ah" sounds, seemingly trying to stop them, but she couldn’t form a single word.

She was mute. Everyone in the village called her "Mute Girl."

Her clothes sharply contrasted with the other girls’. Though patched all over, they were immaculately clean. She kept her face turned sideways, her gaze filled with timidity and shame.

A closer look revealed a large birthmark covering the left side of her face, completely ruining her features.

Just as Mute Girl stood there helplessly, a light appeared on the mountain path. An old man walked over, holding a bamboo lantern.

Upon seeing the scene, the old man barked out angrily, "Still fooling around outside after dark? Get back home this instant!"

The girls seemed quite afraid of the old man. They didn’t dare make trouble anymore. As they turned to leave, they made silly faces at Mute Girl behind his back and skipped away.

"If I ever catch you bullying Mute Girl again, I’ll break your legs myself!"

The old man raised the lantern and shouted after the girls as they ran.

"Grandpa Witch Doctor[1], you always favor Mute Girl..."

One of the girls muttered under her breath as she fled.

The old man shook his head with a trace of annoyance and walked to the fence. Standing outside, he asked, "Mute Girl, has that man woken up yet? Can he get out of bed and walk?"

Mute Girl nodded and made a few hand signs.

After watching her gestures, the old man grunted in response. "Good. Once he’s recovered a little more, we’ll have Bacai and the others send him off during the Witch God Festival."

Mute Girl’s face changed instantly. She frantically gestured in protest.

But the old man cut her off with a cold snort.

"Mute Girl, you’re too naive. There are things you just don’t understand."

"That man had one of his arms hacked off, and he even asked you to keep others from seeing him. He’s clearly hiding something shameful! Don’t be fooled by that gentle appearance and a few sweet words. You think he’s a good man?"

"He’s just taking advantage of your kindness!"

"If you weren’t so stubborn, I wouldn’t have treated his injuries in the first place; I would’ve tossed him right back into the river. Fine, if he doesn’t leave during the Witch God Festival, then we’ll wait for the next merchant caravan to come through and send him off with them. One way or another, he cannot stay in the village."

"It’s already a great kindness that we’ve let him stay this long. The grand elder found out and asked about it earlier today. He absolutely cannot remain here, or he’ll bring disaster upon the village!"

"Don’t worry, Mute Girl. Once you turn sixteen, I will help you find a good young man."

Mute Girl lowered her gaze, her eyes dim. She didn’t dare argue further.

The old man handed her a pouch. "Take this. There’s some medicinal herbs inside. Enough for three doses. Let that fellow heal up quickly and be gone."

Mute Girl took the pouch. Seeing the old man about to leave, she uttered a few urgent sounds, then darted back into the hut. She quickly returned with a thick rain cloak she had woven herself and chased after him.

"I am strong, I don't need it. You’re the one with the weak body. Go on back now, don’t catch a cold..."

The old man waved her off, but Mute Girl shook her head and stubbornly draped the cloak over his shoulders.

He gently touched the large birthmark on Mute Girl’s cheek, his expression filled with pity. "Such a good child, yet such a bitter fate. The Witch God is unjust! But I will find a way to remove that birthmark from your face! Oh, and if Youning and the others dare to bother you again, go straight to the ancestral shrine and file a complaint. I will stand up for you. I’ll invoke the house law to scare them, and they won’t dare do it again."

Mute Girl shook her head repeatedly and signed in protest.

"Silly girl... You think they’re just playing with you..."

The old man sighed and walked away.

After sending him off, Mute Girl returned to her little yard. She looked at the fence gate that had nearly been broken by the girls and seemed a little downcast. She went inside, lit the fire pit, set the medicine pot over it, and pulled out a packet of herbs from the pouch to begin brewing.

Her movements were swift and practiced. It was obvious this wasn’t her first time doing this.

Just then, a loud crack came from the inner room.

Mute Girl’s expression changed. She hurriedly got up, only to see a one-armed man walk out from within. His steps were frail and unsteady, as though he’d collapse with a gust of wind, but he could at least stand and walk.

"I’m fine. My body gets a little better each day." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel~fire~net

The one-armed man sat beside the fire, warming himself as he accepted the hot water Mute Girl handed him. He said softly, "I’ve caused you trouble."

This man was none other than Qin Sang.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of a Fake Core Realm cultivator’s bearing left in him. He looked no different from an ordinary man recovering from a grave illness. He was weak and drained.

Lately, every time he fell asleep, it would last an entire day.

Just now, the noise outside had startled him awake from his deep slumber.

As he warmed himself by the fire, Qin Sang turned his spiritual awareness inward.

His Qihai and meridians were locked tight by a strange sealing rune. His entire spiritual power had been rendered useless, like a blade without an edge.

His spiritual consciousness had also been completely depleted. Though signs of recovery had slowly begun to appear over the past few days, the progress was painfully slow. It would still take at least two more days before he could recover a sliver of strength and open the Thousand-Jin Ring.

For a dignified immortal cultivator to end up —burdening a mortal girl, soon to be expelled from a village—was a cruel irony.

Qin Sang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. This is truly a case of a dragon stranded in shallow waters, mocked by shrimp; a tiger fallen to flatlands, bullied by dogs.[2]

1. It is common to address an older person Grandpa or Grandma in Chinese culture even if the person is not related to you by blood. ☜

2. This is an ancient Chinese saying. ☜