The Wen brothers have been in the village for over three, almost four months now. When they first arrived, the grass wasn't this tall; now, the vigorously growing plants have surpassed the rooftops.
Fortunately, they have entered their decaying phase. The autumn wind blows bleakly, and all things wither.
It looks quite desolate, but for the present, the autumn wind brings a sense of security. The movement speed of those evil creatures differs from that of spring and summer.
As the weather gets colder, the contrast will become more apparent.
The team in front has cleared a path, and everyone is following it into the town.
Burning off the vegetation obviously cannot extend to the entire town. It was only burned in the vicinity, so one can see the abundant grass and trees in the front and backyards of the town's houses.
Liu the Hunter, with his face masked and only his eyes exposed, walks over. He carries a large bow on his back and a lengthened wood-chopping knife in his hand.
The knife is stained with brown blood. Although the bloodstains are not bright red, they are fresh, having been acquired from the evil creatures.
Daoist Master Qingyi had said that fire can dispel evil toxins. The first group to enter the town chose a spot to build a bonfire and scorched the blood-stained knives and clubs with flames.
"We've cleared a courtyard. Everyone should place their belongings here first."
Wooden carts for loading and unloading goods, spare farm tools and weapons, and supplies that are inconvenient to carry are all placed in the small courtyard. Inside the courtyard, there is smoke from burning medicinal herbs.
So many living people gathered together with strong vital energy need to use medicinal herbs or smoke to mask their scent. Two bonfires are burning in the courtyard, one for cooking food and the other for "exorcising evil" and disinfection.
The Daoist priest's warnings and Wen Gu's storybooks have both mentioned expelling evil with fire, which is essentially high-temperature disinfection.
Villagers with hunting experience are fighting with high spirits after entering the town.
The Village Chief said that killing one evil creature earns considerable work points, and killing a few more can support a family. This yields more than moving supplies.
They form groups of three or four people and discuss how to split the earnings among themselves beforehand. They use smoke to drive out hidden evil creatures and wait for them to emerge.
Villagers who are prepared seize them with long-handled wooden forks. Although this doesn't inflict actual damage, it provides a brief obstruction, allowing another person to swiftly decapitate it with a wood-chopping knife.
Their coordination is tacit. Villagers responsible for cleaning up the killed evil creatures will use tools to drag them to a designated spot to be burned later.
Wen Gu observes the wounds of the evil creatures.
"Possessed by evil spirits" means that after a person is parasitized by evil Gu worms, their body mutates.
The muscles and fat appear to have atrophied significantly but are actually more resilient, granting them higher defense than ordinary people. Their blood is reduced, more viscous, and brownish in color.
Puncture wounds can harm them, but to a limited extent; they can affect their overall movement but not kill them. The villagers have discovered that decapitation is still the most effective method.
Wen Gu analyzes this, concluding that the Gu worms most likely reside in the head after parasitizing the human body. If this is the case, could Gu worms infecting other parts of the body be intercepted before they enter the head? Unfortunately, there are no conditions for it, or Wen Gu would really want to perform a dissection.
Looking at the other villagers, even those who were timid and honest have changed, now possessing a fierce edge. In these times, everyone is focused on three things: survival! Survival! And damn it, survival!
After a brief rest, the personnel who arrived later begin their work.
"I think we can pry up those stone slabs to pave the road!"
"Pry them up and place them over there first. Clear the soil, burn it, and then load it onto the cart."
The dirt roads in the village become muddy after rain, easily breeding insects and Gu worms. Although some wooden planks and gravel have been laid, who doesn't want a smoother surface? A smoother road means faster transport of goods.
The village plans to undertake construction this winter, so the village roads should also be improved!
"Such good clothes and fabric!"
"The Village Chief said that clothes from outside are not allowed, as they are tainted with evil energy. Those stored in wardrobes inside the houses are acceptable."
Expensive clothing, which villagers could only look upon from afar in the past, touching the fabric was a luxury, is now within reach. Unfortunately, much of it cannot be taken; it would require considerable effort to "exorcise evil."
Since they have choices, they prefer to select clean clothes and fabrics. Anything found in the town that can be taken back is theirs. Those who lament over the clothes only express it verbally. They have all heard the storybooks and know that those clothes are "unclean."
"The main beam in that house over there can be dismantled."
"I found an ox cart! The ox is gone, but the cart is still here, clean enough to use!"
"The shop doors over there are easy to remove; let's take them down first."
Anything dismantled is placed in a designated area to be sun-dried. Anything damp is aired out.
The drier the object, the harder it is for evil Gu worms to survive. Amidst various discussions, a solemn villager stands in the courtyard holding several sheets of paper.
He can read a few characters and uses them to remind others, referencing a guide manual written by Wen Gu and the supervisors after discussion.
"Forget about the large stone slabs; don't take the blue-brick ones! We have enough ground materials; don't be greedy for dangerous items!" Some are responsible for dismantling, others for loading.
Once loaded, they are taken back. They need to make quick round trips.
The Daoist priest said they have at most three days. As soon as more evil creatures appear outside, they must retreat, indicating that the grassland burning has lost its deterrent effect, and the vital energy of living people will attract them again.
The medicinal herbs for burning are also limited; they cannot stay here consuming them indefinitely. Someone wants to dismantle all the houses in the town.
Liu the Hunter stops him.
"We can't dismantle them all at once. Pick a few complete houses on the outskirts, seal them before we leave, and when the snow falls in winter, we'll come again. It'll provide a place to stay."
An older villager looks longingly at a large house in the town.
"Can't we move to the town? If we leave more houses, it can also accommodate refugees." Before Liu the Hunter can explain, his son exclaims beside him, "Oh my dear father! Don't just think of the good side.
Think about it, if bandits come to town and settle here, it would be a threat to us!"
"Our village is different; as the storybooks say, it's easy to defend and hard to attack! If pushed, we can flee into the mountains!" There's a risk of encountering evil spirits in the mountains, but in this world, nowhere is safe. When it comes to fleeing for life, would they still care about that? Compared to that, the village is better.
Unlike the town, which is accessible from all directions and lacks walls, it's unsafe.
Liu the Hunter doesn't say more and orders someone to search the town more carefully for any usable weapons.
Some weapons were previously banned from private manufacturing and training for civilians. The powerful bow he carries was something he couldn't use before.
His clothes and armor were also things he couldn't use given his status.
"The clothing, residences, and carriages are used to distinguish the noble from the common," the teacher told Liu the Hunter when he worked for noble families in the county.
What kind of social class and status one had determined what they used. Now, there's no distinction.
At least, here, whoever finds it, it's theirs.
Villagers can take back and use what they find.
Stockpiling more for backup, survival is paramount. Wen Gu also needs to search for items he can use for traveling.
Liu the Hunter tells his son to accompany Wen Gu. Locals are more familiar with the town's layout and can assist him.
Little Liu the Hunter is also happy to oblige and immediately steps forward.
"Second Brother Wen, where do you want to look? Don't worry, my archery skills are not inferior to my father's!" He is very curious about Wen Gu's experiences during his travels and asks several questions.
Wen Gu patiently tells him about them.
Daoist Master Qingyi didn't intend to follow initially, but upon hearing "travels," he changed his mind.
"I'd like to see what else this 'dog scholar' can fabricate." Although Wen Gu's accounts of his travels always upset him, upon reflection, he admits they can be useful.
Besides… the Daoist priest's gaze sweeps over Old Liu the Hunter and Little Liu the Hunter. The Liu father and son have their own plans.
The town is filled with various smells, and occasional puffs of smoke drift by. Daoist Master Qingyi takes a pill to clear his mind.
Wen Gu, accompanied by Little Liu and his cousin, walks through the town, with a Daoist priest following behind. However, they don't talk much, as they still need to guard against their surroundings.
Wen Gu only pays attention to the town's affairs after confirming there are no nearby dangers and that villagers are active all around. The houses in the town are more densely packed than in the village, mostly built of wood, with only a few using blue bricks and tiles.
He also sees public wells. Whether they are private wells in small courtyards or public wells outside, the well water has been contaminated.
In the Daoist priest's words, those well waters are tainted with evil energy. Villagers entering the town drink the water they brought with them, which has been boiled.
Along the way, they see tea stalls and wine shops, now dilapidated.
The spread of the evil plague has dealt a heavy and tragic blow to this dynasty, marking the beginning of a dark age.
Those who survived are still trapped in fear of the unknown. Who knows how long this dark age will last, or if it will ultimately lead to ruin? "That's the largest shop in town," Little Liu the Hunter points to a shop ahead.
Villagers are seen entering and exiting, obviously knowing that the largest shop contains the most goods. Someone is carrying a large roll of cloth out.
Wen Gu slightly raises his head to look at the plaque outside.
The world is ever-changing, and times move on.
The entire town has become a dead place. The plaques bearing the town's imprint still remain, gradually fading and covered by a layer of gloom.
It is hoped that in the future, they can regain their brilliance. The Daoist priest trailing behind acts as if he is "just wandering around," showing no interest in the shop's goods.
The last time he was here, about half a year ago, he brought villagers to search the town, primarily for food and medicinal materials, almost emptying the town's pharmacies and medical halls. This time, he has no particular interest; the things he wants are not available in this small place.
What remains in the town are mostly daily necessities, which the villagers might choose to take back this time.
Clothes, shoes, boots, pots, pans, bedding, bed curtains, boxes, and containers – whatever can be salvaged from households, villagers can take.
If there is still time, beds and tables will also be moved. Usable items can continue to be used; unusable ones can be split for firewood.
After all, leaving them in the town means no one will use them, and they will gradually deteriorate. Houses need "human presence" to be maintained; without people living in them, they naturally decay faster.
At this moment, a villager excitedly emerges with a large basket and exclaims, "Hurry up and see what I found!" Others who were busy moving things glance over and, equally surprised and excited, gather around. In the large basket are peach talismans and scrolls of Door God paintings.
Perhaps they were unsold inventory from the shops back then. Wen Gu walks closer to look.
The Door God paintings in the large basket are mainly of two types: one features a fat donkey carrying firewood, symbolizing wealth and great fortune. The other is "Deer and Horse Looking Back," symbolizing blessings and promotion to officialdom and wealth.
Promotion and wealth – these were likely fashionable in the past, as merchants stocked quite a lot. In peaceful times, people would also favor them.
But now… The villagers surrounding the basket first scramble for the other type: those for expelling evil and catching ghosts! If they can't get those, they go for the warrior generals' Door Gods. If there are none left, then… they'll search more! Perhaps other households still have them? Surely, some families in town bought them, and they might be able to find them.
Wen Gu watches them. Promotion and wealth are disdained, while expelling evil and catching ghosts are fiercely contested.
They also grab the peach talismans carved with patterns. Can't get them? Then go and search again! Still can't find any? Go and pry them from other houses!
The Daoist priest, watching this scene with interest, glances at Wen Gu: the villagers are simple and rough in nature.
What does this scholar think of them? Wen Gu's gaze is peculiar – surprised, understanding, and thoughtful. The Daoist priest: ??? What is this "dog scholar" thinking again? Wen Gu is merely curious about local customs and pondering, if he settles in the northern lands in the future and has no other means of livelihood, perhaps he could try painting New Year pictures and making peach talismans.
Without lingering, Wen Gu also goes to search for items he can use. In a house, he finds what he wants.
In an inconspicuous clothing chest, he finds more than ten wide-brimmed hats, somewhat resembling the Fanyang li he remembers. Little Liu the Hunter looks at them.
"This household must have taken on the job of making large hats." Wen Gu keeps half of the ten discovered hats for himself and gives the other half to the village.
This is the current rule in the village. Wen Gu keeps two for himself, gives two to his cousin, and the Daoist priest has specially made straw hats, so he doesn't need them.
Well, and two for Little Liu. It's enough for use, and the extra can be exchanged for something else with the village.
What further surprises Wen Gu is finding a small bronze brazier in another house. It resembles the dyeing furnace in Wen Gu's memory, but it is smaller and more exquisite, making it convenient to carry when traveling and allowing him to cook while on the road.
This household appeared to have some wealth; the door was tightly shut, and there were no obvious bloodstains inside, so perhaps they left at the beginning of the chaos. Afterwards, Wen Gu pushes open the study of that house and sees a brush rest on the desk, hanging brushes, as well as high-quality calligraphy and painting paper and an inkstone.
His eyes immediately light up, filled with longing.
"A bow without arrows cannot be blamed on You [a famous archer], but a mere sword can be used by Meng Ben [a legendary strongman] to strike; if a craftsman wishes to do his work well, he must first sharpen his tools! Brushes and ink are the knives of scholars, how can they not be carefully chosen!"
The Daoist priest spits out the dregs of the pill from his mouth.
"Bah! Which 'dog' was it who said 'a scholar does not choose his brush' in front of me a few days ago?!"