I Grind to Martial Saint

But hearing it was Jiang Henian’s voice, he stood and walked out of the courtyard.

’For the Vice Director of the Jianghe Celestial Observation Bureau to come looking for him, it must be something major.’

”Vice Director Jiang, what brings you here?”

Han Yuan asked with a smile.

”I’ve come this time... because there’s something I need you to handle.”

Jiang Henian didn’t beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly.

Hearing this, Han Yuan invited Jiang Henian to have a seat at the stone table in the courtyard.

”Outside of Jianghe Province City, there is a mountain range called Yangji Mountain.”

”Recently, in the many villages near Yangji Mountain, people have been disappearing one after another.”

”The Province Yamen sent a constable named He to investigate. He ended up suspecting that one of the villages on Yangji Mountain was behind it.”

”Three days ago, that same constable took his men to investigate further, but they never returned.”

”Since Yangji Mountain isn’t far from the Province City, I took the matter very seriously when I heard about it and sent a Demon Exterminator from the True Qi Realm.”

”And the result... well, you can guess.”

Jiang Henian laid out the whole situation in one go.

”Not even a Demon Exterminator from the True Qi Realm made it out?”

Han Yuan was somewhat surprised.

”That’s right... And this Demon Exterminator was a seasoned veteran, very powerful.”

”Now that something’s happened to him, I don’t dare send anyone else. My only choice was to come find you for outside help.”

”Besides, you’re just sitting around idle anyway. You might as well go out, stretch your legs, and earn some more Contribution Points while you’re at it.”

Jiang Henian said with a laugh.

”I suppose I could.”

”However, based on your description, I’m afraid we’re dealing with a Blood Soul Evil.”

”How many Contribution Points are you offering?”

Han Yuan asked with a smile.

”Ten thousand Contribution Points.”

”That should be enough to get you on board, right?”

Jiang Henian held up one finger.

”No problem.”

”Have someone bring me a map.”

”I’ll head into the mountains tonight.”

Han Yuan was a man of action.

As long as the Contribution Points were on the table, he was easy to talk to.

Hearing this, Jiang Henian didn’t hesitate and immediately had someone bring over a map.

Han Yuan took the map and set off at once for Yangji Mountain.

At his speed, using the Seven Stars Step at full power, he reached the vicinity of Yangji Mountain in less than an hour.

However, he didn’t go straight into the mountains. Instead, he found a nearby village to ask around and gather information.

But the results surprised Han Yuan.

To his surprise, no one in this village knew anything about Sanling Village.

Sanling Village had very little contact with the outside world. Its people rarely left the mountain and were always secretive, never communicating with outsiders. As a result, the local villagers didn’t know anything about it either.

However, the village head did give Han Yuan a lead. ”Sir, you could go to Dashicun Village not far from here. There’s a centenarian there who might know something.”

After thanking him, Han Yuan didn’t dare delay and headed directly for Dashicun Village.

In Dashicun Village, he finally found the centenarian.

The man was ancient beyond recognition. His hair was sparse, his teeth were nearly all gone, and he sat under an old tree, leaning on a cane.

Fortunately, the old man wasn’t completely deaf and could hear what Han Yuan was saying.

”Elder... do you know anything about Sanling Village?”

Han Yuan asked, speaking close to his ear.

”Sanling Village... I’ve never had any contact with them myself...”

”But my father once told me he saved someone from Sanling Village... and even escorted the man home...”

A distant look appeared in the old man’s cloudy eyes.

”What else did your father tell you?”

Hearing this, Han Yuan knew he had come to the right place.

”When he came back, he told me... not to provoke the people of Sanling Village...”

The old man’s words were slurred and indistinct, as he had no teeth.

Only Han Yuan, with his keen hearing, could make out the words.

”Why not provoke them?”

Han Yuan pressed.

”My father said... the people there all practice Evil Techniques... and they worship an Evil God!”

”The people of Sanling Village... have been worshipping that Evil God for generations!”

The old man grew agitated as he spoke.

’An Evil God...’

Hearing this, Han Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

When Han Yuan questioned him further, the old man had no more answers.

Seeing this, Han Yuan left him a silver ingot and departed quietly.

However, before leaving, he made a special trip to the home of a village Hunter.

By the time Han Yuan left, he had changed into a robe of animal skins, with a Bow and Arrow on his back and a quiver at his waist. He looked just like a mountain Hunter.

He had also altered his facial features slightly, making his complexion appear dark and sallow.

Only after these preparations were complete did Han Yuan begin his ascent into the mountains.

Han Yuan had also bought a map of Yangji Mountain from the Hunter.

On it was marked the approximate location of Sanling Village.

The Hunter had also told Han Yuan that the people of Sanling Village were extremely xenophobic and wouldn’t let outsiders into their village.

This only made Han Yuan more curious about Sanling Village.

.....

Time quietly slipped by until dusk.

The sun sank behind the deep mountains, and the light grew dim.

A Hunter rushed out of the woods in a panic.

Spotting a village ahead, he rushed toward it, yelling, ”Help!!!”

The appearance of this Hunter instantly alerted Sanling Village.

Villagers, one by one, emerged from their houses. They were all dressed in black robes, their bodies unnaturally gaunt.

They sized up the Hunter who had just barged into their village. Their gazes held not curiosity... but an indescribable, icy coldness.

”Outsider... why have you come here?!”

An old crone leaning on a cane walked out from the crowd.

”I’m a Hunter from Dashicun Village... I was just hunting nearby.”

”I was suddenly attacked by a huge python. I was terrified and ran for my life... and when I saw this place, I ran straight here.”

Han Yuan hurriedly explained.

Hearing his explanation and seeing his attire, the old crone didn’t seem to suspect anything.

She nodded and said, ”It’s getting dark. Why don’t you stay the night in our village? You can leave tomorrow. How does that sound?”

Han Yuan quickly thanked her, ”Thank you so much, Elder!”

”I happen to have a spare room. Come with me,”

the old crone said flatly.

Just as Han Yuan was about to enter the village,

a young man with an ordinary face, dressed in a grayish-white gown, happened to emerge from the woods as well.

’Oh, there’s a village here. Perfect.’

’I thought I was going to have to sleep out in the wilds tonight.’

The young man muttered to himself as he walked over briskly.

But when he saw the villagers of Sanling Village and the old crone, his expression shifted slightly.

He gave an awkward smile and turned to leave.

”Young man... where are you going?”

the old crone suddenly called out.

”I’m just passing through.”

”Don’t mind me.”

The young man said, waving his hands dismissively.

”It’s very dangerous after dark.”

”You should stay here in our village for the night.”

The old crone said flatly, her eyes fixed on the young man.

A chill ran down the young man’s spine under her stare. He said hurriedly, ”I... I wouldn’t want to impose.”

”It’s no imposition at all,” the old crone said, narrowing her eyes.

”Alright... then I’ll stay,” the young man quickly corrected himself.

Only then did the old crone’s expression soften slightly.

She led Han Yuan and the young man into the village, offering them a side room in her own courtyard to rest for the night.

”We’re in trouble! We’re in big trouble!”

”This is really bad!”

After the old crone left, the young man in the grayish-white gown began to pace around the room with an uneasy expression.

Seeing this, Han Yuan couldn’t help but frown. ”Friend... what’s the matter with you?”

”You don’t understand... If I told you, you’d only be more afraid.”

”Listen to me... we have to leave, right now.”

”We’ll just have to see if luck is on our side.”

The young man spoke as he moved to open the door and leave.

CREAK!

He jumped in fright the moment he opened the door.

The strange old crone was standing silently right outside. In the dim light, her mottled, withered face looked terrifyingly grotesque.

”Young man... where are you going?”

The old crone’s voice seemed to have changed somehow.

It was deeper and hoarser than before.

”Nowhere... I just wanted to use the outhouse.”

The young man laughed awkwardly.

”The outhouse is over there,” the old crone said, pointing to a corner of the courtyard.

”Actually, I don’t have to go anymore.”

”Never mind!”

With that, the young man slammed the door shut.