529 The Village (1/2)
The Village
Three months later.
Fang Yuan, Tantai Guihu and their men first travelled by car, then rented donkeys and equipment before venturing deep into the mountains.
”Old Tan, I hope you know your way.”
Fang Yuan was rather happy with Tantai Guihu.
Although Tantai Guihu was knowledgeable and well-versed in the arts of exorcism, he was hopeless at navigation. After being led down the wrong paths several times, even Fang Yuan had become annoyed.
As for why Fang Yuan addressed Tantai Guihu as Old Tan, it was because he did not want to acknowledge their 'generational gap'.
”It's definitely here. It can't be wrong!”
Tantai Guihu was assertive.
”Of all the spots I have identified, it has come down to this one last place.”
As he spoke, he noticed how dishevelled everyone looked and could not help but feel a pang of guilt.
”After all...it's been a few hundred years. Time would have changed everything. The village would most probably have a different name by now.”
”The name Ghost Sealing Village sounds very inauspicious. It deserves to be renamed.”
Fang Yuan had to agree.
”Amituofo…”
Jiese was in the crew as well. His head, originally bald, was covered in a grey fuzz.
”I did not expect a village in the mountains to be so hard to find, with not a person to guide us in sight.”
”This can't be helped. This place is known for being barren and has a toxic atmosphere. Experienced hunters avoid this place. Only the natives who have adapted to the environment inhabit this place. If any trading is to occur at all, it will usually be done at the town on the natives' initiative…”
Tantai Guihu sounded helpless.
”It still isn't too bad over here. However, we might have to ditch our donkeys and walk on foot for the road ahead...”
It was fortunate that all present were exorcists and were physically fit. They were all able to protect themselves through all sorts of spiritual means and were not worried about this small inconvenience.
Fang Yuan, especially, had an inhuman level of physical fitness. Even though he was carrying a load worth hundreds of catties, he climbed the mountains as though they weighed nothing. It was truly an eye-opening sight for the other exorcists.
”Ehh?”
They had ditched their donkeys and scaled another hill before Fang Yuan gave an exclamation.
”What is it?”
Tantai Guihu did not dare to underestimate this junior of his.
”The layout of this mountain range is kind of...strange!”
Fang Yuan's eyes gleamed and he voiced out blandly.
”The layout of the mountain range...are you talking about geomancy[1]?”
There was a glint in Tantai's Guihu's gaze.
”Mmhm. The mountain range stretches out for miles and diverges into two at a fork like a dragon. There also happens to be a protected spot in the middle of the range. If it isn't a prosperous land, then it would have to be a perilous land!”
Fang Yuan took out the map and compared it to the view. He then understood.
”I have a rough idea of the village's exact location. It should be at the protected spot, the geomantic 'eye'...”
All roads lead to Rome indeed.
Even in a different world, basic geomantic knowledge still held true.
”Come with me!”
Fang Yuan could not help but feel a surge of excitement. He led the way ahead.
”Ah...wait for us!”
It was tough on some in the crew. Tantai Guihu was largely alright, but the Chen siblings had it worse. Jiese the monk, on the other hand, maintained his position at the front serenely.
”The cycles going on between Heaven and Earth are perpetual. In places where wind and water congregate, there would be differences in whether the location is prosperous or perilous. In this case, where the dragon diverges, it is perilous!”
Fang Yuan had his doubts about finding this geomantic 'eye' and they trudged on for two days before they could see a village in the distance.
”Wow...there actually is a village nestled among the mountains. Unbelievable!”
Chen He climbed up to a higher point for a better view. He noticed that the village was surrounded by a circular band of peaks with an opening. That opening was the only way into the village.
It was a quaint little village with a paved road and a water intake structure. It was oddly attractive.
”How did they manage to bring building materials into this place?”
Zhan Tianhu was quite astonished.
”Won't you find out when you explore the place?”
As Fang Yuan stared at the village, he became less doubtful.
The village was built within the geomantic 'eye', a point where Yin and Yang clashed with each other. If utilised well, it would serve as a land more prosperous than any other prosperous lands. If not, it would be catastrophic.
”Amituofo...the builder of the village is a careful person. Look at the arrangement of the buildings. They blend well with nature and possess a hidden energy. Its perimeter is protected by an octagonal formation...”
Although Jiese was a monk, he was surprisingly well-versed in the Taoist arts as well. He then explained his understanding of the location to the crew.
Chen Xin and company were elated.
”If the village is so well-designed, it has to be the Ghost Sealing Village!”
________
The crew climbed down from the mountains and walked towards the village.
A large man carrying an axe and firewood on his back happened to pass by. He flashed a smile at them when he noticed them.
”You are...visitors from the outside world?”
Although the man had a strong accent, Fang Yuan and the rest could understand him.
”Yes...we are people that have come together from all over the country so as to embark on this expedition!”
Chen Xin stepped forward to converse with the man. She usually handed the human relations aspect of things for the group.
”Sir, do you know of any nearby inn that we could stay at? We have travelled for many days and are exhausted…”
”This village is so poor and out of the way, how could there be any inns here!”
The large man smiled on.
”But if you people want to stay on, I could bring you all to see the village chief. He will help you all to settle your accommodation.”
”Ah, thank you so much!”