Rumors in the Village, Anecdotes in the Woods

As they reached the village entrance, everyone stopped, glancing back occasionally.

Under the flashlight beams, their faces were etched with fear.

Fortunately, the animals clearly weren't interested in them and didn't pursue.

Zhou Niu and Wang Dazhu panted heavily, "Village Chief, see? We weren't lying."

The Village Chief nodded. He had run himself out of breath and couldn't speak for a while, only recovering after a good long while.

The other villagers wore expressions of uncertain surprise, "My goodness, what's with all those little animals? Why were they gathered there? It was really creepy watching them in the middle of the night."

Although the animals were small, their gathering like humans, performing a moon-worshiping ritual, and then all turning their heads in unison at the end.

The visual impact was quite significant, making one's scalp tingle at first sight, reaching the peak of the uncanny valley effect.

A villager stroked his chin, "Could there be something special there? Or maybe some treasure?"

"If you ask me, these animals were absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, cultivating themselves. They're probably about to become spirits."

"That makes a lot of sense. I heard from a master before that the Feng Shui and terrain here are quite good."

The Village Chief frowned, "Don't talk nonsense about cultivating into spirits. They say after the founding of the country, animals aren't allowed to become spirits. What are you all babbling about here? Does our village not have any university students or something?"

He waved his hand, "Alright, it's so late. Everyone stop discussing and go back to your homes."

With the Village Chief's word, the villagers couldn't say anything more. Muttering a few words, they returned home. No matter how brave or curious anyone was, they dared not turn back to see what was happening.

The next morning, looking at the bright sun, it seemed to give the villagers much courage.

Zhou Niu pulled Wang Dazhu, along with a few other villagers from last night, and they went together to the place from yesterday.

"It's daytime now. Even if there are any mountain spirits or monsters, I doubt they'd dare to cause trouble in broad daylight!"

When they arrived, everyone was stunned. Everything was as if nothing had happened, leaving no trace.

"Strange, it was clearly here yesterday. The location should be correct."

This was their third time here, and it was broad daylight. It was impossible they had gotten lost.

The crowd searched everywhere, almost turning the ground upside down, but found nothing. Apart from a large rock, there was nothing special.

It was as if the animals they saw last night were all their hallucinations.

Zhou Niu and the others knew clearly that so many people had seen it; it couldn't be a hallucination.

"Hey, wasn't this the place where we encountered those animals worshiping the moon yesterday? How did they disappear without a trace overnight?"

A companion next to him couldn't help but roll his eyes, "What are you saying? Those animals that worshiped the moon didn't sleep all night. They're probably fast asleep in their dens, waiting for you."

"Speaking of which, this place is very ordinary."

The villagers started walking down the mountain as they spoke.

Why so many small animals had appeared here last night, several villagers couldn't figure it out.

This matter also seemed to grow wings, spreading throughout the village and sparking heated discussions among the villagers.

"Hey, did you hear? Yesterday Er Niu and Wang Dazhu encountered many small animals gathered together to worship the moon and cultivate!"

"What did you say? They encountered fox spirits and were so mesmerized their souls were snatched away? No wonder they look absent-minded today, with dark circles under their eyes."

"Exactly! When our men went to look for them, they insisted they saw a gathering of celestial beings from the Jade Pool, but those celestial beings were actually mountain spirits and monsters transformed!"

"Pass it on, animals in the mountains have cultivated into spirits, with immense power. Many villagers have fallen prey to them. The mountains have been restless lately, it's best not to go into the mountains recently."

"What nonsense! What mountain spirits and monsters? It's clearly the Mountain God, the Great Lord. May the Mountain God forgive us and bless Longyuan Village with favorable weather and a bountiful harvest next year."

This matter spread from one to ten, then to a hundred, with all sorts of versions appearing. Even the neighboring village heard about it and came to inquire.

But no matter which version it was, it caused many villagers to pay attention. Because so many people had seen it, whether it was mountain spirits, monsters, or the Mountain God, they were not beings they could offend.

The people of Longyuan Village were simple and honest. Coupled with the villagers who had entered the mountains and witnessed the animals worshiping the moon describing it as miraculous, even if they didn't believe it, they felt a sense of awe.

As a result, the number of villagers entering the mountains recently had indeed decreased significantly. Even if some did, it was only during broad daylight.

They were afraid of walking the mountain paths at night and encountering something they shouldn't see, just like Zhou Niu and Wang Dazhu.

If they were to encounter a weasel demanding a tribute, they would have nowhere to cry.

"In my opinion, all this is superstition. I went to see for myself later, and there was nothing there."

Under a large tree, a few men were fanning themselves and cooling off, discussing the recent events of the Village Chief and others going up the mountain.

Initially, only a small number of people knew about it. Because some of them got drunk and exaggerated the story, embellishing it more and more, the later versions emerged.

Just then, a faint voice came from a corner, "Uncle Zhang, are there really Mountain Gods on the mountain?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a little girl looking at them timidly, a basket on her back filled with pig feed, weighing down her slender shoulders.

Her clothes were a bit ill-fitting, washed pale and covered in patches, one after another, with no good spots.

Even though her sleeves and pants were rolled up, due to her small frame, they still looked empty, as if she was wearing adult clothes stolen from someone.

Uncle Zhang was startled at first, then he smiled, "Silly girl, that's all superstition. It's not to be believed."

Hearing this, Hu Xiaocao slowly lowered her head, her eyes gradually dimming.

She was small and scrawny, her hair dry and yellow like straw due to malnutrition. The only redeeming feature was her eyes, but now they were like a snuffed-out candle flame, making it hard to look at her.

Her companion frantically signaled to him. Uncle Zhang quickly reacted, clearing his throat. "But maybe the mountain god really does exist, who knows?"

Hu Xiaocao's head snapped up, a spark returning to her eyes, and a slow smile spread across her lips.

"I understand, Uncle Zhang."

She glanced at the sky, then smacked her forehead. "Oh no, I can't chat with you all any longer, Uncle Zhang. I have to hurry back. Mom's waiting for me to decoct her medicine."

Watching Hu Xiaocao's receding figure.

The pig feed, half her height, almost swallowed her whole, obscuring her entire body. Probably because it was too heavy, she had to stoop over.

Her frail body bore not just the pig feed, but the entire weight of her life, all pressing down on her shoulders.

Uncle Zhang and the others couldn't help but sigh. "That Hu girl is truly pitiful."

The person beside him sighed in agreement. "Tell me about it."

I'm so used to writing fantasy that when I describe mountain scenes, I unconsciously bring in fantasy elements. So, in the previous chapter, I mistakenly wrote flashlight instead of torch, but I've corrected it.