This Place Is Not Peaceful

In a secluded alleyway in Changning Ward, Great River City, a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air. It was Huang Huai.

A scent, unlike that of modern times, assailed him. Huang Huai's eyes were filled with vigilance. After all, this world was utterly foreign to him, and he had no idea what dangers might lurk. The moment he stepped through the mysterious portal into this alley, Huang Huai had already gripped his dagger, his body tense, scanning his surroundings.

After more than ten breaths, Huang Huai let out a long sigh of relief. He was slightly more at ease. This was the spot where he had briefly appeared in this world before, staying for just over ten breaths. Now, it seemed the dangers he had worried about had not materialized.

Glancing around, he saw the narrow alley and the uneven, pitted road. In the distance, ancient-style buildings hinted at a world with a historical setting.

As Huang Huai was observing his surroundings, a figure flashed in front of him. Huang Huai's eyes narrowed, and his guard instinctively rose. A woman in plain cloth, her hair in a simple bun with a wooden hairpin, and wearing a patched, light blue ankle-length skirt, was walking towards him.

The woman also seemed surprised to see someone in the alley. She froze for a moment upon seeing Huang Huai but then her expression turned slightly wary, and she visibly quickened her pace, hurrying past him.

Huang Huai could sense her apprehension, but he figured it was only natural. The alley was quite secluded, and for a woman to suddenly encounter a stranger in such a place, a degree of caution was understandable.

After the woman's figure disappeared, Huang Huai let out a breath of relief. He couldn't help but recall what he had just seen. The woman had been carrying a bamboo basket, which clearly contained some incense and candles. However, most striking among them was a statue, about half a foot tall.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, Huang Huai was certain it wasn't a mere figurine or wooden carving, but a genuine idol, one that people actually worshipped.

After all, he had spent several years at Xunzhen Temple, and he had often been tasked with cleaning and dusting the idols worshipped there. Huang Huai was intimately familiar with such statues.

The faint scent of incense emanating from the idol in the woman's basket was something Huang Huai's nose couldn't miss.

Though the statue, which looked quite unfamiliar and peculiar, piqued his curiosity, Huang Huai didn't dwell on it. It was likely just a devotee, and he had seen plenty of people like her at Xunzhen Temple.

At Xunzhen Temple, devout followers often came to request idols of deities to bring home for worship, praying for peace and good fortune for their households.

Huang Huai glanced towards the alley exit and then stepped out, heading towards the outside.

"Candied Hawthorn..."

As a hawker's cry rang out, Huang Huai's heart settled. It seemed he wouldn't have to worry about a language barrier.

Huang Huai didn't bother questioning why the language in this other world was still Chinese. He simply attributed it to the fact that Chinese was the universal language across all heavens, myriad worlds, and infinite dimensions.

He chuckled inwardly and took a step forward, a mix of determination and nervous anticipation in his stride, leaving the alley.

A wave of bustling, worldly energy washed over him as the sounds of a noisy crowd grew louder. Stepping out of the alley and into the public view, Huang Huai surveyed his surroundings with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

Fortunately, his attire, prepared based on his brief glimpse of this world during his first entry, allowed him to blend seamlessly into the crowd.

The worry he had harbored about becoming the focus of everyone's attention did not materialize, much to Huang Huai's relief. He even slowly loosened his grip on the dagger hidden in his sleeve.

Judging by the shops lining the street and the pedestrians rushing past, this was clearly a prosperous town. More importantly, the expressions and attire of the common folk suggested that he was fortunate enough to be in a time of relative peace, not a chaotic era of constant peril and starvation.

After all, regardless of the world, one could gauge its orderliness by observing the reactions of those at the very bottom of society.

Letting out another sigh, Huang Huai, now much more at ease, could no longer suppress his curiosity and kept looking around.

He wandered and observed for so long that he spent half the day sightseeing. It wasn't until a tempting aroma wafted from a street-side eatery, and his stomach rumbled, that Huang Huai felt his legs ache and hunger pangs.

In this unfamiliar place, so full of unknowns, Huang Huai had been so engrossed in his exploration that he had completely forgotten his fatigue and hunger.

Looking at the steamed buns releasing a fragrant aroma from the steamer, Huang Huai couldn't resist stepping forward and taking a deep breath. He then addressed the busy owner, "Boss, two buns and a bowl of thin porridge, please!"

The shop owner merely glanced up at Huang Huai casually and called out, "Please wait, sir, I'll prepare it for you right away."

Finding a seat in a corner, Huang Huai sat down after the shop owner brought him his buns and porridge.

From time immemorial, inns and teahouses had been hubs for the exchange of information. Just sitting there, Huang Huai overheard all sorts of gossip, most of it trivial matters about neighbors. Occasionally, a juicy rumor would elicit curious glances and hushed whispers from many.

Huang Huai couldn't help but sigh, realizing that the human penchant for gossip and sensationalism was timeless, even across different worlds.

Suddenly, a voice reached his ears, causing Huang Huai to freeze. The hand holding a bun tightened slightly.

"Hey, has everyone heard? The entire Niujia Village in Niushui Stream, over a hundred people, all died overnight! Even the High Gods in the city were alerted!"

A village wiped out overnight, with over a hundred residents? Such an event would be headline news even in modern times. Huang Huai, who had assumed this world was in a period of peace, immediately became vigilant upon hearing this news. He slowed his chewing, listened intently, and subtly observed the reactions of everyone in the eatery.

The safety of this world directly concerned his life, so Huang Huai couldn't afford to be careless.

If he were to accidentally stumble into the hidden dangers of this world and lose his life for nothing, who would he complain to?

As expected, as the man spoke, someone immediately chimed in, "What's so surprising about that? It's just a village wiped out. These things happen once or twice every three to five years. In my opinion, it's either a High God losing control and turning into a Demon, or it's those Malevolent Spirits between heaven and earth."

"Heh, in our Taian Prefecture, Great River City territory, thanks to the protection of the High Gods of the Great River Sect, there are hardly any powerful Malevolent Spirits within a hundred-mile radius. Even if a few Demons appear, they're no match for the Guardian Gods worshipped in each village and town. Niujia Village is only about twenty miles from our Great River City. Few powerful Demons would venture to Niujia Village for blood food. If you ask me, Niujia Village was destroyed, nine times out of ten, because a God or Demon worshipped by a High God lost control."

A voice said sinisterly, "Bah, they say it's a worshipped God or Demon losing control, but what's the truth? What bullshit 'God or Demon losing control'? Clearly, some High God is using living people as blood food, cultivating with the flesh and souls of mortals..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the previously lively eatery fell into silence, as if his words had touched upon a taboo.