Just as Jiang Mian had "seen" through her perception, villagers had gathered in twos and threes along the road, working as they chatted.
At first glance, nothing seemed amiss.
But she soon noticed a detail: most of the villagers were men, while women and children made up only a tiny fraction. There wasn't a single elderly person.
Combined with the surrounding fog, the entire village gave off an indescribably eerie feeling.
To be safe, Jiang Mian didn't reveal herself. Instead, she focused her perception on the three men.
They carried baskets full of "vegetables" on their heads, hurrying straight toward the largest house in the center of the village.
The shadows inside the house were unusually dense, like a gaping maw ready to devour anyone who came near. She couldn't make out what was inside.
Jiang Mian tentatively sent a wisp of "wind" inside.
But the instant it touched the shadows, they seemed to awaken, releasing a silent psychic shriek that traveled along her perception.
"Hm?"
Jiang Mian paused.
The psychic shriek carried an instinctive rejection, like the hiss of some Calamity that acted on instinct, its territory invaded.
Strange. Apart from the villagers, she hadn't sensed any obvious Calamity aura, only a faint, rotten smell.
Before she could think it over, a dome formed from shadow power instantly covered the entire village.
Jiang Mian knew this power especially well. She had even encountered it not long ago.
"An [Chaos] path... domain?"
No, it didn't seem complete. It was probably a crippled version, made using some special method.
What in the world was going on here?
She withdrew her perception and looked toward the village.
The villagers had stopped what they were doing and were nimbly ducking into nearby houses.
They didn't look flustered by this sudden turn of events.