You Really Are Useful

The story wasn't long, and that was where it ended.

The sea demon spread her hands. "The village chief said this was a story recorded in a book passed down from their ancestors. He didn't think it was true, but outsiders—especially young people—liked hearing strange tales, so he picked out the legend to tell me."

There wasn't much to say about the more realistic things, anyway. The villagers were few in number, and growing a little food was enough to support themselves. They could also hunt game in the mountains and sell it in Dragon Head Town for some extra money.

It was a simple, down-to-earth life.

Zhao Mou thought for a moment. Whatever he was considering, he only said, "So the locals treat the legend as a story, not something they actually believe."

"Yeah. Just like how they scoff at the rumors that Guo Long Ridge is full of ghosts," the sea demon said. "The village chief said he'd lived in the mountains since he was a child and had never seen a ghost. None of the villagers had, either."

"That's probably why the villagers are so relaxed and carefree," Song Xue added.

They had arrived early. Although they'd spent most of their time searching for things, they had asked the villagers as soon as they got there whether anything strange had happened in the village recently.

Everyone had given the same answer: no. Song Xue had watched their eyes and detected no sign that they were lying.

The local customs always reflected the people's living conditions. The villagers of Suan Yu County were warm and simple, and they trusted outsiders without reservation. They had probably never encountered a ghost—or even been taken advantage of by an outsider.

"I see," Yu Xing murmured. Everyone present had sharp hearing, and