"..."
Seeing this, Daiyu felt a flicker of alarm, but she did not retreat.
She paused, hesitating for a moment, then tightened her grip on the sword in her hand. Her courage surged.
She stepped forward slowly, stopping only when she was a little over a zhang from the old man. Holding her sword at the ready, she cupped her hands and bowed slightly, managing a rather imperfect salute. Then she asked in a clear voice that was not too discourteous:
"Old sir..."
"This junior is passing through. My respects."
At the sound of her voice, the old man herding cattle slowly turned his head.
His face was ordinary, without a monstrous visage, but his eyes were startlingly clear and bright. They also held the weariness and vicissitudes of someone still alive.
"Hmm..."
He looked Daiyu up and down, a trace of surprise passing through his eyes.
Then he spoke:
"Little girl... what are you doing here?"
"Your two companions came in just now, barely looked around, then ran out crying as if scared out of their wits."
"But you..."
"How dare you come in here alone?"
"Don't you value your life?"
His voice was hoarse but clear. For some reason, though, his tone was unusually flat, unlike the way a normal person would ask a question.
"!!"
Daiyu paid that little mind. His words stirred something in her, and she immediately realized he was capable of holding a normal conversation. She straightened up, composed herself, and bowed again, this time more formally, before answering:
"Allow this junior to explain, old sir!"
"We did not happen upon this place by chance. We came at our master's behest to investigate why yin energy has gathered across dozens of miles around this valley, and why spirits and specters have taken up residence