Things had gone unexpectedly well...
Wu Yu smiled and nodded. "I can tell you're all upright men, brothers. To be honest... the Evil Tiger Stronghold and I are sworn enemies!"
Seeing his furious expression, the men exchanged glances.
The spear-wielding soldier asked curiously, "Were you robbed by the Evil Tiger Stronghold too?"
"Exactly!"
Thinking of Liu Yu back inside, Wu Yu put on a mournful air.
"Our group was attacked by bandits. I don't even know how many of us survived."
"Then you were lucky."
The armored villagers looked sympathetic.
One of them smiled. "Anyway, you're safe now that you've reached Redfang Village. Those bandits wouldn't dare come near here! Some of your people arrived before you. You'll probably see them in a bit."
"But sympathy is one thing. We still have to follow the rules!"
"Outsider, please repeat a phrase!"
"What phrase?"
Wu Yu asked.
"Mountain Lord, Mountain Lord! Nothing but a bastard!"
The spear-wielding man spoke.
Wu Yu's heart stirred. Thinking of the name Evil Tiger Stronghold, he wondered whether this phrase had something to do with it.
Without hesitation, he promptly repeated it.
Seeing how naturally he said it, the villagers all breathed sighs of relief.
"See? I told you there was no need to be so nervous!"
The spear-wielding villager smiled. "This brother isn't wearing the Evil Tiger bandits' uniform. He definitely hasn't undergone the Mountain Lord Rite!"
"If he's neither a tiger wraith nor a scoundrel, he's just an unlucky fellow!"
As they joked, the men opened the gate and let Wu Yu inside.
Listening to their conversation, Wu Yu was astonished.
The Mountain Lord Rite, tiger wraiths, scoundrels...
This [Newcomer Secret Realm] probably held far more secrets than he had imagined!
As soon as he entered the valley, a burly man strode toward him.
He wore iron armor, and his gaze was cold.
"Hmph! Another outsider!"
"I'm warning you! You're welcome to rest in Redfang Village, but we won't tolerate any petty theft!"
"You people..."
Listening to the man's angry words, Wu Yu frowned slightly and gave the spear-wielding villager beside him a puzzled look.
The villager could only offer a helpless introduction. "This is the Guard Captain of Redfang Village, Captain Lu!"
"Not long ago, a child and a young man were caught stealing. Outsiders, just like you!"
"Oh?"
Wu Yu's gaze shifted, and someone immediately came to mind.
"Looks like you know them too."
The spear-wielding villager smiled. "Breaking into someone's home to steal in broad daylight-what a strange thing to hear! The clothes you're all wearing must cost several taels of silver. That would keep us fed and clothed for ages!"
"This is the first time in my life I've seen rich people steal from the poor."
Wu Yu's expression turned odd as he listened.
He couldn't be sure about the young man; it didn't sound like Liu Yu's style. But the child had to be Bai Xiaotian.
Bai Xiaotian was impulsive and convinced this was a game world, so he wasn't particularly wary. He might genuinely treat this world like a game and head straight into villagers' homes to hunt for treasure chests.
Suddenly, a thought struck Wu Yu. He remembered the resource card that had just dropped, [Hundred Taels of Silver]!
Silver seemed to have considerable purchasing power in this world!
The Guard Captain left with his men, and the spear-wielding man was also preparing to return to the fence.
Wu Yu immediately approached the spear-wielding man and asked quietly, "What should I call you, brother?"
"My surname's Wu. Just call me Old Wu!"
Old Wu waved a hand.
"We share a surname? Mine's Wu too!" Wu Yu said with a smile.
"What a coincidence!"
Old Wu looked at him suspiciously.
But a moment later, Old Wu's eyes widened.
Wu Yu opened his hand, revealing a gleaming piece of silver!
"Thank you for your help, Brother Old Wu. Please accept this tael of silver!"
Wu Yu declared.
"This... how could I accept that?"
Old Wu frowned and said solemnly, "Those are Redfang Village's rules. All visitors are our guests!"
Despite his words, he quickly picked up the silver and tucked it into his robe.
"But I took a liking to you at first sight, Brother Wu. If there's anything you need help with... just ask!"
"..." Wu Yu paused, then sighed. "You'll probably laugh at me, brother, but I hadn't left home in ages. Who would've thought I'd run into the Evil Tiger Stronghold on my first trip out? I'd never even heard of them before. Ah..."
"So you're from a wealthy family!"
Old Wu immediately understood and enthusiastically began explaining the Evil Tiger Stronghold's situation.
Taking this opportunity, Wu Yu began learning about this world.
The Evil Tiger Stronghold had once been nothing more than ordinary bandits who robbed passing caravans and collected tolls. They hadn't posed much of a threat.
But after a Mountain Lord arrived, the entire Evil Tiger Stronghold underwent a tremendous transformation.
They performed something called the "Mountain Lord Rite" to become tiger wraiths under its command!
Of course, they didn't actually turn into ghosts. They were villains who served the tiger.
In exchange, they had to wear specific clothing, offer blood every day, and regularly provide a certain number of humans for the Mountain Lord to eat.
That was also why the villagers had checked Wu Yu's clothing first.
Those who served the tiger no longer behaved like humans.
Anyone who became a tiger wraith but failed to wear the ritual clothing would not only lose the power bestowed by the Mountain Lord, but also bleed from all seven orifices!
"That Mountain Lord is enormous-two men tall!"
Old Wu seemed to have seen it himself, and a trace of fear appeared on his face.
"It moves like the wind and loves torturing humans to death. A hunter from our village was once captured by the Mountain Lord..."
"There are hundreds of people in the Evil Tiger Stronghold, and they've all become tiger wraiths!"
"Our Redfang Village can only protect itself thanks to the village chief and the guards!"
"The Mountain Lord once ambushed Redfang Village, but every tiger wraith it brought was killed, and the village chief gravely wounded it too. Hopefully it's dead by now! Otherwise..."
The enthusiastic Old Wu was quite talkative. With only a little prompting from Wu Yu, he chattered nonstop, as though he rarely had the chance to enjoy such a pleasant conversation.
Before long, a village guard came running over and greeted them from a distance.
Old Wu patted his head and said helplessly, "Sorry, brother. I still have to guard the gate!"
"No, no, I should be thanking you, Old Wu! I won't keep you any longer."
Wu Yu shook his head.
"All right. Give me a shout next time you need anything, brother!"
With that reply, Old Wu hurried toward the valley entrance.
Watching him leave, Wu Yu nodded slightly and headed into the village.
As he walked, he considered the information he had just obtained.
The Evil Tiger Stronghold was actually a den of tiger wraiths!
The Mountain Lord lurking in the shadows was undoubtedly a transcendent lifeform!
There are martial artists in Redfang Village!
There are transcendent lifeforms too, especially the village chief...
Aside from that, there's nothing else.
After walking a little farther, Wu Yu got a look at the small mountain village.
Redfang Village wasn't wealthy, but it wasn't doing too badly either. Otherwise, its Guard Captain wouldn't have been able to afford iron armor.
Suddenly, someone stepped around a corner, dressed in a crisp suit. It was Liu Yu!
Yet instead of coming over to greet him, the previously talkative man took a few steps back, gave a mysterious smile, and turned to leave.
Wu Yu frowned slightly but neither spoke nor stopped him.
This man is utterly mysterious. Better to keep my distance.
If anything seems wrong, I'll blow him up on the spot!
Before you continue