Wood Carving

A silent mountain village, corpses strewn everywhere, Gu Zhao standing dumbfounded with a strange smile on his face...

A breeze stirred, old crows wailed, and a corner of the green-clad robe on the ground fluttered up. Black powder drifted like willow catkins, reflected among dozens of scattered blades and spears...

Gu Zhao looked around. The eyes peering through door and window cracks vanished in an instant. Now and then, a baby's cry sounded out, only to be immediately muffled, leaving nothing but faint, indistinct whimpering whose direction could not be told.

Gu Zhao, "..."

Gu Zhao was speechless. Did this count as a real-life version of something that could stop children from crying at night?

"Creak—"

The one to break the silence was still that old man who appeared to be the eldest.

The old man supported the little girl as they trembled their way outside. His gaze at Gu Zhao was cautious and guarded. "This old man greets Great Mage. Thank you, sir, for slaying that ghostly creature and saving our lives!"

In contrast to the old man's caution, the little girl beside him looked at Gu Zhao with undisguised worship and excitement. Her bright, clear eyes seemed to shine.

Gu Zhao glanced at the pile of black ash, then looked up at the sun.

This world actually had ghosts—and they could even appear in broad daylight?

Gu Zhao's eyes shifted as he arranged his words. "Though I came here by accident, since I happened upon a ghostly creature doing evil, getting rid of her was merely a matter of convenience. Elder He, there is no need to be so polite."

The old man glanced at his bare feet, then acted as though he had noticed nothing. He nodded repeatedly and bowed as he invited him inside. "Great Mage must be weary from eliminating the ghost. If you do not mind, please come in and rest awhile, so this old man may serve you some tea."

Gu Zhao had been hoping to learn about this world. The old man before him seemed to know quite a bit, and Gu Zhao had saved their lives—wasn't he the most suitable source of information?

Thus, under the old man's invitation, Gu Zhao went inside to rest and casually began chatting with him.

The old man's surname was He. He was the oldest person in the village and also the most respected.

The little girl beside him was called He Xiuniang. She was Elder He's granddaughter. Her parents had both died, and she had always lived with Elder He.

Seeing Gu Zhao and Elder He conversing so pleasantly, the surrounding villagers gradually came out as well. The bolder ones went to clean up the bandit corpses after paying their respects to Gu Zhao, while the more timid ones watched from the side.

"This place is called Cuishan Village. The mountain behind us is Cuiluo Mountain. Beyond it, mountains stretch into mountains, and many Mountain Strongholds and outlaws hide within them."

Elder He explained, "But those outlaws have always been fairly principled. They do not eat the grass around their own nest, and our village has no wealth to speak of. I do not know what happened this time..."

"Not far ahead of the village is the official road. Thirty li east along it lies Xiu Yue County, while more than a hundred li west is Wuhe County. If Great Mage wishes to go to Changping Prefecture, you must travel northwest," Elder He said.

Gu Zhao nodded. The mini-map function activated, and aside from the starting point, Cuishan Village, three towns lit up: Changping Prefecture, Wuhe County, and Xiu Yue County.

As Gu Zhao spoke with Elder He, he listened more and spoke less, sorting through the information.

Elder He seemed not to find this strange. He also did his utmost to explain everything he knew clearly.

"Great Mage!"

A man dressed like a farmer entered the room cautiously. He first bowed deeply to Gu Zhao, then greeted Elder He before gently setting the bundle in his arms on the table before them.

"Great Mage, this is the gold and silver found on those Mountain Bandits. None of us touched it," the man said respectfully.

Gu Zhao was taken aback. He could not help lifting the bundle open, only to see a scattered pile of copper coins, two standard silver ingots, and five or seven crudely polished brass and silver ornaments.

Hmm... it would not be worth much even in modern times.

Thinking he might indeed need them later, Gu Zhao took the two silver ingots and grabbed a handful of copper coins. Then he pushed the rest toward Elder He. "Elder He, I will leave the remaining things for you to arrange."

Elder He knew Gu Zhao did not care for these things, so he did not refuse. He handed the bundle back to the man and instructed, "See whose home was smashed up the worst, and give them a larger share."

"Yes!" The man agreed happily. He bowed once more to Gu Zhao, then ran out the door clutching the bundle.

He Xiuniang passed by the man as she entered, holding a pair of leather boots that appeared to have just been washed, water droplets still clinging to them.

"Great Mage!" He Xiuniang blinked her large, watery eyes and said expectantly, "I found a pair that should fit you. I have already cleaned them..."

"Hold your tongue!" Elder He gave a start and rebuked He Xiuniang. "How Great Mage chooses to dress is not for you to comment on!"

He Xiuniang was startled as well, shrinking back helplessly.

Gu Zhao was somewhat baffled too, not knowing why Elder He had suddenly become angry.

Elder He hurriedly turned back to apologize. "Xiuniang is still ignorant and speaks without restraint. Great Mage, please do not take offense!"

"It is fine, it is fine." Gu Zhao waved a hand.

Perhaps seeing that Gu Zhao had a gentle temperament, and seeing He Xiuniang's aggrieved, misty eyes, Elder He's heart softened. He explained to He Xiuniang, "Great Mage is so young, yet he can subdue demons and exorcise ghosts. He killed the Female Ghost in one strike. In a few more years, even fiercer ghosts and monsters will be no match for him."

He Xiuniang only half understood, but Gu Zhao suddenly realized.

So Elder He thought he had encountered some powerful ghostly creature and been beaten until he had lost helmet and armor, fleeing like a wolf crashing into graves, left with only his underclothes and having even run out of his shoes.

Hmm... should he offer Elder He an electrotherapy package for underestimating him like this?

But Gu Zhao also understood why Elder He had not asked him anything and had instead tried his best to introduce the surrounding area.

Gu Zhao laughed it off without explaining. Instead, he took the shoes from He Xiuniang's hands and smiled gently. "Thank you, Xiuniang. Going barefoot truly is not as comfortable as wearing shoes."

Xiuniang immediately beamed, revealing the two little dimples on her cheeks. "As long as Great Mage likes them!"

"Oh, right, there is this too!" As Xiuniang spoke, she reached into her clothes and pulled out a wooden carving about twenty centimeters tall, handing it to Gu Zhao. "This was the only thing inside that Female Ghost's clothes. Perhaps Great Mage can use it!"

Gu Zhao accepted it. The carving depicted a handsome man wearing jeweled armor and a cape, with a precious pearl atop his head and clouds beneath his feet. One hand lifted upward, one pressed downward, twin swords in hand—he looked imposing and majestic.

The carving had a red base with golden patterns. As Gu Zhao examined it, he saw the two characters [Golden Wind] carved into its base, and...

Gu Zhao sensed that this wooden carving was not simple. A faint layer of energy seemed to shroud it.

"This energy seems to be leaking outward. The inside is even more saturated with it, as though it carries some spiritual quality." Gu Zhao felt a tremor in the Sea of Consciousness guarded by the Five Thunder Token.

Gu Zhao tried sensing it and found that this spiritual energy was impure, carrying a chill, yin force somewhat similar to the power wielded by the green-clad Female Ghost just now.

Could this be her magical treasure?

Had she been killed by his Palm Thunder before she even had time to use it?

Gu Zhao: ()

Thanks to fellow Daoist I Am Rainbow Wolf for the 100 reward.