Chapter 4: Talisman Paper Doll

Chapter 4: Talisman Paper Doll

Chu Chuan raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you teaching me how to act?"

The people of Puhé Village didn't often interact with Chu Chuan, so they were unaware that he was entirely different from his master.

He was not a kind soul.

On the contrary, if it weren't for his master Ji Liuzi constantly steering him onto the righteous path, he might have become an unscrupulous cultivator with immense power and potential.

Thus, in Chu Chuan's eyes, he couldn't comprehend where these people found the audacity to provoke him.

A village that relied on trading foreign women for survival might not even see doomsday without his master's suppression of resentment.

Chu Chuan sat cross-legged on a scorching hot stone, absorbing the surrounding death aura and resentment with all his might.

Compared to the outside world, the "aether" here was abundant, but it was still too thin to aid in his advancement.

Advancing to the next level after reaching the Fifth Stage of Qi Cultivation required twice as much spiritual energy. At his current pace, he might never reach the next stage even by the time he was old and gray, let alone the unity with heaven and man, or the ultimate enlightenment that Ji Liuzi had spoken of.

Chu Chuan sighed, reflecting on how his master's lifetime of cultivation had only facilitated his entry into the Fifth Stage. It was unrealistic to desire more.

Opening his eyes, he rubbed the jade ring with his thumb, recalling the sharp pain and developing a premonition – the annihilation of this village might be imminent, perhaps within just a few days. If he waited patiently, a feast might be in store for him.

Fifteen minutes later.

The villagers of Puthe Village returned all the talismans to Chu Chuan. Gazing at the runes drawn by Ji Liuzi, which had once seemed ordinary, they now stirred a sense of joy and nostalgia upon seeing the work of a departed friend.

He carefully folded the talismans and tucked them into his chest before turning to leave. The villagers heaved a collective sigh of relief; their village was unique, and they would have been in a predicament if Chu Chuan had chosen to intervene in their affairs.

"Save me!"

Suddenly, a young girl stumbled towards Chu Chuan, desperately running in his direction.

Chu Chuan furrowed his brow.

The girl tumbled just one step away from Chu Chuan. She had intended to throw herself into his arms, but it was as if an invisible barrier prevented her from reaching him. Her face was streaked with tears and sweat, while her bruised arms, exposed by her short sleeves, bore a horrifying sight under the sun, indicating she had endured inhumane abuse. "Please, save me! Take me away! I don't belong to this village! I'm from the Imperial Capital! They kidnapped me! Please, take me with you!" The girl knelt on the ground, weeping. Her tears evaporated instantly upon hitting the earth. "Sob, sob... They'll beat me to death! I don't want to stay here! Please, take me away! I'll give you money! I'll give you anything!" Chu Chuan gazed at the girl, who appeared to be a few years older than him, likely in her early twenties. Her attire didn't resemble the style of this village, suggesting that she had been brought in during the days he was unconscious. The village chief of Puthe Village, noticing the new arrival had escaped, hurriedly signaled the family who had bought the girl, urging them to retrieve her before Chu Chuan got involved. "Chu Chuan, if you're leaving, do it now. The mountain roads are treacherous, and there's only one bus to the city per day," urged Chief Li. Chu Chuan lifted his eyebrows at him. "Are you telling me what to do?"

Village Chief Li felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being eyed by a monstrous creature. However, with decades of experience as the village chief, he maintained his dignity and mustered the courage to speak.

"Chu Chuan, this is our village's matter. Mind your own business."

Chu Chuan fell silent for a moment. His tall figure suddenly leaned forward, his dark eyes locking onto Village Chief Li as a hint of mocking arrogance laced his tone.

"It just so happens that I have a rebellious streak. The more someone tells me not to do something, the more determined I am to do it."

With that, he pulled out two talismans and tossed them into the air. As he muttered incantations, two golden threads shot from his fingertips, piercing the talismans. Instantly, they transformed into humanoid-shaped talismans.

Chu Chuan turned to the woman who had sought his help.

"What's your name?"

"M-Mu Shiqi."

"Get up and lead them around the village. Gather all the women who want to leave and bring them here. I'll take you all out. Don't worry, these talismans will protect you, but make sure you're back before they burn out."

Mu Shiqi stared at the talisman dolls Chu Chuan pointed at, her eyes wide with disbelief.

The paper doll floats... floats?

After two seconds, she seemed to regain her composure and hastily scrambled up, leading the way. This was not the time for astonishment; she had to seize this opportunity to escape the village!

The villagers, stunned on the side, gaped at the floating talisman in mid-air, unable to recover from their shock for quite some time.

Chu Chuan looked slowly at the village chief, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if mocking – I meddled in your business, but what can you do about it?

Village Chief Li was furious, his heart and liver aching, but he couldn't do anything to Chu Chuan. He realized that he couldn't move, nor could the other villagers. Otherwise, they would never have allowed Mu Shiqi to run away.

The women in the village were purchased with the hard-earned money of the villagers over half their lives; there was no way they would let them escape so easily!

In about ten minutes, Mu Shiqi arrived with more than a dozen women.

In reality, there were more women in the village who had been kidnapped, but those who had grown older and assimilated into village life had long since given up on the idea of escaping. Some even actively assisted in the process, buying wives for their sons.

Behind Mu Shiqi, not only were there women who wanted to leave, but also villagers wielding machetes and hoes, chasing after them.

"That woman is my wife! Nobody can take her away! If you try to, I'll chop you down!!"

A limping man spotted Chu Chuan and instantly realized that the enchanted paper doll which had just immobilized them was his doing. Enraged, he charged forward with a machete in hand.

Their village had seen its share of women attempting to flee and outsiders trying to take these women away. Yet, without exception, they had all been dealt with by the villagers.

Men were left to rot in the wilderness, while women had their legs severed. If they survived, they were taken back to continue bearing children; if they perished, their bodies were tossed into the river to decay.

Therefore, they felt no fear at all.

This was their domain!

Chu Chuan gazed at the charging man, and a sudden crimson glow flickered in his eyes.

In the next instant, the man who was just about to strike at him seemed to be entranced, abruptly halting his advance.

He raised the cleaver in his hand and, without hesitation, brought it down upon his own thigh. Instantly, blood spurted forth, the arid earth beneath suddenly receiving a rain of life, springing to vitality as it absorbed the crimson offering, emitting a vibrant "sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—" like water on hot coals.

Awakened by the agony, the man came to, howling in despair as he clutched his leg, now splattered with blood.

Witnessing this scene, the villagers, who were unwilling to accept defeat, dared not step forward, fearing that they might become the next madman to harm themselves.

Chu Chuan was content with their attitude and led Mu Shiqi and the others straight into the mountains.

He didn't leave Putuo Village immediately but found a large rock in the mountain that was illuminated by the moon. He sat cross-legged on it, circulating his spiritual energy while reconnecting with his father in the imperial capital for assistance.

The dozen or so women who followed him dared not speak much. Having been thoroughly intimidated, they found a shaded spot, hugging their knees and crouching on the ground without asking any questions or making any comments.

That night, the moon was exceptionally bright, but Putuo Village below seemed shrouded in a thick layer of dark fog. The entire village was eerily silent.

As the moon reached its peak, tranquility was shattered.

A blood-curdling scream echoed, followed by a series of intermittent cries, wails, and shrieks throughout the village.

In the mountains, the women taken by Chu Chuan gathered together upon hearing those chilling sounds, hugging themselves as they trembled in fear.

Chu Chuan, however, remained indifferent. His face revealed no trace of emotion, as if those spine-chilling screams never existed.

After some time, the cacophony in the village gradually subsided. Chu Chuan opened his eyes and looked at the women.

"There are wolves nearby. Stay here and don't wander off."

With that, he descended the mountain and made his way towards the village.

"Author's Note:"