Chapter Fifty-Three: Travelers, the Afflicted, and Tiger Head Village

Twelve days of travel—long, tedious, arduous, and fraught with the constant threat of life and death. Wu Yue’s eyes glowed with a feral, greenish glint as he stared at the shimmering light membrane before him. Ignoring everything else, he slammed his fist into it with all his might.

"Beep. Identifying genetic chain..."
"You possess sixty percent authorization."
"Land! Now, immediately, at once!"
"Voice recognition in progress."
"Identification complete. Initiating forced landing."

Upon hearing these words, a line of poetry inexplicably crossed Wu Yue’s mind: "Past the dark mountains and murky waters, I feared there was no way out; then, through the willow-shaded, flower-bright village, I found a new horizon."

In just twelve days, Wu Yue swore he could eat anything. He had never felt the presence of hunger so acutely; it was like a demon, coiling tightly around him, breeding wicked thoughts and stripping away all concern for human morality or logic.

It was because he was still too weak. He was only at the seventh stage of Qi Condensation, and even that was thanks to the Green Pill gifted by Ren Ruyi. Look at Hou Baiyu—still full of vigor, a genuine Golden Core cultivator. And then there was Qing Yuzi in the Mount Tai Hall, whose bursts of laughter echoed periodically; one had to wonder if the man had lost his mind. Wu Yue couldn’t be bothered to think about it. After all, the man had been locked away for over a year—it would be more abnormal if he were still sane.

But the point was, the laughter remained full of vigor, deepening Wu Yue’s resolve to cultivate. Yet, most things in this world do not go as one wishes, and cultivation is a path that demands gradual progress.

Yu Fu lay on the ground, snoring loudly, as if he could sleep through a thousand years, indifferent to the hunger of the mortal world. Zhao Qingzhi’s lips were parched, though her complexion remained rosy, for she had consumed her only Bigu Pill, which could stave off hunger for a month. But what would happen after that month was up?

Li Wenzhang stood alone by the window. He was the only one who still appreciated the scenery they had long grown tired of, reciting verses from time to time with an air of refined, effortless elegance. For a mortal, Li Wenzhang carried himself with a strange detachment, sipping his wine in small, measured draughts, his mood shifting from high spirits to melancholy, yet he seemed completely untouched by hunger.

On the twelfth day, Wu Yue stood up, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Cultivating while hungry had left his mind unusually clear. In just twelve days, he had condensed two strands of Qi—a speed that was nothing short of remarkable. But right now, all Wu Yue wanted was food. That led to the scene that had just unfolded. Everyone heard the announcement, and naturally, they were overcome with joy.

The aircraft lurched violently and began a rapid descent. Through the windows, the landscape could be seen rushing up to meet them, but there were two figures outside, locked in a duel. As their supernatural powers collided, the aircraft suffered collateral damage, shaking uncontrollably.

Bone Mountain was a rugged place, and its inhabitants were naturally rough-hewn. Old Lady Liu was one of these abrasive souls, her sharp tongue unmatched throughout the entire village. Even the surrounding villages had heard of her infamous reputation. In time, she simply became known as "Big Mouth Liu." Everyone knew that in Tiger Head Village, there lived an old woman called Big Mouth Liu who excelled at cursing. Even the other women would cast disdainful looks and mutter, "What a shrewish old hag."

In the mountains, life ultimately came down to fists and rules, and rules were set by those with the biggest fists, so life was not easy for Big Mouth Liu. People simply couldn't be bothered to argue with an old woman, so they treated her as a topic of gossip rather than out of genuine fear.

Though she was called "Old Lady Liu" or "the old hag," she was not actually old. She was only in her thirties, yet her hair had already turned snow-white. Big Mouth Liu was a native of Tiger Head Village, but even as a child, people felt there was something "different" about her, though the adults at the time didn't think much of it.

Her father had been a contributor to the village, but he had been accidentally killed by people from another village during a dispute over resources. Misfortune rarely came alone; her mother soon fell ill and passed away, leaving Big Mouth Liu all by herself.

At first, the villagers were relatively kind. Despite the cold remarks about her "cursing her parents" or being a "demon reborn," they raised her on a hundred-family diet. In the blink of an eye, she grew into a young woman. The village tried to arrange a marriage for her, but she refused to marry no matter what.

As time dragged on and her reputation worsened, fewer people came to propose.

Old Lady Liu lived with her grandson. But everyone knew that, having never married, where could she have possibly gotten a grandson? Most assumed she had found or stolen him somewhere. Still, since they were all fellow villagers, no one asked too many questions, and they even helped cover for her.

The two lived a simple life, farming a small plot of land. She would occasionally use her clever, nimble hands to craft trinkets to trade for necessities, barely scraping by.

Compared to Big Mouth Liu's boorishness, the young boy was incredibly well-behaved and likable. He possessed a certain quality that set him apart from other children, making him endearing to look at. It was said that the small trinkets were all made by him.

They lived at the edge of the village, a mile away from the nearest neighbor. It wasn't just the people from other villages; even the folk of Tiger Head Village disliked the abrasive Big Mouth Liu. After all, she played by no one's rules.

Once, someone offered to adopt the boy and provide for Big Mouth Liu as well—a kind gesture, yet Big Mouth Liu not only refused but pointed her finger at the man and cursed him for half an hour, showing no regard for the village’s collective face.

Two years ago, an old bachelor who didn't mind her bad reputation invited the village chief to propose on his behalf. It should have been a joyous occasion, but it nearly turned into a funeral. Big Mouth Liu had grabbed a kitchen knife and chased the man through half the village; rumors had it she nearly hacked him to death.

It was said that even the village chief took a slash and was bedridden for days. Though the chief said nothing, those with keen eyes knew better than to provoke the mad old hag.

Thus, even fewer people were willing to get close to her. And Big Mouth Liu never spoke to anyone else.

She grew increasingly eccentric. What normal person would climb the mountain every single day? She would stare at the sky for hours, muttering things no one could understand. People whispered that Big Mouth Liu had likely been possessed by the Bone God.

Big Mouth Liu, however, was indifferent to the strange looks of the villagers. She climbed her mountain—a place that had a name, though only she knew it: Peach Blossom Mountain. It was a name she had chosen herself.

She sat cross-legged on the summit, gazing blankly at the sky. Her clothes, though worn, were impeccably clean, starkly different from the other mountain folk. Her white hair was kept neatly, and one could never tell she was the notorious shrew of the village.

Suddenly, a streak of silver light descended from the heavens.

Big Mouth Liu’s expression shifted—first to joy, then to ecstasy.

It was madness.

She scrambled to her feet and ran toward the light. It had landed exactly where her home stood. Tears streamed down her face, but she neither knew nor cared.