The Eastern Continent Swordsman
CH. 56 – Night Village

Perhaps, the journey through the path of the Gorge of Hell will only be taken by people who have no other choice. There is nothing beautiful or pleasant to be had from a journey through the path of the Abyss. When night falls, this path sends an icy cold that anyone passing by will be tormented by the piercing cold. While when the sun is shining, this path is like a path that is close to the sun. Scorching and stinging.

Zhou Fu and Yang Zi had walked ten miles from the location of the hell valley. Throughout those ten miles as well, the scenery they saw was only dry cliff rocks and dusty walkways. Because the heat was too stinging, the path they passed even gave rise to mirages that made the road look surging like water.

“We cannot choose the path of Hell's Ravine if we don't have horses!” yang Zi grumbled as he continued to wipe the sweaty beads that flooded his face. He was upset that his invitation to climb the cliff had always been rejected by Zhou Fu. Hundreds of meters above the path of the abyss of hell there is a sloping slope inhabited by humans. Zhou Fu was actually also in agreement with what Yang Zi was wrathing, but he was still thinking of the best alternative to heading to the Juda river.

“You think climbing a cliff as high and securam is not time consuming? Let's think of a better way while we keep going. At least this path is the fastest way to Juda,” said Zhou Fu who again refused Yang Zi's invitation to climb the steep cliff Caihong.

Yang Zi had almost halted Zhou Fu's words again but stopped as they both heard a loud scream from the top. Both Zhou Fu and Yang Zi both looked up, finding out the source of the screaming sound was coming from.

Like rain falling from the sky, the owner of the voice that a moment ago screamed was plunging free from heights. The body would have smashed into the rocks on the path of the Hell's Ravine had Zhou Fu not hurried to grab it.

“Aduuuh saaakiiiiiit!” exclaimed the owner of the voice which turned out to be a boy who was only about seven years old.

“You're not papa?” zhou Fu asked as soon as he found an arrow stuck in the boy's right shoulder. Zhou Fu lowered the boy from his carrier so he could check if there were any other possible injuries on the boy's body.

The boy shook his head slowly, indicating that he was not doing well. Although his right hand was hit by an arrow, the boy groaned in pain while holding his left knee. After Zhou Fu examined the passage, it turned out that there was a long, deep scratch wound on the back of the boy's calf. Despite being injured here and there, the boy took the time to bow while thanking Zhou Fu.

“Ka...You... How can it fall from up there?” Yang Zi approached, his right hand pointing towards the distant cliffs above.

“I was caught by the village security officer. Brother, it looks like my injuries need immediate treatment, can you guys take me to Night Village?” the boy looked at Zhou Fu and Yang Zi with a pleading gaze.

Yang Zi and Zhou Fu looked at each other when they heard the words that came from the boy's lips. For a child of his age and who is suffering from such severe injuries, normally they will cry and whine all the time. But the boy seemed to show maturity that exceeded his age.

“Why are these brothers silent? Is my request too troublesome?” the boy asked as he continued to tightly grip the knee of his left leg. From the way he gripped his leg, it was clear that the pain experienced by the boy was not mild. But still, his face showed absolutely no signs he would whine and cry.

Zhou Fu positioned his body to be on equal footing with the boy. His hands then moved gently up and down around the boy's wound. The boy felt a warm air pass through the surface of his skin when Zhou Fu's hands went back and forth to do first aid. The grip of the boy's hand slowly loosened, his face looked fresher.

“Thank you, Brother.. It feels so much better, it seems like I can go home alone this way,” the boy bent his body on Zhou Fu who was positioning himself as high as him. Again, Zhou Fu and Yang Zi were shocked because the boy was actually very ordinary to have serious injuries.

“Where is your home?” asked Zhou Fu and Yang Zi simultaneously.

“In the village of Night, not so far from here actually, only about fifteen miles from here is possible. Looks like these brothers have never been to our village?” The boy asked half a guess, it was indeed quite rare for people to know about the Night village.

“Don't I know the closest distance to the Hell's Gorge with the settlement is a hundred miles?” Yang Zi asked curiously.

“Yes. Because the village of Malam was never considered a settlement. Brother will definitely be happy to visit in our village,” said the boy with a carefree face. The severe pain in his legs had reduced quite a lot so he felt much better.

“Can we get a horse in your village?” Zhou Fu asked.

“Ah no, we do not ask for a gift. We have money, we will buy it from your father,” Yang Zi said while showing a black bag containing a piece of money to the seven-year-old boy.

“Unfortunately our village does not use money. We hate money, and live happily without money,” replied the boy with an expression that seemed to show honesty.

This then made Zhou Fu and Yang Zi look at each other again. A village without money? How could that happen? Yang Zi frowned because he did not understand.

“Alright, let's head to the Night village. If we get a horse there, it would be better than riding this precipice. How?” Zhou Fu threw a question at Yang Zi and was replied with a nod by the girl.

“Oh yes, what is your name?” Yang Zi asked the seven-year-old boy.

“Yuan Jin, Sister...”

***

To head to the Night village, Yuan Jin guided Zhou Fu and Yang Zi through a narrow cave located on the side of the cliff rocks in the path of the Hell's Ravine. The cave from the outside only looks like a small hole with a diameter of 80cm. To enter it, one must queue alternately because the entrance can only be passed by one person. Once through the door of the cave is more similar referred to as a black hole in the cliff wall, one will find if the cave has several hallways that meet each other at the same point.

“Ke here, Brother..” Yuan Jin briefed Zhou Fu and Yang Zi to enter the leftmost aisle. Occasionally, Zhou Fu saw Yuan Jin clutching his knee again, but every time Zhou offered him to carry the boy refused subtly.

“From its shape, it looks like this cave is made by humans and not the result of natural formations, is my guess wrong?” Zhou Fu tried to ask Yuan Jin as soon as he saw the shape of the cave passage that looked like an artificial cave. Yuan Jin nodded and confirmed Zhou Fu's conjecture. He also added that the Malam village is also not much different from the cave.

“Really? I was quite curious how it looked from the village that night,” said Yang Zi who was getting impatient to get to the place.

Yuan Jin explained also, for certain matters, the Night villagers deliberately made access to the path of the Hell's Gorge. Along the way to the village of Night, Yuan Jin had told me a little about his village. He told Zhou Fu and Yang Zi if the people in the Night village were actually descendants from the settlement in Maundo who were ejected.

“Why can that be?” Yang Zi asked, as he remembered, the citizens of Maundo did not have to pay as much tribute as the families living inside the giant wall.

“Kakak can ask my father directly later. What is clear is that we Night villagers are not very fond of things related to the citizens and government of Caihong. They are herding the discourse of justice but creating a flawed system of justice as well,” Yuan Jin said with a small smile on his face.

“Ah, her age was even too young to have this mature thinking,” Yang Zi whispered to Zhou Fu while nudging the young man's right shoulder.

“Your team seems to be happy to provoke trouble,” Zhou Fu said.

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Today I am Up 3 chapters long-term here...