Chapter 39: Leaving the City (Please Collect)
Chapter 39: Leaving the City (Please Collect)
The sky was a dismal grey.
Fang Xi looked up, narrowing his eyes.
Ever since Black Stone City had fallen into the Demonic Domain, the people within the entire city had not seen the sun again.
However, when it was daytime outside, the city was like a cloudy day, with a hint of light.
When it was night outside, the entire city plunged into bottomless darkness.
Outside the city gates.
Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the layer of black mist that separated inside from out.
Beside him was the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall's convoy.
Liu Tao Tao, Mu Piao Miao, and others also carried their bundles, their faces etched with anxiety.
Even Zhang Jun Ming was there, bringing several street urchins with him.
"We've tried this black mist. No matter how we try to leave, we always end up back where we started. . . Even if we dig tunnels, the black mist is there underground too!"
Mu Cang Long sighed and asked, "When do we depart?"
"Waiting for someone!"
Fang Xi waited silently.
After about the time it takes two sticks of incense to burn, another group of people arrived.
It was a convoy of dozens, surrounding two carriages in the middle.
The curtain of the front carriage was lifted, revealing a mountain of flesh: none other than Han Pang Zi. "Haha. . . Brother Fang. . . Upon receiving your message, Old Han immediately brought all his belongings to seek refuge with you!"
Fang Xi looked at the two carriages, especially the glossy, well-fed horses, feeling somewhat speechless.
At a time when people in the city were constantly starving to death, to be able to feed beasts so fat and strong, it truly was quite inhuman!
'Damn it, where did this guy get his food from. . . Oh, right, it was from me, so never mind! '
He shook his head, looking at the people who had chosen to follow him, his voice gradually growing serious: "I only have one talisman, and only one chance. When the passage appears, you must seize it yourselves!"
Fang Xi stepped up to the black mist and took out the Barrier-Breaching Talisman.
At that moment, the giant tree in the city seemed to sense something, its countless leaves rustling and trembling.
"Awoo!"
A demonic wolf, its body entwined with vines, roared towards the sky and galloped furiously towards them on all fours.
Not only that, in the central area of the city, there was also a giant python with half its body severed, and an ape larger than a house. . .
These demonic servants, normally responsible for guarding the Demonic Tree's main body, were actually pouring out as if in a full-scale assault!
'It's anxious, it's really anxious! '
Fang Xi's lips curved slightly. This sight only strengthened his resolve. "Go!"
With spiritual power infused, the Barrier-Breaching Talisman swiftly flew out. Countless silver threads exploded from the talisman, twisting. . . and merging into the black mist.
Woooo!
The black mist churned violently, then a passage appeared.
Faintly, one could discern blurred images of the outside world, along with faint rays of sunlight!
That was the light of hope!
"Go!"
Seeing this, Fang Xi cast one last look at Black Stone City, noticing that the demonic wolf had already reached the outer district. He smiled faintly, picked up Bai He, and like a flash of lightning, swiftly darted into the passage.
"Follow up!"
Mu Cang Long had just intended to follow with his daughter when he noticed someone was even faster!
It was Han Pang Zi!
Though he resembled a ball of flesh, his movements were incredibly agile, truly like a rolling sphere. With an undeniable momentum, he was the second to tumble into the passage.
"Go! Go!"
Watching the passage slowly blur and even show signs of disappearing, Zhang Jun Ming seemed to awaken from a dream. He picked up Gou'er with one hand, Xiao Yun with the other, and carried another child on his back. His figure flashed repeatedly as he rushed into the passage.
...
Inside the passage, the sensation was profoundly disorienting.
Time and space seemed to twist.
But Fang Xi's expression remained firm as he pressed forward.
Suddenly!
Intense sunlight poured down. Ahead, a broken official road appeared, with green mountains and farmlands not far away. . . Everything became clear.
Black Stone City had vanished behind them, replaced by a mass of black mist, like a colossal dark bowl covering the earth.
"We. . . got out?"
Bai He looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, and tears immediately streamed down her face.
This wasn't just excitement; it was also due to her eyes being injured.
Living in constant dimness for so long, the sudden exposure to sunlight could cause light sensitivity.
Behind Fang Xi came the ball-like Han Pang Zi, Zhang Jun Ming, Mu Cang Long. . .
A large stream of people poured out, looking at the green mountains and clear waters outside, each one weeping with relief: "We're alive. . . we're alive!"
At this moment, even Mu Cang Long and Zhang Jun Ming felt a profound sense of surviving a calamity.
Just as they were sighing, someone suddenly called out: "Oh no. . . the passage is blocked!"
It was common for people, desperate to live, to crowd a single passage and then get stuck, unable to get out.
"No, the passage is closing!"
Mu Cang Long watched the passage in the black mist continuously shrinking, equally panicked, and looked at Fang Xi.
"The talisman's power is about to run out. . . I don't have a second one."
Fang Xi shook his head.
A first-order Barrier-Breaching Talisman, it seemed, only had the effect of temporarily opening a passage into the Demonic Domain, and its duration wasn't very long.
'To completely break through the Demonic Tree's Demonic Domain, I'd need at least a second-order Barrier-Breaching Talisman, and it would have to be before it fully advances! '
A thought suddenly surfaced in Fang Xi's mind, then he chuckled to himself and shook his head.
Before reaching Foundation Establishment, why would he be bored out of his mind trying to deal with the Demonic Tree?
And just then, the passage in the black mist finally slowly closed.
The last person to emerge was Tang Xuan of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall!
He stopped his handcart, looked around, and immediately felt a sense of bewilderment. "Liu Tao Tao, Junior Sister Liu. . . she's still behind. She even pushed me. . . What about her?"
If not for Liu Tao Tao, with him pushing the handcart and someone else on it, he would never have been able to squeeze out!
"Life and death are determined by fate!"
Fang Xi sighed and turned to leave.
They were still too close to the Demonic Tree. If that demon reacted and expanded its Demonic Domain, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Seeing him leave, the other survivors, as if finding their backbone, all followed Fang Xi.
They, too, wanted to get as far away from that demonic lair as possible!
...
Night fell.
Fang Xi roasted two pieces of Taisui meat and was eating them bite by bite.
His appetite was enormous now; only special demonic meat could barely fill him.
By the other bonfire, everyone else was eating the roasted meat they had hunted as if starved.
Even Mu Piao Miao, at this moment, had completely abandoned any semblance of a lady, gnawing on a roasted rabbit in her hand, even crushing the bones directly with a crunching and tearing sound!
Mu Cang Long maintained a semblance of decorum. After finishing his roasted meat, he wiped the grease from his mouth and looked at Fang Xi: "Where do we go next?"
"Does Master Mu have any suggestions?"
Fang Xi countered with a question. He was genuinely unfamiliar with Da Liang.
Even now, he could only confirm that Black Stone City was located within Ding Province.
As for the geography, customs, and local flavor, he had only ever heard of them, never seen them.
"Hmm, Black Stone City is ruined. Now, with demons causing chaos and people suffering. . . Perhaps only the provincial capital of Ding Province—Three Yuan City—is relatively stable."
Mu Cang Long offered his suggestion: "Three Yuan City has the Ding Province Army stationed there, and not far from it is the main gate of Yuan He Mountain. . . It has been peaceful for over a hundred years."
"It certainly seems like a peaceful place to go."
Fang Xi was indifferent about where they went.
However, he didn't necessarily need to stay with these people.
After all, one must be wary of others.
Although he claimed that the spirit pills and talismans to deal with the demons were bought by him—which was true—what if someone didn't believe him?
What if someone told the local authorities or Yuan He Mountain?
Therefore, Fang Xi decided that once they reached the outskirts of Three Yuan City, he would part ways with this group.
"Haha, Brother Fang is going to Three Yuan City?"
Not far away, a mountain of flesh rolled over—it was Han Pang Zi!
Fang Xi couldn't help but admire this man. Not only did he successfully escape himself, but thanks to his carriages, his entire family of concubines also made it out safely, all in one piece.
Han Pang Zi then said: "Though Old Han isn't a local bigwig in Three Yuan City, I at least have some connections. Brother, you rescued me from the depths of despair today, so feel free to find Old Han another day; there's nothing Old Han won't do for you!"
"Hmm!"
Although they had conducted business several times and he was confident that the other party was relatively trustworthy, Fang Xi didn't fully believe him and merely humored him casually.
The next morning.
The survivors scattered in twos and threes, and Zhang Jun Ming also came to bid farewell.
Zhang Jun Ming clasped his fist: "Many thanks, Brother Fang, for saving my life. However, I won't be going to Three Yuan City. Among these children, only Xiao Yun has relatives, and I must send her to them! May the green mountains remain and the waters flow long, we shall meet again!"
"We shall meet again!"
Fang Xi clasped his fist in farewell.
After Zhang Jun Ming left with the group of children, only the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall group and Han Pang Zi's two factions remained.
"Hehe. . . I can lend you a carriage. Just return it when you reach a place with people ahead."
Han Pang Zi waved his hand with extraordinary generosity.
The countless gold and silver treasures in Black Stone City, in the later stages of the Demonic Domain, were practically no different from bricks and dirt; anyone with ambition could get rich.
However, a carriage was indeed quite necessary at this moment, so Fang Xi didn't refuse. He arranged for Bai He and some of the other women, such as Tang Xuan's female companion, to board the carriage.
...
The group slowly set off.
After less than half an hour, Fang Xi raised his hand: "Stop!"
"What happened?"
Mu Cang Long and Han Pang Zi immediately rushed over, their expressions alert.
"Something's happening."
Fang Xi closed his eyes. His enhanced hearing faintly picked up a cry from behind:
"Help. . . Someone, please help. . ."
"It's behind us!"
Fang Xi unleashed his movement technique, disappearing instantly and darting backward.
Mu Cang Long and Han Pang Zi exchanged glances, then followed, bewildered.
After turning past a hillside, a boy's voice reached their ears: "Great Hero Mu. . . Big Brother Fang. . . help. . . sob sob. . ."
"It seems to be that child who was with Zhang Jun Ming, named A'gou, no, Gou'er. " Han Pang Zi stroked his chin, a little startled.
Fang Xi's hearing was not only clearly superior to his, but vastly beyond!
To be an enemy of such a keen person would certainly be extremely dangerous and terrifying.
Fortunately, they were not enemies, but friends!
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