Ch 9

The dawn cast a golden light over the village, but the air still carried a lingering tension. Shu Yi, Chen Wei, and Xiao Fang sat by a small fire outside the inn, nursing bowls of porridge provided by Lin Mei. The events of the previous night were fresh in their minds, and none of them had slept a wink.

Shu Yi stirred her bowl absentmindedly. "So, what do we do now? The shadow's gone, but I don't think this is over."

Chen Wei nodded, his expression serious. "The formation we destroyed was just a piece of the puzzle. There's more to this curse, and I think it's tied to the Wandering Scholar's past."

"Past?" Xiao Fang asked, his spoon hovering mid-air.

"Yes," Chen Wei said. "He didn't just curse this village out of spite. There's something he was trying to protect—or hide."

Shu Yi sighed. "Great. So, not only do we have to deal with angry villagers, but now we're chasing the secrets of a dead man. This just keeps getting better."

---

An Unexpected Visitor

Before they could continue their discussion, Lin Mei approached, her face pale. She glanced around nervously before speaking in a low voice.

"There's someone who wants to meet you," she said.

Shu Yi raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Lin Mei hesitated. "An old woman. She's lived in the village longer than anyone, but she rarely speaks to outsiders. She said she knows something about the Wandering Scholar."

Chen Wei stood immediately. "Where is she?"

Lin Mei gestured toward a small hut on the outskirts of the village. "She's waiting for you there. But be careful—she's not… normal."

Shu Yi groaned as she got to her feet. "Of course she isn't. Why would anything about this situation be normal?"

---

The Hermit's Tale

The hut was small and shabby, surrounded by overgrown weeds and a crumbling fence. As they approached, the door creaked open, and an old woman with a hunched back and sharp eyes emerged. She looked them over, her gaze lingering on Shu Yi.

"So, you're the alchemist," she said, her voice raspy but steady.

Shu Yi folded her arms. "That's me. And you are?"

"They call me Old Wen," the woman replied. "But names don't matter. What matters is what I know—and what you want to know."

Chen Wei stepped forward. "We're looking for the truth about the Wandering Scholar and the curse he left on this village."

Old Wen cackled, her laughter sending a chill down Shu Yi's spine. "Truth? Ha! The truth is uglier than you think."

She turned and shuffled back into the hut, leaving the door open. "Come in, if you dare."

---

Secrets Revealed

The inside of the hut was dark and cluttered, with shelves lined with jars of herbs and bones. A faint smell of decay hung in the air, making Xiao Fang gag.

Old Wen sat on a low stool and gestured for them to sit across from her. "The Wandering Scholar wasn't just a man of knowledge," she began. "He was a cultivator—a powerful one. But his methods were… unconventional."

Shu Yi frowned. "Unconventional how?"

"He dabbled in forbidden arts," Old Wen said. "He sought to create something that would grant him immortality. But such power comes at a cost."

"What did he create?" Chen Wei asked.

Old Wen's eyes darkened. "A vessel. A shadow of himself. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to tie his soul to this world. That shadow is what you fought last night."

Shu Yi felt a chill run down her spine. "So, he's not really gone?"

"No," Old Wen said. "Destroying the formation weakened his connection, but it didn't sever it completely. To truly end his curse, you'll need to find his original body—and destroy it."

---

A New Mission

Shu Yi leaned back, her mind racing. "And where exactly is this body?"

Old Wen shrugged. "If I knew that, I wouldn't be living in this cursed village. But there are clues—if you know where to look."

Chen Wei glanced at Shu Yi. "This just got a lot more complicated."

Shu Yi groaned. "Fantastic. First, we're alchemists and travelers. Now we're grave robbers."

Xiao Fang tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least it's an adventure, right?"

Shu Yi shot him a look. "If you call fighting undead shadows and digging up ancient corpses an adventure, sure."

---

The Journey Ahead

As they left Old Wen's hut, the sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows over the village. Shu Yi felt a strange mix of dread and determination.

"We need a plan," she said. "If we're going to find this body, we'll need supplies—and information."

Chen Wei nodded. "Agreed. The Wandering Scholar's past will lead us to his resting place. We just have to follow the trail."

Xiao Fang grinned. "Sounds like fun. I'll pack snacks."

Shu Yi rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. Despite the danger, she felt a spark of excitement. This was more than just a mission—it was a chance to uncover secrets that had been buried for decades.