Chapter 5 Painted Skin

"Quick, follow me, there's a tavern up ahead, though it has been abandoned. We can rest there temporarily!"

Pang Yong.

Dressed in military attire, with a resolute expression, he stood at the forefront of the group. He bore a striking resemblance to the modern-day movie star Zhen Zidan.

"Pang Yong!"

"That place has been deserted for many years. I'm afraid... it might be haunted."

Pei Rong, wearing a white fox fur coat and with a playful look on her face, expressed her worries as she gazed at the decrepit tavern in the setting sun.

"The sun is about to set."

"It looks like a black wind will start blowing across the Gobi soon."

"Once we encounter it, it will surely be a situation with no survivors!"

"Moreover, we don't know how far it is to the next lodging spot."

"Heh—don't worry, we have numbers on our side, and we can light another bonfire."

"Even if there are ghosts, they certainly won't dare to act recklessly."

Hearing Pang Yong's analysis, the people around him nodded in agreement. The black wind on the Gobi desert, formed by countless lost souls, is a sinister frenzy that can only be countered by a sufficient number of Amulets. Otherwise, encountering it would mean certain death.

Hence, it is definitely not wise to travel at night.

The only option was to quietly remind everyone to be careful of the ghosts.

"Creak!"

The tightly shut door of the tavern was forcefully pushed open from the outside.

The air seemed to have decayed, emitting a disgusting stench.

Pei Rong quickly pulled out her handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth, her face filled with disgust and disdain. However, given that danger lurked everywhere, they had no other option.

Looking at Pang Yong and the others, they were a lot more nonchalant, expertly taking positions in a triangular formation, supporting each other and carefully searching every inch of the space.

After confirming there were no living creatures and no danger, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Pang Yong looked around and said in a deliberately relaxed tone:

"This place might be in ruins!"

"But it still offers a roof over our heads!"

"Most importantly, the walls are impregnable, easily capable of blocking the black wind."

Listening to Pang Yong's analysis, people nodded in agreement. Some were even proficiently pulling out talismans, ink pots, and silk threads from their bosoms to set around the tavern.

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Sheets of Yellow Paper Talismans were pasted on the window frames, which had run out of paper.

In the lingering light of the sunset, a flicker of Golden Light appeared and then vanished.

Pang Yong stood in the center, his gaze sweeping around like that of a hawk.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Yet, he stared at the clay statue in the room, feeling somewhat curious, or rather, astonished.

He did not understand why, in the very center of the tavern, there would be a mud statue modeled as someone holding a sword hilt and sitting cross-legged.

A deity statue?

It didn't seem like it!

A clay figurine?

It didn't seem like it either!

Could it be an object of demonic possession?

Thinking of this possibility, Pang Yong's hand instinctively rested on the handle of his knife, his gaze turning colder than ever before.

"Commander!"

"Is there something wrong with this clay figure?"

Seeing Pang Yong's grave expression, a nearby soldier couldn't help but ask.

"This clay figure is clad in Armor, holding a Treasure Sword, its form bizarre, neither Daoist nor Buddhist; could it merely be a Military General from the battlefield?"

"There are no signs of it being worshipped here."

"That's why I feel puzzled," Pang Yong replied.

Listening to his words, the people around him nodded repeatedly.

"Ah!"

Just as he was about to step forward for a closer examination, Pei Rong, standing by the side, seemed startled and suddenly let out a scream.

A sand scorpion the size of an ordinary person's fist suddenly emerged from the ground.

Its sharp Poison Sting aimed at Pei Rong's foot.

Swoosh!

With a beautiful flourish of his long knife, Pang Yong responded faster than anyone could react. The fist-sized sand scorpion was immediately pinned to the ground.

The scorpion struggled to lift its head, its black-lit poison sting curling upwards, aiming to strike Pang Yong.

However, all efforts were futile.

Its poison sting could only reach the blade.

After struggling a few times, it finally deflated slowly like a deflated ball.

Seeing the scorpion dead, Pei Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief, still frightened.

"Ah, that scared me to death, scared me to death!"

"I didn't expect there to be scorpions here!"

"Lucky that you, Pang Yong, acted quickly, or else I would have been stung."

Looking at Pei Rong's scared face, Pang Yong nodded coldly and whispered instructions, "Everyone, be careful of the ground."

"To avoid insect bites!"

"Leader!"

"What's there to be afraid of?!"

"Just bring it on, we might as well make a dish out of it!"

"This season's scorpions are the most plump haha."

Hearing this, the people around also burst into laughter.

"Just cook if you're going to cook!"

"Stop the nonsense!"

Seeing Pang Yong's displeased face, everyone quickly shut up and got busy.

"Yes!"

The armored soldiers next to him nodded heavily, skillfully spraying sulfur. Affected by the pungent smell, numerous insects emerged from the ground, scrambling outward as if fleeing for their lives.

Boom!

Countless piles of dry wood were stacked together and finally ignited.

Pang Yong, Pei Rong, and others sat around the campfire, talking softly.

Dozens of soldiers were arranged around in a certain formation.

As the remnant sun set.

The outside became darker and colder, even the hanging tavern sails were swept up, making crackling noises.

Looking through the gaps of doors and windows, the world outside became rapidly fog-covered.

Gazing into the distance, the black wind swept through, where cries of countless people and roars of numerous ghosts seemed to echo.

Uncontrollably shivering.

"The black wind has started!"

"Everyone must be careful, never leave the range of the house."

"Otherwise, there's no survival!"

The robust and resolve-faced Pang Yong held his long knife, vigilant.

The terror of the black wind was well-known, naturally, no one dared to test it with their bodies.

"Campfire!"

"Burn it stronger!"

"This weather is strangely cold!"

Seeing Pei Rong rubbing her hands, breathing heavily, and stomping her feet, shivering, Pang Yong quickly instructed.

As logs were thrown into the fire pit one by one, the originally cold space began to gradually warm up.

The first half of the night passed safely.

The outside black wind raged while the inside was warm as spring.

The physically weakest Pei Rong, already dozing off beside the fire pit, head nodding off bit by bit.

Pang Yong carefully guarded her left and right, his eyes sharp as lightning, fearing she'd be disturbed by poisonous insects.

The tensely held hearts of everyone gradually relaxed.

But just at this moment!

The tightly closed door suddenly made a knocking sound.

As if someone was knocking.

Hearing this abrupt noise, whether it was Pang Yong or the others, all suddenly changed their expressions. Their hands instinctively rested on the handles of their knives.

Only in this way could they feel slightly more secure.

The dozing Pei Rong was also startled awake, looking bewildered she asked, "Is someone knocking?"

"Pei Rong!"

"Anyone knocking at this hour, is definitely not good news."

Pang Yong looked nervously at the door, his eyes showing an unprecedented seriousness.

The door was pushed again.

Looking through the gap, only to see an old man in thin clothing, skinny as a skeleton.

Shivering in the cold wind, his complexion pale….