Chapter 4 : Lintai Village

Nestled by the river, Lintai Village was home to a handful of families who made their living as fishermen. The villagers were simple and kind-hearted, always looking out for one another and living in harmony.

The four of them stood at the entrance of the village, gazing at the worn-out wooden signboard. A sense of unease crept into their hearts. If the rumors were true, and this village had indeed been slaughtered by the demon "Yiluo," then the creature's cruelty was beyond imagination.

Suddenly, a young beggar stumbled forward and collapsed at their feet. Startled, the group rushed to help him up.

The boy's eyes were wide with terror, as if he had seen something unspeakable. He opened his mouth, trying to form words, but no sound came out.

"Could it be..." Bai Letian muttered to himself.

This scenario—the sudden appearance of a lone survivor—was all too familiar to him. It was a classic trope in those time-travel dramas he had seen. A surviving child often signified an impending crisis. An environment that seemed peaceful on the surface could be hiding a grave danger. And the most unusual person in such a setting was often the key to uncovering the truth.

"What happened?" Bai Letian was still lost in thought when a middle-aged man rushed over, his face full of concern.

"He doesn't look well!" Jiang Xianqing knelt beside the boy, speaking gently. "We should take him somewhere to rest."

"Wait… isn't this Xiaotao?" The man recognized the beggar and his expression grew even more anxious. "What happened to you? Ah, never mind. Come, let's take him to my house."

Without hesitation, Xu Yuhao lifted Xiaotao onto his back, and the four followed the man into the village.

The man introduced himself as Lin Jiu, a repairman in the village who specialized in fixing fishing tools. Xiaotao was the son of his neighbor, Lin Hai. A few months ago, Lin Hai had gone missing at sea during a storm, his body never recovered. Though the villagers believed he had perished, they had taken great care of Xiaotao, ensuring he wouldn't be left to fend for himself.

"He's been living alone ever since. Everyone has been looking out for him. But in the past few days, he suddenly disappeared. We were just about to search for him when we found him at the village entrance today," Lin Jiu explained.

Arriving at Lin Jiu's home, they found the interior simple—just a table and a few chairs. After settling Xiaotao on a mat, Lin Jiu said, "Make yourselves comfortable. I'll go prepare some food." Then, he hurried into another room.

Bai Letian caught Wen Qingyi's gaze and subtly gestured for her to come over. They stepped aside into a quiet corner.

"What is it, Xiao Bai?" Wen Qingyi whispered.

"Senior Sister, something feels off. We should be careful," Bai Letian said, his tone filled with caution.

"I agree," Wen Qingyi nodded. "Xiaotao's behavior was strange. It felt like he didn't want us to enter the village. His eyes were filled with fear."

Exchanging thoughts, they silently conveyed their suspicions to Xu Yuhao and Jiang Xianqing. Without words, the group reached an unspoken agreement—to stay alert and observe for now.

That evening, they ate in silence, their wariness unspoken but evident in their guarded glances.

When night fell, the village was eerily quiet. The only sounds were the occasional chirping of insects and the whisper of the wind through the trees. The four of them rose in the dead of night and gathered outside.

Xu Yuhao closed his eyes, pressing his palms together. After a brief moment of silence, he placed his hands over his eyes and murmured, "Heaven's Eye, open!"

"Pfft!" Bai Letian couldn't help but chuckle. "What kind of ridiculous trick is that? You've been watching too many movies."

Xu Yuhao ignored him, scanning their surroundings. Slowly, his expression turned grim. "It's true… The entire village is shrouded in a faint demonic aura. It's barely perceptible, but a specialized technique reveals it. What's strange is that there's no bloodshed—the villagers are all alive."

"That means the Water Fiend hasn't struck yet. Xiaotao's father might have been the first victim," Wen Qingyi speculated.

"Then we must prepare for battle. We can't let the villagers get hurt!" Jiang Xianqing declared.

As midnight approached, they split up to prepare for the inevitable confrontation. Xu Yuhao patrolled the village perimeter, Wen Qingyi remained inside to guard Xiaotao and Lin Jiu, while Bai Letian and Jiang Xianqing stayed in the village center, searching for any signs of the Water Fiend.

A sudden cry from Xu Yuhao shattered the silence: "It's here!"

A chill wind swept through the village, carrying with it a bone-deep cold. From the river's edge, a thick black mist began to rise. Within the swirling darkness, a towering figure slowly emerged. It was humanoid, yet eerily unnatural—its pale body glowing faintly, its eyes flickering green like ghostly flames. In its hand, it wielded a massive blade, its surface etched with blood-red runes that pulsed with ominous energy.

The Water Fiend had arrived.

Bai Letian tightened his grip on his twin blades, feeling cold sweat trickle down his forehead. He took a deep breath and shouted, "Prepare for battle!"

Without hesitation, Jiang Xianqing leaped forward, her short blade gleaming under the moonlight. Her eyes were sharp with determination. "Come on! Let's see what you've got!"

The demon did not answer. Instead, it raised its blade and slashed downward. A crescent of energy shot toward Jiang Xianqing, forcing her to dodge. She rolled to the side as the ground behind her exploded, sending dirt and debris flying. She steadied herself and retaliated, unleashing a technique called "Flowing Shadow Slash." Her strikes were fluid, continuous, and relentless, aiming for the creature's left side.

The Water Fiend blocked her attack with a single movement, letting out a low growl. With an effortless twist of its wrist, it countered with a sweeping strike. Jiang Xianqing ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding decapitation.

Bai Letian seized the opening and charged, his twin blades executing a devastating "Shattering Edge Strike." His attack aimed straight for the creature's chest, but the Water Fiend easily parried, forcing Bai Letian to stagger backward from the impact.

"This thing is too strong!" Bai Letian gritted his teeth.

From the house, Wen Qingyi sprinted into the fray, her whip lashing out to entangle the demon's wrist. But with a single shake, the Water Fie