NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 39: Leaving the City
The sky was dark and gloomy.
Fang Xi looked up, squinting his eyes.
Ever since Blackstone City fell into the Demonic Domain, its inhabitants had not seen the sun again.
During what would be daytime outside, the city resembled a perpetual overcast, with just a hint of light.
At night, the entire city plunged into impenetrable darkness.
Outside the city gates,
Fang Xi stood with hands clasped behind him, gazing at the layer of black mist that separated the inner and outer realms.
Beside him, the convoy from Baiyun Dojo awaited.
Tang Xuan pushed a flatbed cart carrying Madam Bai, her exquisite beauty now clouded by worry as she stared at the black mist. Around them were various supplies.
Liu Taotao, Mu Piaomiao, and others also stood nearby, their expressions filled with concern, each bearing packed bags.Even Zhang Junming was present, accompanied by several street children.
“We’ve tried traversing the black mist,” Tang Xuan explained, “no matter how far we venture out, we always end up back where we started… Even digging underground doesn’t help; the black mist extends beneath!”
Mu Canglong sighed and asked, “When do we set off?”
“Waiting for more people!” Fang Xi replied quietly.
After roughly the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, another group approached.
It was a caravan comprising dozens, centered around two horse-drawn carriages.
The curtain of the leading carriage lifted, revealing a mountain of flesh - none other than Fatty Han. “Ha ha… Fang-brother… upon receiving your message, old Han promptly gathered everything and rushed here!”
Fang Xi gazed at the two carriages, particularly noting the sleek and well-groomed horses, feeling somewhat speechless.
In a city where people were continuously starving to death, maintaining such robust and fat livestock bordered on callous extravagance!
‘Where the hell is this guy getting his food from? Oh wait, never mind, it’s probably mine then, no issue there!’
Shaking his head, Fang Xi looked at the people following him, his voice growing somber. “I only have one talisman, which means we get just one chance. When the path appears, you must seize it yourselves!”
Approaching the black mist, Fang Xi took out the Forced Entry Talisman.
At that moment, the colossal tree within the city seemed to sense something, causing its countless leaves to rustle audibly.
“Aoouuu!”
A faewolf entwined with vines howled towards the sky, sprinting furiously towards them.
Not only that, but from the city center emerged a massive half-severed python and an ape larger than a house…
These demonic servants, usually guarding the Demon Tree itself, appeared ready to launch a full-scale assault!
It’s getting desperate, really desperate! Fang Xi’s lips curled slightly; this sight only strengthened his resolve. “Go!”
Infusing magical energy, he launched the Forced Entry Talisman. Countless silver threads burst forth from it, twisting… and penetrating deep into the black mist.
Whooosh!
The black mist violently churned, revealing a narrow passageway.
Dimly visible through the haze were blurry glimpses of the outside world, along with strands of sunlight peeking through - the radiance of hope!
“Let’s move!”
With that, Fang Xi cast one last glance at Blackstone City. Noticing the faewolf had reached the Outer City, he smiled calmly, gripped Lily firmly, and darted into the channel like lightning.
“Follow me!”
As Mu Canglong prepared to lead his daughter after Fang Xi, he realized someone was quicker - Fatty Han!
Despite his rotund appearance, his movements were incredibly agile, resembling a ball rolling swiftly. With unwavering determination, he became the second to enter the passage.
“Hurry up!” Watching as the passageway began to blur, seemingly on the verge of vanishing, Zhang Junming snapped out of his daze. Holding Gouzi in one hand, Xiao Yun in the other, and carrying another child on his back, he flashed rapidly into the fading channel.
Inside the tunnel, everything felt disorienting.
Time and space seemed to twist and distort around them.
However, Fang Xi’s expression remained resolute as he continued forward.
Suddenly!
Bright sunlight streamed down, revealing a broken stretch of an official road ahead. In the distance, verdant mountains and lush farmlands appeared…everything opened up before their eyes.
Behind them, Blackstone City had vanished entirely, replaced by a dense black fog resembling a colossal dark bowl covering the earth.
“We…made it out?” Lily looked up at the blue sky with its drifting clouds, tears streaming down her face.
Her tears were not solely from emotion but also due to eye strain. Having spent prolonged periods in dim conditions, sudden exposure to sunlight can cause photophobia.
Following Fang Xi, Fatty Han moved swiftly like a rolling ball, trailed by Zhang Junming, Mu Canglong…
A torrent of people emerged, gazing upon the picturesque landscape of green hills and clear waters, each one weeping with gratitude:
“We survived… We actually survived!”
Even Mu Canglong and Zhang Junming couldn’t help feeling a profound sense of relief after narrowly escaping death.
As they were caught in emotional turmoil, someone suddenly cried out, “No…the passage is getting blocked!”
In desperate attempts to save their lives, people often crowded into narrow passages only to find themselves trapped - a common occurrence.
“No, the passage is closing!”
Mu Canglong watched as the channel within the black mist steadily shrank, feeling equally alarmed and turning to Fang Xi.
“The paper talisman’s effect is about to expire… I don’t have a second one on me,” Fang Xi shook his head.
It seemed that a tier-1 Forced Entry Talisman could only temporarily open a passage into the Demonic Domain, and for a limited duration at that.
‘To completely breach the Demon Tree’s Demonic Domain, at least a tier-2 Forced Entry Talisman would be needed, and it must be done before its ascension!’
A sudden thought crossed Fang Xi’s mind, but he quickly chuckled and dismissed it with a shake of his head.
Without reaching Foundation Establishment, tackling the Demon Tree would be sheer folly.
Just then, the channel in the black mist finally began to slowly close.
The last person emerging was Tang Xuan from Baiyun Dojo!
He stopped his handcart, looked around, and spoke with evident confusion, “Liu Taotao, Junior Sister Liu… she’s still back there. She even pushed me out… what should we do?”
Without Liu Taotao’s assistance, pushing the handcart loaded with people, he wouldn’t have made it through!
“It’s fate whether she survives or not!” Fang Xi sighed, turning to leave immediately.
They were still too close to the Demon Tree; if the demon regained composure and expanded its Demonic Domain, chaos would ensue.
Seeing him depart, the other survivors followed like finding their leader, rallying behind Fang Xi.
All of them shared the desire to get as far away from this demonic lair as possible!
Nightfall approached.
Fang Xi was roasting two pieces of Beefwood meat and eating them slowly. His appetite had grown significantly, requiring special demon meat just to feel satiated.
Near another bonfire, everyone else devoured their roasted game as if famished, gnawing on it voraciously.
Even Mu Piaomiao abandoned her usual genteel demeanor, tearing into a grilled rabbit with gusto, crunching bones audibly!
Mu Canglong managed to maintain some decorum while eating. After finishing his portion, he wiped the grease from his mouth and turned to Fang Xi, “Where should we head next?”
“Do you have any suggestions, Master Mu?” Fang Xi responded with a question, genuinely unfamiliar with Great Liang. At this point, he only knew that Blackstone City was within Ding Province.
As for its geography, local customs, or people’s way of life, he had merely heard about them but never experienced firsthand.
“Hmm, Blackstone City is ruined now, plagued by demonic chaos and suffering… Perhaps the only relatively safe place would be Sanyuan City, the capital of Ding Province.”
Mu Canglong offered his suggestion, “Sanyuan City is guarded by the Dingzhou Army, and nearby lies the main gate of Yuanhe Mountain… It has remained peaceful for over a hundred years.”
“From what you say, it seems like a truly safe destination,” Fang Xi acknowledged.
He didn’t particularly care where they went, but he wasn’t necessarily keen on traveling with this group anymore. After all, one must always be cautious around others.
While he claimed that the spirit pills and paper talismans used against demons were purchased himself, which was true, there might still be skeptics among them. What if someone reported him to the authorities or Yuanhe Mountain?
Therefore, Fang Xi decided that once they reached Sanyuan City’s outskirts, he would part ways from this crowd.
“Haha, Brother Fang heading to Sanyuan City too?” A rolling mass approached not far away—it was Fatty Han!
Fang Xi couldn’t help but admire him; not only had Fatty Han successfully escaped, thanks to the carriage, his entire harem of concubines also made it out intact.
Fatty Han declared, “Although I’m no local bigwig in Sanyuan City, I do have some connections. Today, brother, you’ve saved me from dire straits. In the future, just seek out Old Han, and I’ll never turn down your requests!”
“Sure!” Despite having transacted with Fatty Han before and finding him relatively trustworthy, Fang Xi didn’t fully believe his grand promises and simply brushed them off casually.
The next morning,
Survivors gradually dispersed in small groups, and Zhang Junming also came to bid farewell.
Zhang Junming clasped his hands respectfully, “Many thanks for saving our lives, Fang-xiong. However, I won’t be heading to Sanyuan City. Among these children, only Xiao Yun has surviving relatives, so I must escort her to them! May our paths cross again amidst enduring landscapes!”
“Farewell, may we meet again!”
Fang Xi reciprocated the gesture of farewell.
After Zhang Junming departed with the youngsters, only two groups remained at the site - Baiyun Dojo and Fatty Han’s entourage.
“Ahem… I can lend you one of my carriages; just return it when you reach the next inhabited area.” Fatty Han waved generously.
In Blackstone City, with its abundance of gold and silver, such wealth had become as common as bricks or dirt during the late stages of the Demonic Domain. Anyone determined could easily amass riches.
However, a carriage was indeed needed at this moment, and Fang Xi accepted without hesitation. He promptly arranged for Lily and some womenfolk, including Tang Xuan’s paramour, to board the carriage.
The group slowly set off on their journey.
Less than an hour later, Fang Xi raised his hand and called out, “Stop!”
“What’s happening?” Mu Canglong and Fatty Han rushed over, expressions alert.
“Something’s not right.”
Fang Xi closed his eyes, utilizing his enhanced hearing to faintly detect cries from behind them:
“Help me… Somebody, help…”
“It’s coming from back there!” Fang Xi swiftly moved using his agile techniques, darting away towards the source of the sounds.
Mu Canglong and Fatty Han exchanged glances, puzzled yet following closely behind.
After rounding a hillside, they too heard a boy’s voice: “Great Hero Mu… Big Bro Fang… Help me… sniffle…”
“That seems like the kid who was with Zhang Junming, named A-Gou - no, Gouzi,” Fatty Han rubbed his chin, feeling somewhat startled.
Fang Xi’s hearing ability was not only clearly superior but far beyond his own! Having such a keen individual as an enemy would undoubtedly be dangerous and terrifying.
Fortunately, they were friends, not foes!