This wilderness bordered on the North West Qian, where a major natural disaster had taken place. It was unlikely that people from elsewhere could arrive so quickly. One couldn't be too sure about that, but Daqian would definitely be the first to send someone for a firsthand investigation.
And those who arrived first wouldn't be weaklings. To slay the Evil Dao as they passed would make sense.
As for the rumor that Yu Ziqing himself took action, considering Yu Ziqing's frail arms and weak Qi-Blood, Yang didn't even entertain the possibility.
The short sword Yu Ziqing tucked into his waist as a prop was rusted beyond recognition and lacked even a trace of blood, yet it supposedly killed people...
This young man had many good qualities, but he loved to spin tales, boasting earlier about his hometown where no one starved and everyone had tasted meat.
Yang came back to his senses, once again sighing in secret at what a fine young man he was, lamenting only that he wasn't mute.
Yu Ziqing blathered a few words, seeing that Yang's mood had stabilized, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Truth be told, if it wasn't necessary, even if he was certain to kill, he hadn't planned to take down those Evil Dao rogues just yet.
Those Evil Dao rogues assumed Yu Ziqing couldn't understand their twisted dialect, and thus never considered anyone during their conversations. Or maybe they simply didn't care.
Most of the intelligence Yu Ziqing had at that point was piecemeal and organized from daily eavesdropping. Related to the Jinlan Mine, the rogues seldom discussed specifics and always kept their discussions cryptic, refusing to go into details about it.
They only went to the so-called mine because they needed the rare Jinlan Ore, and the mine needed the people they brought.
If he had any other option, Yu Ziqing wouldn't want to go to that mine, which was obviously not a good place to go.
After all, would a legitimate mine do deals with Evil Dao human traffickers?
Unfortunately, there was no other choice. Resources were already running thin.
Even if it meant being eaten or killed, it was still better than starving or dying of thirst in the wilderness. There was always a chance to take a gamble.
At least people shouldn't starve to death.
Now that those rogues were gone, the nearby mine still needed to be visited, but the uncertainties unexpectedly multiplied.
There was nothing to regret; regardless, Yu Ziqing couldn't endure standing by without acting while being slaughtered himself, nor watch the old man who imparted so much to him be hoisted up and butchered.
Yang seemed to see Yu Ziqing's worry, extending a hoof to touch him.
"Don't worry, the mine isn't far. When dawn comes, we'll head there. Survival first, but old sir, you're affected by an Evil Skill, and it won't be resolved easily."
Yang shook his head, showing a spirit of resignation, unconcerned with his current state.
"It's not like it can't be resolved. It's just that you've been under the Evil Skill for so long, and I'm not versed in their sorcery. As far as I know, the simplest way is to peel off an entire sheepskin to dissolve it. But in your current condition, even the best butcher's skill wouldn't spare you from the pain."
"Once we're there, I'll find a way to get us both fed, and then we can nourish ourselves."
Yang pointed towards the mine's direction, then at himself, writing the word "eat" on the ground before crossing it out.
Yu Ziqing pondered, understanding his meaning, and nodded.
"Right, these people captured others with Evil Skills, going to such lengths; it couldn't be just for fresh mutton. Perhaps it was really for convenience and concealment. Once we're there, we might find a way to solve it."
The night passed without incident.
At dawn, the temperature hadn't risen much. It got colder.
Yu Ziqing was frozen to the bone, starting a little fire to make some hot water and soften a piece of rock-hard dry flatbread, which he ate. After half an hour, he finally felt a bit of warmth.
Look, that's another reason why he didn't rush to eliminate those rogues earlier. Having four human-shaped furnaces nearby was a comfort.
Yu Ziqing took inventory of the few spoils of victory, secretly burying part of it under a pile of rocks. It never hurt to be prepared.
As the day brightened, under the dim sunlight, the group set off again. The sheep stumbled along behind, while the distant mountains drew nearer. Once they entered the continuous mountain range, the temperature rose slightly.
Revitalized, Yu Ziqing quickly climbed a hill to overlook the surroundings, searching the mountain hollow for a while.
"Old sir, I've roughly checked. This place is surrounded by mountains, like a closed entity, with likely geothermal energy underground. The mine is still active, probably for this reason."
Just as they entered the mountains, they received a rare piece of good news. In this increasingly chilling ghost weather, a warm place was exceptionally valuable.
However, as the group entered the mountains, along a barely visible path over three hills, Yu Ziqing felt the atmosphere turn peculiar.
One could see greenery here.
On either side were hills. The left side was scattered with some dead shrubs, topped with a protruding cliff and an abyssal canyon beyond.
The right side was uniformly covered with locust trees, lush with drooping gray flowers and a thick layer of fallen leaves colvering the ground.
From afar, the forest appeared like ranked soldiers.
Yu Ziqing frowned slightly, thinking even if the mountains were a bit warmer, the leaves should have all fallen by now, not continuing to bloom.
Even if the natural conditions here allowed it, there shouldn't be no trace of munching on any leaves or flowers. Hadn't any roaming animals passed through here?
Before Yu Ziqing could ponder more, the trailing sheep suddenly stirred, those sluggish and emaciated goats stumbling towards the right slope's low-hanging branches and flowers.
"If you want to die, go ahead."
Yu Ziqing stood there, exhorting.
Some goats seemed to understand, hesitating without daring to advance, yet a few charged forward, crazed, munching on leaves and flowers.
Yet nothing happened.
Only contented bleating and crunching sounds rose in chorus.
Seeing some goats being fine, their bloated bellies visibly swelling, more goats from the herd couldn't resist and joined in.
Moments later, the goats with round bellies stopped, collapsing under the trees, appearing utterly satisfied with blissful expressions.
At that moment, their bodies slowly sank into the leaf-covered ground, the leaves like quicksand, swallowing them bit by bit.
Within seconds, all was calm.
Yet the remaining goats, not appeased, acted as if they saw nothing, continuing to merrily munch on the leaves and flowers.
Everything seemed harmonious, yet Yu Ziqing was on the verge of having his hackles rise.
He firmly grasped the increasingly dazed Yang, keeping him from heading toward the locust forest, dragging him along the path through the mountain hollow.
Then, on the left slope, sparsely dotted with dead trees, a young woman in a robe emerged, solidifying from an indistinct form from behind a tree.
She poked her head from behind the tree, concern evident in her eyes, glanced at the sheep, and waved Yu Ziqing over.
"Take this side, that one's dangerous."
Yu Ziqing tilted his head, glanced briefly, then looked down at Yang, saying.
"Old sir, do you think this woman who suddenly appeared thinks I'm an easy mark?"
Yang looked right, then left, solemnly nodding at Yu Ziqing.
Yu Ziqing sighed, tightening his tattered large cloak.
Carefully observing the woman, with the freezing weather, dressed in a lightweight and somewhat torn gown, by the old man's standards, she would attract quite a few lecherous eyes in bustling areas.
"Miss, stop posing. In such ghostly cold weather, any worldly desires have long vanished."
With that, Yu Ziqing prepared to take the middle path onward.
He wanted to choose neither side, believing both were treacherous places.
One side was eerily silent in death; the other likely wasn't human.
However, the moment Yu Ziqing's foot was about to step on the ground, with a reflexive glance, he saw the woman still desperately gesturing as if replaying a scene, causing a sudden jarring thud in his heart.
She wanted him to take the middle path.