Chapter 21: Mr. Chong and Hua Liusha
Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Mr. Chong and Hua Liusha
This Big Cricket actually wants to enter the village!
’Something’s wrong!’
Waves of uncertainty crashed through Zhu Ge’s mind.
This Big Cricket had acted ferocious at first, yet beneath that ferocity, it seemed to hide a certain goodwill toward them.
But when Zhu Ge invited it into the village, it revealed both eagerness and astonishment.
It was as if...
The Big Cricket genuinely wanted to come in!
Whether it wanted to eat people or had some other purpose, Zhu Ge had no way of knowing.
But the Big Cricket’s line, "You’re inviting me into the village?" definitely seemed suspicious.
"It’s not a matter of whether I dare or not..."
Seeming to realize it had been too obvious, the Big Cricket’s tone reverted to its previous manner.
"The main thing is, there are two rather strange auras in your village. I don’t know if I could win a fight against them."
"If not, then you should just come out, kid. I’ll take you to find your master."
"After it’s done, just have your master give me a little something for my trouble."
’Go out?’
Zhu Ge would never go out.
He hadn’t let his guard down around the Big Cricket at all. Rushing out without knowing what might happen was out of the question.
"A little something? What kind of reward do you want? That person just now was my master’s disciple. I can go ask him if he has anything," Zhu Ge said, fishing for information.
"Anything will do. But your master carries all his good stuff on him. His disciple won’t have access to it," the Big Cricket replied.
Zhu Ge nodded slightly and asked, "By the way, Mr. Chong, you’ve lived here for so many years. How come I’ve never known you before?"
"Before?" The Big Cricket sat right down, crossing its powerful hind legs like an old man settling in for a long chat.
"Don’t you know your master suppressed all the non-Human Race beings around here so much they could barely breathe?"
"I used to be just a minor demon. Your master spared me once, and that’s the only reason I’m still alive today, heh."
"If your master hadn’t gone away, I reckon I’d still be lying low!"
’Master saved the Big Cricket?’
A look of realization dawned on Zhu Ge’s face. "I see. You’ve had a hard time, Mr. Chong."
’As if I’d believe that!’
’There’s definitely something fishy about what this Big Cricket is saying!’
"In that case, Mr. Chong, do you know what other races live near our Jianshan Village?"
As a member of the Demon Race who had lived nearby for a long time, the Big Cricket should have some knowledge of the situation.
This information might give Zhu Ge a few clues.
"Nearby? You mean besides the Human Race?" The Big Cricket lay on the ground, swinging its crossed legs. Its wings still vibrated, producing a sound, but it was somewhat muffled.
"There are quite a few!"
"Take me, for instance. I’m from the south. I hardly ever come out, and I usually just get by eating grass and leaves."
"To the east, a great tiger became a god and took over three mountains. Its power is incredible. People call it the Mountain Monarch."
"To the west, it seems an aura flared up once. That was also a newly ascended god, but I don’t know what it was. It never showed its face."
As it spoke, the Big Cricket sneered. "Speaking of which, the most formidable territory is this one right here on Jianshan Mountain, occupied by your master. Even the Mountain Monarch has been beaten by your master more than once."
’Master is that powerful?’
Zhu Ge nodded slightly.
’That makes sense. My master is from the Confucian Family, but he’s not one of those stuffy scholars who just spout classical platitudes. He’s a true scholar of the "Six Arts of the Gentleman."’
The Six Arts of the Gentleman—Rites, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, and Mathematics!
His master was well-rounded, developed in etiquette, music, archery, horsemanship, literature, and mathematics.
The type to swing his fists while preaching about benevolence and righteousness.
It was only natural that he would beat up the surrounding non-human races. Otherwise, Jianshan Village wouldn’t have known peace for so many years.
However, Zhu Ge’s focus wasn’t on the Big Cricket’s flattery of his master. Instead, he asked:
"Besides the Mountain Monarch, you said there’s a god to the west as well?"
"That’s right! But it should only be at the Shrine Prison Realm," the Big Cricket said. "And its aura only leaked for a moment after it ascended to godhood. After that, it vanished without a trace."
"I reckon your master went to investigate it, but I don’t know if he found anything. Anyway, I have no idea what that thing is. Shrine Prison Realm? It’s really weak. It might even be dead for all I know."
"I see." Zhu Ge nodded, his mind already working on a plan.
"What else do you want to ask? Go on, ask more," the Big Cricket said in a leisurely tone. "Anyway, when your master gets back, I’m going to demand payment from him. One question... hmm, one payment per question."
Zhu Ge wasn’t concerned about payment. If he couldn’t resolve this matter, whatever happened afterward would have nothing to do with him anyway.
The most pressing task was to find the crucial link, the weak point, of the two gods in the village.
However, just as he was about to ask something else, he saw the Big Cricket’s body suddenly spring up.
"Oh no, I sense danger! You’re on your own!"
With that, the Big Cricket shot away again with a WHOOSH.
’Danger?’
Zhu Ge had no time to think. He immediately found a bush, dropped to the ground, and quieted his breathing.
He stared straight ahead along the border of Jianshan Village, letting his peripheral vision cover both the left and right sides of the boundary.
A moment later, a dark figure emerged from the foot of Jianshan Mountain not far away and started walking toward Zhu Ge. Its speed seemed to shift between fast and slow.
Within seconds, the figure ducked into the forest, followed immediately by the sound of crunching twigs and fallen leaves.
"CRUNCH... CRUNCH... CRUNCH..."
The sound drew closer, until it seemed to be right in front of Zhu Ge.
Zhu Ge lowered his gaze, trying his best to remain calm, but he couldn’t see anything.
Finally, the footsteps stopped, as if someone was standing face-to-face with him.
"Hee hee~"
A light chuckle sounded by Zhu Ge’s ear. He could almost feel someone breathing on his neck.
’Who is it...?’ Zhu Ge’s pupils contracted, but his body remained frozen and stiff.
In his mind, however, he was ready to don the Kunpeng Trait at a moment’s notice.
He slowly turned his head, but saw nothing.
It was as if the sensation just now had been an illusion.
The next moment, a light, cheerful song suddenly echoed through the woods:
"Little sparrow, fluffy and small, blows in your mouth and tickles your nose, sing a lying song and laugh out loud."
"Yesterday I saw the dried mushrooms sprout, today I see the milk-caps in the pot."
"One-three-five-seven-nine, two-four-six-seven-eight~"
"Everyone loves to eat mushrooms; peeling the cap, cutting the root, eaten raw. Three thousand blue-bruisers I eat in a day, but termite mushrooms in chicken soup are the best, yes the best~"
"One-two-three-four-five, six-seven-eight-nine-ten~"
The singing grew fainter and fainter.
Hearing this voice, Zhu Ge’s pupils shrank.
Hua Xiaomei, Hua Liusha!
That was Hua Liusha’s voice!
She had appeared before when he was working in the fields, using this very song to deceive him.
Back then, Zhu Ge only knew that Hua Liusha was dead. Even her parents, who were left with nothing but instinct, believed so.
And at that time, Hua Liusha had merely left behind a song before disappearing from the terraced fields, giving Zhu Ge no further information.
Now, Hua Liusha had appeared again!
And the lyrics of her song had changed!
The situation was bizarre, and Zhu Ge didn’t know if Hua Liusha had come for him, for the Big Cricket, or for both of them.
But no matter what, he had to seize this opportunity!
Hua Liusha was a breakthrough!
So, Zhu Ge shot to his feet and broke into a sprint, chasing after the sound of the song.
He shouted as he ran:
"Hua Liusha! Hua Xiaomei! It’s me, Zhu Ge!"
"Weren’t we engaged? Stop! I have something to tell you!"
"Hua Xiaomei—"
Before he could finish, a face with closed eyes, bleeding from the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, suddenly appeared before him, its nose almost touching his.
At the same time, a piercing shriek rang out:
"Marry me!"