The woman's expression turned bitter. With the familiarity of someone who had repeated the story many times, she began to describe what had happened in the village.
This village is called Springwood Village. The person in charge is Galen Holdfast. I heard he is a level-forty-nine Spirit Meister.
Although we villagers regularly handed over some grain or money as protection fees, that lord never used his strength to oppress us. Instead, he protected us and helped us with real care. Because of that, we all respected him.
But starting seven days ago, everything changed.
I heard that a Spirit Master came to find Lord Galen that afternoon. He said he wanted to make a deal with him. No one knows what they discussed, but that night, Lord Galen shut his door and stopped coming out.
Then six days ago, many villagers started acting strangely. We did not think much of it then, but looking back now, that may have been when they were changed.
Wu Ling interrupted her. Changed how? Be specific.
The woman nodded obediently. Even after being interrupted, she showed no anger. In Wu Ling's eyes, it looked more like resignation, as if she had already lost all hope for the future.
Then I have to start from five days ago. That day, half the villagers suddenly went berserk and attacked the other half, the ones who were still normal. Many people died before they could react.
But we survivors soon discovered that the villagers who should have been dead joined the rioters again after some time.
Those revived villagers had stiff limbs and blank eyes. No, to be precise, some of them did not even have eyes. The way to tell normal people from the revived dead was to look at their eyes.
Whenever those revived villagers moved violently, their eyeballs would be thrown out.
As she spoke, the woman shook her own head to prove she was not one of those revived dead. As if afraid Wu Ling would not understand, she even demonstrated their movements herself.
Wu Ling understood the revived dead she described very well. Zombies. Perfectly normal. Of course, it could also be an Evil Spirit Master's common method of controlling corpses. But if someone could control half a village at once, then with that level of strength, they should not need to target a small village like this.
After all, devouring a powerful person of the same level would be more useful than devouring an entire village of ordinary people. Unless that person was currently injured.
After finishing the demonstration, the woman continued.
I happened to be in the cellar that day, picking out some pickled vegetables for dinner. Just as I was about to go up, my husband suddenly pressed a stone over the door from outside and told me never to come out.
I did not know what was happening outside. I only heard indescribable roars and my husband's angry shouts. In the end, after he screamed, everything outside went quiet.
I spent a great deal of effort climbing out that night. When I opened the door, all I saw was blood everywhere.
Aside from me, there were several other survivors. I heard many things from them.
Over the next few days, we hid wherever we could, trying to find a way out. But at every road leaving the village, two corpses lay in the way. The moment we approached, all the villagers nearby would rush toward us in a swarm.
Counting me, there were five survivors. We tried leaving through the east, south, west, and north roads. Every time, just when we were about to succeed, a large group of revived villagers would suddenly appear. Each time, we escaped in a panic at the cost of one survivor's life.
Now, I am the only survivor left.
Spirit Masters like you also came during these past few days, my lord. But every one of them was killed by Galen Holdfast, who had become the same as those villagers.
Actually, when I went out today, I had already decided I would probably die. I never expected to see you, my lord. That was why I wanted to make one last attempt. Or at least eat something good before dying.
As the woman explained, Wu Ling slightly turned his head toward a corner of the cellar. There really was a pile of paper scraps there, as if they had once wrapped food.
Do you have anything else to ask, my lord?
Wu Ling remained expressionless. The woman's words did not move him at all.
I want to know where Galen Holdfast is.
After hearing that, the woman showed an expression that said she had expected as much.
After leaving the cellar, turn right. After two intersections, turn left and go through three more. In the middle of the fourth street, the largest gate belongs to his house.
I already meant to die anyway, so I can lead you there later, my lord. But before we leave, could you give me something to eat? At least let me die with a full stomach.
Wu Ling glanced at her. Then he took a packet of food from his storage ring and tossed it onto the ground.
The woman did not suspect him. She lowered her head to pick it up.
In that instant, while she bent down for the food, Wu Ling drew his blade and slashed at her neck.
A flash of steel cut through the air. Wu Ling's blade stopped three centimeters above the woman's neck.
The woman reacted only after the fact. The sudden slash terrified her so badly that she dropped to her knees and kowtowed to Wu Ling, begging for mercy.
My lord, spare me! Spare me!
Wu Ling returned the blade to its sheath and waved casually. It is fine. I was only testing you. You passed. Eat.
Thank you, my lord. Thank you, my lord!
Wu Ling watched the woman kneel on the ground and eat, his eyes empty of emotion. A test? No. He had only wanted to probe her reaction.
As the saying goes, Heaven's three treasures are the sun, moon, and stars. Earth's treasures are water, fire, and wind. Humanity's treasures are spirit, essence, and vital energy. Wu Ling had Rose examine the woman from within his shadow and found that she lacked any trace of essence. She only had a faint hint of vital energy and spirit.
On top of that, there were many contradictions in the woman's story. It might have fooled a naive youth, but Wu Ling had lived through the poison-chicken-soup age of the modern world. He found the problems easily.
From that moment, Wu Ling knew the woman before him was already dead. Her whole body was like a high-level puppet. The mastermind used this method to deceive the eyes of passing Spirit Masters.
That slash had been meant to see whether the culprit behind the scenes would react.
But judging from the way she had knelt and begged, with no trace of acting, this puppet seemed slightly different.
Whether it is true or false, this puppet is the only lead. I'll keep her with me for now, possibly diverting some attention to monitor her. Since she remains just an ordinary person, this won't require much effort.
After the woman finished eating, Wu Ling gave Azure, Ember, and Rose a few instructions in his mind. Then he followed the woman and quietly headed toward Galen Holdfast's residence.