I can bless thousands of magical powers.

Chapter 591 Deceptive Tales (Part 1)

A majestic mountain came into Zhang Yuan's view.

Liping Mountain.

This mountain is far from Xiyuan City, and there are no towns around it, only a few scattered mountain villages. Therefore, the natural environment is very well preserved, with lush and verdant forests where birds and animals often appear.

However, the desolation here far exceeded Zhang Yuan's expectations.

The path leading into the mountains was completely covered by waist-high weeds and vines, making it impossible to discern the exact route.

When Zhang Yuan entered the mountains, he saw a nearby mountain village.

This mountain village is completely deserted; most of the houses are either collapsed or surrounded by vegetation.

It looked exceptionally desolate.

Based on the information in the case file, Zhang Yuan was basically certain that the mountain village had been struck by a mysterious disaster.

The entire village may have died.

Although Xiyuan is a Dao City, it is difficult for Shang Jingtian's influence to extend to the peripheral areas here.

This is quite normal.

In fact, Zhang Yuan's predecessor was quite accomplished and not just a figurehead.

Unfortunately, bad luck struck.

With a sigh, Zhang Yuan rode the gray-toothed lynx further into the mountains.

A red-eyed raven swept overhead.

To provide direction.

Before long, Zhang Yuan heard the babbling sound of the stream.

He followed the mountain stream upstream and came to a small valley.

The valley is beautiful, with rolling hills and towering trees all around, and you can faintly see the waterfall at the deepest part of the valley.

There is also a village in the valley.

Unsurprisingly, this mountain village had also been abandoned for a long time.

To Zhang Yuan's surprise, the Crimson Crow, which was conducting aerial reconnaissance, discovered that there were people active in the village.

He immediately put away the gray-toothed lynx and walked into the village.

After all, the size and appearance of this mythical beast were too ferocious, and ordinary people would easily be terrified at first sight.

Wang Wang Wang!
Zhang Yuan had only walked about a hundred steps when a large black dog suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path and barking loudly at him, its eyes full of vigilance and wariness.

Zhang Yuan smiled, reached out and grabbed a piece of fresh mutton, tossing it over.

As a result, the big black dog immediately took a few steps back, looking at the fresh meat on the ground with a drooling expression, but it forcibly suppressed its desire to devour it, and still maintained its intimidating posture towards Zhang Yuan.

It's a good dog!

Just as Zhang Yuan was about to chase it away, an old man in plain clothes appeared carrying a hoe.

Upon seeing Zhang Yuan, he was extremely surprised: "You, who are you looking for?"

The old man had rough skin and a worried face. His thin, dark hands were covered in calluses, and he looked like a poor man who had worked hard for many years. His tone was filled with unnatural fear.

Moreover, their local accents are very strong.

"Old man, don't be afraid."

Zhang Yuan smiled slightly and said, "I'm a wandering swordsman who came here to gather herbs and search for treasures. Are you the only one in this village?"

"A wandering swordsman?"

The old man in plain clothes had a somewhat blank look in his eyes.

But he could tell that Zhang Yuan meant no harm, so his fear lessened: "Yes, I'm the only one left in the village."

Zhang Yuan nodded and said, "Old man, I'd like to ask for a bowl of water. Is that alright?"

"Oh oh."

The old man in plain clothes came to his senses and quickly replied, "Okay, okay, come with me."

The old man's house was at the east end of the village, a three-room thatched hut, which was the only intact house in the entire village.

He moved a wooden table and stools out of the house and set them up in the courtyard to entertain Zhang Yuan. He also wanted to brew Zhang Yuan a pot of mountain tea.

But Zhang Yuan politely declined, saying, "Old man, no need to trouble yourself, just give me a bowl of spring water."

So the old man in plain clothes went to fetch a pot of spring water and said apologetically, "Sir, I'm really sorry, I don't have anything to offer you. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"Ok?"

Zhang Yuan was slightly surprised.

Because the other party's words were significantly different from before, and it must have been because they realized that he was no ordinary person.

Although Zhang Yuan did not deliberately hide himself, this old man from the mountain village was clearly not a dullard.

"It doesn't matter."

Zhang Yuan waved his hand: "Old man, sit down and have a chat."

As he spoke, he picked up the kettle, poured himself a bowl of spring water, and then drank it all in one gulp.

With Zhang Yuan's current cultivation level and his ability to be immune to all poisons, even if this bowl of water was laced with arsenic or poison, it wouldn't harm him in the slightest.

It was precisely his open and honest attitude that made the old man in plain clothes lower his guard and relax a lot.

He carefully sat down opposite Zhang Yuan and asked, "Sir, what would you like to know?"

Zhang Yuan pondered for a moment and then asked, "Old man, how old are you this year?"

The old man in plain clothes held up four fingers: "Your Excellency, I am forty-four years old this year."

Forty-four years old?

Zhang Yuan almost spat out all the water he had just drunk.

Because this old man looks to be eighty-eight years old!

He couldn't help but ask, "What about your family?"

The old man in plain clothes smiled bitterly and said, "They're all dead. My parents died more than ten years ago, my wife died seven years ago, and my two children died three years ago."

He had a smile on his face, but his eyes were full of sorrow and grief.

The greatest sorrow is a broken heart; to live is nothing but a walking corpse!
Zhang Yuan remained silent.

After a moment, he asked in a deep voice, "Is it because it's strange?"

The old man in plain clothes shuddered and slowly nodded: "My wife and children were all killed by some strange force."

"And the people in this village, those who could run away have run away, and those who couldn't run away are all dead, leaving only this old man."

Wang!
The big black dog that was squatting to the side eating meat suddenly raised its head and barked loudly.

It probably means that he still has her by his side.

The old man in plain clothes couldn't help but pat its head and said, "Thanks to Big Black for keeping me company, otherwise I would have died too."

Zhang Yuan frowned: "After the strange occurrence, didn't your village report it to the county?"

"Of course not!"

The old man in plain clothes sighed, "But no one from the county came down. It's not just our Wangjia Village; all the surrounding villages have been ravaged. Some have died, and some have fled."

"This old man has lived long enough and really doesn't want to run away. He'll just wait for the strange creature to take his life."

The big black dog beside him whimpered, clearly sensing its owner's mood.

"Feel sorry."

Zhang Yuan let out a long breath and said, "To be honest, I am Zhang Yuan, the newly appointed Dao General of Xiyuan City. I came to Liping Mountain this time to sweep away the strange phenomena."

"I'm a little late!"

"what?"

The old man in plain clothes stared in disbelief.

People at the bottom of society are wise. He has lived for decades and has had quite a lot of life experience, so he can see Zhang Yuan's extraordinary qualities.

But the old man never expected that Zhang Yuan had such a powerful background!
Saiyuan Castle Taoist General!
To him, they were practically gods from heaven.

(End of this chapter)