Nobita's Time Heist

"Old Liu, have you thought this through?"

Beside him, another voice, rough as a whetstone, warned, “The lifespan of all things is predetermined. What you are doing is detrimental to your karma and you are destined to die a terrible death. This is a solitary path; once you embark on it, there is no going back.”

"..." The man called "Old Liu" was silent for a while. The moment he spoke, the familiar voice made Da Xiong realize that this was the village chief he had seen during the day!

“Senior brother, you make it sound like there’s a way to undo things.” Old Liu shook his head, his eyes flashing with a fiery intent that seemed to pierce through the thin film of water in Da Xiong’s eyes. “There’s no other way to go.”

The senior brother sighed deeply, his tone filled with sorrow, "Our lineage of geomancy has come to an end today."

"So be it. Since ancient times, no matter how high one's cultivation is, it can't be higher than the heavens, and no matter how profound one's talent is, it can't be deeper than the earth. What can't be destroyed?" Old Liu's tone flashed with a hint of determination. "It's just that the villagers here have suffered, having to borrow my lifespan for nothing."

"I will do my best to make it up to them within my power."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"You're asking about the village chief? Hmm... to be honest, I don't know much either. It seems he was already the village chief before we were born. All I know is that his surname is Liu, the same as the current emperor's." Huang Amao wasn't wary of the two girls, taking it as just a casual question. Subconsciously, his answer revealed his respect for the village chief...

And worship.

"He was an extraordinary person. You could say that without him, there would be no village as we know it today."

Chapter 171: A World Full of Good People

Poor mountains and bad waters bring out unruly people.

Although this statement is somewhat extreme and carries a strong sense of regional superiority, if we set aside all the additional attributes and look at the statement itself, it actually makes some sense.

What is meant by "troublemakers"? In ancient times, those who were unaccustomed to the king's rule and disobedient were generally considered troublemakers. No matter how powerful the king's authority was, it could not penetrate every corner of this vast land. The emperor was far away, and to a large extent, the idle people in the countryside and mountains could not be restrained by the law.

Each village has its own rules, which apply only to this small area. These rules are often primitive and barbaric, but there's no other way. Because most of the people here are uneducated, they are destined to be barbaric and ignorant.

This ignorance, in turn, doomed them to never become too developed. Without money, they were even less likely to become "civilized," like a bottomless abyss filled with mud, binding them here for generations.

For the rulers, this was naturally the best option—in a feudal era that valued agriculture, they would much rather all farmers stayed obediently in their hometowns to farm and not wander around doing anything unnecessary. Objectively speaking, there were no highways or cars at the time, which greatly increased the difficulty of travel. People like Huang Amao's parents, who would travel thousands of miles to Chang'an to buy goods, were actually quite rare.

Poverty, apathy, and ignorance—these were the original characteristics of Tongxin Village.

Until... a Taoist priest in yellow robes wearing a jujube-patterned turban arrived in this dilapidated little village, where no one cared even if the world ended.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Oh, I see." Asur asked casually, "Because he's a doctor?"

"The old man is not just a quack doctor; he knows a lot more than that," Huang Amao said with great pride. "His talisman water has never failed to work. That leper at the edge of the village, who used to be crazy, was cured by the old man's talisman water. He was able to go back to work in the fields that very night, and a few months later, he even got married."

Farming, getting married, and having children basically represent the pinnacle of life for their social class. Perhaps that's why the boy's eyes gleamed with envy when he spoke of it.

"Talisman water?" Shizuka looked puzzled. "What is that? Can I drink it?"

“Using specific inks like cinnabar to draw certain symbols on specific paper, in ancient Eastern mysticism, this is called ‘talisman.’ They believe that this allows the power of the gods to reside in the paper, thereby triggering various effects.” Asur whispered in Shizuka’s ear, “The so-called talisman water is simply talisman ash mixed into water and drunk.”

"Won't this give me diarrhea?" Shizuka couldn't help but mutter under her breath. "It sounds so unhygienic..."

“The digestive system of ancient people was not as delicate as that of modern people. There were no food safety and hygiene laws back then.” Asur shrugged. “Unless you eat this stuff as a meal, you generally won’t have any problems eating it, and it can even have a placebo effect.”

Huang Amao couldn't understand most of what the two girls were saying. However, after spending time with them, he gradually got used to it. After all, they were distant nobles from Chang'an, so it was only natural for them to talk about things he didn't know. He just let them talk and did his own thing.

"That's not all. There used to be a village bully in the village. It's said that his ancestors were deserters during the war against the Xiongnu. He seized a piece of land, and the rest was divided among his henchmen. The honest people could only get what was left between his fingers."

"And then what?" Shizuka became interested in this matter—when it comes to the division of interests, it certainly won't end well for everyone. The way this village chief Liu handles these kinds of situations reveals his philosophy of life.

"Later...ha..." A smug smile appeared on the boy's lips, as if every time he recounted this, it was like sipping fine wine, extremely enjoyable. "He died."

……

"rustle……"

A cold wind rustled the leaves, and in the silent mountains, a somewhat terrifying ending suddenly unfolded without any warning.

"What is this?" Asur asked, regaining his senses. "It's over just like that? What an incredibly boring story."

“This isn’t a ‘story,’ Miss. The old man gave him many chances, but he didn’t cherish them. Relying on his larger size and strength, he caused trouble in the village, and everyone hated him!”

"No one will admit it openly, but we all know it."

"It was the old man who... cursed that bastard to death. It is said that he used his hair to tie a small straw man, first chanted a spell, then took the soul, and finally used a chicken-killing knife to stab the straw man in the heart! The next day, the village bully's body was found lying on the street, his eyes were wide open, but his heart was missing from his chest."

A vivid narrative flowed from his mouth, carrying an indescribable sense of pleasure.

It seems that he used the character of Old Man Liu in the story to accomplish a righteous act of punishing evil and promoting good.

However, to Shizuka, who was observing from the sidelines, this boy, who should have been honest and simple, seemed to have suddenly become a different person—something about him had changed from that moment on.

"Spellcasting?" Asur murmured. "Indeed, Eastern mysticism is all-encompassing, so it's not surprising that it includes techniques for cursing others. But..."

"If he can use sorcery so easily, he can't be an ordinary quack doctor."

"Who he is doesn't matter at all; what matters most is what he has done for everyone."

Huang Amao knelt down, dug away the soil near the tree roots, carefully selected a seedling of a plant, and pinched it off at the base, leaving only one. For him, this action had been done hundreds of times; it was muscle memory, and he could do it while speaking.

"He helped the people of Tongxin Village drive away the local bully, regulate land ownership, establish merchants, cultivate forests, teach literacy and education, and even provide medical care for the villagers..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The deeper he went, the heavier his footsteps became. He had learned from the images in the water that beyond this strange underground lake, there were even lower levels. Following the narrow path, he came to a bizarre rock wall. The pitch-black rock stood as one, giving off a sense of oppressive grandeur. A cave-like crevice was embedded in the center of the rock wall, just large enough for an adult to pass through.

The dark entrance slowly eroded his courage. Before his last bit of bravery was completely devoured, Da Xiong took a deep breath, shrank his stomach to its smallest size, and squeezed in sideways.

……

hand.

Countless hands, forged from rock, reached out from both sides, stroking Nobita's hair at close range. It was as if countless people were embedded inside the stone wall, helplessly reaching out but grasping nothing. This oppressive environment almost suffocated him; he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to hold on, his chest and back bleeding from the friction. With a "rip," fabric was torn somewhere, finally allowing him to break free.

What I saw were headless corpses dressed in red, planted in the ground.

Their necks have very clean cuts, and ginseng rootlets grow out of the pharynx, each one quite large.

As if sensing Nobita's footsteps, these strange roots all trembled as if they were alive.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Huang Amao continued, "If he's not a good person, then no one in this world is."

Chapter 172: Eastern Mystic Arts

"It's so delicious! I don't even know what to say..."

It was still the classic canned beef, and the same hearty, whirlwind-like eating style. For someone who can barely fill their stomach, there's no point in worrying about table manners.

Shizuka looked at them with a complex expression, a mixture of relief that they could finally enjoy a good meal, and worry about the current situation. After all, based on the information gathered from their conversations during the day, the boy was completely unaware of what had happened in the village after midnight. Moreover, he seemed to have a mysterious adoration for the instigator.

Objectively speaking, Lao Liu did lead the village out of the inhuman living conditions they used to endure. Of course, limited by the times, the current situation isn't exactly great, but it's still better than licking someone else's boots. As long as you can work, you can still have food to eat.

No one would doubt that a leader who truly benefits everyone has ulterior motives, right?

……

"What's wrong?" Asur noticed Da Xiong's unusual behavior—he hadn't said a word since they met, and his face was deathly pale. "Aren't you going to eat?"

"Oh, speaking of which, Nobita seems to have caught a chill these past few days and hasn't had much of an appetite." After exchanging a glance, Shizuka realized what she needed to do, and while trying to comfort him, she winked at Asul, "He probably caught it from the mountain wind."

"A cold? That's not good!" Huang Amao quickly put down the bowl, a gleam of recommendation suddenly flashing in his eyes. "That's right, while we're at it, how about we try the old man's talisman water? One bowl and he'll be cured, feeling refreshed and everything will be fine!"

Although he didn't know what talisman water was, he had a vague feeling of unease and refused with a wry smile.

"It's an old problem, I'll be fine after a rest," Da Xiong said. "Let's get some rest after we finish eating."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

With this reason in mind, before the moon had climbed high into the sky and before the sounds of people in the village had faded away, they went to bed to rest. After a day's work, there was no possibility of "insomnia" at all; they fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow, which also left room for Da Xiong and the others to have a private conversation.

"Phew..." Nobita took out the [Memory Display] again, attached it to his head, and let out a long breath. "I'm warning you, the images might be a little hard to accept. I was originally planning to tell you not to eat so much for dinner, but when I got there, you had already started eating..."

"Huh?" Shizuka knew Nobita well and knew he rarely exaggerated things, so she immediately became nervous. "Is it that bad?"

"Alright, alright, stop playing tricks and get started." Asur waved his hand dismissively. "We've been busy all day too. After you're done, we have other information to add!"

"Crack!"

The sound of a video recorder running.

When it was about halfway done, there was no sound in the room.

……

"vomit……"

Upon seeing the final scene, Shizuka's pupils constricted, her stomach churned, and she couldn't help but gag. But her willpower was extraordinary; she covered her mouth with one hand, forcibly controlling her spasming stomach and preventing her from vomiting.

"Seriously, how can you just show this kind of thing to girls like that?" Asur didn't react much, but was speechless at Nobita's eccentric behavior. He tapped his forehead with his finger and scolded, "You should at least censor it!"

"No, it's alright... In fact, it's better this way..." Shizuka forced herself to calm down and surprisingly sided with Nobita. "Seeing is believing. There are many things you might never believe unless you see them for yourself. Who would have thought that such an inconspicuous village would have such a secret buried deep beneath its walls?"

Despite the chilling discomfort, the two sides quickly exchanged information, and Da Xiong's understanding of this village chief surnamed Liu deepened as a result.

"Maybe it's because this place is so remote that he did this?" Da Xiong pushed up his glasses and speculated. "The mountains isolate us from all information, and there are very few outsiders. He's the undisputed leader here. It makes it convenient for him to conduct these kinds of experiments on the villagers, doesn't it?"

I don't think so.

Asul got up, pressed the progress bar of the video projected by the [Memory Display], and rewound all the way to the part where Nobita was watching the water footage.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Our lineage of geomancy has been extinct to this day."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Was that said by his senior brother?" Asur explained, "The so-called 'geomancy' is also known as 'the art of observing the heavens and the earth,' and it is a major category of Eastern mystical arts."

"Not again?" Nobita complained. "Just how many kinds of mystical arts are there in the East?!"

"Simply put, they believe that there is a certain pattern hidden in the layout of heaven and earth. As long as one can see through the pattern and make use of it, one can achieve one's own goals—in ancient China, this was a subject that was seriously studied. Judging from the conversation between these two people, the village chief was probably attracted by the layout of the mountains and rivers in the vicinity, and that's why he made this decision."

"Asuru-chan, I don't quite understand, which means..." Shizuka shivered. Even though she was dressed warmly, she still felt a cold breeze blowing from behind.

"From the very beginning, he did so many good things for the villagers. Was he going to treat them like 'animals' to shorten his lifespan?"

……

More upscale pet hospitals usually keep large dogs, provide them with good food and water, and they don't need to do anything except take them for walks to keep them healthy.

Their function is to act as living blood bags for drawing blood when a pet is brought in with severe bleeding.

Ultimately, humans are just another kind of animal. In an era before widespread civilization, everything happened so openly and blatantly.

With a "whoosh," as if he could no longer bear it, Da Xiong stood up and walked towards the door.

"Wait a minute, what are you doing?" Asur quickly stood up as well. "It's not time for our group outing tonight yet."

“I really can’t stand this situation anymore… Rather than continuing to endure it, I might as well take the initiative and get to the bottom of things.”

Pushing open the door, the cool air rushed into my nostrils, bringing an unexpected sense of refreshment. There were no dark clouds tonight, making the full moon exceptionally bright. Bathed in moonlight, the mountains and villages resembled a profound landscape painting.

"Are we going to have to face the boss so soon?" Shizuka and Asur hurriedly chased after them. "We've only been here a few days."

"No, not about him. I still need information about him, if I'm not mistaken..."

Having deliberately found an open space, Da Xiong pulled a huge object out of his pocket and slammed it to the ground with a thud.

"【Awaken the Mind】—!!"

(The Mind Summoning Machine: A machine that can summon spirits. Doraemon used it to summon the mountain god behind the mountain in order to bring Nobita home.)

After a series of operations, a cold wind began to blow around them, and a pale white mist gathered from the surrounding area, gradually condensing into a strange shadow above the machine.

Chicken feet, human body, a rotting corpse with a rooster's comb, and a pair of eerie eyes coldly swept across the three faces, lingering only briefly on Asur. The chicken's lower body rested gently on the edge of the machine, like an owl perched on a tree trunk.

"No need to summon the land anymore, strange man..."

Chicken Foot God's voice was colder than expected, "If you have anything to ask me, just ask me directly."

Chapter 173: A Diligent Underworld Official

From any perspective, the impact of this scene was still quite significant. Looking at Doraemon's history of using gadgets, this is one of the few he didn't use in front of Nobita, because Nobita was having a great time on the mountain behind the house. Instead, Shizuka, Gian, and Suneo witnessed everything from beginning to end.

but……

The aloof yet slightly arrogant mountain god is completely different from the ghostly, terrifying-looking spirit before us!

Da Xiong stepped forward, rolled up his sleeves, and showed him his arm—there were two bluish grip marks on it, left from when he was grabbed by one of the chicken-footed gods when he entered the ancestral hall last night.

"You saw me last night, didn't you?"

“Your breath-holding ability is amazing; I misjudged you.” He used a novel way to evaluate Nobita’s miraculous ability to fall asleep in 0.93 seconds. “Don’t worry, you are a living person, and I am a spirit; we shouldn’t meet like this. This is your body rejecting ‘death.’ In a few days, the marks will fade away naturally.”

"What are you doing here...?"