章 124: Worm Farm
Chún walked slowly around the back of the original mountain site on Golden Crow. He had spent the last two days purifying and growing three additional sanctuaries along the route he had recommended to the group of refugee Consumers as well as spending an additional amount of time investigating the final and largest sanctuary that Tai had completed closest to the original Mountain site - and only returned the previous evening to the village.
As could be reasonably be expected the atmosphere in the village when he arrived was very tense; in fact, he was nearly mobbed the moment he walked through the gates…
---
"...it is Relic Hunter Lin!" the shout came almost the miǎo he stepped through the gates of the village, causing an immediate cascade of additional shouts and the sound of people moving quickly towards him.
"Relic Hunter! What is going on?"
"...The Essence Beasts are going mad…"
"No merchants have come through in the last two weeks…"
"We cannot leave the mists…"
"...strange lights and noises… ground shakes…"
Chún stopped just inside the gates and glared at the sudden rush of people in annoyance.
The villagers questioned and shouted, not quite willing to come in contact with him but all pushing and shoving those around them closer.
"Silence!" came an energetic elderly shout from behind the crowd, causing the villagers that had been shouting questions to close their mouths discontentedly. A breath later the crowd reluctantly parted to reveal the old Storyteller and Village Head Wang.
"Mountain Spirit," grunted the Storyteller, "I assume you know the situation?"
"This is not a good place to discuss such things," interjected Wang Dai, looking around at the crowd, "give us some face, fellow villagers. The village council will ask Relic Hunter Lin all that needs to be asked. We will let everyone know all of the information afterwards."
The villagers grumbled, but the crowd broke up, returning to their everyday tasks reluctantly. The two elders gave Chún a cupped hand salute, the village head seriously while the StoryTeller's was more perfunctory, "Please, réngōng," Head Wang gestured towards the large tree that spread its wide canopy of broad leaves over the village's small temple and school at the old and worn carved stone table and boulders that had been worn into seats from many years of use. The old stones were usually occupied by the old men of the village to sit and play table games and drink tea while they watched over the village children having lessons from the old priest - ahem, this was the Storyteller's other job, but because most of the Villagers attended to their own worship he was better known as the StoryTeller - but that is not important for now.
After they had sat and Head Wang poured tea the StoryTeller tapped the table, "Did that Cultivator girl find you?" he enquired gruffly.
Chún blinked, "you sent her up the Mountain? That other one followed her - made a mess of things. Had to kill him," he took a sip of his tea calmly as Head Wang paled.
"Good - that one was a snake," replied the old priest in satisfaction even as the village head whipped his forehead and asked, "that Cultivator claimed to have strong backing - what will we do when others from his sect come looking for him?"
Chún lowered his teacup from his mouth and shook his head, "no one will come looking. His sect has recently had a reversal of fortunes - they will be lucky if they can survive."
"That Cultivator girl said something about that light a few days back," the StoryTeller spoke pointedly, staring at Chún who nodded in agreement, "that is part of it. A war between their sects got out of control - that's why there has not been any travellers in the last couple of weeks. The noise in Hujian that the last few mentioned was part of it."
"Why are these Cultivators coming here to cause trouble?" Head Wang was unhappy and swallowed a big gulp of his tea, "we got rid of one lot and another bunch appeared."
"They were part of the same sect - those ones and that boy I had to kill," Chún shrugged, "they are too busy to bother us now."
As Head Wang paled again and looked like he was about to faint, the old StoryTeller and priest grunted again, "what about the rest of it? If the mists stay up for much longer, we will start to have food issues," the old priest help up a hand before Chún had a chance to speak, "I know the Mountain has put the mist formations up to protect us, but we need to be able to hunt and allow peddlers and farmers in."
Chún nodded, "En. The battles between the Cultivation sects caused large upheavals in the Essence… in the long term it will be a good thing, with a much healthier world - but for now, it is dangerous."
"Tell them they can hunt around the village and the old mountain site," Tai interjected through their link, "I am increasing the amount of calm Essence I am releasing outward, which is suppressing the wild Essence in the immediate area. Of course, that is increasing the instability at the leading edge of the Essence from Hidden Mountain pushing outward, but it will not affect the village or the Hunters if they do not stray too deep into the wilderness. I will lift the mists in the area around the village."
Head Wang had a helpless expression on his face, "This humble one understands that the Mountain is looking out for our interests and safety…"
Chún held up a hand and waited as the village head fell silent, looking anxious, "Things are bad outside - the wilderness is currently full of crazed Essence Beasts and dangerous Essence instabilities - the recent events have caused a rapid increase in Essence. This means more treasures will be birthed, but also that hunting and traveling will be much more dangerous. That is probably why you have not seen traders lately."
"Such things will also attract Cultivators," muttered the old StoryTeller, "inevitably they will cause damage and fights will break out over treasures."
The Village Head looked very unhappy, but he tried to speak positively, "at least if Cultivators start coming out here, we will be able to trade…"
"Until someone takes offense or demands everything we have for free," disagreed the old priest, "Jianghu are more trouble then they are worth most times."
"I may have a solution to that," suggested Chún offhandedly, "the Mountain is able to calm the Essence around its own foothills and the village - maybe a circle approximately fifty lǐ out from the bottom of the Mountain - and it should gradually increase. The defensive mists will be diminished from that area, at least enough to allow anyone who knows the local area to hunt and harvest."
The young True Cultivator paused and took another sip of tea, watching as the Village Head's face brightened, but the StoryTeller's face looked like he had bitten into a sour persimmon, "if the Formations are reduced that leaves the village open to hostile Cultivators looking for treasures…"
Chún laughed, lowering the cup again, "all of this area is the mountain's domain - the locals may be able to find their way, but outsiders will find it a much more difficult task. But…" he paused and looked sly, "I may have a solution for the problem with Jianghu as well."
The Storytelling priest's brows drew down even as the Village Head's expression became excited and happy, "I saved that Cultivator girl…" Chún said slowly, "I am only telling this to the two of you as Village Elders - she is bringing her family to stay on the Mountain under my protection. In return they have agreed to protect the area - if anyone asks they will claim it as their duty part of the Ancient Sect of the Mountain."
The Village Head blinked, his expression thoughtful, "You mean - the ruins you found… and the shrine…?"
Chún smiled and touched his nose, "who can say what secrets the recent disturbances have opened?" he asked mysteriously as he raised the cup back to his lips.
"Bah, we do not need to speak of what we never saw" snorted the old StoryTeller, but he had a mischievous expression on his face, "it is better those people disappear if they were fighting that Grass Cult."
The Village Head nodded like a hen pecking rice, but it did not obscure the crafty look in his eyes, "if others think they are from an ancient mysterious Sect that has been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years - then they will be more circumspect."
The old priest frowned, pulling on the wisps of his beard, "of course, that may also arouse the interest of some old monsters, but those will be less likely to destroy without cause," he looked at Chún and smiled, "with the Mountain backing them, they might even have the power to make old monsters cautious."
"Old ginger is spicier," Chún raised his cup before letting it drop, "they have had a hard trek to get this far, but a good harvest on the way - they should have quite a bit to trade when they arrive - and they will probably to have access to basic civilisation - baths, cooked food, tools…"
"Our town is quite able to supply travellers needs," agreed the village head, now looking like a merchant eyeing a fat purse, "how long did you say it would take before they arrive?"
"They should be in the area in a day or two," answered Chún, standing up, "feel free to negotiate for protection if you want - they have a few Sky levels in their ranks."
The StoryTeller's eyes widened factionally, "not bad, not bad…" he mumbled as he sat, obviously thinking hard.
"And when do you think others will start coming through again from outside," questioned the Village Head, standing up hastily.
"I think people outside the Fusou will be just as interested in what is happening as you are to trade, Head Wang," answered Chún seriously, "so - probably a lot sooner than is wise for them."
The two elders both nodded and the priest Storyteller stood too, "well that means we will have people blundering in the forests about anytime now - we will tell the hunters to look out for the bodies - free goods are always welcome."
"Well, I am off to explore the ruins of a Sect I recently discovered behind the mountain," Chún answered causally, winking, "who knows what I will find?"
"Ah… then that is what we will tell anyone who asks," added the village head, tapping his nose, "perhaps it will turn out not to be as ruined as you thought."
"What an interesting thought, Head Wang," exclaimed Chún in faux-amazement, "have you ever considered being a Relic Hunter?"
The two men laughed heartily at his joke and they exchanged sincere salutes before Chún took his leave. Even as he left, he could hear the excited cheering and conversations as the Elders promptly began spreading the news of imminent friendly visitors and the ability to safely resume hunting - if you did not consider the fact that the local beasts were likely to be much more dangerous now.
---
"And now I am hiking through the forest again…" Chún shook his head wryly, "I always thought being a cultivator would be very dashing, heroic and glamorous - fight the beasts, save the beauty," Dàilán's face appeared in his mind and he laughed at himself, shaking his head as he headed around the base of the original mountain, heading for the rarely traversed 'rear' slopes - the side that faced deeper into the Fousou.
"Now is not the time to be thinking about her," came his locus' communication, flavoured with annoyance through their link, "rather you should be alert and cautious about what you are walking into."
"Ah… a damaged set of Essence Springs that was fouled up by a yin worm - that is not there anymore?" questioned the young True Cultivator cautiously.
"What do you know about how worms reproduce?" asked his locus. The question was so far away from Chún's current thoughts that he stopped in his tracks and blinked in confusion.
"I have worked on farms," he pointed out as he thought about why Tai would ask him such a question, "if you are suggesting the worm had a mate that is still there, forget it. Worms do not need another worm… to… make… babies…"
Chún's voice petered out and he rubbed his face, "there are - a lot - of yin worms there, right?"
"Yes - all of its 'children' and their children and so on," agreed his locus, "no Sky levels - as the old worm used to eat the ones that got too high leveled - and they have been eating each other since it died, but a few Earth levels and many lower leveled ones."
Chún imagined an area like his original immortals cave filled with hundreds, maybe thousands of smaller versions of the monster he had seen that night almost a month ago and shuddered.
"How about - we wait until those Consumers come - then they can help me clear out the… worm farm."
"We could do that," Tai agreed easily, "of course, then you would have to explain how the worm farm suddenly became an area suitable for establishing a Sect."
"Ugh…" groaned Chún and he started moving again, the World Tree Staff appearing in one hand as his clothing rippled and turned into a thick cloud of Essence Mist, "I could ask the Guardians to come and help?"
"Their job is to guard Hidden Mountain now that they have made their oaths. They cannot act as Guardians on Golden Crow; Golden Crow has its own Guardians who would consider that an intolerable provocation," Tai knocked down that idea.
"They could come and fight as a human - that is allowed, right?" asked Chún plaintively.
"East has not advanced far enough to be able to transform into a human, you have not found the South and Prince Bai is traveling," his locus listed off, "that leaves the North - she probably would enjoy crushing a bunch of Yin demon worms - but then again, she is a princess. Who knows how she will react if you ask her?"
"She can only say no," reasoned Chún, "I would not be any worse off then. I will ask. Do I need to go back and find her…?"
The link swelled with irritation, "I will tell her how to get to you. You may as well keep moving forward. Remember, conceal your presence and walk like a non-cultivator."
Chún grumbled, "I still do not see the point of going like a snail…"
"If you want to have the whole farm alert and waiting for you when you go in, by all means, go ahead," Tai snarked.
"Fine.. fine…"
---
Almost a Shí later Chún crept through the thick forest. The air held an unexplainable chill and there was a musty stench to it that clung to one's nostrils, despite the Essence Mist that his Cloak wrapped him in.
The smell coated every breath he took and he fought the urge to sneeze for fear that it would break the close, fetid silence. Despite the cold that permeated the dark, fusty vegetation everything gave off an aura of rot and decay.
"I cannot believe you waited until now to tell me about this open sore," Chún growled into the link, "this place is beyond foul - it is just wrong." The feel of the place in his Essence sense was indescribably vile - like rotting corpses that had been allowed to fester in the summer heat, but somehow hidden under a veneer of subtle illness.
"You were not strong enough to do anything about it before now," replied his locus firmly, "but seeing it through your senses - it is definitely much worse than it was last week."
"It is the increased Essence Levels - is it not?" pointed out Chún, to a wave of agreement in the link, "Unfortunately. It is a good thing the Dark North agreed to participate."
"Indeed," came a familiar cool voice, "Yin Essence unpleasantly tainted. Great number of Yin worms."
Chún looked around to see a familiar black cloaked figure step out from the shadow of a nearby tree and inclined his head in respect, "Dark Lady." He hesitated, "you are also Yin aspected. Will this cause you problems?"
Two sets of white teeth and fangs gleamed coldly in the close dimness and Chún repressed a shiver as his spine prickled in warning, "Běngōng hatess fouling Yin Essence demonss."
"En…" he took a reluctant step forward and the Xuánwǔ fell in step behind him. This close, it was trivial to follow the miasma that was the source of the corruption and in less than a kè they were in front of a collapsed cliff that had fallen into what looked like a giant, shallow, bowl-shaped, dust-filled depression. The depression was the size of a small valley, scooped out of the mountain side. In his Essence Sense, Chún could see thick billowing, clouds of thick, fouled yin billowing out of the depression.
The air was rank with the scent of the worms, and the ground ahead of them was bare of any plant life.
"Take care," the Xuánwǔ warned him in a whisper that he could barely hear despite his cultivation, "Slime makes ground slippery; castings, soil treacherous."
Chún furrowed his brow. He had forgotten about her odd manner of speech.
"She means the worms exude a toxic slime and make the soil friable. If you do not watch where you are stepping you will fall into a puddle of slime or through a hollow," Tai explained in the link.
"Understood," he answered to both of them out loud.
Lady Bingqiǎo's head turned sharply towards him even as Tai pulsed dismay - but a wet sounding hiss bubbled through the air even as the last syllable left his mouth.
"They track by vibrations," groaned his locus and Lady Bingqiǎo nodded as the previously barren dust bowl suddenly boiled with bodies - like a giant bowl of living noodles. Within a breath's time a wave of worms seem to crash towards them like a solid wave of malice.
Chún found himself swinging his staff instinctively as he leapt backward just ahead of a squelching waterfall of screeching, slimy muscle. The stench was beyond description and Chún found himself using Essence to decrease his sense of smell without thinking about it.
There was an enraged scream and Chún spotted a black blur out of the corner of his eye; his Essence Mist Cloak hastily sent out a wave of ice to ward off a wave of toxic slime that splashed outward as Lady Bingqiǎo swung her sword as she bolted into the wave of worms - slime fountained out like water from the bow of a ship from her path as she sliced through every worm she came across.
The segmented worms did not die - instead the cut segments continued attacking - each smaller piece acting like another worm, even as they gushed the putrid ichor everywhere as they thrashed towards both of them in a mindless attack.
"Fire or ice - burn or freeze them," ordered his locus and Chún hastily circulated his Fire Essence Seed, causing the World Tree Staff to glow red hot. A wave of fire followed his staff's movements and worms crisped at its touch.
This made the stench much worse and Chún fought not to vomit even as worms recoiled from his staff blows like dry leaves in a forest fire, "how can burning worm smell even worse?" he demanded rhetorically, retching in disgust.
Leaping skyword he avoided the next crashing collapse of putrid muscle - narrowly escaping contact with tree trunk sized bodies that literally spat slime and mucus. Concentrating, he ignited a cone of fire Essence from the palm of his hand and swept it below him, making the screaming, flailing and stench ten times worse.
There was an angry shout and a sudden crack of ink black lightning that stood out starkly against the light of the day, like a rent in the sky, "What?"
"Yin lightning," observed Tai, "The Lady is angry - she is fighting the largest and highest leveled Worms."
"I will try to keep the smaller one's attention," Chún decided as he sent an instruction to his Cloak which exploded into a massive cloud of Essence Mist that covered the carpet of roiling worms below him and instantly froze into ice, "I have no illusions about keeping up with her abilities - I would just get in her way. If I could just get the space to channel some of this Essence and purify it I could build up enough energy to cause some real damage."
He dodged in mid air as massive orbs of toxic slime were hurled skyward from the worms in an effort to swat him out of the sky, "Son of a… actually - all of you are bastards with no mothers!"
He flung his ire downward and massive balls of Fire Essence crashed below in response. The resulting enraged squealing reminded him of a piggery at slaughtering time magnified about a thousand times.
The temperature suddenly plummeted and Chún looked up to see dark clouds swirling above the shallow valley, "What now?"
"It is the Lady again," his locus informed him, "Yin Storm attack - basically an Ice Essence tornado - I advise you head for cover. It will not last long - you can get back to having fun frying worms after."
Chún darted into the forest around the valley barely a breath ahead of crackling swaths of Yin lightning and screaming winds that managed to drown out the screeching of the worms. He actually saw smaller worms being picked up and shredded by the icy winds as he ducked into the treeline and had to push his Essence to resist the bitter, bone-freezing cold that came with the funnel of darkness that descended into the mass of Yin demons.
"This is supposed to be fun?" he muttered as he pressed up against a tree, using his Essence sense to watch as chunks of frozen worm flesh and slime flew in all directions, "I should have stayed with the Heiress, she ought to be having a much easier time of things…"
---
Two days previously:
As Dàilán crashed through the jungle canopy from her fall from the last Earth Pillar - into the thankfully non-earthquake affected forest floor below - the River Runs technique held long enough to let her pass through branches and other objects that would have caused her serious injury had they hit her solidly.
The teenage Heiress managed to revolve her Cultivation enough to avoid serious injury as she landed, collapsing in a boneless heap looking up at the sky as her fellow refugees likewise landed around her with screams and cries of distress.
"...somehow, I get the sense that someone, somewhere, somewhen is making a joke in very poor taste about this whole situation," she muttered ironically to herself, "I should have gone with Chún - there is no way a Mountain Spirit would be having to deal with situations like this…"
クリエイターの想い 
WheeledWriter
WheeledWriter I'll admit I've had that last joke setup in my head for a couple of chapters now; despite the fact that its fairly cringe humor. I just couldn't get the juxposition of the scenes out of my head.
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