CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 99: HEMU VILLAGE (PART 2)

The boss glanced outside, and at this moment the scorching sun was high in the sky. He said, "They say a pregnant woman carries for ten months, and when the fruit is ripe, the child is born..."

"Tch! What else can a pregnant woman give birth to if not a child?" Xuan Shiwu loudly retorted with a "tch".

The boss didn’t get angry; he smiled mysteriously, "Let me tell you, in Hemu Village, after ten months, the pregnant woman really gave birth to a monster!"

Everyone felt a jolt of fear at hearing this— a monster? Didn’t they say nothing was born?

The boss’s voice was moderate, but the inn’s soundproofing was poor. The guests, all possessing cultivation, had already risen and come to the first-floor lobby to hear the boss discuss Hemu Village’s affairs.

In every competition, it’s either Hua Country that’s first, or Gouzi Country (Hua Country typically takes first place, and Gouzi Country only managed a lucky first place once or twice).

Other countries just come to broaden their horizons and participate.

But who doesn’t have a dream of getting lucky and taking first place?

If they take first, their country will be lucky for the next five years!

"Actually, in that village, there haven’t been any newborns for three years!"

Everyone: !!!

"Last year, the villagers couldn’t stand it anymore and searched everywhere for help. The result was finally someone got pregnant!

But this year, when it was time for the birth, something strange happened..."

"I met the first family with a pregnant woman in that village. The man is called Sun Daqiang; he often drives around, while the woman takes care of the kids at home. They’ve already got three children."

"Last year, when his wife got pregnant, he even donated a lot to the temple on the mountaintop."

"But, this year in February, when his wife was to give birth, it was over a month early, and he wasn’t at home."

"You know, the mountain road is hard to navigate, so they called a midwife to deliver the baby..."

Everyone remained silent, with only the boss’s voice filling the space.

"The birth happened very quickly, but when the baby was born, it was said the midwife fainted from fright!"

After speaking, the boss leisurely took a sip of water and then searched for a cigarette to smoke.

"Why did she faint? What was born?" Xuan Shisan urgently inquired.

The boss patted his pockets and searched the table but could not find the half-pack of cigarettes he had left earlier.

"Big brother, have one of these." Xuan Shiyi, with keen eyes, handed him a cigarette.

The boss’s eyes lit up at the sight of Xuan Shiyi’s cigarette, "This is a good one!"

With that, he took it and inhaled deeply at the tip, savoring the aroma.

"Hurry up and tell us!" Xuan Shisan urged impatiently.

The boss grinned and tucked the cigarette behind his ear without lighting it.

He continued, "According to the midwife, she saw with her own eyes that Sun Daqiang’s wife gave birth to a lump of flesh!"

"But, at the exact moment it touched the ground, it suddenly vanished!"

"Vanished? Disappeared?" someone asked.

The boss nodded, "Yes, it disappeared without a trace!"

Everyone frowned; so the pregnant woman gave birth to a monster, and the thing vanished after birth!

"When Sun Daqiang came back, he found his wife’s belly empty. He thought the child was born and was overjoyed until he stepped inside and saw everyone crying. Only then did he learn his wife, pregnant for nine months, had given birth to nothing!"

"After Sun Daqiang’s wife’s case, another pregnant woman in the village was due to give birth, and the result was the same—nothing was born!"

"After the first two times, the village panicked again and searched for help, but this time, no one came back with them."

"The third pregnant woman refused to accept it and went to the hospital early to give birth. To be safe, they performed a C-section before the due date..."

"And the result..."

The boss paused again, sipped some tea, and continued.

"Cough... When the doctors opened the woman’s belly, they found nothing inside!

It was like a balloon; once pricked, it deflated—nothing at all!"

Lin Xiaoyan listened to the boss, glanced at her arm, and saw goosebumps spread all over.

She quickly rubbed her arm and stepped outside into the sunlight.

She didn’t want to hear anymore; it was too eerie. She feared that listening further would lead to nightmares tonight.

Lin Xiaoyan’s movements caught Gongben’s attention.

Seeing Lin Xiaoyan standing in the sunlight, he was puzzled but continued to listen to the boss while keeping a quiet eye on Lin Xiaoyan, wondering what she intended to do.

Standing under the sun, Lin Xiaoyan felt the scorching rays on her skin, which gave her a sense of security.

She looked up at the distant Min Mountain, her mind blank. She wanted nothing more than to bask quietly in the sun.

As for the Hemu Village affair, she would let them handle it. Her reason for coming was simple enough—to shake their hands... uh, that is, to foresee any potential danger and steer clear of it!

Yes, putting it this way sounded a bit more sophisticated.

As the sun slowly set, the mountains blocked its light, and the surroundings grew refreshingly cooler.

When Lin Xiaoyan noticed the absence of sunlight, she turned and walked back inside.

Just then, the boss had finished telling his story, and as Lin Xiaoyan re-entered, she noticed various expressions on everyone’s faces.

"Yanyan, let’s go upstairs and rest,"

Shi Wu called to Lin Xiaoyan with a smile as she entered.

"Alright."

Lin Xiaoyan couldn’t wait to lie down and rest.

Xuan Shiwu looked at Xuan Shisan, "Are you coming up?"

Xuan Shisan’s thoughts were still on Hemu Village’s events. She glanced at Shi Wu and nodded, "Mm."

The three of them went upstairs to rest, with the others gradually returning to their own rooms.

No matter what the boss just said, they would find out once they went up the mountain to Hemu Village tomorrow!

Luckily, the room in this inn had three beds, so Lin Xiaoyan and her companions each took one to sleep on.

Seeing the two discussing Hemu Village’s matters, Lin Xiaoyan didn’t understand and couldn’t join the conversation, so she informed them she would wash up first.

After washing up, Lin Xiaoyan lay on the bed for a while to rest.

Unknowingly, it got dark outside.

When Lin Xiaoyan woke, she saw Shi Wu weaving something.

"You’re awake?"

Shi Wu noticed Lin Xiaoyan waking up and set down what was in his hands, "Hungry? Let’s go downstairs to eat; they should be done by now."

Lin Xiaoyan glanced at her phone, "It’s seven! I slept for so long!"

"It’s good if you can sleep. You’ve been through a lot these days."

Lin Xiaoyan rose, "Not bad. Didn’t you rest?"

Shi Wu: "No, I was weaving something. Here, this is for you. Wear it on your wrist."

Lin Xiaoyan looked at the woven bracelet Xuan Shiwu handed over, "It’s beautiful!"

"There’s a Copper Coin on it; it’s been blessed..."

"Thank you."