The reclusive vine was reluctant to heed his plea; if it were human, it might have slapped him—hard enough to make him realize that the threatening beast had nearly cost him his life. It would have scolded him so loudly his ears would ring.
Nonetheless, it would be no use to argue. How could a conscious vine speak?
The atmosphere shifted into silence, all eyes turning to the battered Quakemire Tortoise in the distance. It struggled to rise to its feet.
Li Haoran spoke again, his tone gentle, as if chatting softly, "The beast only harms because it is protecting something important to it. I took its treasure, so I was punished. Please understand, killing it will only lead to more trouble. We all have our own desires, don't we? But I have come here for one reason—to save my master. I need this antidote. Please, don't harm the treasurekeeper. They exist to protect these rare treasures. Without them, the potent herbs would have disappeared long ago. And as for the serpent beast from earlier—the village has already found its justice."
In the next moment, the vine didn't pursue. It simply withdrew, moving slowly and quietly away, leaving him where he stood and returning to its origin—until it vanished completely from sight.
Subsequently, the wetlands grew peaceful, with only the squelching sounds of the struggling beast breaking the silence. Li Haoran watched for a brief moment before turning away, having accomplished his second task.
For now, two antidote ingredients were finally in his possession. Three more tasks remained, and he had no idea if the next one would prove more difficult than the first or second.
These remaining tasks still put his life at risk. In his wishful thinking, he could only hope to obtain the last antidote ingredients and return home safe and sound.
With his current task accomplished, he exited the Jiang-an Wild Woods safely. At last, he could leave behind this haunted, human-devouring swamp.
No matter how valiant he was, he was still outmatched by these unusual creatures. Gaining the serpent beast's core wasn't enough; if he failed to use it properly, it could bring him even greater peril.
Night fell, and Li Haoran settled alone in a small cavern. After a long day's journey, he needed time to stabilize himself, and this cave was just enough for an overnight rest.
Soft moonlight filtered through the sparse tree canopy above his shelter. Looking up, he saw the moon—so round and brilliant—just as it had been the first time he watched it with Yue Chan on the boat.
He sighed and closed his eyes, letting the gentle breeze brush across his face.
The bonfire cast a calming, gentle warmth across the corner of the cavern, its embers flickering like tiny splinters.
The aroma of roasted two-foot carp lingered in the air. Li Haoran had caught it in the nearby river while cleaning himself earlier, also making sure to find something to fill his stomach for dinner.
For the first time, he was truly alone. There was no one to talk to, no one to tease, and no one to get annoyed with. If Yue Chan hadn't been so gravely injured, he would have had someone to share these habits with. The thought made him miss her even more.
Tomorrow, the third task awaited him. He would need to overcome whatever trial lay ahead.
No matter the consequences or how difficult it might be, he knew he had to face it with unwavering courage.
After pondering all this to himself, he let out a quick, resolute sigh. He took the roasted carp from the fire and began to eat, savoring the taste until he felt full.
When he was done, he added more wood to the fire and settled himself meters away to rest.
Night settled into deep silence, and the surroundings were eerily tranquil.
The next morning dawned. Li Haoran packed his things and quietly left the small cavern.
He needed to travel on foot for half an hour to reach the first leg of the convoy's journey.
It would take about an hour and a half in total to reach the site of his next task.
Ma Ao was one of the eeriest villages, holding historical records from ancient times—older even than Zise De Village or the Jiang-an Wild Woods.
This was the legendary area that filled both villagers and outsiders with fear. Since the day of the tragedy in ancient times, and through all the quiet, empty years that followed, none of the villagers had ever dared to set foot in Ma Ao.
As for the remaining residents who survived, they were evacuated to a neighboring village—a place untouched by danger—where they could live out their days in peace.
The village itself sat at the bottom of a massive, circular sinkhole known as Ma Ao. Sheer stone cliffs rose hundreds of feet into the air, forming a natural, unclimbable wall that completely isolated the settlement from the outside world.
Originally, it wasn't a prison. The first settlers descended into the valley using an intricate system of massive wooden cranes and rope elevators to mine a rare, luminous mineral embedded within the cavern walls. They traded this wealth with the kingdom above, establishing a prosperous, hidden community.
Ma Ao Village was once proud and generous. Thanks to the wealth from their mines, they sent enormous amounts of philanthropy to support neighboring villagers and their own community.
Who could have known that after centuries of mining, they would unexpectedly disturb a living creature deep underground?
It was enormous, with massive pedipalps, a segmented metasoma, and bristling setae—the deathstalker of the village.
They called it Telsovore—a creature named for the way it hunted and fed with its deadly stinger.
In other words, it was a scorpion beast.
Normally, a scorpion doesn't grow to an enormous size—most are only eight or nine inches long, not measured in feet. Except for this one. This was a monster that had grown so huge it towered over the villagers' houses.
Once it broke free from its habitat, the village became a living hell. Countless lives were lost, and the creature fed on the very essence of every human it encountered.
The entire settlement was destroyed; no one was left behind. Even the village leader met his end while urging people to evacuate.
The massive gate that served as the entrance was closed in the midst of the chaos. That day, thousands of residents were trapped inside and devoured by the beast.
After that disaster, the village became a void. Because of the towering cliffs, direct sunlight reached the valley floor for only two hours each day; the rest of the time, it lingered in cold, foggy twilight.
Today, the village stands completely empty. The wooden roofs of the stone cottages have rotted away, swallowed by thick ivy and damp moss. The broken stone bridge and the ruins of the central church are all that remain of a society once trapped by stone—a silent, eerie monument to a forgotten, captive people.
Away from that ruined village stood an ancient stone cliff altar, its deep and wide cavern mouth overlooking the eerily empty settlement. On the flat ground around the altar grew a single archaic, sturdy, and magnificent tree—the Phantom Lily Tree, with its wealth of silver foliage.
Its branches stretched wide, casting a solitary shadow on the ground below.
This was it—the third antidote to hunt.
Hours passed in silence as Li Haoran traveled with the convoy, eventually arriving at the village's outer entrance.
He gazed out the window and saw the towering stone cliffs rising in the distance.
Jaw-dropping, he couldn't utter a single word as he took in the unsettling sight. The convoy stopped, and the carter called out, "Young man, we're here."
Li Haoran didn't reply, but his brows furrowed with suspicion.
The carter asked cautiously, "Are you sure this is the place you wanted? This village has been empty for many years. My ancestors always said it's been an unsettling place, even since they were born."
Silence followed.
Li Haoran, speechless, grabbed his bag and slipped out of the convoy. Once his feet touched the ground, he turned back to the carter.
"Mister, do you have any chores today? I suggest you stay here and wait for my return."
The carter hesitated, offering no clear answer. He looked Li Haoran in the eyes, clearly overthinking.
Receiving no answer from the carter, Li Haoran let out a long, heavy sigh, one hand resting on his waist.
"This place is completely impossible," he said. "I'm worried that if you leave, no convoy will come back. Let's make a deal—I'll double your pay if you wait for me. What do you think?"
It took a moment for the carter to decide; when he finally spoke, he tried to negotiate.
"How can I be sure you'll come back? That you won't just run off?" the carter asked apprehensively.
Li Haoran sneered and shook his head. "Trust me… I'm not the kind to trick someone. That's not in my vocabulary."
The carter pouted his lips before nodding. "Deal, but only for the right price…"
Before he could finish, Li Haoran cut in, "Ten silver taels."
The carter was stunned—it should have been three silver taels, but this was more than double. He hesitated briefly, then broke into a satisfied smile and nodded enthusiastically. "Fine—fine… Good luck on your errand."
Li Haoran tossed five silver taels to the carter, who looked at him in confusion.
"Down payment. You'll get the rest when I return," Li Haoran explained.
A look of satisfaction spread across the carter's face as he quickly pocketed the silver taels and tucked them into his sling pouch.
Meanwhile, Li Haoran turned on his heel and walked off, stepping into the eerie, abandoned town.