Chapter 526 – Next Door Neighbor

　　Nonetheless, since then, the Northern Wild Wolf had left a deep psychological shadow on people of the Qianyuan Dynasty, because these kinds of wolves were fast as lightning, and had sharp teeth that could bite off the neck of a Primary Realm cultivator with a gentle touch. What is more frightening is that this kind of wolf seems to be able to devour people’s souls.

　　Yan Tianhen naturally heard of that part of history, so when he heard the name of the Northern Wild Wolf, he had a sense that things weren’t good.

　　Just, where is this place?

　　Why did the track of the Northern Wild Wolf appear?

　　Lin Zhizhi’s eyes also fell on the bare tree, saying, “Only this tree has no writing brush.”

　　Yan Tianhen said, “So you have also noticed, why do they have to hang a writing brush on the tree at the door? I have never seen it before.”

　　Lin Zhizhi shook her head and said, “I am not clear, however just go to another house and ask.”

　　Yan Tianhen thought they could only do that.

　　But at this time, the color of the sky was getting dark, and Yan Tianhen planned to enter the house first and take a look inside.

　　After entering, Lin Zhizhi looked around in the circle, touched the desk in the middle of the room, looked at the bed in the bedroom, and said, “The old man lied to us. There were people living here a few days ago. It hasn’t been empty for a long time.”

　　The tabletop was free of dust, and there was no stale smell in the air.

　　What made people take more notice was that the bed and bedding were well made and clean, and smelled like sunshine. It seems that the owner of the house already knew that guests were coming, so they were greeted with the bed ready and it seemed prepared in advance.

　　Yan Tianhen touched his chin and said, “Why does this have a feeling of asking us to enter the boiling pot?”

　　Lin Zhizhi said, “Let’s still ask about the use of the writing brush first. I feel that the circumstances are not quite right.”

　　Yan Tianhen nodded and said, “All right.”

　　As soon as he left the courtyard, he suddenly remembered one thing and said, “Zhizhi, Why do you know so much about Myriad Dao Academy’s information? Didn’t you lose your memory?”

　　Lin Zhizhi said casually, “I just don’t remember who I am, where I came from, and where I want to go. I still remember everything that has nothing to do with myself.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “…”

　　Lin Zhizhi spoke, “I know you don’t believe me. If you don’t believe me, then don’t believe me.”

　　Yan Tianhen said quickly, “That’s not the case, I still somewhat believe you.”

　　He has never heard of such a bizarre thing, excuse him for being ignorant.

　　Lin Zhizhi looked at him, then lifted her foot and left.

　　Yan Tianhen hurried to catch up.

　　There were other households nearby, but it was already evening, and every family had closed their doors. It was even more strange that they looked like they were unwilling to be disturbed. Yan Tianhen said, “I’ve been to the small town next to Royal Heavenly Capital before, and in the evening, when cooking and eating, they all open their doors and chat with each other. Why is it that in these courtyards, one is quieter than each other?”

　　When Lin Zhizhi heard that the person’s footsteps seemed to be leaving, she continued to say calmly, “The person next to me is a cultivator of the Primary Realm. He has a sword and whip in his hand. It only takes a light swing…”

　　The rest of the words didn’t get a chance to be said, the door of the courtyard was opened from the inside.

　　Yan Tianhen, “…”

　　Goddamn, so this also works!

　　What appeared in front of them was a middle-aged man with coarse weather-beaten skin and slightly tanned skin. He stared at Lin Zhizhi with vigilance and fear, then looked at the Yan Tianhen next to him and said, “Cultivator?”

　　Lin Zhizhi nodded and said, “Naturally.”

　　The man said, “Don’t tell any lies. How can you prove that you are a cultivator, and not a demonic cultivator?”

　　Yan Tianhen held a whip in his hand and hit the ground. A stone three feet away became powder.

　　The man: “…..”

　　The man was silent for a moment, looked around and said, “You came from the north?”

　　Lin Zhizhi shook his head and said, “We came from the east.”

　　The man thought for a moment, hesitated for a moment, and said, “You guys come in first.”

　　So Lin Zhizhi and Yan Tianhen smoothly entered the neighbor’s yard.

　　There were not many people in the neighbor’s house, only six people–, the man named Zhou Chang and his wife, Zhou Chang’s parents, and a baby swaddling among clothes.

　　The child had gone to sleep after drinking milk, and the hostess’s face was lifeless. She just looked up at the two strangers, then kept her head down and continued to raise rice into her mouth, acting like a puppet. The old couple was old and had already gone to bed, so Yan Tianhen did not see them.

　　Zhou Chang looked at the baby fast asleep in its swaddling clothes and said, “What are you doing here?”

　　Yan Tianhen felt that this family was strange but couldn’t say how, but he said, “It was a simple accident, it seemed there was only this small town a hundred meters, we could only enter.”

　　Zhou Chang looked up at them and seemed to show a sarcastic smile. “You saw an old man with a face full of bark at the city gate?”

　　Thinking of a full face of wrinkles, Yan Tianhen knew who he was talking about.

　　Yan Tianhen said, “Yes, we met him, he let us in.”

　　He also pointed to the east yard and said, “He let us live there.”

　　Zhou Chang looked at the yard, revealing an expression of fear in his eyes.

　　Although it quickly flashed in the past, it was still caught red-handed by Lin Zhizhi.

　　Zhou Chang said, “Oh, that’s the place where foreigners stay. Our town is a small town. There is no need to build an inn when no one ever comes. If foreigners come, they will go there if they want to stay for some time.”

　　Yan Tianhen asked, “Who is that old man?”

　　Zhou Chang said, “He is also a cultivator.”

　　Lin Zhizhi opened her mouth and said, “I saw that every household hung up a writing brush, however, what is the story behind it?”

　　Zhou Chang’s expression slightly stiffened and quickly returned to normal. He said, “It’s like some towns like to hang up red lanterns in every household. It’s just a tradition here.”

　　Yan Tianhen asked, “What is this tradition?”

　　Zhou Chang said, “It is said that this can ward off evil spirits.”

　　Yan Tianhen frowned and said, “Then why didn’t you hang this writing brush in front of the house for foreigners?”

　　Zhou Chang said indifferently, “Because foreigners are not cursed, they don’t need this writing brush to ward off evil spirits.”

　　Zhou Chang’s words didn’t seem to have too many problems, but they wouldn’t stand under careful scrutiny.

　　Before Yan Tianshen could scrutinize it, Lin Zhizhi asked again, “What kind of curse have you received?”

　　Zhou Chang shook his head and said, “It’s all the sayings handed down from elders. I don’t know what the curse was. In any case, it’s a curse.”

　　Lin Zhizhi asked, “Can you give us one of these writing brushes?”

　　After all, when you are away from home and encounter such misfortunate things, you should first ward off evil spirits and be safe and sound.

　　Zhou Chang looked at Lin Zhizhi, then looked at Yan Tianhen, and said, “There are no extra writing brushes. If you want to know more, wait until tomorrow, when you have a chance to ask others. Now it’s time for my family to rest. You guys go ahead.”

　　Yan Tianhen wanted to ask some more questions, but Zhou Chang’s mouth closed like a clam, and he said no more.

　　He couldn’t actually threaten Zhou Chang with a sword. It was no use to waste any more time. Yan Tianhen and Lin Zhizhi glanced at each other and decided to leave.

　　When passing by the tree in front of Zhou Chang’s house, Yan Tianhen really wanted to take down the writing brush, but in the end, he didn’t do it. After all, he didn’t want to harm others.

　　They went back to the courtyard, closed the gates, entered the room, and lit the lights.

　　Under the dim light of the lights, Lin Zhizhi’s appearance was like jade, like being coated with a layer of soft light.

　　Yan Tianhen sat down opposite her, saying, “That family just now really was strange. If I hadn’t heard their breathing, I would have thought all of them were people in an illusion.”

　　Lin Zhizhi said, “Whether it’s an illusion or not can’t be calculated like this. A real high master of arrays can definitely make the people inside the same as real people. Since that great power can create a world, the world is real.”

　　Yan Tianhen sighed and said, “If we can’t get this writing brush, maybe something will happen tonight.”

　　Lin Zhizhi said, “Then tonight, you and I should take turns to keep watch.”

　　Yan Tianhen looked at Lin Zhizhi’s not healthy-looking face and shook his head. “Rather I’ll take vigil, so you should have a good rest.”

　　Lin Zhizhi looked at him and asked, “Are you always so gentle with girls?”

　　Yan Tianhen said with a smile, “No, sometimes I can be mean to girls, depends on the person.”

　　Lin Zhizhi smiled, and her smile was even more beautiful, like the bright moon shining on a loose hill. Yan Tianhen indescribably stopped breathing, the idea he had became clearer and clearer, but he still felt like it was impossible.

　　Yan Tianhen suddenly stood up and said, “You can sleep in this inner room. I’ll go outside for the vigil, and you can call me if you have anything.”

　　“Wait a minute.” Lin Zhizhi said slowly, “I suddenly just remembered something.”

　　“What?”

　　“According to next door Zhou Chang’s words, many foreigners should have lived in this room. And it’s a real world connected by the evil spirit array, and people who come in must meet a set condition before they can leave.” Lin Zhizhi’s pair of black eyes were heavy, and her slender fingers like scallions touched the desktop once, then held her cheeks and said, “Once this evil spirit array is solved, the entrance will be closed forever. Since we can come in, it shows that no one can solve this evil spirit array. Then the question becomes…”

　　Lin Zhizhi looked very clever and beautiful, and softly asked, “Where did the people who used to live here go?”

　　Yan Tianhen was sweating all over his body.

　　“Where did the former people go? Do you have to ask this question? Naturally, they are dead!”

　　Yan Tianhen was absolutely terrified and said, “Don’t scare me, I can’t stand being scared.”

　　Lin Zhizhi bit her lower lip and looked pitiful. “I’m afraid, too, can’t you stay with me in the house?”

　　Yan Tianhen just listened to Lin Zhizhi’s speculation, and he didn’t want to go out. He didn’t know why, clearly Lin Zhizhi had no cultivation and seemed like a hindrance, but when he was by Lin Zhizhi’s side, when he looked at her, he had a feeling of peace of mind, as if he had been beaten shot full of adrenaline, and had infinite power.

　　Is it possible that it’s really because Lin Zhizhi looks pretty?

　　Yan Tianhen quickly dismissed this idea.

　　However, since Lin Zhizhi gave Yan Tianhen an opportunity to remedy the situation, Yan Tianhen immediately had the appearance of being able to support both heaven and earth. He changed his departing steps and turned to the direction of Lin Zhizhi, taking a few steps and sitting down at the table, covering the table with his sword, and said, “OK, I will guard you tonight.”

　　Lin Zhizhi’s heart was content and laid back and went back to sleep.

　　Yan Tianhen thought that this girl was really big-hearted. A man and a woman lived in the same room and at night, and this woman was still an empty Dantian person who had no cultivation. Was there no fear he could do something in the middle of the night?

　　There was a mirror inside the house. When Yan Tianhen turned his head, he could see himself in the mirror. He looked at this altered face with no memorable features and thought to himself, Could it be that honorable me looks like a chivalrous gentleman at first glance? Yan Tianhen couldn’t help but feel some happiness in his heart when he thought of it that way.

　　After all, there were few people in this world who liked others to look at them and think they had the look of a thief. To be treated with the resemblance of a thief was rather unsettling

　　In the middle of the night, Yan Tianhen was originally in the process of meditating with internal techniques, but he heard a strange sound outside.