Chapter 115 - 107: Wuxi Village
Chapter 115: Chapter 107: Wuxi Village
’If there are more superpower users in the north, and they’ve been more influenced by the abnormal treasure, then someone with an exceptional Talent like Lin Yu must be in one of the northern villages.’ This was a crucial clue, and Tang Mo was almost certain of it.
"So, what villages and towns are up north?" Tang Mo wanted to get as much key information as she could.
’Yunshui Town is just a peaceful little village with no ambition, and no one named Lin Yu lives here. I’ve already figured that much out.’
’I can’t stay here for long. It’s more practical to get some leads and then go check out the other villages and towns.’
"There are four villages and towns in the north. The neighboring Green Water Town is pretty similar to our Yunshui Town. Then there’s Wuxi Village, which is a bit closer to the desert. That village is famous for rearing insects."
Uncle He and his wife had lived here for most of their lives, so of course, they were very knowledgeable.
"And the last one?"
Tang Mo pressed on. ’Didn’t he say there were four villages in total?’
"There’s one more called Sand Town. We’ve only ever heard of it; no one’s actually been there."
At the mention of this place, the expressions on both Uncle He and his wife’s faces turned a little strange.
"Tang Mo, I’d advise you not to go there. It’s very dangerous. The people there all live in the desert, surviving by catching and eating sand worms. Their way of life is vastly different from people in normal society. It’s best if you don’t make contact with them."
Uncle He was sincerely trying to persuade Tang Mo.
The stories about Sand Town were the stuff of local legend, and it was true that every year, people would see strangely dressed individuals moving through the desert, catching insects.
Sand worms were a type of insect unique to the desert around B City. Their bodies were rich in fluid, able to not only replenish a person’s water supply but also provide essential protein.
However, they didn’t interact with outsiders. Because they were in the desert, they were unrestrained and free from any authority, living by their own primitive system of survival.
’They don’t interact with outsiders and live only in the desert?’
Tang Mo muttered to herself.
’Mutant beasts need to eat and drink, too. Naturally, there are more of them in the forests.’
She had previously only heard that a village had pooled all its resources to gather ten Intermediate Crystal Cores in exchange for that Desert Ridge Flower.
In her past life, she had no concept of what ten Intermediate Crystal Cores meant, but now she understood very well.
’If even Uncle He’s group, who were so destitute they had to take refuge in S Base, could scrape together ten Crystal Cores, what about an entire village?’
’Besides, how could an abnormal treasure worth one hundred Spirit Attribute Value be sold for only ten Intermediate Crystal Cores? There had to be something fishy about it.’
’Wuxi Village, Sand Town... they both sound like very interesting places.’
After getting the information she needed, Tang Mo said goodbye to Uncle He and his wife. She had rested enough and decided it was time to hit the road.
For the current Tang Mo, the challenges ahead were far more interesting than staying in a comfortable place.
Since Sand Town didn’t have a specific location and was only known to be somewhere in the desert, Tang Mo decided to head to the closer Wuxi Village first.
Wuxi Village’s location was marked on her map, so all she had to do was follow it.
Based on her speed, she could get there in a single day if she traveled at full tilt.
Since she was alone, Tang Mo traveled light, storing everything in her Space. Only Jingjing still sat on her shoulder.
’Jingjing has been getting heavier lately. My shoulder probably won’t be her perch for much longer.’
In order to reach her destination as quickly as possible, Tang Mo didn’t stop to hunt any mutant beasts along the way.
After spending one night in the wilderness, she finally arrived at Wuxi Village early the next morning.
Uncle He and his wife had told Tang Mo about the customs of Wuxi Village. The people there were skilled at rearing insects and might have some secret customs not known to outsiders, so she had to keep as low a profile as possible when she got there.
As soon as Tang Mo reached the outskirts of Wuxi Village, she could clearly feel the difference from Yunshui Town.
Compared to the bright, sunny Yunshui Town, Wuxi Village was shrouded by a tall bamboo forest. Every house inside was built to be short, small, and dark, creating an instantly oppressive atmosphere.
Wuxi Village was an enclosed settlement. The only entrance was a row of bamboo gates, which completely blocked the view of what was inside.
Tang Mo could clearly sense Wuxi Village’s desire to be cut off from the world, but it couldn’t be helped. ’I have to get through this gate today. I’ve come all this way, so there’s no way I’m leaving empty-handed.’
After standing at the gate and thinking for a long while, Tang Mo turned and slipped back into the nearby jungle.
"I’ve got a job for you. Catch ten insect-type mutant beasts, and I’ll reward you with one Intermediate Crystal Core."
Tang Mo placed Jingjing on the ground and assigned her a task.
Insect-type mutant beasts were the most common kind in the jungle, but because they were so small and their individual combat strength was weak, almost no superpower users paid them any mind.
Given Jingjing’s size and agility in the jungle, this task was perfect for her.
"YIP!!"
The allure of an Intermediate Crystal Core was something Jingjing couldn’t resist. With a happy yip, she bounded off, disappearing into the jungle to complete her task.
Tang Mo found a clean spot, sat down, and waited while eating a piece of bread, feeling perfectly content.
’It’s a good thing I have Jingjing. If I had to catch these insects myself, I’d be lucky to finish by nightfall.’
’I already thought this through. If I just march up and knock on Wuxi Village’s gate, they’ll definitely turn me away. I need a pretext.’
’And for Wuxi Village, insects are the one thing that’s sure to grab their attention.’
’And I plan to give them exactly what they want.’
Jingjing’s work ethic was impressive, to say the least. Tang Mo hadn’t even finished her bread before Jingjing started bringing back the insects one by one.
The insects were all bizarrely shaped and vibrantly colored, a sight that made Tang Mo lose her appetite for the bread.
She took out a small box, put all the insects inside, and then paid Jingjing her wages.
Only then did Tang Mo get up, dust herself off, and prepare to go back and knock on the gates of Wuxi Village.
KNOCK KNOCK. "Hello, is anyone there?"
After she had been knocking tirelessly for almost five minutes, someone from inside finally opened the gate a crack.
"What do you want?"
A head poked out from inside the gate, looking Tang Mo up and down.
"Hello, I’ve got some special insects here. I was wondering if you might be interested?"
Tang Mo took out the small box and wiggled it in front of the person, offering what she hoped was her most welcoming smile.
"Special insects?"
The gatekeeper’s eyes were glued to the small box, and Tang Mo couldn’t miss the fervent gleam in them.
"Wait here. I’ll go ask. Stay right there, don’t move!"
The person on the other side of the gate pulled their head back in and took off at a run, shouting over their shoulder for Tang Mo not to leave.