Chapter 40 The Wrong Way to Visit an Ancient Town

As he spoke, the corner of his mouth twisted into a vicious grin. Gripping the large wok ladle tightly, he tried to move closer.

Under normal circumstances, this would absolutely constitute sexual harassment. But at this moment, Bai Xiao clearly sensed that he wasn't regarding her as a woman. It was more like he saw her as a... delicacy?

She hurriedly retreated to a safe distance. Looking at Han Yadong, who seemed like a completely different person, a shocking realization flashed through her mind. In the end, she said and did nothing more, swiftly making her way back to the guesthouse.

When Ma and Huang returned, Bai Xiao warned them: "Don't go near Han Yadong. He's dangerous."

The two nodded, not fully understanding the reason. However, Bai Xiao's actions over the past two days had been steady and reliable, and they had subconsciously begun to look to her as their leader, following her lead without thinking.

At exactly eleven o'clock, the Guide, Manager Zhang, emerged from some door yet again. After entering, he only said one sentence: "The ceremony is about to begin. Let's go, to invite the Mountain God."

The three of them maintained the same formation as the previous day. However, when it came time to lift the sedan, Bai Xiao thought for a moment and said to Huang Xinxin, "Let's switch. I'll carry the banner at the back. If we choose the wrong alley again, you two just run forward as fast as you can."

Huang Xinxin had noticed yesterday that Bai Xiao had impressive stamina, even stronger than the men. The flagpole was indeed more agile in her hands than in her own. Moreover, Bai Xiao had volunteered to take the rear position. Huang Xinxin understood in her heart: without Bai Xiao, she and Ma Huilin would never survive. Obedience was their only sliver of hope.

After switching positions, the three set off again, quickly arriving at the plaza entrance. Just like yesterday, the Townsfolk had gathered here at some unknown time. They stood motionless like wooden puppets, only bowing to receive blessings when the Mountain God arrived.

After circling once, they disappeared one after another into the various alleyways.

The time for choice had come again. Raindrops pattered against the leaf hats. Occasionally, water seeped through the gaps in the leaves, trickling down layer by layer, flowing down cheeks into collars, and disappearing along collarbones into deeper recesses. The icy sensation was sobering.

The three stood in the heavy rain, looking around in bewilderment. Finally, Bai Xiao pointed to an alley opposite the one they took yesterday. "Let's choose the one across today. Any thoughts?"

The other two shook their heads. Every alley entrance looked the same; they had no way to judge.

"Then let's go."

Huang Xinxin led the way toward the alley entrance, Ma Huilin following closely behind, with Bai Xiao bringing up the rear, holding the flagpole.

The alley entrance was deep and arched like a tunnel, about seven or eight meters long. Once inside, the light gradually dimmed.

Upon exiting the alley, dozens of Townsfolk in straw raincoats stood motionless on the raised platforms on either side, just like yesterday.

They had chosen wrong again!

"Huang Xinxin, Ma Huilin, don't look back! Run as hard as you can!"

As she spoke, Bai Xiao reversed the flagpole, rolled up the banner tightly, and gripped it, effectively turning the pole into a defensive weapon.

Hearing this, the two in front didn't hesitate for a second, immediately breaking into a desperate run.

Bai Xiao stayed close to the side of the path. Swinging the pole, she swept it toward the two nearest Townsfolk.

The flagpole was thick, Bai Xiao was strong, and the Townsfolk seemed caught off guard—their prey actually dared to fight back.

The Townsfolk struck by the pole stumbled, nearly falling off the high platform.

Bai Xiao's assault didn't relent. Running forward, she swung the three-meter-long pole at anyone she could reach, striking left and right without holding back.

The Townsfolk didn't even have time to let out their 'whooping' cries before being overwhelmed by this barrage of attacks.

The pole knocked down seven or eight people in succession. As she ran out of the crowd, Bai Xiao even turned back, targeting a fallen man. She hammered his back with the pole until he howled in pain, lost his footing, and tumbled off the platform into the knee-deep murky water.

The moment the man fell into the water, it was as if he'd landed in a cesspit. He immediately scrambled to his feet, yelling and cursing incomprehensibly, reaching out for someone on the platform to pull him up.

The people on the platform, seeing him covered in filthy water, had no desire to touch him.

Bai Xiao seized the chance to run farther away. She didn't see if he was finally pulled up. The water grew deeper as she waded, but soon, just like last time, she entered another dark hole, finally emerging from an alley onto the main street.

Gasping for breath, they returned to the town entrance. Without time for a longer rest, the three set off again.

Recalling the man's reaction after falling into the alley water, Bai Xiao finally understood why these people had only used rope nooses on them yesterday. They were truly fastidious to an extreme degree—mere rainwater washing over the road surface, and they could despise it so much.

Cleanliness, aversion to dirty water... Bai Xiao's eyes lit up as a thought struck her.

In the heavy rain, she shouted ahead, "I think I might have a clue. Let's try one more time. I need to verify something. But we're running out of time. This time, we absolutely must speed up, or we'll lose our third chance."

The two ahead were still panting, their faces wet with rain from running. TheySo be it took off their hats and raincoats. When sprinting, these were just hindrances. Staying alive now was a hundred times more important than staying dry.

Bai Xiao also realized the wide hat somewhat obstructed her vision during the fight, so she took hers off and tossed it aside.

When they returned to the plaza for the second time, it was as if the game had reset. The mass of Townsfolk once again surrounded the altar. This time, though still rigid and unmoving, their eyes were filled with fury.

They hurried through the blessing ceremony. When it came time to choose the route, Ma and Huang both looked at Bai Xiao. Bai Xiao randomly pointed to an alley ahead. "This time, any choice is fine. Let's take this one."

Hearing Bai Xiao say 'any choice is fine,' the other two showed no reaction, nor did they question it. They simply started walking in the direction she pointed.

Past the alley entrance, unsurprisingly, it was the same scene again. Only this time, the Townsfolk had grown smarter. Perhaps they had communicated with those from the previous alley. Each one was already swinging a rope noose, waiting for them to arrive.

"Run! Run with everything you've got!" Bai Xiao yelled.

The two sprang into action at her command, charging forward without a second's hesitation.

Bai Xiao swung the long pole at the nearest person. Attracting all the attention at the rear, the two carrying the sedan in front were left unhindered and ran forward unimpeded.

Bai Xiao, from behind, only managed to knock down three or four people with the pole before rope nooses began flying toward her head from all directions. She whirled the pole above her head in a circle, blocking all the incoming ropes.

Her hands kept moving, and her feet didn't stop either. But two fists are no match for four hands. Noose after noose came; there were always ones that slipped through. As she swung her flagpole once more, two nooses firmly snared it. Bai Xiao's forward sprinting momentum was abruptly yanked backward.

It was like having a rope tied to a person. If you run forward with all your might, once you reach the rope's limit, you'll inevitably be pulled back by the reactive force. The harder you run forward, the more violently you're yanked back.

The reactive force pulled Bai Xiao backward, and she landed hard on her backside. But she had no time to cry out in pain. She didn't hesitate even half a second. She immediately lay back, submerging herself completely in the murky water to avoid having her head caught by other ropes. Then, rolling twice in the water, she moved to the base of the roadside platform. Using the ground for leverage, she flipped herself up, hoisted the flagpole onto her shoulder, bent forward, and pulled with all her might.

With two *plop* sounds, the people who had snared her flagpole were pulled into the water. The moment the Townsfolk hit the water, they instantly let go, howling and trying to get out of the filthy water.

The flagpole regained its freedom. Bai Xiao tilted her head slightly, her hands swinging the pole in a reverse arc over her head, sweeping it across to the opposite side. Immediately, several more people fell from the platforms. The Townsfolk fell into disarray, their offensive halved.

Not daring to pause for breath, Bai Xiao took advantage of the chaos and ran out.