NOVEL WEB Chapter 771: Evil Within the Village?
The three arrived outside the inn, only to see a group of masked bandits surrounding a carriage.
The guards on the carriage were struggling to resist, but it was clear they were no match.
"We can't just stand by," Qing Shuang said calmly.
Luo Chen nodded, "Let's go."
The three quickly joined the battle, Luo Chen's "Silver Moon Ice Blade" flashing coldly in the night, while Qing Shuang and Hong Ling used their secret techniques to fiercely engage the bandits.
The battle didn't last long; the bandits, realizing the situation was unfavorable, scattered and fled.
Luo Chen and the others successfully protected the carriage and earned the gratitude of its owner.
"Thank you, heroic trio, for your rescue," the carriage owner said gratefully, "I am the village chief of a nearby village, and was on my way to the city to buy grain. If not for you, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
Luo Chen waved his hand, "No need to thank us, it's what we should do."
The village chief invited them to the village to rest for the night, to which the three agreed.
Led by the village chief, they arrived at a tranquil little village.
The village chief prepared a sumptuous dinner for them and recounted the current state of the village.
It turned out that the village had recently been troubled by some mysterious forces, affecting the villagers' lives.
"There is an ancient legend in our village that speaks of a mysterious power that can dispel evil and protect the village," said the village chief.
Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Hong Ling exchanged glances, each with a thought in mind.
"Perhaps we can help you," Luo Chen said.
Hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in the village chief's eyes, "Really? That would be wonderful!"
The three decided to stay in the village for a while to help the villagers solve the problem.
They knew this was not only an adventure but also a test of their own abilities.
In the days that followed, Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Hong Ling began investigating the strange occurrences around the village.
They discovered that an unusual power was hidden in the mountains and forests near the village.
"This power seems somewhat similar to the 'Heavenly Lock' secret technique, yet there are differences," Qing Shuang said with a frown.
Luo Chen nodded, "We must act cautiously and not rashly."
Hong Ling appeared somewhat excited, "If we can solve this problem, we can bring peace to the village."
After some investigation and preparation, the three decided to enter the forest on the night of the full moon to confront the mysterious power directly.
The night of the full moon arrived, and they ventured into the depths of the forest.
Under the moonlight, everything in the forest appeared unusually clear.
Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Hong Ling proceeded cautiously, and suddenly they discovered an ancient altar ahead.
The altar emitted a faint glow, seemingly closely connected to the mysterious power.
The three approached the altar, seeing some ancient runes engraved upon it.
"These runes seem to record some kind of ceremony," Luo Chen said softly.
Upon careful observation, Qing Shuang found that the runes were somehow connected to the "Silver Moon Ice Blade" secret technique, "This might be an ancient sealing ceremony, used to seal some kind of power."
Hong Ling suggested, "Let's see if we can reactivate this ceremony, maybe it can seal that evil power."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang agreed with Hong Ling's suggestion. They began preparing to activate the ritual according to the instructions on the runes.
With their actions, the glow on the altar grew brighter, and the air around them seemed to start vibrating.
Suddenly, a powerful force erupted from the center of the altar, forming a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.
Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Hong Ling were pushed back a few steps by the force, but they did not give up.
They persisted until the light column gradually dispersed and the runes on the altar dimmed down.
The mysterious power seemed to be successfully sealed.
The three let out a sigh of relief, knowing that this adventure not only helped the village but also gave them a deeper understanding of the "Heavenly Lock" secret technique.
After hearing the news, the village chief and the villagers rushed over to express their gratitude to Luo Chen and the others.
The village chief went further, inviting them to the celebration the next day.
During the celebration, the villagers sang and danced, expressing their gratitude to Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Hong Ling.
The three also felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and happiness.
As the night deepened and the celebration ended, Luo Chen, Qing Shuang, and Hong Ling sat in the village square, gazing at the starry sky.
Their mood was exceptionally relaxed.
"Luo Chen, do you think we've really sealed that power?" Hong Ling asked with a hint of uncertainty, looking at the stars in the night sky as if searching for an answer.
Luo Chen smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with determination, "I believe we did it. Look, the aura in the forest has returned to calm; there's no longer that unsettling fluctuation."
Qing Shuang nodded. He was always steadier than others, "Yes, I feel it too. But we must not let our guard down; we must ensure the seal isn't broken again."
The three fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
Luo Chen was the first to break the silence, "We should check the altar again tomorrow to ensure everything is normal."
Hong Ling jumped up lightly, "Sure, I'll go first thing in the morning. But tonight, let's just enjoy this peaceful night."
Qing Shuang also stood up, dusting off his clothes, "I agree with Hong Ling, now we should go back to rest."
They walked back together to the residence the village chief had prepared for them, a spacious and comfortable wooden house.