Chapter Fifty-Four: All Dead

For reasons unknown, upon hearing the news from the town, Yang Fan felt a terrifying surge of hostility rising within him. He forced it down.

"Is this a side effect of the fusion? Even though I've always wanted to sever my ties with the town, I still can't help but care about it," he sighed inwardly.

It didn't matter.

After all, I am not myself, yet I am myself. I am Yang Fan of the other world, and Yang Fan of this world.

I have inherited this body, fused with its blood and soul.

By now, everything is hopelessly entwined.

Yang Fan listened quietly.

So much had happened in just a few days.

First, news came from the county: the county magistrate had worshipped an evil god and transformed into a demonic form. That very night, the Skywatching Tower took over the city’s defense, surrounded the magistrate’s residence, and sealed off the entire city.

Even the magistrate and others were restricted in their movements.

Countless people were involved in the shadows.

Fortunately, none of this concerned Nanshan Town.

But last night, the Blood Wolf Bandits suddenly attacked, killing everyone they saw and massacring the entire town—even the Hall of Healing was not spared.

They set a great fire, burning the town to ashes.

Manager Wang, lucky to escape with a severed arm, fled into the mountains, tending to his wounds while searching for Nangong Wentian and the others.

Earlier tonight, he discovered lights in this area and arrived just moments ago.

"Blood Wolf Bandits!" Yang Fan closed his eyes, then abruptly opened them. He looked at Manager Wang and asked, "Uncle Wang, do you know their purpose?"

"They didn’t seem to be after wealth, just slaughter," Manager Wang replied hesitantly. "According to legend, the Blood Wolf Bandits are mainly after riches; though they're bloodthirsty, they act cautiously. But Nanshan Town is near the county seat, and with the recent demonic events, they slaughtered a prosperous town—Skywatching Tower will not let them off. This makes no sense."

Yang Fan's eyelids drooped.

In that moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Nanshan Town was once Yang Family Town, possibly hiding a treasure; those behind the magistrate wanted to seize a plot of land, but after the magistrate died, the town was suddenly slaughtered.

There had already been rumors that the Blood Wolf Bandits were heading this way, but nothing happened—until they destroyed Nanshan Town in one blow. So, their interest was likely in the town from the start.

The Prince of Tianhe was training troops in Yunwu Mountain, discovered a purple-gold mine, and had been excavating for two years—even hunting down local hunters.

The mountain’s purple-gold mine, the town as its outlet, possible hidden treasure, those behind the magistrate...

"All of this points to the Prince of Tianhe! Overthrow and rebuild, use Nanshan Town as a base of operations to cover their tracks while searching for treasure."

Whether true or not, they were already enemies.

"Uncle Wang, did anyone else escape?"

Yang Fan asked.

At this moment, no one dared underestimate him.

All understood, to some degree, that this young tiger had been unleashed.

"There should be!" Manager Wang replied. "As I escaped, I saw many townsfolk fleeing in all directions, but what happened to them in the end, I can't say."

For reasons he couldn't name, Yang Fan felt a sharp pain in his heart.

He thought of Uncle Dashan, of Xiaoyu, of Erni.

He remembered Uncle Hammer and the others.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the waves of emotion in his heart and looked to Nangong Wentian. "Why haven't I seen Da Hu and the others?"

"This..." Nangong Wentian gave a bitter smile. "Xiao Fan, something happened here too."

"Something happened?" Yang Fan’s gaze swept over the two elders.

With them present, how could anything go wrong?

But it had.

Three days ago.

They paused on a mountain ridge, discussing medical knowledge and survival skills in the wild, when suddenly the ground beneath them trembled.

A herd of crazed black cattle charged at them, followed by a dense swarm of dark clouds.

No—it was bloodthirsty bats and red-beaked sparrows tangled in deadly combat, dragging the cattle into the chaos.

There was no stopping it.

Their group was scattered.

"Some died, some were wounded, some were crippled, and others fell off cliffs, their whereabouts unknown!" Nangong Wentian sighed. "Bloodthirsty bats are rare, but that day hundreds appeared, and for reasons unknown, they were beset by even more red-beaked sparrows. We were swept up in a disaster not of our own making."

He dreaded the aftermath they would have to deal with upon leaving the mountains.

Too many had died.

"As for Yang Da Hu?" Nangong Wentian shook his head. "Impossible to tell."

Some were reduced to pulp, some devoured, some fell off cliffs—there was no way to know.

Yang Fan's breathing quickened, struggling to restrain the rising hostility within him, he asked, "Brother Nangong, what are your plans now?"

Nangong Wentian’s gaze flickered. "We’ll return to the town at dawn. Anyone who dares attack our Hall of Healing—the Blood Wolf Bandits are doomed. No one can save them!"

"We’ll meet again in town."

"You’re going back tonight?"

"Yes."

"It’s too dangerous. Why not wait for dawn and go together?"

"No, I want to see it for myself right now."

Yang Fan bid farewell and left.

Watching his distant figure, Nangong Wentian was silent for a long time.

"This boy has come into his own," the elder beside him suddenly said.

"What do you mean?"

"Young master, you and I have seen it with our own eyes. In so short a time, he’s grown from a novice to his current level. His blood and energy are at the ninth rank—I’m certain he’s hiding something. Even if not, this speed is astonishing! I believe he’s hiding his true strength. When we met, I unleashed all my power, but he was unfazed—a ninth rank could never do that. And his demeanor—no trace of humility. That’s confidence, confidence deep in his bones!"

"How could one grow so quickly?"

"He must have encountered a stroke of fortune."

"You mean the old rumors about Yang Family Town?"

"Perhaps. Young master, should we..."

"No," Nangong Wentian shook his head, hands clasped behind his back as he gazed into the distant darkness. "Because of Da Hu, a rift has formed between us, yet we are still closely bound. He now shows signs of becoming a strong man, and for us, his growth is of far greater value."

"Indeed, young master, you’re becoming more mature. He’s no ordinary person, a lone wolf, full of hatred. If he becomes our enemy, we must strike fatally in one blow, or he’ll be a great threat. If he’s our ally, we should support him even more. First, let’s destroy the Blood Wolf Bandits!"

Under the cover of night, Yang Fan pressed forward.

Over mountains and ridges, heedless of exhaustion.

At last, he emerged from Yunwu Mountain.

He halted, gasping for breath, took out his water pouch, and drank a few mouthfuls.

Staring at the pouch, he couldn’t help but think of Xiaoyu.

"Are you still alive?"

Yang Fan’s heart trembled.

He shouldn’t feel this way, yet he couldn’t help himself.

In the past, even deep into the night, Nanshan Town would be bright with lights, but now it was pitch black.

So dark it was frightening.

Yang Fan moved forward again, this time slowly, until he finally reached the back of the town.

He stopped.

He didn’t even use his earth-sense to investigate.

A nameless sorrow and trembling filled his heart.

In his eyes, the houses had collapsed, everything charred and blackened.

At last, he used his earth-sense ability, and his spirit brightened—he "saw" many people.

There was a house still intact, with a faint light inside.

He was about to approach when he hesitated.

A phrase flashed through his mind, something he had seen on a human skin in the underground palace: "Yang Family Town will face destruction."

The present Nanshan Town was once Yang Family Town.

"Is this a coincidence or..."

Yang Fan was seized with an inexplicable shudder, but still walked toward the place where people remained.