The Villain in the Quick Travel is My Wife

Chapter 79

Chapter 79.3.19

"The continuous deaths can't just be an accident. Maybe there's something the villagers haven't noticed, but it's definitely not some evil spirit causing this. That's just nonsense."

"Since this situation has landed in our laps, we might as well investigate it thoroughly." An Shuting felt troubled as he recalled the numbness and anger in the villagers' eyes earlier that day.

"Sun Datou's a local here. He knows everything happening in the village. We could just call him over and ask." Sun Yuebai suggested.

An Shuting hadn't expected Sun Yuebai to be so eager. He knew Sun Yuebai believed his words, but he also sensed the man wanted concrete evidence to back them up. Perhaps, he thought, this investigation might offer a chance for Sun Yuebai to finally confront the unease that lingered in his heart.

Sun Datou arrived quickly. Growing up in the village, he knew the place like the back of his hand. Sun Yuebai had appointed him manager because he was strong, dependable, and quick-thinking.

Earlier, he'd been the one to discover Sun Yuebai and bring help, making their escape possible. As expected, he knew everything about the village.

"...It's strange. Since spring, the young and strong have been dying one after another. Just this month, the third son of the Liu family passed away. Last winter, the village went through so much to channel water from the sacred spring on Lubie Mountain. Honestly, it's such a shame for these young lives."

As he spoke, his eyes darted to a child seated nearby, before meeting An Shuting's steady gaze.

"Let's go. We should investigate this ourselves. It's absurd to blame everything on evil spirits." An Shuting frowned, paused, and stood.

Sun Yuebai nodded, as if piecing something together. "So you suspect these accidents might be connected to the new water source?"

"It's just a guess. But let's confirm it." An Shuting glanced back at the child, who remained quiet and still despite the unfamiliar surroundings. His composure tugged at An Shuting's heart.

At the edge of the village, the water was channeled through bamboo pipes, flowing clear and cool. It had taken the village's young men months of labor to bring it here from the mountains.

An Shuting scooped up a handful, feeling the water's refreshing chill.

"How is it?" Sun Yuebai asked.

An Shuting shook off the water, eyes fixed on the distant mountains with sparse vegetation. Instead of replying, he turned to Sun Datou. "Is that Lubie Mountain? Is that where the water's coming from?"

"Yes, that's the one. Nothing grows there, but the elders say it was once blessed by the Seven-Colored Divine Deer. They saw the spring as its gift, so the villagers put in all this effort to bring the water down."

"Let's go check it out." An Shuting pointed toward the mountain. Without any way to test the water, they'd have to examine the source directly.

Sun Datou looked to Sun Yuebai uncertainly, but Sun Yuebai ignored him, moving to stand beside An Shuting with a nod.

The journey took hours. Avoiding the bamboo piping, they followed a winding path, which made it even longer. An Shuting and Sun Datou managed well, but Sun Yuebai, unused to such exertion, began lagging and nearly tripped on a rock. An Shuting caught his arm just in time.

"How much further?" An Shuting asked, dabbing sweat from Sun Yuebai's forehead with a handkerchief.

"Almost there." Sun Datou, who had been leading the way in silence, glanced back at An Shuting's words.