102. Horrors of a Goblin Nest
At least fifteen kilometer away from Larzuk Town, a group of six people with dark bluish uniforms have just arrived at a village. Five of them are Late Qi Condensation realm and their last member is an eight year old kid who looks like he has yet to open his meridians.
The group is Khor’s party and they have yet to take a break from their travel.
The village did not have gates nor guards and Khor just asked the first farmer he saw who is standing at a rice terrace not far from them.
“My name is Khor from Annex IX. We hope to speak with your village head.”
“We rarely get visitors these days. If you follow me, the elder’s house is just up ahead.” The villager was warm as he approached them.
The group followed the farmer and Clay in particular was surprised with the current situation of the village. When they were passing by some mountains, they did pass by a few villages and most of the houses he noticed were mostly shabby and rundown yet this village is different.
The houses are made of wood but the quality is superior and while the design is simplistic, it gives off the feel of modern architecture.
After a few minutes, they stopped in front of a house.
“This is not the elder’s house but this is where we receive our guests. I hope these young masters can relax themselves and patiently wait as I call the village head.”
“Make it fast. We don’t plan on staying long.”
The farmer opened the door of a two story building then slightly bowed and left.
The group entered the house.
“This place is not bad.”
“Indeed. I think my bones are to going break if I sleep outside.” One of the party member said indirectly suggesting they take their rest here and not camp on a grass.
Meanwhile, the farmer rushed towards the village head’s house and entered without knocking.
“We’ve got visitors and two of them are women. I think they’re quite strong.”
The village head stood up in excitement then said, “Prepare them sumptuous meal now.”
Khor and Troru looked around the house having noticed the difference of the houses when comparing it to the villages they passed by earlier. They may be young but they have already developed an ability to detect red flags within their surroundings.
After a few minutes, every one gathered in the living room as they have felt the arrival of the village head.
“I hope we won’t be imposing our presence during your busy day but we have received rumors of Grublins appearing nearby. “
“I greet these protectors from the mighty fortress. Our village is always open and I apologize if rumors have wasted your precious times. If there are destructive Grublins nearby, we will have had certainly reported this a long time ago but the peace in our little village have yet to be disturbed.”
Everyone was expecting an old grandpa as the village head but the person speaking now is a six footer man in his forties and as muscular as Troru.
“What happened to the previous village head?”
The man avoided everyone’s gaze and looked towards the floor and said, “My father passed away a year ago. My name is Satnak. If these protectors find me unfit, I can call everyone in the village so you pick a more suitable leader.”
“That would be unnecessary however there is one thing we need. We wish to rest here for the night and we leave at dawn.
“Please do make yourselves comfortable. Our village may be small but I will prepare some accommodations…”
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Khor interrupted and said, “There is no need to concern yourself with us.”
“Please sirs. I insist.”
Khor coldly said, “I have nothing to give in return.”
Satnak bowed and left.
Everyone was silent but after half a minute, Troru spoke. “Clearly there is something wrong with this village but I can’t tell what it is as I do not sense any malicious presence. Should I go ahead scout the area?”
“No, everyone take rest but be on guard. I’ll investigate myself after dark. But you..” Khor paused and looked at Clay, “you’ll come with me later.”
Clay nodded in response. The most awaited moment has finally arrived. He walked towards a corner near the wall and pretended to rest and meditated.
The sun slowly set and a few villagers entered the house carrying pots and plates to arrange the table. The other party members went on to clean themselves and Troru took his seat and eat with his hands like a barbarian and did not bother to wait for the rest.
Khor on the other hand looks indifferent and waited for the villagers to leave and tested the food to ensure that they are not being poisoned and called the rest to dinner.
“You should come and eat as well.” Troru invited Clay a seat. Seeing that every is present, Clay walked towards the table and joined everyone.
Everyone looks relaxed and the pace as which everyone eats has slowed down indicating their satisfaction with the food except for Troru who’s stomach is like a bottomless pit.
*Knock
*Knock!
Soft knocks were heard from the door and Satnak entered without anyone saying anything. He was holding a tray with six cup and an ancient teapot.
“I hope everyone is enjoying themselves. I have brought our village’s specialty. It takes a year of meticulous preparation and brewing and it may have little effect on your cultivation progress, it should help relieve the fatigue that accumulated during your trip.”
Satnak placed a cup on the table near Clay and filled it with a sparkling hot pale greenish tea. Vapor escaped the cup and the sweet and alluring aroma of the tea filled the room attracting everyone’s attention.
Even Clay had to slowly take a deep breath as the smell brought him comforting sensation he felt like lying on a soft fluffy pillow.
While Clay was tempted to drink his cup, he controlled his urge and pretended to look uninterested until everyone starts taking sip before he starts as well. He has to maintain his image of being useless and if they want his cup, then he will give it away like a slave.
*Mhhhh
Seeing that everyone was enthralled with the tea, Satnak did walk around the table to serve everyone.
Unlike everyone who are enjoying the moment, Clay’s mind is occupied on whether he should escape now. Judging from Khor’s action, he can already guess that he will not be thrown on a cliff or abandoned somewhere like he anticipated but instead he’s going to be personally killed.
He thought, “You’ve let me down Khor. You deserve to die but I will spare you so you could spread rumors of my disappearance.”
Clay held the cup of tea on his hands but before he could take a sip, he felt the Qi inside his body becoming harder to control. One must know that he has a perfect Qi control that he could restrain his cultivation even while asleep however the flow still requires his guidance. He wanted to take control of the circulation but his dantian does not seem to respond.
He closed his eyes and concentrated however he lost control and like a dam that has collapsed, his aura was released. His companions felt the sudden change from Clay and although it did not appear strong, everyone was surprised that he, a trash suddenly could wield cultivation powers.
“We’re poisoned.” Clay spoke and placed the cup on the table.
Everyone thought Clay was making a scene however when everyone tried to circulate their Qi, their faces contorted. The situation immediately turned dire and when everyone tried to retrieve weapons and antidotes on their spatial rings, the poison intensified restricting the Qi within their bodies and the worst part is that their bodies became sluggish that even lifting a finger is an arduous task.
Such powerful poison that completely renders the body immobile just by smelling its vapor. How much more if ingested.
Everyone lost control of their bodies and dropped to the floor except Khor. Khor as a valued disciple has a few life saving tricks and one of them is an antidote hidden on one of teeth and it requires blood to activate it so he unhesitantly bit his tongue and used the blood oozing out inside his mouth and swallowed afterwards.
He did gain a temporary resistance but it was too weak that he could barely maintain his balance.
“What did you do?”Khor was fuming.
“Funny how you think your antidote would work against Goblin’s Tear Poison. Just so you know, Goblin’s poison is two way. The first part was mix into your food and the second part is on this tea. Amazing isn’t it? These two are not really poisonous by themselves but when mix together, as long as you have already ingested the first part, even the slightest smell from the second part will make you unable to move.” Satnak made a sinister laugh then walked towards Clay who has lost control of his body. Clay cannot feel his body but his is fully aware of what is going on. He has experienced this before during his life at Gar Wahger when he confronted some docile rabbits but this time, he cannot circulate his Qi.
“You and I have not enmity with each other. If you stop this now, I will gladly compensate you. You can have my spatial ring as prepayment if you like it, I will give more later.”
“Enmity and now reward and compensate me? You people of the fortress only knows how to beg when you’re the ones dying. But if it’s us, even in hunger you demand our livelihoods.
Do you know who lend us a hand when were famished? It’s the Grublins you despise so much.”
Clay cursed his carelessness. While he was trying to regain control of his body, he felt five more people entered the house. Not technically people as he can fell unusual powers emanating from them and when he tried to look, he only saw dark reddish skins.