Chapter 384

Chapter 384: Exorcism Agent (Part 1)

Changchang County, Wuyan Town.

“Dad, I’m back!”

Zhang Dahu slipped into the small courtyard and swiftly shut the door behind him.

He glanced up at the Exorcism Talisman pasted on the doorframe and exhaled deeply.

“How’s the situation outside?”

An elderly man with weathered skin and a troubled expression approached. “Did you find anyone?”

“I did!”

Zhang Dahu wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “The Wang family, the Sun family, and the Li family have all agreed to join us. We’ll meet at the main road at dawn tomorrow. Don’t be late!”

“Ah.”

Old Zhang sighed heavily. “Let’s hope it goes smoothly.”

If it weren’t for the dire circumstances, Old Zhang would never have considered leaving the town that had raised him.

But the situation in the town had worsened to the point of being unbearable, and staying any longer would only mean certain death.

“I wonder if the county will send an Exorcism Agent.”

He clung to a faint glimmer of hope.

“Don’t count on it.”

Zhang Dahu replied gruffly, “Li Zhen told me the county is also overrun with Evil Spirits. They’re too overwhelmed to send battle cultivators to deal with them. We need to leave as soon as possible.”

Old Zhang’s face grew even more somber. “Then we have no other choice.”

Zhang Dahu was about to offer some words of comfort when his expression suddenly darkened. “The fog is rolling in—get inside, now!”

The father and son hurried back into the house, lifted the cover of the tunnel, and descended into the hidden chamber below, where their wife and child waited.

Though nightfall was still some time away, the small border town was already enveloped in a creeping mist.

Every household had bolted their doors, and an eerie silence hung over the town, broken only by the occasional cry of a baby, which was quickly muffled, as if someone had covered its mouth.

As night descended, Wuyan Town grew even more desolate. The wind howled through the streets, scattering fallen leaves in its wake.

From somewhere in the distance came a faint, mournful wail, as if recounting a tale of sorrow.

The inns and tea houses, usually lively at this hour, were all shuttered and dark, their streets shadowy and foreboding, as if prowled by unseen fierce beasts.

Only the Exorcism Talismans hanging beneath the doorways flickered lightly, their glow faint and fragile.

But like candles in the wind, they teetered on the brink of extinguishing at any moment.

Suddenly, a sinister gust swept through, igniting several Exorcism Talismans, which burned to ash in an instant.

Moments later, a piercing, short-lived scream echoed through the town.

Yet no one ventured out to investigate. The surviving townsfolk remained huddled in their hidden chambers, wide-eyed and trembling, waiting for the long night to pass.

Among them was Zhang Dahu’s family.

That night felt especially long and torturous. By dawn, everyone was drowsy.

Zhang Dahu’s eyelids kept drooping until a rough hand suddenly slapped the back of his head, jolting him awake. “Who?”

“It’s me!”

Old Zhang said curtly, “Hurry up, don’t miss the meeting time!”

Zhang Dahu instantly became alert. “Let’s go!”

The food, valuables, and some daily necessities in their home had already been packed into the storage bags. The clothing and other items that wouldn’t fit were bundled as luggage, and the six of them hurried out the door.

Zhang Dahu carried a large backpack, held his young child in his arms, and grasped his wife’s hand with his other.

“Dad, Mom, keep up.”

Old Zhang said in a deep voice, “Don’t worry, even if we die, we won’t drag you down.”

This was not said in anger or mockery, but as a firm choice!

Zhang Dahu felt a deep sorrow in his heart: “If we’re going to die, let’s die together.”

“Don’t be foolish!”

Old Zhang slapped him again. “If you die, the Zhang family will be finished!”

The family ran as fast as they could down the desolate, cold main street, encountering very few pedestrians along the way.

However, a large group of townsfolk had gathered by the main road at the town entrance, each family bringing their spouses and children.

Many people held weapons or clutched talismans, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

Seeing these people, Zhang Dahu felt a wave of relief and hurriedly called out, “Li Zhen, Sun Cheng…”

These were friends he had known since childhood, with whom he shared a close bond.

Now that Evil Spirits were causing chaos in Wuyan Town, with people disappearing and being harmed every day, everyone felt they could no longer survive and had agreed to leave together today.

Wuyan Town lay more than two hundred miles from the county town. Though there was a main road connecting them, everyone knew it was treacherous.

Without unity, it was too easy for accidents to occur.

“Where’s Wang Wu?”

Zhang Dahu’s heart sank when he realized he hadn’t seen his best friend in the crowd.

Sun Cheng, pale-faced, replied, “When I came over, I saw the door of Wang Wu’s house was open, and the Exorcism Talismans were all gone.”

Zhang Dahu was speechless.

This meant that Wang Wu’s family was in grave danger and likely suffered misfortune.

Sun Cheng lowered his head, “I… I didn’t dare to go in and look.”

He felt ashamed, but no one would blame him, as they likely would have made the same choice in his shoes.

“The time has come!”

At that moment, the mist enveloping the town had completely dissipated. The sunlight shone through the gaps in the clouds, bringing warmth that felt comforting after a long absence.

A group of townsfolk nervously set off on their escape journey, forming a long line along the main road.

No one knew what awaited them ahead, but leaving held a faint chance of survival, while staying meant certain death!

After walking more than ten miles along the main road and leaving the town far behind, no unforeseen situations had arisen, lifting everyone’s spirits considerably.

The atmosphere in the group brightened significantly.

However, a shadow lingered in Zhang Dahu’s heart, making him feel that this good fortune couldn’t last.

As a cultivator at the third level of Qi Training, he knew he could move much faster if he left this group behind.

But his mother and wife were both ordinary people—there was no way he could abandon them.

He hoped his feelings were wrong!

“Look!”

Just as Zhang Dahu was trying to reassure himself, a sudden scream from beside him made him turn. “What is that?”

Following the direction of the pointing hand, he saw a large mass of dark clouds suddenly appearing in the west, rapidly drifting towards their location.

He looked closely and realized that the dark clouds were actually made up of flocks of black crows!

These crows were massive, their eyes blood-red. They emitted piercing cries, swiftly soaring overhead before diving down towards the crowd.

Worse yet, gray mist began to rise from the surrounding fields, sweeping toward the main road.

Zhang Dahu’s heart sank suddenly, and he couldn’t help but clench his fists!