Chapter 119 Black Stone Village
At the entrance to the valley, the atmosphere instantly became tense.
Lou Jin and Ye Xunqin exchanged a glance, both seeing the doubt in each other's eyes.
In this treacherous Blackwater Swamp, any stranger could be a deadly threat.
"Who are you people?" Ye Xunqin asked in a deep voice, signaling everyone to prepare for battle.
The scarred man seemed to have anticipated being suspected. He gestured to the equally disheveled men behind him to put down their makeshift weapons and raise their hands to show they were harmless.
"We are from Black Stone Village! Shadow Serpent occupied our village and killed many of our brothers. We escaped!"
Black Stone Village?
Lou Jin's heart stirred, and he looked at Arno.
Arno nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Black Stone Village is a relatively large indigenous village on the outskirts of Blackwater Marsh. It is known for its bravery and has never submitted to the king's rule, but it also rarely interacts with the outside world. If what they say is true, then they do have a blood feud with Shadow Serpent."
Ye Xunqin was not easily convinced and continued to question, "What proof do you have?"
The scarred man pulled a wooden plaque engraved with strange totems from his pocket and threw it over forcefully.
"This is a token of our village's sovereignty!"
Ye Xunqin took the wooden plaque. It was heavy in his hand, the wood was unique, and the totems on it were ancient and mysterious, so it certainly didn't seem like a fake.
He handed it to Arno, who examined it carefully and nodded again: "It's the totem of Black Stone Village, that's right."
Lou Jin pondered for a moment before saying, "Let them in, but they must be disarmed and kept under close guard."
They are currently short-handed and their future is uncertain. If this group is indeed the Shadow Serpent's enemy, they might be able to become an ally.
However, one should always be wary of others.
The scarred man and his companions were led into the valley, their weapons were temporarily confiscated, and they were arranged to rest in an open area a little away from Ye Xunqin's men.
Lou Jin's men secretly formed an encirclement, vigilantly monitoring them.
The scarred man was named Shi Long, and he was a leader of Black Stone Village.
After wolfing down some food and water, he calmed down a bit and began to recount their ordeal.
"About two weeks ago, a group of people dressed in black with snakeskin patterns suddenly attacked our village."
“They didn’t have many people, but they were all highly skilled. We fought desperately, and the old chieftain was killed by them while covering our retreat…” He choked up and slammed his fist on the ground.
"We fled into the Blackwater Marsh, hoping to find a chance to take revenge or contact other villages that had been bullied by the Shadow Serpent. But this godforsaken place... we got lost, our brothers were either dead or scattered, and only a few of us were left."
The men from Black Stone Village behind him also looked sorrowful and resentful.
"How much do you know about Shadow Serpent's stronghold in Blackwater Swamp?" Lou Jin asked, seizing the key question.
Shi Long raised his head, his eyes sharpening: "We don't know much, but their people often operate near the Poison Dragon Pool on the west side of Jersey, where the miasma is the densest. Few of our people who go near there ever return. We suspect their lair is nearby."
"You want revenge?" Lou Jin asked, looking at Shi Long.
"I want to! I dream about it!" Shi Long gritted his teeth and said, "I'd give my life if it meant killing those bastards!"
“Very good.” Lou Jin stood up, his gaze sweeping over Shi Long and the people behind him.
“We can cooperate. We also need to deal with the Shadow Serpents, rescue our people, and destroy their stronghold. You are familiar with the terrain around Blackwater Swamp, and we need guides. In return, we can provide weapons, medicine, and help you take revenge.”
Shi Long barely hesitated before clasping his hands in a deep fist and saying, "Deal! As long as it helps our brothers avenge their deaths, the rest of us from Black Stone Village will be at your command!"
A temporary alliance was thus formed.
Although the foundation of trust is weak, it is undoubtedly a timely force in the face of a common enemy.
The group from Shilong received better treatment and supplies, and their mental state improved significantly.
With the addition of Shi Long and his group, their understanding of the surrounding environment deepened considerably.
They pointed out some hidden water sources and relatively safe routes.
After resting for two nights, Wushan brought back rations and supplies along the same route they had come from. The combined forces had recovered their strength and decided to head towards Poison Dragon Pool.
Before leaving, Lou Jin looked at the seriously wounded soldiers who were unable to move. Although none of them were the best in his Dark Guard Battalion, they were all personally selected by him.
He discussed it with Ye Xunqin, left enough food and medicine, arranged for two people to take care of them, and said in a deep voice, "Wait for us to come back and pick you up!"
Although the wounded were weak, their eyes were firm: "Your Highness, General, please rest assured, we will recover as soon as possible and join you."
The team set off again, this time with a clear objective: Poison Dragon Pool.
With Shi Long and the others leading the way, the journey went much more smoothly.
They avoided some known dangerous places, and although they still had to face the omnipresent poisonous insects and miasma and the occasional harassment from corpse puppets, they managed to resolve these dangers without any real harm.
The closer you get to the Poison Dragon Pool, the stronger the stench and oppressive feeling in the air become.
The surrounding vegetation began to thin and twist, and the rocks turned an ominous purplish-black.
Even the fog seemed to be poisonous, taking on a faint grayish-green hue.
"The outer edge of the Poison Dragon Pool is just ahead." Shi Long pointed to an area shrouded in even thicker fog, where the sound of rushing water could be faintly heard, his expression grave.
"We've never been inside any further in. All we know is that it's an absolute death zone, where even the most venomous snakes and insects dare not approach."
Lou Jin stared at the dead zone, sensing the immense danger it contained, but also vaguely feeling that the ultimate goal lay within.
“The Candle Dragon… is very likely inside,” Arno whispered, her hand unconsciously tightening around a small pouch at her waist, which seemed to contain something important.
Lou Jin took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as knives.
"Get ready, let's go in."
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