Ye Guichen glanced at Yuan Shao and feigned ignorance, "What do you mean?"

"I can't quite say, but I have a feeling this Zhu You isn't just any villager. Seems like he's deliberately waiting for us," Yuan Shao said, shaking his head with a puzzled expression.

"Just keep an eye out," Ye Guichen nodded gently, indicating that he understood, but didn't say more.

Unbeknownst to them, Zhu You led Ye Guichen and his companions to a place resembling a gorge.

Both sides of the gorge were densely wooded, with a width of tens of meters and a height of over a hundred meters.

The sunlight was completely blocked, giving the entire gorge a sinister, eerie feeling.

"Hey, how much further?" Situ Yufeng asked Zhu You.

"This gorge is called Corpse Burial Valley. It's thirty-three miles long. Walking through it will lead us to the edge of Devil's Forest. Don't worry, we'll definitely reach there before dark," Zhu You said, speeding up his steps, "But you'd better hurry up. If you don't leave Corpse Burial Valley before dark, you might never get out."

"Corpse Burial Valley?" Hearing these words, Ma Xiaoling shivered, "Is this really Corpse Burial Valley?"

Ye Guichen asked curiously, "Why, do you know this place?"

"Yes," Ma Xiaoling explained nervously, her eyes glancing around. "Our Holy Temple's cave walls seem to have mentioned Corpse Burial Valley. Legend has it that a fierce battle took place here years ago, with countless casualties, and the corpses were buried here."

"But those people weren't ambushed and killed; they were lured here deliberately and killed by Corpse-eating Worms. They died in agony, each gnawed down to their bones."

"Because of this, their spirits linger, and when night falls, ghostly winds rise, devouring any living beings that pass by."

As she spoke, Ma Xiaoling peered into the depths of the gorge, "Mr. Ye, have you noticed? Though this gorge is vast and wooded on both sides, there aren't any insects or birds."

Ye Guichen realized this anomaly after Ma Xiaoling's reminder.

In such a place, there should be at least insects and birds, if not wild beasts.

But now, except for the bone-chilling wind rustling the grass, there was no other sound.

"What's this?" Suddenly, Yuan Shao found something underfoot.

It was a mineral water bottle.

Half-filled with water, the cap was open.

There was also a red stain resembling blood on one side of the bottle.

Yuan Shao brought the stain to his nose and sniffed, his pupils suddenly contracting, "It's blood, and it seems fresh, formed within three days."

"Hmm?" Ye Guichen grabbed the bottle, inspecting it.

Indeed, it was.

Fresh blood, within three days, and a seemingly discarded mineral water bottle.

If it were empty, people might think little of it.

But entering Devil's Forest, water sources become scarce, and half a bottle of mineral water is precious. Most wouldn't discard it lightly.

"Are you coming?" Zhu You, ahead, turned back impatiently as he saw Ye Guichen and his group stop.

Ye Guichen tossed the bottle back to Yuan Shao and nodded to Ma Xiaoling and Shui Liao, "Be cautious. There's something wrong here."

"Something wrong?" Ma Xiaoling tensed, placing a hand on her waist, ready to draw a weapon.

Yuan Shao placed his hand on the hilt of a large blade at his back.

Noticing the group's alertness, Zhu You's eyes flickered with anxiety but quickly masked it, "What's wrong with you all? If you don't want to proceed, just say. But I'm not refunding the money."

He looked like an outright rogue.

Ye Guichen laughed, "No worries, I just feel something's amiss here."

Saying this, Ye Guichen stepped up to Zhu You, grabbing his wrist.

Zhu You's face tightened, and he exerted force to escape Ye Guichen's grip.

But in his struggle, he subconsciously used his Inner Strength.

The force was that of a Martial Arts Master.

"Brother Zhu, do hunters practice martial arts too?" Ye Guichen's hand was like an iron clamp, firmly gripping Zhu You's wrist, smiling as he asked.

Zhu You's face changed dramatically.

He knew Ye Guichen must have discovered something. Without hesitation, he shouted, "Brothers, come out!"

At his command!

A rustling sound emerged from all around.

Steely-eyed, they surrounded Ye Guichen's group like predators eyeing prey.

The leader, burly and wielding a hundred-pound blade, laughed, his voice echoing through the valley.

"Zhu You, you useless scum, got discovered so quickly," the burly man sneered at Zhu You, his eyes filled with disdain.

Zhu You cried, "Brother Hei Feng, these guys have skills, you..."

"Indeed, there's a problem!" Ye Guichen sneered, using force to crush Zhu You's wrist.

He then threw Zhu You's body towards the burly man.

Zhu You's hundred-plus pounds flew like a cannonball.

The burly man, expression fierce, swung his blade, slicing Zhu You in two. "Ha! Sharp, aren't you. But that's better. Young Master An will pay us more."

"Right, Brother Hei Feng, this job seems more interesting than the last!"

"The previous ones had no challenge. Once trapped, they were easy prey. Let's see how long these last."

Hei Feng, the burly man, licked the blood off his blade, stepping on Zhu You's half body, then pointed the blade at Ye Guichen, "Kid, this mountain is mine, this tree is mine. If you want to pass, pay the toll!"

His words echoed powerfully.

They indeed seemed like domineering bandits.

Ye Guichen now understood clearly.

Zhu You was no villager; he was with this group.

Hearing Hei Feng's words, Ye Guichen couldn't help but laugh, "So, are you here to rob money or lives?"

Hei Feng paused, surprised by Ye Guichen's calmness despite being surrounded. His expression darkened, "Kid, you're sharp. Money will come. For now, we want your lives!"

"Oh, I see," Ye Guichen nodded, stepping forward, "If my guess is right, the villagers of Huabao Village must have perished, and those within are your people, posing as them?"

"Well, aren't you clever!" Hei Feng laughed, "Right, the villagers are long dead. I had my men pose as them, waiting for you to fall into our trap."

Stretching his thumb, Hei Feng continued, "Young Master An promised a million per head. Ha, you're five, that's five million. Easier here than out there."

Ye Guichen agreed, "Indeed, it's remote here, easy to kill. But, don't you fear being killed instead?"

Ye Guichen's lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes piercing, slowly speaking three words, "Hei Taixui?"

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