Mythology Returns! Starting with Folklore and Strange Tales

treacherous?

Not really. It's more accurate to say that when you leave this world and look back over the endless years, very few people are truly human.

After receiving the food, the leader had most of it put away, leaving only two energy bars and two packets of self-heating drinks.

He skillfully tore open the energy bar packaging with his filthy fingernails, then had someone break it into small pieces and soak them in the pre-cooked bark and root soup. While doing so, he continued to instruct:

"Because of previous incidents involving adults, Cai Town is heavily guarded. Now, to enter Cai Town, you need a few of us to accompany you, but you also need to get a bit dirty, preferably just like us. If questioned, just say you're a family, starving and want to come in for a chance to survive. Generally, they'll let you in!"

"Please wait a moment, adults. The children and their wives will eat a couple of bites before heading to town!"

Watching as hungry people skillfully heated their self-heating meals with heating bags and then handed them to several dirty-looking individuals.

Zhang Wei asked, "Have none of the people who went in ever come out?"

"No, those who went in can't get out. But we occasionally see them on the edge of town, though they're quickly chased back by the patrols. They seem unhappy, but it's better than us starving to death!"

Having heard this, Zhang Wei roughly understood.

Going in won't make you starve, but there will likely be many rules inside, and you risk becoming inhuman.

They might starve to death outside, but there were weather patrols and kind-hearted travelers who couldn't bear to part with their supplies. They then spread out in the forest that surrounded half the town. Although life was still difficult, it wasn't a complete dead end.

Humans are very easy to manipulate; they won't go to extremes as long as there's even a sliver of hope!

Yes, Zhang Wei is a bit strange.

Since the patrolling and traveling folk travelers have "cultivated" these "villagers" into a habit, there must be quite a few people entering the town. But with so many groups of travelers entering, not a single one of them has been able to solve the problem.

Can't solve it, and can't escape it?

What a den of wolves and tigers this is!

"But why does a woman have to come along? Can't we just go in directly as men?" After a long silence, An Yixi asked the question that had been bothering her.

"No, it's not so much that Cai Town took us in, but rather that they took in our women and children. Even if they're fifty or sixty years old, as long as they gave birth a couple of years ago, they'll take them in. The men are just there as extras, just there to tag along with the women and get some 'good fortune'!"

The question-and-answer session between the two people next to him seemed to connect the thoughts in Zhang Wei's mind.

But more specifically, he needs to go in and see for himself.

"..."

Even after the girls and women finished eating, the matter wasn't over.

They had already said they were going to disguise themselves as refugees to infiltrate the town, so Zhang Wei and An Yixi's current attire didn't quite fit the image of refugees.

Then, watching helplessly as one by one, people smeared dirt and mud all over their bodies, An Yixi was alright, after all, he was a tough guy who had come from the Thousand Snake Cave, and he had tasted all kinds of filthy smells. But Zhang Wei was having a hard time.

To be more specific, the makeup was alright, but the rat tail on the back of his head made Zhang Wei's already dark complexion even darker...

"Hey, you bunch of scoundrels, what brings you out of the woods?"

The group of five was stopped by patrolling soldiers as soon as they reached the town. The soldier, who had a long, thin tail, looked them up and down. When his gaze passed over the villagers and landed on Zhang Wei and An Yixi, who were dressed rather deliberately, his intense scrutiny almost made An Yixi jump up.

Noticing his movement, Zhang Wei pulled him from behind.

The only male villager in the group, Old Wang, quickly bowed and scraped forward, saying, "Sir, I'm so hungry outside, I can't stand it anymore. Please, could you make an exception for me?"

As he spoke, he took out about ten copper coins from his dirty pocket and tried to hand them to the other person as a bribe.

But to his surprise, the strongman didn't even glance at the copper coins in the old man's hand. Instead, he carefully scanned Zhang Wei and An Yixi's faces before saying, "You old codger, you're really lucky. With two daughters like yours, your life in town is going to be very comfortable!"

"Alright, go in!"

As he spoke, he and the other able-bodied men made way for the road leading to the town.

Before the old man could hide the copper coins, two figures jumped out from around the corner of a house in the town, helped him up, and said with a smile, "Sir, you are truly blessed! With these two young ladies around, your future will be much better than those poor scholars. Who knows, you might even become the father-in-law of a top scholar!"

Recovering from the sudden shock, the old man looked closely and saw two women in front of him who were as fat as wild boars and equally incredibly strong.

The other person's face was covered in a mess of makeup.

Coupled with that fawning smile, it made one think that a pig in someone's pen had put on human skin and was swaggering around.

It was precisely because of the two fat women's overly agile movements that, after they helped Old Man Wang up, the other people who appeared from around the corner of the house and even ran a few steps showed a hint of resentment on their faces. Although they were cursing, they did not come forward to stop him, but instead turned around and sat back down in the corner, silently waiting for the next opportunity to come.

Supported by two incredibly strong women, Old Man Wang's forehead instantly broke out in a thin layer of cold sweat.

But he didn't forget his mission, and immediately asked, "You say I'm lucky?"

"That's right. The reason why everyone in our Cai Town has food and water to drink even in this famine is all thanks to the top scholar!"

"Yes, yes, the top scholar is kind-hearted and handsome. He opens his tent to serve porridge every day, so anyone who comes can have two bowls of thick, porridge. Isn't that kind-hearted?"

"Of course, someone like you, sir, doesn't need to compete with those poor scholars for a meager meal. With our discerning eye, the two young ladies could easily be arranged by the servants of the top scholar's residence with a little dressing up. As for those who don't meet the top scholar's liking, they can even be given a house, with servants bringing meat to their door every few days so they can rest and recuperate peacefully. With the foundation of the two young ladies, wouldn't you be living a good life?"

The two fat women, singing in unison, carried Old Man Wang into the town.

The rest of the people followed behind them, looking around.

The scenery inside and outside the town is completely different.

The desolation and chaos outside the town seem to exist here.

A bustling street runs through both ends of Cai Town, with dense crowds and busy shops.

Some people were leaning against the window of a hotel on the second floor of a street, talking loudly. Young girls were laughing and playing in a watercolor shop with a gauze curtain. Peddlers were hawking their wares along the street. Barbers were busy chatting with customers. Greedy children gathered in front of the sugar figurine stall, pestering their helpless parents.

The place was bustling with activity, filled with laughter and conversation.

A strong sense of community immediately enveloped us.