Chapter Eighty-Four: Qin An

Seeing this, Ye Yining's brows knit slightly, and she said coldly, "Come out here at once. Do not hide in there."

When she finished speaking, the person in the pit began to crawl toward the surface. After a spray of sand and dirt, a ragged middle-aged man stood before her.

"Who are you, and why are you here?" Ye Yining examined him carefully and, finding only the faintest trace of vital energy within him, finally asked.

"My name is Qin An. I come from Qin Family Ridge nearby. The reason I am here is that our village has been gripped by drought for half a year now.

"For these six months, the several wells in Qin Family Ridge have yielded not a drop of water. We have had to rely on a small river that runs through our land for water, but as the drought worsened, even that river began to run dry.

"We reported this to the city of Fish Sun, and people were sent to investigate. But they only investigated and found nothing. Then the people from Fish Sun left, and we endured this drought for half a year by sheer force of will.

"At first, everyone could still barely hold on. But as time passed, many have already starved to death, and even more could not endure and began fleeing.

"But where could we flee to? This drought is not only ours. Within hundreds of miles, every village and town, large and small, is suffering the same hardship. We could only choose to flee to Fish Sun City, or go farther still.

"Yet many still refused to leave their homeland, and Fish Sun City has also become very strictly controlled of late, with entry forbidden to anyone from outside. So we had no choice but to remain in Qin Family Ridge.

"Then, seven days ago, the small river in Qin Family Ridge dried up completely, not a single drop left. Once the water was gone, many died within just a few days.

"So our only option was to send men with good skills to draw water from the Fishing River. But over the past half year, many strange things have happened there too. Anyone who goes to draw water from the Fishing River drowns. We had no choice but to send people anyway.

"In the end, the result was the same. More than a dozen strong men went, and not one returned. Qin Family Ridge fell into utter despair. And then, three days ago, we met a savior!"

Qin An's tone suddenly grew excited. After a pause, he went on: "Three days ago, a traveling Daoist cast a fortune for us in Qin Family Ridge and told us that in three days, a master would pass through this plain. So long as that master was willing to act, the drought in Qin Family Ridge would be solved."

Ye Yining had listened quietly the whole time. Only after Qin An finished did she speak. "You are saying a wandering Daoist told you that, three days later, a master would pass through this plain? Ridiculous. This plain is so vast that no one knows how many people pass through here each day. Just because of that man's nonsense, you dare decide that we are masters?"

"Master, everything I said is true! That wandering Daoist was no ordinary man. When he came to Qin Family Ridge, he made water spring from a dried-up well with his own hand. Otherwise, why would we have believed him?" Qin An hurriedly explained.

"If he had such miraculous abilities, why didn't you ask him to solve your drought? Why come here looking for us?" Ye Yining was disdainful of the explanation.

"The Daoist said his cultivation was limited and that he was powerless, but he left us something. He said that if I buried it on this plain, when the master arrived, that thing would take effect, and the master would appear before me. Now you have appeared before me, so it must be that thing at work, drawing the master to my side!" Qin An was so agitated that his whole body trembled.

"That earthquake just now was caused by you? Speak. What did that wandering Daoist give you, and where is he now?" Ye Yining's expression changed as she asked in a cold voice. If she had not been certain that Qin An was only at the early stage of Qi Gathering, she would already have seized him.

"I, I don't know where the Daoist went. After he left us the thing, he departed. I was one of the only martial artists among those who remained, so I was sent here.

"The thing the Daoist gave me was buried in the center of the plain. If the master wishes, I can take you to see it now."

Seeing Ye Yining's anger, Qin An grew tense and hurried to explain.

But before Ye Yining could move, a charred-black object fell beside her, and Zhang Yongxu stepped out.

"Junior sister, I heard everything. This thing was dug out from the center of the plain by me. It should be the object left behind by that Daoist."

Ye Yining looked down and saw something lying by her foot. Its shape resembled a tentacle, though it had been burned completely black.

"This... this is not the thing the master gave me. The master gave me a black box. How could it be such a bizarre thing?" Qin An pointed at the object on the ground, disbelief written all over his face.

Ye Yining and Zhang Yongxu exchanged a glance, both unsure what to do.

While they hesitated, a voice echoed in their ears.

"He is not lying. This is all he knows. Let's go. We will make a trip to Qin Family Ridge."

It was Elder Ma's voice. Only after hearing it did Ye Yining sheath her sword.

Zhang Yongxu bent down, picked up the charred tentacle, and then said to Qin An, "Come with us for now. Afterward, lead the way and take us to Qin Family Ridge."

"Many thanks, masters! Many thanks!" Hearing them agree, Qin An knelt at once and bowed his head repeatedly in gratitude. He believed utterly in the words of the wandering Daoist, who had already shown his power.

"Stop wasting time. Let's go."

When Yang Ze and the others saw Ye Yining return, they also saw Zhang Yongxu and Qin An beside her.

"Something came up. We need this man to take us to Qin Family Ridge. Everyone, get in the carriage. We are setting out." As soon as he appeared, Zhang Yongxu explained everything clearly to everyone.

From the carriage, Yang Ze heard the name Qin Family Ridge and felt it oddly familiar. He began searching through his memory.

Seeing him like that, Lu Qing and Bai Lun did not disturb him. Only when the carriage started moving again did Yang Ze suddenly open his eyes and cry out, "I remember now. Why I know this place called Qin Family Ridge."