What should have been a joyous homecoming feast took a somber turn. With the mention of Juehu Village and past dealings concerning that place, a sudden, oppressive atmosphere descended. Even the wind outside seemed to turn colder, its mournful cries like mocking laughter.
No one in the room dared to speak further, their eyes filled only with apprehension.
Juehu Village was renowned among the local settlements as an infamously sinister place within a hundred-mile radius. The mere mention of it would cause many people's expressions to change drastically. Hu Ma himself had only been away from his own village for a little over three years; he was still just a young man...
"All right."
Second Master, however, gazed deeply at Hu Ma. Seeing neither pretense nor insecurity in the young man's face, he made up his mind and said resolutely, "There's no time to lose. If we say we're going, then we go. The nights are restless out there; no need to send word ahead."
