tkworld #513 - The Secret of the Divine River
#513 - The Secret of the Divine River
Tang Yin was increasingly confused by the three high school students' inexplicable reaction. He turned to Wang Lina, his face full of incomprehension: "What should I do now?"
Wang Lina looked at Tang Yin, then at the three serious-looking high school students, and sighed softly. Her voice held a hint of helplessness, but more of reassurance: "It's okay, I'll figure something out later. You guys go eat first."
Hearing Wang Lina's words, the three high school students seemed relieved. They glanced at each other and then silently left.
After they had walked away, Tang Yin couldn't help but ask, "Do they also live in this apartment?"
Wang Lina nodded, explaining, "That's right. This apartment looks desolate, but it's actually a student dormitory."
Tang Yin's eyes widened at this answer. "I didn't expect there to be a student dormitory in such a rural place. I always thought this was the back of beyond. It seems I was mistaken." His tone was full of surprise and a hint of apology, feeling a little embarrassed for his previous prejudice.
Wang Lina seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "By the way, Mr. Tang Yin, you haven't had any conflicts with anyone, have you?"
Tang Yin nodded earnestly. "I've been very careful."
His tone was tinged with doubt, not understanding why Wang Lina would suddenly ask this question.
Hearing this answer, Wang Lina's face relaxed into a smile: "Then there's no problem. Let's go to the village canteen together later. And say hello to the village elders?"
Tang Yin was surprised again: "What era is this? There are still such conservative rules." His tone was incredulous.
Wang Lina's expression became a little serious: "As you can see, this is a relatively closed village, not comparable to the enlightened places outside." She paused, lowering her voice a little, "And to be honest with you, our Mist Hidden Village elders don't actually like outsiders, especially those who come here from the Divine Crest River Valley below the mountain."
Her words made Tang Yin feel uneasy. Wang Lina continued, "Also, you have to keep this morning's matter a secret for me."
Tang Yin nodded, but another question popped into his head: "Speaking of which, where exactly is the Divine Crest River Valley? Is it the shallows where the motorcycle crashed?"
Wang Lina's eyes became a little complicated: "That's right. The stream where I first met you is called the Divine Crest River. The entire area nearby is the Divine Crest area. It's... a place with a story." Her tone was tinged with mystery and hesitation.
Tang Yin's curiosity was piqued: "Why do the village elders reject the Divine Crest area?"
Wang Lina was silent for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth, her voice low and mysterious: "Because... legend has it that the stream is unclean, a place where the dead return to the world."
This sentence was like a boulder, heavily hitting Tang Yin's heart. He felt a chill crawl up his spine. Wang Lina's words reminded him of the reaction of the three high school students earlier, and it seemed that everything was starting to connect.
Tang Yin tried to keep calm: "Are you saying there are supernatural phenomena there?"
Wang Lina shook her head: "I'm not too sure about the specifics. It's just a legend circulating in the village. But the elders are indeed very wary of that place, especially at night."
Tang Yin recalled the night he spent by that stream and couldn't help but feel a sense of lingering fear. He began to wonder if he had really just encountered an accident, or if something more complex was happening behind the scenes.
...
Tang Yin seemed to understand something and continued to ask, "Does your Mist Hidden Village have any other rules?"
Wang Lina: "There are many, but don't worry, I'll take care of you."
Tang Yin had already developed the intention to retreat and repeatedly confirmed with her: "That... there won't be any danger to my life, right?"
Wang Lina: "No, no, but to avoid leaving unpleasant memories, it's best to leave the cafeteria as soon as we've greeted everyone."
Tang Yin's heart was pounding at this moment. Since the Divine Crest River was a place so taboo for the villagers of Mist Hidden Village, why would Wang Lina be there late at night? This woman has a story...
...
Although Tang Yin had a faint sense of unease in his heart, feeling that he should leave this mysterious village as soon as possible, Wang Lina's beauty was like an invisible shackle, firmly holding him in place.
Her bright eyes, soft features, and gentle smile were all irresistible to Tang Yin. In the end, he decided to stay a little longer to see what secrets this village held.
"Then let's go to the cafeteria," Tang Yin said, trying to hide the conflict in his heart.
Wang Lina nodded, leading Tang Yin along the village path towards the cafeteria. On the way, Tang Yin's gaze was attracted by some peculiar sculptures.
These sculptures were rough and primitive, mostly depicting the form of wolves. They were carved from gray granite, ranging in height from one to two meters. The wolves' expressions were fierce, their fangs bared, and their eyes were deep and empty, as if watching everyone who passed by. Some of the sculptures were well-preserved, while others had been eroded by time, their surfaces covered with cracks and moss. These sculptures stood by the roadside or were hidden in the grass, giving a sense of omnipresence.
Tang Yin asked curiously, "Why does your Mist Hidden Village have so many sculptures? What are they for?"
Wang Lina tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "They're kind of like guardian deities, they've been around since a long time ago." Her tone was tinged with uncertainty.
Tang Yin said thoughtfully, "I haven't seen this kind of cultural totem in the areas near this city."
Wang Lina smiled and repeated, "That's why I told you, our Mist Hidden Village is an uncivilized place."
They continued forward and soon saw a figure busy in the fields. It was a burly young farmer, his upper body naked, his bronze skin gleaming in the sun. His muscle lines were distinct, and every movement demonstrated strength and vitality. He was bending over, working in the rice paddies, his hands skillfully operating the farm tools.
Wang Lina greeted him, "Brother Gang, good morning."
The farmer, called "Brother Gang," straightened up and turned to them. When he saw Tang Yin beside Wang Lina, a look of surprise and shock immediately appeared on his face. His gaze lingered on Tang Yin for a few seconds, then turned back to Wang Lina, as if silently asking about the stranger's identity.
However, Wang Lina had no intention of explaining. She simply smiled slightly at Brother Gang and continued to walk forward with Tang Yin. Tang Yin felt a little awkward, but as an outsider, he could only follow Wang Lina's arrangements.
As they went deeper into the village, Tang Yin began to notice the true face of this small village. Unlike his initial impression, Mist Hidden Village was actually quite desolate. Most of the houses had been abandoned, the wooden walls and roofs had rotted, and some had even collapsed. Weeds grew rampant, almost swallowing the entire village.
Some of the houses had broken windows, as if they had been abandoned for many years. Vines climbed all over the walls, giving the feeling that nature was reclaiming this land. The village paths were covered with weeds, leaving only a narrow sidewalk.
An atmosphere of decay and desolation permeated the air, in stark contrast to the student dormitory they had seen earlier. Tang Yin couldn't help but feel that this village was like a corner forgotten by time, completely isolated from the prosperity of the outside world.
"Has it... always been like this here?" Tang Yin couldn't help but ask.
Wang Lina's expression became a little complicated: "Yes, for many years." She paused, seeming to choose her words carefully, "Most of the young people in the village have left, leaving mostly the elderly and some people with special circumstances."
Tang Yin nodded, but more questions welled up in his heart. Why was there a student dormitory? Where did those high school students come from? What secrets did this village hide?
...
Despite the desolate and bleak appearance of most of Mist Hidden Village, Tang Yin soon noticed two special places that stood out in this decaying village.
The first eye-catching building was the assembly hall located on the hillside. This was an antique building, although not large in scale, it gave a sense of solemnity. The roof of the assembly hall was a typical Chinese traditional hip roof, and the black tiles gleamed in the sun. The eaves were slightly upturned, like birds about to spread their wings. The main body of the building was a wooden structure, and the red paint had faded a little, but it could still be seen the glory of the past.
Above the gate of the assembly hall hung a plaque with the five characters "Mist Hidden Assembly Hall" engraved on it, with vigorous strokes, revealing an unquestionable majesty. On each side of the door, there was a pair of stone lions, their eyes were bright, as if guarding the secrets of this building. The entire building was surrounded by a circle of low red walls, covered with vines, adding a bit of mystery to this ancient building.
Although most of the surrounding houses were dilapidated, this assembly hall was well maintained, and it seemed that someone often took care of it. This contrast further highlighted the particularity of the assembly hall, as if it carried the core secrets of the entire village.
The second eye-catching place was the cafeteria that Tang Yin and Wang Lina were about to go to. Compared with other abandoned buildings in the village, although the cafeteria was a bit old, it was obviously the liveliest place in the village. Although the walls of the cafeteria were a bit mottled, the windows were wiped clean, and several pots of blooming flowers and plants were placed at the door, giving a sense of vitality.
Just as they were about to enter the cafeteria, Tang Yin saw three high school students walking out of the cafeteria. He recognized Qin Ming, Tong Xiaoliang, and Gao Mei, the students he had met in the apartment last night.
Qin Ming saw Wang Lina and said with a smile: "Sister Lina, you are going to be late, the village elders are going to be angry."
Wang Lina smiled slightly and did not answer. The three high school students quickly disappeared on the village path. Tang Yin looked at their receding backs and asked curiously: "Are they studying at schools in the city?"
Wang Lina shook her head, her tone tinged with an unclear and ambiguous complex emotion: "There is a municipal high school branch near the top of the mountain. I also studied there three years ago. The village allows us to live in that apartment, which is already a very good treatment."
Tang Yin noticed that Wang Lina did not smile when she said this, and her tone was meaningful. He felt that Wang Lina's words had something to say, but he didn't want to ask directly.
They walked into the cafeteria, and Tang Yin found that although it was not large, it was well-equipped, small but complete. The interior of the cafeteria was clean and tidy, and some simple decorations were hung on the walls, giving a warm feeling.
A middle-aged woman wearing an apron and with her hair tied up was busy. When she saw them coming in, she greeted them warmly: "Nana, you're here? Oh dear, who is this next to you? Are there guests in the village?"
The woman's voice was gentle and she looked like the owner of the cafeteria. Although there were some traces of time on her face, it could still be seen that she must have been a beauty when she was young. Her eyes were big and bright, and there were fine lines at the corners of her eyes when she smiled, giving a sense of intimacy.
There were also two diners in the cafeteria, and they were both curiously watching Tang Yin. One was an old woman in her seventies. Tang Yin recognized her at a glance. She was the old lady who had scared him by covering herself with a white cloth this morning. The old lady was wearing an old-fashioned dark blue cotton-padded jacket, and her hair was all white, but she looked in good spirits.
The other was an old man in his sixties, who exuded an unquestionable sense of oppression just by sitting silently in his seat. The old man was wearing a gray Zhongshan suit, his back was straight, and his eyes were piercing, giving a feeling of majesty.
Wang Lina seemed very nervous in front of the village elders. She took a deep breath and said, "Well, let me introduce you, his name is Tang Yin. He is a traveler who got lost on the beach of the Divine Crest River last night, so I brought him back."
Hearing Wang Lina's words, the female shopkeeper exclaimed softly, with a look of surprise and worry on her face. The reactions of the two old people were even stronger. Their expressions changed, and they stood up immediately. The old lady's eyes were full of vigilance, while the old man frowned, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the cafeteria suddenly became tense, as if the air had solidified.
Wang Lina seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation, she sighed and tried to ease the tense atmosphere: "Don't be nervous, everyone, I know you care about why he came from the Divine Crest River, but this is just a coincidence."
She paused and continued: "Unlike 'that child' who came to the village before, Mr. Tang Yin's origin is very clear. He had a car accident on the Old Mountain Road, which is very pitiful. So I think we should take him in."
As soon as Wang Lina finished speaking, the entire cafeteria fell into a long silence. The old lady and the old man exchanged a meaningful look, as if they were communicating something silently. The female shopkeeper lowered her head, pretending to wipe the already clean table, obviously not wanting to get involved in this sensitive topic.
Tang Yin stood there, feeling like an intruder. He didn't understand why his appearance caused such a big reaction, and he didn't know who the "that child" that Wang Lina mentioned was. But he could feel that this village obviously had secrets that outsiders didn't know.
I don't know how long it took, but finally the cafeteria owner took the initiative to break the silence. Her tone was gentle, trying to ease the tense atmosphere: "Oh dear, it sounds really pitiful,"
But she stopped halfway through her words, obviously considering the thoughts of the two old people in the village. In the end, she just sighed vaguely and did not express her position.
Tang Yin could sense that behind this simple decision seemed to be hidden complex considerations and trade-offs. He couldn't help but start thinking, what secrets were hidden in this seemingly ordinary little village? Why would his arrival cause such a big reaction? And what was so special about the Godhead River?
Just then, the old man sitting in the corner finally spoke, his voice low and powerful: "Lina, you should know our village's rules. Outsiders cannot enter at will, let alone stay for long."