I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

Leaving Qingmu Town and embarking on the westward path, Lu Zhao's mood was far from relaxed; instead, it was heavy. He carried a large sum of money, but also a heavy burden. Behind him lay the lingering shadows—the threat of the Poison Claw, the shadow of the Black Fiend Sect, the unknown of the Bone Demon—all like invisible threads hanging over his heart. Ahead lay an unfamiliar road and the treacherous city of Luoxia County, brimming with both opportunities and dangers.

The winding path meanders through towering mountains. Compared to the wide, flat official road, this place is sparsely populated, with only faint, rugged trails trodden by hunters and herb gatherers. Ancient trees tower on both sides, their vines entwining and scattering sunlight into dappled patterns on the leaf-strewn ground. The air is filled with the fresh scent of earth, humus, and vegetation, occasionally punctuated by the howls of wild animals and the buzzing of unknown insects, making the stillness all the more profound.

Lu Zhao dared not be careless. He kept the [Dragon's Hibernation] technique running at a low level, and constantly activated the Breath Concealment Technique to suppress his aura to the extreme. As he walked, his steps were light and silent, like a ghost moving through the forest. He did not travel at full speed, but remained vigilant at all times. His spiritual power, like invisible tentacles, extended in all directions, sensing the movement of the wind and grass around him.

Shopkeeper Chen's warning still echoed in his ears—"Black Wind Gorge" and "Eagle Falling Ravine" were not safe places. Especially the latter, which was said to be inhabited by monstrous birds and extremely dangerous. Lu Zhao chose this path for two reasons: speed and concealment. But he knew all too well that danger often lurked in the most seemingly peaceful moments in the mountains.

The first day passed without incident. Lu Zhao traveled by day and hid by night, eating dry rations when hungry and drinking mountain spring water when thirsty. At night, he would find a secluded tree hollow or rock crevice, set up simple warning traps, and circulate the [Dragon's Hibernation] technique to recover his physical strength and mental energy. As the technique circulated, he could clearly feel that after experiencing life-and-death battles with the Plague Mother, Blood Wolves, and even facing the Bone Demon, his mental strength had become more refined and resilient, and his perception of the surrounding environment had become increasingly acute. He could even faintly "hear" the extremely subtle scents of wild beasts carried on the wind, and "see" the faint spiritual light belonging to different creatures reflected in the morning dew condensed on the leaves of plants.

This is a benefit brought about by the improvement of divine attributes; the "quality" of his spiritual power is increasing. His understanding of [Dragon's Hibernation] is also deepening. This fusion technique is not just a recovery skill, but also subtly enhances his vitality, endurance, and resistance to negative status effects. With each practice, he feels his body becoming more closely connected to the surrounding environment, as if slowly absorbing the most subtle energy between heaven and earth, repairing his injuries, and nourishing his foundation.

"This 'Dragon's Hibernation' seems to be some kind of profound method for cultivating qi, concealing breath, and refining spirit, but its level is still shallow. If I can find the subsequent techniques, or continuously improve them, perhaps there will be unexpected changes," Lu Zhao thought to himself. This made him even more looking forward to his trip to the county city—there, perhaps, he would have the opportunity to obtain even more profound techniques.

The next evening, the sky suddenly changed. Dark clouds rolled in from the western horizon, obscuring the last rays of the setting sun. A strong wind arose, swirling up withered leaves, and the air was filled with the earthy smell and the oppressive atmosphere of an impending mountain rain.

"It's going to rain." Lu Zhao looked up at the sky, his brows furrowing slightly. Mountain rain can come suddenly and is often torrential. Traveling at night in the mountains, especially on unfamiliar mountain paths, is extremely dangerous. They must find shelter from the rain as soon as possible.

He quickened his pace, traversing the increasingly dark forest. His mental focus was intense as he searched for a cave or rock shelter to escape the rain. However, the terrain was steep, vegetation sparse, and mostly bare rock; he couldn't find a suitable refuge for the time being.

The raindrops finally began to fall, starting with a few sparse drops that felt cool on my face. Soon, the rain intensified, pattering down like beans, quickly forming a curtain of rain that darkened the world, leaving only the rumble of thunder and the patter of rain.

Lu Zhao was instantly soaked, the mountain path became muddy and slippery, and his vision became blurred. He had to slow down, circulating the [Dragon's Hibernation] technique to dispel the chill while continuing to search for shelter from the rain. After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a few faint, flickering lights appeared in the mountain hollow ahead.

Is that a fire? Are there houses there?

Lu Zhao's heart stirred slightly, but he did not approach rashly. In this desolate wilderness, far from any village or shop, the sudden appearance of lights might not be a good sign. He tiptoed, using the cover of the rain, and stealthily made his way over.

As they drew closer, they could see it was a small village nestled in a relatively flat mountain valley. There were about a dozen households; the houses were low, mostly built of mud and stone, giving them a rustic and old appearance. At the village entrance stood a decaying wooden stake, the characters "Huaishan" faintly visible. At this moment, most of the houses were dark, except for one slightly larger house in the center, where a dim yellow light shone from the window, and shadowy figures could be vaguely seen moving about.

"Huai Mountain Village?" Lu Zhao had seen this name on the map before. It was just a small, almost negligible mountain village, marked as a "residence of hunters and herb gatherers," nothing special. At this moment, the lights in this village were the only warmth and shelter.

He stood by the woods outside the village, raindrops dripping from his hair, icy and biting. To go in or not to go in? In this desolate mountain village, people's hearts were unpredictable. If he didn't go in, the rain wouldn't stop anytime soon, and spending the night in the wilderness would be even more dangerous.

After a moment's hesitation, Lu Zhao decided to investigate first. He activated the [Dragon's Hibernation] and [Breath Concealment Technique] to their maximum extent, his figure moving like a ghost, silently approaching the village under the cover of night and rain. He didn't go through the village entrance, but instead went around to the side, climbed a large tree near the edge of the village, and carefully observed from above.

The village was small and quiet, with only the faint sound of voices coming from the lit house, suggesting a few people. There were no barking dogs or children playing; in this stormy night, an eerie stillness permeated the air. Besides the earthy, rainy smell, there seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible, burnt odor in the air—like the smell of burning ashes.

"There doesn't seem to be any living thing..." Lu Zhao frowned even more deeply. His spiritual power swept across the room and he could only vaguely sense a few weak and chaotic life forms in the lit room. They all seemed to be adults, and their auras were somewhat weak and feeble. The other houses were empty and lifeless.

"Something's not right." His intuition, honed by years of dealing with danger, told Lu Zhao that something was amiss. The village was too quiet, a quiet that sent chills down his spine. The house with the light on was the only sign of life, but the person inside seemed to be in very poor condition.

Just as he was hesitating whether to quietly retreat and find another place to take shelter from the rain, the door of the lit room creaked open from the inside.

An old man, hunched over, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, walked out shakily, carrying a dim lantern. He looked up at the sky, then gazed out of the village, seemingly waiting for someone, or perhaps searching for something. The lantern's light flickered in the rainy night, illuminating his wrinkled face, which was expressionless yet held an indescribable sorrow and anxiety.

The old man seemed unaware of Lu Zhao in the tree. He simply stood at the doorway for a moment, lantern in hand, then turned around, as if to return inside. Just then, a gust of wind swept by, causing him to stumble. The lantern flew from his hand, crashing to the ground and extinguishing its flame instantly.

"Sigh..." The old man let out a heavy sigh, almost inaudible amidst the pouring rain. He groped around, trying to pick up the lantern.

Just then, Lu Zhao keenly noticed that as the old man bent over, the hem of his raincoat lifted up, revealing his calves, which appeared to be wrapped in thick, blackened strips of cloth. At the edges of the cloth strips, there were faint dark red, pus-like things!

An epidemic?! Or...?

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He thought of Beiling Village, and of the terrifying Plague Mother and the plague-infected villagers. Although the old man's sores on his legs were not clearly visible through the rain, their color and shape were so similar to the ulcers on the plague-infected villagers of Beiling Village! However, they did not seem to be as severe, nor did they have that sense of uncontrollable madness.

Could it be... that Huai Shan Village has also been afflicted by the plague? Or perhaps some kind of evil spirit?

Just as Lu Zhao was filled with doubt and surprise, the old man seemed to have sensed something. He suddenly raised his head, and his cloudy old eyes looked straight at the direction of the big tree where Lu Zhao was hiding! His eyes were empty and numb, but they also carried an indescribable and chilling sense of eeriness.

"Who...who's there?" The old man's hoarse voice drifted over, piercing through the rain.