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

"Who...who's there?"

The hoarse, aged voice sounded particularly jarring and eerie amidst the pouring rain. Lu Zhao hid behind the dense foliage, his [Hidden Dragon's Sleep] technique activated to its maximum, his breath almost blending into the surrounding environment. He remained vigilant, not responding immediately. The old man appeared frail, but the sharp glint in his eyes the moment he looked up, intertwined with a numb sorrow, suggested he was far from simple. And the festering sores on his legs… this village, everything about it, seemed unusual.

He didn't move or make a sound; he simply observed quietly.

The old man, carrying an extinguished lantern, stood in the rain for a while, his cloudy eyes fixed on the direction of the large tree where Lu Zhao was hiding, as if trying to see something through the dense foliage and darkness. The rain grew heavier, large raindrops pounding against his straw hat and raincoat with a dense sound. He stood there quietly, like a statue, blending into the silent, oppressive village.

After a long while, the old man found nothing. Finally, he slowly withdrew his gaze, hunched over, and picked up the lantern from the ground with faltering steps. He turned around, pushed open the door of the lit room, went inside, and closed the door tightly with a creak.

The dim, yellowish light filtering through the crack in the door flickered a few times on the door panel before settling down. The rain continued, and the village returned to its previous deathly silence.

Lu Zhao quietly slid down from the tree, neither leaving immediately nor approaching the house. Instead, he circled the village's perimeter, carefully surveying the surrounding area. His spiritual energy, like invisible ripples, swept over every house. Most houses were empty, devoid of any sign of life, only lingering, faint decay and an indescribable, sour smell. A few houses seemed to have a more murky aura, but it was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind. Apart from the central house, the entire village seemed to have only scattered, dying signs of life, and most of them emanated an unhealthy, decaying energy.

It's a plague! And a plague that can severely deplete a person's life force! Lu Zhao was basically certain. This village was shrouded in some kind of epidemic. The abscesses on the old man's legs were proof of it.

Was it a common epidemic, or was it, like in Beiling Village, the work of evil spirits? Lu Zhao wasn't sure. But the faint, elusive chill that permeated the air, somewhat similar to the evil aura of Beiling Village, yet more subtle and unsettling, set off alarm bells in his heart.

"To leave, or to stay?" Lu Zhao stared at the tightly closed wooden door, lost in thought. This village was eerie, dangerous, and likely harbored unknown threats. But... if it was just an ordinary plague, leaving it unchecked could lead to disaster. If it was evil spirits at work, it could spread even further. Moreover, he had a feeling that the affairs of this village were probably not simple. The old man's gaze just now...

"Perhaps, we could try making contact. As long as we maintain a sufficient distance, are fully prepared, and proceed with caution," Lu Zhao pondered for a moment before making his decision. He had miasma-clearing powder and antidote pills on him, the [Dragon's Sleep] technique to isolate and purify the plague, the [Spirit Refining Technique] to enhance his mental resistance, and several [Exorcising Talismans] and [Tranquilizing Talismans] at his disposal. As long as he didn't enter the heart of the plague zone and remained vigilant, escaping unscathed shouldn't be difficult. Most importantly, he wanted to find out what had happened in this village, perhaps to obtain clues and avoid falling into another trap.

He rearranged his belongings, hung the [Pure Heart Jade Pendant] around his neck, tucked the [Evil-Repelling Talisman] into his sleeve, and took an [Antidote Pill]. Then he took a deep breath, walked out of the woods, arrived at the village entrance, and headed towards the house with the lights on.

"Knock, knock, knock." He raised his hand and knocked on the old wooden door.

There was a moment of silence inside the door, followed by the sound of dragging footsteps. The door creaked open a crack. Dim light spilled out, illuminating the old man's aged, wooden, wrinkled face, his cloudy eyes warily scrutinizing Lu Zhao outside.

"Young man, it's raining heavily. Are you in a hurry? Come in and take shelter from the rain." The old man spoke, his voice hoarse but his tone flat, revealing little emotion. He stepped aside, gesturing for Lu Zhao to enter.

The room was dimly lit, with only an oil lamp flickering on the table. The room was small and simply furnished: a kang (heated brick bed), a broken table, and a few stools. A strong smell of medicine, sweat, and a faint, indescribable odor of decay filled the air. Two people lay on the kang, covered with tattered quilts, barely breathing and motionless. In the corner, a thin, bony boy huddled, his eyes filled with terror as he watched Lu Zhao enter, but he calmed down slightly upon seeing the old man.

"Excuse me, sir. I was just passing through when this downpour struck, and I have nowhere to stay. May I ask for lodging for the night? I'll leave at dawn." Lu Zhao bowed respectfully, but his gaze quickly swept across the room, taking in everything. There were indeed three living people inside. Besides the old man, the two on the kang (heated brick bed) were barely breathing, like candles flickering in the wind. The boy, though terrified, was breathing relatively steadily. But everyone, including the old man, had some abnormal spots on their faces and hands, dark in color, like bruises or the early stages of some kind of ulceration.

It was an epidemic, but it seemed different from the "epidemic" in Beiling Village. It wasn't as rapid or ferocious; it was more like a slow, debilitating process. The faint, unsettling chill in the air was also barely perceptible, not intense.

"Sit down. This darn weather, it could turn down any minute." The old man pointed to an empty stool, then sat down at the table himself, picking up a pipe and slowly filling it with tobacco. "The village is poor, we don't have much to offer, but there's some hot porridge on the stove. If you don't mind, you can have some to warm yourself up." As he spoke, his gaze was lowered, seemingly looking at the pipe in his hand, but Lu Zhao could feel that the other man's peripheral vision was constantly scanning him.

"Thank you, sir." Lu Zhao sat down but didn't touch the bowl of porridge on the table. He simply said, "I am Lu Zhao, and I went into the mountains to gather herbs. I didn't expect to be caught in this downpour. May I ask which village this is?"

"This is Huai Mountain Village. Our few households are mostly comprised of the elderly, the weak, and the disabled, who make a living by hunting and gathering herbs." The old man lit his pipe, took a deep drag, and the swirling smoke made his sorrowful face even more blurred. "Young man, you've got guts, daring to walk alone at night, and even deep into these mountains. This area isn't safe."

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat; this was a test, and also a warning. He remained calm and said, "I am a poor man, just trying to make a living, and I have to take some risks. You said things aren't peaceful, sir, I wonder what...?"

The old man didn't answer immediately, but gave him a deep look. His gaze was complex and unfathomable, containing scrutiny, worry, and perhaps even a hint of...pity? He took a few more puffs of his cigarette before slowly saying, "There are many wild animals in the mountains, that's not a big deal, hunters are used to it. But in the last two years, the mountains...have been plagued by an evil disease."

"A strange disease?" Lu Zhao asked curiously.

"Yes, it's a strange disease." The old man sighed, put down his pipe, rolled up his trouser leg, revealing the calf wrapped with blackened cloth that Lu Zhao had seen earlier. He slowly unwrapped the cloth, revealing the wound beneath. It was a large, dark red ulcer, swollen at the edges, black in the center, oozing yellowish-green pus and emitting a foul stench. Around the abscess, there were also some small, spiderweb-like black lines, exuding an ominous aura. "It's not just me, many people in the village have contracted this strange disease. Black spots appear on their bodies, then slowly ulcerate, causing pain and itching. No medicine works; they can only wait to die. They become weaker and weaker, thinner and thinner, their eye sockets sunken, as if something has sucked away their life force."

Lu Zhao moved closer to observe carefully. This abscess was indeed strange, unlike ordinary poisonous sores. The black lines faintly exuded a cold aura, different from the "plague" in Beiling Village. It seemed more like a slow erosion, a kind of evil magic or curse that drained life force. He concentrated his mind, activated the [Refining Spirit Technique], and raised his perception to the limit to capture the faint aura emanating from the abscess.

[An unknown curse/plague remnant has been discovered.]

[Status: Slowly eroding, absorbing life force, lethargic, accompanied by excruciating pain.]

[Energy characteristics: Yin, evil, and filth; weak, but infectious (contact transmission, close-range aerosol transmission).]

[Warning: Prolonged exposure or inhalation may lead to assimilation infection.]

[Recommendation: Avoid direct contact; use protective talismans such as those for clearing miasma, detoxifying, or exorcising evil.]

The panel displayed a warning: it was indeed a plague, and a plague with evil and curse-like properties! Contagious! Lu Zhao's heart sank. This village had become a major source of infection! No wonder it was so deathly silent.

"Old man, when did this illness start? What about the others in the village?" Lu Zhao asked.

The old man's eyes dimmed: "It started two or three months ago. First, it was Wang, the hunter from the east end of the village. He went hunting in the mountains, and a few days after he returned, black spots appeared on his body, which then festered. They called a doctor, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong. He prescribed some medicine, but it didn't work. Later, the people who took care of him—his wife and his son—also fell ill one after another. Then, one after another, several people in the village… all became like this. Those who could walk have already run away; those who are left are the old, weak, sick, and disabled who can't walk, left here to die. Alas…"

"Has no one thought of a solution? Or perhaps we could go to town and ask a doctor or a skilled physician to take a look?" Lu Zhao pressed. This illness is so strange; it's impossible that there's no word about it in town.

The old man gave a bitter smile: "Why didn't we go? We've been there four or five times already. Doctor Liu from town came and prescribed some medicine, but it didn't work. We also went to Qingyun Temple to get some talisman water, which we drank, but that didn't help either. After that, no one wanted to come anymore. Everyone says our village... has been punished by the mountain god and is destined to be childless..."

"The mountain god is punishing us?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. "Old man, is this illness... related to something that happened in the mountains or near the village? For example, did you go to any special places, or did anything unusual happen?"

Upon hearing this, the old man's hand holding his pipe paused slightly, a barely perceptible fear and...evasiveness flashing deep in his cloudy eyes. He remained silent for a moment, took another deep drag of his pipe, and then mumbled, "What could be so special? Isn't that how it is in the mountains? Young man, listen to my advice, once it's light and the rain stops, hurry up and leave, the farther the better. This village is unlucky; once you're tainted, you can't shake it off."

He was hiding something. Lu Zhao keenly sensed the old man's unease. This strange illness was probably really suspicious, and the old man seemed to know something, but dared not say it, or could not say it.

"So... besides the skin ulcers and the gradual loss of weight, is there anything else unusual about this illness? For example, does it cause nightmares at night, or... does it cause seeing anything?" Lu Zhao changed his question, trying to probe from another angle.

Upon hearing this, the old man's face instantly changed, and his hand holding the pipe trembled. He abruptly looked up, staring intently at Lu Zhao, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief: "You...how did you know?! Who are you?!"

His exclamation startled the two people sleeping on the kang (a heated brick bed), including the boy, who looked at Lu Zhao in fear.

As expected! Lu Zhao understood perfectly. This illness wasn't just a physical affliction; it also involved the mental realm! Nightmares, or hallucinations!

"Don't panic, sir," Lu Zhao quickly reassured him, while subtly activating [Dragon's Hibernation] to make his aura more peaceful and harmless, releasing a calming intent. "I once heard an old physician mention similar symptoms, hence my inquiry. Sir, is this illness... characterized by frequent nightmares at night, dreaming of... dark shadows, or... hearing strange noises? And feeling even weaker upon waking?"

The fear in the old man's eyes was gradually replaced by a desperate bewilderment. He slumped onto the stool and murmured, "Yes...yes...I dreamt about it all...it was dark, like fog, or like shadows, floating in front of me, talking in my ear...I couldn't hear what they were saying, but when I woke up, I felt even weaker, and my bones were cold...Before Wang the Hunter died, he kept shouting 'Don't come any closer,' 'Don't bother me...'" As he spoke, his body began to tremble uncontrollably, and the dark spots on his face and hands seemed to ache faintly.

The two people on the kang seemed to sense something as well, letting out soft groans, turning over, and revealing their equally emaciated faces covered with dark spots.

Lu Zhao looked at the despairing scene before him, his heart heavy. This evil disease was far more troublesome than he had imagined. It not only eroded the body but also the spirit, devouring life force like a slow, vicious curse. Moreover, its ability to spread through nightmares went beyond the scope of ordinary epidemics.

"Old man, is there a water source near your village? Or, are there any special places, such as abandoned temples, ancient wells, or caves that are not often visited?" Lu Zhao asked in a deep voice. This kind of evil disease involving the spirit and curses often has a source. It could be that the water or food is contaminated, or that the person has come into contact with a cursed object, or... that there is something unclean nearby.

Upon hearing this, the old man seemed to remember something, his face turning even paler. His lips trembled as he tried to say something, but dared not, only shaking his head repeatedly: "No...nothing...nothing at all...Young man, you should go, go quickly..."

His fear was almost overflowing. This further confirmed Lu Zhao's guess: the source must be nearby, and the old man knew it but dared not say it, or perhaps, saying it would bring great terror.

Lu Zhao didn't press further; he could tell the old man was on the verge of collapse. He stood up, took a small cloth bag from his robes containing several [Antidote Pills] and two small packets of [Clearing Miasma Powder], and placed them on the table. "Old man, these are some medicinal herbs I carry with me. They may not cure the illness, but they might alleviate some of the pain and offer some protection. You and this young man, try taking these pills and applying these powders. Remember, don't let the pus get on anyone else."

After saying that, he took out a calming talisman from his pocket, one of only three he had left, and carefully placed it on the table: "This talisman might help you sleep better and have fewer nightmares. I have some medical knowledge and would like to take a look around this area to see if I can find the source of this plague. If I can find it, there might be a cure."

The old man stared blankly at the pills, powders, and talismans on the table, then looked up at Lu Zhao. In his cloudy eyes, there was despair, doubt, and a faint, incredulous hope. His lips trembled, but in the end he only sighed deeply and said nothing more.

Lu Zhaochong nodded, then turned and gently pushed open the wooden door, disappearing back into the torrential night rain. Inside, the light of the oil lamp flickered through the crack in the door, illuminating the old man's hunched back and the chilling stillness.

Standing in the rain, Lu Zhao glanced back at the house with its faint light, then looked at the silent village shrouded in darkness. The raindrops pelted his body, icy cold, but his heart grew heavier.

"Nightmare, black mist, shadowy figures, spiritual erosion, life force draining... This is no ordinary plague. Is it the work of evil spirits, or...man-made?" Lu Zhao took a deep breath. The cold air carried the fishy smell of rain, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in his heart. He decided he wouldn't leave tonight. He would stay and investigate what secrets this Huai Shan Village held.

But before that, he needed more information. The old man wouldn't say, perhaps he could start from other places, such as those who were already dead, or... those who weren't dead yet, the patients.

The rain poured down harder. Darkness enveloped the cursed little mountain village. Lu Zhao's figure silently blended into the rainy night, like a hunter, beginning to search for the deadly truth hidden in the darkness. (Please urge me to update, give good reviews, and support this new book! It's not easy, so please help me!)