Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 11

Noon.

The scorching sun blazed overhead, the heat so intense that the very air seemed to warp. A horse-drawn carriage raced swiftly along the dusty dirt road.

The two men outside the carriage were drenched in sweat, their breathing ragged.

“Young Master, we’re almost there. Liugou Village is just ahead.”

Inside the carriage were Lu Xuan and his companions, who had traveled all the way from the county town.

A large hand pushed aside the carriage curtain, hooking it to the side. Lu Xuan’s sharp eyes focused into the distance.

Faint traces of buildings and scattered figures moving along the road came into view.

Before long, the carriage gradually slowed.

A massive boulder came into sight, patches of moss still clinging to its surface. Three large characters were carved into its center:

Liugou Village.

The houses ahead grew clearer, and more people became visible. Not far from the village entrance, a crowd had gathered.

“Huh?”

“Young Master, there are government officers over there. What’s going on?”

Li San’s puzzled voice reached Lu Xuan, who also spotted the officers among the villagers.

Just as Lu Xuan was observing the village, the villagers had also noticed the newcomers at the gate.

A carriage stood silently outside Liugou Village, with three figures beside it.

Such an unusual sight made it impossible for Lu Xuan and his group to go unnoticed.

Soon, a group of villagers slowly approached the entrance, eyeing the strangers with curiosity.

Then, the crowd parted, and an elderly man was helped forward.

The old man had silver-white hair and a snow-white beard. He studied Lu Xuan and his companions carefully, his gaze finally settling on Lu Xuan, who stood in the center.

Dressed in an elegant black robe, Lu Xuan carried an air of distinction—something that visibly surprised the old man. Politely, he spoke:

“Honored guests, who might you be? Where have you come from, and what brings you to our Liugou Village?”

“I am the village chief.”

Lu Xuan cupped his hands in respect before responding.

“Chief, I’ve come from the county town. My family runs a small medicinal shop, and I’ve left the city to procure herbs. Passing by your village, I thought to inquire if you might have any available.”

“Ah! A guest seeking herbs—welcome, welcome!”

The village chief’s weathered face brightened with delight.

One of Liugou Village’s main sources of income was selling herbs to outsiders. Many of the village’s able-bodied men made their living by gathering medicinal plants from the deep mountains to sell to traders like Lu Xuan.

However, this particular buyer seemed unusual. Herbal traders usually traveled in large groups—never just a few men with a single carriage.

Had the outside world become so safe these days?

Though puzzled, the old chief didn’t dwell on it. Instead, his expression shifted, the earlier joy fading into worry. His aged face wrinkled like dried tangerine peel.

With an apologetic tone, he said, “Honored guest, I must apologize.”

“Our village has encountered some… difficulties recently. We have no men available to gather herbs from the mountains.”

“On behalf of Liugou Village, I ask for your understanding.”

After all, the guest had come a long way, only to find no herbs available. This could harm the village’s reputation in the future, so the chief spoke humbly, his face full of regret.

“No matter, Chief.”

“Since I’ve traveled so far, I’d like to rest here for a few days. Would that be—”

“No!”

The chief immediately cut him off, his voice urgent.

“Honored guest, to be frank, our village has had some… incidents lately. It’s not safe.”

“I fear you might be caught up in our troubles. If anything were to happen, our village would never forgive itself.”

“You should leave while it’s still early. There’s a relay station not far from here—you can reach it before nightfall.”

The chief’s firm refusal and mention of “incidents” piqued Lu Xuan’s curiosity.

Trouble?

Could it be… those unclean things?

A plan formed in Lu Xuan’s mind as he observed the chief’s stern expression.

Leave?

Not a chance.

Those supernatural horrors were exactly what he was after.

“Chief, as you can see, we’ve traveled a long way, and the horses are exhausted. Could we at least stay for one night?”

Lu Xuan put on a weary expression, making the old chief hesitate.

Just then, the crowd parted again as five or six government officers strode forward.

“Hey! What’s everyone gathered for? Old Chief, I still have questions for you!”

The leading officer was a plump, youthful-looking man.

Then—

“Ah!”

“You—you—you—!”

The moment the pudgy young officer laid eyes on Lu Xuan, his face turned ashen, as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Gods above!”

“I knew this village was cursed! A ghost!!”

Lu Xuan frowned slightly, surprised.

“Liang Cheng? What are you doing here?”

“AHH! The ghost knows my name! HELP!”

The chubby officer flailed wildly, trying to flee, but no matter how hard he struggled, he didn’t move an inch.

A large hand had firmly gripped the back of his collar—Lu Xuan’s hand.

“Liang Cheng, why aren’t you in the county town? What are you doing all the way out here?”

“And it’s broad daylight. If you want to see a ghost, you’ll have to wait till nightfall.”

Lu Xuan infused his voice with a surge of energy, making it resonate like a tolling bell. The effect snapped the officer back to his senses.

“Oh… right.”

“Wait—Cousin! Wh-what are you doing here?!”

As it turned out, Lu Xuan and this officer were relatives.

His sudden appearance had nearly scared the poor man to death.

And honestly, who could blame him? In Liang Cheng’s memory, Lu Xuan had never left the county town.

Seeing him here, out of the blue—anyone would think they were seeing things!