Chapter 2919 Blasts of Buddha Light
Upon emerging from the passageway, they discovered that this underground village was surprisingly spacious, comparable in size to the village above ground.
What was even more striking was the significant number of inhabitants. Judging by the village's layout, there were likely over a hundred families residing here.
At first glance, it seemed like a peaceful and contented community, with streets bustling with market stalls and vendors energetically calling out to passersby. A man with a hoe, holding a child's hand, smiled as women engaged in down-to-earth activities.
However, upon closer scrutiny, one could detect a subtle, unsettling undercurrent surrounding these people.
The young monk produced a wooden fish from somewhere and rhythmically tapped it while chanting complex scriptures, his chubby legs toddling behind Mo Lian. His appearance was undeniably comical.
Qiao Mu couldn't help but chuckle as she observed him. However, it didn't take long for them to realize that a protective aura enveloped their bodies. The malevolent energy from outside could no longer affect them.
Chen Qi was astonished and cast a glance at the young monk, who continued to focus on knocking the wooden fish.
It had to be said that the young monk's presence seemed to radiate a faint aura of Buddhism. When the cold and ominous energy from all directions encountered this aura, it recoiled and hastily dispersed.
"Little Master, could you please stop knocking?" The old man leading the way furrowed his brow. He turned to Qiao Mu and requested, "Could you ask the Little Master to cease his tapping?"
He felt incredibly uncomfortable, as if his heart were on the verge of leaping out of his chest and pounding like a drum. Each tap of the wooden fish seemed to reverberate through him, leaving his complexion slightly pale.
Qiao Mu shook her head gently and spoke with earnestness, "That wouldn't be right."
"People should have their own interests and hobbies," she continued. "The little monk's hobby is knocking on the wooden fish. We shouldn't suppress someone else's passion."
At that moment, Qiao Mu and Mo Lian led the group ahead. The young monk followed behind them, tapping the wooden fish persistently and reciting his chants without a hint of hesitation or interruption.
Chen Qi and Lu Zheng walked closely behind the young monk, and the increasingly vigorous sounds of the wooden fish filled their ears.
The old man's expression turned sour, prompting him to hasten his steps towards a family within the village.
"Erhua!" The old man couldn't contain himself any longer as he entered the village house.
Along the way, they garnered strange looks from the villagers, which made the old man highly uncomfortable.
The young monk entered the room and took a seat in an armchair at the side, all the while continuing his rhythmic tapping on the wooden fish.
A sturdy man named Erhua emerged from the inner hall with over ten similarly robust men. His keen gaze swept over Qiao Mu's group of five before fixing on the young monk who was knocking on the wooden fish.
"Village Chief, why have you brought a monk here?" Erhua inquired.
"Erhua." The old man, addressed as the village chief, leaned in closer to Hu Erhua and whispered in his ear.
Hu Erhua immediately broke into a warm smile, his fierce countenance softening. He turned towards Qiao Mu and greeted them with a hint of delight. "Ah, it's our distant relatives from the Hu family clan who've come to visit."
"Please, everyone, take a seat," he urged enthusiastically, his smiling face causing his facial muscles to contort.