Old Ma hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Many years ago, cultivators from all kinds of places swarmed into the village. Four Corner Village might no longer exist if not for the master’s protection. Even so, the villagers couldn’t stay in this bubble forever. Many people are eager to go out and see the outside world.
“Four Corner Village attracted the attention of the world since its reputation has spread around. All the top forces in the Shangqing Domain have their eyes on us. We may keep them from going in, but we can’t stop every villager from leaving the village. Even though that powerful person established rules to protect Four Corner Village, he couldn’t forbid outsiders from fighting with villagers who had already left the village. If that’s the case, everyone from Four Corner Village would act without scruples and offend with impunity.
“Therefore, some things are bound to happen. Most people didn’t want to be trapped in this small village forever, especially those who knew how to cultivate. Otherwise, why did they bother to cultivate in the first place? As a result, the village and the outside slowly reached some tacit understanding and built an alliance. Four Corner Village allows the outsiders to come and visit, but they also need to provide help to the villagers. For instance, many people who left the village may be supported, looked after, or even invited by outside forces. The unfortunate experience of Tie Tou’s father is only an anomaly.”
Ye Futian nodded slightly. He understood the situation a little bit better now. People living in this world sometimes had no command over things that happened to them. Tragedies may befall someone simply because of the treasure he possessed and the jealousy it caused. Unless Four Corner Village was completely hedged off from the outer world and all the villagers never left home, they could hardly forbid every outsider from stepping foot in the village. No one would be able to leave and survive in the outer world if Four Corner Village offended all the top forces in the Shangqing Domain.
Just like what Old Ma said, the villagers might be more likely to feel satisfied with the size of the village if they were all common folks. Nevertheless, Four Corner Village was a magical place that produced several cultivators with extraordinary talents. The village was too small for them. How could they be trapped here forever?
It was only natural for them to long for entering the outer world.
“You know why people from the Outer Realms all come to the village at this particular time, right?” Old Ma turned to Ye Futian and asked.
“I don’t know.” Ye Futian shook his head.
Lost for words, Old Ma darted Ye Futian a glance. How did this guy come here without knowing anything?
Why didn’t the people who sent him here give him some information about Four Corner Village?
“Because the Day of Sacrificial Rites of Four Corner Village is coming. The village has a Day of Sacrificial Rites every four years. On that day, the ancestors of Four Corner Village will manifest and perform divine miracles. The village will become another world. The Day of Sacrificial Rites technically lasts for seven days, and it’s an important opportunity for the village. Some people will be lustrated or gain inheritance or awakening on that day. That’s why it’s crucial for us.”
Old Ma continued to explain, “Every four years, many people from the Outer Realms will come to the village right before the Day of Sacrificial Rites. All of them are influential cultivators. Some villagers can have the chances to invite them to participate in the Day of Sacrificial Rites. Many common folks in the village rarely get to lay hold of any cultivation opportunity. Their collaboration with the outsiders can be mutually beneficial.”
“If that’s the case, by inviting me to be your guest, you guaranteed me a chance to participate in the Day of Sacrificial Rites?” Ye Futian asked.
“Yes, that’s basically it,” Old Ma nodded and said. “Therefore, the villagers all want to pick disciples and offsprings of influential families in the Outer Realms who have fortunes and resources. The same goes for the outsiders. They want to be hosted by the most prosperous families in the village. Having children studying in the private school is a good indicator of the family’s status. They have a better chance to succeed on the Day of Sacrificial Rites.” Old Ma added, “Besides, the outsiders also want to rope the influential families in by allying with them. So the members of those families will join those forces after they left the village.”
Ye Futian nodded slightly and had a better understanding.
It seemed like Four Corner Village really was a place of miracles. Otherwise, the top forces in the Shangqing Domain wouldn’t pay so much attention to it.
“What kind of opportunity do you want?” Ye Futian asked Old Ma.
“I don’t want anything for myself. I hope to see if Little Ling can have better luck.” Old Ma turned around and shot a glance at Little Ling, who was hanging out with Xia Qingyuan behind them. Ye Futian wondered if Old Ma wanted Little Ling to become a cultivator as well.
The Day of Sacrificial Rites might change the destinies of the villagers for real.
“When is the Day of Sacrificial Rites?” Ye Futian asked.
“It’s almost here. It doesn’t have an exact date. We will all know when the day comes,” Old Ma replied. Ye Futian didn’t know what to say. Four Corner Village was an interesting place indeed. Even its Day of Sacrificial Rites didn’t have an exact date. The villagers only knew the day was here when it already happened.
Ye Futian was also very curious to see what kind of a world Four Corner Village would become on that day.
Ye Futian started to feel less anxious now that he had learned about the back story. The village was a mysterious place, but it would reveal itself in time. All he needed to do at this time was to wait quietly and patiently.
“Old Ma, you seem to be in a chatty mood.” Someone walked past them on the stone-paved street not far away. He turned back to look at Ye Futian and Old Ma, who were sitting in the front yard, and spoke to them with a smile. “People in the village all know what you want. But what’s wrong with staying here? So you can’t cultivate, so what? Why do you have to be so stubborn? You shouldn’t think about it too much.”
While speaking, he shot a look at Ye Futian and cracked a pleasant smile. This man was Old Ma’s friend. He often chatted with Old Ma and knew his thoughts well.
Back in the day, Old Ma’s son and daughter-in-law died because of cultivation. Now Old Ma wanted his granddaughter to become a cultivator as well.
“I know,” Old Ma grinned and replied.
“Even though you have the determination, you could be wasting your chance by selecting such a random person. All of your efforts will come to naught. Old Ma, you should go ask around what kind of people other families invited,” someone else said. Nonetheless, this one’s taunting comments were obviously less friendly. Everyone in the village was different.
Old Ma smiled and nodded without responding. At this point, a young man walked over to them. Ye Futian recognized that he was Fang Cun, who they had encountered on the way. Fang Cun came from an influential family that enjoyed a high status in Four Corner Village.
Fang Cun surveyed Old Ma and Ye Futian before speaking, “Old Ma, my grandpa asked if you want to pay a visit to our house, along with him.”
He pointed at Ye Futian.
“You can go back to tell your grandpa that it’s not necessary,” Old Ma shook his head and replied.
“Alright,” Fang Cun nodded and darted Ye Futian an odd look. He turned his nose up at Ye Futian before. It was said that no one wanted Ye Futian when he first came to the village. Only Old Ma was stupid enough to pick him.
However, Fang Cun’s family seemed to have a different view and even asked him to come and invite Old Ma and Ye Futian over.
Much to Fang Cun’s surprise, they turned him down.
Fang Cun was a little embarrassed. He turned around and left immediately.
“I will go to have some rest inside. Suit yourself,” Old Ma stood up and said to Ye Futian. Then, he walked into the room.
Ye Futian still lounged in the chair quietly. Little Ling went to hold Old Ma’s arm to help him walk. Xia Qingyuan sat down next to Ye Futian and glanced at him. Then, she also lay back in the chair and said to Ye Futian, “We haven’t been so relaxed for a long time.”
“Yes,” Ye Futian smiled and nodded. “Doesn’t it feel good?”
Xia Qingyuan took a brief look at Ye Futian. There wasn’t much she wanted in life. She was happy to stay in a village like this with Ye Futian for life. Every day was carefree, without worries or conflicts.
Ye Futian noticed that Xia Qingyuan was gazing at him. He smiled and said, “Even a retreat like this is still plagued by sordid affairs.”
Xia Qingyuan didn’t respond. During the following days, Ye Futian and the others had been enjoying the peace and quiet. They occasionally took a walk inside the village and had become familiar with the people and the layout.
Ye Futian actually wanted to pay a visit to the master in the private school. But he dropped the idea since he didn’t have a good excuse.
A recluse like that would certainly come to him if he wanted to meet him!
