In the end, the matter was left unresolved. However, Yin Yong soon noticed that, aside from his eldest brother, everyone else had become wary of him. They watched him, some openly, others in subtle ways, as though trying to uncover something hidden within him.
Yin Yong wasn't stupid. He figured that his nephew must have suspected him of stealing the bronze mirror. That was why they were keeping an eye on him. Likely, they hoped to recover the mirror somehow. So, Yin Yong continued building houses as usual, completely ignoring their scrutiny.
A month later, the new house was completed. After letting it air out for half a month, his eldest brother's family moved in and even held a housewarming banquet, inviting the villagers to celebrate.
But just over a month after they moved in, a thunderstorm struck one night. Lightning split the house apart, and the entire family of twelve was crushed to death beneath the collapse.
Because the storm was loud and fierce, with lightning and thunder drowning out all other noise, no one heard the house come down. It wasn't until the next morning that a neighbor finally discovered the ruins.
By the time the villagers came with hoes and shovels to dig through the bricks and tiles, the bodies inside had already gone cold. The tragedy shocked all of Taoyuan Village. Everyone had something to say.
"Did the Yin family do something terrible and bring divine punishment upon themselves? Ever since the youngest sister married out, it's been one death after another. Not even a year's passed."
"It's true. Some died far from home, some were murdered by bandits, and now the whole family got crushed in their brand-new house? That place was built with bricks and tiles. It should've been solid. How could it collapse so easily?"
"Exactly. My mud-brick house is still standing just fine. Why would theirs fall apart?"
Yin Yong looked at the row of corpses on the ground. His legs gave out and he collapsed, breathless and overwhelmed.
That same night, he climbed the mountain and went to the place where he'd buried the bronze mirror. But there was nothing there. The large rock had rolled down the slope, leaving only a deep pit behind.
Unwilling to give up, Yin Yong dug deeper, but still found nothing. The bronze mirror was gone. Someone else had dug it up.
He returned to the old house in a daze, going over every detail in his memory, trying to figure out who could have taken the mirror. But no matter how much he thought, he found no clues.
Forcing himself to finish arranging the funerals for his eldest brother's family, Yin Yong then decided to sell off the land and house and leave Taoyuan Village for good. Too many terrible memories lingered here. He couldn't stay any longer.
Because of the string of deaths in the Yin family, the villagers believed their home had become unlucky. No one would buy the old house. The farmland, however, sold quickly and for a decent price.
Just as Yin Yong received his travel permit and was preparing to leave the village, a fire broke out in one of the homes late at night. The wind helped the flames spread fast. The fire raged out of control before the villagers could even attempt to stop it. Everyone in that household was burned alive.
That incident became the final straw for Yin Yong. The next day, he entrusted the old house to the village chief, packed his belongings, and left Taoyuan Village without looking back. He didn't even dare stay long in the nearby town. He wandered for over half a year before settling down in Chuntao City, taking a job as an inn servant.
Because he was literate and could manage accounts, the innkeeper took a liking to him and offered a long-term position. Yin Yong, tired from travel, decided to stay and live out his days there. Barring any surprises, he had no intention of ever returning to Taoyuan Village.
After listening to Yin Yong's story, the four cultivators fell into thoughtful silence. Things were clearly not as simple as he had described. Most of the people involved were already dead, and much of what he said was only speculation. But even speculation was enough to terrify him into never going back.
Liu Haotian spoke quietly.
"You may go now. Do not speak of this matter to anyone."
"Yes, understood."
Yin Yong trembled as he stood up and carefully exited the room.
Once he was gone, the four began to discuss.
"Senior Brother Liu, do you think that bronze mirror is some kind of evil artifact?"
"If everything truly started with that mirror, then it definitely has issues. Whether it's an evil artifact or not, we'll know once we examine it."
Xia You added, "I activated the memory jade just now while Yin Yong was speaking. It's a lead, and indirect evidence as well."
"You're quick, Xia You. I forgot all about the memory jade."
"There's four of us. If we're together, one recording is enough. If we split up to investigate, we'll need to be more mindful."
In the end, Yun Xi made the final call.
"Since we all agree something's off, let's head to Taoyuan Village."
"I agree. If it's a harmful evil artifact, we can't let it stay in the mortal realm."
"Same here."
"Then let's rest for a day and depart tomorrow. Hopefully we're not too late."
With the plan decided, everyone returned to their rooms to prepare for the journey ahead.
The next morning, the four of them stood before Yin Yong, hoping to take him along to Taoyuan Village. But Yin Yong shook his head with a face full of resistance.
Yun Xi let out a soft sigh.
"Yin Yong, this all started with you. You were the one who pulled that bronze mirror from the river and brought it home. When you discovered it missing, you didn't warn anyone. You just ran. Did you ever think about what would happen to the others in Taoyuan Village?"
Yin Yong's expression shifted. He clenched his jaw.
"If they hadn't been greedy, nothing would've happened to them. Just like me."
Liu Haotian's tone remained calm.
"How do you know you're an exception? You only have one month left to live. Why else do you think we came looking for you?"
Yin Yong's face drained of all color. He had believed he'd escaped the curse, but now these people told him he only had a month left. Bitterness filled his mouth and heart.
"If you really won't come, then we won't force you. Just give us the exact location of Taoyuan Village."
"Alright."
Yin Yong had no courage to return. He gave them precise directions, then wandered back into the rear hall, looking completely lost.
"Looks like we're going to miss the lantern festival in Chuntao City."
Xia You sighed, then followed the others as they departed the city.
This time, they couldn't afford a leisurely pace. Once they left populated areas, the four summoned their flying swords and soared ahead.
The road Yin Yong described as distant only took them two hours by sword. Yet when they reached the indicated area, they found no trace of Taoyuan Village, even after searching around for quite a while.
Yun Xi frowned.
"He lied?"
"Unlikely."
Liu Haotian pulled out a compass, adjusting it as he moved. As he walked, he explained.
"A village that big couldn't just vanish without a trace. I suspect the bronze mirror absorbed enough souls to repair itself, then created its own domain. Now it waits quietly for new prey."
Yu Qingcheng's eyes narrowed.
"Senior Brother Liu makes a good point. This is the mortal realm, after all. There are no spirit stones or rare treasures here for it to consume. It doesn't have legs. It must've lured someone into carrying it away."
Yun Xi nodded.
"According to Yin Yong, unless someone makes a wish to the bronze mirror and forms a contract with it, it can't act on its own."
Xia You also nodded.
"Everyone's theories make sense. But Yin Yong left Taoyuan Village a long time ago. I just worry that mirror has grown stronger. He was far away, yet even he only had a month left to live."
"Don't forget," Yu Qingcheng said, "the ancestral tombs of the Yin family are still in Taoyuan Village."