Chapter 351: Beating the Grass to Startle the Snake

The "Bump-and-Scam Ghost" had a quirk: it loved to mutter to itself incessantly.

Especially when it was alone.

It was speaking, of course, in "Ghost Tongue"; to an ordinary person, it would sound like a long string of strange noises, causing one to unconsciously feel the hair on their body stand on end.

Yet they would not know the meaning within.

But the Mountain Runners could all understand.

This Bump-and-Scam Ghost had been there by itself, chattering away and saying many things, which Gao Guanzi overheard.

Xu Yuan asked Gao Guanzi: "How does it contact Ghost Mustard Wood?"

Gao Guanzi shook his head: "I didn't hear. Although this thing is a chatterbox, it is also very cunning; everything related to Ghost Mustard Wood is only muttered in its heart, never spoken aloud."

Xu Yuan stroked his chin and let out a cold snort: If it won't speak up voluntarily, then this official will lure you into exposing yourself.

Xu Yuan whispered his plan to the two Mountain Runners.

Then he left alone, circled around, put on a mud mask, and quietly crept closer to the patch of woods where the Bump-and-Scam Ghost was located.

My Lord had chosen a good position—a position he had spotted long ago—My Lord could see the Bump-and-Scam Ghost clearly, while the other party could not see him.

Gao Guanzi and Bai Laoyan estimated the time was about right, so they began their performance.

Gao Guanzi took out the spider web.

This was what My Lord had secretly given him just now.

Bai Laoyan spread his feathered cloak, like a night owl, darting and fleeing at high speed.

No matter how agile or swift he was, Gao Guanzi merely waved his hand, the spider web flew out, and it would capture Bai Laoyan.

Just like a helpless butterfly; no matter how it flew, it could not escape that butterfly net.

The two Mountain Runners performed with great effort.

After two or three times, Bai Laoyan secretly groaned in bitterness.

He was no longer acting.

He was truly fleeing with all his might.

But Deng Linyue's spider web was a hard counter to him; no matter how he ran, he would be covered in an instant.

"What a fine Crafted Object!" Bai Laoyan panted, unable to help but praise it in his heart.

Gao Guanzi also saw this.

Setting aside those pair of special ears, Gao Guanzi and Bai Laoyan were evenly matched in combat skills.

In fact, Bai Laoyan held a slight advantage in speed.

If Bai Laoyan couldn't run away, then Gao Guanzi would be the same.

Deng Linyue made no struggle and died in My Lord's hands.

Yet Deng Linyue's Crafted Object was irresistible to the two of them...

Bai Laoyan was exhausted and panting; after more than ten times, he finally waved his hand: "That's enough."

If we continue, my old waist can't take it.

Recalling it, the first time I met My Lord, he still needed to disguise himself as a merchant to sneak into my village for refuge...

Bai Laoyan sighed with emotion.

Gao Guanzi then continued the act, holding the spider web high, laughing heartily with a voice like thunder: "A good thing! With this Crafted Object in hand, catching that Ghost Mustard Wood is a sure thing!"

The lines had been agreed upon in advance; Bai Laoyan continued: "Exactly so! As long as it dares to come, it cannot escape our grasp!"

The two Mountain Runners very cleverly chose an upwind position to deliver these lines.

The Bump-and-Scam Ghost, downwind, heard everything clearly.

Previously, the two men's "martial arts show" was, of course, seen even more clearly.

Their skill level was, of course, far inferior to "Xiao Lou Fang," but for them, it was already giving their all.

Afterwards, they both dove into the newly built hut.

"My Lord, will this method work?" Gao Guanzi asked.

Bai Laoyan did not answer; he too was unsure in his heart.

In Xu Yuan's plan, this move of "Beating the Grass to Startle the Snake" would result in one of the following outcomes:

The most ideal state is that the Bump-and-Scam Ghost sees this, is greatly alarmed, and rushes to inform Ghost Mustard Wood; Xu Yuan follows behind the Bump-and-Scam Ghost and successfully finds Ghost Mustard Wood.

As long as Xu Yuan sees it, Ghost Mustard Wood will not think of escaping.

"Wang Ming" keeps watch on the opponent, while the Skin Pill and the Sinew Pill are deployed together; the effect is stronger than the spider web.

The worst result is that there is a communication method between the Bump-and-Scam Ghost and Ghost Mustard Wood, similar to a "folded note."

The Bump-and-Scam Ghost does not need to meet Ghost Mustard Wood to inform the other party of the entire situation.

Ghost Mustard Wood will absolutely not come to this place again.

What difference is there between this result and the current situation?

There is another possibility: the Bump-and-Scam Ghost and Ghost Mustard Wood have no means of communication, and the Bump-and-Scam Ghost does not know Ghost Mustard Wood's whereabouts.

It merely guards here; when Ghost Mustard Wood arrives, it will first make contact with the Bump-and-Scam Ghost, and the Bump-and-Scam Ghost will tell it: Danger, flee quickly.

Ghost Mustard Wood would then immediately vanish.

But as long as Ghost Mustard Wood appears, Xu Yuan can recognize it; it still cannot escape.

So after the two Mountain Runners revealed the spider web, Xu Yuan stared at the Bump-and-Scam Ghost without blinking.

If it made any unusual movement, it might be transmitting a message to Ghost Mustard Wood.

But the Bump-and-Scam Ghost remained completely motionless for a long time!

That incessant muttering to itself had also vanished.

This fellow was thoroughly terrified.

After a while, it began whispering uncontrollably in a low voice.

The sound was fast and sharp, venting its emotions.

On the few trees closest to it, some twisted tree knots sprouted.

Already infected, it was about to undergo a sinister transformation.

Xu Yuan could not understand its ghostly speech, but could feel the fellow's panic from it.

The spider web could not only catch Ghost Needletrees; catching it was also a sure hit.

After the Fake-Injury Ghost chattered for a while, it suddenly stopped.

It seemed to have made a decision.

After another while, it quietly pulled its roots out from beneath the ground.

It tightened its branches and leaves, trying not to make any sound.

It left this Lin Zi, and even cautiously filled in the tree pit it had left behind.

It covered the top with fallen leaves.

Xu Yuan, watching from the side, was also left wide-eyed and dumbfounded.

In this era, he had seen many "sneaky" things, but a large tree acting sneaky was truly too ridiculous...

The Fake-Injury Ghost crept away on tiptoe.

After reaching a few li away, it burrowed into a mountain gully, completely avoiding the sightlines of the two mountain runners, when it suddenly relaxed its entire body and collapsed onto the ground.

That chattering ghostly voice started up again, one sound after another without pause.

It seemed to be complaining.

Next, it became much more relaxed, crossed two mountain ridges, and burrowed through a mountain stream.

Xu Yuan had been following behind the whole time.

But suddenly, the Fake-Injury Ghost ahead burrowed into a dense forest.

It planted its roots into the soil, disguising itself as one of the members.

Xu Yuan immediately stopped, frowning secretly: Could it have discovered me?

But I have been extremely careful, never revealing any slip-ups.

Xu Yuan hesitated whether to charge out and force the Fake-Injury Ghost to lead him to the Ghost Needletree.

But after thinking it over, he decided to keep his cool.

After waiting a moment, he suddenly heard a sound coming from outside the Lin Zi.

Xu Yuan perked up his ears to listen, surprised in his heart: It was the person who had spoken with Qiu Ningtai!

"Qiu Ningtai has the scent of the Ghost Needletree on him." One of his subordinates stated very confidently: "Although it is faint, perhaps the contact time was too long, or it was indirect contact."

"Hmph! This shows Qiu Ningtai is also a hypocrite; burrowing into Ghost Wushan was originally for the Ghost Needletree."

"My lord, the Ghost Needletree should be hiding nearby. It is just that for some reason, its scent is being interfered with; this subordinate cannot narrow the range further..."

The three had already walked near the Fake-Injury Ghost.

The Fake-Injury Ghost whipped a branch horizontally at the three...

(End of this chapter)