Chapter 37

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 37: Chessboard, Mountain God, Yuan Shui Village

Zhao Chan climbed a high cliff as nimbly as a mountain ape, gazing from afar at the cloud-shrouded Eren Mountain.

Eren Mountain was originally named Fei Mountain. Legend has it that a pair of red-feathered birds lived on the mountain; the male was called Fei, and the female was called Cui. Later, the female bird achieved success in her cultivation and ascended to heaven. Before leaving, she told the male bird that once she ascended to the immortal realm, she would find a way to return to the human world to reunite with him.

The male bird waited bitterly on the mountain year after year, but the female bird never descended. Finally, he passed away on the mountain.

The common people, moved by the male bird's devotion, named the mountain Fei Mountain.

Twenty or thirty years ago, a group of bandits occupied Fei Mountain to rob travelers, committing numerous bloody crimes. At that time, the Demon Slayer Division had not yet established a foothold in Yang County and Youju Town, and the government troops were unable to clear out the bandits, so the surrounding villagers renamed it Eren Mountain (Evil Person Mountain).

Later, miasma suddenly appeared on the mountain, and the bandits vanished. Because the mountain was truly blessed with spiritual energy, demon beasts from the depths of the mountains took up residence there, using it as a cave abode for cultivation.

There was a mountain road at the foot of Eren Mountain that was much easier to walk than the one Zhao Chan was currently taking, but with bandits causing trouble in the past and demons appearing later, that road had been abandoned.

As the clouds and mist on the mountainside drifted away, Zhao Chan, whose eyesight had greatly improved, saw the situation on the mountain: ferocious and hideous demons were slaughtering each other, while another group of demons chased each other down the mountain, disappearing into the forest.

Although demons had come down the mountain in previous years, they had generally maintained a state of stability.

It was unclear what had happened in the last few days; the demons that had previously only ravaged the area of Eren Mountain were now rampaging madly, and a small portion had already invaded the vicinity of Youju Town.

Jumping nimbly off the high cliff, Zhao Chan ran along the road. As the sun set, the mountains were shrouded in a thin mist that felt within reach.

As a lacquer harvester, the mountains at night were filled with danger at every step; not to mention the demons that came out at night, even the venomous snakes and wild beasts were enough to give a lacquer harvester a headache.

Zhao Chan occasionally came here to harvest lacquer with Lao Liu and two other harvesters, but that was only after the lacquer trees in the safe areas had been harvested. With no other choice, they had risked their lives to come here. However, they always had to set out at dawn and leave before nightfall; otherwise, the dangers were unpredictable.

Bai Yuqing and Bai Youjun followed along the way.

The two sisters' attitudes were as different as night and day.

Bai Youjun's gaze never left Zhao Chan, while Bai Yuqing looked out over Eren Mountain.

On the mountainside, there was a cave abode filled with pearls and jade, sealed by a restriction. Even to her critical eye, the level of the restriction was quite extraordinary and could not be broken by a cultivator in the lower four realms. Even she, relying on her extremely high killing power, would need four days to force it open.

"Qing, when we arrived in Youju Town, we didn't see this cave abode."

"Ah?"

"I imagine it appeared in the last two days; it's too much of a coincidence."

Bai Yuqing answered her own question, remembering that an old friend in Lingzhou City had mentioned this matter, saying that the so-called Hundred Treasure Zhen Pan Xi only had the cultivation of an Upper Grade Knowing Fate realm.

The lower four realms—Body Refining, Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, and Knowing Fate—regardless of which realm, for her, there was no need to use the Fufeng sword; she could kill with a wave of her hand.

Seeing it today, she murmured to herself: "The cultivation and attainments of Hundred Treasure Zhen Pan Xi might be more than just Upper Grade Knowing Fate. The chess game he has laid out is gradually showing its killing power; could it be that he wants to wipe everyone out in one go?"

Bai Yuqing was an outsider, but she had seen some clues.

So far, there had been no clues about Hundred Treasure Zhen Pan Xi. If Pan Xi had truly reached the end of his lifespan and passed away in his cave abode, it would be impossible for there to be no news. Even if a cultivator was different from an ordinary person, one would always find traces of his movements near the cave abode he had opened.

Bai Youjun's eyes rolled, and she asked with a giggle: "Is elder sister going to make a move?"

She snorted coldly: "Make a move? According to our original plan, staying in Youju Town for a few days to enjoy the scenery was enough; we should have set off for the next place. If it weren't for the fact that there is a Mountain Ghost here, why would we have been delayed so long?"

"Oh, since the young master promised to be the bait for elder sister to fish for the Mountain Ghost, he will definitely help elder sister catch it."

Although Bai Yuqing kept saying she wanted to catch the Mountain Ghost, since arriving in Youju Town, she had never actively searched for its tracks.

"Elder sister, where do you think the Mountain Ghost is?" Bai Youjun asked curiously.

Bai Yuqing said: "According to my understanding of Mountain Ghosts, they like to hide in the wilderness to absorb the spiritual energy of the morning dew and evening glow. The Mountain Ghost lurking near Youju Town has changed its habits, and we haven't sensed any aura left behind by it along the way. Qing, let me test you: what does this mean?"

"Ah? I don't know."

"So stupid!"

She patted Bai Youjun's little head.

Bai Youjun resisted: "Don't pat, don't pat anymore, I won't grow tall."

She said in a low voice: "This Mountain Ghost is a bit strange. When we sensed its aura from Zhao Chan and Wang Huan, it was mixed with a trace of a different aura; it seems the two auras are both repelling and merging with each other."

"I understand! Someone is occupying the magpie's nest and has seized the Mountain Ghost's body. I heard from the old Taoist priest that Mountain Ghosts are officially appointed by the imperial court, making them legitimate Mountain Gods. This leads some cultivators to specifically seize the bodies of Mountain Ghosts and then get appointed by the imperial court, transforming themselves into Mountain Gods."

"Hmm, that's what I think too."

Bai Youjun said: "So this Mountain Ghost is hiding and sneaking around just to be the Mountain God here?"

Bai Yuqing looked around at the many mountains: "Among the many mountains, only Fei Mountain has rich spiritual energy. It must be waiting for the dust to settle before becoming the Mountain God of Fei Mountain, so as not to be interrupted while ascending to become a Mountain God, which would lead to failure."

Following that, she revealed her true purpose.

"Zhao Chan is extremely gifted and has had contact with the Mountain Ghost. If I were the Mountain Ghost, I would do everything in my power to make him my Patrol Mountain Ghost Envoy. The Patrol Mountain Ghost Envoy is closely related to the Mountain God; if the envoy is strong, it feeds back into the Mountain God's attainments, and he can also seize incense for him, planning for a higher divine position."

"Why doesn't it just capture the young master?"

"Heh, Qing, you really are stupid! The Mountain Ghost isn't a Mountain God yet; what's the use of capturing Zhao Chan? It's better to let him go back and immerse himself among the people of Youju Town. When he becomes a Patrol Mountain Ghost Envoy in the future, the more 'human scent' Zhao Chan has, the stronger he will be, and the more he can 'manifest as a Mountain God' everywhere for it, teaching the people to build temples and offer incense."

"There are so many theories about the way of the Ghost Envoy!"

Bai Yuqing said: "The Mountain God of Da'e Mountain has sixteen Ghost Envoys, each of whom is a person with a strong 'human scent.' The Ghost Envoys manifest everywhere for the Mountain God of Da'e Mountain, making the surrounding people not only unafraid of them but even quite close, treating them like family. After building temples for them, when the incense overflows, the Mountain God sends the Ghost Envoys to seize the incense and send it back to him. This is the wonderful use of the Patrol Mountain Ghost Envoy.

The Mold Ghost in Nongsui Lane is also suitable for being refined into a Ghost Envoy; the Mold Ghost is a relatively special existence among fierce ghosts, and it doesn't lack 'human scent' on its body."

Bai Youjun suddenly realized: "So elder sister's ambition is not the Mountain Ghost, but the Mountain God! If you capture a Mountain God, the coins He spits out will be Mountain God Coins!"

Bai Yuqing knocked on her head, which immediately made Bai Youjun teary-eyed. She said softly: "Am I not right?"

"No!"

"Ah! I know, wait for the Mountain Ghost to become a Mountain God, then place a restriction on Him, requiring Him to give the Mountain God Coins He spits out in the future to elder sister."

"You're right this time." Bai Yuqing nodded, "A Mountain God can only spit out Mountain God Coins within His own mountain; how could there be any reason to capture Him?"

Bai Youjun gave a thumbs up: "Elder sister is indeed old-scheming... indeed resourceful; only now do I understand elder sister's plan!"

Seeing Bai Yuqing's hand about to fall again, she hurriedly changed her wording.

Immediately, she asked in confusion: "What is the young master's role in this?"

"To confuse the Mountain Ghost, making it feel that everything is under control, so it can safely and boldly ascend to become a Mountain God."

"I knew it! Elder sister would never let the young master fall into a dangerous situation!"

Bai Yuqing sighed: "He is now a Demon Slayer, and so stunningly brilliant; as a member of the Baize Hall of the Demon Slayer Division, how could I harm him?"

"Elder sister, when will I have my name recorded in the 'Baize Jade Record'?"

Bai Yuqing rolled her eyes at her: "With your current cultivation, you might not even be able to beat Zhao Chan; what qualifications do you have to have your name recorded in the 'Baize Jade Record'? Besides, once you leave your name, you will never be free again."

"Great, the young master is so amazing! In the future, the young master will protect me! He will definitely agree!" Bai Youjun only heard the first half of the sentence.

"..."

Bai Yuqing looked toward Fei Mountain; in such a small place, there was not only a young Demon Slayer who was like a heaven-gifted prodigy, but also a Mountain Ghost waiting to ascend to become a Mountain God.

I don't know who it was that plotted to get the imperial court of Xitang Kingdom to issue an edict and then seized the Mountain Ghost's body...

"Qing, let's go back to the town."

"No, I want to be with the young master."

"The road ahead is worry-free; there is no need to follow him anymore."

"Is what elder sister said true?"

Bai Yuqing said seriously: "Zhong Kui of Xianfeng Valley once divided the Body Refining realm into lower, medium, upper, and top grades; your intended husband is a top-grade Body Refining realm. Otherwise, why would Huangfu Changqiu of Baoyu Studio and Xun Lan of Hengwu Pavilion need to cross swords with me?"

"The young master is so amazing!" Bai Youjun felt exceptionally happy, as if she were also a top-grade Body Refining realm.

If she had known Qing would become like this, she would never have jokingly designated their marriage.

She thought Qing would just laugh it off; she didn't expect her to take it seriously.

Bai Yuqing sighed: "Zhong Kui called the top-grade Body Refining realm: 'Spirit refreshed and bright, bones clear and firm. Pot-heaven sun and moon, old karma. From now on, hold fast to the spring breeze's smile, and be a long-lived immortal in the human world.'"

Bai Youjun smiled with her eyes narrowed: "'Pot-heaven sun and moon, old karma'... the young master is already living an immortal's life."

"Pot-heaven sun and moon" in the mountain sects refers to the carefree life of an immortal.

Bai Yuqing asked: "Are you relieved now?"

"But... but what if the young master encounters demons again?"

"The ones ahead are all weak demon beasts; if your young master can't even handle them, he might as well bump his head and die."

After speaking, she held Bai Youjun's hand and drifted back to Youju Town.

……

Youju Town Private School.

Pan Xiansheng was focused on flipping through the Confucian classics.

"Teacher?"

A call came from outside the door.

He put down the sage's book, tidied his Confucian robe, and walked out leisurely: "Yang Yun, why have you come?"

"It's like this: my wife and I are thinking of living in Yuan Shui Village for a period of time. Since we are about to set off, I wanted to ask to borrow a book from you to read." Yang Yun bowed deeply.

Pan Xiansheng frowned: "Yuan Shui Village? I remember Yuan Shui Village is very far from our Youju Town."

Xiaowang Village, Dawang Village, Wangshui Village, Xiaoshi Village, and Shanniu Village belonged to the household registration of Youju Town.

Yuan Shui Village was a group of clansmen who had moved from outside the mountains forty years ago, clearing land and settling by the Source Water, living a life like a paradise. Except for coming to Youju Town to buy salt, the two sides had nothing to do with each other on a daily basis.

Yuan Shui Village was about sixty or seventy miles away from Youju Town.

"That's right, my wife has a house in Yuan Shui Village, and I thought it would be quieter to study in the village."

"Ha, when did you get married?"

Yang Yun explained with high spirits.

He was not familiar with Pan Xiansheng; Yang Yun's family learning and reading enlightenment all came from his father.

Xitang Kingdom did not stipulate that students must be enlightened by a private school to take the imperial examinations.

Pan Xiansheng cupped his hands and congratulated him: "Eleven years ago, I came to Youju Town to open this private school; you were just a child then. In the blink of an eye, you are married. Which book do you want to borrow?"

"I heard that you have the 'Collected Commentaries on the Four Books by Zhu Xi'; that is the one I want to borrow."

Pan Xiansheng pointed at him and smiled: "Your news is quite sharp. You may!"

Yang Yun was overjoyed; this book was exceptionally precious. He had only wanted to try, not expecting the teacher to be so generous.

"Thank you, teacher! Thank you, teacher!" He kept bowing and thanking him.

"Wait."

Pan Xiansheng returned to the study, took a stack of the "Collected Commentaries on the Four Books by Zhu Xi" from the bookshelf, turned back to Yang Yun, and handed it to him: "Take good care of it; you must never destroy the sage's book."

"Teacher, rest assured; I will treat this book as my own life. In at most a month and a half, I will definitely come to return the book."

"It hasn't been peaceful outside the town these two days, and Yuan Shui Village is far away; you and your wife must be careful."

"Everything is prepared; it should be a safe journey."

"Hmm, I won't keep you then."

"I will take my leave, teacher."

Holding the stack of books, Yang Yun left the private school excitedly.

Pan Xiansheng stood outside the door watching him go, murmuring: "Yuan Shui Village... Yuan Shui Village... Heh, it is indeed a good place."

Mountains and water surround Youju Town.

There are two major rivers and twenty-seven tributaries.

Source Water is a tributary named the Yu River.

Yang Yun returned home and said excitedly: "Wife, the teacher agreed to lend it to me."

"Oh, congratulations, husband! The teacher is so generous." Zhang Cui Cui felt honored.

"Wife, are we really not going to wait for our younger brother to return and say goodbye to him before setting off?"

"Husband, you are confused. It is precisely because Zhao Chan wants us to go outside to take shelter that the faster we leave, the happier he will be."

Although Yang Yun felt it was inappropriate, since Zhang Cui Cui had said so, he had to agree.

"By the way, wife, the town is suffering from a demon plague; are there demons wandering outside as well?"

"This is the second time you've asked me this, husband. Let me say it again: only I know that small path. Both sides of the path are peach forests, and peach wood is a restraint against ghosts; I imagine it also has a deterrent effect on demons."

Zhang Cui Cui continued: "That house has all the furniture, and there is a bamboo forest next to it. Husband is a gentleman, and gentlemen love bamboo. If you study there, you will surely get twice the result with half the effort."

"Wife, was this house left to you by your father-in-law?"

She followed Yang Yun's words and smiled: "Besides your father-in-law, who else would leave it to me?"

The couple took some changes of clothes and food, pushed a wheelbarrow with Yang Yun's pile of books, and left Youju Town.

Zhang Cui Cui did not take him on the so-called small path; they chose the main road and headed to Yuan Shui Village in a grand manner.

"Wife, what about that small path?"

"Husband, look, where are there any demons?" Zhang Cui Cui asked with a smile.

Yang Yun looked around.

That's right, where are there any demons?

Since there are no demons, why take the small path?