Chapter 38: Volume I: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 38: A Frog in the Well

Volume I: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 38: A Frog in the Well

The night curtain descended deeply.

Moonlight and starlight spilled over the mountains.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival of Baoyue Shiwu approaching, the bright moon was gradually becoming full.

Zhao Chan climbed over a high mountain and then crossed a stone bridge over the torrent flowing between the mountains.

He gripped the Peach Branch tightly and stopped, on guard.

On a high cliff ahead that jutted out like a sword blade, an old ape with snow-white fur sang loudly.

The old ape sang: "Last night, wind and rain at Longqiu, stone waves dance before the gate. At the fourth watch, the Mountain Ghost whistles and blows out the lamp, startling the children of the world..."

Yang County is adjacent to Shuduan Mountain and is a mountain city built against the mountains.

Shuduan Mountain is like a continuous ring of city walls, enclosing Guyan Mountain, Eren Mountain, Erniu Mountain, and other great mountains.

The closest to Shuduan Mountain is Guyan Mountain, which has a waterfall called Longqiu.

Zhao Chan passed through this mountain path carved along the mountain to reach Guyan Mountain; crossing the Longqiu Waterfall, he would reach Shuduan Mountain, and at that point, Yang County would be close at hand.

The old ape sang loudly again: "At the appointed place, still asking me: the official's journey with staff and shoes is bitter.

A spiritual connection, a promise of the heart.

Waiting to carry you for ten thousand miles, whipping the phoenix, reciting my 'Far Roaming Ode'."

Zhao Chan's hair stood on end instantly; the old ape had originally been facing away from him, but in an unknown instant, it was already standing on the high cliff, looking down at him.

"What a handsome young gentleman." The old ape spoke in human language, its indifferent eyes fixed on him. "Is the gentleman going to Yang County?"

Zhao Chan did not say a word; facing the old ape, he felt as if he were facing the Mountain Ghost a few days ago, his nerves pulled tight.

The old ape laughed: "Why be so nervous? I won't harm you."

Seeing it about to leap down from the high cliff, Zhao Chan immediately turned and sprinted back the way he came.

He knew in his heart that he was by no means a match for the old ape, let alone capable of slaying it.

The old ape sighed lightly: "Had I known someone was passing through this mountain path, I wouldn't have come to clear my mind. Little gentleman, I am a Demon Cultivator from the Baize Hall of the Lancang Prefecture Slaying Demon Division; I will not harm you."

Zhao Chan's speed was extremely fast; in the blink of an eye, he had already run nearly ten zhang.

The old ape's indifferent eyes suddenly brightened, and it muttered to itself: "Upper Grade Body Refining Realm cultivation, yet possessing such strength—rare, rare..."

It snapped its fingers casually.

For some reason, in the field of vision of Zhao Chan, who was clearly sprinting in the opposite direction, the old ape that had jumped off the high cliff and stood on the mountain path suddenly appeared; at this very moment, he was running toward it.

"Little gentleman, the Lancang Prefecture Slaying Demon Division sent me to patrol Yang County. I am a good person and will never harm you; there is no need to be..."

Before the words were finished.

The old ape saw that Zhao Chan had already swung that Peach Branch, which looked like it would break at a single touch, to slash at it. A sword mark appeared, but the Peach Branch had already slashed at the side of its neck; if it ignored or did not dodge, the next moment, the Peach Branch would sever its neck, separating head from body.

"Oh? The third form of the 'Shake God Sword' from the Slaying Demon Division? Is the little gentleman a Demon Slayer?" The old ape asked amiably in an instant.

The right arm gripping the Peach Branch had veins bulging; the Peach Branch slashed into the old ape's palm. It had actually used its own palm to easily block Zhao Chan's attack.

"To be able to use the 'Sword Mark' form to such a degree, you are the first person I have ever seen." The old ape praised with no small amount of joy. "It is a great fortune for the Yang County Slaying Demon Division to produce a young Demon Slayer like you!"

Failing in one strike, Zhao Chan withdrew and retreated, his gaze locked on every move of the old ape.

A wooden, ancient-looking Token appeared in the old ape's hand, which it threw to Zhao Chan: "Now do you believe I won't harm you?"

To the old ape's surprise, the young man in its eyes did not reach out to catch the Token, remaining on high alert as if treating it like a heinous, irredeemable Demon.

The Token fell onto a stone, bounced once from the impact, and then fell off.

It happened to land with the front of the wooden, ancient-looking Token facing up; the handwriting was grand and majestic, quite imposing, with six characters written—Lancang Prefecture Slaying Demon Division.

The old ape finally asked helplessly: "Let me ask you, what must I do for you to believe me?"

Zhao Chan glanced at that high cliff.

The old ape nodded hurriedly: "Fine, fine, fine, I will return to the top of the high cliff."

Turning and leaping, it stood on the high cliff again, saying to itself: "The song I just sang is the 'Mountain Ghost Rumor'; how does the little gentleman think I sang it?"

Regarding what it said, Zhao Chan still did not reply with a single word; glancing at the Token from the corner of his eye, he bent down to pick it up as if facing a great enemy.

The front of the Token read Lancang Prefecture Slaying Demon Division, and the back had only three characters—Baize Hall.

Zhao Chan finally spoke, asking: "Is the senior a Demon from the Slaying Demon Division?"

The old ape laughed loudly: "It is true that I am from the Slaying Demon Division, but I am not the scum that is a Demon, but a Demon Cultivator whose name is recorded in the 'Baize Jade Record'!"

"What is the difference?"

The old ape, looking very proud, stood with its hands behind its back, watching the ignorant young man, and explained patiently: "The difference is that the moment a Demon of my cultivation level met you, you would already be in the Demon's belly, whereas I am conversing with you in a friendly manner.

Little gentleman, you are also a Demon Slayer, right? You came from the direction of Youju Town; are you a Demon Slayer from the Youju Town Slaying Demon Division?

This morning, I looked through the Yang County 'Slaying Demon Record'; the Youju Town Slaying Demon Division only has one warrior stationed there, named Wang Huan. He should be your superior, right?"

"How do you know I am a Demon Slayer?"

"The 'Shake God Sword'! Within the Xitang Kingdom, every county's Slaying Demon Division has a Body Refining Realm technique suitable for newcomers; the technique in Yang County is the 'Shake God Sword'."

It paused.

The old ape praised again: "The little gentleman has grasped the essence of the 'Shake God Sword': 'First there are the Gods Sitting on the Blade, then there is the Shake God Slash'! I observe that the Upper Grade Body Refining Realm Demon Slayers in the Yang County Slaying Demon Division have all taken the wrong path; not one has grasped the essence like you."

Zhao Chan looked at the old ape with burning eyes; after thinking it over repeatedly, he put away the Peach Branch and bowed: "Zhao Chan did not know the senior was here and has been quite offensive; I hope the senior will forgive me."

"Haha... what is there to forgive or not forgive? I, the old ape, am happy to see brilliant Demon Slayers from the Slaying Demon Division blossoming everywhere.

I, the old ape, came from Luohe County, where there is also a young and outstanding Demon Slayer who should be a few years older than you."

Seeing the young man let down his guard, the old ape leaped lightly to his side, took the wooden Token handed over by Zhao Chan, and with a backhanded grip, the Token vanished.

"Is the little gentleman going to the Yang County Slaying Demon Division?" It asked again.

Zhao Chan nodded and said: "Yes, Youju Town is in danger!"

"Tell me about it; what happened?"

He was just about to speak, but immediately stopped the words on the tip of his tongue, saying cautiously, "Perhaps I should clarify the situation to you, Senior, after we arrive at the Yang County Demon Slayer Office."

The old ape was not annoyed; instead, he clapped his hands and laughed, "Good, very good! Being alone outside, one can never be too cautious, especially for us Demon Slayers. Let's go, I will take you to the Yang County Demon Slayer Office..."

Gently grabbing Zhao Chan's shoulder with his left hand, the old ape crossed a high cliff, landed on a rock face, then leaped again, stepping onto a pine tree growing diagonally out of the cliff...

Zhao Chan's ears were filled with the sound of wind, yet the old ape's voice reached him clearly and unmistakably.

"After arriving at the Yang County Demon Slayer Office, do not use that Peach Branch again," he said.

The right hand that had blocked the Peach Branch's strike had a sword mark cut into its palm, with blood flowing incessantly.

That he could be injured by someone with Upper Grade Body Refining Realm cultivation was not because Zhao Chan was particularly formidable, but because the Peach Branch was extremely sharp.

If Zhao Chan's cultivation had been one realm higher, the old ape's right hand likely would not have been saved.

"Many thanks for the reminder, Senior." Despite his surging thoughts, Zhao Chan still thanked him aloud.

"Little gentleman, you are cautious; you likely think I covet your Peach Branch. You must never think this way; the Peach Branch is your Dharma Treasure, and I would never covet it. However, others might not be so certain," the old ape reminded him.

It took the old ape less than three quarters of an hour to cross Guyan Mountain.

When the old ape leaped down from Longqiu Waterfall, Zhao Chan could not help but close his eyes.

The old ape let out a long howl.

It startled countless birds and beasts.

Landing steadily, he once again moved with the agility of a rabbit and the grace of a wild duck, sprinting toward Yang County.

Zhao Chan opened his eyes and looked back.

Longqiu Waterfall looked as if it were flowing down from the heavens.

The continuous, thunderous roar made his heart pound and his blood boil.

Ahead lay Shuduan Mountain.

The moment he saw it, Zhao Chan finally understood why this mountain was called Shuduan Mountain.

It looked as if a heaven-propping, jade-pillar god had held a peerless giant axe and sliced the mountain in two; the god took one half away, and the remaining half stayed here like a wall crafted by supernatural workmanship.

There were very few mountain paths through Shuduan Mountain, and the old ape chose the one easiest to walk; though called "easiest to walk," the path was actually either sloping downward or tilting upward, with deep cart ruts imprinted in the road.

The trees on the mountain mostly grew at an angle, like unsheathed sharp swords.

Amidst the lush, deep beauty lay craggy, strange rocks; the mountain path twisted and turned, with beautiful trees and thick shade on one side, and deep streams with fat fish on the other...

Zhao Chan truly had not expected such a wondrous sight within Shuduan Mountain.

After passing through Shuduan Mountain, the old ape set Zhao Chan down; throughout the journey, he had been carrying him by the shoulder with one hand.

"The Mountain Ape Clan is skilled at galloping through mountains and forests; you weren't afraid, were you, little gentleman?" he teased.

Seeing Yang County appear in his field of vision, Zhao Chan felt much more relaxed and replied with a smile, "Senior's cultivation is profound and your Daoist attainments are deep; you must be an outstanding member of the Mountain Ape Clan."

"Ha, you little gentleman certainly know how to talk, but you've flattered the wrong person; among the old ape clan of Qingshu Mountain, I am considered the most incompetent."

"Ah? Then... how formidable must the competent ones be?"

"My several elder brothers are all recorded in the *White Marsh Jade Record* and are currently serving at the Beifeng Dynasty Demon Slayer Office. Mentioning their names—I'm not trying to scare you, little ape—not only do the most vicious and evil Demons fear them, but even the high and mighty Mountain Sects must restrain their arrogance. If you are unfortunate enough to run into my brothers, heh, pray for your own good fortune."

Zhao Chan sighed, "It is truly fascinating."

The old ape laughed, "What is there to be fascinated by? Meals must be eaten one bite at a time, and the road must be walked one step at a time. Little gentleman, your natural talent is quite good; given time, perhaps you can surpass my brothers."

"Senior, what is the *White Marsh Jade Record*?"

"If I tell you now, you won't understand. Just remember one thing: you humans record your names in the *Slaying Demon Record*, while we Demon Race record our names in the *White Marsh Jade Record*."

The old ape grabbed his shoulder: "Let's go. Since you traveled to Yang County without fearing hardship, the situation in Youju Town must be particularly critical. It is a pity that I have heavy responsibilities on my shoulders; I will rest today and must rush to Ze County tomorrow."

"Is Senior going to the county town to slay demons and eliminate evil?"

"Not exactly; for now, there is no need for me to slay demons and eliminate evil... It doesn't hurt to tell you: I was sent by the Demon Slayer Office to inspect the Demon Slayer Offices in various county towns, focusing on whether any Demon Slayers are colluding with Demons."

Zhao Chan asked in confusion, "Demons are bloodthirsty by nature and inhumane; why would Demon Slayers collude with them?"

The old ape composed himself to explain to him: "This is your inherent impression. Ha, that's right, Youju Town is surrounded by mountains and rivers; it is a truly small place, and you haven't seen those powerful Demons.

Little gentleman, let me ask you, what is the difference between Demons and humans?"

"Humans are humans, and Demons are Demons! The people of Youju Town only want to live in peace, but demon plagues occur from time to time, causing people to lose their loved ones. That is why we must slay demons and eliminate evil, to return a bright and clear world to our fellow villagers."

"Wrong. That is how mortals view Demons. In the eyes of Mountain Sect cultivators, there is no difference between Demons and humans."

Zhao Chan was completely lost: "Why?"

"Your cultivation is low now, so it doesn't matter if you don't understand for the time being. When your cultivation is higher in the future, you will know that many human cultivators are actually no different from Demons.

To seize heavenly treasures, they slaughter countless, the aftermath of their battles affecting hundreds of miles, leading to the devastation of all living things.

To obtain cultivation manuals, they secretly strike at their companions while pretending to be upright gentlemen on the surface.

To break through their cultivation realms, they stop at nothing.

Little gentleman, you have only seen Demons eat people, but have you ever seen human cultivators refine pills using tens of thousands of human lives to break through their realms?

Hmph, cultivators are like this, and some Mountain Sects are the same!

You think Demons and humans are different, but those Mountain Sects actually value Demons highly; to increase their sect's strength, they are willing to harbor Demons who have committed monstrous sins as Guest Ministers or Offerings!

There are also some Mountain Sects that crazily collude with Demons to attack rival sects, causing countless innocent deaths and injuries, breaking the rules set by the Demon Slayer Office.

Little gentleman, there are truly too many examples. You see, I only picked a few at random, and you are already looking this surprised."

The old ape had opened a door for Zhao Chan.

So the world outside Youju Town was actually like this.

In Youju Town, he was like a frog at the bottom of a well, seeing only as much sky as the mouth of the well.

For no reason, Zhao Chan developed the idea of going out to walk the world.

Yang County was adjacent to Shuduan Mountain, or one could even say it was built against the mountain.

The county gate faced a wide, flat road that stretched straight into the distance, and Zhao Chan's gaze followed this road, also looking toward the distance.

He could only see several villages scattered like stars, and a lush, green forest.

The Autumn Equinox had already passed, and in a short while, the leaves would begin to wither and yellow on a large scale, drifting one after another into the dust and mud; yet, Zhao Chan seemed to see the coming spring, when that stretch of forest would once again brim with vitality.

Behind Yang County lies Shuduan Mountain, where there is a small, crystal-clear lake; the common folk in the county town push wheelbarrows and stand by the lakeside to draw water, which flows down from Shuduan Mountain.

The Old Ape observed the yearning in the young man's eyes and asked with a smile, "Is this the young gentleman's first time in Yang County?"

He nodded, and after a moment, confirmed, "The first time crossing the mountain road to reach Yang County..."

"How long have you been a Demon Slayer?"

The Old Ape wanted to determine how long Zhao Chan had been practicing the Shake God Sword; if he had reached the Upper Grade Body Refining Realm within three to five years, then this youth could be worth the Yang County Demon Slayer Division investing great effort to cultivate.

In fact, the result was already laid out on the table; Zhao Chan was young, so he could not have been practicing the Shake God Sword for long, and the reason the Old Ape asked was merely to judge just how good Zhao Chan's natural talent really was...

Zhao Chan regained his composure and pondered for a moment: "Not long."

"Haha... how long is 'not long'?"