Chapter 6: Volume 1: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 6: Mountain Ghost Flower Money

The landlady said to Zhao Chan in the room: "I put the umbrella at the door. After you finish eating, hold the umbrella and go home. Don't get caught in the autumn rain again; it's easy to get sick."

"Thanks for the reminder, Sister Wan'er." Zhao Chan, who had been hungry all day, mumbled while eating.

"A Ping, come to the kitchen and help me." She said.

A Ping glared at the woman in white and the girl in green without hiding it, said "Okay," and followed the landlady to the kitchen.

The girl in green chuckled: "Sister, he's warning us."

"His name is A Ping?" The woman in white toyed with her teacup. "His True Energy leans toward the Confucian Vast Noble Energy, and his cultivation is not low either. Qing, this tiny mountain town is gradually becoming interesting."

"He is no match for Sister. No one in the whole town is Sister's match."

The woman in white glanced at the room and smiled: "Qing, send the young gentleman home later."

"Ah? Sister, this..."

"Why, don't you like the marriage Sister arranged for you?"

The girl said shyly: "Sister, the book says..."

"Don't mention those dog-shit etiquette rules to me. Are etiquette and systems set for people like us?" The woman in white's long, narrow eyebrows raised slightly, quite heroic.

Kitchen.

The landlady was busy alone.

A Ping stood in the corner, suddenly covering his mouth and coughing violently. He opened his hand to see it was bright red.

The landlady smoothed her messy hair and looked at the fresh blood in A Ping's palm: "What is the origin of the demon chasing you?"

"Wangqing River Jiao Clan."

"How did you provoke them?" The landlady asked in surprise.

The Jiao Dragon Clan of the Wangqing River is generally neutral and has always kept to themselves with the Demon Slaying Division and mountain sects for many years. But don't underestimate them—there are at least six or seven Water Gods from the Wangqing River.

"Four small Jiaos were causing trouble in one place. I helped the local Demon Slaying Division skin them and pull their tendons. The Wangqing River didn't dare to retaliate against the Demon Slaying Division, so they chased me all the way." A Ping didn't care at all, "Two old Jiaos came. One old Jiao thought he could kill me, but was killed by me instead, and the other old Jiao is still on the way."

The landlady stirred the pot, complaining: "You always like to show off."

"Do you know that two women came to the inn?"

"Well, they give me a cold, slippery feeling, but I didn't sense any malice."

Silence for a while.

The landlady sighed: "Little Toad used the name of the Demon Slaying Division to beat those people up to repay the meal I treated him to."

"Isn't that good? Repaying kindness with kindness."

She said: "Repaying kindness with kindness also means Little Toad repays grievances with grievances."

"He usually has an indifferent look, but he is actually clever and precocious. He can distinguish who is good to him, who is bad to him, and who is using him."

"When I came to Youju Town eight years ago, he led me into the government office to register my name... In a blink of an eye, it's actually been eight years."

A Ping recalled the scene of secretly stopping the Mountain Ghost.

Zhao Chan possessed a sharp peach branch and clearly could handle five or six Chang ghosts, yet he still hid behind Wang Huan and didn't kill a single Chang ghost.

He seemed to be scared silly, but he saw the look in Zhao Chan's eyes—panicked but not chaotic.

It wasn't until the Mountain Ghost took advantage of Wang Huan's soft heart and his lack of physical strength to strike suddenly that the youth finally acted like an old hunter waiting for his prey to step into a trap, using the peach branch to cut the Mountain Ghost in two.

The timing chosen was also exceptionally exquisite, and he couldn't find any flaws.

A Ping frowned.

"What did you think of?" the landlady asked.

A Ping told her the whole story without hiding anything.

She suddenly smiled: "Is it possible that Little Toad is bold enough to use the Mountain Ghost in return?"

"Impossible!" He shook his head.

"You said Little Toad used the peach branch to sever the Mountain Ghost's arm. Even if that wasn't the Mountain Ghost's main body, the strangeness of the peach branch exceeded the imagination of mortals, and Wang Huan happened to see all this."

A Ping said in surprise: "You mean..."

"Perhaps the opportunity Little Toad was really waiting for was to let the Mountain Ghost kill Wang Huan, and he, the mantis stalking the cicada, would then kill the Mountain Ghost, so that the secret of the peach branch would be known to no one. I believe he understands the truth that an innocent man is innocent, but his treasure makes him guilty."

The landlady then asked suspiciously: "I don't know why Little Toad suddenly changed his mind and saved Wang Huan. Could it be that he guessed the Mountain Ghost's main body hadn't appeared yet?"

"He is not a mountain cultivator, just a youth." A Ping didn't believe it.

"If he had used the peach branch to kill four or five Chang ghosts for Wang Huan, the Mountain Ghost wouldn't have had the chance to possess and sneak attack." The landlady speculated.

A Ping thought deeply: "Zhao Chan is young, but he doesn't feel any different from the direct disciples carefully cultivated by those mountain sects. Xie Wan, aren't you afraid that Zhao Chan is being two-faced with you?"

"He just injured the burly man, but he instantly gripped that peach branch Dharma artifact. If the burly man didn't care about the prestige of the Demon Slaying Division, he would have killed him immediately."

The landlady smiled: "Not afraid, I know him too well."

Pause.

The landlady, whose real name was Xie Wan, continued: "The little toad doesn't know that I am ruthless and vengeful."

"But where did he get the peach branch Dharma artifact?"

"Ask him?" A Ping said.

Xie Wan shook her head: "No, Little Toad is very cautious. If he knows I'm interested in the peach branch, he will definitely hide from me... I don't want him to hide from me."

Zhao Chan stood at the entrance of the Xizhao Inn.

The woman in white drank tea leisurely, as if savoring a supreme delicacy.

The girl in green stared blankly at the youth who was about her age.

The youth's side profile was firm, straight, and steep, like a half-drawn sword.

A pink flush appeared on her pure, jade-like cheeks.

This was her first time down the mountain, her first time accompanying Sister to travel north and south, and her first time experiencing the different clear winds and bright moons in various places in the world...

Zhao Chan waited until the landlady served food to the troupe, then ran over: "Sister Wan'er, thanks for the hospitality, I'm full, I'm going home."

"Go, take the oil-paper umbrella, return it to me when the rain stops."

Zhao Chan said: "I just observed the people in the merchant caravan. They don't have the guts to provoke you now, but... when you rest, Sister Wan'er, remember to close the doors and windows."

The merchant caravan men had no mood to eat and drink in the hall and had all returned to their rooms to sleep.

"I didn't expect this little toad to understand these things. Don't worry, I hid a knife in my room. Whoever dares to break in, I'll hack them!" Xie Wan leaned close to Zhao Chan's ear and whispered with a low laugh.

Her breath was warm, and her body fragrance was like wild chrysanthemums in the mountains, refreshing.

Zhao Chan's gaze remained clear, and he turned and ran into the pouring autumn rain.

He didn't take the umbrella.

The landlady murmured: "So afraid of owing me a favor?"

"What are you waiting for! Go quickly!" The woman in white laughed lightly.

The girl in green hesitated and stood up, bit her red lips, and also rushed into the rain curtain.

A Ping, who returned to the inn hall, walked up to the woman in white: "I advise you to follow the rules."

"And if I don't?" The woman in white asked back disdainfully.

"I will report it to the Lancang Prefecture Demon Slaying Division."

"Threatening me?"

"Exactly."

"What a big tone!"

The woman in white didn't bother to look at him, treating him like a piece of talking air: "Which mountain sect are you a disciple of?"

A Ping said: "Xuanwei Sect."

"It is rumored that the 'Flying Sword Embracing Wind Art' of the Xuanwei Sect has four realms: East Wind Raging, Wind and Clouds Changing, Fine Rain Slanting Wind, and Full Sleeves of Spring Wind. Which realm have you reached?" The woman in white asked.

"You are presumptuous!" A Ping's face changed drastically, and the sword scar on his forehead became even deeper.

Twenty-seven years ago, a direct disciple of the Xuanwei Sect who specialized in the "Flying Sword Embracing Wind Art" went down the mountain to practice. He didn't know what happened, but his temperament changed drastically, and he betrayed the Xuanwei Sect and joined the demonic sect Ghost King Palace.

Sixteen years ago, this person used the "Flying Sword Embracing Wind Art" to run rampant in various places, killing forty-seven righteous cultivators.

An elder of the Xuanwei Sect severely injured this person, almost taking his life, and he was finally saved by a master of the Ghost King Palace. But as long as he lived, this matter was an ugly scandal that the Xuanwei Sect didn't want to mention.

The woman in white set down her teacup and sneered: "The Xuanwei Sect has had filthy affairs; just the ones I've heard of total four. A mountain sect like yours that fails to discipline its subordinates—I think you should keep your tails tucked between your legs. Don't be arrogant, thinking you have the air of an immortal family, going out and showing off as if everyone owes you money."

A Ping gripped the hilt of his sword: "Monster! Do you really think I dare not kill you?"

"Once you and I fight, the people of Youju Town will inevitably suffer heavy casualties. I remember that the Xuanwei Sect is a righteous mountain sect designated by the Demon Slaying Division. Are you, a disciple of the Xuanwei Sect, willing to create a massacre to maintain the reputation of the sect? Not worried about the Demon Slaying Division questioning your crime afterwards?"

"You!" A Ping let go of the sword hilt, pointing at the woman in white, his eyes wide with anger.

She sneered: "I think you are not genuinely worried about the people of the world, just pretending to be a righteous cultivator for others to see."

A Ping was so angry that his chest heaved and fell. After finally stabilizing his mind, he asked: "Who are you?"

The woman in white admired the autumn rain hitting the ground outside the window: "You are not worthy to know."

Zhao Chan glanced slightly and saw the girl in green following him not far away.

He stopped.

The girl in green also stopped.

He suddenly ran.

She also ran fast.

After repeating this several times, Nongsui Lane was by his side.

Zhao Chan suddenly ran into the alley.

The girl in green didn't doubt it and followed closely.

As soon as she rushed into the alley.

She stopped abruptly.

Zhao Chan leaned against the wall, his right hand gripping the peach branch at his waist tightly, and asked: "Who are you?"

The girl glanced at the peach branch hurriedly. The autumn rain was pouring, and she didn't actually hear what the youth was asking.

But from his lip shape, she understood his question.

"You, hello, I am..." The girl in green was uneasy. Her green hair was blown by the wind and rain, lying lazily on her graceful chest.

The autumn rain was too heavy, and Zhao Chan really couldn't hear what she was saying.

But he could feel that the girl had no malice, and even had some vague closeness.

"Follow me!" he shouted loudly.

This time, the girl in green heard it.

Following Zhao Chan to the gate, she watched him open the lock with his left hand, his right hand always gripping the peach branch.

After entering the courtyard, he quickly turned around and dropped the door bolt.

Pulling away from the girl, he vigilantly invited her into the room.

Both of their clothes were soaked.

The girl in green looked at him shyly and twisted: "Sister asked me to follow."

She was not stupid, even extremely smart, but she really didn't know how to deal with people.

"Your sister?" Zhao Chan gripped the peach branch, his right hand sweating.

"Yes, Sister said you have the aura of a Mountain Ghost on you. You must have contacted a Mountain Ghost that can spit Mountain Ghost Flower Money."

The girl in green poured beans out of a bamboo tube, telling everything about the suggestion she made to Sister and the marriage Sister arranged for her, without any reservation!

After all, he was a wild mountain youth. Zhao Chan was dumbfounded by the girl's words.

"Sister... Sister wants me to be like the fox girl in the storybook, to lure you to be bait for catching the Mountain Ghost." She said with a blushing face.

Zhao Chan took a deep breath several times and groped to light a candle. The wind rushing into the room made the candle flame sway.

Through the dim candlelight, he saw that the girl in green was in the prime of her life, with a graceful figure, a soft and gentle face, and playful, long, narrow eyebrows. Her black, moist long hair was tied casually with a colored rope, and now it was soaked by the unromantic autumn rain and disturbed by the autumn wind.

She wore a light green long skirt, and the hem of the skirt was dripping with water.

Zhao Chan gripped the peach branch and brought a wooden stool to invite her to sit down.

The girl in green sat down properly, like a lady who had received a good etiquette education.

Zhao Chan sat opposite her.

Still keeping the distance he thought was safe.

"Who are you?" Zhao Chan asked defensively again.

"Oh, oh." The girl patted her head, and after thinking about it, she understood. It must be that the autumn rain was too fast and heavy, and the youth didn't hear her self-introduction in the alley.

The girl in green tried her best to make her words look sincere. This was what Sister taught her—sincere tone can pull closer the relationship between each other, and sincere expression can make people believe in themselves.

At that time, Sister patted her little head and said earnestly, one day when you have Sister's cultivation, you don't have to give anyone face. Whether it is cold-eyed or indifferent, it is fine. Even if they are angry, they dare not move against you.

"Bai Youjun, my name is Bai Youjun."

She added timidly: "Can the gentleman take his hand off the peach branch? I'm scared."

Zhao Chan was stunned for a moment, then returned to calm, and continued to ask: "What is your sister's name?"

"Bai Yuqing, Sister's name is Bai Yuqing." Bai Youjun said softly.

"Where do you come from?"

"Da'e Mountain."

"Where is Da'e Mountain?"

"Wuchuan Commandery."

Zhao Chan nodded, as if he knew Da'e Mountain in Wuchuan Commandery. In fact, this wild mountain youth, besides Youju Town where he had lived for fourteen years, had only heard of a Yang County from others.

"What is a Mountain Ghost?"

Bai Youjun was soft and glutinous, as if she was afraid that Zhao Chan would raise the peach branch and hurt her if there was a disagreement: "The Mountain Ghost is a ghost spirit raised by the essence of the mountain. It has the natural divine ability 【Guanshin】. Many powerful mountain immortals specifically catch Mountain Ghosts to observe their own Dao heart at all times to prevent going into devilry.

The Mountain Ghost can spit out round-outside-square-inside coins, with eight characters on the back: Qian, Dui, Kun, Li, Xun, Zhen, Gen, Kan. The front is wordless, smooth as a mirror. Some experts will use great magic power to carve the characters they want on the front. Coins with new characters have unexpected miraculous effects.

The coins are called Mountain Ghost Flower Money in the cultivation world, which can not only be used for self-protection but also as a common currency for cultivators to trade with each other.

If the Mountain Ghost is promoted to Mountain God, it is the most orthodox Mountain God. At that time, the coins spit out become Mountain God Coins.

Mountain God Coins are more precious than Mountain Ghost Flower Money. One thousand Mountain Ghost Flower Money can only be exchanged for one Mountain God Coin.

And I heard that Mountain God Coins can also be used for cultivation. I don't know if it's true or false. I've only seen Mountain Ghost Flower Money, not Mountain God Coins."

Zhao Chan listened earnestly. After Bai Youjun finished speaking: "Are you here in Youju Town to catch the Mountain Ghost?"

Although he was confused by Bai Youjun's words, he understood one thing.

On that mountain without a name, he personally killed a Mountain Ghost that was incomparably precious in the eyes of cultivators. ===== CHAPTER 7 =====