Chapter 790

The weasel was also pragmatic; knowing it couldn't defeat Pan Yun, it didn't even consider fleeing—just lay flat and answered every question she asked.

Its method of counting years was the same as wolves'; it had lived in this area through many winters, at least eight it could remember, and those it couldn't recall were likely also born here.

Weasels rarely move homes.

Oh, its original home was also nearby; it offered that if needed, it could lead Pan Yun to its old aunt, who was even older and had lived longer.

Pan Yun was satisfied and asked: "Three years ago this summer, a Daoist Priest collected a ghost nearby—do you know about it?"

The weasel lowered its head and let out two sharp, guttural sounds—it knew!

Oh my god, that stinking Daoist Priest had come for my old aunt!

My old aunt is formidable—not only has she lived long, but she shows no signs of aging; at her age, her cries don't sound like our usual squeaks and chitters—she can emit sounds like a human child's.

She used this to deceive many humans; whenever we stole something and were chased, she'd use this sound to draw them away.

The weasel let out a flurry of sharp, guttural noises at Pan Yun; Wang Cong looked utterly baffled, but Pan Yun listened intently.

That stinking Daoist Priest insisted my old aunt was a weasel demon and tried to kill her, terrifying our entire family into scattering in all directions.

Afterward, we learned to live separately—so if we encountered that stinking Daoist again, we wouldn't all be caught at once.

But in the end, the stinking Daoist didn't catch my little aunt—instead, he kept chasing her until he noticed a ghost drifting nearby.

The weasel knew that ghost; it could see her, and for years they'd lived in peace.

Pan Yun released the weasel, snapped off a branch, tapped its rump, and lifted her chin: "Lead the way."

The weasel walked ahead.

Pan Yun's branch idly tapped its neck, and she murmured: "Behave. Your old aunt isn't my match. Three years ago, that stinking Daoist lost to me—do you think you can beat me now?"

The weasel's body stiffened slightly and nodded repeatedly: 【I won't dare. This is where the female ghost stays.】

Even so, after walking for twenty minutes, they still hadn't reached the place; the trees and undergrowth grew denser, nearly impassable.

Pan Yun squinted.

Wang Cong also noticed something wrong and leaned in quietly: "Little Master, this weasel has subtly changed direction three times already—if it changes again, even if we don't loop back to the start, we're circling around a patch of forest."

Maybe the circle is growing or shrinking, just missing the original point.

This weasel is stalling for time.

Pan Yun clicked her tongue and silently stared at the weasel.

The weasel lowered its head, avoiding her gaze.

Pan Yun dropped the branch; her longsword instantly appeared in her palm. The weasel clamped its tail tightly, arched its body, and watched her with wary alertness.

Pan Yun smiled slightly at it, raised her hand, and slashed—thick shrubs before them vanished instantly, revealing a clear path.

Pan Yun spoke gently: "Go on. I'll give you another twenty minutes. If you still can't lead us there, I won't mind bringing back that other weasel—I'm sure if it knew where you lived, it also knows where your other weasel kin live?"

The weasel's fur stood on end, yet it didn't move.

Pan Yun pondered: "Could that place be your clan's gathering spot? Are there pups there?"

The weasel's back arched slightly, eyes locked on Pan Yun, a low gurgle rumbling from its throat—clearly ready to lunge and snap her neck the moment she moved.

Pan Yun saw and understood.

She instantly sheathed her sword and said kindly: "I have no intention of harming your clan. I only want to find the remaining bones of that female ghost—she was my friend."

The weasel froze; its arched back relaxed slightly, yet it still stared at Pan Yun. Pan Yun raised her hand—a sphere of golden merit-light appeared in her palm. She said: "I swear by my cultivation that every word I've spoken is true."

Seeing the golden merit-light in her palm, it slowly relaxed—but still asked: 【You truly won't kill us?】

Pan Yun nodded.

The weasel hesitantly asked: 【Even if my old aunt has lived a long time and is very clever?】

Pan Yun replied bluntly: "Even if your old aunt truly became a spirit, as long as it doesn't take human lives, I won't exterminate it."

Pan Yun said: "The Dao is natural. Whether I or you—we are all part of the Dao. To become a spirit is its destiny."

The weasel looked deeply at Pan Yun, then turned and walked down the path she had cleared: 【Follow me.】

This time, the pace was much faster.

After walking over a dozen minutes, they met the old wolf leading the weasel clan's evacuation.

Seeing Pan Yun approaching, the old wolf froze, dropped the pup in its mouth without hesitation, and bolted away on its own.

It had already repaid its debt to the weasels by warning them and carrying one pup.

The weasel was furious, shrieking at the fleeing old wolf's back.

The scream was piercing—Pan Yun's ears nearly went deaf.

Mostly because it didn't just scream loudly—it swore viciously; even as a human, Pan Yun felt inferior.

This weasel must have spent plenty of time watching villagers argue.

As it cursed, it kept glancing at Pan Yun's face; seeing she made no move against the frozen weasel clan, it gradually calmed.

A weasel with glossy red-gold fur stepped forward from the clan, exchanged a few quick sounds with the weasel, learned the reason, then looked up and let out two high-pitched squeaks.

【I know where you're looking for.】

Pan Yun knew this was the old aunt; she smiled and raised her hand: "Then please lead the way."

The old aunt handed the clan over to the weasel and turned to lead Pan Yun away. Soon, they stopped beneath a banyan tree.

Pan Yun scanned the area and immediately spotted signs of weasel activity—this was clearly their clan's territory.

Here…

Wang Cong walked around and said: "What a cool, shaded place—this spot is saturated with yin energy."

The old aunt walked up gracefully, glancing sideways at Pan Yun: 【One winter, I returned from outside and found this place changed—a dumb ghost was bound here, unable to leave.】

Pan Yun walked under the tree, felt the cold rising from the ground, and with Wang Cong's help, quickly marked a boundary. She pulled out a spade and hoe and began digging.

Meanwhile, Xue Shao and Xiao Hong met at another direction.

Xue Shao had followed the marks on the trees and saw Xiao Hong drifting over, blank-faced; he asked: "Do you feel anything about this area?"

Xiao Hong drifted back and forth through Lin Zi, growing increasingly anxious but unable to pinpoint the direction: "I have a feeling—it's right here…"

Upon hearing this, Xue Shao told her not to panic, then ordered Xi Jin and Hong Yan to search the slightly looser soil all around.

He also searched while calculating at the same time. (End of Chapter)