Chapter 208: Going to Heifeng Mountain

"Patron, are you really going to Heifeng Mountain?"

The Ghost Elder looked at Jiangnan, his eyes full of worry,

"It's too dangerous there; you… you shouldn't go…"

"My mind is made up."

Jiangnan said lightly,

"Rest assured, I know my limits."

"If that's so, I won't press you further."

The Ghost Elder sighed,

"However, I have a request."

"Go ahead."

"If… if you truly can eradicate the Qijiu Sect, please… please help me find the Xihe Meteorite…"

The Ghost Elder's voice was full of pleading,

"That is the Feng Family's treasure; I, representing the Feng Family, am willing to lend it to Miss Ye for use. But after it's used, could you please return it to Mr. Jiang in perfect condition?"

"I agree."

Jiangnan nodded,

"The Xihe Meteorite is originally Feng Family property; I came to Jianghai City precisely for it. Once Ye Qingcheng is safe, I will return it to the Feng Family."

"Thanks, little brother!"

The Ghost Elder said excitedly, his eyes full of gratitude.

"No need to be formal."

Jiangnan said,

"Now, tell me, how do I get to Heifeng Mountain?"

The Ghost Elder pulled a yellowed map from his coat and handed it to Jiangnan.

"This is… this is the map to Heifeng Mountain… you… you must be careful…"

Jiangnan took the map, examined it carefully, then folded it away.

"I will."

"Jiangnan, I'm going with you!"

Xia Yurou suddenly spoke, her tone firm.

"I… I can too!"

A faint pallor appeared on Feng Ying's face.

"You want to go? Can your body handle it?"

Jiangnan frowned at Feng Ying, his tone tinged with concern.

Feng Ying's complexion was pale, but her eyes were unusually resolute.

"Ye Qingcheng is my disciple; I cannot abandon her."

"Moreover, I want to see with my own eyes what the Qijiu Sect has actually done that harms heaven and humanity!"

Xia Yurou also urged:

"Indeed, Jiangnan, bring Miss Feng along; she surely knows more about the Qijiu Sect and might be able to help."

Jiangnan pondered briefly, then finally nodded.

"Alright, if that's the case, let's go together."

"But you must promise me that all actions will follow my command; no acting on your own."

Feng Ying weakly nodded, looking at Jiangnan with gratitude.

"Patron, rest assured, I will definitely listen to you."

The Ghost Elder looked at the three of them, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Patron, Yingying, you all… you must be careful!"

"The people of the Qijiu Sect are a bunch of lunatics, using any means for their goals."

"Don't worry, we will be careful."

Jiangnan said lightly, his tone calm and confident.

After a quick tidy‑up, the three left the Ghost Market.

Xia Yurou drove the car, carrying Jiangnan and Feng Ying toward the Jiangcheng Suburbs.

Inside the vehicle, the atmosphere was a bit oppressive.

Feng Ying leaned against the back seat, closed her eyes to rest, her complexion still pale.

Xia Yurou occasionally glanced at her through the rearview mirror, her eyes full of worry.

Jiangnan stared out the window, his gaze deep, thoughts unknown.

The car sped along and soon arrived at the Jiangcheng Suburbs.

Following the Ghost Elder's map directions, they continued toward Heifeng Mountain.

The farther they went into the outskirts, the fewer pedestrians on the road, and the surroundings grew desolate.

In the distance, a black mountain range, like a coiled giant beast,

appeared within the three's view.

That is Heifeng Mountain.

Even before getting close, a chilling aura brushed their faces.

The mountain was shrouded in a thick black fog, like a massive black curtain that blocked the sky and sun, making people feel oppressed and uneasy.

"Is this Heifeng Mountain? The atmosphere is indeed so strange."

Xia Yurou frowned and said, her tone carrying a hint of unease.

Jiangnan nodded, his gaze heavy as he looked at the Black Fog in the distance.

"Within this Black Fog lies a potent toxin; an ordinary person who inhales it will at best faint, at worst die."

"So powerful?"

Xia Yurou gasped and quickly shut the car window.

"What should we do then? Should we just barge straight in?"

"Of course we can't force our way in."

Jiangnan said lightly,

"First we should find a place to settle at the foot of the mountain, then scout the situation."

The car kept moving forward and soon arrived at the foot of Heifeng Mountain.

At the foot, there was unexpectedly a small village.

The village was modest in size, its houses dilapidated, giving off a desolate feel.

What surprised Jiangnan was that the village actually had many outsiders.

These people wore varied clothing, gathering in small groups as if discussing something.

"How can there be so many people here?"

Xia Yurou asked in confusion.

"It seems Heifeng Mountain is not as simple as we imagined."

Jiangnan narrowed his eyes, silently warning himself.

The three of them got out of the car and entered the village.

Most of the village's houses were mud‑walled, looking utterly ruined.

Dust swirled on the streets, and a faint musty smell drifted through the air.

The outsiders, upon seeing Jiangnan and the others, merely glanced casually,

then went back to their own business, showing little interest.

"Let's find a place to stay first."

Jiangnan said.

The three found an inn that seemed relatively clean and went inside.

The inn was small, with only a few rooms.

The innkeeper was a middle‑aged man, dressed in coarse cloth, with a hint of fatigue on his face.

"Three guests, are you looking to stay?"

The innkeeper greeted them, his tone fairly warm, though his eyes held a trace of wariness.

"Yes, give us three rooms."

Xia Yurou said.

The innkeeper nodded and prepared three rooms for them.

The rooms were simple, with only a bed, a table, and a chair, but they were relatively clean.

After settling in, Jiangnan said to Xia Yurou:

"Yurou, you and Feng Ying stay at the inn first; I'll go out for a walk and scout the situation."

"Jiangnan, be careful," Xia Yurou cautioned.

Jiangnan nodded and left the inn.

He walked along the village streets, carefully observing everything around him.

The village atmosphere was somewhat eerie; though there were many people, it was unusually quiet, with almost no sound.

The outsiders mostly wore hurried expressions and hurried steps, as if occupied with something important.

Jiangnan walked up to a herb stall and stopped. The vendor was an old man in a tattered Daoist robe, with some unknown herbs laid out before him.

"Old man, how do you sell these herbs?"

Jiangnan asked.

The old man lifted his head, glanced at Jiangnan, and, hoarse, said:

"Customer wants to buy herbs? These are just ordinary herbs, not worth much."

"Let me see."

Jiangnan crouched, picked up a herb, and examined it closely.

The herb looked ordinary, yet Jiangnan sensed a faint spiritual aura emanating from it.

A thought stirred in his mind, and without showing any emotion, he asked:

"Old man, where did you gather these herbs?"