The sky was already a pale white, with the first hint of dawn.
The elder and the others were still waiting inside the cave when they suddenly heard a clear bird call from outside. A few of them curiously went out to look.
They saw that the small blue bird had transformed into a large blue bird, carrying several jars of fine wine on its back.
The elder immediately knew they had returned. His face, full of joy, couldn't help but praise them.
"It's still Young Master Xue and Miss Yan who have the way. In less than a day, they've found good wine."
Then he sighed regretfully.
"If only our Ghost魅 clan members were like this."
Lin'er looked carefully but didn't see the two of them return, which made him a little confused.
"The wine has returned, but why haven't the people returned yet?"
The elder guessed.
"Perhaps they were worried about us being anxious, so they sent the wine back first. They should be following behind. However, with their lightning-fast speed, they should arrive any moment now."
As soon as he finished speaking, they heard voices from ahead.
"Elder guessed correctly, we're back."
It was Xue Gucheng speaking. He hadn't expected them to be so quick.
Seeing them return, everyone praised them.
"Young Master Xue, Miss Yan, you two are so capable. In just half a day, you found such good wine."
"I've often heard your names mentioned by others. I thought it was just an empty reputation, but now it seems you live up to it."
Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang, after being praised, couldn't help but laugh and said to everyone.
"Hahaha, stop praising us. These are all insignificant matters."
Thirteenth Mother said.
"I've asked, and this is excellent aged wine. There are a few old wineries in Nanhaicheng, but they don't produce such aged fine wines. Can you tell us where you found it? If I crave it in the future, I'll know where to borrow a jar."
Yan Wushuang couldn't help but laugh again after hearing this. She said.
"Hahaha, I didn't realize Thirteenth Mother was also a wine lover. Have you heard of the person's name? He is the Wine-Guzzling Immortal."
"Wine-Guzzling Immortal?"
Hearing this name, the elder seemed thoughtful. Lin'er sensed something and asked him.
"Uncle, what's wrong? Do you know this person?"
The elder shook his head slightly and spoke of what he had heard.
"I remember when I was a young disciple by the side of the previous elder, I heard him mention someone, saying that he had met the Ghost King's friend, the Wine-Guzzling Immortal, in the mountains."
Everyone became interested. Tian Lishi, being straightforward, casually asked.
"Elder, is that Wine-Guzzling Immortal a friend of the Ghost King?"
The elder nodded slightly.
"It seems so. I only heard it by chance back then."
Speaking of this, Xue Gucheng also shared what he knew.
"Elder is correct. That Wine-Guzzling Immortal is indeed a good friend of the Myriad Ghost King."
Everyone was stunned, not knowing how the two of them knew this.
Yan Wushuang then explained the reason.
"A hundred years ago, when Brother Xue and I went down the mountain to travel, we inadvertently came to the nearby mountains and stumbled into a cave, thus meeting the Wine-Guzzling Immortal. This time, we went and, unexpectedly, he was still in the same place. Seeing us, he spoke freely and told us about his relationship with the Myriad Ghost King. Elder, do you know one thing?"
The elder also became curious.
"What is it?"
"That the Myriad Ghost King has a wife."
As soon as this was said, everyone was shocked, their calm faces filled with various expressions of disbelief.
The elder was even more confused.
"The Ghost King's wife? I've been by the side of the previous elder for a long time, but I've never heard of the Ghost King having a wife. Where did you learn this?"
Yan Wushuang said.
"I heard it from the Wine-Guzzling Immortal. When he first said it, we were also shocked, but perhaps they are just friends."
The elder nodded slightly in affirmation. If it were truly the Ghost King's wife, why hadn't there been any rumors in the Ghost魅 clan for so many years? Moreover, even the Four Cities, who hated the Ghost King so much, hadn't heard any secrets about the Ghost King. Therefore, what the Wine-Guzzling Immortal said was likely just about friends. However, the most important thing now was not gossip, but that the brothers from two mountains had not yet arrived. He wondered what had happened.
The elder said.
"Thank you both for your hard work. Come in and rest. The other brothers haven't arrived yet. I don't know what happened. I think we'll have to wait a bit longer."
Everyone had no choice but to carry the wine jars back into the cave and wait again.
After a while, they suddenly heard the sound of wheels rolling outside the cave. Without guessing, they knew it was the people they were waiting for. Everyone happily went out of the cave again. They saw two people pushing a single-wheeled cart, with several large wooden barrels on it.
Thirteenth Mother was the first to cup her hands and ask.
"Brothers, from which mountain do you two come?"
The two heard the sound and stopped, looked up, and found that people were already waiting for them. So they cupped their hands and said.
"We are warriors from Beifeng Mountain, Xingyue and Shuiliuyun. May I ask who the elder is?"
The elder said.
"I am."
Upon seeing the elder, the two hurried forward, knelt on one knee, and cupped their hands.
"I am Xingyue, a warrior from Beifeng Mountain, paying my respects to the elder."
"I am Shuiliuyun, paying my respects to the elder."
The elder also bent down to help them up and said.
"Thank you for your hard work. Please rise."
Then, the warrior Xingyue took out a letter from his怀 and handed it to the elder.
"Elder, this is what the elder asked me to give you."
"Good."
The elder took the letter and opened it. He saw that it read:
Elder, I have sent two people here, one brave and one courageous, both carefully selected warriors. The elder may command them as he wishes. This time, I have asked them to bring the Buzhi Grass. It should have arrived by now. Mo Xuefu.
After reading the letter, the elder put it back into his怀 and said to the two.
"You have also worked hard. Please rest for a while. Someone, help carry the things into the cave."
"Yes."
As they spoke, four idle warriors spontaneously stepped forward to move the items.
At this moment, Lin'er said by the elder's side.
"Uncle, those from Ximen Mountain haven't arrived yet."
The elder's brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes. He said.
"Ximen Mountain is a heavily guarded area by the Four Cities. I don't know if they can get out. If not, it will be a bit difficult."
Lin'er, however, had a different idea.
"Since Elder Zhuliuyun can come, it means they can definitely come. I think we should wait a bit longer."
The elder nodded slightly, feeling very gratified. Lin'er was slowly learning to analyze things.
After noon, the sun gradually set in the west. At this moment, they suddenly saw two people walking from not far away. One walked with a light step, the other with a staggering step, which did not seem harmonious.
As the two approached, the elder was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Elder Zhuliuyun to come in person.
When the two reached them, Elder Zhuliuyun spoke first.
"Zhuliuyun pays his respects to the elder."
Then, the warrior who accompanied him knelt on one knee and cupped his hands.
"I am Mo Jianli, a warrior from Ximen Mountain, paying my respects to the elder."
Everyone behind them looked on curiously and wondered why Elder Zhuliuyun had come in person. The elder was a little surprised. He remembered that Zhuliuyun had said he would send Xue Ruyi, but he didn't see anyone. Could it be that he couldn't persuade the other party and came to apologize in person? Thinking of this, the elder felt it was unlikely. With Elder Zhuliuyun's abilities, he would surely be able to persuade a capable person. However, he couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Liuyun, you said earlier that you would invite that Thousand-Faced Gentleman. Why isn't he here?"
In his words, he remembered that it was a highly skilled shapeshifter, and it was likely that person, Mo Jianli. So he laughed.
"Hahaha, I suppose this is Xue Ruyi?"
He pointed at Mo Jianli. Elder Zhuliuyun shook his head.
"This is Mo Jianli, a warrior from my village, not Xue Ruyi."
"Then where is Xue Ruyi?"
He sighed deeply, his expression suddenly becoming dejected.
"Elder, I have failed your expectations. That Xue Ruyi is extremely playful and arrogant, unwilling to owe me a favor. He left the village some days ago and his whereabouts are unknown."
The elder was also disappointed to hear this, but he still comforted him.
"Alas, you can't be blamed for this. We'll think of another way. However, why didn't you write a letter but come in person?"
Elder Zhuliuyun sighed slightly and explained.
"I made a vow, but I couldn't fulfill it, so I had to come in person to accept the elder's punishment."
The elder smiled slightly, thinking he was overthinking.
"How could I blame you? I am already very happy that you could come. However, your village is extremely important, so you should return quickly. I will send Thirteenth Mother to escort you back."
Elder Zhuliuyun shook his head and refused to leave.
Lin'er observed carefully from the side, finding the person in front of him very suspicious. After thinking carefully, he suddenly smiled, as if he had found an answer. He slowly stepped forward from behind and cupped his hands.
"I think you are Xue Ruyi, aren't you?"
As soon as he said this, everyone was shocked and looked at Elder Zhuliuyun curiously. The elder also became suspicious.
"Are you really Xue Ruyi?"
Elder Zhuliuyun did not answer, but laughed heartily, then slowly recited a poem.
"The phantom is not a thousand-faced mirror, how many can be challenged against the sun."
Then, with a wave of his hand, he immediately changed his appearance. He revealed himself in a black cloak, wearing a half-black mask, showing only the upper half of his bright eyes and a head of black hair. Amidst everyone's astonished expressions, he knelt on one knee and cupped his hands.
"Xue Ruyi pays his respects to the elder."
The elder couldn't believe his eyes. His superb shapeshifting skills had even fooled Thirteenth Mother. He was immediately overjoyed and quickly helped him up, exclaiming.
"As expected, you are as your name suggests, unpredictable. You even fooled me, hahaha."
"Elder, you flatter me. I came this time out of pure playfulness, wanting to show everyone my skills."
"Indeed, indeed, you are a rare capable person."
"However, there is one thing I don't understand. How did this young brother see through the disguise?"
Xue Ruyi looked at Lin'er, unable to guess how he had seen through his shapeshifting technique.
Lin'er smiled slightly and explained in detail.
"There were no flaws in your shapeshifting technique; I didn't see anything either. However, it was also because Brother Xue was being playful and didn't pay attention to his words, so I found a flaw from that. But I wasn't completely sure, so I asked with a try, and it turned out to be true."
After hearing Lin'er's explanation, Xue Ruyi also admired the young man in front of him. He then said.
"It seems you observed very carefully. My shapeshifting technique needs more practice. May I know the young gentleman's name?"
Lin'er cupped his hands.
"My name is Li Lin'er."
"Li Lin'er? I heard the elder is surnamed Li, and has a nephew. Could it be you?"
"You guessed correctly, the elder is my uncle."
"It seems the elder's teachings are effective. I believe you will be a person who can achieve great things in the future."
The elder was also pleased to hear Xue Ruyi's praise. Then he called the newly arrived people forward and introduced them one by one.
"Let me introduce you. These two are the Twin Monsters of Xue Dao, renowned chivalrous figures. This is Thirteenth Mother, my nephew Lin'er. These two are the warriors Tian Lishi and Gao Xuewei from Dongzi Mountain. These two are the warriors Huajian and Canyu from Nanqi Mountain."
After the introductions, he said to everyone.
"I have gathered you all here for one purpose, and that is to rescue someone."
He then asked Xue Ruyi.
"Ruyi, did Elder Zhuliuyun tell you about our plan when you came?"
Xue Ruyi replied.
"When I came, the elder had already explained it to me in detail, so I came for this purpose."
"That's good. Now, we just need to do what we need to do and then we can act."
The elder then asked the two warriors from Beifeng Mountain.
"Were the Buzhi Grass brought by the two warriors cooked?"
Xingyue shook his head.
"Not yet. The elder said that if it were cooked and brought, it would spoil before reaching its destination, so we didn't cook it."
"Oh, then let's cook it first before starting the plan. Alright, everyone, let's get to work."
After the elder finished speaking, a group of people began to busy themselves, finding pots, repairing stoves, fetching water, and starting fires. By midnight, wisps of white smoke began to drift out, but as it was night, no one could see them. After the Buzhi Grass was cooked, they opened the wine jars and placed the grass in the wine to soak overnight.
The next morning, everyone was drowsy. It wasn't until noon that the elder woke everyone up.
"Everyone, wake up. It's time to get up."
Only then did everyone groggily wake up. During this time, Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang had been meditating, looking quite like cultivators. After everyone woke up, the elder said.
"I think today is a good day. So let's begin the rescue."
Everyone nodded slightly and began to act. First, several warriors pushed the wine to a location not far from Qianmen Cave, and then Thirteenth Mother took action. When they arrived at a mountain not far from Qianmen Cave, it was already night. Everyone again fell into a deep sleep, and the next morning.
Early the next morning, Thirteenth Mother dressed herself up meticulously, transforming into a beautiful and charming woman. She carefully applied a fresh and refined makeup to her face, then slung a basket and swayed her hips as she walked towards Qianmen Cave. As she neared Qianmen Cave, she began to sing a melodious and pleasant song, filled with affection and love. Then, she went up the mountain and picked mushrooms nearby.
Xue Ruyi: "The phantom is not a thousand-faced mirror, how many can be challenged against the sun." A wandering knight from the south, fond of freedom, befriending both righteous and demonic individuals. His true form is the ancient mythical beast, the Thousand-Faced Owl.