Before long, a woman in an apron hurried from the side room into the main house, calling out.
"Village Chief, the meal is ready."
It turned out this elder was the village chief of Luoshui Village.
The village chief invited Daolang.
"The meal is ready, let's go over together."
"Alright, thank you kindly, Village Chief."
"Guests are always welcome, a simple meal is only proper."
The village chief then turned to the woman and said.
"Wanyu, go and call the guests in the courtyard to come and eat as well."
"Alright," the woman replied, and then went into the courtyard to call us.
"Guests, please come and eat."
Liu Shinian responded.
"We're coming, thank you, sister."
"Let's go, we have to hit the road after this meal."
The mention of food made Fei Xiong's mouth water.
"Let's go."
As they spoke, the few of them walked towards the side room.
Upon entering, they saw a spacious room with a solid yellow earth floor.
An Eight Immortals table was placed there, with several chairs beside it.
The village chief and Daolang had already taken their seats.
On the table were several vegetarian dishes and a bowl of vegetable soup.
Seeing us enter, the village chief beckoned.
"Everyone, please be seated."
"Mm."
We responded and each found a seat.
The village chief said.
"These are all wild vegetables we commonly eat in our small village.
I wonder if you will like them."
Liu Shinian smiled slightly.
"We are all simple folk, and we only eat vegetarian dishes at home.
Seeing these dishes now makes us feel like we're home again."
"That's good, please start eating."
At the village chief's invitation, we finally picked up our chopsticks.
After the meal, Daolang said to the village chief.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Village Chief, but we are in a hurry to travel and cannot stay long.
When we return, we will surely thank you properly."
The village chief listened, then shook his head and said.
"You have heard of the dangers of the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest.
Whether you can come out of it depends on your fate."
"I believe we will be able to come out."
"Yes, it's good to have such confidence. It's getting late.
If you leave now, you might reach the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest by tomorrow morning."
"Alright, Village Chief, we're off."
"Go then."
After bidding farewell to the village chief, we headed west towards the edge of the village.
There was no main road, only a rugged mountain path leading northwest.
We had to abandon our horses and carts and proceed on foot.
Finally, before sunset, we reached the foot of a mountain called "Emerald Mountain."
Liu Shinian pointed ahead, stopping beside a large tree.
A large rock, protruding several feet from the ground, said.
"Let's rest there tonight. Such a large rock should offer some shelter from the wind."
"Then let's rest here tonight,"
Daolang said. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
So, we gathered around the base of the rock.
I volunteered to go with A'Li to gather firewood.
Liu Shinian looked at me with his usual suspicious gaze.
I ignored him, and after getting Daolang's permission.
I led A'Li into the woods, and Liu Shinian hurriedly followed.
I turned back and saw him holding his head with both hands.
Whistling nonchalantly, he followed behind us.
"A'Li, let's walk faster."
I whispered to A'Li.
A'Li was slightly startled, not knowing what I intended.
I pulled him along and quickly moved to the side. Liu Shinian's eyes narrowed, and he quickly chased after us.
He guessed that A'Li and I must have some secret we were hiding.
When he caught up, he suddenly saw that A'Li and I were earnestly squatting on the ground picking up firewood.
He breathed a sigh of relief and whistled.
He ambled back and forth beside us.
I called out to him impatiently.
"Liu Shinian, since you've followed us, hurry up and help pick up firewood."
Liu Shinian shook his head slightly and said suspiciously.
"I suspect you're not just here to pick up firewood."
"Then what else would I be doing?"
"You want to do something illicit with A'Li behind our backs."
"Speechless, your imagination is truly wild."
Liu Shinian, with a face full of suspicion, squatted beside A'Li and whispered to him.
"A'Li, is this woman plotting against you?"
A'Li couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.
"Hahaha, Brother Liu, it's really not what you think."
"Is that so? I know Liu Muye's little schemes when she's being secretive."
I looked up and asked him with disdain.
"Why aren't you staying in front, why did you come here?"
Liu Shinian stood up, leaned against a tree, and began to spout nonsense.
"I came to protect A'Li. You, woman, are always using your fists and feet.
A'Li isn't like me, who knows a few moves.
If you bully him, I'll have to help him out."
Truly speechless, he was making up stories again.
"You really are imaginative. Perhaps some people have ulterior motives, not me."
"Even if it's good intentions."
"Good intentions still require work, but good intentions mean no work?"
I grabbed the firewood A'Li had picked up and, adding mine to it, handed it all to Liu Shinian.
Liu Shinian looked at me, astonished.
"What are you doing!"
"Didn't you come to help? This firewood is for you."
"Who wants it."
He raised his hand, about to throw the firewood to the ground. I pointed at him and said.
"Hey! If you dare to throw it on the ground, I won't pick it up.
And I won't talk to you anymore."
Liu Shinian looked disdainful, pouting.
"Who wants you to talk to me? If we didn't need firewood tonight, do you think I wouldn't throw it?
I'd even throw it in your face and let the branches scratch your face."
"You're just being stubborn."
Saying that, I ignored him again, pulled A'Li up, and swaggered back.
Liu Shinian, carrying the firewood, followed us resentfully.
When we reached the rock, Daolang and Fei Xiong looked over and saw Liu Shinian's dark expression.
Fei Xiong asked him curiously.
"Shinian, what's wrong? Your face is so dark."
A'Li said.
"Brother Liu and Muye had a little argument, and Muye told him to carry the firewood back."
"Is that so? Muye is something else."
Liu Shinian put down the firewood, patted his sleeves, and explained.
"I was doing it for A'Li's sake, otherwise, she wouldn't have had the right to speak."
"Heh, I was also doing it for A'Li, and I intended to make you do more work."
I retorted.
A'Li was speechless, wondering why everything was being dragged back to him.
Liu Shinian grabbed A'Li and said.
"A'Li, sit next to me.
After being with this woman for so long, my good temper has been worn away."
I also pulled A'Li over and said.
"A'Li, Liu Shinian can't do anything else but eat, drink, and have fun.
He has no merits at all."
"That's still better than you, you dog woman."
"Yes, better than you, you scummy man."
We inexplicably started bickering, and A'Li, caught between us, was in a difficult position.
Daolang couldn't help but laugh watching us and asked A'Li.
"A'Li, are they always like this?"
A'Li sighed helplessly.
"They've been like this from the start, you get used to it after hearing it for a while."
Fei Xiong also couldn't help but laugh, pointing at Liu Shinian and me with a wooden stick.
"You two are really amusing, you even bring A'Li into your arguments."
I chuckled.
"Not at all, not at all. It's mainly because Liu Shinian is too annoying.
If I don't say a few words to him, I feel uneasy."
Liu Shinian also said.
"Liu Muye isn't bad, but her mouth is too talkative.
If I don't say a few words to her, she doesn't know to change."
"Pah! You're just talking nonsense."
I couldn't help but retort to him again.
Liu Shinian looked at me and was not to be outdone.
"I spit! You still have the nerve to talk back."
Another round of bickering ensued, leaving Daolang, Fei Xiong, and A'Li speechless for a moment.
Their exasperated eye-rolls were already reaching the heavens.
Daolang and Fei Xiong simply stopped paying attention to us and quietly got the fire going.
The noisy bickering, accompanied by the flames, grew stronger.
Before long, the sky gradually darkened, and the surroundings became chilly with the night.
At this moment, the flames suddenly surged, and a few leaves flew from a distance, falling into the bonfire.
Liu Shinian and I immediately stopped arguing and looked back in a daze.
In the pitch-black forest, a faint white light suddenly flickered.
Daolang knew who was coming, stood up, and cupped his hands towards the forest.
"Since you've arrived, why don't you come out and join us?"
As soon as he finished speaking, we heard a few "swish" sounds.
Several leaves cut through the wind and flew towards us.
Liu Shinian drew his sword and leaped up, a spinning sword stroke cutting the flying leaves in half.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure accompanied by a chill attacked from the trees.
With a "clang," it sounded like a blade striking Liu Shinian's sword.
Then, several flying daggers attacked. Liu Shinian flipped up and easily dodged them.
Immediately, he leaped into the forest, and in the pitch-black woods, sparks of fire flew, and swords clashed.
"Liu Shinian!"
I called out worriedly into the forest.
Daolang comforted me.
"Don't worry, the newcomers are the Snow Blade Twins.
Perhaps they didn't settle their score last night and have come to try their moves again tonight.
We call this a sword duel. Both sides are renowned martial artists.
They won't harm each other."
Hearing Daolang's explanation, I felt a little more at ease.
A'Li looked at the sliver of moonlight peeking through the sky and suddenly pointed at the spot.
"Is that the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest?"
The three of us looked in the direction he was pointing.
Under the bright moonlight, a mass of black mist enveloped the area, and the mist lingered for a long time.
It looked like a swarm of enormous black insects, only subtly moving.
Fei Xiong said.
"Yes, that is the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest."
I looked at the black mist with a growing sense of unease.
Judging by the density of the black mist, I knew how dangerous the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest was.
Liu Shinian leaped from the forest and landed in front of us.
I asked him.
"Did you win?"
He shook his head.
"No, but I didn't lose either."
"Hahaha, that's good then, lest you be ridiculed by us again."
Liu Shinian chuckled.
"That won't happen, after all, my title as the number one swordsman of Nanhai City wasn't earned for nothing."
A'Li looked at the dark forest in front of him.
"They should have left by now."
"Yes, they've left."
Liu Shinian replied.
"They've left, and we should rest too. We still have to travel tomorrow."
Fei Xiong chuckled.
"Alright, then I'll sleep in the tree again tonight."
Liu Shinian said as he walked, then suddenly remembered something and grabbed A'Li.
"A'Li, you sleep with me tonight."
I said.
"A'Li doesn't like sleeping in trees."
A'Li smiled.
"It's fine, I can sleep."
Hearing this, Liu Shinian suddenly became smug.
"See? A'Li can do it, so the two of us will sleep in the tree tonight."
"Go ahead, go ahead."
I waved him away.
Liu Shinian smiled triumphantly and pulled A'Li towards the side.
The three of us also found good spots to sleep.
The night was a bit chilly, with a hint of the cold of late winter.
It was also cool like the air after rain, but we still slept soundly.
The next morning, a cool breeze blew before dawn.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw A'Li and Liu Shinian standing beside me.
I stretched and slowly got up.
"Why are you two up so early today?"
Liu Shinian said.
"We slept early last night, so we naturally woke up early today."
A'Li also said.
"We slept well last night, so we woke up a little earlier today. Muye, you should get up too."
I nodded.
"Yes, it's time to get up."
Fei Xiong and Daolang were already standing in front.
Looking at the gradually appearing rosy hues in the sky, their eyes were filled with joy. They turned back and said to us.
"It's time to go."
The three of us responded in unison.
"Okay, coming."
So we jogged to catch up with them.
In the dawn light, we headed towards the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest again.
Along the way, I suddenly remembered that in Nanshan, almost every mountain had a mountain god.
But since coming to Beishen, I hadn't seen any, and I felt a bit puzzled.
So I mentioned it to Daolang.
"Why are there no mountain gods here?"
I asked.
"Mountain gods?"
They all burst into laughter at my words. Fei Xiong laughed.
"You must have been deceived. Those so-called mountain gods.
They are just some self-important little demons who claim territory and rule."
I had already guessed this, but I also felt a bit foolish for saying it.
I gave a wry smile and changed the subject.
"How far is it to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest from here?"
"Not far. We'll reach it after crossing the mountain ahead."
Daolang replied.
Liu Shinian patted my shoulder, putting on his heroic demeanor.
"If you're scared, I can protect you."
I made a grimace at him and replied.
"Then you'll have to protect two people, me and A'Li."
A'Li, however, was not appreciative and said directly.
"I can protect myself."
Liu Shinian put his arm around his shoulder and teased.
"Does your leg still hurt from that kick?"
A'Li ignored him, turned his face away, feeling a little uncomfortable.
After walking for a whole day, we finally reached the mountainside of the last peak at sunset.
Looking ahead from here, under the afterglow of the setting sun.
A patch of grayish-white fog surrounded the entire foot of the mountain.
Only one prominent peak stood out, looking particularly special.
Daolang pointed there and said.
"That is Mount Wangu, and below it is the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest."
Fei Xiong added.
"From the outside, it looks like ordinary misty woods.
In reality, it is a place of death that kills without a trace.
For a hundred years, very few people have dared to set foot there, so we must be extremely careful."
Liu Shinian looked at me, took a wooden whistle from his neck, and handed it to me.
"If we happen to get separated, blow this, and I'll find you."
I carefully took it and tied it around my neck.
"Alright, it's time to go."
Daolang said.
The group descended from the mountainside into the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest, and in an instant, they were enveloped by the gray mist.
Except for a visibility of a few meters, everything else was basically invisible.
Upon entering the forest, it was impossible to tell if it was day or night.
"Everyone, stay close, don't get separated."
Daolang reminded them.
Liu Shinian, walking at the very back, deliberately gave A'Li a gentle push forward.
A'Li bumped into me, and as I raised my hand, I accidentally held his hand.
The atmosphere suddenly became a little subtle, and A'Li shyly withdrew his hand.
For some reason, I felt a faint sweetness in my heart.
Liu Shinian, hiding behind, saw everything but seemed unfazed.
We followed Daolang, wandering in the forest for an unknown amount of time.
We went in circles, as if we were pacing in the same place, never leaving.
I suggested.
"If we keep walking like this, we don't seem to be making any progress.
Instead, it's like we're going in circles.
I have some flying letter powder here, given to me by Celestial Master Zhang.
I can use this to try and find our way."
Everyone thought this was a good suggestion, and they all stopped to rest.
I took out the red powder and a piece of paper, folded it into a paper crane, sprinkled the powder on it, and chanted.
"Go find Celestial Master Zhang."
The paper crane immediately came to life, flapped its wings, and slowly flew out.
I wanted to chase after it, but the paper crane vanished into the gray mist.
It seemed my method wouldn't work.