"Huh? It really is like that. I didn't expect you, Brother Xu, to have such a skill?" Zhang Dabiao leaned in to take a look and exclaimed in admiration, giving Xu Yi a thumbs-up.
Such a skill was irreplaceable by any other equipment in these deep mountains, a terrifying presence comparable to a satellite. Even with all its functions, a satellite has blind spots, but this paper rat-marten could go anywhere.
Facing the praise from Zhang Dabiao and me, Xu En smiled humbly and replied, "Just a small trick, I've made you laugh."
I thought maliciously, if this is a small trick, then what constitutes a great trick? If Bai Ling'er were still by my side, I wouldn't even spare a glance at this paper rat-marten. Even if your paper rat-marten is clever, it can't speak. Bai Ling'er not only speaks but can also grow infinitely. There's simply no comparison between the two.
The thought of Bai Ling'er made my heart ache. I didn't know where this little fellow had gone. It was as if it had vanished without a trace, leaving no sign of life or death. If it weren't for the faint sense of its existence through our spiritual contract, I would have suspected it had already left me.
As the underwater reflection continuously shifted, the paper rat-marten finally stopped in front of a tree, gazing ahead and halting its progress.
"Isn't this the entrance to the valley? Why did it stop and not go in?"
The underwater reflection wasn't very clear, resembling old black and white televisions with ripples moving back and forth. However, I could still discern the appearance of the valley entrance, especially the mountain that stood like a guardian at the entrance. I wouldn't mistake it for anything else.
"The valley entrance?"
Xu Yi's expression turned solemn, and he said gravely, "Does crossing this point mean entering the territory of the mountain spirits?"
I nodded and replied, "That's right. The two pillar-like rocks in front of the valley are the markers. I saw them earlier, and I'm sure of it. But you should think carefully. Although mountain spirits don't come out of the valley, it's not absolute. If they rush out, we'll be in trouble."
Xu Yi remained silent for a moment and then said, "It should be fine. My paper rat-marten is an Yin spirit. Even if it's caught by a mountain spirit, it will only be torn apart like a rat and won't attract their attention!
Moreover, its perception of danger is far more sensitive than that of ordinary people. It can even deal with ordinary vengeful spirits without issue."
Seeing his insistence, I stopped trying to dissuade him, though a vague sense of foreboding settled in. I couldn't pinpoint the exact problem, so I let him proceed with his ritual.
Xu Yi's lips trembled, and his hands formed several hand seals in quick succession. Only then did the underwater reflection begin to move again. However, the image didn't move as quickly as before, pausing after every few steps.
Just as the paper rat-marten reached the valley entrance, it turned to run back. But Xu Yi used his magic to forcibly correct its course, compelling it to enter the valley.
The moment the paper rat-marten crossed the valley line, the smooth water surface rippled, wave after wave, resembling poor signal on a black and white television.
As Xu Yi prepared to cast another spell, a mass of black smoke suddenly appeared in the water. The paper rat-marten's vision began to dart around, as if struggling against some restraint.
"Not good, the paper rat-marten is being controlled by something!" Xu Yi was about to cast a spell to retrieve the paper rat-marten's Yin spirit.
Just then, a pair of scarlet eyes appeared on the water's surface. Seeing these eyes, my heart skipped a beat. These looked like the eyes of a mountain god! Before I could react, the image flickered, and the water returned to its original murky state.
As soon as the image disappeared, Xu Yi beside me began to cough, a thin line of red blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His face was deathly pale, as if he had suffered a severe blow.
"How are you? Are you alright?" Zhang Dabiao quickly supported Xu Yi, who was about to fall to the ground, and asked.
Xu Yi shook his head, gritting his teeth, "That thing destroyed the paper rat-marten connected to my mind, and I suffered a backlash." As he spoke, he took out a small bottle from his bag, poured out a pill, and swallowed it without water. After a while, his complexion improved considerably.
"Brother Song, you personally went to the valley. Did you see the owner of the eyes that appeared in the reflection?"
"I didn't enter the valley. I only took a brief look from the valley mouth and the mountaintop. Even that action caused the mountain spirits to chase me all over the mountain, and I almost lost my life. As for the owner of those scarlet eyes, I might have some idea."
After speaking, I looked at Zhang Dabiao and asked, "Brother Zhang, do you think it could be it?"
Zhang Dabiao pondered for a moment and replied, "I think it's highly likely to be it, after all, it's also a mountain spirit."
Seeing our cryptic exchange, Xu Yi became anxious and said, "What are you two talking about? Can you tell me so I can understand?"
I gave a wry smile, "It's very likely the mountain god I told you about."
"Mountain god?"
"Yes!"
"When we first encountered it, it was completely shrouded in black mist. Its actual body was a ghost mountain spirit. Otherwise, I really can't imagine what else it could be."
In fact, the moment the scarlet eyes appeared, the first image that flashed through my mind was the mountain god. As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Two tigers cannot exist in the same territory unless they are a mating pair, and the same applies to ghost kings.
This vast Qingfeng Mountain might have other ghost kings, but definitely not in this valley area, because this is the territory of the ghost mountain spirit, the mountain god. It certainly wouldn't allow outsiders to compete for it.
Hearing my explanation, Xu Yi, who was already pale, became even paler. He smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It seems I was overestimating myself. I cannot possibly deal with a ghost god of this level. I sincerely apologize for suspecting Brother Song earlier. Please don't blame me."
I smiled and said it was unnecessary. No one would believe the terror of a mountain god just by hearing about it; only by seeing it with their own eyes would they understand its true frightfulness.
With this small interlude, no one was in the mood to talk. Moreover, Xu Yi was injured due to the loss of his paper rat-marten, so we had to return to the tent to rest and discuss whether to enter the mountain or return tomorrow.
Back in the tent, Zhang Dabiao and I didn't exchange many words. After a brief conversation, we lay down to sleep.
I don't know how long I slept when I heard someone calling my name by my ear, the sound not loud, as if calling from a great distance. I opened my eyes groggily and saw Bai Ling'er floating beside my pillow. I was so happy that I was about to call out.
It raised its little tail to its mouth, making a shushing gesture, and then pointed outside the tent, signaling me to come out.
Glancing at Zhang Dabiao, who was fast asleep, I didn't wake him. Since Bai Ling'er sought me out alone, it must have something to tell me. I put on my clothes, lifted the tent flap, and walked out.
I didn't know when a thin layer of mist had risen outside, making the already dark sky appear even more gloomy.
In the night, Bai Ling'er emanated a white glow, which was exceptionally bright against the darkness, like a light bulb.
"Ling'er, where did you go? Why haven't you come to find me for so long? I thought you were lost!"
As soon as I finished speaking, Bai Ling'er vanished from my sight, and then I felt a sharp pain in my head.
"You big idiot, why did you come back? Do you know how much effort we put into rescuing you? With you coming back, all our efforts are in vain."
Bai Ling'er finished speaking and hit me hard twice more, almost knocking me unconscious.
Angrily, I reached out to grab it, but it easily dodged.
After being hit a few times, all my earlier joy vanished without a trace. "Why are you still so violent? Can't you just talk things through?"
"Listen to me. Don't worry about anything now. Hurry and leave with that big傻瓜, otherwise, you won't have another chance to leave."