A Bad Feeling

Pan Shi cleared the way ahead, Yang An walked in the middle with the wheel of light in hand, and Pan Yu stayed close beside him.

The three maintained this formation, bypassing the main road through the village and choosing what looked like a passable wilderness trail that ran along the cliff face.

The night was dark, but thankfully, the Buddhist light in Yang An's hand served as a source of illumination, allowing both him and Pan Yu to follow closely in Pan Shi's footsteps.

Yet amid the profound darkness all around them, there was not a sound. Even their lightest footsteps seemed infinitely magnified beside their ears.

The entire village was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

All three were somewhat nervous, yet they pretended to be calm. None knew whether the others were truly composed, each believing the person beside them was exceptionally steady and drawing courage from that.

Thus, after walking for roughly a quarter of an hour, and at no slow pace, they soon made their way from the entrance of the village to somewhere near its end.

Seeing that they would soon be out of the village, and that a few hundred more steps would put them on the proper road toward the Xi Yue River, Pan Shi could not help but breathe a sigh of relief inwardly.

It seemed their decision to head for the Xi Yue River ahead of schedule had been correct. The other cultivators had not yet arrived, and they had perfectly avoided the possibility of running into them.

But they had not yet completely left the village, so it was not time to celebrate. Pan Shi could only silently continue leading the way.

They walked for a while longer, and still, nothing happened.

But at that moment, Pan Yu, who was walking at the very back, suddenly spoke softly.

"Senior Brother..."

Her voice was tiny, like the buzz of a mosquito, yet it was exceptionally clear in such an environment.

Pan Shi and Yang An both stopped and turned to look at her in confusion.

"What is it?"

"I... I have a bad feeling..."

Pan Yu spoke hesitantly, unconsciously edging a little closer to Yang An.

"Did you find something?"

Pan Shi immediately asked, while Yang An's heart instantly tightened as well.

"No, I didn't find anything. I just have a bad feeling."

"..."

Hearing Pan Yu's words, Pan Shi and Yang An were both left somewhat speechless.

They had both been tense to begin with. Yang An had even instinctively reached toward his waist, where a small knife was hidden, ready at any moment to let himself bleed.

Who would have thought Pan Yu would suddenly say something like that?

"Just keep walking properly. Stop making a fuss over nothing."

Pan Shi could not help but softly scold her before preparing to move on.

But seeing that neither of them believed her much, Pan Yu hurriedly added:

"I've watched movies. There's a line in them that goes like this: when you feel you're about to be safe, that is precisely when you are in the greatest danger! I think that's exactly us right now..."

"..."

To be honest, if not for the difference between men and women, Yang An really wanted to cover her mouth.

She was truly bringing up the one thing nobody wanted to mention. Saying that in a situation like this was tantamount to raising a flag, and even Yang An suddenly felt a sense of foreboding rise within him.

This kind of feeling could actually be contagious!

Naturally, Pan Shi could not understand what Pan Yu meant by movies and lines, but that did not stop him from understanding the latter half of her words. He immediately rolled his eyes.

"Shut—"

Pan Shi immediately wanted to tell Pan Yu to shut up, but after only one word left his mouth, his voice abruptly cut off.

In the darkness, at some unknown moment, an additional figure had appeared beside the three of them.

At the same time, Yang An, standing beside Pan Shi, saw with almost perfect clarity that every bit of Pan Shi's skin and flesh violently trembled.

The air itself seemed to freeze at that instant. There was utter silence.

"Hehe!"

"You were right, little girl. Trying to sneak through here—you really don't take this Daoist master seriously."

Almost the instant that unfamiliar voice rang out, Yang An and the other two instinctively retreated without a second thought.

By the Buddhist light in Yang An's hand, they finally got a clear look at this sudden stranger.

He wore a filthy, tattered Daoist robe. His hair had grown down to his waist, his face was caked in grime, his back was hunched, and he leaned on a straight branch in his hand.

Though they could not make out his features clearly, one thing was certain: this newcomer was no good person!

Pan Yu's words had come true, and so quickly that they were caught completely off guard.

What a crow's beak!

The man had appeared very suddenly, but Pan Shi still remained composed and cupped his hands toward him in salute.

"May I ask which fellow Daoist you are? I am a disciple under True Man Rou Shu of Three Pine Mountain. We are merely passing through this place and mean no offense."

As the saying went, one did not strike a smiling face. He first revealed his identity and named his sect. If there had been no past enmity or old grievances between them, the other party would generally give them some face. It depended only on whether this man would accept the gesture.

"Hehe."

But upon hearing Pan Shi announce his background, the hunchbacked Daoist let out a strange laugh.

"This Daoist master doesn't care whether it's Four Pine Mountain or Five Pine Mountain. If you had passed through openly, this Daoist master might have pretended not to see you. But sneaking around like this, you clearly don't take this Daoist master seriously. Today, this Daoist master will have a proper word with you!"

Plainly, the hunchbacked Daoist had no intention of accepting that.

Pan Shi's expression immediately darkened. The other party had made it clear that he intended to attack them.

"We have never known this fellow Daoist before. Why must you make things difficult for us? Why not pretend you never saw us? Leave a line in all things, and we may meet again in the future. What do you say?"

"What are you thinking, brat? Since this Daoist master is already standing before you, do you think I'll let you leave so easily without taking something?"

"What do you want?"

Pan Shi stared at him intently, his tone beginning to turn unfriendly.

He now understood that the other party had clearly set his sights on them. Like a dog that had sunk its teeth into a bone, he would not loosen his bite until it was in his belly.

The Daoist chuckled strangely again and pointed his stick at Pan Yu beside Yang An, his gaze falling on her waist.

"Little girl, if this Daoist master is not mistaken, that is a Small Sumeru Bag, isn't it?"

Under the Daoist's disgusting, unblinking stare, Pan Yu immediately raised a hand to cover the Small Sumeru Bag hanging at her waist. In almost an instant, she understood what the Daoist wanted.

This Small Sumeru Bag had been a gift from the senior uncle who doted on her most within the sect. Ordinary cultivators could never come into contact with such a precious item. There were only a handful of people in Three Pine Mountain who possessed such a treasure, and the same was true elsewhere.

It could be said that if an ownerless Small Sumeru Bag appeared, it would absolutely draw a crowd of cultivators to fight over it like starving wolves pouncing on food.

"No, no, you saw wrong. It's just a sachet!"

Pan Yu hurriedly tried to conceal it, but anyone who saw her like this would know she was lying. She had no acting skills whatsoever.

"Hand it over. Hand it over, and this Daoist master will let you pass. If you refuse, then this Daoist master will take it himself. As for what happens afterward, this Daoist master will not be responsible."

As he spoke, the Daoist let out strange chuckles and slowly approached Pan Yu.

Yang An's scalp prickled as he stepped in front of Pan Yu, but the Daoist completely ignored him. It was as though Yang An did not even exist; he did not spare him a glance.

This Daoist clearly intended to swallow them whole!

And just as the Daoist pressed forward step by step, Pan Shi moved as well.

"What big words! I'm afraid you won't be able to swallow us!"

Since the other party had already revealed his purpose without the slightest pretense, conflict was clearly unavoidable, and Pan Shi no longer held back.

"Fellow Daoist Yang, please look after junior sister for me!"

With that, Pan Shi sprang forward and charged at the Daoist.