A Bad Death

Wu Haishan stepped forward, examining all the tracks. "That brat ran into Ghost Witch Mountain. I'll find a guide right away.

Before, we didn't understand him, but now we know everything about him. We also know he's just an Eighth Stream Pill Cultivator. The moment we find him will be his death day!"

Wu Haishan spoke with absolute confidence, but his plan was still to use his usual trick: control a town resident to be a guide, then enter the mountain to track him.

Zhao's Furs Shop was Pingtian Society's stronghold in town. Zhao Yong and his subordinates just sat in the shop, accepting furs when people came to sell them, and doing nothing if no one did.

They never ventured into the mountains, nor did they need to, so they knew nothing about Ghost Witch Mountain.

However, they knew the town well. Wu Haishan asked, "Who in town is most familiar with Ghost Witch Mountain?" Someone replied, "Old Man Liu's eldest disciple, Ah Guang."

Old Man Liu was the Proprietor of "Liu's Village Wine" across from the fur shop. His potent homemade liquor was popular in town and the surrounding villages.

The Mountain Runners from the mountain villages always stocked up on a gourd of Liu's wine before entering the mountains.

Ah Guang often delivered goods to the villages.

Wu Haishan then led his men to barge into "Liu's Village Wine."

When the bronze cannon exploded, everyone in town was startled, and they all shut their doors and hid in their homes.

Wu Haishan's attempt to capture Ah Guang at Liu's Village Wine caused another commotion.

Old Man Liu and his wife had no children and had raised their eldest disciple like a son. The old couple knelt, tears streaming down their faces, begging and pleading. Wu Haishan and his men were heartless; they kicked over the old couple, pried open Ah Guang's mouth, and forced a dose of medicine down his throat. Ah Guang followed them out in a daze.

The old couple cried behind them, "You are utterly wicked and will die a terrible death..."

Saint Aunt had been waiting below Beauty Dam.

For some reason, those river snails and beauties were naturally terrified of Saint Aunt and dared not come out to cause trouble.

Saint Aunt suddenly thought, "Why hasn't Chang Xunbei returned yet?"

Chang Xunbei was an Eighth Stream Law Cultivator, the strongest subordinate she had brought with her this time.

He should have returned long ago on the ten-mile-long official road.

Xu Yuan didn't go far after entering the mountain.

This wasn't a path for gathering firewood, and Xu Yuan wasn't very familiar with it.

Chang Xunbei's Artistic Law was truly unexpected. Somehow, he swapped their positions, directly placing himself in the encirclement.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan's expression turned strange. "It really is a swap of circumstances..."

Xu Yuan had run out earlier and headed back towards the county town along the official road.

He hadn't expected to run headlong into Master Qiao!

Master Qiao usually traveled by carriage, but this time he was alone, with two scrolls hanging from each leg, inscribed with: Soaring Cloud, Riding Wind.

Master Qiao walked with his hands behind his back, his legs three to five feet off the ground, covering ten zhang with each step. His robes fluttered, giving him an air of immortal grace.

However, his expression was rather grim.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan, his expression worsened. "Where do you think you're running..."

Xu Yuan jumped off the official road and plunged into Ghost Witch Mountain.

Master Qiao pursued relentlessly.

Xu Yuan soon discovered that Master Qiao seemed even more familiar with Ghost Witch Mountain than he was!

"Ungrateful wretch!" Master Qiao shouted as he chased, then gritted his teeth and quickly wrote out a "receipt."

"Whoever captures Xu Yuan alive will receive ten servings of Blood Food upon presenting this receipt."

Master Qiao tossed the "receipt" into the air—though it was unclear what he was showing it to.

Xu Yuan could no longer escape.

In front, the earth churned, and a giant mole cricket burst from the ground, its upper body rising three zhang high!

It was clad in tattered armor, but its head was that of a giant Buddha statue.

To the left was a Ghost Stream, where childish laughter rang out. Pale infant heads floated to the surface, their eyes blood-red, fangs protruding beyond their lips, staring intently at Xu Yuan.

On the mountain slope to the right, a giant rock vaguely resembling a fierce tiger suddenly stirred, opened its eyes, and pulled its massive body out of the mountain. It strode forward step by step, closing in on Xu Yuan!

A flock of White Bone Human-Faced Eagles flew from the sky, circling above Xu Yuan like vultures.

Just as Xu Yuan was at his wit's end, with a bang, he found himself back in Qihetan Town!

Even though Saint Aunt had set up a net, Xu Yuan had still managed to escape.

"Now I can only try to绕 past through Ghost Witch Mountain, which is very risky..." Xu Yuan muttered to himself, trying to plan a relatively safe route.

But in the end, he couldn't find a route he was confident he could take.

Still, Xu Yuan set off decisively. Neither Saint Aunt nor Master Qiao would let him go; staying near the town was a death sentence.

Not long after Xu Yuan left, Wu Haishan arrived at his temporary lodging with his men.

Wu Haishan asked Ah Guang, "Which way did that brat go?"

Ah Guang replied obediently, "That direction. He should be heading towards Titou Ravine."

Wu Haishan: "What's the deal with Titou Ravine?"

"First, anything that grows a human head inside is an evil spirit. Second, never step on those stone stairs."

"Chase!"

Xu Yuan circled "Titou Ravine" once, then hid nearby, lying in wait.

Soon, voices could be heard from behind. The Pingtian Society had caught up.

Xu Yuan waited for about fifteen minutes, but no screams rang out.

Xu Yuan stopped waiting and quickly got up, darting into the deep mountains.

"The Pingtian Society has a guide with them and is very familiar with the dangerous areas in Ghost Witch Mountain," Xu Yuan confirmed. This meant his plan to use the evil spirits of Ghost Witch Mountain to kill the pursuers wouldn't work.

Xu Yuan seized an opportunity to glance from afar and narrowed his eyes: "Their guide is Ah Guang. This is a bit tricky."

Xu Yuan stroked his chin. "Ah Guang grew up in the town and is more familiar with Ghost Witch Mountain than I am. What's my advantage compared to him..."

Wu Haishan and his men kept chasing. As they chased, they realized the kid had led them in a circle and suddenly turned back, heading towards the town!

"That little brat, he's playing us! Notify Saint Aunt to intercept him in town!"

Saint Aunt didn't come. She stayed in town because the brothers from the Society would be bringing the "bait" today.

One of Wu Haishan's subordinates immediately took out a crafted parrot, said a few words quickly, and released it. The parrot flew towards the town.

Xu Yuan didn't enter the town. He only reached a valley outside of it.

In the valley was a cave, and from the dark cave grew a thousand-year-old vine.

Various poisonous insects like centipedes, scorpions, ticks, and giant ants crawled out along the ancient vine.

A rooster with brightly colored feathers stood proudly in the valley.

It ate every insect that came out.

It especially liked eating centipedes and scorpions.

Occasionally, an exceptionally large "Bug King" would crawl out of the cave. The centipede would be three feet long, and the scorpion as large as a wooden basin.

Every time this happened, the rooster would become energetic, flapping its iron-feathered wings. The comb on its head would stand tall, and it would crow loudly, engaging in a fight. Then, in a few pecks, it would kill the so-called Bug King, carry it in its beak to a high branch, and shake it around, displaying its prize!

This was where the rooster hunted for its daily meals.

"Ah Hua!"

Xu Yuan called out a few times. The rooster had just pecked a large scorpion to death and was showing off on a treetop. Hearing the call, it tilted its head and saw Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan waved vigorously at it. The rooster reluctantly flew down and dropped the scorpion at Xu Yuan's feet.

Xu Yuan was amused and exasperated. "Thank you for your generosity, but I don't eat this."

Upon hearing this, the rooster immediately became happy and ate the scorpion in a few bites.

Xu Yuan took out some silver fragments. "I'm going to buy some things from the old woman. Can you help me bring them over?"

The rooster let out a low clucking sound, not wanting to go back.

Xu Yuan understood its meaning. "I'll catch insects here for you and make sure they can't escape. You help me go back and get my things."

The rooster grabbed the silver with its large claws, tucked it under its feathers, and walked away with its head held high.

Xu Yuan stayed by the cave entrance, casually breaking off a few bamboo branches. As soon as an insect came out, he would skewer it.

Once they were strung together, he practiced using his "Inner Fire" to roast the insects.

At first, his control was a bit clumsy, and he burned a few, but later he was able to roast each one to a perfect crisp.

Before long, the rooster Ah Hua returned carrying a bamboo basket. Xu Yuan opened it and saw it contained exactly what he wanted.

Xu Yuan grinned and cupped his hands at the rooster in a gesture of thanks. "Thanks."

Then he took off his outer coat, wrapped the items, returned the basket to Ah Hua, and ducked back into Ghost Witch Mountain.

Ah Hua looked at the roasted insects on the bamboo skewers and tentatively took a bite. Hey! It was actually delicious!

Ah Hua was satisfied. This kid was sensible.