Stepmother

The Burly Man was a "Divine Cultivator," practitioners of this art were skilled at imprisoning souls and refining Yin Soldiers.

Xu Yuan pointed in a direction, "Go another three li that way, and you'll reach Wangxiang Village. I won't be going with you. There's no danger ahead; my firewood spot is on the other side..."

The two exchanged a look: Should we attack?

The Burly Man nodded, and from the shadow beneath him, three Sha silently pounced!

Their eyes were blood-red, exuding a chilling aura!

Two went to grab Xu Yuan's legs, while one lunged for his throat.

Xu Yuan seemed to have his ankles caught by two shadowy figures, causing him to stumble and fall into the woods ahead, narrowly dodging a fatal blow.

From the woods, things resembling strange snakes shot out, coiling around Xu Yuan's neck and limbs, swiftly dragging him deeper into the forest.

The two shadowy figures that had grabbed his legs refused to let go. The "strange snakes" suddenly opened their mouths and simply sucked, instantly swallowing the two shadowy figures. The last one hastily retreated, trembling in fear and not daring to pursue further.

"Hey!" The Burly Man felt a pang of pain, his Big-and-Small Eyes staring at the woods with surprise and uncertainty. He also dared not step further.

"Rustle rustle!"

Strange sounds came from the woods, as if something was watching them, but unable to leave the forest.

"Was this kid always wary of us, or was it a coincidence?" Big-and-Small Eyes couldn't be sure.

The Burly Man was still lamenting his Yin Soldiers, "Why worry about that? My Yin Soldiers were no match for those things. He's just a normal person; he's dead for sure."

Big-and-Small Eyes hesitated, "Should we go in and take a look? We came to Ghost Witch Mountain to find that thing, and we absolutely cannot reveal our whereabouts."

The Burly Man sensed it; his Yin Soldiers all showed great fear towards the woods.

"If you want to go, you go."

Big-and-Small Eyes tentatively took a step forward. As half his body entered the woods, dozens of black shadows swooshed out. He quickly retreated, "That kid is definitely dead."

Deep in the woods, Xu Yuan used his teeth to tear open a hidden pouch on his collar, scattering the Realgar Powder inside.

Those "Snake Vines" were terrified and fled.

These strange vines always thought they were snakes, so they were very afraid of Realgar.

Xu Yuan freed himself, smeared the Realgar Powder on his body, and quietly crept to the edge of the woods, listening to their conversation.

"What now?"

"The guide is gone. We'll have to go to Wangxiang Village ourselves. Fortunately, it shouldn't be far."

The two cautiously set off again. The Burly Man couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is that 'June Bug'? Lord Zheng, a miser like him, would spend such a large sum to have us find it?"

Big-and-Small Eyes glanced at him, "Do you think that since Lord Zheng is willing to pay such a high price, the June Bug's true value must far exceed his offer?"

The Burly Man replied, "It must be so."

Big-and-Small Eyes warned him, "We're getting paid to do a job, don't get any funny ideas! That Zheng fellow isn't to be trifled with. If we swallow his prize, we'll likely be hunted to death across heaven and earth!"

The Burly Man fell silent. Big-and-Small Eyes secretly thought: There's only one June Bug. How will you and I split it? Once found, I'll kill you and take it all for myself.

Xu Yuan, hidden in the woods, frowned. This was the third group of people he had led into the mountains to find something.

The previous two groups had already died in the mountains.

There must be other guides in town, so the real number would only be higher.

However, this was the first time Xu Yuan learned that the thing they were looking for was called a "June Bug."

After the two merchants walked away, Xu Yuan emerged from the other side of the woods. This was the correct direction, and those two would never reach Wangxiang Village.

They had ill intentions from the start and never intended to pay any reward. The Burly Man, in particular, had his sights set on Xu Yuan's soul.

Unfortunately, they didn't understand the people in town. If they were so easily tricked, they wouldn't have survived three days in town.

Xu Yuan avoided a Ghost Stream in the mountains and walked for a while longer until he reached a sunny slope. The sunlight here felt gentler and warmer than elsewhere.

Yang Energy was abundant, hence evil spirits detested it.

This was where Xu Yuan gathered firewood. The slope was covered with various miscellaneous trees.

Xu Yuan climbed all the way to the top of the slope. There stood an old walnut tree, half a person thick. On the trunk was a tree hole the size of a basket.

Inside was a small bamboo cage.

Xu Yuan took out the cage, and his eyelids twitched. Inside lay a plump white grub.

"This is what they're looking for... the June Bug?!"

The small cage was given to Xu Yuan by his Stepmother.

His Stepmother was four years older than Xu Yuan. She was originally his father's apprentice, but somehow ended up becoming his father's second wife.

Xu Yuan's father passed away half a month ago. After the funeral, his Stepmother inherited all his father's assets and then found Xu Yuan the job at the inn.

Before he left home, his Stepmother handed him this cage and said heartlessly, "Once you get there, put it in an old tree hollow where you gather firewood. Remember to check it every day. If you catch a plump white grub, eat it."

"What if I don't catch one?" Xu Yuan asked.

"If you don't catch one... don't come back."

Inside the small bamboo cage, his Stepmother had placed a few grains of old rice as bait.

After Xu Yuan arrived at the inn, an old man took him to gather firewood on the first day. On the second day, he acted alone and placed the cage in the hollow of a walnut tree.

For over ten days, Xu Yuan checked the cage every day when he came to gather firewood, but it was always empty.

Yet, the few grains of old rice inside remained. He wondered if the insects in the mountains were different from those outside and didn't like rice?

Before today, Xu Yuan never imagined that the people who rushed into the mountains like moths to a flame, searching for something, were also after this insect!

The cage was cleverly made; once inside, there was no escape.

There was one thing Xu Yuan had to admit: his stepmother was indeed skillful and ingenious.

The little insect, trapped inside, seemed to have given up, lying there motionless.

Xu Yuan caught the insect and opened his mouth—but felt a bit disgusted. After hesitating, he closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and threw the insect into his mouth.

Unexpectedly, it was incredibly delicious, melting in his mouth with a fresh, sweet flavor that slid down his throat along his tongue.