Seven Great Gates

The Burly Man climbed to a peak and looked around.

Big-and-Small Eyes stood guard at the foot of the mountain. The two acted separately, so they could rescue each other if one encountered danger.

At least until they found the "June Bug," they were brothers who would risk their lives for each other.

The Burly Man on the peak suddenly gestured vigorously to Big-and-Small Eyes, telling him to come up as well.

Big-and-Small Eyes climbed up. The Burly Man excitedly pointed in one direction: "Look, isn't that a village?"

Big-and-Small Eyes looked and indeed, on the mountainside not far away, there were houses hidden among the trees.

"It must be Wangxiang Village," the two breathed a sigh of relief. They descended the mountain and cautiously crept towards the village.

They encountered no more danger along the way.

Big-and-Small Eyes said, "It seems the Mountain Runners of Wangxiang Village are very strong. The evil spirits don't dare to approach the village. We made the right choice."

As they neared the cluster of houses, they heard a clanging sound, like a Stone Mason carving stone.

They followed the sound and rounded a thicket that resembled a fence. The area opened up before them, and there sat a Stone Mason on the slope, with round stones scattered around him. Half of them had already been carved into various human, beast, and bird heads.

The Stone Mason had his back to them, still busy with his work, the iron chisel tapping incessantly on the stones.

As the two were about to step forward and speak, they suddenly frowned, sensing something was amiss.

The Stone Mason sat there, yet he seemed taller than the Burly Man standing.

At that moment, all the carved heads on the ground turned towards them, staring directly at them.

The clanging stopped, and the Stone Mason turned around. He too had a stone head!

But on his stone head grew messy hair and a thick beard. His features could move—upon seeing the two, he broke into a happy smile: "Newcomers."

"I'll pick a good head for you."

The Stone Mason began selecting from the carved stone heads, tapping and flicking them, listening to the sound as if choosing melons.

The two turned and ran.

The Stone Mason didn't pursue. He focused on his selection and soon chose a satisfactory one, then tapped it with his iron chisel.

The stone head shot out with a whoosh and slammed into the Burly Man.

A cloud of shadow erupted from the Burly Man's nostrils, rapidly expanding and shattering. Seven armored Yin Ghosts rushed out and lunged at the stone head, fangs bared.

The stone head merely collided with them, and the Yin Ghosts shattered with screams.

The Burly Man spat out a mouthful of blood and stumbled a few steps, but he didn't dare to stop for a moment, fleeing at top speed.

But the stone head was impossibly faster. With a thump, it shattered his head and took its place, attaching itself to his neck!

The Stone Mason still smiled eerily: "Follow me, I'll find you a place to stay."

There weren't many empty houses left among the trees.

Having fulfilled his Stepmother's request, Xu Yuan was very happy to finally be able to go home.

He put away the small bamboo cage, picked up his axe, and started chopping firewood.

After chopping a few trees, Xu Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He felt a tickle and scratched a few times.

As he scratched, the skin on his forehead cracked open entirely!

Then, Xu Yuan felt his whole body begin to itch, an unbearable itch.

He scratched and scratched—

Some parts on his back were inconvenient to reach, so Xu Yuan took off his clothes and rubbed his back vigorously against a large tree.

As he rubbed, the skin on his entire body separated from his body. Then, like a cicada, Xu Yuan emerged entirely from the crack in his scalp!

"Hoo—" Xu Yuan let out a long breath, finally feeling comfortable.

He looked down and saw his hands were fair and delicate, his entire body's skin renewed.

Looking back, a thin human skin lay beneath the tree, clearly his own.

Except that skin now had some strange, purplish-black patterns like tattoos.

Xu Yuan patted his forehead and suddenly understood: "So that's how it is."

The "June Bug" was a Medicinal Guide for Fate Cultivators.

The Burly Man was a "Divine Cultivator," and Big-and-Small Eyes was a Martial Cultivator. Besides them, Huangming also had Literary Cultivators, Pill Cultivators, Artisan Cultivators, and Law Cultivators, totaling seven types of cultivators.

They were collectively known as the "Seven Great Gates."

He didn't know about the vast world beyond Huangming.

To become a cultivator, one either needed a "Guide" or had to consume a "Medicinal Guide."

He had unknowingly become a "Fate Cultivator."

Among the seven types of cultivators, Fate Cultivators were the fewest in number.

As the name suggested, Fate Cultivators cultivated "Fate." His first Fate Imprint was named: Unrestricted!

These days, I've brought three groups of people with ill intentions into the mountains. Just like with the Burly Man and Big-and-Small Eyes, my escape was only possible thanks to the evil spirits in the mountains.

It's the same as with the Snake Vines; each time, I come into close contact with the evil spirits.

Without realizing it, I've already been infected.

If this infection continues to accumulate, it will erupt completely before long. Perhaps in my sleep, perhaps while eating, or perhaps while chatting with someone, I'll suddenly transform into a bloodthirsty evil spirit myself!

If there happen to be other cultivators around, I'll become their trophy.

If not, I'll go on a rampage before fleeing into Ghost Witch Mountain...

But my "Unrestricted" Fate Imprint saved me.

When this infection accumulates to a certain extent, "Unrestricted" will trigger a "molting."

The infection remains in the shed skin, and I become clean again.

Xu Yuan observed the layer of skin he had shed, carefully rolling it up. This thing could still be useful.

Then Xu Yuan continued his work, chopping enough firewood for tomorrow. He tied it up with a hemp rope and carried it down the mountain.

By the time he walked out of Ghost Witch Mountain, it was almost dark. Xu Yuan quickened his pace.

Passing the intersection near Hat Tomb, the Old Woman was nowhere to be seen. He figured she was still in the ancient tomb, searching through ancient texts.

Pushing open the back door, Xu Yuan carried the firewood inside. He found a Sedan Chair placed in the backyard.

Master Qiao's carriage had been pushed into a corner.

Master Qiao is the proprietor of the inn. He is a Literary Cultivator with the title of Juren.

It was from him that Xu Yuan first heard the saying, "Lust is a knife above one's head."

He is the most reputable figure in all of Qihetan Town, but he doesn't usually live in Qihetan. Instead, he resides in Shanhe County, forty li to the west.

Master Qiao only comes to stay for three to five days at the end of the month when he comes to check the accounts.

The names of the shops in town are all rather uninspired: Lin Family Sugar House, Zhao's Furs Shop... but Master Qiao's inn is called "Yi Fang Ting."

When something happens in town, the first reaction isn't to go to the authorities, but to wait until the end of the month and ask Master Qiao to "settle the dispute."

Over the years, Master Qiao has handled matters fairly, and everyone respects him.

Qihetan originally only had two surnames: Chen and Hu.

It was Master Qiao who gradually introduced many young men from the county town or surrounding villages to work in the town, and the town only then began to prosper.

Xu Yuan is also from the county town. His Stepmother asked someone to find Master Qiao, who then recommended Xu Yuan for a job at the inn.

Er Liang, who was also working in the backyard, reminded Xu Yuan, "There are distinguished guests in the front yard. Master Qiao himself rushed back from the city to entertain them. Don't go to the front yard these few days. If you offend the guests, we won't be able to bear the consequences."

"I understand," Xu Yuan replied.

Although this Sedan Chair wasn't large, it was decorated luxuriously and exquisitely. Xu Yuan muttered to himself, Is it a woman?