Invitation to the Mountain

Qin Yanran watched Chen Guan's retreating figure, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes.

She was the proud daughter of heaven in all of Qingshi County.

The only daughter of the prestigious Qin Family, and a business prodigy to boot.

Her peerless beauty had made her famous, with suitors flooding the Qin Family doorstep daily, wearing down the threshold.

Yet in Chen Guan's gaze, she saw neither lust nor greed.

"Please wait a moment, sir! This humble woman still does not know your name!"

Coming to her senses, Qin Yanran stopped him.

Chen Guan paused and looked at her. "This Humble One is Chen Guan!"

"Master Chen, you have saved this humble woman's life twice. If I do not properly thank you, my conscience will not rest. Would you be willing to return to the Qin Family with me?"

Qin Yanran parted her cherry lips to extend the invitation.

But Chen Guan smiled faintly. "No need. This was merely my duty."

Rejected again, Qin Yanran felt no displeasure—only growing curiosity about Chen Guan.

"This White Wolf has long prowled near Mount Tushan! And now it lurks within the city!"

An old man's words caught his interest. Chen Guan stepped forward to ask, "Elder, what is the current situation on Mount Tushan? I intend to go there and would like to know more."

His question made the old man shake his head. "Sir, Mount Tushan is forbidden ground for the people of Qingshi County. It teems with miasma and demons. Anyone who enters never returns. I beg you not to risk it."

Having said this, the old man fled as if escaping, unwilling to say another word.

Chen Guan shook his head and prepared to investigate Mount Tushan himself.

"Master Chen, so you wish to go to Mount Tushan? What a coincidence—this young lady is heading there too. Would you care to travel together?"

His words reached Qin Yanran's ears, and her eyes lit up as she spoke again.

Chen Guan frowned at her. "Mount Tushan is so dangerous. Why would a proper young lady like Miss Qin go there?"

"You may not know, sir, but the Imperial Court has been locked in battle with demons. The battlefield consumes vast amounts of Golden Wound Medicine, and the quota for Qingshi County has fallen to the Qin Family."

"However, the most crucial ingredient for Golden Wound Medicine is Dragon's Blood Resin. Every city for hundreds of miles lacks it, because it grows only on Mount Tushan—now overrun by demons, with no one daring to harvest it."

Qin Yanran sighed and began to explain.

Chen Guan nodded thoughtfully but did not interrupt her.

"Now that the Qin Family bears the burden of the Golden Wound Medicine quota, failure to deliver on time would cost us our heads. To protect my family, I must go up the mountain myself to gather Dragon's Blood Resin."

"If Master Chen would accompany me, the journey would be far safer. You are a dragon among men, formidable in strength—surely the demons of Mount Tushan would tremble at your presence!"

Qin Yanran bowed to him, her gaze earnest and pleading.

Chen Guan asked, puzzled, "The Qin Family has no shortage of experts. Why send Miss Qin alone to Mount Tushan? Isn't that too dangerous?"

"Mount Tushan is fraught with peril. How could I let them risk their lives? This is my family's burden, and I must go myself."

Qin Yanran's beautiful eyes shone with determination, her words ringing clear and firm.

Chen Guan looked at her with a smile. This woman, though delicate in appearance, had a surprisingly strong heart.

Besides, he had to go up Mount Tushan to investigate leads anyway. There, he could slay demons and raise his cultivation.

And Qin Yanran, attacked multiple times, likely carried something her pursuers wanted. Traveling with her would let him probe the Qin Family along the way.

"What do you think, Master Chen? For this trip to Mount Tushan, I will prepare the rations and maps myself."

Afraid Chen Guan might refuse, fearing she would hold him back, Qin Yanran quickly made her promise.

Chen Guan smiled faintly. "No matter. I need to go to Mount Tushan to investigate a case anyway. I'll travel with Miss Qin. We'll set out tomorrow."

His agreement made Qin Yanran overjoyed. "Thank you, Master Chen! Why not come to the Qin Family tonight as a guest? Tomorrow we can depart together."

Qin Yanran wanted to secure him—what if he agreed in words but went up the mountain alone tomorrow?

Seeing through her little scheme, Chen Guan did not refuse and returned with her to the Qin Family.

"Miss Qin, tell me about the situation on Mount Tushan."

After sitting down in the Qin residence, Chen Guan began his inquiry.

Qin Yanran looked at him seriously. "Mount Tushan has been a dangerous place since ancient times. Though it holds many precious herbs, it is fraught with peril."

"I once heard that a hundred-man team went up the mountain to gather medicine, and not a single one came out alive. The strongest among them had even reached the fifth layer of the Blood Forging Realm—that should tell you enough."

Hearing this, Chen Guan's heart sank.

The danger of Mount Tushan was indeed beyond what he could handle now. But the clues lay plainly on that mountain.

He would never give up.

"So this trip will be extremely dangerous. I hope you are mentally prepared, sir."

Qin Yanran finally spoke, a trace of unease in her eyes.

Chen Guan nodded firmly. "No matter the danger, I must go up Mount Tushan. Please rest well, Miss Qin. We set out tomorrow."

After eating and drinking his fill, he returned to the room Qin Yanran had arranged for him.

A sleepless night.

Early the next morning.

Chen Guan climbed out of bed and, as soon as he stepped outside, saw Qin Yanran waiting for him at the door.

"You rise quite early, young master. Let's set out!"

Qin Yanran carried a bundle on her back and gave a gentle smile.

Chen Guan nodded and led her toward the direction of Tushan.

Tushan was a mountain of modest height, thirty li from Qingshi County.

Year-round, miasma shrouded its peak, obscuring everything within.

For the people of Qingshi County, Tushan had long been a forbidden zone not to be touched.

Yet Qin Yanran showed no trace of fear, stepping lightly as she walked straight into Tushan.

Once the two entered, the surrounding miasma surged in around them.

Qin Yanran was naturally delicate, and this situation turned her face as pale as paper.

After entering Tushan, Chen Guan began to look around.

The mountain was thick with dense forest, sunlight unable to penetrate directly, leaving Tushan's visibility very dim.

All around, the howls of various demons and monsters rang out, sending chills down the spine.

"Miss Qin, where is the Dragon's Blood Resin now?"

His question steadied Qin Yanran's nerves. "This servant has heard that the Dragon's Blood Resin grows in the central area of Tushan, which is also the most dangerous part of the entire mountain."

Chen Guan nodded thoughtfully.

If his guess was correct, the clue he sought must be there as well.

They walked on the mountain for an hour before Qin Yanran, drenched in fragrant sweat, stopped. "Young Master Chen, let's rest a while before continuing. This servant's body can't hold out much longer."