Mountain Bazaar

Walking along a beast trail trampled out by some unknown wild animals, Su Che touched the Azure Emperor Wine Cup tucked against his chest.

Was this perhaps the most important extraordinary treasure on his person?

A sword could kill, the yellow cord could seal spirits, but only this Azure Emperor Wine Cup was, in a certain sense, a treasure capable of swaying the great currents of the mortal world.

Yet Qingqiu seemed not to value it much, leaving it openly atop her writing desk.

This thing seemed to recognize an owner...

A layer of judgment formed in Su Che's heart.

His fate was called the Sixfold Azure Dragon. The so-called Azure Dragon should refer to the Seven Mansions of the East, or perhaps it could be called the Green Dragon.

Azure Dragon, Green Dragon—there was not much difference to begin with.

In the Five Elements, the East belonged to wood.

Perhaps that was why he could wield this cup.

In a sense, his fate could also be considered a certain kind of Azure Emperor.

That mask of Lord Dongwang at the Mount Zhong Association might also shed some light on the matter from another angle.

As he looked at the lush grasses and trees around him, Su Che gained another feeling.

"Since we've come to Mystic Mountain, I'll take you to see something rare before we leave."

Holding an umbrella, Little Fox half-walked and half-floated through the mountains.

Her Yin Spirit had not yet reached the stage where it could travel by day. She could not endure the scorching blaze of the Great Sun's true fire, and could only move beneath the shade of an umbrella.

So this was Mystic Mountain?

Su Che studied the lay of the surrounding peaks. He knew nothing of feng shui, but judging by the state of this place, he never would have guessed that the remains of some transcendent master lay quietly here.

"Fine mountains and fair waters. Take a few more looks while you can; who knows what this place will become in the future."

Little Fox spoke with considerable emotion. "Lord Dushan, the Demon King here, is an interesting fellow. He's set up quite a curious thing."

Su Che did not understand what she meant. As for her earlier words that Mystic Mountain was about to undergo great changes, that was inevitable.

Once word got out about the old lion's remains, not to mention demon ghosts across the land, the imperial court, the Daoist sects, the Buddhist schools, and the Sword Palace—every last one of them would likely flock here for the grand occasion.

After this great drama was over, who knew how much of this place's present appearance would remain.

As for what was so unusual about the demon called Lord Dushan, Su Che could not make heads or tails of it.

After winding through the mountain paths, the two soon saw smoke rising from a distant hollow.

The smoke of mortal life.

Su Che had none of the Confucian arts for observing qi, yet he could see that the place ahead was bustling with voices, as though a market town stood there.

Following the slope onward, they soon came upon a wooden wall, built from huge logs thick enough for one person to wrap their arms around. Several beast-headed figures wearing armor patrolled atop the wall again and again, gripping blades and spears.

A gate stood open in the wooden wall. A sheep-headed demon in an ill-fitting silk robe stood there, its pair of hooves exposed beneath the hem. Its hands had already transformed into human shape, and it was holding a writing brush as it scribbled on bamboo slips. A group of rabbit-headed demons stood at the gate as well.

A group of ox-headed and wolf-headed demons stood there in full armor, weapons in hand, staring about in every direction.

Among the rabbits were several bold rabbit demons, exchanging flirtatious glances with the guards at the gate.

They carried crude bamboo baskets filled with flowers and grasses, along with ores and fruits.

"By the king's laws, ten cash for entering the city."

The sheep official chewed on his brush. "Are you all coming in together, or shall I charge you one by one?"

"Sir, we'll come in together. Together."

"If you're coming together, ten cash. Throw it in."

The sheep-headed demon pointed at a clay jar on a table beside the gate.

"Sir," the rabbit-headed demon fumbled around on himself and gathered seven copper coins. "We only have seven cash."

"Seven it is." The sheep-headed demon bit down hard, swallowing half the brush handle. "Go on in, go on in."

Well now, this demon gate clerk was more accommodating than those in Shanyin City.

"I don't have any money on me."

Su Che looked at Qingqiu beside him, who was holding an umbrella. "I wonder if my lady..."

"Men—the sweeter their mouths, the emptier their pockets." Qingqiu curled her lips. "I do have some joss paper here..."

Giving them joss paper? Wouldn't that just make the sheep demon eat it as a dessert?

"You two, are you entering the city as well?"

The sheep demon spotted Su Che and Qingqiu from afar and hurriedly waved to them.

"What realm are they at?"

Su Che looked at the demons. Every one of them looked somewhat human, yet he could not fathom their particulars.

"They're all ninth-rank Bone Refinement. Once they dissolve the transverse bone in their throats, they can speak human language. Their beast bodies become a little more human-like as well, but they're still far from truly taking human form."

Little Fox led the way ahead beneath her umbrella.

"We are entering the city."

The sheep demon glanced at Little Fox holding her paper umbrella, then looked Su Che over.

"By the king's laws, ghosts enter free of charge."

"By the king's laws, humans receive five cash upon arrival."

As it spoke, it took several copper coins from the clay jar and tossed them into Su Che's hand.

"The moon comes from afar; is that not a joy? Sir, please enter."

Who had taught these demons? The quality of their textbooks was deeply worrying.

The sheep demon picked up its brush as though to make a record on the bamboo slip, only to discover that it had gnawed the handle clean.

"Next time, tell Old Wang to buy brushes somewhere else. These handles are just too delicious."

The sheep demon muttered, then instructed the wolf-headed and ox-headed demons around it to let them pass.

"Well? It's got a bit of style, hasn't it? My elders came here before and praised Lord Dushan's extraordinary eye. They said it was a pity he had been born in a place like this."

Su Che ignored Qingqiu's words of praise, but after entering the wooden stockade, he found that it was not as chaotic as he had imagined.

The streets inside were orderly, with wooden houses lining both sides in neat succession. Their signs and shop names were just like those of human cities. Beast heads and human faces complemented one another, creating quite the scene of humans and demons living in harmony.

"Sir, sir."

As Su Che looked around, a shopkeeper called out to him from the side. Turning his head, he saw an enormous blue ox head stretched out before him.

Curved horns like crescent hooks, hide blue as time-worn Daoist scripture. Strong enough to move mountains and lift sun and moon, once helping farmers till and reap.

"Honored gentleman, may I ask if you'd like a meal or a room? This humble shop makes the finest beef, and we have excellent aged wine as well. You look travel-worn, sir. Why not come sit in my humble establishment?"

No matter how Su Che looked at him, this fellow seemed like an ox that had become a demon, and definitely not the sort transformed from wood spirits.

No need to say it—the beef here was certainly fresh.

The old ox stood tall and spoke naturally. He appeared to be a Demon Cultivator who had cultivated for many years. The sign at his door had been polished bright, and though the words "Old Niu Family Shop" were crooked and twisted, the plaque itself hung perfectly square.

With one glance, Su Che could see that the interior was bright and clean.

"I eat vegetarian fare. A bowl of plain noodles will do." Su Che glanced at Little Fox beside him. "My wife does not require vegetarian food."

"Certainly, certainly. Please come in, sir." A chrysanthemum-like smile bloomed across the old ox's face as he shouted into the shop, "Two honored guests! One bowl of assorted mushroom vegetarian noodles—serve them properly!"