Three Paths

Tales of "red hair" and "Unknown Omen" had been recorded in many ancient texts across the continent.

Some cultivators encountered an unknown calamity in their old age. Dense red hair sprouted all over their bodies, turning them into terrifying, eerie monsters.

These monsters were spurned by the Heavenly Dao and Principles. They hid in deep mountains and ancient forests, instinctively hunting their blood kin and high-level cultivators.

"But Second Senior Brother said this bizarre phenomenon only happened to Heaven's Source Masters in their later years and another kind of special person. I don't know exactly why, either."

"Heaven's Source Masters and another kind of person?" Gu Baishui raised an eyebrow and asked, "But I'm neither a Heaven's Source Master nor an old man. Why did that thing come after me?"

Ji Xu thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm not sure. Second Senior Brother seems to know more about this, but he's not in the Emperor's Tomb Forbidden Zone right now, so I don't know who else to ask."

Gu Baishui found it strange and asked, "You're a Heaven's Source Master. You don't know, either?"

"Master only taught me to seek sources and Spirit Nurturing. He never taught me anything else."

Gu Baishui blinked and asked, "Why?"

"Because Master said that being a Heaven's Source Master was a profession that involved searching for mines and tracing veins, braving danger to seek sources. I have decent talent, but this profession wouldn't help me much at its core."

Ji Xu said lightly, "The Ji Clan is very rich, and so am I. I don't lack cultivation resources. You know that, Senior Brother."

Gu Baishui was at a loss for words. He asked again, "Then where's Second Senior Brother now? You three can leave the forbidden zone, so you should be able to keep in touch, right?"

"Second Senior Brother seems to be in the Myriad Poison Domain. I heard the Demon Ancestor's legitimate daughter is about to come of age there, and almost all the continent's prodigies have rushed over to join in the excitement." Ji Xu turned her head to the side. "With how much Second Senior Brother loves a lively crowd, he definitely won't miss this chance."

Gu Baishui fell silent at her words. Suddenly, the shadow beneath the trees from last night flashed through his mind, and that faint, eerie feeling surfaced again.

"Then... what about Eldest Senior Brother?"

"Eldest Senior Brother?"

Ji Xu's expression turned strange, too. A trace of undisguised irritation and helplessness showed on her delicate face.

"Eldest Senior Brother is still at Jade Lake. The Peach Banquet doesn't officially start until tomorrow, and the previous Jade Lake Saintess and Eldest Senior Brother spend all day hanging around each other. How would he have time to come back to the mountain?"

"Eldest Senior Brother didn't come back?" The news left Gu Baishui so startled that he froze on the spot.

If Eldest Senior Brother hadn't returned to the mountain, then what was that thing in the woods last night, staring straight at his cave abode?

Wait, although he hadn't seen the person's face clearly, he distinctly remembered that the figure had been holding the Purple Ultimate Immortal Cauldron.

If it wasn't Eldest Senior Brother, who could it be? A ghost?

Why was everything in this mountain growing more and more unfathomable, and harder to make sense of? It seemed the Great Emperor's Forbidden Zone had suddenly become unfamiliar ever since Master entered the tomb.

Gu Baishui frowned. As a thought stirred in his mind, a peculiar idea came to him.

Since something had happened in the mountain, why not just go down and leave?

If he couldn't afford to provoke it, surely he could at least hide from it. Besides, he hadn't left the mountain in half a jiazi. Now that he had reached the Dao Integration Immortal Platform Realm, he could travel through the mortal world and temper his State of Mind.

As for the Red-Haired Monster in the Great Emperor's Forbidden Zone, his senior brothers and the countless terrifying Emperor's Tomb Restrictions were keeping watch over it. There was no way he'd be the one to suffer.

"Is Eldest Senior Brother still at the Peach Banquet, meeting the Jade Lake Saintess?"

Gu Baishui raised his brows and looked at his junior sister beside him. "Wasn't Eldest Senior Brother supposed to have no intention of taking a dao companion? Why did he suddenly change his mind?"

"How would I know?" Ji Xu curled her lips. "Maybe the mountain was too lonely and cold, and Eldest Senior Brother got bewitched by all those charming women at the Jade Lake Holy Land."

Gu Baishui gave Ji Xu a strange look. "Why are you so resentful about Eldest Senior Brother taking a dao companion?"

Ji Xu froze at his words. Then she turned to look at the shaded grass and fell silent for a long while, saying nothing. No one knew what she was thinking.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think all cultivators have to find a dao companion in their lifetime?"

Gu Baishui thought about it, then shook his head. "I don't think so. Isn't Master all alone, devoting his whole life to seeking the Dao?"

A trace of stubbornness crossed Ji Xu's delicate, clean face. Turning her head, she asked with unusual seriousness, "Then, Senior Brother, do you plan to find a dao companion... to spend your life with?"

Gu Baishui fell silent for a moment and rubbed the tip of his nose. "I think I will eventually, but I don't have that in mind right now."

"I see."

"Mm."

"So that means you don't want to marry yet, Senior Brother?"

"Mm."

"But Eldest Senior Brother plans to find you a dao companion at the Jade Lake Holy Land."

"Hm?"

Gu Baishui's voice rose, and he looked at his junior sister in astonishment. "Eldest Senior Brother? A dao companion? For me?"

"Mm-hmm."

Ji Xu nodded repeatedly, her eyes sly, looking rather pleased with herself for reporting what was going on behind the scenes. "They say it's the next Jade Lake Saintess. She's seventeen and hasn't reached the Immortal Platform Realm yet. The news is already spreading outside. They say the most mysterious Little Mister in the Great Emperor's Forbidden Zone will marry the next Jade Lake Saintess. First Mister gave his word himself, so it can't be false."

Gu Baishui froze, still finding it hard to believe. "Has Eldest Senior Brother gone mad?"

Ji Xu looked completely innocent. "I don't know, but you know what Eldest Senior Brother is like. If he really set this marriage in stone, you might have to dig Master out of the tomb before he'd change his mind."

Gu Baishui's mouth twitched. Then he nodded helplessly.

Ji Xu wasn't wrong. Eldest Senior Brother was stubborn and old-fashioned, as he had always been. He wouldn't listen to anyone but Master.

If Eldest Senior Brother really made this engagement official, even Second Senior Brother coming back probably wouldn't change anything.

The problem was, a Red-Haired Monster was following him now, and his life was in danger. How could he spare a thought for any of this?

"Then what should I do?"

Gu Baishui tilted his head and looked at his junior sister beside him, who was pretending not to know anything.

That girl had the most tricks up her sleeve, and both senior brothers were always more tolerant of her than they were of him.

But he wasn't asking about the engagement. He meant the Red-Haired Monster from last night.

He didn't know what it really was, and his life was at stake.

"Three paths."

Ji Xu held up one slender, fair finger and spoke with complete seriousness:

"First, go down the mountain and head south, follow the Luo River to the Myriad Poison Domain, and find Second Senior Brother to help you figure something out. That's the worst option."

"What's the second path?"

"Second, go down the mountain and head west to the Jade Lake Holy Land to find Eldest Senior Brother. Then have him take you to the Source Tower. The Old Heavenly Master there should know what that Red-Haired Monster from last night is and where it came from."

Gu Baishui nodded and looked up to ask, "That's the middle option?"

"Mm."

"Then what's the best option? Let's hear it."

Her skirt hem swayed lightly. The girl in white, feigning composure, hid her thoughts well. Her eyes curved as she smiled brightly, her face full of innocent, carefree delight.

"Come back to the Ji Clan with me, Senior Brother. Central Continent is actually pretty nice."

Gu Baishui froze. After a long silence, he suddenly grinned. "Junior Sister, I'm a sick person."

"Senior Brother, the Ji Clan is very rich."

"But it might not be able to afford to keep me."

"Senior Brother, I'm very rich, too."