Chapter 195 Although Achan's suggestion was adopted, the convoy did not change course and continued as planned...

Although Achan's suggestion was adopted, the caravan did not change course and continued along the established route. Bai Zhanhuang, with only a few trusted confidants, broke away from the group and headed towards Guiku Mountain.

Ghost Cry Mountain was not far from their current location; it would only take a few hours to travel there. By the time the carriage reached the Ghost Cry Mountain area, it was already evening.

The sunset painted the sky with rosy clouds, and the afterglow of the setting sun divided the earth in two with light, while Ghost Cry Mountain disappeared into the shadows.

It had been less than three months since I last came here. Perhaps back then, with Bai Xiuming by my side, A Chan only felt that this place was quiet. But this time, she felt a chill in the air.

When the carriage reached the foot of the mountain, Achan and Bai Zhanhuang got off. Huangwu led the way, guiding them into the mountains.

Bai Zhanhuang walked ahead of Achan. Achan noticed that he handed his ring to Bei Huai beside him, who then held it in his hand.

They appear to have removed the seal on the ring.

Huangwu seemed to be leading them up the mountain with a purpose. Among the group, only Achan had the worst physical strength. When they reached the halfway point, only her heavy breathing could be heard from the group.

Bai Zhanhuang turned around and reached out his hand to her: "Hold my hand?"

In the past, Achan was stronger than him, so much so that he overlooked the fact that she was just an ordinary person now.

This seems to have its advantages; at least she is no longer so elusive, as if she might disappear from his side at any moment.

Achan glanced at the hand extended in front of her and turned her head away.

Bai Zhanhuang wasn't annoyed. He gave Bei Huai a look, and Bei Huai raised his hand and cut a branch about two fingers thick from a tree. He trimmed the branch clean and cut it to a suitable length before handing it to A Chan.

This time, Achan did not refuse. With this hiking stick, the rest of the mountain path would be much easier.

But when she arrived at her destination, she was still panting heavily.

They were on the top of a mountain, which wasn't very high, and the top was sparsely covered with vegetation.

The sun had not yet completely set, and Achan could vaguely see that all around were mountains like these, forming a circle that intentionally or unintentionally enclosed the recessed area in the middle.

Seeing her looking down, Bai Zhanhuang said to her, "That's the Gate of Hell."

"It's truly admirable that the Shang family's ancestor dared to establish the family on the Ghost Gate," Achan exclaimed.

Bai Zhanhuang stared at A Chan's profile for a while, then suddenly said, "You wouldn't have said something like this before."

"Hmm?" Achan looked puzzled.

“You didn’t care what humans had done before; nothing they did could move you.”

Achan's attitude towards humans is very cold, and she would never say anything like "I admire you."

Now, she looks more like a human being.

Was it because she became human that she understood human nature? It's a pity that I wasn't by her side when she changed.

"Really?" Achan was somewhat lost in thought. Her transformation began after she became Ji Chan.

She used Ji Chan's identity, accepted her kindness, and also accepted Xiao Lin as a relative. That's why she felt angry when she learned about Xiao Lin's plight and stepped in to help.

Later, it was to break the chains binding the soul.

But as the number of times increased, her mindset and thoughts gradually changed. She began to integrate into the lives of those around her, no longer just pretending, though she herself was unaware of it.

Achan was a little confused. Why did her father and mother leave behind the chains?

In just a moment of distraction, the sun had completely set.

Darkness enveloped Ghost Cry Mountain. Huangwu found a flat open space, lit a campfire, and took out some food to heat it up.

"You must be tired after walking for so long. Let's go rest over there." Bai Zhanhuang stopped the topic and led Achan back to the campfire.

A whole chicken was sitting on the fire. When Huang Wu saw them coming, she gave up her spot and went with Bei Huai and the others to keep watch around the area.

Achan sat on a flat stone to the side, while Bai Zhanhuang took over from Huangwu and continued roasting chicken.

As darkness fell and the temperature on the mountaintop dropped, Achan sat by the fire, occasionally shivering involuntarily.

It took more than half an hour for the roast chicken to finally cook.

Ah Chan eagerly took the grilled chicken wings he offered and started eating them.

Bai Zhanhuang simply looked across the flickering flames at Achan sitting opposite him, occasionally poking at the campfire, but didn't eat anything.

Although the marinated chicken was prepared in advance, Bai Zhanhuang's barbecue skills were quite good, and Achan ate to her heart's content.

She ate a whole chicken wing, a chicken leg, and a flatbread before accepting the handkerchief that Bai Zhanhuang handed her.

After wiping her hands with a handkerchief, Achan noticed that no one else seemed to be eating, so she asked, "Aren't you hungry?"

"No rush, they'll eat when they're hungry after we get down the mountain."

She threw the used handkerchief into the fire in front of her. The flames leaped up, and the flickering light illuminated Achan's eyes. She looked at Bai Zhanhuang and asked, "How can you be so sure they can still get down the mountain?"

Bai Zhanhuang wasn't angry at Achan's words: "Because I never fight a battle I'm not prepared for."

He paused, then asked, "If Bai Xiuming dies here, will you be sad for him?"

"If you can do it, I will tell you the answer."

Bai Zhanhuang threw the branch in his hand into the fire and laughed, "It seems I'll know your answer tonight."

Achan remained noncommittal: "You've prepared so thoroughly, haven't you considered the possibility that he might not come?"

Bai Zhanhuang keenly sensed the unusual tone in Achan's words: "What do you mean?"

"Didn't I say that we broke up just a few days ago?"

A look of surprise flashed across Bai Zhanhuang's face; this answer was clearly unexpected.

"But don't worry, your arrangements won't be in vain, he will definitely come." Achan smiled and suddenly said, "Haven't you been asking me what's so good about him?"

She looked up at the night sky and murmured softly, "He's alright. Even though we've parted ways, I'm certain he'll come looking for me."

Just then, Bei Yan, who was on guard not far away, suddenly shouted, "Your Highness, be careful!"

The next instant, he appeared beside Bai Zhanhuang, clutching his chest, his body reeking of blood. Someone had ambushed Bei Yan from the shadows, but unfortunately, they hadn't managed to kill him.

Achan only had time to glance at him before she was forcibly pulled to her feet and pushed to Bai Zhanhuang's side.

Bai Zhanhuang stood up, firmly grasped Achan's wrist, and his sharp gaze swept across the still calm mountaintop.

Just then, a faint rustling sound came from not far away. Huang Wu was about to step forward when she heard Bai Zhanhuang's calm voice command: "Come back. He's using this as a diversionary tactic."

Bai Xiuming's target is Achan.

Huangwu and Beihuai slowly retreated, warily looking around. The air seemed to freeze. Achan could only hear her own breathing and the dripping sound of blood from Beiyan's body falling to the ground.

Bai Zhanhuang spoke up, breaking the tense atmosphere: "Bai Xiuming, since you're here, why don't you come out and meet me? It just so happens that Achan misses you very much."

Only the sound of the wind rustling through the grass and trees could be heard on the mountaintop; there was no response.

Without warning, Huangwu and Beihuai suddenly attacked in the same direction at the same time. In the instant Huangwu's figure flashed by, Achan noticed that her eyes had turned into a bright green color, glowing in the darkness.

She had sent out demons at some point, without anyone noticing.

Under the combined pressure of the two and a fourth-tier ghost, Bai Xiuming finally revealed his form.

With Huangwu and Beihuai standing firm in front and Yugui eyeing him from behind, Bai Xiuming was already at a disadvantage the moment he appeared.

Achan couldn't see the people fighting in the dark, but she knew how dangerous it was to fight three against one.

A muffled groan sounded, and Achan's heart skipped a beat. She tried to pull her hand back, but Bai Zhanhuang tightened his grip even more.

Bai Zhanhuang stood beside her, calmly saying, "As you said, he did come. Unfortunately, he overestimated himself."

Achan did not respond.

Bai Zhanhuang seemed quite interested in chatting. He turned his head to look at Achan: "Didn't I tell you that he was ambushed in Qingzhou and seriously injured?"

Achan's eyes flickered, and with a smile, she said, "It seems to be getting colder here. Has the seal on the Ghost Gate begun to loosen?"

"perhaps."

"Guess why I chose this place?"

"Why?" Bai Zhanhuang asked with great interest.

"Bai Xiuming!" Achan suddenly shouted.

Bai Xiuming, who was engaged in combat, glanced at her out of his mind.

Just as Achan was about to continue speaking, Bei Yan, who was beside her, attacked her without hesitation, trying to subdue her, but was blocked by the demonic aura that suddenly emanated from Achan.

The hand that Bai Zhanhuang was holding on her wrist was also flung away.

Amidst their astonished gazes, Achan shouted, "Wild Dance's right shoulder!"

Upon hearing Achan's voice, Bai Xiuming did not hesitate. Under the combined attack of Yu Gui and Bei Huai, he took a blow from Yu Gui's claw, and his long sword pierced through Huang Wu's right shoulder before twisting it forcefully.

Everything happened too suddenly. By the time Huangwu realized that the demon eye on her shoulder had been pierced, her demon shrieked and turned to pounce on her.

Having been manipulated for years, it would much rather skin the human who manipulated it alive and grind their bones to dust than be manipulated into killing!

The original three against one became one against one in the blink of an eye. Seeing that Huang Wu was being devoured by the ghost, Bei Huai had no choice but to focus all his efforts on dealing with Bai Xiuming and dared not be distracted in the slightest.

Bei Yan, who was guarding Bai Zhanhuang, rushed forward to help Bei Huai at the first opportunity. Unfortunately, he overestimated himself and underestimated Bai Xiuming.

Although they were both injured, it doesn't mean their strengths were on the same level.

It was just a barely noticeable flaw. Bei Yan only felt a fleeting shadow flash past his side, the tip of the knife slicing across his soft skin, a chill spreading through him.

However, in the blink of an eye, the outcome had been reversed.

Just as Bei Yan's head flew off his body, a thick fog suddenly rose in the mountains. The demon that had been clinging to Huang Wu and devouring her had disappeared without a trace, leaving only her broken corpse, which still couldn't close her eyes.

She may never know why Achan knew her weakness.

The fog spread extremely quickly. Bai Xiuming did not pursue Bei Huai, but headed straight for A Chan's direction.

As Achan was locked in a stalemate with Bai Zhanhuang, two figures arrived one after the other. Bai Zhanhuang reached out to grab Achan, but a blade swept across, aiming straight for her arm.

Bei Huai flashed and took Bai Zhanhuang away in time, saving him from the fate of losing an arm, while Bai Xiuming grabbed A Chan's waist and retreated.

Achan was not surprised by Bai Xiuming's choice, because the surrounding environment had undergone a startling change.

The originally thick white fog gradually turned red, and faint sounds could be heard coming from the location of the Ghost Gate below.

At first, the sound was far away and indistinct, but gradually, Achan felt as if the sharp howl was right next to her ear.

That wasn't the howl of one ghost, but the howl of many ghosts!

Her exposed face and hands were damp, and the surrounding lush green grass and trees instantly turned yellow and withered. Even the ground was covered with a layer of water, which was a sign that the yin energy was extremely strong.

Bai Xiuming led A Chan swiftly through the mountains and forests, but no matter what they did, they could not escape the fog and were trapped in Ghost Cry Mountain.

Finally, he changed direction and took Achan to another mountain, where there was a dilapidated mountain god temple.

As Bai Xiuming entered the temple, he stumbled. Achan's hand touched his chest and felt a warm, wet sensation; her hand was covered in his blood.

His clothes were soaked in blood.

"Your life is in vain."

Achan's voice trembled slightly. He didn't speak, only his breathing became heavier.

Bai Xiuming planted his long sword at the entrance of the mountain god temple, his weight pressing down on Achan, and whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid, I won't let anything happen to you."