Ruan Xianxian was shocked, bewildered, and confused. After a moment, she uttered a question, expressing her incomprehension but also her humbly seeking guidance:

"Do ghosts also dislike filth? Then wouldn't it be that if you encounter a ghost, you can just jump into a latrine to avoid it?"

The old man looked at her in surprise, "You have a unique understanding, girl. The premise of hiding in the latrine is that you are not discovered by them. Once your enemies discover you, it's no use hiding anywhere."

The world is opening a new door for her. "So ghosts also hate filth? What about those who like to hide in toilets?"

"I guess they like places where yin energy gathers, and besides, that thing likes to hide in the toilet? Who told you that?"

The old man countered with a question.

Ruan Xianxian realized that she had unknowingly voiced her doubts.

She thought about it carefully, and realized that in the horror movies she had seen in her later life, the creatures always seemed to appear in bathrooms with tiled floors and very clean toilets.

I've never heard of any dry toilet having a floating feature.

The few horror stories I heard were mostly just peeking through the gaps in the outhouse; I never actually waited inside or went in.

"So even dirty things are afraid of dirty things."

Huang Er nodded in affirmation, "It's not fear, it's dislike."

Feng Bai coughed lightly to remind her, and Ruan Xianxian finally got back to the topic, "What's this?"

The old man lowered the beaded curtain covering his face. "I happened to sense that some big guy had woken up, so I came to check on him. I didn't expect to run into him like this."

"Girl, bring a table over. I'll ask around for you before we go into the mountains."

Who are you asking? Ruan Xianxian's face went numb again, but she nodded to Fan Caicai, "Besides the table, what else do you need?"

The old man patted the bundle behind him, "I don't need anything else, I brought my own."

While waiting, she glanced curiously at the old man's attire and chatted casually, "With that outfit, aren't you afraid of being arrested and locked up by the Revolutionary Guard?"

The old shaman chuckled, his tone calm, yet Ruan Xianxian could detect an air of domineering arrogance in his voice.

"Arrest them? They'd better dare!"

Okay! Those who got caught, as it turns out, were either on the wrong side or were charlatans.

The table was quickly brought over, and the old shaman untied his bundle, taking out in turn a bottle of loose liquor, rice, and a piece of smoked pork that had been bitten in one bite.

Feeling the sharp, piercing gaze from the military, the old man chuckled.

"Don't mind me, I was so hungry on the way that I ate something. I'll cut off the bitten part, cut it off."

Is this even possible?

The weasel jumped back onto Ruan Xianxian's shoulder at some point. "It's alright. He doesn't invite gods, he only asks the spirits in the mountains to inquire about the situation. Those guys won't mind."

Ruan Xianxian seemed to understand but not quite, when suddenly she saw the shaman taking strange and exaggerated steps, singing and dancing around the long table.

A company commander from the south suddenly spoke up, "It's a bit like the spirit writing rituals from our hometown."

According to the company commander's explanation, "divination by spirit writing" refers to the ancient practice of using divination to predict good or bad fortune before going to war.

Both Southern spirit writing and Northern shamanism share a similar principle of invoking deities.

Suddenly, the shaman, who had been singing and dancing, stopped moving, gripped the table with one hand, and began to convulse uncontrollably, letting out a long howl...

Raising its head, the emotionless gaze from behind the beaded curtain swept around the room, and a terrifying, chilling howl emanated from its mouth.

"At the drinking party, kill them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the old shaman convulsed and collapsed to the ground. The little weasel rushed over on all fours and anxiously circled around the man.

The military personnel were puzzled, looking suspicious and confused. What was going on? And what did he just say?

Ruan Xianxian could only hear Huang Er's anxious voice, "Save him, save him."

The old man reached out his trembling left hand to remove the deer antler hat from his head, suppressed the metallic taste in his mouth, hugged the anxious weasel, and bared his bloody yellow teeth.

The voice was weak as it tried to reassure him, "Don't worry, you won't die."

He stood up, holding Huang Er in one arm and supporting himself on the table with the other. His face was more solemn than ever before. "Your Majesty, hurry up the mountain! It can't hold on much longer."

After saying that, he swayed and collapsed.

Fortunately, Ruan Xianxian caught him with quick reflexes. Feng Bai stepped forward and took him from her, while the other two leaders strode over to surround him.

"What do you mean? What drinking party? What murder? And who does 'it' refer to? Old man, can't you just explain yourself clearly instead of getting confused?"

Huang Er grabbed Ruan Xianxian's trouser leg, tears streaming down his face, pleading, "Save him, please save him."

Ruan Xianxian bent down and scooped Huang Er up, stroking his back to comfort him, "Don't worry, there are doctors at the camp, and Feng Bai has already taken people to treat him."

Huang Er shook his head frantically, "It's not him! Go up the mountain, go up the mountain, save him, save him! He can't hold on much longer!"

The man and the mouse spoke incoherently. When asked, Huang Er could not give a clear answer, only repeating, "He is calling for help."

Seeing this, Ruan Xianxian did not delay any longer. The military team had already been assembled, and at her command, the hundred-strong force marched towards the mountain.

To avoid being disturbed by the white fog in the village, the group discussed and decided to take the mountain road. There was no road on the mountain, but they could make a narrow path.

With his enormous, slightly pulsating footsteps, he pressed down all the rocks and trees in his path, creating a path up the mountain.

The sight filled the hundred-plus soldiers with horror. In order not to affect their mood and the mission ahead, they all lowered their heads and only looked at the road ahead.

In the group, Jin Fei, feeling both excited and fearful, gazed longingly at the slender figure on the turtle's back. Suddenly, he met Feng Bai's cold and sharp gaze.

Jin Fei quickly lowered his head, not daring to look any further.

The scree forest is located in the back mountain. There is a slight path leading along the way, and we soon approach the coordinates. We will also avoid the towering ancient trees we occasionally encounter.

As they drew closer, faint, piercing screams could be heard...

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!