The group walked along the road back to the outside of the village. Xixi was surprised to see them return, but quickly recovered. Xixi was very thin, just like the little boy, as if he was starving and cold. Xu Yuehuai watched him walk away.
Xixi didn't chop firewood or pull a cart today. He carried a basket on his back, and it was unclear where he was going. He also had a sickle in his hand, so he probably went to work.
After hearing the story, they looked at Xixi with a strange, indescribable feeling, perhaps tinged with pity. "You must be careful when you go up. If anything seems wrong, come back immediately. We'll decorate this place down here nicely. We don't know how long we'll be staying here."
Shangguan Xi clung to Xu Yuehuai's clothes, reluctant to part. Xu Yuehuai gave them a reassuring look and left the main group with Baili Xiuwen. Xixi hadn't gone far when he saw their actions. When he saw that only two people were going up the mountain, his face clearly showed disapproval. But what right did he have to stop them now? Besides, he didn't want to stop them. They were all courting death; who could he blame?
Thinking this, Xixi walked in the opposite direction from the mountain, her face tense the whole way.
Xu Yuehuai walked ahead, with Baili Xiuwen beside her. The two were not very familiar with each other, but it wasn't to the point that they would feel awkward if they didn't talk. "Just take care of your own safety later. Don't worry about me. If you are in danger, leave first and don't worry about me. I have ways to protect myself, understand?"
Xu Yuehuai repeatedly reminded Baili Xiuwen that he was a loyal and affectionate person. If something happened to him, he probably wouldn't want to leave and would insist on waiting for her to come with him. She was really worried about him, so Xu Yuehuai gave him a lot of instructions before going upstairs.
Knowing Xu Yuehuai's abilities, Baili Xiuwen didn't hesitate and agreed, "I'll come back to save you after I've recovered. Remember to give me a signal."
Two people who weren't usually talkative inexplicably reached a consensus at this moment. The two headed up the mountain. Along the way, Xu Yuehuai observed her surroundings, wanting to see if the legendary black snake would come out to see the inescapable trap it had set. This thrill of victory was something most people would enjoy. She bet that the black snake would also want to see the pain of humans being torn apart by spirit beasts. This feeling could sometimes be exciting.
This time, the two of them went further than last time. Last time, they couldn't even get past the door before being chased and bitten by the spirit beast. This time, they walked quite a distance without seeing the spirit beast. Xu Yuehuai couldn't help but say, "This place is too quiet today, it's like..." the black snake has arrived.
Xu Yuehuai and Baili Xiuwen exchanged a glance, both reading the same meaning in each other's eyes. It felt like they had obtained it effortlessly, but at the same time, this feeling was accompanied by a certain danger.
There were only falling leaves or fruit hitting the ground, and the sounds of small animals; there was no danger.
Xu Yuehuai and Baili Xiuwen had already covered almost a third of the distance, but still not a single spirit beast had appeared. This phenomenon was too abnormal; even if the black snake had come, it wouldn't have been this quiet.
For a moment, Xu Yuehuai worried that something even more dangerous might appear around them.
They successfully reached the halfway point of the mountain, the place where the black snake and the little boy first met. Neither of them expected that this time the climb would be so easy.
The idea that a black snake was lurking in the shadows was just their overthinking, but there were definitely other problems in this forest.
Thinking this, Xu Yuehuai thought, "It seems that the little boy was abandoned here before. The signs here are easy to recognize. Over the years, this forest has not changed at all." Xu Yuehuai looked around, and the place was completely unchanged.
Baili Xiuwen pursed his lips and said, "Something's not right here. Be careful."
Xu Yuehuai responded.
At the foot of the mountain, not long after Xu Yuehuai and the others left, a few people began pacing in circles, their anxiety growing, wondering what major event might be about to occur. But everything happened so coincidentally that they passed a peaceful day without anything happening.
"It's best if this room is warm and soundproof, so that Senior Sister can get a good night's sleep after she comes down." Shangguan Xi was planning this. She had arranged everything and now she just needed to wait for them to come back, and everything would be done.
But it's already the second day, and they still haven't heard from them. Xuan Chi and Shi Mu are very worried about them. They sit in their seats without saying a word, but their facial expressions and body language betray their emotions at this moment.
Xixi happened to be passing by and, upon hearing that they hadn't returned all night, couldn't help but say, "Don't wait anymore, they're already dead."
Shangguan Xi and Nangong Yu were both quick to anger, especially when it came to Xu Yuehuai. "What are you saying, kid? If you can't speak properly, then don't say anything!"
Xixi had no intention of arguing with them. When she heard Nangong Yu's question, she didn't intend to respond. She just gave him a nonchalant look. Nangong Yu was completely enraged by this look. He felt that this person was looking down on him. "What kind of look is that? Explain yourself. How come they can't come back? Nothing has happened yet, and you're already making pronouncements. That's ridiculous!"
Nangong Yu spoke with a strong voice, while Xixi frowned and said, "No one who goes to Taiping Mountain can stay overnight and come back. You are still fooling yourselves here. If I were you, I would hurry up the mountain and see if I can collect their corpses."
After saying this, Xi Xi turned around and left without paying any attention to the expressions of the people behind her. Once inside the village, Nangong Yu pondered. Taiping Mountain was indeed dangerous. Nangong Yu might not be lying; Xu Yuehuai and Baili Xiuwen were likely in grave danger.
Shangguan Xi could tell what he was thinking at a glance. "I'm telling you, don't have any of these thoughts. Senior Sister won't die, and she won't agree to us going up. You should stay here quietly."
Shi Mu felt the atmosphere here was suffocating, so he got up and went outside. He took a breath of fresh air and immediately felt alive again. Her eyes were glazed over, and he didn't know what she was thinking.
Looking at the distant, undulating mountain peaks, his mood rose and fell like those peaks. He felt like a useless piece of trash, lacking both spirit stones and abilities. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he had nothing at all.
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