I sighed and patted his shoulder.
"I have to go save him too. Let's go together, first to Black Mountain, then to save Liu Shinian."
Yan Wushuang politely refused.
"The two of us will act on our own."
Watching my former friends leave one by one, only to become enemies, a sudden sadness welled up in my heart.
This time, since I had the chance to keep them, I would not let go.
Thus, an inexplicable sadness flowed from the depths of my heart. Forcing a smile, I tightly clasped their hands and said,
"I have already lost good friends, and I cannot lose you two. I implore you to stay.
Not for the sake of so-called chivalry, but just to truly live for once."
Xue Gucheng had reservations. Firstly, we were not of the righteous path. Secondly, he had already fulfilled his promise to the elder and wished to leave these trivial matters behind.
My sudden words made him hesitate for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, Lin'er interjected,
"Since you two are going to save someone, and Ghost King also needs to save someone, rather than going separately, why not go together?
After rescuing that person, you can make your decision then."
"Yes, yes, Young Master Xue, Miss Yan, let's go together.
After spending so much time together, I can see that you are rare good people. It's really not easy to be separated from you for a while. Let's stay until everything is resolved,"
Thirteen Niang also pleaded.
"I also want to ask you some difficult questions."
"I have long considered you as one of our own. You are our brothers and friends."
"Please stay for now."
Everyone chimed in, unwilling to let Xue Dao Shuang Guai leave.
The two of them were already somewhat swayed. Under such pleas, coupled with the friendship and righteousness they had witnessed over the past few days, they were moved.
They exchanged a smile, understanding each other's thoughts, and said helplessly,
"Alright, we will temporarily stay until Liu Shinian is rescued."
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
Everyone cheered with joy.
Thirteen Niang found a set of clothes from somewhere for me to change into, and then the group headed to Black Mountain.
Before leaving, they brought back the unconscious Zuo Men, throwing him in with the other unconscious individuals, and then they left together.
Halfway there, Xue Gucheng suddenly remembered something and felt it necessary to tell me.
"Mu Ye, I have something to tell you."
I became worried again. Could it be that they were going to leave alone? I suppressed my anxiety and asked,
"What is it?"
Xue Gucheng then told me about the Drunken Immortal.
"Mu Ye, it wasn't just us who helped rescue you. Someone else also contributed."
"Who?"
I guessed it was someone I didn't know.
Xue Gucheng said,
"That person is called the Drunken Immortal. You don't know him, but the Ten Thousand Ghost King does."
"The Ten Thousand Ghost King knows him?"
I was a little confused. The Ten Thousand Ghost King had not appeared for a thousand years, yet he still knew people?
Xue Gucheng continued,
"Yes, that person is a friend of the Ten Thousand Ghost King. Their friendship dates back two thousand years."
"Friendship from two thousand years ago? Then he must be a very old friend."
"Before coming, the Drunken Immortal had a wish to see his friend again. So, Mu Ye, do you want to meet him?"
I frowned slightly. This had nothing to do with me, yet I was now the Ten Thousand Ghost King.
Therefore, the Ten Thousand Ghost King's friend was my friend. If the Drunken Immortal wanted to see the Ten Thousand Ghost King, it was equivalent to wanting to see me.
Since he had a deep friendship with the Ten Thousand Ghost King and had helped in my rescue, it was only right and proper for me to go and see him.
So I said,
"Alright, let's go and see him."
Xue Gucheng said,
"Good, I'll take you there."
He was actually quite worried, as I was not the Ten Thousand Ghost King, and he feared I might not agree.
Unexpectedly, I agreed readily, which further reassured his promise-keeping heart, and he couldn't help but be happy.
Xue Gucheng led us into the forest, following the path, and arrived at the waterfall as the sun began to set.
Looking up from below, we could see the cave entrance glowing faintly within the cascading water.
Xue Gucheng pointed to the spot and said,
"It's there. Enter from there, and it leads to a paradise."
Warrior Can Yu gazed at the unreachable cave entrance, lost in thought, and after a long while, he said,
"This is truly a place for reclusive masters."
Just as Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang were about to leap, they were suddenly called back by someone behind them.
"Young Master Xue, Miss Yan, Ghost King, I, I can't fly, I can't get up."
Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang turned around and saw that it was Mo Jianli, a warrior from Ximen Mountain.
The two were slightly surprised, unable to understand how someone from the Ghost Clan could not use sorcery.
Tian Lishi also said,
"I, I can't either."
Gao Xuewei also said,
"Actually, I, I can't either."
One by one, the warriors confessed their inability to fly.
Lin'er also said sheepishly,
"To be honest, I... I can't either."
Everyone was suddenly astonished, but they couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Fortunately, a solution was found in time.
Yan Wushuang said,
"How about this, we'll each take one person up there?"
Everyone thought it was feasible, so they began, each person holding another, leaping up and flying into the cave.
When they landed, they still felt as if they were dreaming, their heads feeling dizzy.
Xue Ruyi patted Mo Jianli's shoulder and asked,
"How are you? Are you alright?"
Mo Jianli chuckled, his happiness evident.
"Not bad. If only I could really fly."
"It's alright, I'll teach you in the future."
"Okay, I'll definitely learn."
"Hahaha."
Everyone laughed heartily at his words.
Xue Gucheng pointed ahead and said,
"Go forward, and you'll be there once you exit the cave."
I also said,
"Then let's hurry."
So, the group quickened their pace and headed forward.
Exiting the cave, they arrived at a cliff face. Looking down from here, they could see the siheyuan courtyard nestled in the valley.
Warrior Hua Jian looked down the mountain, seeing a hundred-meter vertical cliff.
He asked worriedly,
"There's no path here. Do we have to fly down like before?"
Warrior Tian Lishi stepped forward and looked down, swallowing nervously.
"This looks even more dangerous than before."
It was obvious he had a fear of heights.
Xue Gucheng said,
"Don't be afraid. We'll still take everyone down like before. We've been down before, it's very safe."
Hearing this, everyone became much quieter. As warriors, they should not be defeated by minor setbacks.
Then, each person took another person and flew down.
I, too, had unconsciously grown accustomed to using my powers, and in a daze, I forgot that I was originally just a mere human.
Before the group could react, they had already reached the valley. They looked up in surprise, but could not see the cliff face from where they had just been.
Tian Lishi tilted his head, smiled foolishly, and turned back to say,
"Looking at it this way, it's not so scary anymore. I don't feel any panic at all."
Yan Wushuang also noticed his fear of heights and slowly walked over, patting his shoulder.
"Don't be afraid, you'll get used to it after a few more times."
He smiled sheepishly.
"It would be better if you were all here."
"Yes, we are all here."
Warm and considerate, though bearing the title of knights, they were so approachable, no wonder everyone liked them.
Xue Gucheng pointed to the siheyuan courtyard ahead and said,
"Alright, let's go quickly."
"Mm."
With that, everyone followed his footsteps towards the siheyuan.
When they reached the door, he proactively knocked.
"Senior Drunken Immortal! Are you there? We're back, Senior Drunken Immortal!"
After calling out for a long time, there was no response, and they couldn't help but wonder.
"Where did he go? He's usually at home."
Just as they were wondering, they suddenly heard a loud voice from inside.
"Is it you, little ones?"
The Drunken Immortal always referred to Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang as "little ones." Given his age, they were indeed little ones.
Xue Gucheng, hearing that someone was home, immediately replied,
"It's me, Senior. We've come to see you."
"I heard a commotion outside. Have many people arrived?"
"Senior has good hearing. Many people have arrived, but they all came to see you."
"That's good."
In a daze, they heard the person inside lazily get up, and then heard footsteps approaching.
Suddenly, the door was pulled open, and everyone finally saw the Senior Drunken Immortal that Xue Gucheng had spoken of.
He looked more disheveled than Master Zhang, with a drunken expression, clearly indicating he drank often.
Xue Gucheng cupped his hands and said,
"Senior, we've come to see you, and we've brought an old friend."
Saying this, he looked at me.
When he suddenly saw me, his face immediately became serious, and his hazy eyes widened and brightened.
I felt a bit awkward. At this moment, I couldn't claim to be the true Ten Thousand Ghost King, so I could only smile awkwardly.
"Greetings, Senior. I am the Ten Thousand Ghost King."
He walked closer to me again, looking me over carefully, and said incredulously,
"After so many years, how did you become a woman?"
I coughed a few times, unsure how to answer. Lin'er helped me out of the predicament.
"Senior, the Ghost King has undergone rebirth, so there are naturally some differences. We heard you missed the Ghost King, so we came to see you."
After hearing this, he nodded thoughtfully, then said with his hands behind his back,
"Come in, everyone."
Everyone then followed him into the house.
Entering the main hall to the north, they sat in the spacious living room. The Drunken Immortal, without any hesitation, brought in a jar of good wine and said,
"Guests are welcome. I don't have much to offer, only wine. If you don't mind, I will offer it as a gift."
Everyone had smelled his wine before, and it was truly a rare treat. Now that they had the opportunity, they wanted to taste it properly.
So they said in unison,
"We don't mind, we don't mind."
Yan Wushuang proactively helped to fetch bowls and set them on the ground. The Drunken Immortal began to pour the wine.
Despite his outwardly slovenly appearance, the house was exceptionally clean. So clean, in fact, that there was almost no furniture, just the house itself.
I couldn't help but feel pity for him in my heart.
"Compared to Master Zhang, Master Zhang is much happier. Such a large room, yet it is so desolate, with nothing in it.
I imagine he must also live a simple and lonely life."
As I was thinking, he suddenly handed me wine and inexplicably asked,
"Have we met before?"
I was immediately confused and turned to look at him blankly.
He smiled slightly and teased,
"Your appearance greatly resembles someone I knew in the past."
I gave an awkward smile, but in my heart, I was calling out to the Ten Thousand Ghost King.
"Ten Thousand Ghost King, I've brought you to see your friend. Come out and chat for a bit, quickly!"
However, there was no response, as if he had possessed my body but I had devoured him.
The Drunken Immortal raised his wine bowl and said,
"Come, come, everyone, drink to your heart's content."
Everyone raised their wine bowls and thanked him,
"Thank you, Senior."
Then they drank with him.
After several rounds of drinking, he suddenly looked at me again and asked about his past with me.
"Ten Thousand Ghost King, do you remember? You accidentally came here then, and I mistook you for a villain. We even fought."
I smiled awkwardly and nodded,
"I remember, I remember."
He continued,
"Back then, you had a good capacity for wine and drank with me for three days and three nights."
I still nodded awkwardly and replied,
"I remember, I remember."
Like a fool, I suddenly felt it was better to tell him the truth, to avoid being asked things I didn't know.
He thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up and said to me,
"Ten Thousand Ghost King, come with me for a moment."
I got up in confusion and followed him outside.
When we got outside, he suddenly stopped and asked me under the faint moonlight,
"You're actually... not the Ten Thousand Ghost King, are you?"
I had guessed he would figure it out, so I decided to tell him the truth.
"Senior's guess is correct. I am indeed not the real Ten Thousand Ghost King."
He slowly turned around, looking at me with complex eyes, and said,
"Then what about him? Where is he?"
"He is inside me."
"Inside you?"
"Yes."
I then told him what had happened to me.
"The Ten Thousand Ghost King and I met by chance, and I made a vow to help him out of the mountain.
And the Ten Thousand Ghost King possessed my body. At first, he could still talk to me, but later, he gradually stopped speaking.
I don't know what happened to him."
After hearing the story, the Drunken Immortal nodded in understanding. He said,
"My friendship with the Ten Thousand Ghost King is indeed quite deep. Every time he passed by, he would come to see me.
We often drank until late at night, and I still remember every word he said clearly.
However, after he was harmed, I never left the mountain again. I wanted to wait here for his return, and then we could drink and reminisce."
I hadn't expected the Drunken Immortal and the Ten Thousand Ghost King to have such a deep bond. He must have waited for him with great difficulty.
Thinking of this, I began to call out to the Ten Thousand Ghost King again.
"Ten Thousand Ghost King, Ten Thousand Ghost King, come out and catch up! Haven't you heard that your old friend has been waiting for you? Come out!"
However, there was still no movement. It seemed he was truly gone.
I could only comfort the senior,
"Senior, I didn't expect your friendship to be so deep. I believe the Ten Thousand Ghost King must have heard your longing for him."
The Drunken Immortal smiled faintly and inexplicably said to me,
"You really resemble someone I knew in the past."
I chuckled.
"I have a common face. It's just a coincidence that I look like others."
"Yes, that person was taciturn. How could it be you?"
Seeing his slightly disappointed expression, I began to blame the Ten Thousand Ghost King even more. If only he were willing to come out and meet him, how wonderful it would be.