After leaving North Wind Mountain, Thirteen Niang traveled to East Purple Mountain.
East Purple Mountain was located at the easternmost end of East Yue Town, a solitary peak within a primeval forest.
Due to its remoteness and poverty, few people from the four cities ventured there.
Even the soldiers of East Yue Town did not enforce any regulations, merely considering it within their jurisdiction in their hearts.
Thirteen Niang had never been to this place before, but she had met the Elder of East Yue Mountain, Elder Hei Yi.
Although that person could be somewhat arrogant at times, he was also very reasonable.
On her way, to find the path as quickly as possible, Thirteen Niang had to release a carrier pigeon to the village, asking them to send someone to pick her up.
After walking for a day, she vaguely saw a person in grey clothes, with several patches on them, holding a wooden staff, standing in the distance and looking this way.
Seeing the approaching person, Thirteen Niang waved and shouted.
"Are you a brother from East Yue Mountain?"
The person heard her and responded excitedly.
"Indeed, may I ask, are you Thirteen Niang?"
"It is I."
"That's great, the Elder asked us to pick you up. I've been waiting for a long time, and I've finally seen you."
"I've never been to your place before, this is my first time."
"Oh, yes, our place is remote, and not many people come here."
When they got closer, the person led Thirteen Niang back to the village.
Before entering the village, she saw a group of people waiting at the entrance.
As soon as they saw her, they swarmed around, asking questions enthusiastically.
"Young lady, you are the first outsider I have ever seen."
"I heard you were sent by the Elder. What does the Elder look like? Is he like our Elder?"
"Young lady, you are truly beautiful."
Thirteen Niang was momentarily flustered by the questions and stood there helplessly.
Suddenly, a deep cough was heard, and everyone immediately quieted down, making way.
From behind the crowd, a person slowly walked out. He was dressed in black, leaning on a black cane, with a stern expression.
Upon seeing the person, Thirteen Niang cupped her hands and said.
"Elder Hei Yi, it has been many years. Are you well?"
Elder Hei Yi smiled slightly and cupped his hands in return.
"Thirteen Niang, it has been many years. You are still as beautiful and charming as when we last met."
Thirteen Niang laughed heartily. She hadn't expected Elder Hei Yi to be so eloquent. In her memory, he was like a rigid old man.
Thirteen Niang said.
"The Elder sent me. I have something for you."
"Oh, please, follow me."
Then, Elder Hei Yi led Thirteen Niang into the village and to the central hall.
Thirteen Niang took out the letter and handed it to Elder Hei Yi.
"This is the letter from the Elder. You will know everything upon reading it."
Elder Hei Yi took the letter and read it carefully, becoming very excited. He murmured.
"Good, this is truly wonderful, truly wonderful."
Seeing his joy, Thirteen Niang felt her mission was accomplished. She cupped her hands and said.
"Since the letter has been delivered, I shall take my leave."
Elder Hei Yi turned around and asked her.
"Are there letters from other mountain peaks as well?"
"Yes."
"It's good to deliver them quickly, to avoid further complications. Then I won't keep you any longer."
Thirteen Niang cupped her hands again.
"Farewell."
"Go."
Afterward, she resumed her journey, heading towards Nan Qi Mountain, located at the southern border between South Sea City and the vast ocean.
However, the journey to Nan Qi Mountain was not smooth.
To reach Nan Qi Mountain, one had to pass through a dense forest, and at this time of year, the forest was eerily silent.
Only the sound of the wind was heard in the desolation, but Thirteen Niang paid no mind and continued forward.
Suddenly, a crisp sound of a twig snapping came from behind her.
She turned around vigilantly but saw nothing. Yet, a sense of suspicion arose in her heart, and she cautiously scanned her surroundings.
Confirming that all was clear, she proceeded forward again.
Suddenly, a whistling sound came from the branches above.
She looked up in surprise and saw a blurry figure, illuminated by the sunlight, yet appearing so dark.
Staring at the person, she couldn't help but wonder.
"Who is that person, and why are they here? I shouldn't worry about them, I need to hurry."
Thinking this, she quickened her pace.
Suddenly, a cold wind blew from behind her. She turned around in confusion, but it was still quiet, with nothing there.
When she turned back, she vaguely saw a person standing under a tree not far away, appearing to be the same black-clothed figure from the tree earlier.
She looked at him with confusion, unsure of his intentions. Since he remained silent, she had no desire to engage with him.
She quickened her pace again. Suddenly, a gentle and refined male voice came from behind her.
"Young lady, walking this path alone, are you not afraid of encountering ruffians?"
Thirteen Niang stopped and turned around again. She saw the person slowly walking towards her.
As he got closer, she could see him clearly. His eyes were covered with a thin black veil.
He wore a dark, belted robe and held a jade flute in his left hand. He was quite handsome.
However, compared to Xian Ling'er, he was somewhat inferior.
Thirteen Niang asked the person.
"Young master, are you not afraid of ruffians being here alone?"
The person smiled slightly, finding this woman rather interesting. He told her.
"I am naturally not afraid, because I am the ruffian."
Thirteen Niang was not intimidated at all. She cupped her hands and said.
"If you wish to rob me, I have some coins. If you wish to take my life, my life is cheap and not worth your effort."
The person nodded with satisfaction and asked her.
"What is your name?"
Thirteen Niang, unsure why he was asking these questions, still truthfully replied.
"Thirteen Niang."
"Thirteen Niang, I have heard this name mentioned by others. However, I heard you are from the Ghostly Clan?"
"Yes."
"You must have an urgent matter to come here. I heard that the Myriad Ghost King has already appeared. Since the Ghost King has appeared, I presume your Ghostly Clan will also make some moves."
This was not a secret, but what made Thirteen Niang curious was who this person before her was.
So she asked.
"Since you have asked me so many questions, I would also like to ask you, young master, who are you?"
Upon hearing this, the person chuckled again and replied.
"It's no harm to tell you. I am Yun Ling's anomalous son, Yun Yi."
"Yun Yi?"
Thirteen Niang had heard this name before. It was said that this person was once a mountain lord of a region, but for some reason, he had ended up here.
Thirteen Niang said.
"Yun Yi, I have heard of you. You were the mountain lord of Yun Ling Mountain. Later, Yun Ling Mountain declined, and most of its people fled. I don't know why you have come here?"
Hearing that someone still remembered him, he sadly began to recount some painful memories.
"It's rare for someone to remember me. Indeed, I was originally the mountain lord of Yun Ling Mountain, but times change, and fate is unpredictable. From being a mountain lord, I have been reduced to wandering the land, making the world my home."
Thirteen Niang also sighed, comforting him.
"Young master, you don't need to be too sad. Since ancient times, nothing has remained unchanged. Since you have enjoyed wealth and experienced hardship, your life has not been in vain."
Listening to Thirteen Niang's comfort, he couldn't help but laugh out loud again.
Thirteen Niang still remembered the Elder's instructions and feared delaying, so she said to him.
"Young Master Yun, our meeting is also fate. However, I am on an urgent mission, so I cannot stay any longer. If we meet again in the future, I will definitely treat you to a good drink. Farewell."
With that, she turned to leave, but was called back by the person behind her.
"Wait."
Thirteen Niang stopped in confusion and turned back to ask him.
"Young Master Yun, is there anything else?"
Yun Yi, with a half-smile, began to speak to her.
"Do you want to know how my eyes were ruined?"
Thirteen Niang looked at him, puzzled, not knowing what he wanted to say.
The person, regardless of whether Thirteen Niang wanted to listen, continued on his own.
"That autumn, the Myriad Ghost King was not yet dead, but it was the final stage of the war between the Ghostly Clan and the four cities. The Ghostly Clan was retreating steadily and then fled to my Yun Ling Mountain. Our mountain was small and weak. If the Ghostly Clan and the four cities were to fight here, our small mountain would be reduced to plains. So, I went out to stop the Ghostly Clan from entering the mountain, but unexpectedly, my eyes were destroyed by the Myriad Ghost King, and they forced their way into the mountain. This led to the ruin of my family. Now, I am neither human nor ghost. Tell me, should I hate him? Should I hate him?"
As he spoke, he began to laugh maniacally.
Thirteen Niang was surprised that it was the Ghost King who had harmed him.
But she knew that the Ghost King was a man of integrity and would never do such a thing. There must be some misunderstanding.
So she asked him.
"Then, what did you do that caused the Ghost King to treat you this way?"
He replied indifferently.
"Well, I merely killed a few troublemakers who tried to break into the mountain."
Upon hearing this, Thirteen Niang's blood surged, and she pointed at him, angrily rebuking him.
"You! You actually did something so beneath that of pigs and dogs! I shouldn't have pitied you. The Ghost King destroyed your eyes, and I think he was too lenient. He should have killed you."
"Is that so? Hahaha, perfect. Since I can't get revenge on him, I'll practice with you."
Saying this, he grabbed the jade flute in his hand and flung it.
Thirteen Niang drew her sword and deflected it with a single strike.
The person leaped into the air, spread his arms like a black bat, and attacked Thirteen Niang.
Thirteen Niang rolled to dodge, and thrust her sword, but missed.
The person laughed triumphantly.
"Hahaha..."
Then he landed, turned, and struck Thirteen Niang with a palm, sending her sprawling to the ground.
The person became smug again, saying proudly.
"How about that? My thousand years of practice are still quite good, aren't they?"
Thirteen Niang slowly got up, took out a hidden weapon from her embrace, and threw it at him. He turned and gathered his energy, deflecting all the hidden weapons back.
Thirteen Niang bent down to dodge, narrowly avoiding injury.
The person was still not giving up. He leaped into the air and attacked with a palm strike.
Thirteen Niang dodged to the side and sent her sword forward. The palm strike landed directly on the sword, and a long "clang" was heard.
However, it did not pierce his palm. He smiled triumphantly and attacked again, to Thirteen Niang's astonishment.
Thirteen Niang had no choice but to take out the sleeping powder from her embrace and sprinkle it towards him.
The person took a light whiff and felt a bit dizzy, his attacks becoming somewhat erratic.
After a few wild blows, he was kicked away by Thirteen Niang.
Thirteen Niang, looking at the dazed, unsteady person, lost her patience.
At this moment, she no longer wanted to deal with him; she had important matters to attend to.
Just as she was about to leave, a long sword attacked from behind, resting against her neck.
Thirteen Niang looked back with surprise and saw it was the same person.
He was no longer as unsteady as before.
Thirteen Niang was not surprised. For someone filled with hatred, he had likely perfected everything.
Yun Yi smiled coldly and said with a hint of smugness.
"Your sleeping powder is indeed potent. It almost made me faint. Fortunately, I have undergone a hundred poisons tempering and am immune to all poisons."
Thirteen Niang sighed helplessly and said to him.
"Since you want to kill me, then kill me. Stop dawdling and wasting time."
He, however, smiled charmingly and lowered his long sword, looking at her with his sightless eyes.
"Kill you? I've changed my mind. Speaking of which, my enemies are not just the Myriad Ghost King, but also those hypocritical four cities. If they hadn't instigated the war, why would I have been defeated and ended up here? Now, the Ghostly Clan is making a comeback and will surely fight the four cities. In that case, wouldn't I be able to sit back and watch the tigers fight, and see you all perish, wouldn't that be delightful? Hahahaha."
As he spoke, he burst into laughter, raised his hands, and turned to leave excitedly.
Thirteen Niang watched his retreating back with helplessness, sighing in her heart.
"I didn't expect that a thousand years of waiting could indeed drive a person mad. And he, by the looks of it, must have gone into demonic possession. It's truly pitiful. If there were no war, he would have had a beautiful home. Alas, well, this is also a kind of good outcome."
After sighing for the person in her heart, she remembered the matter of delivering the letter and hurried on towards Nan Qi Mountain.
She arrived in a hurry just before nightfall.
The village nestled in the valley was now emitting sparse wisps of cooking smoke.
The sunset clouds, like a red lake, covered half the sky, breathtakingly beautiful.
Descending into the village, she was stopped at the entrance.
Several men holding farming tools blocked her path.
The tall man at the front asked.
"Who are you, and why have you come here?"
Thirteen Niang couldn't help but smile and said to him.
"I come from Yan Xue Mountain and wish to see your Elder."
"See our Elder?"
The men exchanged glances, full of confusion.
Thirteen Niang explained further.
"I am here by the Elder's command to pay respects to the Elder. Please inform him that there is an important matter to discuss."
Upon hearing this, the men dared not be negligent and sent one of them to report.
After a short while, the messenger returned, followed by an old man.
The old man was seven feet tall, dressed in grey, with a black beard that swayed like willow branches in the wind.
He leaned on a red staff with his left hand, his face calm and composed, exuding an aura of immortality.
Upon seeing Thirteen Niang, he cupped his hands and said.
"Thirteen Niang, I trust you are well?"
Thirteen Niang laughed heartily and replied.
"Elder Wan Gu, it has been many years. You still remember me."
"Although we have only met once, your free-spirited nature and unconventional actions are naturally deeply imprinted in my memory."
"As expected of an Elder. This time, I am here on a mission and have something important to give you."
"Very well, please follow me."
With that, Elder Wan Gu led Thirteen Niang to the village's assembly hall.
Upon entering the room, Thirteen Niang handed him the letter.
Elder Wan Gu took the letter, opened it, and became excited. He quickly asked her.
"Have you seen the Elder?"
Thirteen Niang replied.
"Yes, I have."
"How is the Elder?"
"Just as he was back then, unchanged."
"In that case, I do remember."
Elder Wan Gu, the Elder, and the other three elders had parted ways many years ago. Now, receiving this letter made him miss them even more. Looking back at the Elder's decisive actions back then, he now realized they were all correct.
Seeing that Elder Wan Gu was silent for a long time, Thirteen Niang said.
"This operation is of great importance. Elder, you haven't seen the Elder for many years. When you meet again, it will inevitably be a somber occasion."
Elder Wan Gu slowly turned his head and shook it.
"No, I think we will only feel happy or excited in our hearts."
"Indeed. Since the letter has reached the Elder, I am relieved. I will take my leave now."
"Won't you stay for a meal?"
"No, I still need to hurry to West Gate Mountain."
"West Gate Mountain?"
Elder Wan Gu thought for a moment and suddenly became worried.
"West Gate Mountain is in the northwest desert. Most of our clan members are trapped there. That place is heavily guarded year-round, so it might be difficult to get in."
Thirteen Niang, however, was not worried at all and simply said.
"Don't worry, I have a way."
"Very well, then I won't keep you."
"Alright, farewell."
"Go."
Leaving Nan Qi Mountain, Thirteen Niang headed west, towards the northwest desert on the western side of the West Purple Kingdom.
The people of the four cities usually referred to that place as the land of demons.