Along the path, I walked up the mountain.
Arriving before a courtyard house, its lanterns lit and walls built of yellow mud.
Stepping inside, I found in the very center of the courtyard, a dark, black well.
The old woman led me into the room directly in front.
She lit a pit fire in the middle of the room and began to chat with me.
"Where are you from, girl? And why have you come here?"
I promptly fabricated a story.
"I am from the Northern Divine Capital. I came to visit relatives and got lost, which is how I encountered you, elder."
"Is that so? Old woman, I have heard that there is a miraculous medicine in the Northern Divine Capital that cures all ailments. Do you know of it, girl?"
How would I know such a thing? I had merely spoken casually, but I still replied respectfully.
"I am usually lazy and indulge in pleasure, so I pay no mind to such matters.
Therefore, I am not very knowledgeable about herbs and the like."
Upon hearing this, the old woman nodded slightly, seemingly believing my words.
She tilted her head slightly, gazing out at the dark night, and said.
"It seems the night has grown late. Could you fetch me a bucket of water, girl? I wish to boil some to wash my feet."
"Certainly."
With that, she led me out the door and to the edge of that dark, bottomless well.
She tossed the wooden bucket lying nearby into it, then said.
"Girl, help me pull it up."
I stepped forward and peered inside, but saw nothing but darkness.
I pulled the water up and carried it into the room.
Pouring it into the kettle, I began to boil it.
The old woman reminded me.
"This place is different from others. When night falls, it becomes somewhat unsettled.
Whatever you hear, do not come out."
Unsettled? Could there be bandits? If so, I wouldn't be able to fight them, so I had no choice but to obey the old woman.
"Alright, I will remember."
"Yes, the room to my left is empty. You may stay in there."
"Thank you, Grandma."
"You are welcome."
With that, she stood up and returned to her room to prepare the bedding.
After washing my feet, I followed the old woman's instructions and went to the room on the left.
The bed, leaning against the wall, faced the window, allowing a clear view of the outside.
I thought to myself that upon waking tomorrow, I would bid farewell to the old woman and head south.
As I thought, I drifted into a deep sleep.
In the dead of night, a commotion suddenly erupted outside.
I, who had been sleeping soundly, was startled awake by the noise.
Dazed, I propped myself up halfway and looked outside.
At some point, the moonlight had become bright and filled the mountaintop.
Under the moonlight, in the courtyard, a group of dark figures were kneeling around the ancient well in the center of the yard.
They were muttering incessantly, then suddenly stood up, hand in hand, and began to dance.
The scene resembled some kind of ritual.
Watching this, my curiosity was immediately piqued, and I slowly got up and walked to the window.
Recalling the old woman's words about it being unsettled, I wondered if this was what she meant.
I stood by the window for a long time, but they showed no sign of stopping.
I couldn't help but wonder if they did this often.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"If you want to watch, then come out and watch."
Startled, I nearly jumped, but thankfully, having been frightened many times before, I had become somewhat desensitized.
At that moment, the old woman suddenly appeared from outside the window and said again.
"If you want to watch, then come out and watch."
This old woman, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, was truly good at scaring people. Fortunately, I had enough composure.
Curiously, I asked her.
"Grandma, aren't you asleep?"
She smiled slightly, looked towards the dark figures, and slowly said.
"When they arrive, I cannot sleep."
"They? Who are they?"
"They were once close friends and family."
"And now?"
"Now? I cannot say for sure. If you are interested, then come out and watch."
I nodded slightly, indeed interested.
Slowly, I walked out of the room and into the courtyard, seeing that the dark figures were still there, kneeling before the ancient well.
Curiously, I asked the old woman again.
"Grandma, why are they kneeling before that ancient well?"
The old woman smiled faintly and began to explain the reason.
"Our ancestors once had a great hero.
At that time, our people were misunderstood and greatly oppressed by outsiders.
It was he who, disregarding his own safety, saved us from dire straits.
Later, he died, and it is said he was buried in that ancient well."
"Buried in that ancient well? Do they come to pay respects every day?"
"Yes, perhaps it has become a form of remembrance."
Indeed, but coming to pay respects every day seemed a bit fanatical.
The old woman glanced at the sky. The night was deep, and the wind was chilling.
She said.
"Girl, you have to travel tomorrow, so you should get some sleep quickly.
From here, it's quite a distance to the main road."
"Alright, I'll be going back then. Grandma, you should also go back and sleep."
"Mm."
Thus, persuaded by the old woman, I returned to my room and lay down again.
The commotion outside gradually subsided. I figured they must have gotten tired.
Perfect, I could also get a good night's sleep.
Closing my eyes, I unknowingly fell into a deep slumber.
The next morning, a gentle breeze, from I know not where, blew onto my face.
I yawned and suddenly woke up.
Rubbing my eyes, I looked up and saw that it was already broad daylight.
Dazed, I got up and went into the courtyard. I intended to speak with the old woman before heading south.
However, I saw some flatbreads and a piece of paper left on a stool by the door.
Picking it up, I realized it was a note from the old woman.
It read.
"I have some business to attend to today. Knowing you are leaving, I've left you some food.
I hope you have a safe journey."
I hadn't expected the strange-looking old woman to be so kind. It seemed I shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
I picked up the flatbread and started down the mountain, eating as I walked.
After walking for a long time, and taking several detours, I still couldn't see the main road the old woman had mentioned.
I scratched my head, full of confusion, and muttered to myself.
"What's going on? Why haven't I seen the main road yet? Do I have to walk a little further?"
Thinking this, I walked on, until sunset, when the sky was painted with evening clouds and my legs felt weak.
Still having not found the way out, I stopped, filled with weariness and bewilderment.
Leaning on my legs with my hands, I asked in confusion.
"I've been walking all day, why haven't I seen the main road yet?"
Just as I was feeling lost, confused, and at a loss,
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"Are you looking for the way, girl?"
Hearing the sound, I quickly turned my head and saw an old man with a white beard.
He was dressed in white, tall and thin, looking somewhat like an immortal from the heavens.
Filled with excitement, I had finally encountered someone.
I hurriedly asked him.
"Yes, yes, elder, do you know which way to go to the main road?"
The old man stroked his beard, smiled, and pointed.
"Little girl, you want to go to the main road? Then you've taken the wrong path."
"Taken the wrong path?"
No wonder I couldn't get there.
The old man pointed to the left and said.
"You should have gone that way."
"Thank you, elder."
After thanking the old man, I headed towards the left as he indicated.
This time, the path led me straight into the night.
As night fell, the surroundings became pitch black, and I couldn't see the path ahead.
I could only proceed by feel.
Before long, I suddenly saw a faint light flickering in the distance, suggesting a dwelling.
I immediately became excited and hurried towards it, running for a long time.
Finally, I reached the spot of light, a courtyard house made of mud.
However, it looked somewhat familiar.
The main gate was ajar, and I walked into the courtyard with a sense of confusion.
Then, I saw the ancient well situated in the center of the courtyard.
I was bewildered, thinking I was hallucinating.
At that moment, the door of the main house suddenly opened, and a person emerged.
At first glance, wasn't it the old woman?
I exclaimed in surprise.
"Grandma!"
She suddenly looked up and saw me as well. She didn't seem surprised, but merely smiled.
"Why have you returned?"
I gave an awkward smile, finding it unbelievable.
"I don't know either. I clearly followed the path someone pointed out, and before I knew it, I had come back."
"Hahaha, you must have gotten lost again.
This place is not like other places. There are many mountains and valleys, and those unfamiliar with the terrain can easily get lost.
Since you're back, stay another night.
Tomorrow, I'll draw you a map so you can find your way out."
"Thank you, Grandma."
I should have asked for clarification earlier. What a wasted trip.
Tomorrow, with the map, it should be easy to leave.
"Come over here quickly."
"Alright."
At the old woman's beckoning, I followed her back into the house.
Tonight, I was again assigned to sleep in the same room as last night.
In the middle of the night, I was suddenly awakened by a commotion.
Groggily, I opened my eyes and suddenly saw the bright moonlight outside.
Immediately, I felt confused.
Then, I saw in the courtyard under the moonlight, the same group of dark figures from last night had returned.
They were surrounding the ancient well, kneeling again.
In the moonlight, I vaguely saw that among the kneeling figures, there seemed to be the old woman.
Startled, I sat up and got out of bed, walking to the window.
Suddenly, I heard the old woman's call.
"Girl, come here for a moment."
How did she know I was awake?
With a sense of doubt, I slowly got out of the room and walked into the courtyard, approaching the people.
Only then did I clearly see that these were all elderly people, with pale complexions.
They looked somewhat frightening.
"Grandma, you... you've come to pay respects too?"
The old woman smiled slightly and beckoned me over.
"Come here and look at this well."
"Look at the well?"
"Yes, it can bestow blessings upon people."
Half-believing, I slowly walked over and peered into the well.
I saw that it was pitch black inside, and I couldn't see anything.
I asked in confusion.
"Grandma, this well is so dark. Does it really bring blessings?"
"Yes."
The old woman chuckled softly and leaned in from behind.
Her eyes held a hint of malevolence, and suddenly, she grabbed me and shoved me into the well.
In an instant, my body, out of my control, plummeted straight towards the bottom of the well.
Before I could even cry out, I heard a "thump!"
It sounded like I had landed on the ground, and I heard the crunch of bones being crushed.
Terrified, I lost my soul and fainted.
In a daze, I heard a faint, eerie voice call out.
"Mu Ye, you have finally arrived."
Following the sound, I found myself in a vast expanse of white fog.
The voice echoed from all around, asking me.
"Are you Liu Mu Ye?"
Confused, I replied.
"Indeed!"
The person suddenly burst into laughter. The surrounding fog dissipated, revealing a void-like space.
At that moment, seven skull heads flew out of the void and circled around me.
Startled, I turned to flee.
Suddenly, the voice spoke again.
"You cannot escape."
Covering my eyes, I asked him with some fear.
"Who are you? Quickly tell these skull heads to leave."
He suddenly burst into laughter, wild and unrestrained.
"Hahaha, then take a look, who am I?"
I slowly lowered my hands and opened my eyes.
I saw a blurry figure appear directly in front of me.
With a raise of his hand, those skull heads immediately flew towards him.
I looked at the blurry dark figure with kindness and asked him curiously.
"Who are you?"
This person, however, boasted shamelessly.
"I fear that if I tell you, I will frighten you."
I pondered for a moment, thinking that this other world was full of strange people.
And considering my own timidity, and fearing he might actually have some power, I said.
"Then don't tell me."
Seeing that I wasn't responding as he wished, he seemed somewhat bored and asked contradictorily.
"You really don't want to know who I am?"
"I don't want to know."
He suddenly snorted coldly, then answered himself.
"You have no choice, I am the legendary and famous, Ten Thousand... Ghost... King."
I found it somewhat amusing and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Hahaha, you're killing me. You're the Ten Thousand Ghost King, and I'm the Peerless Demon Lord."
Seeing that I didn't believe him, he said again.
"Don't disbelieve me, I am the Ten Thousand Ghost King."
This shadowy figure must be a bit deranged. The Ten Thousand Ghost King was dealt with long ago.
Trying to trick people, he's met the right person.
"No offense, but if you're going to make up a powerful figure, at least make it believable.
The Ten Thousand Ghost King was defeated long ago, and by our hands, no less."
"Defeated?"
He suddenly found it amusing, let out a cold laugh, and mocked.
"You really thought that was me.
How naive. That was merely a wisp of my remnant soul."
Hearing him say this, my heart couldn't help but fill with doubt and a touch of fear.
I didn't know his intentions, nor what he wanted to do to me.
"Brother, whether you are the Ten Thousand Ghost King or not.
I have no quarrel with you, please let me go back."
Upon hearing this, he burst into laughter and said faintly.
"It seems you still don't know where you are.
This is your own dream.
Your true body is currently lying in the White Bone Cave."
"White, White Bone Cave."
White, the white of white? Bone, the bone of bone?
Then, cave, should mean cave in the mountain.
So, put together, it means, a cave of white bones.
My heart suddenly jolted. If what he said was true, then as soon as I thought about it, I would see a pile of white bones.
No, no, don't. It's too terrifying.
My heart filled with fear, and I pleaded.
"Brother, I have no quarrel with you, please don't harm me."
He did not respond to my plea but instead said.
"Do you want to know the origin of this Hundred Bone Cave?"
"I..."
Before I could speak, he began to speak sadly, as if to himself.
"The remains in this Hundred Bone Cave are all my loyal subordinates from the past.
After they died in battle against righteous individuals, they were thrown into this hollow space.
Many people died in that battle, and gradually, they piled up.
After their deaths, their resentment lingered, attaching itself to the bones, refusing to leave for a long time.
Thus, it became the White Bone Cave."
Hearing this, I seemed to understand something, and my heart suddenly became agitated.