Suddenly, several more flying knives flew towards Ali.
Ali instinctively shielded his face, and at that critical moment.
A snow blade, glinting in the moonlight, suddenly struck from the wind, blocking the flying knives.
In an instant, a man in white appeared before Ali.
He stood sideways and quickly flicked two leaves, obscuring my eyes.
Then he spoke gently to the air ahead.
"Do not harm the innocent."
A cold snort came from the void, and then the unknown person disappeared into the woods.
The man in white waved his hand, clearing the leaves from my eyes, and then hurried away.
By the time I reacted, Liu Shinian had already helped Ali up.
I guessed.
"This person seems to be someone we've met before."
"You guessed right, that was Xue Gucheng."
Dao Lang said.
I remembered him covering my eyes with leaves earlier.
Did he do that to prevent me from seeing his face?
A sense of curiosity about that person immediately arose in my heart, and I murmured to myself.
"But why wouldn't he let others see his face?"
Liu Shinian overheard my muttering.
He had his own insights into my confusion.
"Perhaps it has something to do with his wife, flying together and disappearing without a trace.
They chose to be carefree lovers, not worldly immortals."
I didn't quite understand, yet it seemed to make a lot of sense.
"However..."
Liu Shinian stroked his chin, puzzled.
"Why did they attack us?"
Dao Lang thought for a moment and guessed the general reason.
"Probably to have a spar. Didn't you forget?
Fifty years ago, you were a big shot known as the number one swordsman in Nanhai City."
This casual flattery made Liu Shinian feel a bit puffed up.
He was secretly pleased, thinking that everyone still remembered his titles.
He smiled slightly, pretending to be unaware.
"Really? Was I that formidable back then?"
Fei Xiong patted his shoulder with emotion.
"Your swordsmanship is still far from what it was fifty years ago.
Don't just remember drinking, you should also remember how to wield your sword."
This splash of cold water extinguished the pride that had just ignited in Liu Shinian.
He weighed the Willow Sword in his hand, unsure if the sword was heavier or his heart was.
Liu Shinian asked Ali.
"Ali, you took a kick just now, are you alright?"
Ali shook his head.
"I'm fine."
Dao Lang looked up at the sky. The bright moon that had been visible earlier was now obscured by dark clouds.
He said.
"Let's go back and sit for a while. It will be dawn soon.
When it's dawn, we'll head to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest."
"Alright."
On the way back, Ali suddenly asked.
"Brother Dao Lang, is the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest not far from here?"
"It's not far. Go west from here.
After crossing three mountains, you'll reach the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest."
Fei Xiong joked.
"The Ten Thousand Ghost Forest is much more terrifying than the Snow Blade Duo.
Don't get caught in a trap and fail to recognize people then."
Ali chuckled, saying.
"No, no."
As we chatted, we returned to the campfire.
Liu Shinian took out his Willow Sword and opened it slightly.
The bright sword reflection illuminated his somewhat melancholic face, bathed in the slightly warm firelight.
Dao Lang looked at his sword and said.
"Something is missing from this sword."
Ali asked curiously.
"What's missing?"
"Sword heart."
"Sword heart?"
Ali and I shared the same look of confusion.
Fei Xiong said.
"This sword carries too many burdens of the heart, losing its former lightness and unrestrained spirit."
Fei Xiong seemed to be talking about the sword, but in reality, he was talking about the person.
Liu Shinian's thoughts had long since shifted from the sword to elsewhere, so how could he have a sword heart?
I asked curiously.
"If the sword heart is lost, can it be found again?"
Ali was equally curious.
Dao Lang looked at the starry sky and smiled slightly, saying.
"Yes, as long as he retrieves his heart, his sword heart will return."
"Retrieve it? How?"
I pressed.
"That depends on him."
Saying this, his gaze involuntarily fell on Liu Shinian.
We also turned our gaze to him.
With a "clang," Liu Shinian closed his sword and slowly stood up.
"Call me when it's time to leave. I'll go rest in the trees."
Ali asked him.
"Brother Liu, do you want me to accompany you?"
He waved his hand.
"No need."
Watching Liu Shinian's retreating back, Dao Lang sighed helplessly and shook his head.
"A heart ailment requires a heart cure; the one who tied the bell must untie it."
I guessed that the heart ailment Dao Lang was referring to was Liu Shinian's master, Liu Xianshi.
Ali poked at the flames, idle.
Dao Lang suddenly said.
"Mu Ye, Ali, do you remember when we were in Nanshan?"
Ali looked up and smiled.
"I remember. Back then, you were still kidnappers who also did ransom."
Speaking of this, Fei Xiong couldn't help but praise themselves.
"We weren't just kidnappers; we could also be great thieves, escorts, merchants, and envoys."
Ali and I looked at him in disbelief, never expecting their business to be so extensive.
"How do you know how to do everything?"
I gave an awkward smile, wondering if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Seeing our slight panic, Fei Xiong laughed heartily and explained.
"Don't be afraid. We are good friends now and won't do anything to you.
Actually, my second brother and I are not bad people.
We mostly do what we want to do, and we often rob the rich to help the poor."
Hearing him say this, I felt a little more at ease.
After chatting for an unknown length of time, the sky gradually showed the color of fish belly white.
A red sun also rose from the opposite mountain.
The distant sky was instantly dyed a bloody red.
Dao Lang looked at the gradually brightening sky and said.
"Alright, it's time for us to go. Who will go call Liu Shinian?"
Ali volunteered.
"I'll go."
"Okay, hurry."
Ali nodded and quickly ran to a large green tree not far away.
Looking up, he saw Liu Shinian lying lazily on a branch.
Ali cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to him.
"Brother Liu, it's time to go!"
Liu Shinian turned his head and replied, "Okay."
Then he flipped down from the tree.
However, strangely, as soon as dawn broke.
The villagers who had disappeared yesterday inexplicably reappeared under the eaves.
One by one, they stared with curious, wide eyes.
Looking at us with the same strangeness they looked at us.
At this moment, an old man enthusiastically came forward and invited us to be guests at his home.
During the conversation, Dao Lang inquired about the village's situation.
The old man stammered, unwilling to answer directly, only saying.
"A while ago, many people came, saying they were going to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest.
The Ten Thousand Ghost Forest is not a place for ordinary people; it is the territory of evil spirits.
They haven't returned yet, and it's likely they are lost in the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest.
As for the village, I heard that people have been disappearing for no reason lately.
Everyone is very scared, so they are hiding."
Only then did we understand why the villagers were not seen.
The old man asked us.
"I see you are not here for leisure, are you?
Are you also going to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest like the people before?"
Dao Lang nodded slightly.
"Old man, you guessed correctly, we are indeed going to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest."
The old man heard this and shook his head.
"That's not a place for humans. I advise you to go back.
Lest you die innocently."
"What the old man says is true, but we are under orders to go.
We still have to go to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest."
"Since you are going, I won't stop you.
However, I wonder how those people before are doing?"
"They are all renowned experts, they should be fine."
Liu Shinian was not interested in these matters.
He called Ali and went to the roadside outside the courtyard, not knowing what they were going to do.
The passing girls, perhaps for the first time.
Seeing two such handsome and unreserved young men.
They couldn't help but be curious, casting admiring glances.
Liu Shinian was not shy at all, he jumped into the middle of the road and stopped them.
He then revealed his lewd and flirtatious face and teased them.
"I see that all you sisters and younger sisters are as beautiful as the moon and shy flowers, pure and lovely.
Let me guess if you are married?"
"You are married."
Liu Shinian pointed to a girl with a small yellow flower tucked behind her ear, her face flushed with shyness.
She was holding another girl's arm.
When the girl heard him say this, her face immediately turned red, and she subtly dodged back.
A group of young girls giggled and explained for her.
"She is not yet."
Liu Shinian touched his nose, feigning embarrassment.
"Ah, how could that be? It seems I guessed wrong.
It's all the fault of this girl being too beautiful, which led me to misjudge. Let me guess someone else."
He pointed to a plainly dressed woman with a few freckles on her face to the left.
"I guess this girl must be married."
Seeing that he had guessed wrong again, the group of young girls couldn't help but cover their faces and laugh, shaking their heads and saying.
"You guessed wrong again."
I was in the room when I suddenly heard the noise outside and curiously walked out into the courtyard.
I saw a crowd gathered on the path in front of the courtyard gate, and it was a group of young girls.
I saw Liu Shinian standing in front of the girls, teasing them with a lecherous smile.
I was speechless and quickly walked behind him, exposing his trick.
"Girls, this person is actually a flirt and loves to deceive people."
The girls looked over in surprise, and Liu Shinian also turned to see me.
Liu Shinian was unhurried, and with a hint of smugness, he explained to the girls.
"I'm telling you, this girl has always liked me and has been pursuing me for a long time.
I didn't agree, so she pestered me relentlessly.
Wherever I go, she goes, she's truly troublesome."
"Liu Shinian, what are you talking about!"
I kicked him, and he dodged to the side, still speaking with a sharp tongue.
"See? You're embarrassed.
Liu Mu Ye, let me tell you, I will never fall in love with you, so give up on that."
I looked at him with disdain and said speechlessly.
"You're addicted to acting and talking nonsense again."
Saying this, I threw a punch at him, about to hit him.
Liu Shinian didn't dodge or evade, catching it with one hand and instructing the girls.
"Don't you girls learn from her. This is a typical shrew, the kind that can take a beating."
"Liu Shinian, you!"
"You, you, you, say it later, I have important matters to attend to."
Saying this, he flung me aside.
Then he pulled Ali over and introduced him to the girls.
"This is Ali, my good brother.
Look at him, he's fair and tender, petite and cute, handsome and talented, and still unmarried.
If you like him, you can get to know him."
"Liu Shinian, you are shameless."
I said indignantly from the side, pointing at him.
Liu Shinian heard the scolding, bent down, tilted his head, and squinted one eye.
"What's it to you? Go aside."
"You!!! Hmph!"
I ignored him and went straight back into the courtyard.
The young girls found Liu Shinian both novel and fun, and they all crowded around him.
They actually believed his words, surrounded him and Ali, and asked Ali.
"How old are you?"
"Where are you from?"
"What kind of girls do you like?"
Ali smiled awkwardly, wanting to escape, but Liu Shinian grabbed him.
Liu Shinian whispered in his ear.
"Don't leave yet, cooperate with me for a bit."
Ali guessed that Liu Shinian might have discovered something, so he braced himself and stayed.
Seeing that the girls were excited and joyful, Liu Shinian pretended to ask casually.
"We entered the village yesterday, why didn't we see you? Where did you go?"
As soon as the girls heard him mention this, they all fell silent.
As if they had some unspeakable secret, they quickly ran away.
"Why did they all leave?"
Ali was full of confusion.
Liu Shinian looked at the retreating figures of the girls and guessed.
"Why did they run away so quickly when I mentioned this?
Could there be some unspeakable secret here?"
Ali also found it suspicious.
"I guess they knew when we entered the village yesterday."
Ali's words piled up the mystery again.
Liu Shinian murmured to himself.
"If they knew, why did they only come out today?"
"Perhaps there's another secret, but.
I guess it's not related to our purpose."
Liu Shinian also thought he had a point and decisively guessed that there must be something fishy going on.
However, it was not easy to investigate anything. The most important thing now was to go to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest to rescue people.
"Alright, let's not worry about this for now. Let's go back."
"Mm."
As soon as the two entered the courtyard, they saw Mu Ye sitting alone on a stone bench in the courtyard, sulking.
Liu Shinian walked over with Ali slung over his shoulder and leaned down to ask.
"What's wrong, are you angry?"
I turned my head away and ignored him. Liu Shinian found my demeanor somewhat amusing.
He then pushed Ali in front of me.
"Here you go, I didn't sell him to anyone else."
"You!"
I turned back, about to reprimand him, but seeing his grinning face, I broke down in an instant.
I burst out laughing.
"I knew you weren't angry."
I snorted proudly and stood up from the stone bench.
I grabbed Ali and accused Liu Shinian.
"Liu Shinian, you scoundrel, scoundrel, scoundrel."
"Scoundrel, hahaha."
He covered his mouth and laughed, looking at me with the expression one would use for a child.
"Alright, alright, I'm a scoundrel, are you happier now?"
I snorted proudly and wanted to say a few more words to him.
But for some reason, I couldn't recall the words.
Fei Xiong walked out of the house and saw the three of us gathered around the stone table.
Laughing and talking, he asked curiously.
"What's so happy about?"
Liu Shinian turned around and saw him coming, then said.
"Nothing, just chatting."
"Oh."
"Where is Brother Dao Lang?"
"He's still inside chatting with the old man.
The old man wants us to have a simple meal before leaving."
"Did you accept?"
"The old man's hospitality was too gracious to refuse, so we had to accept."
"It's fine, it's good to have food."
"Yes, once we enter the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest, we won't have anything."
Meanwhile, inside the house, Dao Lang was inquiring about recent events with the old man.
"I heard that people have been going missing recently, and have people in the village also gone missing?"
"Yes, the eldest son of the Er'er family on the left side of the village.
He went up the mountain to chop wood two months ago and hasn't returned.
Old Zhao's granddaughter at the head of the village also disappeared inexplicably half a month ago."
"Did you look for them?"
"Yes, everyone in the village, men and women, old and young, lit torches and went up the mountain. They searched night after night.
Still, no one was found. I heard that the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts has revived.
He captured people to suck their blood and eat their flesh, which scared us so much that we didn't dare to go out.
We can only stay at home honestly, and hide as soon as it gets dark."
"I see."
This matter, as rumored by the masses, was the resurgence of the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts and the renewed rampage of the Ghost Clan.
However, Dao Lang thought that things were far from that simple.