"Coincidence? You think it's a coincidence too?" Wang Defa asked.
I nodded and said, "Yes. The first time we came, it was raining too. Since the rain wasn't heavy, we chose to go straight up the mountain. Immediately after, we were attacked by mountain demons. After barely escaping their pursuit, we encountered indomitable ghost slaves... In short, ever since it started raining, we've encountered all sorts of troublesome things, which is very annoying."
After hearing my words, Old Heavenly Master Fang and Sleepy Daoist fell into thought. Only Wang Defa, with a heavy heart, asked, "If that's the case, shouldn't we consider sending those ordinary people back? If they enter the mountain, won't they all die?"
I didn't respond to Wang Defa. It wasn't my place to decide whether they should go back or not. Besides, even if I told them to go back, would you listen to me?
Seeing my silence, Wang Defa awkwardly scratched his head, waiting for the two elders to speak. Although Wang Defa took the lead in entering the mountain to search for the Yin-Yang Realm this time, he was actually forcing himself to be the leader.
Once you enter the deep mountains and old forests, who cares if you're from the government? If something unexpected happens after entering, it's not impossible. As an old hand in officialdom, Wang Defa was well aware of the intricacies involved.
After a moment of silence, Sleepy Daoist spoke, "Those mountain demons will be dealt with by Wu Yun and Hu Sixi. As for the ghost slaves, with you and Old Fang here, it shouldn't be a problem. However, with the landslides, the route is a major issue. Young friend, you must be mentally prepared."
"I am mentally prepared for that, Sleepy Daoist, rest assured."
"Mm!"
Just as we were talking, footsteps were heard outside the tent. Immediately after, Hu Sixi and Wu Yun entered the tent one after another. The moment they entered, I "smelled" a scent of blood on them.
This scent of blood was different from the usual kind; it carried a sense of resentment, somewhat like the resentment and curses that attach to an ancient general who has killed many people.
"Is the matter settled?" Old Heavenly Master Fang's eyes lit up as he asked.
"It's settled. We killed all those we could see. The rest have fled into the deep mountains, and they shouldn't dare to come out for a while," Hu Sixi replied expressionlessly.
"That's good. We can sleep soundly tonight."
Hearing their cryptic words, I had a bad feeling and quickly asked them if they had gone to kill mountain demons.
"How did he know? Did you tell him?" Hu Sixi's words indirectly confirmed that he and Wu Yun had indeed gone into the mountains to kill mountain demons.
After receiving a negative answer, Hu Sixi said unhappily, "These mountain demons were blocking the way. They came out with the ghost slaves and seemed to be attacking us. Do I need to report to you for killing these beasts?"
"I certainly don't object to killing them, nor do I dare to object..."
"Then what are you fussing about? You didn't have to kill them." Before I could speak, he told Sleepy Daoist and Old Heavenly Master Fang that he was a bit tired and was going back to change his clothes and rest. With that, he turned and left.
"You've worked hard."
"Worked hard..."
"Rest quickly. I've already arranged for people to prepare hot water. Take a bath so you don't catch a cold." Wang Defa was even more attentive.
Wu Yun seemed to want to hear my explanation, but as a young and beautiful woman, standing among men in wet clothes felt a bit unsafe. Even though there were two old men here older than her father, she nodded, didn't say a word, and followed them out.
I don't hide my emotions, nor do I need to. So when my expression changed, all three of them noticed.
Wang Defa, in particular, asked with concern, "Can those mountain demons not be killed? I've seen them in the animal world; mountain demons are just a bunch of monkeys. In ancient times, because few people had seen them and due to ignorance, they were considered mountain gods. Don't tell me mountain demons can actually become gods."
"I don't know if they can become gods, but when I first entered Qingfeng Mountain, I encountered a mountain demon evil spirit, which was incredibly powerful." As I spoke, I recounted how Li Zuoquan and I fought that mountain demon evil spirit. Wang Defa's mouth widened, almost enough to fit a fist.
"This... this mountain demon can really become a spirit?" Wang Defa swallowed and looked at me in surprise.
"Anyway, I encountered a mountain demon evil spirit. As for how it became a spirit and a monster, you'll have to ask Sleepy Daoist. He's an expert in studying evil spirits and monsters!" I flattered him a little. Although I knew the reason for its appearance, it was better to let the professionals take the spotlight.
"Heh heh... Young friend Song is joking. Longhu Mountain is the expert in dealing with evil spirits! We at Maoshan are only good at catching ghosts and zombies, not experts."
In response to Sleepy Daoist's modesty, Old Heavenly Master Fang of Longhu Mountain did not dare to be presumptuous, repeatedly saying that they were not worthy, and that Longhu Mountain only had a slight reputation.
After the two old men boasted for a while, Sleepy Daoist finally explained the reason for the appearance of the mountain demon evil spirits.
"As the saying goes, 'When the tiger is absent from the mountains, the monkeys become kings.' Mountain demons are also a type of monkey, but they are much smarter than ordinary monkeys. Coupled with their long lifespan, this has allowed some mountain demons to develop intelligence. Although they cannot be compared to normal humans, their intelligence is equivalent to that of a seven or eight-year-old child. When these intelligent mountain demons die, their descendants will find a secluded place to bury them. When a place accumulates many corpses, it will breed yin and evil... It is estimated that the mountain demon evil spirits that Young friend Song mentioned came about this way."
I looked at Sleepy Daoist in amazement. I never expected that this seemingly unremarkable old man, who might even fall asleep at any moment, could guess the identity of the mountain demon evil spirit with such accuracy.
The only thing he didn't guess correctly was that the evil mountain demon had escaped from the underworld. As for the rest, he was completely correct. It seemed that ancient sects like Longhu Mountain and Maoshan, with thousands of years of inheritance, truly had profound foundations!
"In that case, there shouldn't be any more evil mountain demons appearing, right?" Wang Defa asked, slightly relieved.
"They won't appear, but I see that Young friend Song is not worried about evil mountain demons, but about something else," Sleepy Daoist said with certainty.
"If the greatest threat is gone, what else is there to worry about?"
Old Heavenly Master Fang of Longhu Mountain and Sleepy Daoist both shook their heads, almost saying, "Are you an idiot?"
"As the overlords of the mountains, do these mountain demons have a king?"
"Does that even need to be said? In the animal world..." Wang Defa's face turned pale, and he suddenly thought of a possibility. "You're not going to tell me that these mountain demons not only have a king, but also possess considerable strength, right? My heart isn't very good."
I knew he was joking and replied, "You'd better prepare some quick-acting heart-saving pills!"
"You're right. Among the mountain demons, there is a golden-haired Mountain Demon King, whose strength is extraordinary. It is located directly on our path forward. Not only that, but among these mountain demons, there is also a group that I call the Mountain Demon Royal Guard, the ghost mountain demons. They are all enormous in size, and although their strength is weaker than the Mountain Demon King, when hundreds or thousands of them charge forward... you can imagine the scene."
"If that's the case, then all of us here wouldn't even be enough to fill the mountain demons' teeth! How did you get past them back then?" Wang Defa asked, frowning tightly at me.
"With medicine."
"Medicine? What kind of medicine?"
"It's the medicine prepared by that girl you looked down on. Without her, we wouldn't have been able to pass the valley occupied by the mountain demons."
"..."