"You mustn't talk nonsense, kid!" Old Zhao frowned. "It's getting late. If we encounter something, it'll be trouble!"
"I'm not talking nonsense!" Fatty Chen said solemnly. "This mountain is called Niutou Mountain. If outsiders get lost on it, they must have encountered something!"
Boss Chu felt a chill down his spine, and even his bodyguards were uneasy.
"Look, quickly! What is that!"
A bodyguard shouted, pointing to a desiccated corpse. Its head had been chopped off.
Everyone gasped in shock and retreated, clearly terrified.
Only Lu Fan stood firm, his expression indifferent.
"It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have come here!" Boss Chu complained to Fatty Chen. "It's dark now, and I fear great trouble awaits us!"
Fatty Chen looked at Lu Fan with helplessness and longing. "Sir, what should we do now? It's getting dark. If we can't get going, something bad might happen!"
"It's fine!"
Lu Fan waved his hand. "Go get the incense."
Fatty Chen didn't hesitate and quickly brought the incense to Lu Fan.
Lu Fan didn't pause. He stuck the incense into the ground and simultaneously assumed the posture of the Bagua formation, appearing quite mystical.
Although everyone present was fearful, seeing Lu Fan so confident instilled a sense of anticipation.
"Your fortune has been poor lately, making you prone to attracting unclean things!" Lu Fan said, looking at Fatty Chen. "You're lucky to be traveling with me today, otherwise, you'd be in great peril!"
Fatty Chen trembled at Lu Fan's words and didn't question him.
Once the Bagua formation was set up, Lu Fan pointed in a direction. "We walk this way!"
"Sir, that direction leads to a steep cliff. How can we go there?" Boss Chu quickly said.
Lu Fan frowned slightly. "Don't you believe me?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Boss Chu was thoroughly frightened and cupped his fists towards Lu Fan.
The others also quickly fell silent. They knew of Lu Fan's abilities, and since Lu Fan believed this path was passable, there shouldn't be a problem.
As expected, the moment Lu Fan stepped forward, a new path appeared. The others hurried to follow, their eyes filled with joy.
After they had departed, the incense sticks arranged in the Bagua formation began to spontaneously combust, appearing quite eerie.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir!"
Fatty Chen took a few steps forward and cupped his fists towards Lu Fan, his heart filled with gratitude. If not for Lu Fan's intervention, he would have been in serious trouble.
Boss Chu and Old Zhao exchanged glances, feeling somewhat fortunate.
Lu Fan not only possessed skills in martial arts but also exhibited such formidable power in metaphysics, which clearly demonstrated his capabilities.
After walking a few steps on the mountain, they encountered an old man collecting herbs, carrying his medicinal ingredients through the mountains.
"Uncle Wang, is that you?"
Fatty Chen approached. "Why are you still on the mountain so late?"
The old man paused and looked at Fatty Chen before recognizing him. "Oh, it's Tie Zhu. You're finally back!"
"Uncle Wang, what happened?"
Fatty Chen had a bad premonition and quickly asked.
"Your ancestral grave was struck by lightning, and your house burned down," Uncle Wang said helplessly. "I wanted to find someone to notify you, but you were in the city, and the village is filled with old and weak people, so it was delayed!"
"My ancestral grave was struck by lightning?"
Boss Chu muttered beside him, almost bursting into laughter.
"Uncle Wang, what exactly happened?" Fatty Chen frowned. "How could our ancestral grave be struck by lightning out of the blue?"
"Natural disaster or man-made calamity, who can say!" Uncle Wang shook his head. "You are the only promising one in the village. Since your house burned down, come stay with me."
With that, Uncle Wang started walking down Niutou Mountain, his steps somewhat unsteady, nearly stumbling.
Lu Fan and the others followed closely, their curiosity piqued. Fatty Chen's ancestral grave being struck by lightning made one's mind wander.
"Old Zhao, perhaps this Fatty Chen did something he shouldn't have,"
Boss Chu remarked. "Otherwise, how could his ancestral grave be struck by lightning for no reason!"
"Who knows about such things!" Old Zhao said with a wry smile, glancing at Lu Fan with an appreciative air.
However, Lu Fan paid no mind to their conversation.
Not long after, led by Uncle Wang, they arrived at a thatched hut. The house was not large, but it could accommodate everyone.
It was already dark, and besides a few elderly figures, there were no other people in the village.
"It's getting late. Tie Zhu, you can all stay at my place!" Uncle Wang said warmly. "It's a bit crude, I apologize for not being able to host your friends better."
"You jest, old man. Having a place to stay is good enough, there's no need for apologies!"
Lu Fan chuckled, appearing quite courteous.
Boss Chu and the others nodded in agreement. Before entering, they had been complaining incessantly.
Now that Lu Fan had spoken, they dared not utter another word of complaint.
As they were conversing, an old man dressed in a Taoist robe entered, carrying a lantern. He looked at them with suspicion. "Why are there so many people?"
"Immortal Huang, you've arrived?"
Uncle Wang hurried out to greet him. "Please, take a look. Are these medicinal ingredients alright?"
Immortal Huang took the herbs Uncle Wang had gathered and nodded slightly. "Yes, these are the correct herbs. Prepare the decoction, and I will begin the acupuncture treatment now."
With that, Immortal Huang walked into the room, paying no attention to the others.
Immortal Huang was quite famous in the surrounding villages, and his personality was notoriously arrogant.
If it weren't for Uncle Wang's persistent pleading for three days and three nights, he wouldn't have come here.
"Uncle Wang, has Auntie taken a turn for the worse?"
Fatty Chen asked in surprise. "This person must be Immortal Huang from the next village, right?"
"My wife might not make it," Uncle Wang said with a frown. "I went to Niutou Mountain today to gather herbs for her, and even Immortal Huang isn't fully confident!"
"He's a renowned physician in this generation. If even he can't cure her, then..." Fatty Chen frowned.
"Who can say!" Uncle Wang sighed. "Regardless of Immortal Huang's abilities, we must treat him with respect. Your ancestral grave matter depends on him!"
Fatty Chen nodded, his expression becoming even more serious.
Inside the room, Immortal Huang performed acupuncture, but it had no effect. Aunt Wang lay as if dead.
After a long while, Immortal Huang emerged. "No need to prepare the decoction. It's beyond saving!"
Uncle Wang trembled, and the medicine pot in his hand fell to the ground. Tears streamed down his face.
Fifty years of companionship, and now parting ways – how could he bear it.
"Even an immortal could not save her!" Immortal Huang stated bluntly. "Please accept my condolences."
"Immortal Huang, thank you for your trouble!" Fatty Chen produced a stack of money.
Immortal Huang did not refuse. He was not only a renowned physician in the area but also a Feng Shui master. Anyone who requested his services had to pay him, regardless of success, which was an unwritten rule.