"Ouch, Song Xiaoye, you're a bit too heavy-handed, aren't you? Look at me, there isn't a single good spot on my body!" Huang San complained as I released him from the net, his face contorted in pain.
At this moment, Huang San, covered in yellow fur, was a completely different creature. Those who knew him recognized him as a weasel, but those who didn't might have thought he'd crawled out of a sewer. His fur was scorched black in patches, some areas stained with blood, and his head was completely bald, resembling a receding hairline, making him look incredibly comical.
I pursed my lips and said, "Be grateful! You're lucky you ran into me. If you'd encountered someone else from the Yin-Yang trade, you wouldn't be alive. Pain means you're still alive. Those who can't feel pain are dead. Do you want to be one of them?" As I spoke, I tapped my left hand with the Yin Ironwood ruler in my right, producing a sharp crack. Huang San flinched, almost diving back into the cave.
Since Huang San was invaded by evil energy, the Yin Ironwood ruler, made from lightning-struck wood, was used to beat him to awaken his senses. It was like using a searing hot iron on evil spirits and monsters. To ensure he learned his lesson, I had to be a bit heavy-handed.
Huang San blinked his small eyes, clearly not entirely convinced. He glanced at me, then at Bai Ling'er, lowered his head, and resigned himself to fate. "It's my bad luck. Who told me to be so greedy and almost fall into a trap?"
"It's good that you understand. By the way, how did you get invaded by the evil spirit?"
"It's a long story," Huang San sighed and slowly recounted the events.
Huang San, a weasel who had cultivated for a hundred years, was only one step away from being able to speak. However, this step was as difficult as ascending to heaven. Although he had many years left to live, without mastering speech, he couldn't obtain the "mouth seal" (讨口封).
When Huang San saw the Corpse Rat demon soul, he suddenly thought of a plan: to refine the Corpse Rat demon soul. Since the Corpse Rat demon soul could speak, it meant it had already refined the "horizontal bone" in its throat. By consuming it, Huang San believed he could take that final step.
However, who knew that the subdued Corpse Rat demon soul would turn evil within Huang San's body? As Huang San attempted to refine the demon soul, it directly lunged towards Huang San's demon core, intending to possess it and revive itself. Huang San naturally couldn't allow this. After all his efforts to cultivate to the point of speaking and preparing to cultivate human form, how could he give up now?
Thus, Huang San and the Corpse Rat demon began to fight for the demon core within his body. Initially, Huang San had the upper hand. But the Corpse Rat demon had cultivated for countless years longer than Huang San and was far more cunning.
Furthermore, the Corpse Rat demon soul had consumed corpses for years, and even its soul was tainted with a trace of evil energy. It was this trace of evil energy that gradually devoured Huang San's spiritual power. In the end, Huang San gradually fell into a disadvantage. He could only cling to his consciousness, controlling his body to stay within the cave, preventing the Corpse Rat demon soul from going out and causing more slaughter, which would only increase its evil energy and make recovery impossible.
This was also why, when Lao San emerged from the cave, one of his eyes was blood-red, while the other, though also red, still had a faint yellow glow.
If I had arrived even a few hours later, Huang San would likely no longer be Huang San, but a manifestation of the Corpse Rat demon.
"Serves you right for being greedy! Wasn't roasted lamb delicious?" Bai Ling'er said with a tone of disappointment after hearing Huang San's account.
Facing Bai Ling'er's scolding, Huang San could only shake his head and force a smile. He didn't retort. As an intelligent weasel, he understood the stakes. He couldn't defeat Bai Ling'er, nor could he outargue her. He could only accept his misfortune. If he couldn't provoke her, couldn't he at least keep his mouth shut?
"By the way, Song Xiaoye, you didn't come all the way to these mountains just to calculate that I was in trouble, did you? Is there something else?"
I nodded and said, "Indeed. A little girl was abducted and brought to these mountains by someone. I don't know where she's hidden. Can you have your disciples and grandchildren search the mountain?"
Huang San patted his chest and said, "Is that all? I thought it was something major. Consider it done. I'll give you a satisfactory result before nightfall."
I shook my head and said, "Before nightfall might be too late. The little girl's earthly soul has already escaped. She must have some treasure on her that's prolonging her life. We need to find her quickly. If we find her after dark, she'll be dead."
"So urgent? It seems I'll have to mobilize all my disciples and grandchildren," Huang San muttered before saying to me, "You guys go back first. I'll send someone to inform you as soon as there's news."
"Okay!"
Huang San limped away, and Bai Ling'er also went home alone, reminding me to buy lamb on my way back before vanishing in a flash.
When I returned to the spot where I had stopped earlier, Murong Yun, Su Jiandong, and the eight bodyguards were discussing something. One of the sharp-eyed bodyguards saw me and quickly informed Su Jiandong.
"You brat, where did you run off to? I thought the wolves had eaten you!" Su Jiandong said with displeasure.
I chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I grew up near these mountains. Most of the wild beasts here know me. They won't eat me; we're neighbors. As for whether they eat outsiders, I don't know."
Whether it was a coincidence or the wild beasts truly recognized me, a tiger's roar was heard just as I finished speaking, making them all turn pale.
I thought to myself, could it be this coincidental? But then again, I lived near here, but I certainly didn't have the ability to be neighbors with wild beasts. That was pure bluffing.
"Mr. Song... Mr. Song, that joke isn't funny at all," Murong Yun said, his voice trembling, with an unnatural smile on his face.
"Heh heh, this is just a warning. If anyone else talks nonsense next time, I can't guarantee my friends won't eat them," I said, trying to maintain my composure, though I was terrified myself. I certainly didn't know such fierce "neighbors." Anyone who knew them would likely have been reincarnated countless times by now.
Su Jiandong opened his mouth to speak but ultimately held back. After all, tigers are the kings of the forest. Forget the eleven of us; even if twice as many came, they would just be fodder.
On the way back, I was in high spirits. Not only could I get Huang San to help find the person for free, but I also owed him a great favor – a life-saving one! Hearing that I had found the Great Immortal Huang and that Nannan would be found before nightfall, Murong Yun also breathed a sigh of relief and kept expressing his gratitude.
To this, I simply said it was my duty. However, my gaze fell on Su Jiandong, the implication clear: where was the money you promised?
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about this money. I'll pay you as soon as the person is found..."
It took another hour to return to the small courtyard. Although my body was exhausted, what was more pressing was the rumbling of my empty stomach. I had to find something to eat in the kitchen to appease my hunger.
After searching around, I found only some dried noodles and not a single egg. I could only boil some plain noodles, pour in some soy sauce, and hastily make do. After sending them off, I vowed to stock up on food and drinks, and ideally find a cook. That would be perfect. With a satisfying meal, even plain noodles wouldn't seem so unappetizing.
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