"Who knows if what you say is true? If you ask me, you're deliberately leading us into danger... Everyone else suffered losses, so why were your people unharmed?"
Seeing the idiotic words spitting out of Hu Yuan, I didn't even have the mind to respond. Calling him an idiot was flattering; he was brainless. Only someone who played too many Plants vs. Zombies would say such foolish things.
Hu Sixi didn't believe me either and was about to arrange a call back to have people investigate. But after Hu Yuan's remark, he lost the desire to verify and wished he could smack him to death.
"Heh heh... No need to verify, I believe young friend Song." The Daoist of Maoshan, who slept, smoothed things over for me. He then continued, "You are Zhang Danian's disciple, and avoiding risks, finding yin, and scouting paths are your specialties. I hope the rest of the journey can be safe and peaceful. Do you have confidence in that, young friend?"
"This... I cannot guarantee it, nor do I have that confidence..." I refused decisively. What kind of joke is this? What kind of place is this? This is Qingfeng Mountain, the burial ground of the former Fifth Prince's clan. Not to mention the yin spirits and malevolent ghosts in the mountain, the tigers, leopards, and jackals alone are enough to deal with. This path is constantly fraught with danger, and unknown dangers are as numerous as crossing rivers, as abundant as ox hair. Asking me to guarantee no danger is like pushing me into a fiery pit!
The sleeping Daoist, whose eyelashes seemed to be made of empty space, was first stunned by my refusal. Then, he quickly understood the problem and hastily corrected himself, "This old Daoist spoke incorrectly. Young friend Song, you only need to lead us along the previous route once. We will handle everything else, how about that?"
I nodded, indicating that this was not a problem. I couldn't find a new path anyway; this was my job.
"I naturally remember the route, but I'll rely on the seniors for the dangers at each point." After speaking, I bowed as a junior. Taking the benefits oneself and letting others face the danger is the fundamental principle of signing up.
"Naturally. With us old fellows around, we can protect you."
...
The sudden downpour disrupted the plan to enter the mountain that day. We had to retreat a distance and find a relatively safe spot to set up camp. We would enter the mountain after the rainwater had flowed down from the mountain tomorrow. Rushing into the mountain rashly could easily lead to mudslides; this is common knowledge for ascending mountains.
Wang Defa organized his men and buried his subordinates on the spot. The other families did the same, although their losses were not as severe as Wang Defa's group.
After all, Wang Defa brought mostly ordinary people, so casualties were unavoidable. When I learned that the Hu family had also lost two people, I was so happy I almost jumped up. I thought to myself, heaven has opened its eyes. How can your Hu family, who has committed so many evils, not have all its people wiped out?
To outsiders, my face showed grief. But whenever Hu Yuan looked at me, I would curl my lips upwards, provoking him wantonly. He was so angry that he almost lost his temper on the spot, but he was subdued by a glare from Hu Sixi.
After the rain, the sky remained overcast, looking like another rain was coming. The tents were set up at the base of a steep mountain cliff, forming a semi-circular enclosure with the vehicles. The women accompanying us were all arranged by Wang Defa to rest in the vehicles, while the others stayed in the central tents.
Due to the deaths, everyone ate a quick meal and retired to rest. Heeding the previous signs of being ambushed, the sleeping Daoist of Maoshan and the old Heavenly Master Fang of Longhu Mountain respectively took out protective talismans from their sects and arranged for their disciples to paste them on the car doors. This formed a protective circle. Although I didn't know if it would work, it could at least serve as a warning.
I looked up at the gloomy weather and couldn't help but gently nudge Zhang Dabiao and whisper, "Brother Zhang, do you think they've cultivated themselves silly? It's going to rain again tonight, and they're pasting talismans on the outside of the car doors. Aren't they just waiting to be rained on?" Su Dan Novel Network.
Just then, a disciple from Longhu Mountain passed by. Hearing my words, he rolled his eyes and said, "Our Longhu Mountain talismans are not afraid of rain. You should worry about whether you'll be crawled into your bed by evil spirits tonight!" After speaking, he turned and pasted two talismans on the car behind us, then turned and left. As he left, he snorted at me, completely ignoring my ashen face.
It was so embarrassing, truly embarrassing. I spoke ill of others only to be overheard by the very person involved, and then to be lectured like an ignorant novice. It was truly humiliating to the extreme.
"Haha... Little brother, you're really making me laugh. Their sects have stood for thousands of years. Do you think they haven't considered the problems you're thinking of? The most hilarious part is... you were overheard. Haha..."
Zhang Dabiao's words made me want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into to alleviate my embarrassment.
"What's so funny? Tell this Daoist, and let me have a listen too?" Fang Niubizi walked over with an unfriendly expression. Although no one from Longhu Mountain died, two of their disciples were injured. They couldn't accompany us into Qingfeng Mountain and would have to be sent back tomorrow when the weather was good.
"I'm laughing at you, and you want to interfere too? Aren't you interfering too much?" Zhang Dabiao stopped laughing and looked at Fang Niubizi with an unfriendly tone.
Dabiao had no good feelings towards Fang Niubizi. Back at Li Zuoquan's house, he had made things difficult for us, and we almost came to blows when entering Qingfeng Mountain. Therefore, he had already been categorized alongside Hu Yuan.
Fang Niubizi's face turned red, and he was about to get angry, but a disciple beside him pulled him and whispered something in his ear, which made him suppress his anger.
"My uncle and the sleeping Daoist are looking for you; there's something important to discuss."
"Why are they looking for me?" I asked, confused.
Fang Niubizi's chin was almost tilted to the sky as he replied, "You ask me? Who am I supposed to ask? I've already informed you. Whether you want to go or not is up to you." He then turned and left, as if speaking another word to me was bothersome.
"What's there to be so arrogant about? If that person wasn't sleeping in the car, you'd be kneeling and barking like a dog." Zhang Dabiao lowered his voice, but I still saw Fang Niubizi pause because of his words before quickening his pace away.
"Brother Zhang, you rest. I'll go see what they want with me."
"Do you need me to go with you?"
I shook my head, indicating it wasn't necessary. If they didn't ask you to go, then just sleep and conserve your energy, lest you cause unnecessary trouble by going.
"Alright! Be careful. If anything happens, just shout. I can hear you."
Without looking back, I waved my hand, indicating that I understood.
I don't know if Wang Defa did it unintentionally or intentionally, but the tents arranged for Longhu Mountain and Maoshan were not only large but also well-insulated. Entering the tent, I felt a warmth inside, much better than the tent I shared with Zhang Dabiao.
There weren't many people in the tent, only the sleeping Daoist, old Heavenly Master Fang, and Wang Defa. Hu Sixi and Wu Yun were nowhere to be seen.
I politely greeted them and then asked, "Senior Fang, may I know why you sent someone to find me?"
"It's nothing important. We want to reconfirm the route into the mountain. Just now, Group Leader Wang received a notification from above. Through surveillance satellites, they discovered that mudslides have occurred in the mountain, and the previously planned route is likely no longer viable."
"Mudslides? What a coincidence?"