“`
“How did you all come to be here?” Song Wujie frowned as he looked at Chen Mu and his companions. “I only left for seven days, has something happened to Peng Yue Mountain?”
Seven days? A lift of Chen Mu’s eyebrow.
He only discovered Song Wujie’s disappearance this very afternoon.
Then who was the Song Wujie that had been standing in the Cold Moon Pond’s pavilion for the past seven days?
A chill ran through Chen Mu’s heart. Had they been trapped all along?!
He immediately recounted the recent changes.
Upon hearing the story, Song Wujie’s face showed a strange expression.
Snowstorms? Red eyes?
“That must be the snow demon Qing Liu.”
Qing Liu?
“Such a powerful demon should only exist in the north,” Song Wujie frowned.
“Could it have followed along with the Zhongshan Path?”
Chen Mu remained silent.
He hadn’t expected the influence of the Zhongshan Path to persist, even as he ventured deep into the mountains.
“Director, should we head back?” Chen Mu asked, with a hint of hope.
If this person could slay that Qing Liu snow demon, then he could continue staying in Peng Yue Mountain to accumulate Trust Value.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Song Wujie shook his head.
“Qing Liu is adept at Bewitching Divine and can craft snow puppets.”
“At first, it’s quite weak. If discovered, it can be easily chased away.”
“But the longer it stays, the more snow puppets it assimilates, the harder it becomes to deal with.”
“Unless all the snow puppets are killed at once, and at the same time, the ley lines are destroyed, eradicating the source of the Earth Spirit Vitality.”
With a sigh, Song Wujie said, “Peng Yue Mountain is ruined.”
Chen Mu sighed along.
Peng Yue Mountain was such a good place. Just established, with so much to be done, lots of opportunities to earn White Jade.
What a pity…
…
“Director, the underground environment is damp and stuffy, shall we leave this place first?” Chen Mu cautiously suggested.
·
Song Wujie glanced at Chen Mu, “There’s no need to be afraid, there’s no danger here.”
No danger?
If there’s no danger, then why do you look like a ghost?
“With the Director here, there’s certainly no danger,” Chen Mu complimented in a perfunctory manner.
Song Wujie laughed it off in annoyance.
“My injuries are the result of an entanglement with the Cold Moon Toad.”
“Now that the little toad has been subdued by me, what danger could there be?” Song Wujie glared at Chen Mu.
Subdued?
Chen Mu couldn’t help but feel relieved.
He had previously guessed that Song Wujie’s descent underground might relate to the Cold Moon Toad.
Perhaps there’s an unknown Yin River connecting the Cold Moon Pond.
The toad, hiding in the Yin River, tried to sneak back to the Cold Moon Pond and was discovered by Song Wujie, hence the chase down here.
“Director, how majestic!” Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief, sparing no compliments.
Song Wujie looked at Chen Mu emotionlessly, “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I do, of course.” Chen Mu was somewhat puzzled.
You, a Condensing Aperture master who has a record of defeating the Cold Moon Toad, subdued it with your injuries. Why wouldn’t I believe you?
“I knew you didn’t believe me!” Song Wujie had a look of seeing right through him.
“I…”
Find adventures at empire
“No need to say more!” Song Wujie gestured with his hand dismissively.
“That little toad has exceptional gifts. Indeed, difficult for others to handle.”
“But unfortunately, it met me.”
“I am most adept at commanding all sorts of Exotic Insects and Exotic Beasts.”
“Subduing this Cold Moon Toad is a simple task!” Song Wujie spoke with pride.
“Come, let me broaden your horizons!”
Without waiting for Chen Mu to respond, he rapidly chanted a series of Curse Words.
Bubbles immediately began to gurgle up from beneath the water at his feet.
Instinctively, Chen Mu made the Five Ghosts fly backward, keeping a safe distance.
This was a demon comparable to one at the Perfection level of Condensing Aperture; what if it found him displeasing to the eye and swallowed him whole?
The splashing on the lake’s surface grew larger and larger.
Soon, a great toad as tall as a basketball hoop rose from beneath the water.
The toad was entirely white, its skin smooth, with three golden stripes extending from its head down its back.
The water’s surface became as hard and flat as land, and the Cold Moon Toad obediently floated upon it.
“`
If it wasn’t for the occasional blink of its golden eyes, Chen Mu would’ve thought it was a white jade statue.
This toad… unexpectedly has some simple and lovable charm.
Chen Mu sized it up from head to toe, finding it impossible to associate it with a great demon beast that had opened its spiritual aperture.
But one look at Song Wujie’s snowy white face and you’d know, this toad might look cute, but it was probably ferocious in combat.
“Haha!” Song Wujie laughed loudly, “Don’t be afraid, this little toad is very well-behaved!”
“Look!”
Song Wujie controlled the swarm of insects, floating it in front of the Cold Moon Toad, while patting the toad’s head to show Chen Mu.
Then Chen Mu saw, with a gulp, the Cold Moon Toad opened its mouth and swallowed Song Wujie whole.
The protruding innocent eyes narrowed, and on that toad’s face, there was surprisingly a humanlike expression of satisfaction.
Chen Mu: “…”
Damn it! Did the big toad devour its master?!
Just as he was thinking about escaping, he noticed the toad assuming a puzzled expression. Its big eyes were looking around, seemingly searching for something.
Then its eyes suddenly bulged and with a wretch, it spit Song Wujie back out.
Not only that, but it kept using its front limbs to scrape its mouth, scraping a few times and spitting out a few mouthfuls, its entire face revealing a disgusted expression as if it had eaten something revolting.
Chen Mu: “…”
Is it… the taste is off?
He looked towards Song Wujie who was once again lying flat on the water surface, like a dead man.
This scene… it seemed familiar.
…
After the big toad scraped at its mouth for a while, and nudged Song Wujie a couple of times, it silently sank back into the water. Then Chen Mu controlled the Ghosts to float in front of Song Wujie.
Looking at the pallid-faced, eyes tightly shut pretending to be dead Song Wujie, Chen Mu held back his laughter.
“Director Song, as we agreed, huh, ‘What goes out in nine comes back in thirteen.'” Saying so, he started sprinkling White Jade Coins on Song Wujie’s body.
It was like a scene replay.
Sprinkle White Jade Coins, absorb Earth Spirit Vital Energy, then with a bang, spring up.
This time, Song Wujie did not ride on the swarm of insects, but instead his entire body formed into a glowing white orb that enveloped him.
With an expressionless face, he glanced at the seven people and said indifferently, as if nothing had happened, “Let’s go!”
…
The next morning.
Sixty miles south of Peng Yue Mountain, on the northern side of a Low Mountain.
Halfway up the mountain was a small cliff about three stories high.
A gentle stream fell from the cliff’s edge, splashing into a pool below, making a lively sound as it hit the water.
Not far from the pool, grass and trees had been flattened, revealing a man-made clearing.
Eight single-person tents were set up in a circle. A fire pit with grey-white ash and traces of scarlet embers was in the middle.
Chen Mu and the six siblings from Wu Mountain were gathered in front of the fire pit, with Chen Mu saying nothing.
Before long, a figure descended from the sky.
“Peng Yue Mountain has completely become the domain of the Snow Demon Qing Liu,” said Song Wujie, his face looking grim.
After finally finding a place to settle down, they didn’t expect it to be occupied by a snow demon.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but sigh.
He really didn’t like moving around and being troubled.
“Director, where should we go?” Since they couldn’t return to Peng Yue Mountain, they might as well leave quickly.
The snow demon Qing Liu’s Bewitching Divine ability was too strong. He didn’t want to be confused and inadvertently fall under its spell again.
“No rush,” Song Wujie gestured.
“Give me some time to recover, then I will go and test the waters,” he said.
“Even if we can’t take back Peng Yue Mountain, we have to save the person.”
“Director, you are truly noble,” Chen Mu said with an admiring face. “But the snow demon is powerful, and you haven’t recovered from your serious injuries. You mustn’t take risks lightly.”
“You think I can’t beat that Qing Liu snow demon?” Song Wujie looked at Chen Mu sideways.
No, I’m just afraid you’ll die and won’t be able to repay the debt!
“Not afraid,” Song Wujie waved his hand.
“The longer Qing Liu takes to build its nest, the stronger it becomes.”
“Previously because of my deterrence, this Qing Liu only dared to attack stealthily.”
“It has only been building the nest in full force for seven days.”
“Dealing with it, very simple,” Song Wujie said confidently.
Chen Mu feigned contemplation.
If you’re so confident, then I have some doubts.
“Don’t you trust me?” Song Wujie looked at Chen Mu sideways.
“I do trust you!” Chen Mu quickly responded.
“No need to say it, I know you don’t trust me,” Song Wujie waved his hand.
“Just wait, I’m going to beat up that Qing Liu right now, to open your eyes!” he said and whooshed away.
Chen Mu: “…”
Maybe I should run away first…