The Secret Beneath the Mountain

In the end, we still agreed to make a trip to the Ghost Gate Pass.

Fourth Uncle poured tea and offered it to my grandfather with both hands: "For the next few days, temporarily rest here at the Daoist temple. On the eighteenth, I will help you open the gateway to the Ghost Gate Pass."

My grandfather accepted the teacup and nodded gently.

I was about to take a sip of the tea in front of me, but then I remembered that the villagers at the foot of the mountain had never been to the summit, nor had they ever heard of Fourth Uncle's Daoist title.

At this thought, I looked at Fourth Uncle with a suspicious expression, making him shudder and scold, "Brat, what is it now? The way you're looking at me makes me unable to swallow this tea."

Only then did I flash a smile and say, "It's nothing. I'm just a bit curious why the people below can't reach the summit, and why none of them know your title."

Hearing my question, Su Er also nodded quietly in agreement.

Fourth Uncle swallowed a mouthful of tea and said, "Speaking of those people down there, I really can't stand them."

I looked at him in confusion: "Why is that?"

"They hunt out of habit, slaughtering the living creatures around the mountain, causing the spiritual energy to deplete. I merely used a small illusion spell to prevent them from climbing the mountain and catching the forest animals."

I nodded but asked further, "Then why are they all acting crazy?"

Fourth Uncle sighed: "Karmic retribution."

At this, my grandfather glanced at Fourth Uncle, making him flinch guiltily: "Well... I also used a few Yin Soldiers to harass them, but Adoptive Father, rest assured, they will return to normal in a few months."

My grandfather's attitude shifted completely, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand: "Karma is something that will catch up sooner or later. You don't need to waste your energy trying to act on behalf of Heaven. As a Daoist, you should understand this better than I do."

In the end, Fourth Uncle was lectured by him for the entire afternoon. This Fourth Uncle looked very majestic and virtuous, yet he bowed in fear before my grandfather, which was rather amusing to witness.

Outside, darkness had fallen, and the sunlight had quietly vanished behind the forest.

The air on the mountain was very cold, and each gust of wind felt as if it carried ten thousand sheets of ice, making one shudder.

I walked to the corridor of the Daoist temple and watched the cranes flying back to their nests, unable to help but admire the beauty of the scene. Su Er quietly stood beside me. Seeing that I looked a bit unhappy, she asked, "Are you not happy?"

I shook my head with a forced smile: "No."

She placed her hands on both of my cheeks: "Still saying no? Look at you, your eyebrows are almost knitted together."

My face flushed slightly, and I replied shyly, "I was just thinking about that dream from before."

She frowned, pouting her small mouth as she asked, "What dream?"

I looked up at her, then lowered my head and replied, "The dream at Master Yao's house. In the dream, I saw Sister Yin Xiang telling me to find a way to save her."

To my surprise, upon hearing this, Su Er sadly removed her hands from my cheeks. "I see."

Seeing the sorrow on her face, I quickly tried to comfort her: "I was just..."

She turned and smiled at me: "Just what? Silly, I know you like Sister Yin Xiang."

I couldn't deny that Yin Xiang gave me a very special feeling, like love at first sight. But was it love, or was it gratitude?

I couldn't tell the difference myself.

Su Er pointed toward the moon and exclaimed, "The moon tonight is so beautiful."

I followed her gaze and agreed, "Yes, very beautiful."

She looked at me thoughtfully for a long time. "Sometimes, the moon is only beautiful in the eyes of those who love."

I looked at Su Er in surprise. At this moment, she was like a quiet Lotus Flower in full bloom, both gentle and innocent, making my heart beat rapidly.

She suddenly turned, her eyes meeting mine. "What are you thinking about?"

I said shyly, "Since you find the moon so beautiful, you must also have someone in your heart."

Su Er pursed her lips and nodded: "Yes, I already have someone I like."

Really? I said to myself. It turned out she already had someone in her heart, but why did I feel a bit unwilling? Clearly, the person I liked was Yin Xiang.

I tilted my head and asked her, "So our Su Er already has someone in her heart."

She glanced at me, then turned away and sighed: "It's just a pity that the person I like is born foolish and doesn't understand human hearts."

I frowned at her: "So that person doesn't know you like him?"

Su Er shrugged in anger, wanting to stand up, but for some reason, she sat back down. She wore a aggrieved expression: "He doesn't know, and he doesn't like me either."

For some reason, hearing her say that the person didn't like her made me feel a bit joyful, and I laughed out loud, prompting an angry Su Er to pinch me, making me cry out "Aaa!"

My mood—no, only my mood—improved quite a bit. All in all, I didn't know what my feelings for Su Er were. Just thinking about it made me feel like a scoundrel who loved multiple girls.

The bright moonlight shone down like a halo over this painful mortal world. Currently, I was like a pinwheel being spun around by those Ghostly Souls until I was dizzy.

I only wanted to quickly resolve the corpse poison in my body, and then return to being an ordinary citizen, living happily for the rest of my life.

At this moment, Su Er stopped talking. As if understanding my inner thoughts, she sat quietly beside me. The atmosphere suddenly became incredibly peaceful, with only the sound of the rustling wind, the swaying leaves, and the occasional creaking of branches.

It was already late. Unable to resist, Su Er stretched and let out a long yawn, looking at me with a pitiful face: "Chu Ling, it's late. You should sleep too."

I nodded and smiled: "I'm so sleepy my face is distorting."

She turned her back to me and waved her hand: "Isn't that because of you?"

I only smiled and didn't reply, and then the two of us returned to our respective rooms.