In the lands of Middle Earth, two hundred leagues to the north of the Mount Xianyong, rises the towering and foreboding Peak of Huqi (Note 1). Gazing upward from its base, one sees a landscape of rugged cliffs and treacherous slopes. Yet, this entire mountain is utterly barren, devoid of even the slightest hint of vegetation. To the left of the mountain, a river emerges from the depths of the earth, gathering the subterranean springs into a stream known as the Sheng Water. It flows northeast, its tributaries multiplying, until it merges with the larger Fen River some three hundred leagues away. Ancient legends tell that within this river, there lies an abundance of a rare, azure jade, but no one has ever set eyes upon it.
The headquarters of the Ghost King Sect, one of the three great factions of the Demon Sect, was built deep within the hard, unyielding rock of this mountain, hidden from the world’s prying eyes. Under the guidance of Gui Li, Bai Xiao and the Great Shaman had journeyed for fifteen days, finally arriving at this desolate place.
Due to the Great Shaman’s frail condition, they were forced to travel on foot. During the arduous journey, Gui Li had even hired a carriage for the shaman to rest in.
The long, exhausting journey had left them all weary and dusty, but the Great Shaman and Gui Li showed it in very different ways.
Gui Li’s injuries were gradually healing, perhaps due to his youth.
In contrast, the Great Shaman’s appearance grew increasingly haggard. Compared to when they had departed from the Nanjiang QiLiDong fifteen days ago, he now seemed even more weakened, his face ashen and gray. Since entering the mountain pass where carriages could no longer traverse, he had to walk, leaning heavily on Gui Li and Bai Xiao. His breaths came in short, labored gasps, his strength utterly depleted. Gui Li’s heart was filled with anxiety, sometimes even dread: if they did not reach the Huqi Mountain soon, and the Great Shaman perished en route, the regret would haunt him for life.
Fortunately, by midday, under the warm sunlight, the three of them finally caught sight of the barren peak of the Huqi Mountain.
They paused, and though they had not yet reached the Huqi Mountain, Gui Li felt a sense of relief. Turning to the Great Shaman, he said, “Elder, the desolate mountain ahead is our destination. If we continue on for a while longer, we should reach the foot of the mountain by nightfall.”
The Great Shaman sighed deeply, gazing at the mountain before him, and smiled wearily, “Don’t worry, young man. I will not die before I see your slumbering friend.”
Gui Li was taken aback, and then, with a hint of apology, he said softly, “Elder, I didn’t mean to…”
The Great Shaman’s aged eyes returned to him, and he patted Gui Li’s shoulder, smiling and shaking his head, “I meant no offense. In your place, I would be even more anxious.”
Gui Li fell silent, smiling slightly, “Elder, we have been walking for a long time. Let’s rest here for a while. We still have a bit of a journey ahead.”
The Great Shaman, looking genuinely tired, nodded and, with Gui Li’s help, found a relatively flat stone by the side of the path to sit on.
“Squeak, squeak!” Little Gray, who had been perched on Gui Li’s shoulder, called out twice and leapt down, landing on the ground. Throughout their journey, Little Gray had shown the most spirit, never showing any signs of fatigue.
Now, the monkey looked around, seeing sparse forests on either side of the road. After calling out twice, he darted into the woods, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Gui Li glanced in the direction Little Gray had gone, not particularly concerned. He turned back, intending to find a stone to rest on. Though the severe wounds he had suffered in the Nanjiang QiLiDong had not damaged his bones, they were still healing, and his right shoulder still ached. He gently touched the wound on his right shoulder, and the image of Li Xun from the Fragrant Valley flashed before his eyes, followed by a cold snort in his heart.
But a moment later, another figure appeared behind Li Xun—a slender, snow-clad figure…
Gui Li shook his head, feeling a sense of bewilderment. Just as he was lost in thought, Bai Xiao’s voice suddenly sounded beside him, “Why is the Huqi Mountain so desolate? I haven’t seen a single plant or tree here.”
Gui Li frowned, “It has always been like this since I first arrived.”
Bai Xiao stood beside him, silent for a moment, then shook her head, “When I left this place, the Huqi Mountain was lush and verdant, very different from what it is now.”
Gui Li shook his head, “I don’t know why.”
Bai Xiao sighed, turning away without saying anything further.
Gui Li glanced at her, knowing she had a deep connection to the Huqi Mountain, having lived here with the fox spirits a thousand years ago. But he didn’t know what to say, and in his current state of mind, he didn’t want to speak much.
The thought of Bi Yao being somewhere in those mountains, and the possibility that she might be resurrected tomorrow, filled him with a rush of excitement, banishing all other thoughts.
After a short rest, as the Great Shaman’s strength partially recovered, Gui Li led the two of them forward, though in reality, he was mainly supporting the Great Shaman.
Bai Xiao walked ahead, her face calm and expressionless, but she seemed to be gradually growing familiar with the surroundings. At first, she asked Gui Li for directions or waited for him to take the lead. Gradually, however, her memories of the past began to resurface, and she naturally took on the role of the guide, leading the way through the mountain paths.
Little Gray, having returned from the woods, held a few wild fruits in his hands, munching on them.
Behind Little Gray, a large wine bag hung, stolen from the Miao people in the south. Originally, there had been two bags, but over the journey, the monkey had developed a taste for the alcohol, and over the fifteen days, he had finished a whole bag of strong liquor, never getting too drunk.
Seeing the monkey constantly dragging the wine bag around, Bai Xiao had sewn a strap onto it, allowing Little Gray to carry it more easily. This delighted the monkey, who now ran around with the wine bag on his back.
The three of them, plus the monkey, continued their journey, each lost in their own thoughts, with the sound of Little Gray eating in the background.
As the sun began to set and the sky darkened, they finally reached the foot of the Huqi Mountain just as twilight approached.
Almost simultaneously, the Great Shaman and Bai Xiao both felt a shock. The Great Shaman, sensing something, glanced at Bai Xiao, whispering, “Do you feel it too?”
Bai Xiao’s delicate brows furrowed. With her thousand years of cultivation as a fox spirit, her spiritual senses were extremely acute. Almost as soon as they arrived at the foot of the Huqi Mountain, she sensed a strong, ominous aura emanating from the seemingly ordinary desolation of the mountain.
This aura was so powerful that even she, with her high level of cultivation, felt a sense of unease. Further sensing revealed that there were two other faint, weakening spiritual energies, which, though reluctant, seemed to submit to the oppressive aura.
There must be a great secret hidden within this mountain!
Bai Xiao quickly composed herself, glancing at the Great Shaman. She hadn’t expected this old, seemingly near-death man to have such sharp senses. It seemed that the witchcraft of the south had its unique strengths.
She nodded slowly, lowering her voice, “Such a heavy aura of evil!”
The Great Shaman fell silent for a moment, then nodded. Both of them turned to look at Gui Li, only to see a strange expression on his face.
In his sleeve, the black Soul Devourer suddenly glowed, its blood-red light pulsating and visible even through the fabric.
Gui Li slowly took out the Soul Devourer, holding it in front of him. The front of the magic staff, the Bloodthirsty Pearl, glowed with an unusual red light, layers of crimson radiance slowly emanating, and the blood vessels on the pearl became clearly visible. A wave of cold, slightly exhilarating energy coursed through his body, starting from his wrist.
Gui Li’s gaze deepened as he looked up at the mountain, his eyes flashing with a strange light.
This was a sign of the Bloodthirsty Pearl’s intense hunger for blood!
To him, this was already a familiar sensation.
The Ghost King himself stood at the entrance of the Ghost King Sect, hidden behind a massive boulder, waiting to greet them. It was easy to imagine how important the Great Shaman was to him.
When the three of them appeared, the Ghost King gave a casual nod to Gui Li, then quickly walked to the Great Shaman, briefly examining him, his face showing a hint of surprise, “Master, your health…”
The Great Shaman smiled lightly, “An old, dying man like me has a fate decreed by the heavens. I am here to do my part. Whether it succeeds or not, it is up to destiny.”
The Ghost King bowed deeply, his voice solemn, “Master, you are a revered sage. I will not speak in pleasantries. You have traveled far, and it is late tonight. Please stay in this mountain cave for the night and rest. We will discuss matters further tomorrow.”
The Great Shaman nodded, his expression clearly showing his exhaustion.
The Ghost King waved, and someone rushed over to assist the Great Shaman inside. Everyone made way, and soon, the Great Shaman’s figure disappeared into the mountain.
The Ghost King slowly turned, and in front of him, besides Gui Li, stood an unusually enchanting woman. As for Little Gray, he was spinning his three eyes, surveying the crowd.
The Ghost King’s gaze lingered on Little Gray, then on Bai Xiao, and finally returned to the young man before him.
“You are injured?” the Ghost King said slowly.
Gui Li remained silent, merely nodding.
The atmosphere between the two men was strangely tense. For ten years, the Ghost King had meticulously trained Gui Li, but a deep, invisible chasm seemed to separate them.
Behind the Ghost King stood Qinglong, Yooji, and many other disciples.
Gui Li’s gaze swept over the faces, recognizing many of them—people he had brought into the Ghost King Sect after destroying smaller factions. Among them were the elders from the former Lianxuetang, including Nian Laodeng.
Only Ye Guo Dao Ren was missing, possibly still wandering with the fortune-telling Zhou Yixian and his granddaughter.
The power of the Ghost King Sect seemed to be growing.
The mountain wind blew, rustling someone’s robes. Deep within the mountain, a dark shadow seemed to move, barely visible.
Gui Li’s gaze returned, though he couldn’t see clearly, he knew who was in the shadows—Ghost Master!
This mysterious figure always hid in the darkness, lurking behind the Ghost King.
“This lady, is she a friend of yours? Did you bring her here?” the Ghost King asked indifferently, his face betraying no emotion.
Gui Li hesitated, “She says she is an old friend of yours, come to visit.”
The Ghost King was taken aback, this answer was unexpected. He looked at Bai Xiao again, trying to remember when he had met such a woman, and then said in surprise, “Have we met before, Miss?”
Bai Xiao stepped forward, sighed, and then smiled, “Is Xiao Chi still doing well? Is she still the same, often spacing out and staring at flowers until she becomes dazed and silly?”
The Ghost King was shocked, a rare expression of surprise on his face. Not only him, but even Qinglong and Yooji, who had followed him for years, changed their expressions, disbelief written on their faces.
The Ghost King stared at Bai Xiao, asking, “Who are you, and how do you know… Xiao Chi?”
Bai Xiao’s gaze wandered, looking up at the mountain, which loomed desolately in the twilight, exuding a sense of melancholy.
How much time had slipped through their fingers like sand…
“Do you remember,” she murmured, “the origin of this mountain’s name?”
The Ghost King’s eyes lit up, but his surprise grew, “Are you… Bai…”
Bai Xiao said simply, “I am Baihu!”
The wind howled, lifting the dust from the ground, carrying it silently into the distance.
In a secluded stone chamber, the furnishings were simple: a table, chairs, and a humble bed. This was the bedroom of the Ghost King Sect’s leader.
The only notable feature was a purple sandalwood desk against the wall, neatly arranged with three stacks of books. A white jade pen holder rested on the table, a wolf-hair brush placed beside it. The ink on the inkstone was still wet, and a blue-and-white pen holder, filled with half a basin of water, sat nearby.
All of these details exuded a scholarly elegance, entirely at odds with the image of the ruthless leader of a demonic sect.
Now, the Ghost King and Bai Xiao stood in this room, alone.
On the opposite wall hung a finely detailed, gold-embossed painting. In the painting, a beautiful woman was intently examining a blooming flower, with a pair of butterflies fluttering beside it. The woman’s focus was entirely on the flower, oblivious to the butterflies.
The artist’s skill was evident, with every detail captured in the woman’s expression, making her almost come to life, her absorption in the flower palpable.
Bai Xiao gazed at the painting for a long time, then sighed softly, “Your painting skills are truly remarkable. You’ve captured Xiao Chi so vividly, it’s as if she’s alive in the painting.”
Behind her, the Ghost King’s eyes also lingered on the painting, a softness in his gaze that he rarely showed. He shook his head silently, then said in a low voice, “I hate that I couldn’t save her.”
Bai Xiao’s eyes never left the painting, her voice soft, “I never knew that the person Gui Li was desperate to save was the daughter of you and Xiao Chi.”
The Ghost King gave a bitter smile, “I didn’t make it in time to see Xiao Chi before she passed. Every time I think of this, my heart aches. Now, she has left nothing but Bi Yao, and yet she… is also…”
Bai Xiao said softly, “She didn’t choose wrongly. It was her good fortune to choose you. I’m sure she didn’t regret it, even in her last moments.”
The Ghost King fell silent.
Bai Xiao stepped forward, extending a gentle finger to trace the delicate, beautiful face of the woman in the painting, her eyes gradually filling with a soft, sorrowful light, mixed with tenderness.
Little Gray let out a strange cry, leaping onto the bed. Back in the familiar quarters of Gui Li’s on the Huqi Mountain, the monkey seemed to feel no strangeness, hopping around, then remembering something, he reached back and pulled out the wine bag, taking a large swig.
After a while, Little Gray let out a long, contented sigh, his eyes half-closed, a look of pure happiness on his face.
Gui Li watched the monkey’s expression, silent, then shook his head, sighed, and turned to the door, pulling it open and stepping out, closing it behind him.
The tunnel stretched deep into the mountain. As he walked through the underground passages, those who saw him bowed in respect. His face remained indifferent, his eyes fixed on the path ahead, as if drawn by some unseen force.
Rounding corners and passing through corridors, the figures of the Ghost King Sect disciples gradually disappeared. When he reached the familiar Ice Stone Chamber, he saw a silent, ghost-like figure.
The black veil on Yu Ji’s face moved, and she turned to look at Gui Li.
Gui Li’s gaze passed over her veil, landing on the stone door behind her. Without hesitation, he walked over and pushed the door open, stepping inside.
The stone door closed behind him, and Yu Ji stood alone, motionless, at the entrance.
Inside the stone chamber, on the icy stone platform, wisps of white mist rose, surrounding the beautiful woman lying there, a faint smile on her lips.
Gui Li leaned against the door, and suddenly, his cold, strong demeanor seemed to melt away, revealing a weary, desolate figure. He slowly walked to her side and sat down.
“I’m back, Bi Yao…”
The mist curled upward from the icy stone platform, making Bi Yao’s body seem almost ethereal. Her beauty and warmth were unmistakable. Did she know he had returned?
“Bi Yao, you can be saved.” His voice was low, trembling slightly, “Ten years, a whole decade.”
“I let you lie here for ten years. I’m so useless; you must be blaming me… No, you wouldn’t. You would just smile at me, right?”
There was no response, only the mist swirling, forming and dispersing before his eyes.
“I will save you, Bi Yao. You will wake up.” He whispered, “We will be together, Bi Yao, for all eternity. We will always be together!”
His low, heartfelt words mingled with the mist, drifting through the chamber, then fading away, leaving no trace.
**Note 1: From “The Classic of Mountains and Seas: Book of the North” – Huqi Mountain: Two hundred leagues to the north of Mount Xianyong, there is the Huqi Mountain, which is barren and devoid of vegetation. The Sheng Water originates from it, flowing northeast and merging with the Fen River, in which there is an abundance of azure jade.**
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