In the depths of the Fox Qishan, within the icy stone chamber, lay the serene figure of Biyao, slumbering peacefully amidst the wisps of white smoke. A faint, perpetual smile played upon her lips. Did she still have feelings, did she know that someone was guarding by her side? Or was it that in her heart, there was no regret, allowing her to sleep so peacefully?
These questions, Gui Li had asked himself countless times, but he never found the answers, nor dared to ponder them too deeply. Each time he dwelled on them, he felt a growing torment. Yet, his own health was failing, though he had been gradually mastering the True Methods from the Three Scrolls of Heavenly Scripture, and it seemed that there was a unity between the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Demon Cults. His cultivation advanced daily, but the demon power of the Bloodthirst Pearl lingered within him, like an unshakable specter, waiting for the right moment to claim his life along with its own.
Gui Li was long familiar with this icy sensation, a companion since his youth. Even in death, he would feel this coldness. He smiled bitterly, taking one last look at Biyao. This was the third day he had been alone with her.
“Rest well, I will be back soon to see you,” Gui Li said softly. “Don’t be afraid, your father and I are only temporarily away. Even if I die, I will come back to see you one last time before I go.”
He gazed at Biyao, smiling gently, then turned and left the icy stone chamber. The light smoke drifted like a veil behind him.
* * *
With a heavy rumble, the stone door closed slowly behind him. Xiao Hui, who had been waiting, leaped onto his shoulder. Gui Li patted the little gray monkey’s head lightly, nodding, and walked out. Along the way, he activated various mechanisms, turning corners and manipulating switches, setting off numerous traps. The stone doors, each weighing several thousand pounds, were all sealed shut.
The interior of the mountain echoed with the sounds of mechanisms, but Gui Li was the only figure in the now desolate area. The rest had followed the Ghost King to the Sacred Temple of the Wastelands three days ago. The Fox Qishan, now empty and silent, offered a stark contrast as Gui Li emerged into the sunlight, feeling a warmth that caused him to shiver slightly.
* * *
With a final rumble, the last stone door closed, sealing the mountain’s inner chamber. Gui Li recognized the sound of the locking mechanism; anyone attempting to break in would face a formidable barrier. The sun’s warmth on his skin, and Xiao Hui stretching lazily on his shoulder, made him turn to the monkey with a smile.
“Are you getting bored, looking half-asleep like that?” he asked, amused.
Xiao Hui chattered, rolling its eyes, then gestured energetically towards the outside. Gui Li chuckled, “Feeling bored, huh? Well, it is rather desolate here, with hardly any trees around. No wonder you feel uncomfortable.”
Xiao Hui nodded vigorously, hopping down and dancing around. Gui Li took a deep breath, looking back at the entrance of the cave now seamlessly integrated into the mountain. “Alright, since we have to wait a month before we can visit Biyao again, let’s take some time to explore the surroundings and relax.”
Xiao Hui cheered, bouncing around. Gui Li, infected by the monkey’s joy, felt a bit better. “Come on, get back up, or I’ll leave you here.”
Xiao Hui scampered back onto his shoulder, giggling. Gui Li shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. The familiar icy feeling returned, and after a moment’s hesitation, he summoned the Soul Devouring Rod. With a soft whisper, “Life is lonely, why think so much?” he and Xiao Hui ascended into the sky, leaving the Fox Qishan behind.
* * *
The nearest inhabited place to the Fox Qishan was a small town called Sanfu, located about 200 miles northeast. Though not bustling, it had a few surrounding villages, making it somewhat lively. In the past, the Ghost Sect had kept their location secret, often purchasing supplies from farther towns to avoid detection. However, many sect members rested in Sanfu before returning to the mountain.
Gui Li and Xiao Hui had visited Sanfu before, and the clever monkey remembered the place well. As they emerged from the Fox Qishan, Xiao Hui pointed eagerly towards Sanfu, clearly wanting to eat and drink. Gui Li smiled, changing direction to head towards the town.
Flying 200 miles was not far for a cultivator. Between the azure sky and white clouds, a faintly black-tinged green light streaked across the sky.
Xiao Hui, fidgeting on Gui Li’s shoulder, occasionally tilted its head, its tail swinging. Gui Li guided the Soul Devouring Rod, glancing down at the barren mountains. Beyond the Fox Qishan range, the terrain flattened, but the wilds were still empty. From high above, he could see an ancient, solitary road stretching into the distance, leading nowhere discernible.
Sighing, Gui Li remained silent, noticing Xiao Hui’s curious glances. After a short flight, they arrived over Sanfu, where the houses stretched in a row. Xiao Hui grew excited, chattering and pointing downward. Gui Li smiled, “Alright, let’s go down.”
The green light descended, landing in the town’s streets with a sharp hiss. Gui Li frowned, noting the eerie emptiness. Most buildings were intact, but the people were gone. The town lay in a dead silence, enveloped by a cold, oppressive atmosphere.
Sniffing the air, Gui Li knew the cause: the Beast Calamity. The townspeople had either fled north or met a grim fate. A once-lively town now lay deserted. How many other towns shared this fate?
A cold wind blew, stirring dust in the streets. Xiao Hui, still uneasy, stayed close to Gui Li, who picked the monkey up, murmuring, “It’s alright.”
Xiao Hui blinked, calming down. They walked through the silent town, passing locked and open houses, signs of the beast’s intrusion. No bodies were seen, suggesting the people had fled in time.
Suddenly, a broken door fell, crashing to the ground. Behind it, a motionless arm lay, surrounded by a faint scent of blood. Gui Li and Xiao Hui turned to look, then continued walking.
Gui Li, having visited Sanfu before, knew the layout. Walking silently, he recalled a tavern ahead. “There’s a tavern up front. Let’s go there; maybe we can find something to eat.”
Xiao Hui chattered in agreement.
As they approached the tavern, its sign lay dusty and fallen. Gui Li stepped on it, leaving a footprint. Suddenly, Xiao Hui chirped, staring into the tavern, and Gui Li stopped. A low growl came from inside, strangely familiar.
“Roar…”
Xiao Hui screamed, darting into the tavern. Alarmed, Gui Li followed, unable to leave the monkey alone. Inside, the tavern was a mess, with pots and pans scattered and furniture overturned. On a relatively intact table sat a pot of wine and cups. A young man in vibrant silk attire sat there, and between him and Gui Li, a monstrous beast, Tai Taisu, faced Xiao Hui, its four large eyes glaring, yet with a hint of surprise.
It was the mysterious young man Gui Li had met in the wilderness.
Tai Taisu, with its long neck and menacing gaze, stared at Xiao Hui, but the monkey, no longer nervous, chattered happily, reaching out to pat the beast’s head. Tai Taisu growled, but Xiao Hui, undeterred, circled the beast, which seemed to develop a fondness for the mischievous monkey.
The young man, seeing Gui Li, smiled and nodded. Equally surprised, Gui Li wondered about the mysterious young man’s identity. He could not be ordinary to appear in such a desolate place.
Xiao Hui, now close to Tai Taisu, chattered, patting the beast’s rough head. Tai Taisu growled, but Xiao Hui, finding it amusing, patted again, making a funny “puff” sound. Tai Taisu, seemingly at a loss, snorted and lay down, ignoring Xiao Hui, who delighted in the interaction.
The young man, watching the two, smiled, “They seem to get along well.”
Gui Li nodded, smiling. The young man invited him to sit, pouring wine, “We have quite a connection, meeting here. Why not join me for a drink?”
Gui Li, observing Xiao Hui and Tai Taisu, replied, “Alright.” He moved to sit opposite the young man, who poured him a cup, asking, “What brings you to this desolate town?”
Gui Li, serious, countered, “And you?”
Smiling, the young man explained, “I was passing through, found some leftover wine, and decided to rest here.”
Glancing at Xiao Hui, Gui Li said, “Would you believe me if I said I also came here for a drink with this monkey?”
The young man laughed, “Of course, why not! Come, let’s drink together. Life is already lonely, and it’s rare to find kindred spirits in such a place.”
He drank, and Gui Li, watching him, repeated, “Life is lonely, indeed.”
He drank, savoring the potent wine. The young man, more animated, recited a poem, his voice turning somber, “Old times, memories, sorrowful souls, wandering the world, trading solitude for a night of drunken bliss…”
His voice faded, and he sat in silence. Gui Li, finishing his cup, reflected on the poem, both men sitting in the dark, drinking and sharing a quiet, almost intimate companionship, as if they had known each other for a lifetime.
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