As the story came to an end, Shui Suohua smiled without a word, merely glancing toward Chuyun Caixia. Seeing that Caixia was pale, seemingly frightened, she let out a hearty laugh:
“It is merely hearsay and strange folklore. Why has Fellow Daoist Chuyun become so terrified? The notion of Jiao ghosts is mostly fabricated by mortals, just like the storybooks circulating in the mortal world. What talk of affectionate fox women, wanton female ghosts, or peonies turning into women—the moment they see an impoverished scholar down on his luck, they fall in love and debase themselves to offer their bodies to him.”
“...Fellow Daoist speaks the truth.” Chuyun Caixia nodded slightly, her gaze settling upon the campfire before them as she spoke in a soft, gentle voice: “We female cultivators of Chuyun weave brocade from clouds high in the azure skies, turning them into morning glow and evening clouds, which is why mortals call us ‘Weavers.’ In the past, there was indeed a sister of my clan who fell in love with a mortal man... but who could have known that through word of mouth among mortals, so many, many unrealistic legends would be concocted?”
So the one before me is a Weaver of legend.
Who could have imagined that ‘Weaver’ was not a single person, but a collective title for the female cultivators of Chuyun Kingdom who weave clouds and summon mist?
Nan Zhi felt like asking about the myth of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meeting on the Magpie Bridge, but given that this was their first meeting, it would be too presumptuous. She quietly suppressed her curiosity, simply holding Hongluo as she sat upright to the side.
“I, too, have heard of the legends surrounding Jiao ghosts.” Gan Ding slowly extended his neck as if in slow motion, the turtle shell on his back shifting forward to make him look all the more comical: “The scales of a Jiao ghost are born in seven colors, even more vibrant than Jiao Silk. Ingesting their flesh allows one to see through illusions. However, it is said that if a cultivator encounters a Jiao ghost, they must never agree to the ghost's request, or else they will never be able to escape. Looking at Fellow Daoist Ma's expression... could it be that you have actually seen a living Jiao ghost?”
“How could I possibly have such fortune?” Nan Zhi's expression remained calm, and she abruptly changed the topic: “Just now, I heard Fellow Daoist Jin Guan mention Nine Bends and Eighteen Gorges. Are you fellow Daoists heading there?”
Jin Guan and Shui Suohua grew tense, but Gan Ding remained composed. He gave a slight nod in the direction of Meifu, Canzhi, and Chuyun Caixia before speaking:
“Indeed. While slaying demons in the area of Nine Bends and Eighteen Gorges a few days ago, we received a flying letter from a female cultivator of Chuyun Kingdom. It turns out she and several Foundation Establishment cultivators are trapped somewhere in the canyon. That female cultivator is named Chuyun Chaolu, and she happens to be Fellow Daoist Caixia's older sister. As for Fellow Daoists Canzhi and Meifu, they are close friends invited by Fellow Daoist Caixia to assist us.”
The identical twins frowned in unison, cold glints flashing in their eyes as vigilance instantly welled within them.
—Although they had heard of the name “Ma Jiu,” it was only passing rumor, and they were by no means familiar with her.
Gan Ding was usually cautious, yet now he was speaking so candidly to a female cultivator he barely knew, laying bare the purpose of their journey in just a few words.
And that Ma Jiu—though she appeared genial, her attitude toward Gan Ding was suspiciously enthusiastic.
They had undertaken this journey only at the request of their close friend Chuyun Caixia, intending merely to do their best. Entrusting matters temporarily to Gan Ding and his sworn siblings was also done with mutual suspicion, without full trust.
The two exchanged a look, quietly activating their Innate Divine Ability to transmit voice to each other:
[Careful, it might be a trap.]
[These three seem to follow Jin Guan on the surface, but in reality, Gan Ding calls all the shots. Jin Guan inviting Ma Jiu earlier was likely Gan Ding's idea as well.]
[Does he truly intend to make friends? Or are this Ma Jiu and Gan Ding already acquainted, colluding together from the start? Rescuing Fellow Daoist Chuyun might be a sham, while killing us for our treasures is their true goal.]
[Let us wait and see. Jin Guan and Shui Suohua's cultivations are not high. Although Gan Ding's third-revolution demon core is somewhat tricky, if the two of us join forces, we will not necessarily lose.]
[Ma Jiu has the Ghost Slaying Scroll that cursed and killed a Golden Core demon, which makes things troublesome.]
[For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to kill a Golden Core, activating such a scroll must come with severe backlash. Besides, such dharma treasures are difficult to nourish. In the short term, Ma Jiu will definitely not be able to unseal the Ghost Slaying Scroll again easily.]
[Without the Ghost Slaying Scroll, a mere Foundation Establishment Level 3 is nothing to fear.]
[Moreover, we still have Fellow Daoist Caixia. If it truly comes down to three against four, we might not be the ones at a disadvantage.]
Canzhi and Meifu's minds were linked. In the span of a single breath, they had already devised their plan and decided not to interrupt Gan Ding, choosing instead to watch quietly and see how things developed.
...
Chuyun Caixia also sensed the anomaly. Realizing that Gan Ding seemed intent on recruiting Nan Zhi, she immediately let out a light cough of disapproval.
Among those present, only she possessed a cultivation of Golden Core Level 3. The rest consisted of Gan Ding with a third-revolution demon core (Golden Core), alongside Jin Guan and Shui Suohua, who both possessed second-revolution demon cores (Foundation Establishment).
When Chuyun Caixia originally received half of Chaolu's flying letter from Jin Guan, she planned to head to Nine Bends and Eighteen Gorges to rescue her.
She had not overlooked the possibility of a trap, but the flying letter was authentic, and Chaolu being trapped was real as well.
To ensure nothing went wrong, Chuyun Caixia had even called in a favor to invite her two close friends to help.
Canzhi and Meifu—one was at Foundation Establishment Level 9, and the other at Foundation Establishment Level 8.
Both were direct disciples of the Sect Master of the Qingjing Sect, carrying far more dharma treasures and talismans than even an ordinary Golden Core cultivator like herself.
—Born of the Demon race, the two possessed extraordinary natural talent and had mastered the Pill-Killing Arts of the Qingjing Sect. When working together, they could even hold their own against a Golden Core cultivator.
Therefore, even if these three demon cultivators harbored some malicious scheme, it would amount to little.
Yet right now, why was Gan Ding suddenly revealing this matter to Ma Jiu upon their very first meeting?
Could they already know each other?
...
In just a brief moment, everyone harbored their own hidden thoughts, suspecting one another.
“Such a coincidence?” Nan Zhi acted completely oblivious, putting on a look of surprise: “A few days ago, while hunting a low-level Sky Demon, I unexpectedly blundered into Nine Bends and Eighteen Gorges. After struggling for several days and fleeing in disarray, I managed to escape with my life only by relying on a dharma treasure. Did that Fellow Daoist from Chuyun mention when, on what day, and where in Nine Bends and Eighteen Gorges she was besieged? That canyon is full of twists and turns; perhaps I might be able to offer some help.”
“This...” Gan Ding's beady turtle eyes flickered as he glanced toward Meifu and Canzhi. The latter sneered inwardly, convinced that Ma Jiu and these three demon cultivators were putting on a performance for the three of them.
“With those words, Fellow Daoist Ma has shown a willingness to help.” Meifu spoke with deep meaning, his gaze darting between Nan Zhi and Gan Ding's trio: “Since Fellow Daoist is so forthright, we should not beat around the bush either. Fellow Daoist Chaolu and several others are besieged by a Golden Core great demon, trapped within Wusheng Valley in Nine Bends and Eighteen Gorges. Right now, by utilizing the favorable terrain, they have taken temporary shelter inside and their lives are not in immediate danger. However, after being besieged for so many days, their spiritual energy is already running dry. The terrain of Nine Bends and Eighteen Gorges is complex and labyrinthine, heavily guarded by vast numbers of Sky Demons. For Fellow Daoist Ma to escape from there completely unscathed, your abilities must surely be extraordinary.”
At this moment, Gan Ding extended his turtle neck and slowly chimed in:
“With such fine skills, Fellow Daoist Ma must surely harbor ambitions to vie for the top ten of the Earth Board on the Heaven and Earth Demon Slaying Boards. Why not travel with us to slay demons and come to the rescue of others? Wouldn't that be a delightful venture?”
“That is only right.” Nan Zhi smiled with utmost sincerity, her expression deeply earnest: “The guiding principle of my life has always been eight words: 'meddling in others’ business and being happy to help.' Since Brother Gan Ding has extended such an irresistible invitation and this concerns a matter of life and death, I am naturally more than willing.”
Gan Ding: “...”
For some inexplicable reason, his eyelid suddenly twitched.
Everything was clearly developing according to his expectations, so why did he feel an ominous premonition?
This human female cultivator couldn't possibly ruin his plans again, could she?
Yet looking at Nan Zhi's smiling face, devoid of any flaw, she had clearly not seen through his true identity.
Thus, with one scheming and the other going along with the flow, further urged on by Canzhi and Meifu, Nan Zhi naturally joined this unusual party.
After agreeing to rest for now and set off the following day, the group parted ways, each carrying their own private calculations.
Rate on N.U.
