Ch 37: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

The Kunlun Sect Leader and several elders deliberated for a long time, ultimately concluding that this letter was highly suspicious. They arrived at two possible explanations:

Either Yan Chixia was subtly warning them through this letter, indicating that he was in a dangerous situation, or, more likely, the Lord of Black Mountain was a master of mind control, and their disciple/nephew had been bewitched!

Regardless of the exact scenario, it was clear that the letter was deeply problematic, and Yan Chixia’s situation was dire. They could not afford to ignore it.

Qingyangzi, one of the elders, volunteered, “I have faced the Tree Demon Elder before and have experience dealing with her. Although I am unfamiliar with the Black Mountain demon, all demonic entities are essentially the same. Allow me to lead the team.”

The Kunlun Sect Leader, Chi Yangzi, considered this and agreed. While Qing Yangzi was indeed a bit hot-tempered, his strength was unquestionable, and he was a righteous person, though not inflexible. To ensure their success, Chi Yangzi decided to send their junior sister, Xiao Xiangzi, along as well: “Xiangzhi, please accompany Brother Qing and take several disciples with you. This way, if anything goes wrong, you can report back immediately.”

Qing Yangzi and Xiao Xiangzi, along with over a dozen Kunlun disciples, respectfully took their leave from the Sect Leader and set off down the mountain.

Xiao Xiangzi was the youngest of Chi Yangzi’s generation, possessing great talent and being just over a hundred years old. As a refined female cultivator, she was unlike the unkempt Qing Yangzi, who resembled a small, bearded old man. Instead, she maintained a youthful appearance, akin to a girl in her late teens, with a serene and peaceful demeanor.

“Brother Yangzi,” Xiao Xiangzi said, her voice tinged with worry, “Do you think Chixia will be alright?”

Qing Yangzi replied, “Since he was still able to send us such an obviously suspicious letter, it’s clear that those behind him don’t intend to take his life. Perhaps the Black Mountain demon is deliberately luring us there, so don’t worry too much.”

Xiao Xiangzi thought about it and agreed, feeling somewhat reassured.

As the Kunlun group made their way to Black Mountain, Ning Caichen was also nearing its borders. However, his first destination wasn’t Black Mountain but Lanruo Temple.

It was there that he had first met Nie Xiaoqian, and she was, of course, the person he most wished to see now.

Lanruo Temple was merely a dilapidated temple in a remote mountain wilderness, known by few. Fortunately, the dream Ning Caichen had was very vivid, and after arriving at a small town beneath the desolate mountain where Lanruo Temple was located and seeing that everything matched his dream, he became convinced that the dream was real.

In his dream, Ning Caichen vaguely remembered that the ghosts and demons of Lanruo Temple rarely came out during the day. So, he bought various protective items in town and chose a day with the strongest sunlight to head up the mountain.

Guided by his dream memories, he found Lanruo Temple not long after noon.

Seeing the temple from his dream appear before his eyes, Ning Caichen’s heart began to pound.

By this point, he had no doubts about the dream. He even believed that the heavens, pitying his inability to be with Nie Xiaoqian in the dream, had mercifully granted him this vision, giving him a chance to make amends for his regrets.

He took a deep breath and slowly approached the temple.

Creeeak—

The old, decayed door creaked open, sending up a thick cloud of dust.

Ning Caichen covered his mouth and nose with his hand, glanced around, and nodded to himself. The layout and furnishings were exactly as they had been in his dream.

Naturally, there was no sign of life here at the moment. He wandered around the abandoned temple, then pretended to be dissatisfied, turned around, and left.

—Of course, this departure was just a ruse.

He found a secluded cave with a hidden location that still provided a clear view of Lanruo Temple.

Time passed slowly as the sun set in the west and the sky gradually darkened.

Ning Caichen began to feel a slight chill.

Huddled in the cave, he kept his eyes fixed on the temple.

He knew that before long, as the sun completely disappeared and the entire mountain was engulfed in darkness and silence, Lanruo Temple would come to life.

At that moment, in the darkness, lanterns would light up, and the dilapidated temple would transform into an exquisite mansion. The “girls” who had been resting and recuperating during the day would awaken, bringing the place to life with bustling activity.

If one thinks about it carefully, the idea of a grand, luxurious mansion in the middle of a desolate wilderness, filled with so many beautiful girls, is inherently quite unnatural. But in his dream, he hadn’t noticed anything odd—likely due to the sinister Tree Demon Elder using some kind of mind-altering trick.

As Ning Caichen pondered this, he continued to wait.

But he waited… and waited…

He waited until late at night, long after the darkness had fully descended, yet Lanruo Temple remained the same old ruin.

There were no bright lights, no luxurious mansion, and most disappointingly, no sign of the beloved Xiaoqian he longed to see.

Ning Caichen: ???

Something seemed off.

He began to feel confused and anxious. Ever since the dream, everything had unfolded according to his expectations—except for this final crucial detail.

He spent the entire night lying in the cold cave.

But nothing happened.

Ning Caichen, unwilling to give up, spent another night in the cave, only to find that still nothing occurred.

By the third night, utterly frustrated, Ning Caichen decided to take a bold step and laid out a bedroll inside Lanruo Temple itself.

He thought, If the dream is real, Xiaoqian should come looking for me, right?

He closed his eyes, his mind on high alert, just waiting for his beloved to appear.

However… as dawn broke, Lanruo Temple remained quiet and still.

Again, nothing happened.

Ning Caichen sat on the ground, despondent. After three nights of poor sleep, he looked exhausted, his eyes bloodshot, and his chin covered with stubble, presenting a rather pitiful sight.

“This isn’t right; something must have gone wrong…” he mumbled to himself, descending the mountain in a daze.

In the small town below, passersby gave Ning Caichen a wide berth, glancing at him with disdain.

Ignoring their looks, he found an inn, collapsed into bed, and slept deeply.

After a full day’s rest and a hearty meal, Ning Caichen came to a realization.

He couldn’t accept that it was just an empty dream, nor could he believe that the vivid Nie Xiaoqian was merely a figment of his imagination.

He was determined to find her!

If she wasn’t at Lanruo Temple, he would search other possible places.

In the dream, she had always lived at Lanruo Temple, but if not there, where else could she be?

Somewhere else!

Ning Caichen’s eyes lit up: Black Mountain!

Wasn’t the lustful Black Mountain Demon supposedly infatuated with Xiaoqian?

What if, because of his dream, the timeline had shifted and Xiaoqian had been taken to Black Mountain earlier than expected?

Ning Caichen knew his idea was far-fetched, and he understood that the most rational course of action was to leave, go home, and accept that even the most vivid dream was still just a dream.

But he couldn’t let it go.

He packed his belongings and resolutely set out on the path to Black Mountain.

The Kunlun disciples, though far away, traveled quickly. Ning Caichen, being an ordinary man, moved more slowly, but Lanruo Temple was close to Black Mountain.

As it happened, the two parties crossed paths on the road leading to Black Mountain.

Ning Caichen immediately recognized the distinctive attire of the Kunlun Sect disciples, dressed in their blue and white robes.

He knew those clothes!

It was the uniform of his friend, Yan Chixia’s sect from his dream!

Ning Caichen’s spirits lifted as he scanned the group, hoping to spot Yan Chixia among them.

His gaze did not go unnoticed by the Kunlun disciples.

Seeing that he was a scholar with a clear and upright demeanor, and carrying an aura of scholarly virtue, Xiao Xiangzi didn’t find him off-putting. She asked gently, “Young scholar, I noticed you looking this way. Is there something you need?”

Ning Caichen thought for a moment. Although he didn’t understand why there were so many Daoist disciples here, this could be a good opportunity for him. He then bowed slightly and said, “My name is Ning Caichen, greetings to all.”

He hesitated before asking, “I once met a friend named Yan Chixia. Could it be that he is a member of your sect?”

“You’ve met my nephew, Yan Chixia?” Qingyangzi quickly asked, “Where and when did you see him?”

“This…” Ning Caichen faltered. How could he explain that he saw him in a dream?

Seeing his hesitation, Qing Yangzi grew suspicious. “Why do you hesitate, scholar? Is there something you find difficult to speak about?”

After some thought, Ning Caichen decided to be vague. “I saw him at Lanruo Temple.”

“Lanruo Temple?” Qing Yangzi’s expression turned serious.

He quickly exchanged a glance with Xiao Xiangzi. This was completely different from what was written in Yan Chixia’s letter. According to the letter, Lanruo Temple, along with the Tree Demon Elder and her followers, had long been under the control of the Black Mountain Demon, and they had even relocated their base.

If that were the case, how could this scholar have possibly met Yan Chixia at Lanruo Temple?

There was something fishy about this.

Xiao Xiangzi, hiding her thoughts, asked, “Oh? Lanruo Temple? When did you meet my nephew, and what happened?”

Ning Caichen then selectively recounted some events from his dream, including how the Tree Demon Elder commanded her ghostly female minions to harm others.

The details matched up, and this indeed aligned with the Tree Demon Elder’s usual behavior.

Qing Yangzi’s expression grew more serious.

What the scholar said seemed true, but it completely contradicted what was in Yan Chixia’s letter.

Xiao Xiangzi asked, “Senior Brother, what should we…?”

Qingyangzi interrupted her, “No rush. Since we’re here, we’ll soon find out the truth.”

Hearing this, Ning Caichen quickly asked, “Are you going to Black Mountain? May I come along?”

Qing Yangzi glared at him, “Do you even know what kind of place Black Mountain is? Why do you want to go?”

Ning Caichen explained that he was trying to rescue a woman he loved who was suffering under the Tree Demon Elder.

“If she’s suffering under the Tree Demon Elder, why are you going to Black Mountain?” Qing Yangzi asked.

Ning Caichen: “…”

Qing Yangzi snorted, “You, scholars, are full of contradictions.”

He had already noticed that while Ning Caichen’s words seemed believable, they were riddled with inconsistencies.

Qing Yangzi didn’t want to waste any more time on trivial matters. He ordered one of his disciples to keep an eye on Ning Caichen and said, “Since you want to see Black Mountain so badly, you can come along with us.”

Ning Caichen knew that they were suspicious of him, but hearing that they were willing to take him along, he had no objections at all. He happily followed them, even cooperating fully with being watched, which only made Qing Yangzi more suspicious of him.

Within less than half an hour, the group arrived just outside the county town of Qingshui.

Before they even entered the town, Qing Yangzi’s brows furrowed deeply.

He exchanged a glance with his junior sister, Xiao Xiangzi, and saw the same seriousness reflected in her eyes.

The disciples they had brought along were all elite members of their sect, and even they could sense that something was off.

Less experienced than their teachers, some of the disciples couldn’t help but exclaim:

“In such a small county, the presence of demonic energy is so strong!”

“It shows how rampant Black Mountain has become!”

“…”

Ning Caichen looked at the bustling city gate, filled with people coming and going, in bewilderment: “???”

He turned to Qing Yangzi and asked, “Senior, what… what’s happening here?”

Qing Yangzi ignored him, his expression serious as he led the group into the town.

In fact, they all found the situation quite strange.

Logically speaking, if a small county like Qingshui were truly overrun by demons, the common people living there would definitely be affected.

But observing the people passing by, all with relaxed and content expressions, it was clear that life here was quite good.

Qing Yangzi had already grown tired of repeating the phrase “There’s something fishy going on here.”

Ever since he saw Yan Chixia’s letter, everything they encountered afterward had been filled with a sense of discord.

But Kunlun sect members are not ones to easily admit defeat.

They made the same choice as Yan Chixia had before—they headed for one of the sources of the demonic energy, which also happened to be one of the busiest places in Qingshui County.

The Black Mountain Perfume Shop.

Today, the perfume shop was especially busy because they had just stocked new rouge and incense.

The shopkeeper and perfume maker, Hongxiu, was extremely talented in this field, and with the high-quality raw materials sourced from Black Mountain, the finished products naturally attracted a lot of attention.

Hongxiu was busy from morning to night, but her face was lit up with a contented smile—her master was always generous with them. Besides their regular duties of tending to the various crops on Black Mountain, most of the additional income from the shop’s profits was directly shared among them.

For the few of them who had shops in Qingshui County, life was indeed busy, but they were financially comfortable!

With money in hand, Hongxiu was generous to herself. She hired a skilled craftsman to build the first three-story house on Black Mountain. The first floor was for entertaining guests, the second for resting, and the third was filled with all kinds of beautiful clothes and jewelry.

Many of these items were ones she had paid to have brought back from the prosperous regions of Jiangnan.

Having money in hand truly felt liberating!

“You’re asking about this sachet? The scent definitely lasts long, up to a month…” She was in the middle of speaking with a customer when her tone suddenly paused, her gaze shifting to the doorway.

A group of Daoists dressed in Kunlun attire was staring at her.

Hongxiu was momentarily stunned, then softly excused the customer by her side and walked to the door, asking in surprise, “Are you all Daoists from Kunlun? Is there something you need?”

She spoke with a natural and casual tone, even carrying a hint of cheerful laughter, without any of the typical reaction a demon might have when encountering Daoists. The Kunlun disciples were taken aback by her demeanor.

Xiao Xiangzi casually remarked, “Your shop seems to be doing well, selling incense and… ahem!” She abruptly stopped herself, realizing she had strayed off-topic. Quickly composing herself, she assumed the stern expression expected of a righteous Daoist confronting demons and spirits. “You, little demon, why are you being so brazen in the human world?”

She was careful, using an illusion spell as she spoke, so to any outsiders, it would just seem like the shopkeeper was having a friendly chat with someone.

Hongxiu finally caught on. Over the past few days, she had been getting along quite well with Yan Chixia. He was not only handsome but also very efficient with his work, making him well-liked among the girls of Black Mountain. So when she first saw Yan Chixia’s fellow disciples, she had instinctively adopted a friendly posture.

Now, it dawned on her—these Kunlun Daoists seemed to be here looking for trouble.

Realizing this, her expression became even more serious than Xiao Xiangzi’s. “What are you saying, Daoist? What do you mean by being brazen in the human world? I am a legitimate businesswoman, honestly selling my goods, and I haven’t harmed anyone.”

She pointed to the customers bustling about the shop. “Look at them—they’re customers. And what are customers? They’re money! If there’s nothing else, please feel free to leave and not waste my time making money!”

The Kunlun disciples were stunned.

Kunlun was the epitome of righteousness, a renowned sect. Whenever demons or spirits encountered them, whether they were polite or hostile, they would at least be cautious. This was the first time they had met such an audacious little demon.

Where did she get such confidence?

Qing Yangzi frowned as he scrutinized this little demon. Her aura was clean, indicating she hadn’t committed any serious sins.

He snorted, “Stop pretending. Now, tell me, where is my nephew, Yan Chixia?”

So, they were here for Yan Chixia.

Hongxiu suddenly understood. “Yan Chixia is staying at Black Mountain. He mentioned a few days ago that he sent a letter to his sect. Didn’t you receive it?”

Qingyangzi: “…”

It was precisely because they received that strange letter that they rushed over here.

Hongxiu’s tone was so natural, as if it was perfectly normal for a Daoist disciple like Yan Chixia to stay at Black Mountain, a stronghold of demons.

Qing Yangzi said, “If that’s the case, then please take us to him.”

Upon hearing this, Hongxiu waved over a beautifully dressed girl. This girl had a graceful figure, fair skin, and a gentle demeanor, with a very kind smile.

Xiao Xiangzi, upon seeing her, exclaimed in surprise, “This puppet is so finely crafted!”

Hongxiu’s face lit up with pride. “Our master made it himself, of course it’s finely crafted.” Her proud expression could make one think she had made the puppet herself.

She instructed the puppet, “Take these Daoists to see the master.”

Then she turned to the Kunlun disciples, “I’m too busy with business today to entertain you. Just follow her.”

With that, she swiftly turned back to her customers, leaving the group speechless.

Xiao Xiangzi was silent for a moment before speaking, “I feel like something is really off.”

Qing Yangzi, stroking the beard on his chin, was equally puzzled. “I’ve walked this earth for over a hundred years and never encountered such strange demons.”

They exchanged glances and finally spoke in unison, “Let’s go to Black Mountain!”

No one noticed that since Ning Caichen had seen Hongxiu, he had become unusually quiet. His heart was filled with both excitement and anxiety.

He had seen Hongxiu before, or more accurately, he had seen her in his dream. In the dream at Lanruo Temple, Hongxiu, like Xiaoqian, was a pitiful woman oppressed by the cruel Tree Demon Elder.

If… if Hongxiu truly exists, does that mean Xiaoqian also exists?

But why was this Hongxiu so different from the one in his dream? The Hongxiu in his dream was quiet and reserved, completely unlike the confident and lively woman before him now. Aside from her appearance and name, they seemed like entirely different people.

So what about Xiaoqian? Would she still be the Xiaoqian from his dream?

With these tangled thoughts, Ning Caichen followed the Kunlun group to Black Mountain.

Meanwhile, at Black Mountain, Jiang Lin finally received a message from the system: Ning Caichen had arrived!

He couldn’t help but marvel at the connection between the male and female leads: today, Nie Xiaoqian, who was usually very diligent about going to the calligraphy and painting shop in Qingshui County, decided to take the day off and rest at Black Mountain, letting one of her friends cover for her. And as fate would have it, Ning Caichen arrived on that very day.

However…

Jiang Lin pondered Nie Xiaoqian’s current demeanor and the thoughts she had previously expressed about matters of love. As he gently rubbed a blade of grass between his fingers, he silently offered Ning Caichen an apology: “If things go as expected, you two might not be able to have a heroic rescue leading to love at first sight, as in the original story.”

Sensing the group’s arrival within the Black Mountain territory, Jiang Lin called Nie Xiaoqian over. “Go and let Yan Chixia know that his elders from the sect have arrived. You should go with him to welcome the guests.”

Obediently, Nie Xiaoqian left to do as she was told.

Huaiyin, who was weeding alongside Jiang Lin, remained silent. She had clearly heard Jiang Lin refer to the visitors as elders, and with her level of power, she could faintly sense the strong, righteous aura of the approaching cultivators from afar. Their strength was far superior to Yan Chixia’s.

Confused, she directly asked, “Sir, why did you have me personally greet Yan Chixia, but only send Xiaoqian to meet his elders?”

Is it because Yan Chixia is more important, or does Xiaoqian hold a higher status in Jiang Lin’s heart?

She didn’t mind the first possibility, but if Jiang Lin’s answer was the latter… Huaiyin clenched her teeth: the dignity of a powerful demon must not be trampled upon. Even if she were to be punished, she would let Jiang Lin know that she had a temper!

Fortunately, Jiang Lin had no intention of provoking her.

He casually said, “Oh, it’s just based on my mood. If I have the time, I might go myself.”

Huaiyin: ?

She looked up at Jiang Lin, who was carefully examining a medicinal herb. His expression was calm and gentle, clearly showing that his previous comment was just an offhand remark. And such offhand remarks often revealed the most genuine thoughts.

Her master truly didn’t care at all about maintaining the dignity of being the lord of a mountain.

“Hmm, this Qilan herb, I’ve heard it can be used in cooking, but the amount needs to be just right for it to taste good. I’ll have A-yu try it sometime,” Jiang Lin muttered to himself.

Huaiyin: “…”

Watching the Black Mountain Lord like this, she suddenly felt deflated.

Never mind, if he’s going to spend his days farming and weeding, why bother with appearances?

At the foot of Black Mountain.

As was the case when Yan Chixia first arrived, Qing Yangzi and the others gazed at the clouds and mist swirling around the mountain’s summit, deep in thought.

“Senior Brother,” Xiao Xiangzi said, incredulously, “Is this really Black Mountain? Didn’t you come here before?”

Qing Yangzi was even more bewildered. “I did, but that was over a hundred years ago. I only passed by from afar and never ventured inside. And as I recall…”

Black Mountain wasn’t like this!

Could time have muddled his memories? Qing Yangzi found himself lost in the musings of an old man.

Only Ning Caichen was feeling an urgent sense of anxiety. The Kunlun Daoists were all standing at the mountain’s base as if they had encountered something extraordinarily strange and had stopped moving.

“Honorable Daoists,” he asked, trying to contain his impatience, “Why have we stopped?”

Qing Yangzi glanced at him, then pulled out the letter Yan Chixia had written. “No need to rush. I believe we should take another careful look at my nephew’s letter.”

Earlier, he had thought it was nonsensical, but now, as he gazed upon it, he felt that the letter held many hidden clues.

Ning Caichen: “…”

He was desperate to move on, thinking that they were already at the destination, just moments away from seeing the people they sought. Why was Qing Yangzi still reading the letter?

However, recognizing the Daoists’ superior strength and status, he didn’t dare voice his frustrations.

Just then, two figures slowly appeared on the mountain path ahead.

Yan Chixia’s hearty laugh echoed from a distance. “Uncle Qingyang! Aunt Xiaoxiang! Why have you all come here?”

And Ning Caichen was stunned. His eyes were fixed solely on that graceful figure.