Wen Rou looked around and asked, “Where’s the book you mentioned?”
“Strange!”
I pointed to the bed and said, “It was right here just a moment ago, how could it suddenly disappear!”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive!”
I said, “Although I don’t have the talent for cultivation, my memory is still sharp. I remember the content of the book. Don’t believe me? I can recite it for you!”
“No need!”
Wen Rou shyly said, “I didn’t come all this way to listen to you recite a book.”
I chuckled, “Heh heh,” and hugged her again, pulling her down onto the bed, “Then what did you come for? Tell me!”
Wen Rou shook her head with a smile, “I won’t say!”
“You won’t say, huh!”
“Alright then, I’ll show you, and you can tell me if I’m doing it right!”
“If I am, then you have to let me hear it!”
…
In the following days, Wen Rou cultivated during the day and joined me in cultivating at night.
As her progress accelerated, our meetings became less frequent.
Indeed, the mountain was safe.
But it was so boring!
And who knows when Zhang Chenglong would return!
In a blink of an eye, ten days passed, and it was the start of autumn.
Although the heat during the day was still fierce, once the sun set, there was a hint of coolness in the air.
One morning, bad news came from home.
Grandpa was not doing well.
He had been bitten by a snake while scavenging for scraps and they wanted me to hurry back to see him one last time.
Hearing this news, I panicked!
I put aside all thoughts of the Yin-Yang marriage contract and Longhu Mountain, quickly packed my things, and prepared to descend the mountain.
Wen Rou was woken up by the commotion and saw me with my bags, frowning, “What are you doing?”
I said, “Grandpa is in bad shape, I need to go back home!”
“But the Yin-Yang marriage contract…”
“I can’t worry about that now!”
I said, “Although my grandpa is just an ordinary scrap collector, he is my grandpa! I am his grandson! If grandpa is leaving, I must see him off!”
“Okay, I understand!”
Wen Rou quickly got dressed and said, “Don’t rush down the mountain just yet. Let me take you to see my master and see if she has a better solution.”
Seeing that I didn’t respond, she added, “It won’t take much time anyway.”
To be honest, I had lost hope in the Taoist priests of Longhu Mountain.
But out of respect for Wen Rou, I nodded.
I followed Wen Rou as we weaved through the mountain paths.
After a good half-hour walk, we came upon a graceful and unique Taoist temple hidden among the trees.
“Master!”
Wen Rou hurried inside.
In the courtyard, Zhang Li was practicing swordplay.
Dressed in a long gown as white as snow, with a tightly cinched waist belt outlining her slender, soft waist and perfect figure.
Zhang Li finished her sword routine and stopped, first glancing at me, then turning to Wen Rou, “What happened?”
Wen Rou said, “Master, Zhang Yuan’s grandfather is critically ill, and he needs to go back immediately!”
“This…”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Li’s brows furrowed deeply, and she remained silent for a long time.
Wen Rou continued, “Zhang Yuan definitely needs to go back today, Master, can you help him?”
Zhang Li said, “I just asked your senior uncle yesterday, and he won’t be back for a few days. I can’t leave Longhu Mountain either.”
Hearing this, I scoffed and said, “Then I won’t bother you any further, goodbye!”
With that, I turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Zhang Li suddenly called out to me.
I stopped and turned around, “Is there something else, Taoist priest?”
Zhang Li said, “Wait a moment, I’ll get something for you!”
She went into her bedroom and returned with an envelope in her hand, handing it to me, “This is a talisman called the Thunder Shock Talisman, a rare and nearly lost art of Longhu Mountain. There are few left, and each one used is one less we have.”
I took the envelope and asked, “How do I use it?”
Zhang Li explained, “Tear open the envelope and stick the Thunder Shock Talisman on any part of the target’s body. It can summon a thunder strike from the heavens! Although the talisman’s power is limited and not enough to kill Zheng Ruyan, if it hits her, it will at least prevent her from causing trouble for twelve hours!”
“Thank you very much!”
This time, my gratitude was more sincere.
Compared to Zhang Chenglong’s repeated empty promises, this beautiful Taoist priest was more reliable!
Zhang Li thought for a moment and added, “When you go back, try to take a train or a bus. Places with more people have stronger Yang Energy, and ghosts generally fear it!”
At this point, Wen Rou interjected, “What about airplanes?”
Zhang Li replied, “Airplanes are fine too, but if something goes wrong, survival is almost impossible!”
Wen Rou quickly said, “Then it’s safer to take a car!”
After saying goodbye to Zhang Li, Wen Rou escorted me to the foot of the mountain, “Zhang Yuan, be careful on the road, and let me know when you get home!”
“Okay!”
I nodded and said, “Can I borrow some money? I don’t have enough for the fare.”
Wen Rou immediately handed me a bank card.
I said, “I can’t buy tickets with this, and there might not be a place to withdraw cash on the way!”
“Then I’ll transfer it to you!”
Wen Rou quickly transferred five thousand to my phone, “The daily limit is only this much. If it’s not enough, I’ll find another way!”
“That’s enough!”
I logged into the app and called a ride-hailing service, “You can go back now, I’m about to leave!”
“Have a safe trip!”
After saying that, Wen Rou suddenly hugged me tightly, her eyes reddening as she choked up, “Zhang Yuan, you must take care of yourself. I’ll be waiting for you at Longhu Mountain! Also, I hope your grandpa recovers soon!”
I wiped away her tears and forced a smile, “Why are you crying now? You didn’t cry last night when I made you sore four times, and your knees turned purple!”
“Stop it!”
Wen Rou laughed through her tears, “Your car seems to have arrived, hurry up and get in!”
“Okay, I’m off!”
I took the ride-hailing service to the train station.
Then I headed east.
Upon reaching Green Vine City, I took a taxi.
By then, it was already ten o’clock at night.
Two miles from the village entrance, the taxi suddenly stopped.
I asked, “Driver, why have we stopped?”
The driver said, “Young man, Wang Family Village has been too eerie lately. I have my old folks and children to think about, I hope you understand.”
I asked, “What’s so eerie about it?”
The driver said, “Didn’t we have a thunderstorm three days ago? Someone saw a giant snake on the mountain behind Wang Family Village. They say that snake has cultivated into a spirit and was trying to use the thunderstorm to ascend through Tribulation Crossing!”
“A giant snake?”
I wondered if it was that Red Chain Snake.
I asked again, “Did it succeed in its Tribulation Crossing?”
“I’m not sure about that!”
The driver turned the car around, “Young man, unless it’s something really important, I suggest you don’t go to Wang Family Village. Really!”
“No, I can’t!”
I shook my head, “That’s my home!”
After getting out of the taxi, I walked on.
Since my house was in the first row, I saw a mourning hall set up at the entrance before I even got home.
“Grandpa!”
I was shocked!
I didn’t expect that after all the bumps along the way, I would still be a step too late!
I rushed into the mourning hall, crying, and knelt before the coffin.
Looking at the black and white photo and recalling Grandpa’s voice and smile, it all seemed like yesterday.
“Little Yuan, restrain your grief!”
My uncle from my father’s side patted my shoulder and comforted me, “Your grandpa lived over eighty years, and he passed away without any pain, which is much better than those who suffered in the hospital for years before passing away. At least he didn’t suffer!”
I asked, “When was grandpa bitten by the snake?”
Uncle said, “It happened this morning!”
I asked, “Did he suffer after being bitten?”
“No!”
Uncle shook his head, very certain, “After being bitten, your grandpa lost consciousness, and then he passed away in the evening.”
I asked, “Where was he bitten?”
“On the back mountain!”
Uncle said, “He went there to collect scrap metal, and later a woman from the new Wang group who was weeding found him.”