Chapter 96: Mountains, Rivers and Gods

The great demons who had already taken human form and solidified their souls on the Iron Talisman River were retreating in a hurry for some unknown reason. Zhu He naturally stopped ringing the copper bell in his hand. However, Zhu He was worried that those demons, who dared to walk among humans in broad daylight, might have used some kind of trick. So, he told Senior Ah Liang to hold off on heading south along the river. He raised the ancient copper bell with its archaic inscriptions high, repeatedly crossing the river and wandering around in large strides in the downstream direction of the Iron Talisman River, to prevent the demons from hiding in the shadows and harming people.

So, Chen Ping'an and his group packed their luggage and stayed put, watching Zhu He run around like a headless fly. Li Huai was overjoyed, Lin Shouyi was full of curiosity, and Zhu Lu felt ashamed and wanted to drag her father back, so he wouldn't make a fool of himself and be laughed at. After all, she was a young girl with a thin face.

Chen Ping'an inadvertently noticed that Ah Liang's expression was calm, and he wasn't teasing Zhu He as he usually did. Seeing Chen Ping'an's gaze, Ah Liang took off his wine gourd and asked with a smile, "Really not going to drink?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head. Ah Liang turned to Lin Shouyi and asked, "Kid, you've encountered some rare demons, and not just one or two. It's a rare opportunity. Want to drink some wine to calm your nerves?"

For some reason, Lin Shouyi, probably because it was the first time in his life that he had encountered a legendary demon, had his eyes opened. The young man was a little tempted and nodded for the first time, "I'll try a sip."

Ah Liang glanced sideways at Chen Ping'an and finally returned to his cynical self, "Look at him, he has the good fortune. You're not destined to lie down and enjoy life."

Lin Shouyi took the small silver gourd, tilted his head and took a light sip. Instantly, his face turned red. The pampered young man already had fair skin, and now he was even more radiant. The young man quickly covered his mouth with his palm to prevent himself from spitting it out. His throat was burning, and after it entered his stomach, his internal organs felt like they were burning. He was trembling all over. The first time he drank alcohol, he was given a rude awakening. The young man was embarrassed and unbearable. Seeing Li Huai laughing, Lin Shouyi, who had a strong sense of self-esteem, gritted his teeth and was about to take another sip. Unexpectedly, Ah Liang had already reached out and taken back the small gourd. He gently pressed the young man's shoulder with one hand and said with a smile, "There's more pleasure in drinking without being greedy. From now on, I'll give you a sip every day. I guarantee that there will be one more carefree and forgetful person in this world."

Li Huai, being a clever child, exposed Ah Liang with a smile, "Just say you don't want to give Lin Shouyi more to drink."

Ah Liang retracted his hand from Lin Shouyi's shoulder and sighed, "How can I not feel bad? This wine of mine has a great origin and is extremely expensive. The key is that it's priceless. Lin Shouyi is very lucky."

Li Huai tentatively asked, "Can I have a sip?"

Ah Liang quickly fastened the wine gourd to his waist, "You're too young, and your Qi residence hasn't taken shape yet. It's not suitable to drink strong alcohol, otherwise it will damage your foundation."

Li Huai was stunned for a moment, and then jumped up and cursed, "Ah Liang! Damn your mother! The year before last, I could secretly dip my chopsticks in wine and drink it during the big meal. That was the strongest liquor in our town. Even my dad said that my alcohol tolerance was like his. Who doesn't know that my dad is the fiercest drinker in town? Besides, since last spring, my dad has been throwing me into the medicinal wine barrel to soak every month. I can drink the wine just by lowering my head. And now you're telling me this?"

Ah Liang exclaimed in surprise, and then glanced at the aggressive little kid. He thought to himself that it was no wonder that this little kid could keep up with the big team's pace at such a young age, and there wasn't even a single blister on the soles of his feet. His body was obviously much stronger than Lin Shouyi's. It should be because of this medicinal wine that he had been tempering his body.

For the first time, Ah Liang curiously sized up Li Huai. He didn't know until he looked closely that the child's internal aura had been deliberately concealed by someone with considerable martial arts power. Now that Ah Liang wanted to see, those veils were gone. So, in the eyes of the man with the bamboo hat, a mysterious and unique landscape map was presented. Removing the flesh and skin, he only looked at the scene of the acupoints and the flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. There was a faint purple Qi rising, the mountains were majestic and solid, and the water was turbulent and stable. Finally, hundreds of rivers converged in one acupoint, Qi steamed into a large swamp, which was not to be underestimated.

Ah Liang marveled, "I didn't expect that I randomly recognized an old man by the roadside, and he's quite extraordinary. Li Huai, what's your dad's name? Maybe my friends here know him."

Li Huai suddenly fell silent, walked away alone with a sickly look, and didn't want to talk to Ah Liang.

Lin Shouyi explained in a low voice, "Li Huai's dad is named Li Er. He's a well-known drunkard and rogue in the town. He doesn't do any proper work all year round. Li Huai used to be laughed at because of his dad when he was in school. At first, Li Huai also argued with people, and it seems like he even fought a few times. Later, he probably felt that his dad was really useless, so he didn't care after a while."

Ah Liang couldn't help but laugh, "The little brat doesn't know how lucky he is."

The speaker didn't mean anything, but the listener took it to heart. Lin Shouyi silently remembered it.

About half an hour later, Zhu He finally returned and said with a smile, "There's nothing unusual within a radius of ten miles. We can set off."

Li Baoping handed over a water bottle and said with a smile, "Uncle Zhu, you've worked hard."

Zhu He took the water bottle and replied casually, "Miss, this is my duty."

Zhu Lu saw it in her eyes, her eyes were dark, she turned her head and looked at the waterfall of the Iron Talisman River. She bit her lip and remained silent.

The thoughts and feelings of a young girl were like mountain winds and water mist, elusive.

Chen Ping'an stared intently at the demon-suppressing bell in Zhu He's hand.

Apart from Miss Ning's sword that could fly around on its own, the copper bell in Zhu He's hand was the second magic weapon that Chen Ping'an had seen up close with his own eyes, so he looked at it with extra focus.

Zhu He wasn't a stingy person, and generously handed the copper bell to the young man, explaining, "It's a treasure bestowed by the ancestor before I left. The ancestor said that this thing is not considered high-grade among immortal magic weapons. It's just that whenever a demon or monster that has transformed into a human form approaches, the bell will ring without wind, emitting bursts of clear sound, making people immune to charm. It also has the effect of warning and reminding. The ancestor also jokingly said that the bursts of bell sounds have the effect of concentrating the mind and clearing the heart. If a cultivator with a little more courage can live next to a demon, he can use the bell to cultivate his mind. Of course, the premise is that the demon who is his neighbor has no intention of harming people, and at the same time, he must be able to withstand the constant disturbance of the bell. Such a demon with high cultivation and a good temper is not easy to find, so the ancestor was just joking."Chen Pingan carefully grasped the handle of the copper bell. Zhu He walked his horse alongside him, saying, "The large ones are called bells, the small ones, chimes. If it's an immortal artifact, it usually wards off evil and protects the home. Common folk like to hang wind chimes under the eaves, mostly for decoration, but if they're specially obtained from temples or Taoist abodes and blessed with sutras by virtuous masters, they can indeed block baleful energy and accumulate good fortune."

Zhu He saw the boy gently shaking the copper bell and chuckled, "If no demons approach, the two clappers inside won't move easily, so no sound will be heard. Otherwise, the owner would be constantly suspicious and suffer greatly, wouldn't they?"

Chen Pingan also understood the point. Just as he was about to return the precious demon-quelling bell to Zhu He, he felt a tug on his sleeve. The little girl in the red cotton jacket looked at him expectantly. Seeing Zhu He nod with a smile, he gave it to Li Baoping. She held the copper bell with both hands, turning it over and over, studying it carefully. She would occasionally reach out and forcefully pull the clappers inside, making Chen Pingan feel a burst of anxiety. He kept reminding her to be careful and not break it.

While keeping an eye on the little girl, Chen Pingan curiously asked, "Uncle Zhu, will the demons on the river harm people? Are there many strange beings like that in Great Li?"

Zhu He was not one to speak carelessly. He only chose the words he had personally heard from his ancestors, and spoke slowly and deliberately, "Our Eastern Treasure Continent is vast. There are more than a dozen massive dynasties with populations exceeding ten million households each, and countless famous mountains and rivers. Through various wonderful and inexplicable karmic circumstances, those mountain spirits, goblins, and demons are fortunate enough to transform and embark on the path of cultivation. It's not common, but it's not considered rare either."

"Our ancestors said that, unlike our small town, people in the outside world, as long as they're not from too remote and isolated parts of the Eastern Treasure Continent, have often heard of this. Although not everyone has seen it with their own eyes, they often hear so many unofficial histories, tales of immortals and strange creatures, that many common folk firmly believe that in those remote, ancient temples in the deep mountains, there often lives a bewitching little fox spirit, waiting for poor scholars heading to the capital for the imperial examinations. Or, if there's a demon causing trouble and harming people somewhere, all that's needed is a letter to Mount Dragon Tiger, and a true master from the Celestial Master's Mansion will arrive on clouds and cranes to slay the demon and eliminate evil for the local people. So much so that wherever there's a well, children will spread the word: 'Wherever there are demons and ghosts causing trouble, there will surely be a true master from the Celestial Master's Mansion.'"

"In short, we shouldn't be too surprised along the way, but of course, we must be careful. Our ancestors said that once a demon transforms into human form, and not just uses some illusion to deceive the eyes, then it's equivalent to half a cultivator. The Great Li Dynasty is happy to see this happen. Not only will they not suppress or exclude them, but they will instead make an exception and allow them to establish sects on their territory, as long as they register with the Ministry of Rites. However, due to certain customary rules, the Great Li court has not yet absorbed demons and monsters into its ranks. However, it's rumored that many demon cultivators have contributed to Great Li's military achievements on the border battlefields. In terms of daily life, customs, and human relations, they look no different from humans."

Zhu He's words were easy to understand and full of interesting details.

Chen Pingan listened with great interest. Li Huai and Lin Shouyi also pricked up their ears, not wanting to miss a single word.

Only A'liang, walking at the head of the group, wearing a bamboo hat and leading a donkey, gently patted the hilt of his knife and hummed a tuneless foreign tune.

The girl Zhu Lu, walking at the end of the group, was even more distracted, as if the further she traveled from home, the stronger her homesickness became.

An hour after the southward-bound group had set off, at the waterfall where the Dragon Whiskers Creek and the Iron Talisman River met, a woman with the appearance and figure of a middle-aged woman appeared on a stone cliff. She sat on the edge, her raven-black hair reaching five or six lengths, extending from her head to her feet, and then into the stream. The woman stared intently at the turbulent water beneath the Iron Talisman River waterfall, her eyes burning with greed. The woman's face was blurred and constantly changing, as if it had not yet truly taken shape, waiting for the emergence of a certain opportunity.

River Matron, River God, one word difference, whether it was status or cultivation, were as different as clouds and mud.

She could at most swim to this point. Any further down would be trespassing. Just like human county officials cannot leave their posts without permission, the mountain and water deities who protect the feng shui of a region for the dynasty are even more so. Otherwise, it would cause floods and other disasters and strange phenomena. Now that she was about to become a god, she would certainly not create trouble for herself at this critical juncture. She had secretly sneaked upstream along the creek into the deep mountains, but was only casually glanced at by a cyan-clad geomancer of the Great Li Dynasty who was watching the waterfall. She only felt her scalp explode, and after that, she dared not underestimate the experts and strange people outside the small town.

She had followed them all the way here, not out of any sinister intentions, but simply obeying the orders of the Sage Ruan Shi, carefully watching the unfathomable man with the bamboo hat, to prevent any mishaps. She had been observing diligently day and night, not daring to slack off in the slightest. It was really that little girl with the bracelet that turned into a fire dragon who had frightened the woman greatly, especially after the old immortal Grandpa Yang, who allowed her to usurp the position of River Matron, had revealed the secrets of heaven. She was even more afraid that one day she would become the little girl's enlightenment opportunity. She was simply terrified to the bone.

After becoming the River Matron, she had experienced all sorts of wonderful and indescribable divine powers, such as becoming younger every day, feeling comfortable all over when swimming in the water, and being able to view the scenery of the small town through groundwater or rain from the courtyard whenever there was a heavy rain. Moreover, through these days of hard work and continuous collection, she had searched the bottom of the river and found several good things, all of which she had taken into her possession. Among them, a jade ring was worn on her hand, and she took it out to admire whenever she had time, like a vulgar woman wearing gold ornaments, feeling complacent.

The more she was superior to ordinary people, the more she feared Grandpa Yang and the little girl surnamed Ruan in her bones, because these two people seemed to be able to destroy everything she had now with a flick of their hands.

She restrained her chaotic thoughts and looked around. Now that the Li Pearl Grotto Heaven was adjacent to and mixed with the territory of Great Li, and its spiritual energy was abundant, it had become a good place for cultivation like the seventy-two blessed lands, causing many foreign birds and animals to begin to flow here, especially those mountain spirits and wild monsters who had opened their intelligence, relying on their instincts, hoping to get there first and occupy a feng shui treasure land early. Guarding the feng shui of a place was originally the duty of mountain gods and river gods. She had now already taken in several koi carp with dragon whiskers in the Dragon Whiskers Creek to be her lackeys. Usually when she traveled, many aquatic spirits acted as escorts and guards, which made her very satisfied.Thus, though she couldn't yet venture into the Iron Talisman River, she had to guard the waterfall pass. Extracting some deserved toll was something Old Man Yang had approved. This emboldened her, justifying her bluster. Yet, deep down, the innately cautious woman remained anxious, fearing a sneeze from some powerful dragon crossing the river could drown her, the lowly River Crone of Dragon Beard Creek.

Finally, they came.

No longer the aged crone she appeared in her dying moments, she squinted, eyeing the five figures creeping across the Iron Talisman River's bank.

Earlier, concealed within the creek atop the waterfall, she'd watched them approach with imposing airs, each resembling a celestial being. It nearly sparked a cowardly retreat. But then, for reasons unknown, these beings of varying demonic auras scattered and fled. Whatever caused their retreat, her fear vanished, replaced by scorn and triumph. She was now doing proper work for the Sage Ruan, enhancing his sword-forging water with frigid energy, and had survived being trampled by Miss Xiu's fire dragon!

Wasn't that something to be proud of?

Dwelling on this, she steadied herself, striving for a serene demeanor. She feigned nonchalance, perched on a massive boulder, gazing coldly at the five demonic figures across the creek. An old man with snowy hair wore a raincoat, like an elderly scholar enjoying the mountains. A plump woman in gaudy attire possessed captivating, seductive eyes. A child held a purple bamboo cane, their gaze unnervingly deep. And lastly, a young pair radiating the strongest demonic aura huddled behind the raincoat-clad elder, avoiding eye contact.

Demons and monsters, avoid humans, prostrate before gods.

So went an unwritten rule from ancient times. Yet now, gods were distant, the enshrined idols lifeless statues, while even children knew of mountain immortals. But the spirits and demons regarded those officially appointed by the court, even minor deities like river crones or mountain guardians, as unassailable figures, unless they drastically surpassed them in cultivation.

"We are but wild cultivators from the borderlands of Great Li, passing through your esteemed domain, paying respects to the River God."

The elder in the raincoat bowed respectfully. Rising, he said gravely, "Famous mountains await sages. We wouldn't dare claim such status, only harbor genuine admiration. With the opening of the Heavenly Grottoes, we simply wish to cultivate quietly at the feet of a sage. If we achieve the Great Dao, we'll surely repay this land. We hope the River God will grant us passage."

"Wild cultivators" was a common self-deprecating term for demons when encountering powerful cultivators.

The River Crone stated bluntly, "One offering from each of you. If I deem them worthy, I'll personally guide you to the mountains west of the town."

The elder paused, surprised by the River God's frankness.

The cane-wielding child angrily retorted, "Her divine rank is merely the lowly River Crone! Our courteous address is a great honor. Does she dare demand bribes? Isn't she afraid the Great Li court will strip her of her position, leaving her a wandering, wretched spirit?!"

The Crone was a skilled street brawler from Apricot Blossom Lane. Knowing some secrets from Old Man Yang, she feared no threats. Clearly seeing their weakness, she grew bolder. Waving her hand, she sneered, "Then quickly scurry away! Dare approach Dragon Beard Creek within a hundred yards, and you defy the orthodoxy of Great Li's rivers. We'll see who suffers!"

The child, enraged, was about to retort, but the kind-faced elder abruptly turned, fixing him with a fierce, predatory gaze. The child, a mountain spirit, fell silent.

An hour later, the five "wild cultivators" journeyed towards Dragon Spring County along the creek.

The Crone, half-submerged in the creek, possessed five new items, including the crystal-clear, spirit-infused purple bamboo cane.

While secretly delighted, the Crone felt a sudden pang of melancholy.

If her grandson still lived in Apricot Blossom Lane, she could give him all these treasures.

But who knew when she would see her grandson again? And she had heard that cultivation was fraught with peril, most perishing along the way, with true success stories being exceedingly rare.

At this thought, the Crone grew despondent. She vanished beneath the water, quietly weeping.