Shadow Weaver

Chapter 117: Dreaming of the Broken Swords (XIV)
[You: (panicked) Okay, okay, I will definitely remember to keep the life-saving treasure you gave me.]
Jinchen spoke seriously and his expression was more solemn than before.

You were already frightened to the point of almost losing your soul on the spot by the word "frightened to pieces", so you nodded hurriedly after hearing this. Seeing that you seemed to have really remembered his instructions, Jinchen slowly relaxed his expression and breathed a sigh of relief.

[Jinchen: (with a calm expression) Just remember it.]
[Jinchen: (Thinking for a moment, adding) However, although the strange beasts and demons in this mountain are indeed somewhat dangerous, you don’t need to be too nervous right now.]
[Jinchen: - No matter what, these strange beasts and demon spirits are all under the control of the mountain master, so even if you accidentally irritate these bad-tempered guys in the future, you don't need to panic immediately.]
[Jinchen: (lowers his eyes)——The Master of the Immortal Mountain does not allow strange beasts to hurt people without reason.]
[Jinchen: If you really encounter that kind of situation, you can find a slightly safer place as soon as possible and hide carefully - by waiting for me or the mountain master to arrive at the scene, the crisis you are facing will naturally be resolved.]
[Jinchen: (raises a finger) To put it simply, one word: "drag"!]
[Jinchen: Buy time, buy distance... As long as you can delay until we come to rescue you, you will definitely not get hurt.]
[Jinchen: Okay, that’s all I have to tell you—if you don’t have any other questions, we should continue on our journey.]
After Jinchen finished speaking, he quietly waited for your reply. Seeing this, you absentmindedly replied "No problem" and followed him back to the mountain road.

But this time your steps are obviously not as relaxed as when you first arrived... The words "scared to death" and "find a way to delay" are buzzing in your mind like flies that can't be driven away, and you suddenly feel a huge pressure on you.

(Although you got the answer you wanted, the pressure brought by this truth is too great. Your tense spirit is now even more tense, and the stress value is almost doubled - mental stress value +30, and then continue to return to the main plot.)
*
Main storyline:

The winding mountain road seemed to have no end.

You can't remember how long you have been walking on this road, you only remember that the fog in the mountains seemed to dissipate and gather again three times.

Jinchen has been leading the way for you at a speed slightly faster than you, half a step ahead of you. You followed his shadow and walked about a hundred feet forward on the mountain road. Finally, you vaguely saw an arched moon gate in front of you.

Is this... the dividing line of the back mountain?
But... why is this just a Moon Gate - is the owner of the fairy mountain too lazy to build a gate for the back mountain?
You saw the moon gate and were confusedly thinking about it. Just as you were lost in thought, Jinchen, who was half a step ahead of you, suddenly spoke.

[Jinchen: (Raising his hand and pointing to the Moon Gate)____, do you see the Moon Gate in front? After passing through the Moon Gate, we will enter the back mountain area of ​​Lanke Mountain.]
[You: (nods) Oh, I see. I just saw it. But, is there only a moon gate in our back mountain? I don’t think I’ve seen such a design before!]
You asked the question directly with courage, and Jinchen couldn't help but show a trace of apology on his face when he heard it.

[Jinchen: (slightly apologetic) No, this is just a small side door.]
[Jinchen: I’m sorry, ____, you are not the same as those strange beasts and monsters living in the back mountain... You are originally a living soul, and the Lan Ke Secret Realm was created by the mountain master to trap his obsession, and various formations have been set up everywhere.]
[Jinchen: If I take you through the main gate, the formation on the main gate may have some negative effects on your soul... I can only take you through this side door that has no formation and is only guarded by two strange beasts. Please forgive me.]
Jinchen explained patiently, and when you heard the words "may have some bad effects on the soul", you shuddered on the spot.

[You: Oh~ If that’s what you’re saying, we should just go through this side door safely—side door is good, this side door is really good!]
[Jinchen: (smiles) It would be best if you don’t blame me for being rude.]
[Jinchen: Now, ____, let me briefly explain to you what we need to pay attention to later.]
[Jinchen: Due to the various agreements I have made with the mountain master, I will not be able to accompany you after we pass the Moon Gate——]
[You: (frown) Master Jinchen, are you not going to take me with you from now on?]
[You: (Hesitantly) I’m unfamiliar with this place…]
[Jin Chen: (comforting) Don’t worry, this is exactly what I am going to tell you next.]
[Jinchen: Although I cannot accompany you on the rest of the way, I have already said hello to the mountain master when I came here. A strange beast that is usually friendly to humans will lead the way for you on my behalf. So you don’t have to worry. Just follow the strange beast.]
[Jinchen: Of course, in order to make you feel more at ease... I have also prepared a map of the back mountain of Lanke Mountain for you.]
As the young man spoke, he took out a blueprint from his sleeve.

[Jinchen: (handing over the map) If you don’t want to follow the strange beast, or are worried about getting lost, you can continue to move forward in the direction indicated on this map... In addition, there is a one-time communication talisman drawn on this map, in the blank space in the upper left corner of the map - if you encounter a problem that you can’t solve yourself, you can also tear up the map and report it to me.]
[Jinchen: I will come here immediately after receiving the news.]
[You: (Thinking) Like this…]
You took the drawing and looked at it carefully. Sure enough, you touched a slightly concave pattern in the blank space in the upper left corner. It felt like the lines on the talisman paper you saw online before, but it seemed different from those...

You don't know what is written here specifically, you just quietly and carefully put it into your pocket, and your heart unconsciously becomes more at ease.

——With this thing, your safety can be at least guaranteed.

[You: (slightly hesitant) Oh, right, Master Jinchen.]
[You: You just said that the one who will take over and lead me is a strange beast that is usually quite kind to humans.]
[You: Then can it... can it be trusted? In other words, can I believe everything it says?]
You looked up expectantly, and Jinchen looked regretful after hearing that.

[Jinchen: (shakes his head) It’s a pity, but it’s not true.]
[Jinchen: I understand your thoughts and feelings very well, but unfortunately, alien beasts are alien beasts. Even though they may be kinder to humans than other alien beasts, this cannot change their nature of liking to talk nonsense.]
[Jinchen: You still have to be careful to distinguish the truth from the falsehood in its words - this is unavoidable no matter what.]
[Jinchen: Okay, the Moon Gate is just ahead. Let me show you its face first——]
(After this chapter, you will get the map of the back mountain of Lanke Mountain x 1, and continue to jump down to [Chapter : Tigers and Wolves Trapped the Heroic Soul])