Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 170 The Yellow-Robed Immortal
After leaving the disciples of the Taiyue Sword Sect in Bailuquan Village, Qu Zhiweng went to Pingding County with Chang Ping'an.

Pingding County is located in the eastern part of Weize Pass. It was called Jingxing in the previous dynasty. After the Xiao Kingdom was established, many place names were changed, including Jingxing, which was changed to Pingding. The name "Pingding" was probably chosen for good luck.

Weize Pass is a somewhat abandoned city pass. The Xiao Kingdom only left less than a hundred people to guard it, which is less than half the number of Hukou Pass.

Of course, the fact that such a small number of people were stationed at a border crossing that was in fact adjacent to a foreign country is also due to the fact that the Zhou state—the one that had just been destroyed—had relatively low military strength and was not a threat.

Logically, after leaving Weize Pass, one should cross two more mountains to reach Meng County. Meng County is increasingly remote, surrounded by mountains. To get out, one would either have to take a detour or cross several more mountains to reach Jinyang.

Although it's closer than going through Hukou Pass, it takes just as much effort.

Moreover, this area is located in the Daxing Mountains, which are intricate and complex, making it easy to get lost. If it weren't for Qu Zhiweng's insistence and his claim that he had traveled this route several times in his youth and knew the way, Chang Ping'an would not have followed the others from Weize Pass.

After leaving Bailuquan Village, without the group of Taiyue Sword Sect disciples with poor cultivation dragging them down, Qu Zhiweng and Chang Ping'an arrived near Pingding County in just a quarter of an hour.

In the distance, one could see that the millet and wheat fields in Pingding County were lush and green, with houses scattered among them in a pleasing and orderly manner. Against the backdrop of the distant mountains, the scene appeared peaceful and serene, not at all like any evil spirits causing trouble.

Although it is a county, Pingding County is very desolate due to its remote location, even worse than Feihu County - Pingding County does not even have city walls, and it is more like a village than a "county town".

If it weren't for the fact that the houses became more densely packed as they went deeper into the county, and that they could gradually see shops on both sides and the county government office in the distance, Chang Ping'an really wouldn't have been sure that this simple "village" was actually Pingding County.

"Oh, another guest! And a handsome young man at that!"

"You're quite bold, sir. Why don't you stay at my house? My daughter is very beautiful!"

"Guests, you'd better go back quickly! Don't go back inside!"

As soon as they entered the county, they heard several women laughing and chatting with the two of them by the roadside.

One of the round-faced women even made a gesture to pull Chang Ping'an, shouting, "Come stay at my house! Come stay at my house! My women are as beautiful as Diao Chan. If you don't come, things will get messy!"

How could Chang Ping'an be held hostage by an ordinary woman? He immediately stepped back and slipped away like an eel, his face flushed, and dared not reply.

These "secret establishments" can be found in remote areas, and they are often associated with "guesthouses." These "guesthouses" are not the modern, beautifully decorated private hotels, but rather ordinary people's vacant houses, specifically catering to passing merchants. They are much cheaper than inns, and some even like to make money through "honey traps."

Upon seeing that Chang Ping'an had so nimbly dodged the woman's hand, the women who had been laughing immediately stopped and took a few steps back. One of them even sneered, "Hmph, no wonder you're so bold, you're a martial arts practitioner! Well, you won't be able to get away so easily then!"

Another woman tugged hard at the one who had spoken, urging, "Hurry up, hurry up!"

Then, the women hurriedly left, and before long, the street had become quiet and deserted.

Chang Ping'an looked at the empty street, somewhat bewildered. Qu Zhiweng, standing beside him, stroked his beard and said, "Little Immortal Chang, something's strange about this place. The people don't seem to be being coerced."

Chang Ping'an thought about the expressions of the women just now and nodded in agreement: "They don't really look like them..." Before he finished speaking, suddenly a yellow wind swirled and blew quickly toward Chang Ping'an and Qu Zhiweng in the distance. For a moment, sand and stones flew everywhere and the world was shrouded in gloom.

Then, in a nearby shop, a shopkeeper was seen hurriedly setting up the door, his movements quite skillful.

As he propped up the door panel, he looked at Chang Ping'an and Qu Zhiweng with sympathy, shaking his head and saying, "Oh no! You've offended the Yellow Robe Immortal!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the yellow sand rushed towards them, and gradually a figure about the size of a cat appeared in the sand. It had round ears, a fluffy tail, and a slender body. It didn't look like a cat or a dog, and no one knew what kind of animal it was.

Chang Ping'an took out the Night Talk Sword and swung it along with its scabbard, unleashing a burst of spiritual energy that cleaved the gale in two before it vanished with a whoosh.

The entire movement was fluid and fast, so fast that it was impossible to react. The animal hidden in the yellow wind even had a look of shock and confusion on its face.

Of course, Qu Zhiweng and Chang Ping'an finally saw the animal's true nature—it was a fat weasel!
"So it was you, you beast, who stirred up trouble here!"

Seeing that the so-called "Yellow Robe Immortal" was actually a weasel, Chang Ping'an was both amused and exasperated. He had read in a book that weasels were indeed very easy to become spirits, but they didn't have any special abilities. At most, they could summon the wind, burrow into the soil, and dig holes. Their only other skill was to use their stinky farts to knock people unconscious and then escape!

That's right, this thing is very timid. Let alone harming people, even if it harms a few chickens, it will only dare to do so when no one is around at night. Most of the skills this kind of monster has cultivated are for the purpose of escaping!
And this thing... actually dared to threaten the entire county's residents!?

Could it be an exceptionally bold weasel demon?

Chang Ping'an's thoughts raced through his mind, but in reality, only a few breaths had passed.

Thinking that this weasel demon probably hadn't killed anyone yet, Chang Ping'an decided to let it go and take it back to White Stone Mountain to be dealt with by his master. So he didn't draw his sword, but instead used the Night Talk Sword with its sheath to strike the weasel.

"You beast, you have committed countless evils, why don't you confess your crimes and submit to the law at once!"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Chang Ping'an's words, the weasel trembled in fright, then farted and turned to run away.

Chang Ping'an hurriedly used his spiritual power to seal his five senses—this monster's fart was indeed powerful; the book recorded that it was a deadly poison that could knock out even a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Qu Zhiweng, who was standing to the side, was stunned by the fact that "the Yellow-Robed Immortal was actually a weasel." When he saw the weasel trying to run away, he realized what was happening and immediately drew his sword and chased after it, shouting, "You little beast, don't run!"

Chang Ping'an was shocked and hurriedly reminded him, "Sect Leader Qu! Don't inhale!"

Unfortunately, it was too late when the words left his mouth. Qu Zhiweng had only taken two steps forward when he inhaled a huge stench, which immediately caused tears and snot to flow from his eyes and nose. His already wrinkled face became even more contorted by the stench.

The next second, with a thud, Qu Zhiweng fell solidly to the ground, unconscious.

(End of this chapter)