Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 131 The Daughter of Gu Dao, Her Nature is Unfathomable

In ancient times, it was customary to seal scriptures, treasures, relics, and other items inside statues, a practice known as sealing or enshrining.

Seeing Xiao Hongling's overjoyed expression as if she had found a treasure, he suddenly realized.

The so-called bandit treasure is just a cover-up.

The woman went to such great lengths to hire so many people; her true purpose from the very beginning was for what was inside the statue!

As for what that thing is used for, that remains unknown.

Chen Ye didn't care about so much. Anyway, the task was completed, and all that was left was to pay the promised commission.

As the statue shattered, the thick fog and illusion that had enveloped the entire Black Wind Stronghold also dissipated.

The clear blue sky reappeared, and the sunlight shone down, dispelling the last trace of gloom.

The group found the so-called bandit treasure trove behind the village.

Upon opening it, everyone was somewhat disappointed.

Inside were only some rusty weapons and a few boxes of loose gold and silver, which, while not a small amount, were far less valuable than everyone had expected.

Xiao Hongye seemed to have anticipated this. Without the slightest stinginess, she directly distributed the most valuable half of the treasure trove to everyone and paid the commission she had promised in full.

When distributing the money to Chen Ye, she made a point of taking out an extra bag of silver.

"Brother Chen Ye contributed the most this time, so you deserve it."

No one had any objections, after all, Chen Ye's performance was evident to all. Whether it was breaking the illusion to save Yun Heqing or cooperating with Su Yuan to efficiently clear the field, he was undoubtedly the best player of the night.

Only Lü Song looked at the extra bag of silver in Chen Ye's hand, his face so gloomy it could drip water, his eyes frequently sweeping over Chen Ye, his eyes full of jealousy and hatred.

For him, it's not just about money.

It's all about saving face!

In particular, Chen Ye cut off a lock of his hair in public, which he considered an extreme humiliation.

Chen Ye was well aware of his reaction, but he remained calm, simply accepting the money and making a mental note about the young master with kidney deficiency.

The mission is over, and the team will be disbanded soon.

The innocent and carefree girl, Su Yuan, skipped and hopped over to Chen Ye's side, looking at him curiously with her big, dark eyes, and said with a grin.

"Hey, your knife is really fast."

Before Chen Ye could answer, Su Yuan suddenly leaned closer and whispered in his ear in an innocent tone.

"You need to be careful of that young master with kidney deficiency. The people from White Bone Mountain are the most petty and vindictive. You made him lose face so much today, he will definitely retaliate against you."

Chen Ye was taken aback, then gave the girl a deep look. "Why did you remind me?"

"Because you're very funny."

Su Yuan blinked her big eyes and giggled, "There are just too many boring people in this world, so I hope that interesting people can live longer."

After saying that, she didn't say anything more, waved her hand, and then skipped away.

Watching her departing figure, Chen Ye seemed lost in thought.

Bone Mountain….

He had barely memorized the name when Yun Heqing came closer.

He still had a hint of lingering fear on his face, and lowered his voice to say to Chen Ye, "Brother Chen, listen to my advice, stay away from that little vixen!"

Seeing Chen Ye's puzzled expression, he quickly explained, "You don't understand. The Gu worm that little demoness used is called Awakening Dream Butterfly, which is a top-grade rare Gu. It is very difficult to cultivate even one, but this woman has raised so many. Therefore, she is definitely not an ordinary person, and the power behind her must be considerable!"

He paused, his tone filled with apprehension: "Moreover, women who cultivate the Gu Dao are the most unpredictable and treacherous, and especially dangerous to offend! Because you saved my life, that's why I'm telling you this from the bottom of my heart, brother. You absolutely, absolutely must not provoke her!"

Chen Ye smiled, then nodded to Yun Heqing, "Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Master. I understand."

Regardless of the circumstances, Yun Heqing's intentions were good, and Chen Ye would not refuse.

"Good to know. I'll be going now, brother. I'll treat you to drinks when I get back to Yuhuo County." After saying this, Yun Heqing left in a hurry.

Then the towering giant Shi Meng nodded to Chen Ye as a greeting, before carrying the massive door-shaped sword and leaving on his own.

Lu Song glanced coldly at Chen Ye before following Shi Meng in the direction he was going without saying a word.

As for Xiao Hongye, after dividing the money, she made an excuse and left in a hurry, as if she was rushing to do something important.

In the blink of an eye, the once lively group was reduced to just Chen Ye.

The mountain wind was bleak, making people's clothes flutter loudly.

Chen Ye didn't care about this; he was used to going it alone.

With a thought, he summoned the profession panel that only he could see.

This battle yielded significant results.

Especially at the last moment, he went all in, compressing all his energy into the tip of his blade, and unleashing a powerful strike that deepened his understanding of swordsmanship.

The suffix for "Needle Knife Technique" on the panel has quietly changed from lv1 to lv2.

well.

Chen Ye was satisfied and put away the panel.

The sun was beginning to set, and the golden afterglow cast its light on the desolate mountains and fields, adding to the sense of loneliness.

Chen Ye didn't dare to delay and quickened his pace toward the county town.

But he hadn't gone far when a timid voice suddenly came from the bushes by the roadside.

"Sir...please wait."

Chen Ye paused, his mind instantly on high alert.

In this desolate wilderness, having just emerged from a haunted place, could we have encountered some evil spirits or demons?
He didn't turn around; instead, he quickened his pace.

"My lord! My lord, please don't go!"

Seeing that he was about to leave, the voice suddenly became anxious.

The bushes rustled, and then a chubby rabbit laboriously crawled out from within.

This is a grayish-brown hare with two unusually large ears, but its cheeks and front paws have already begun to resemble a human.

Demon!
Chen Ye's heart tightened, and his right hand instantly rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist. The blade hummed slightly, and killing intent was about to erupt.

When the rabbit spirit saw his posture, it trembled with fright, its two big ears wagging wildly like rattles, looking both comical and pitiful.

"Please don't misunderstand, sir! I meant no harm!"

It spoke tremulously, its voice filled with terror: "I... I was sent by my grandmother to invite you to the banquet tonight."

"Grandma? A banquet?"

Chen Ye frowned slightly. He really didn't sense any malice from this rabbit spirit. Moreover, its aura was too weak, so weak that he could cut it in half with a single strike. It posed no threat whatsoever.

He relaxed his guard slightly, but did not remove his hand from the hilt of the knife.

"Who is this 'grandmother' you're talking about? And what's the deal with the dinner party?"

The big-eared rabbit breathed a sigh of relief when it saw that he was willing to talk, and quickly explained, "Grandma is Grandma Liu! She's so kind, she's always protected us little mountain demons. This banquet is because you got rid of that bad guy on the mountain. Grandma is especially happy, so she specially set up this banquet to thank you in person."

Bad guy?
Chen Ye suddenly realized that it must be referring to the evil god enshrined in that small temple.

It seems that this so-called Granny Liu, like this rabbit spirit, is also a monster from this area, and judging from the rabbit's words, she doesn't seem to have any ill intentions.

Thinking of this, Chen Ye became somewhat interested.

But it's getting late, and if I go to some banquet now, I'm afraid I won't be able to get back to the city tonight.

The big-eared rabbit seemed to sense his concerns and quickly added, "Please rest assured, sir, Grandma means absolutely no harm! And after you arrive, you can stay at Grandma's for the night. If you don't wish to, Grandma will find a way to give you a ride. It definitely won't delay your business!"

Chen Ye pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Is it far from here?"

"Not far at all!" Big-eared Rabbit was overjoyed when he agreed, and both of his ears stood up excitedly: "It's only five miles from here!"

"Lead the way."

"Alright, come with me!"

Chen Ye then followed the strange rabbit spirit into the forest, and then walked deeper into the woods along a path trodden by wild animals.

Just as the big-eared rabbit had said, after traveling only four or five miles, the view suddenly opened up, and a huge willow forest appeared before them.

Under the setting sun, countless willow branches cascaded down like green waterfalls, swaying in the wind, serene and mysterious. "Sir, Grandma's residence is just ahead," Big-Eared Rabbit stopped, his tone full of respect.

Chen Ye then realized that this so-called Granny Liu was actually a willow tree spirit.

Just then, all the willow branches in the grove began to move without any wind, making a rustling sound.

Then a gentle breeze swept across my face, and the scene before me changed instantly.

An old woman dressed in coarse cloth, with gray hair and a kind face, appeared before the willow grove, leaning on a willow cane.

Behind her, a number of children who looked to be seven or eight years old were peeking around, secretly observing Chen Ye with curious yet timid eyes.

Even the big-eared rabbit from before has transformed into a chubby-faced little boy with fan-like ears, who obediently stands beside the old woman.

"I hope you will forgive me for not being able to greet you in person." Granny Liu said with a warm smile and a gentle, cheerful voice.

Chen Ye did not sense any danger from her, and even the sword at his waist remained motionless, indicating that she indeed had no ill intentions.

He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "You're too kind."

"Brave warrior, please."

Grandma Liu turned to the side and gestured for Chen Ye to enter the woods.

When Chen Ye arrived deep in the forest, he discovered that there was a hidden paradise there.

A banquet table was set up in a clearing in the woods, with a few soft lamps lit on the table, illuminating the surroundings.

Chen Ye didn't stand on ceremony and sat down with Granny Liu, taking their seats as host and guest.

"In this rural area, we have nothing good to offer, just some wild Solomon's seal fruit we picked ourselves, along with a little wine. I hope you will forgive us," Granny Liu said apologetically.

Chen Ye looked down and saw that the dishes on the table were indeed wild mountain produce, but they were very clean, arranged quite elegantly, and had a pleasant fragrance.

He took a bite and found it incredibly delicious, far surpassing the dishes in city restaurants.

Having just fought a fierce battle, he was indeed quite hungry. After confirming that the food was not poisonous, he stopped being polite and began to eat heartily.

Grandma Liu watched with a smile, then personally poured him a full cup of wine.

The wine is amber in color and clear.

Chen Ye picked up his wine glass and took a sip. He found it to be fragrant, mellow, and refreshing. After swallowing, it turned into a warm current that spread throughout his body, and even the fatigue after the fierce battle dissipated.

"Excellent wine!" he exclaimed.

Grandma Liu laughed and said, "This was sent by the little monkeys in the back mountain. It is brewed with a variety of fruits and then stored in the mountain for many years. It's a pity that I am too old to appreciate its taste, so I have been storing it. Today, I'm taking this opportunity to present it to you, brave warrior."

Chen Ye nodded, downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, then put down his chopsticks and looked at the other person.

"Madam, did you invite me here today because of the Black Wind Stronghold?"

"That's right." Granny Liu nodded, her smile fading.

"The evil god enshrined in Black Wind Stronghold is extremely powerful, and in recent years it has become increasingly arrogant, often sending ghosts down the mountain to bully the little ones I protect. Several children have suffered because of this."

"Although I wanted to punish it, I am old and weak and no match for it. So I could only watch helplessly. If it weren't for the brave man's intervention to remove it, our future days would have been even more difficult."

Chen Ye nodded, then asked with some doubt, "But I wasn't the only one who took action this time. Why did the old lady only invite me?"

Upon hearing this, Granny Liu gave a bitter smile.

"To be honest, brave warrior, we mountain spirits dare not approach anyone other than you."

It turned out that in Granny Liu's perception, Xiao Hongye, as a sword cultivator, was too sharp and her sword aura soared to the clouds. Just getting close to her made these spirits feel like they had thorns in their backs, so naturally they dared not make contact.

The burly man, Shi Meng, exuded a murderous aura and was clearly a ruthless killer who wouldn't blink an eye. No monster dared to approach him.

As for the sickly Zhao Ada and the young girl Su Yuan, one was eerily ghostly and the other was afflicted with Gu poison. Their evil aura was not much different from that of the evil god of Black Wind Village, so Granny Liu dared not provoke them.

Only Chen Ye.

In Granny Liu's eyes, although he exuded murderous aura, his Dharma light was pure and his aura was clean, making him a person she could befriend. That's why she mustered up the courage to send the big-eared rabbit to invite him.

After hearing this explanation, Chen Ye finally understood.

He looked up and saw that the children were hiding behind Grandma Liu, looking at him with a timid yet longing gaze, or more precisely, at the wild fruit on the table in front of him. Several of the little ones were secretly swallowing their saliva, looking very greedy.

Chen Ye knew that these children were actually little demons from the mountains. Because they were just beginning to develop their intelligence and were innocent, they manifested as children.

He smiled slightly and waved to the children: "Come and eat with us."

The little ones were all taken aback when they heard this, and then they all looked at Grandma Liu, not daring to step forward.

Seeing this, Granny Liu's eyes flashed with affection, then she sighed softly and said, "Go on, since this person..."

"My name is Chen Ye," Chen Ye introduced himself.

"Since Mr. Chen doesn't mind, you can all go and eat. Remember to follow the rules."

Once they received permission, the little ones cheered and mustered their courage to come closer.

The one leading the group was none other than the chubby little boy who was actually the big-eared rabbit in disguise.

Chen Ye casually picked up a piece of Solomon's Seal and handed it to him. The chubby boy quickly took it with both hands, thanked him, and then ran to the side to chew it while drooling.

In no time, all the children had a share, and soon the table full of wild fruits was eaten clean, filling the forest with their joyful laughter.

Seeing this lively scene, Chen Ye couldn't help but smile.

Although they were all little demons, their innocent and adorable appearance made them no different from human children.

Then Chen Ye picked up his wine glass, drank the wine in it in one gulp, and then turned his gaze to Granny Liu beside him.

"I wonder if the old lady has invited me here for anything other than this meal?"

The reason Chen Ye asked that question was because he noticed a hint of sorrow in Granny Liu's eyes.

Sure enough, after hearing Chen Ye's question, Granny Liu's warm smile gradually disappeared, replaced by an unyielding sorrow.

“Brave man Chen, since you speak so frankly, I won’t hold back either.”

Granny Liu paused, her voice becoming heavy: "Actually, for us, although the evil god of Black Wind Village is powerful, it is not much of a threat because its focus is not on us. The real threat is the gnarled tree demon that is entrenched on the Dry Bone Slope thirty miles away."

Dry Bone Slope, a gnarled tree demon?

Chen Ye didn't speak, but continued to listen.

Then Granny Liu continued, "That Dry Bone Slope was a mass grave in the past. Later, it was abandoned because it was too far from the county town. Now, as the years have passed, the rain often washes away the bones, hence the name."

"As for the 'Gan Gen Demon,' it was an old locust tree in the mass grave. Over the years, it was corrupted by yin energy and eventually gained sentience. However, because it was formed from the convergence of countless yin energies, it became evil by nature. Later, it even devoured the flesh and blood of past living beings and became a complete demon."

"Now it has gathered a group of evil spirits under its command, and it has become quite a force to be reckoned with."

At this point, a look of helplessness and sorrow appeared on Granny Liu's face.

"I am old and my demonic power has declined significantly. So in recent years, that entangled demon has been sending his underlings to gradually erode my territory."

"nibbling away at territory?" Chen Ye asked, puzzled.

"That's right!"

Grandma Liu raised her cane and pointed at the chubby little boy who was still gnawing on Solomon's seal, her voice filled with sorrow.

"Brave Chen, don't underestimate these children just because they've only recently developed intelligence. They've been nourished by the spiritual energy of the mountains for many years, and they already possess medicinal properties. For some cultivators who practice evil arts, especially those who rely on elixirs, they are excellent medicinal catalysts!"

Ingestion therapy!
Chen Ye's pupils contracted slightly as he instantly thought of Lü Song, who had swallowed ashes.

"The rooted demon captured these children. Some it kept to devour and increase its demonic power, while others... it sold to evil cultivators in exchange for the resources it needed for cultivation."

It turned out to be the case.

Chen Ye looked at Granny Liu, "So, how strong is this entwined root demon?"

"If we judge it by the standards of your human race, it should be the Unobstructed Realm," Granny Liu replied.

"But brave warrior, don't be intimidated by this level. Demons, especially those of us who are plant spirits, are naturally weaker in killing. So although it has a high level, its methods are quite clumsy, relying entirely on brute force and the entanglement of its roots."

"But your swordsmanship, brave warrior, is fierce and unparalleled, and your magic is pure and righteous, making you its nemesis!"

At this point, a glimmer of hope ignited in Granny Liu's eyes, and her tone became earnest.

"Therefore, I humbly request that you, brave warrior, take action to rid us, these mountain spirits, of this scourge!"

Before Chen Ye could answer, Granny Liu hurriedly added, "Of course, we will never let you, brave warrior, do your bidding for nothing!"

(End of this chapter)