My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

At the peak of the Refining Realm, one would be considered a top-tier expert in the martial arts world. Coupled with his background in the Six Doors and the enhancement of Dragon and Tiger Qi, he would not necessarily be able to gain the upper hand in a real fight, even for ordinary Marrow Cleansing Realm martial artists.

He assessed his own abilities and realized that he might not be able to beat his opponent.

Miao Gui was self-aware; his true skill lay not in direct combat.

If he had a good corpse, his strength could increase rapidly.

Shen Zhaoyue did not stop Lü Yang from saying those things.

Appropriately demonstrating your strength allows the other party to weigh the pros and cons clearly.

In a place where you know no one, sometimes revealing your hand can extinguish the bad intentions of those with ulterior motives.

Miao Gui paused for a moment, then asked:

"What are you doing here? On a case?"

It's no wonder Miao Gui asked that question; the combination of these three people is rather strange.

A Taoist priest who was generous with his money and seemed to be extremely wealthy.

A scholar with a sharp tongue.

There was also a highly skilled expert from the Six Doors.

What are you doing in the Ten Thousand Mountains? You can't be here just for sightseeing, can you?

Lü Yang puffed out his chest:

"We are traveling with our immortal master!"

Miao Gui glanced back at Ye Qingfeng, then at the other two, a "I understand" expression on his face.

"oh......"

They really came here to enjoy the scenery!

"Wandering" is just a nice-sounding way of saying it.

However, it's not surprising that the Taoist priest, being so wealthy, could hire a master from the Six Doors.

But why hire a weak scholar?

Miao Gui suddenly felt that he could make some money. If that guy could do it, why couldn't he?

He at least knows how to transport corpses, and he has a good understanding of the Hundred Thousand Mountains!

What kind of corpse-driving business can make money so fast?

A trip to transport a corpse only costs a few taels of silver, but this Taoist priest just casually gave away ten taels of gold.

That's equivalent to one hundred taels of silver!

How many trips would it take to transport corpses like that!

Miao Gui's mind began to stir.

He glanced at the dark forest all around, then at Ye Qingfeng, and suddenly his eyes lit up:

"Immortal Master, where are you all headed? This Hundred Thousand Mountains is not like other places; the mountain roads are complicated, and it is dangerous at night."

Without someone familiar with the terrain to guide you, it's easy to get lost and encounter something unclean...

As he spoke, he moved closer to Ye Qingfeng and lowered his voice:

"How about... you hire me as your guide? I know these mountains like the back of my hand. I know every road, village, monster, and monstrous place!"

He patted his chest:

"Besides, I'm efficient, quiet, and don't cause trouble!"

As he said this, Miao Gui deliberately glanced at Lü Yang.

Lu Yang's eyes widened. He felt that the other person was talking about him, but he couldn't stand up and refute it.

Otherwise, wouldn't that prove that the other party is talking about themselves?

"That gold ingot you just gave me is enough to keep me busy for several years. I'd even be your guide for free!"

Lu Yang said, somewhat angrily:

"You? A mentor? Can you handle this?"

Miao Gui straightened her chest:

"What? It won't work? I've been driving corpses through these Hundred Thousand Mountains for three years. What roads haven't I traveled? What places haven't I been to?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Ye Qingfeng, a hint of anticipation on his face:

"Immortal Master, look..."

Ye Qingfeng glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Miao Gui waited a few moments, but received no response. His smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned.

"It's alright, it's alright, take your time to think it over! I was just offering a suggestion, just a suggestion..."

Ye Qingfeng suddenly spoke:

"Is there a town ahead?"

Miao Gui was taken aback, then shook his head:

"There aren't many towns in these mountains, only some clustered villages. The nearest village is about 30 miles away, which is where I'm taking these bodies this time."

"We corpse drivers usually hide during the day and go out at night. First, to avoid frightening strangers, and second, because the yin energy is heavy at night, making it easier to lift the corpse. We'll set off tonight and should arrive at the village around tomorrow morning."

"Night travel? Walking all night? Without rest?" Lu Yang frowned.

Miao Gui wasn't so polite to Lü Yang, giving him a sidelong glance.

"Rest? Where to rest? Here? Are you out of your mind?!"

As he spoke, he stole glances at Ye Qingfeng's expression, then leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Those things in the mountains specifically target the scent of living people. If you sleep in the open like this, you might wake up in the middle of the night to find something else beside you..."

He spoke in such a mysterious way that Lu Yang felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but move closer to Ye Qingfeng.

"Then...aren't you afraid of dirty things when you walk at night?"

Lü Yang's voice was a little soft.

Miao Gui didn't hide anything.

"I can walk through these mountains at night, of course I have my own skills."

After saying that, he took out a small earthenware jar from his pocket and shook it:

"I have something good in this jar, corpse oil, which can make us less noticeable in front of those filthy things."

He pulled out the stopper, and a strange smell immediately wafted out.

The smell was indescribable—it smelled like stale grease, like rotting flesh, and mixed with an inexplicable fishy stench.

Lu Yang took only one puff, and his face turned green. He quickly covered his nose and took several steps back.

"What's that smell?! Take it away! Take it away now!"

Miao Gui chuckled and moved the jar closer to him:

"This stuff is amazing! When you rub this on your body, it can mask the scent of a living person. The creatures in the mountains will smell it and think you're a dead person, so they won't bother with you."

Lu Yang pinched his nose and said in a muffled voice:

"Then...why don't you apply it yourself?"

Miao Gui rolled his eyes:

"I deal with corpses every day, and I'm covered in their stench. Those things avoid me like the plague, so why would I need to apply this?"

As he spoke, he handed the jar of corpse oil to Ye Qingfeng, his face beaming with a smile:

"Would you like to try this? Just a little bit will do, and it'll keep you safe and sound tonight."

Lu Yang stared wide-eyed at the jar, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.

Ye Qingfeng glanced down at the pottery jar, his expression unchanged, and smiled faintly:

"No need, please lead the way!"

Miao Gui opened his mouth, but swallowed the rest of his words.

Fine, if we don't need it, then we don't need it. Anyway, he has other things.

As he spoke, he scooped a spoonful from the jar of corpse oil, took out an oil lamp, added the corpse oil into it, lit it, and placed it on the head of one of the walking corpses.

Although it's not as effective as applying it directly to the body, it can still cover up most dirt.

After all, he wouldn't normally put that stuff on his body; the smell is too strong, and even if he were in a windy spot for a month, the smell might not go away.

Strangely enough, the oil lamp, despite having no securing measures, remained firmly in place without falling.

Miao Gui then took out a bell and shook it at the row of corpses.

"Ring—ring—"

The female corpse moved at the sound, hopping and skipping back to the line, standing neatly at the end.

Miao Gui nodded in satisfaction, put away the bell, and pointed forward with one hand:

"Over here! Immortal Master, watch your step! There's a pit here. Yes, yes, go around it..."

He kept turning back as he walked, his smile never fading.

Under the moonlight, he walked ahead, ringing a bell, bending over, and with a fawning expression.

Lu Yang followed behind, covering his nose, and looking at his sycophantic manner, couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"Immortal Master, is it reliable for you to let him lead the way?"

Shen Zhaoyue said calmly from the side:

"Even if it's unreliable, we have to go. In this place, having someone to guide you is better than having no one at all."

Lu Yang thought about it and agreed that it made sense, so he stopped talking.

The four people and seven corpses walked eastward along the mountain path.