Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

The moonlight was pale, and the jagged shadows of the trees stretched out on the ground like claws.

Ning Che paused, then abruptly turned around.

The wind blows, and the only sound in the forest is the rustling of withered leaves.

All sounds are silent.

He stood still, his right thumb already resting on the guard of the Crescent Moon Blade at his waist, gently stroking it patiently, stroke by stroke.

Take a breath.

Two breaths.

...ten breaths.

Finally, a soft, delicate sigh drifted from behind a large rock not far away.

"Your Excellency, what keen intuition you possess."

Before the words were finished, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

The newcomer was not any of the ferocious monsters Ning Che had anticipated.

It was a girl wearing a light green silk dress, who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. She had her hair styled in cute double buns, and had a small oval face with curved eyebrows. She was smiling at Ning Che, her smile carrying a hint of shy flattery.

Ning Che's gaze fell behind her skirt.

There, three fluffy, pure white fox tails peeked out somewhat restlessly, swaying gently in the night breeze.

A three-tailed fox demon?

What level of strength is this? Is it a seventh-rank?

Ning Che's pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

Another one coming to claim kinship? Is this the Demon Lord's envoy some kind of mass-produced position, where they can even do wholesale?

"What did you call me?" Ning Che asked calmly.

"My lord, the fox spirit curtsied, her movements so precise they seemed to have been practiced a thousand times. "I am Hu Xianxian, a little demon from Qingqiu in the Southern Mountains. Knowing that my future is hopeless, I have come to seek refuge with you, my lord."

"Qingqiu?" Ning Che did not have this place name in his knowledge.

"Those madmen, Master Xian, act erratically and use cruel methods. They will only bring disaster to the demon race. Their attempt to lay a hand on you is utterly delusional."

When Hu Xianxian mentioned the "wise teacher," her tone was full of disdain and contempt. "Your Excellency is the hope for the Demon Lord's reincarnation, the one who will reshape the world. How can such a vile person be allowed to desecrate you?"

They've really gone to great lengths to flatter us.

Ning Che inwardly complained, but aloud asked, "Then why did you come to find me?"

"The Pure Fox Clan of Qingqiu has always followed the Demon Lord's will and awaits the arrival of the messenger."

Hu Xianxian took out a jade slip that was entirely emerald green from her sleeve and presented it with both hands. "This is my master's token and also a means of communication. If you have any orders, my lord, you only need to infuse it with your magic power, and this lowly demon will arrive in an instant. We have no intention of forcing you, my lord; we only wish to serve you and clear away any obstacles."

She paused, then added, "For example, those blind lackeys of the Wise Master can be dealt with by the little demon for the adults."

Ning Che looked at the jade slip but did not immediately take it.

Even if this person of dubious origin looks like a beautiful woman, Ning Che certainly wouldn't give her a second glance. However, since she claims to have come to surrender, he might as well ask her about her situation first.

"What kind of tribe is the Qingqiu Pure Fox Clan? Since you've come to surrender, why don't you explain in detail?"

Hu Xianxian lowered her eyes, her three fluffy fox tails gently sweeping across the ground, swirling up a few fallen leaves. A hint of melancholy lingered in her voice:

"Qingqiu is the sacred land of the fox clan, and the Chunhu clan is one of the oldest tribes in Qingqiu. For generations, they have been in charge of the demon clan's documents, maps, and intelligence, and have inherited the Taiyin lineage of the demon lord."

She raised her head, and her gaze towards Ning Che held a newfound, genuine awe.

"But after the Human Emperor broke his oath and passed the throne to his son, denouncing all races as demons, the demon race was torn apart. Most tribes were either wiped out by the human race or surrendered to the human race."

Even more terrifying is that a powerful being has severed the path of the Taiyin, preventing us from advancing an inch, a situation that has persisted for a thousand years. Consequently, we have grown increasingly weak, and with the balance of power shifting between us and humanity, we are now facing a severe shortage of manpower.

As she spoke, her voice trembled slightly, and her fox tail stretched taut: "Therefore, my clan suffered heavy casualties, and the remaining clansmen scattered and fled until recently, when they learned of the envoy's birth, which finally brought them hope."

Ning Che listened without showing any expression.

The story was told well, with great expression and emotion.

Whether it's true or false, she naturally won't believe everything she hears.

One thing is certain: this race is at odds with the human race.

Moreover, they don't seem to be on the same side as that "wise teacher." The enemy of my enemy is my ally, so if we can temporarily use them to counter the wise teacher hiding in the shadows, it seems like a good option.

"Where is the wise teacher's lair?" Ning Che didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

Hu Xianxian shook her head, looking troubled: "That madman is elusive and never shows his true face, so we don't know anything about him either. We only know that they are searching for some 'source.' But don't worry, sir, if they dare to send anyone again, I will make sure they never return."

That was a perfectly watertight statement.

Ning Che pondered for a moment, unsure whether the fox demon truly didn't know or was waiting for the right price.

But at present, cooperation is the only option.

Ning Che stared at her and asked one last question: "Do you hate humans?"

This question is like a silent hammer, striking the stillness of the forest.

Hu Xianxian fell silent for the first time.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows in the cool moonlight, obscuring all the emotions in her eyes.

Ning Che didn't urge him; he just watched.

He has plenty of patience, or rather, after tonight, he has nothing but patience.

After a long while, her barely audible voice was heard.

"I dare not deceive you, sir. This lowly demon... is not without grievances."

However, at present, cooperation seems to be a more advantageous option.

So he asked another question: "Do you hate humans?"

Hu Xianxian fell silent for the first time. Ning Che was not in a hurry and waited quietly for a moment before he heard her say in a low voice, "I dare not deceive you, my lord. This little demon... is not without resentment."

Ning Che looked at her without saying a word.

"But our clan never kills innocent people indiscriminately." Hu Xianxian suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with urgency.

"What we hate is that group of madmen who slaughtered their own kind, and those human cultivators who massacred demon villages in order to cultivate evil arts and plunder demon cores. The people of Feihu City have never harmed us, and the people of Qingqiu have never laid a finger on them."

She paused, then softened her voice: "When the rat demons of Liutang Village were causing trouble, my clan wanted to take action to eliminate them, but we were afraid of being mistaken for accomplices by the mountain guardians, so we remained hidden in the shadows."

"We didn't show ourselves until you left, sir. Those rat demons were the Sage's lackeys; they are enemies of humanity, and also enemies of Qingqiu."

Ning Che looked into her eyes, as if trying to see right through her.

Unfortunately, he lacked the insight to see through people's hearts.

However, he knew in his heart that he was currently besieged on all sides and didn't really have much of a say in the matter. If this so-called identity as the Demon Lord's envoy could bring him any convenience, he would naturally have no fear.

With Mu Qingming in the open and his mentor in the shadows, and those around him constantly falling into misfortune, he desperately needed an ally who could provide intelligence and keep an eye on things from the shadows. The Pure Fox Clan of Qingqiu, skilled in espionage and tracking, could perfectly fill his gaps in expertise.

The bottom line is unwavering, but cooperation is not out of the question.

He stretched out his hand and opened his palm.

Hu Xianxian was stunned for a moment, then understood Ning Che's meaning and quickly placed the jade slip in his palm.

The jade slip felt icy cold to the touch, like holding a piece of ice from the dead of winter.

Ning Che clenched his fingers and gripped the jade slip tightly.

"Remember your bottom line." His voice was calm, as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary.

"I can cooperate with you, and you don't need to call me 'sir.' I can see that your cultivation is quite high; we can treat each other as equals. But remember, my blade does not cut the innocent, but only those who betray their promises, whether human or demon."

"Yes." Hu Xianxian felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She bowed again, and with a flicker, she transformed into a streak of green light, silently merging into the night in the forest.

Ning Che stood there for a while, weighing the jade slip in his arms.

Things are getting more and more interesting.

Instead of returning to the barracks, he turned around and headed straight for the city to visit the Zhong family.

……

He asked a random passerby for directions and arrived at the Zhong residence. This was Ning Che's first time visiting. He saw a grand mansion with vermilion gates and a gilded plaque, brightly lit inside—truly a wealthy household.

Ning Che knocked on the door, and it was Old Li who opened it again.

Old Li was visibly taken aback when he saw him, then asked, "Captain Xing, what brings you here?"

"I'm looking for Dr. Chung; I have something to ask him."

"I'll go and inform them right away."

Soon, Zhong Lingsu came out from the inner courtyard.

She changed out of her plain dress and into a short-sleeved shirt and trousers for easy movement, her hair neatly tied back, but the weariness between her brows was impossible to hide.

"You've been poisoned again?"

Her very first words left Ning Che speechless, both amused and exasperated.

Is he just a walking poison target in Zhong Lingsu's eyes?

"No." Ning Che shook his head and stated his purpose directly: "I came to fulfill a previous promise and want to see your third brother Zhong Siqi's belongings, especially things related to Black Rock Village."

Zhong Lingsu's body stiffened for a moment.

She looked at Ning Che in silence, her bright eyes filled with complex emotions: wariness, inquiry, and a hint of hope that she herself was unaware of.

"Follow me." Finally, she turned and led the way.

Chung Sze-chi's study has been completely preserved.

The room was small, with bookshelves on three walls, filled with classics such as those on formations, maps, and local chronicles. The air was filled with a faint scent of ink and old paper.

"Third Brother spends most of his time here," Zhong Lingsu said softly. "He said, 'Only by reading ten thousand books can one travel ten thousand miles.'"

Ning Che's gaze swept across the bookshelf and finally landed on the desk.

A map was spread out on the table; it was a detailed map of Changyang Mountain and its surrounding area.

Several areas on the map were circled in vermilion ink, and there were also dense annotations next to them.

Ning Che immediately spotted two familiar place names.

Heiyan Village.

Old stone pillar.

The two place names are connected by a dotted line. At the location of the old stone pillar, Zhong Siqi wrote two words in extremely small characters.

[The core of the formation?]

A gate to another world?

It's all in Chinese!

Ning Che's heart skipped a beat. He leaned closer to examine it and saw that each of the two words was followed by a question mark. The symbols were small, but the strokes were heavy, revealing the writer's uncertainty and shock at the time.

really!

His time travel, Zhong Siqi's disappearance, the destruction of Black Rock Village... all the clues point to that ancient stone pillar standing in the wilderness!

"What...did you see?" Zhong Lingsu couldn't help but ask when she noticed his strange expression.

"Your third brother is an amazing person," Ning Che said sincerely.

To be able to deduce this much from the slightest clues at that time demonstrates Zhong Siqi's intelligence, far surpassing that of ordinary people. Unfortunately, because of the events in Black Rock Village, he was unable to find the true answer through these clues.

Zhong Lingsu's eyes were slightly red, and she turned her head to the side.

Ning Che memorized the key information on the map and was about to take his leave when he suddenly remembered something and casually asked, "By the way, has Zhong Hongyao returned?"

He was really just asking casually.

Zhong Lingsu's expression darkened: "He was transferred away by Mu Qingming and hasn't returned yet."

Ning Che frowned, a surge of killing intent rising within him, and gripped the Crescent Moon Blade. After a moment, he loosened his grip and loosened his knuckles.

"I understand." He helped Zhong Lingsu sit down in a chair, his tone firm. "Don't worry, I will find a way to find her and check on her situation."

"But..." Zhong Lingsu's expression was complicated, and she hesitated to speak.

Ning Che noticed her hesitation and reassured her, "Don't worry, I have the channels, there won't be any danger."

He didn't explicitly mention Hu Xianxian's existence; the fewer people who knew about such matters concerning the demon race, the better. However, he already had a plan in mind: after leaving the Zhong residence, he would immediately contact Hu Xianxian using a jade slip.

I really didn't expect to be able to use her so soon, but it's a good thing. Having worked together before makes it easier to understand each other and build initial trust.

If the other party is truly sincere, he will see it.

Looking into his determined eyes, Zhong Lingsu felt a strange sense of calm settle down.

She nodded, took a silver carp-shaped pendant from her neck, and placed it in Ning Che's hand: "This is a communication talisman from our Zhong family. You can contact me by infusing it with magic. If... if you encounter any danger, you must tell me."

"Okay." Ning Che took the silver pendant, put it in his pocket, said no more, and turned to leave the study.

The night wind swept through the courtyard, swirling up the fallen leaves and making a rustling sound. Ning Che walked quickly, passing through the corridors of the Zhong residence and stepping out of the vermilion gate.

There were hardly any pedestrians on the street, only a few lanterns swaying in the wind. Ning Che looked up at the waning moon in the sky; its pale light illuminated the desolate road ahead.

He found a secluded spot and activated the jade slip.

In less than three breaths, Hu Xianxian's voice came from the jade slip, carrying a hint of haste from being startled, yet still respectful: "Lord Ning Che? You wanted to see me?"

"Help me find someone." Ning Che's voice was low as he glanced at the empty alleyway before continuing, "You know the mountain guardian, right?"

"Yes, we know humans well enough."

"That's good. I have a comrade-in-arms named Zhong Hongyao who has been transferred to Xishan. I don't know what she's doing there. I need you to help me find out about her situation, but there's one thing to be careful about: there's a sixth-rank expert named Mu Qingming there."

This task might be a bit difficult. Can you do it?

"West Mountain?" Hu Xianxian's voice paused for a moment, then became serious. "Don't worry, sir. That forest is our demon territory. The birds and beasts in the mountains are our eyes and ears."

I'll arrange it right now. I'll give you a definite answer within three days, no, within two days.

"Okay," Ning Che replied, stopping the input of magic power.

The emerald green halo on the jade slip gradually faded, returning to its cool, dark jade appearance.

He could clearly feel that the net woven by Mu Qingming and the others was tightening, and more and more loose threads were being exposed. And in the darkness, a lurking beast was about to reveal its ferocious claws.

Ning Che tucked the jade slip back into his pocket and walked towards the mountains under the vast starlight.