You've only been cultivating for a few years, and you're already talking about cultivating

But others aren't stupid either.

This small inn, which was originally deserted, has been getting more and more crowded in the past few days.

Merchant caravans traveling from the south and north, peddlers on their own, and groups of scholars traveling together were all stuck here.

Everyone understood each other implicitly, and no one mentioned the journey. When they met, they would simply cup their hands in greeting and say, "What a coincidence, you're here too," before retreating back into their houses.

The inn quickly filled up, and even the woodshed was crammed with people.

Later, having nowhere to stay, they set up tents and lit fires in the open space outside the inn, making it look like a bustling market for a while.

But beneath this lively atmosphere lies an indescribable sense of oppression.

On the third day after the flash flood blocked the road, people suddenly appeared on the opposite mountain.

They came from the opposite official road, a dozen or so people who looked like merchants, risking their lives to climb over the small mountain path next to them. They were all covered in dust, but their faces were full of joy.

Immediately, someone went to greet them.

"Hey bro, is the road clear?"

This question concerns both the road and the person. Whether the road is smooth or not, and whether the person is successful or not, it's all the same thing.

When people are in good relationships, things will go smoothly.

The merchant nodded repeatedly, "Successfully! That path was a bit narrow, but it was passable. All of us, a dozen or so, with goods and horses, made it across—not a single one was missing!"

As soon as the news spread, the entrance to the inn became lively.

Some people started packing their luggage, some went to get the horses and harnesses, and some huddled together to discuss when to set off.

Only Steward Zhou's face turned cold.

Qi Fei stood aside, looking at his face, and suddenly understood something.

This is a cunning demon.

He's not the kind of fool who eats his fill and then runs away, but a smart guy who knows how to make money slowly and steadily.

It doesn't devour everything at once, but lets the caravan pass little by little, giving the caravan members hope while also causing them to distrust each other.

Just because these vendors are alright doesn't mean they are alright too.

But who would believe that?

Manager Zhou and the caravan members exchanged a glance.

In those eyes, there was helplessness, determination, and a hint of resigned calm.

At this point, nothing can be said. Life and death are preordained, wealth and honor are determined by fate. How many people from their caravan will make it through depends on their individual fortunes.

Soon, someone made a move.

A young peddler picked up his load and walked away down the mountain path without looking back. His figure quickly disappeared into the woods, and no one knew whether he was alive or dead.

Then came the second, and the third.

Some went with their whole family, while others went alone. Some looked resolute, while others looked apprehensive. Some looked back before leaving, while others didn't even turn their heads.

Many more people stood still and watched coldly.

A few days later, there were fewer and fewer people in the inn.

Manager Zhou sat on the threshold, looking at the empty courtyard, and sighed.

"Let's go." He stood up and dusted himself off. "It's our turn."

For these caravans, life and death are preordained, and wealth and status are determined by fate.

The group packed their things, hitched up the carriage, and set off on the small mountain path they had been traveling on and off for the past few days.

The mountain road was so narrow that only one carriage could pass at a time, with steep slopes on both sides. A slight misstep could send you and your carriage tumbling down the mountain.

Fortunately, the people in front had walked on it, making the path a bit more solid, but it was still difficult to walk, with one foot high and one foot low.

The worst part is that they have to spend the night in the mountains!

Spend the night in a mountain where demons may lurk!

Manager Zhou's expression remained unpleasant.

There was no other way. According to passersby, this path took a day and a night to walk, with no place to rest along the way, so one had to spend the night in the mountains.

Fortunately, the people ahead had already paved the way, crossed a hill, and found a flat open space.

The place was backed by a mountain wall, with a gentle slope in front, and traces of horse manure and grass ash on the ground.

Manager Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.

"This is it."

The group unloaded the carriages, tied up the livestock, lit a fire, and began to set up camp.

The night grew deeper.

The moon climbed to the treetops, illuminating the mountains in a silvery light.

The caravan members split into several groups to keep watch. The first group sat around the fire, chatting idly. The others wrapped themselves tightly in blankets, leaning against the wagons and resting with their eyes closed.

Qi Fei did not sleep.

He sat by the fire, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the surrounding mountains and forests.

Suddenly, fog rolled in.

The fog arrived without warning. The clear moonlight was instantly obscured by the white fog. The fog grew thicker and thicker, until even the bonfire a few steps away became blurred.

The caravan members immediately tensed up, grabbing their knives, spears, and clubs, and forming a circle back to back.

Just then, a song came from the fog.

A voice began to sing softly:

"The Great Way is as vast as the blue sky, yet I alone cannot escape it! This life is too short; what is the use of seeking the Way? Better to drink wine, better to lie drunk..."

The singing voice seemed to belong to a woman, soft and melodious, as if it came from a very distant place, or as if it were whispering in her ear.

The caravan members exchanged bewildered glances, gripping their knives even tighter.

Suddenly, another voice rang out.

The voice was crisp and unrestrained, as if mocking something:

"Seeking the Way, seeking the Way—whether you seek the Way or not, you still live!"

"Seeking the Way is so arduous, why not live happily and let me enjoy a good meal!"

The song, accompanied by thick fog, drifted in the night wind, sending chills down one's spine.

The caravan members were all deathly pale, and some were already trembling.

But Qi Fei's expression was different from theirs.

He stared at the distant hill with a strange expression.

He could see through the fog.

This is not the mist of spiritual energy; it is the mist of demons.

The demonic mist, like Zhu Yixin's magic, was a type of "pseudo-magic." His eyes gleamed slightly, and he could clearly see two enormous human heads standing on a distant mountain peak.

The head was larger than a millstone, with delicate and charming features, like a beautiful woman singing aloud.

But beneath the head was not a human body, but a long, snake-like neck. That neck twisted in the mist, eerily unsettling.

Two big heads were singing while looking this way.

Soon, the two enormous heads spotted Qi Fei.

The snake head on the left stared at Qi Fei, then suddenly exclaimed in surprise:

"A Celestial Master?"

The snakehead on the right sneered, his face full of disdain.

"What a load of rubbish!"

As soon as she finished speaking, her gaze fell on Qi Fei.

Two faces, four eyes, all staring at him.

Then, they moved.

Two snake-like necks twisted, carrying the two enormous heads, as they swooped down from the mountaintop. Their bodies moved through the mist at an astonishing speed.

Only then did Qi Fei see clearly.

Below their heads, their snake-like necks were connected to the bodies of giant pythons.

As thick as a bucket and several meters long, its scales gleamed with a cold, eerie light under the moonlight. Its enormous body meandered across the hillside, causing vegetation to bend and collapse in its wake.

This is a two-headed beautiful python.