The Demonic Taoist Priest Emerges from the Mountain

I stepped into the thick fog.

This is exactly the same as what Ning Jinrou said.

The fog was only three or four meters thick.

We'll be able to get through soon.

After passing through the fog, the view suddenly opened up.

This is a village that is neither too big nor too small.

It was almost identical to what I had in my dream.

Small houses built of stone are scattered at the foot of Changsong Mountain.

Almost every house has a yard in front of it.

In the courtyard, a clothes rack made of bamboo was set up, with clothes that weren't brand new hanging on it to dry, swaying gently in the breeze.

In each yard, there were several chickens roaming around, pecking at insects on the ground and making clucking sounds.

In some households with slightly better living conditions, slices of cured pork have already been hung on their windowsills.

The aroma of meat can travel far and wide, making one's mouth water.

Along the path, children ran happily, some carrying wooden carved toys, while others simply picked up twigs to use as swords.

They chased each other, laughing.

It's almost noon now.

Wisps of smoke began to drift from the chimneys of each house.

After the dried bamboo and firewood burned, the aroma mixed with the smell of food wafted slowly, wave after wave, and that smell made people unconsciously feel a sense of peace.

Several elderly men, smoking welding fumes, sat around a century-old banyan tree.

They formed groups of two or three, each guarding their own table.

Some were playing chess, some were playing cards, and some were playing mahjong. Every now and then, bursts of hearty laughter or arguments would erupt.

This rural scene dazzled me.

By any measure, this doesn't seem like a village full of eerie legends.

In the short time I stood there, Ning Jinrou caught up with me.

She had just seen this scene through the little paper doll.

"Don't you get the feeling that we've just come to an ordinary village?"

She whispered beside me.

I nodded.

Then he looked up at the sky.

After passing through the fog, I noticed something was amiss.

From the outside perspective.

The entire village of Liuweng was shrouded in thick fog.

The thick fog was like a giant burial mound, completely enveloping the entire village of Liuweng.

But after I came in, I was surprised to feel the gentle sunlight.

If I hadn't just personally passed through that thick fog...

I even doubted whether the thick fog had already dissipated.

"Not only sunshine, but also..."

Ning Jinrou turned around and pointed in the direction behind us.

I followed her gaze and was immediately alarmed.

The thick fog behind us has disappeared!

Moreover, the path that led us down the mountain has disappeared!

This discovery sent a chill down my spine.

"You're too impatient."

Ning Jinrou spoke calmly, without any hint of blame.

Actually, she wanted to say this when she was outside.

But I didn't stop and just barged in.

Thinking about it now, it's true.

Ning Jinrou's [Puppet Talisman] has not come out since it entered Liuweng Village.

I frowned; I knew I had been reckless.

Now I understand why none of the people who have been searching for this place over the past few years have ever returned.

Because the way back is blocked!

I also know clearly that the road is still there, but it has been hidden by the formation.

The only way to get back is to break through the formation!

Ning Jinrou was obviously aware of this as well.

So she patted me on the shoulder.

"You can break the formation, right?"

I was stunned when I heard that.

"I know a little bit about it."

I can't make any definitive statements.

Having grown up alongside Master Qin, I have indeed dabbled in formations.

In addition, I read the formations recorded in the "Demon Slaughtering Book" a few days ago.

Although all the formations in the "Demon Slaughtering Book" are killing formations.

However, I combined the formations I had previously learned from Master Qin and discovered their commonalities.

Every formation has a key point.

The same applies to even the most complex and dangerous formations.

Once the key point of the formation is broken, the formation will naturally be broken.

It's easier said than done.

Because everyone has their own way of setting up formations.

Breaking the formation is essentially a game of strategy between the one who sets it up and the one who sets it up.

It all comes down to who has a deeper understanding of the formations.

Now, all I know is that Liuweng Village has been targeted by a trap.

But I have no idea what the purpose of this formation is.

Therefore, I still plan to wait and see what happens here.

I tightened my coat and, following the memory from my dream, started walking in the direction of my home.

I just passed by that big banyan tree at the entrance of the village.

Several elderly people who were playing chess suddenly turned around and looked in the direction where Ning Jinrou and I were.

They had almost the same expression.

They all squinted, and their expressions were somewhat unfriendly.

"Who are you people?"

Suddenly, one of them, an elderly man with a full head of white hair and a smoking welding fumes, who looked to be over eighty years old, spoke up.

Upon hearing the old man speak, all the other old men stopped what they were doing.

A whole bunch of cloudy eyes turned to look at us.

This scene made my heart jump.

So weird!

"I'm back to visit my family."

I wasn't lying, I straightened my chest.

He then pulled Ning Jinrou into his arms.

"This is my girlfriend."

I said it without blushing or skipping a beat.

Ning Jinrou didn't offer any resistance on the surface, but behind the backs of these old people, she reached out and pinched my flesh hard.

It hurts a little, but I can bear it!

Judging from the expressions and actions of these elderly people.

They don't seem to welcome outsiders.

Without knowing what would happen next, all I could do was try to get closer to them.

This will actually help me gather information later.

"Visiting relatives?"

However, after hearing what I said, the old man was clearly skeptical.

He kept scrutinizing Ning Jinrou and me, his expression growing increasingly serious.

Which company is it?

The old man continued to ask.

"Qin Guozhu's family."

I blurted out my dad's name without thinking.

Although I learned from Uncle Qin that my father had been living a life of gossip and criticism from the people of Liuweng Village all these years.

But apart from my father, I don't know anyone else in Liuweng Village.

Even if my father is criticized behind his back, he is still a person from Liuweng Village.

So, by that logic, I'm not exactly an outsider.

That's what I was thinking.

But the old man's expression grew increasingly serious.

"From Old Qin's family?"

"I've never heard of the Qin family having any relatives!"

"Eighteen years ago, his wife died and his child was taken away. Since then, no one from the Qin family has come to visit."

"Who exactly are you?"

The old man slammed the welding fumes in his hand onto the chessboard and stood up abruptly.

Seeing this, the elderly people around us were not to be outdone. They all stood up from their seats and stared at Ning Jinrou and me with fierce expressions.

They looked ready to fight at the slightest provocation!