“Who’s there?”
Upon hearing the footsteps, Ye Qiu and Master Longbrow turned their heads simultaneously.
Soon, a disheveled old man appeared in their line of sight.
The old man was ancient, his face wrinkled like dry tree bark, his white hair dull and lifeless. His tattered gray robe reeked of a sour stench from afar, enough to make one gag.
His feet were bare, blackened, and twig-like.
That was relatively normal.
What wasn’t normal was the stone sword plunged into the top of his head.
The three-foot-long sword had a foot of its tip buried straight into his crown.
Beyond that, his body was bound with a thick chain, making him look like a prisoner guilty of grave crimes.
Master Longbrow whispered, “This old man is no ordinary figure!”
“Nonsense. A sword in his skull and still moving freely—how could he be ordinary?”
Ye Qiu studied the old man, unable to discern his cultivation level, and said softly, “Old man, could this guy be a survivor of Shu Mountain?”
“Hard to say,” Master Longbrow replied. “Should I go ask him?”
“Go ahead, but be careful,” Ye Qiu said.
Master Longbrow glared. “Why don’t you go?”
“Didn’t you just say you’d ask?” Ye Qiu countered. “Besides, you two should have plenty to talk about.”
Master Longbrow’s face soured. “You mean I’m as filthy as him?”
Ye Qiu laughed. “Not quite. I mean you’re both old geezers.”
“No ivory comes from a dog’s mouth,” Master Longbrow snapped, glaring at Ye Qiu. He strode forward to the old man and said politely, “Friend, why are you here? Are you from Shu Mountain?”
“Dead, dead…” The old man’s eyes were vacant, like a walking corpse.
Master Longbrow tried again. “Friend, I’m asking about what happened to Shu Mountain. Why are there three thousand graves here?”
The old man murmured, “Dead, dead…”
What’s going on?
Is this old guy out of his mind?
Master Longbrow didn’t give up. “Friend, I’m from Dragon Tiger Mountain, Taoist name Longbrow…”
Before he could finish, the old man said, “Dead, dead.”
You’re the one who’s dead!
Master Longbrow grumbled inwardly and returned to Ye Qiu. “This old guy’s got a screw loose. Can’t get anything out of him.”
Ye Qiu also sensed the old man’s mental state was off and sighed. “Forget it, let’s focus on finding the dragon vein.”
Master Longbrow hesitated, then said, “Little brat, there’s something I’m not sure I should say.”
Ye Qiu grew annoyed. “Old man, when did you get so wishy-washy? Spit it out.”
Master Longbrow said, “Where there’s a dragon vein, it’s a geomantic treasure land, nurturing great talents.”
“In other words, if Shu Mountain had a dragon vein, it wouldn’t have fallen to this.”
“Not to rain on your parade, but I think we’ve come here for nothing.”
Ye Qiu frowned. “If Shu Mountain has no dragon vein, why did Master Ancestor tell me to come? He wouldn’t deceive me, would he?”
Master Longbrow said, “Purple Sun Heavenly Venerable is a great master. I wouldn’t dare guess his intentions, but since he sent you here, maybe there’s an opportunity for you.”
Ye Qiu was even more puzzled. What opportunity could a wiped-out sect offer?
Seeing Ye Qiu’s troubled expression, Master Longbrow said, “Little brat, I’m just guessing. Don’t overthink it. Since we’re here, let’s keep going and see.”
“Shu Mountain may be gone, but it was once glorious.”
“There must be some good stuff left behind.”
The two pressed on.
Ye Qiu occasionally glanced back at the old man. Suddenly, he turned back.
“Little brat, where are you going?” Master Longbrow asked.
Ye Qiu didn’t answer. In a few strides, he reached the old man.
“Senior, your vitality is fading, your lifespan near its end. I hope this helps.”
Ye Qiu swiftly plucked a leaf from the Golden Sacred Tree in his Qiankun Cauldron and stuffed it into the old man’s mouth, then left.
“Little brat, what did you give him?” Master Longbrow asked curiously.
“What’s it to you?” Ye Qiu shot back.
Master Longbrow grinned. “Can you give me a few pieces too? No ulterior motive, just want to taste it.”
Ye Qiu said, “Talk to me when your vitality’s fading.”
Master Longbrow pouted. “Stingy.”
Ye Qiu glanced back at the old man, who moved stiffly, like a wandering ghost.
“No idea who this old man is or what he’s been through. He seems pretty pitiful,” Ye Qiu said sympathetically.
Master Longbrow said, “Little brat, if you ask me, you shouldn’t have helped him.”
“Look at him—so miserable. Death would be a release.”
“Living on is just torment for him.”
Ye Qiu sighed deeply and followed Master Longbrow, quickly passing through the graves.
Soon.
A sprawling complex of buildings came into view.
The structures were dilapidated, reduced to ruins, with traces of fire and cobwebs everywhere. It was clear this place was once magnificent.
Master Longbrow picked up a charred wooden post, squeezed it, sniffed it, and then bit it hard.
*Crunch!*
The wood was so tough it nearly broke his teeth.
“Old man, what are you doing?” Ye Qiu asked. “Starving?”
Master Longbrow said excitedly, “Little brat, guess what this wood is?”
Ye Qiu blurted, “Golden Phoebe wood.”
“How did you know?” Master Longbrow was stunned, then fumed. “Damn it, you knew and didn’t tell me? I almost broke my teeth!”
Ye Qiu laughed. “Who knew you’d bite it?”
“Hmph, I don’t care. You’ve got to help me haul all this wood later.”
Master Longbrow added, “Dragon Tiger Mountain’s being rebuilt. This golden phoebe wood will come in handy.”
Ye Qiu ignored him, stepping past the ruins to a mountain peak.
The peak was massive, a thousand meters high, barren, and straight as a sword.
Ye Qiu looked up and saw four blood-red characters carved on the mountain—
*Shu Mountain Forbidden Zone!*
