CHAPTER 59: 59. FAVOR IS SCARCE, RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THIN.

Below South Bamboo Peak, the mountain path was narrow.

Nine turns and eighteen bends, everywhere shrouded in bloody mist.

The ghosts clung to blood and bones, rampant and unruly, flying and colliding wildly; even if the disciples of South Bamboo Peak moved with the ghost cultivators, many wild beasts in the mountains couldn’t escape.

Under the trees, an old wolf rolled in pain; on the branches, a squirrel’s eyes glowed red; in the cave, a rabbit bared its fangs...

As the bloody mist passed, unless resisted with Profound Qi, one would be invaded by ghosts.

In the summer, the mountains were already filled with moisture, and now, with this unprecedented tidal wave of evil, it was dark and red everywhere. Between the red and black, it seemed as if it was no longer in the mundane world, but on the endless path of the Netherworld.

On the winding path of the Netherworld, three figures were walking.

All three carried swords. These were taken by Song Yan, who was possessed by the "Hundred Forms Divine Control" method on the "Deformed Fox Demon", as he casually took them from the guardroom.

He took one for himself and threw two to Fu Shirong and Fu Hongmian.

The three walked in silence, quickly leaving the area of South Bamboo Peak.

The ghosts did not attack them.

Fu Shirong was astonished at the current situation.

This mysterious man who appeared suddenly seemed to have an invisible aura around him, blocking the ghosts.

However, the Empress, experienced and knowledgeable, had clearly thought of another possibility.

But even she, fiery and bold, dared not speak of that possibility at this moment.

Fu Shirong suddenly asked, "Does Senior know Song Yan?"

"Song Yan?"

Song Yan replied in confusion, then said, "I am a ghost cultivator, Song Yan should be the owner of your Cave Mansion, right?"

Fu Shirong: ...

The words she dared not ask were admitted by the man in front of her.

After a slight pause, the Empress replied "Yes," then asked, "Does Senior really intend to take us away?"

Song Yan said, "Yes."

The Empress asked, "Why?"

Song Yan said, "To escape together."

After speaking, he suddenly seemed to sense something, quickly grabbed the collars of both women, and swiftly darted into the shadow of a large boulder nearby.

A dangerous roaring sound swept across the sky, the two women couldn’t see clearly, but he could see strange shadow puppets flying by. Upon recognition, he remembered having seen these things in the Stone Elder’s notebook.

Four-eyed vulture, intermediate-level demon beast, sky wolf pack...

If spotted by these, one wouldn’t die cleanly even if they managed to survive.

These demon beasts were extremely difficult to hunt, even if captured, their own scarce flesh made it hard to create perfect shadow puppets.

Imperfect shadow puppets raised the risk of backlash during summoning.

However... in the Evil Land, it seemed the Skin Masters weren’t at all worried about being "backlashed," as they only needed to symbolically summon, then the ghosts would rush in by themselves.

Thus, with more "Skin Masters" in the Evil Land, the dreadful level of the bloody mist was "upgraded", from merely having ghosts to having chaotic, shadow puppet-bodied ghost skins...

Ordinary ghosts might not trouble Song Yan, but encountering those hordes of four-eyed vultures, he was unsure, so he hid with the two women behind the boulder.

When the fierce wing flapping sounds faded into the distance, they emerged once more and continued on their way.

...

The day grew bright, and the three had completely left South Bamboo Peak, even the low-level market town below, not far from the exit.

At this moment, the sky suddenly grew chillingly cold.

Fu Hongmian looked up and saw two white objects gently drifting down.

They seemed like paper.

Looking closer...

The paper turned into white sleeves.

As the white sleeves gradually completed, they formed into a Celestial Maiden holding a sharp sword.

The Celestial Maiden descended from the sky, blocking their path.

Immediately, two figures floated down, surveying the three, one in amazement said, "There are still people who managed to escape?"

The other coldly demanded, "How did you escape?"

The Fu family women nervously grasped their blades.

The two disciples stationed from Paperman Peak sneered at their tightly gripped fingers and then turned their gaze to Song Yan.

In their eyes, Song Yan appeared as a somewhat ugly man with even scarred cheeks.

Even the demonic fox could not discern Song Yan’s "Deformed Soul Shadow Puppet" illusion technique, let alone them?

"Speak up."

A disciple looked at Song Yan, "Looks like you’re the leader."

Then he saw the man nod, and in a blur, a shadow mixed with a vile wind assaulted him.

Before he could react, a sharp pain pierced his chest, then a tremendous force swept across his body, nearly shattering his bones, and he found himself weightlessly flying backward.

The scenery rushed away, and in his eyes, he only saw the man’s strike unsatisfied, suddenly turning back, slashing out a crescent arc of light.

The other disciple’s head flew into the air.

The man paused not for a moment, leaping forward, another blade cutting down as he arrived before him.

The disciple just landed, hands propping the ground, looking up in horror, shouting "Spare me, Senior," but the blade did not slow for a moment due to his plea.

In a moment, the disciple saw nothing but darkness.

With the deaths of the two Paperman Peak sentry disciples, the white-sleeved Celestial Maiden seemed to have lost some power, reverting to an ordinary paperman, falling into the grass.

Song Yan picked it up, inspecting the paperman.

The paper was unusual, exuding a faint, dizzying scent of blood.

He tried to crush it and failed, until exerting more force, the paper shattered into black smoke.

Song Yan squinted slightly, this was his first close encounter with papermen, resembling shadow puppets in some ways but quite different in others.

He pondered while quickly tossing the two deceased disciples into the nearby grass.

Many wild beasts roamed the mountains, and after last night, there were more Evil Beasts.

The scent of blood would attract them, aiding in "disposing of the bodies."

After finishing these things, he looked ahead again, but didn’t continue walking down. Instead, he slightly observed the surroundings before picking up the two women and swiftly darting between the mountain rocks using the agility of a Fox Demon.

As the senior disciple of South Bamboo Peak, he was already very familiar with the terrain here.

With a bit of detour, they could escape through a secluded path.

...

...

Clap, clap, clap...

At dusk, three figures swept down from a high cliff and landed on the ground.

Song Yan glanced around and said, "We should have escaped now."

The Empress felt as if she was in a dream and suddenly said, "What plans does Senior have?"

Song Yan gave a self-mocking laugh and said, "I am a Ghost Cultivator, aren’t you afraid?"

The Empress shook her head and said boldly, "Senior saved me and Hongmian. If I were to fear Senior just because he is a Ghost Cultivator, then Fu Shirong would truly be worthless."

"Ha."

Song Yan chuckled again, then sighed and said, "My name is Hua Rong, from Western Shu Celestial Cloud City. Last autumn, I went out traveling and encountered a Demonic Fox. I was indignant and fought with the Demonic Fox. I killed the Demonic Fox but was gravely injured.

On my way back, I was inadvertently captured into the Chores Room of the Puppet Sect.

I tried to escape but died in the back mountain, and by some twist of fate, I became a Ghost Cultivator and regained my soul..."

He knew Fu Shirong and Fu Hongmian very well, knowing what they would believe and what they wouldn’t.

Fu Hongmian was a guard, lacking much initiative.

But Fu Shirong was different.

Moreover, Fu Shirong liked straightforward people.

His words could easily win the Empress’s favor, increasing her "trust level" in him.

As expected, after he spoke, Fu Shirong said, "I am Fu Shirong, from Great Wei. Forced southward due to the Demonic Fox disaster, I was unintentionally captured into the Chores Room, and then was..."

She paused slightly and said, "Taken into a Cave Mansion by a Demon Sect disciple who was reasonably good-hearted as a Furnace, for over half a year. Until last night, I don’t know what happened, then I was saved by Senior Hua."

Having said that, she continued, "If Senior Hua wants to return to Western Shu, why not come with me to the Fu Family, where I will arrange transportation to send Senior Hua west. If you don’t wish to return to Western Shu, my Fu Family also welcomes you."

The Empress smiled and said, "After all...we all hate the Fox Demon, don’t we?"

After speaking, she suddenly saw Song Yan lower his head, revealing a somewhat troubled expression.

"Senior Hua, what’s the matter?"

"..."

"If Senior is unwilling, I won’t force you, but I will always remember Senior’s life-saving grace and will definitely repay it."

"..."

Song Yan was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh and waved his hand, saying, "Miss Fu is straightforward. If it were the past, I would certainly have made you a friend, but now..."

Fu Shirong smiled and said, "Is Senior still worried about being a Ghost Cultivator? I can still speak for you in the Fu Family, let alone Senior has slew the Fox Demon and killed a Demon Sect disciple, which proves your identity. Don’t worry."

Song Yan waved and said, "Come with me."

Fu Shirong nodded and followed him into the small forest nearby.

Song Yan’s figure flickered, revealing the strange Deformed Fox Demon Shadow Puppet form.

Fu Shirong:...

Song Yan said, "My soul inadvertently entered this thing’s body, that’s how I came back to life. How can I show my face again?"

Fu Shirong was silent for a moment, then looked up and said openly, "Senior is sincere with me, and I will be sincere with Senior. This matter is known only by heaven, earth, you, and I, and Shirong will never betray Senior.

Come on, let’s return to the Fu Family together."

...

...

In the quiet room, Song Yan felt the abundant Profound Qi pouring in from all directions. Even a gust of passing wind carried an indescribable freshness.

He even thought that if one could inhale a breath of air here, mortals would probably be less likely to get sick. If they inhaled more, they would certainly live healthily and pass away without illness.

This place was Paperman Peak.

Due to an unexpected incident, the Exotic Beast summoned by the Sect Leader had a slight problem, and he was arranged to wait in a room on Paperman Peak.

He knew that the news from Shadow Puppet Peak would arrive quickly.

And soon, he would face that Sect Leader.

He certainly didn’t think he would be "pampered to the skies" for being the "sole heir of Stone Master’s legacy."

If he were the Sect Leader, he would demand the legacy be handed over or...given directly to some cultivators who had reached the Seventh Layer of Refining Profound to quickly become Skin Masters.

How could Stone Master not know about this situation?

This time, he was actually betrayed by "Stone Master," thrown into a beautiful, luxurious cage, becoming the caged bird, singing and at the mercy of others.

Now he was placed under the "spotlight," and it became increasingly difficult to hide all his secrets.

Moreover, there was also the death of "Gu Rufeng"...

He didn’t believe the Sect Leader wouldn’t suspect again...

He had even left behind the Shadow Puppet, wanting to protect Stone Master silently, only to see the truth.

Fortunately...he saw the truth, so he could quickly respond: finding an alternative path into the Fu Family, during the time before the ten-sided ambush was fully closed, had managed to make a surprising move.

After all, Stone Master was still a member of the Demon Sect.

South Bamboo Peak was engulfed in the reinforced bloody mist, the Suspended Room shattered by the demon Shadow Puppets, with no chance of survival for the servants.

He didn’t know what the Sect Leader and Stone Master talked about, but in the end, Stone Master must have compromised.

Ultimately, Stone Master initially chose him for the legacy, but for something else... seemed to give him a good direction, in fact... abandoned him.

No.

No longer call him Stone Master.

He should be called... "Ghost Cultivator" Stone Seat Elder.

The Sect Leader chose to "leave alive Stone Seat Elder’s legacy," rather than "Stone Seat Elder choosing to send him to a safe place," that’s all.

If he couldn’t see the situation clearly, thinking that Stone Seat Elder cared for him, loved him, then he’d be helping to count the money after being sold, which would truly be a great misfortune.

Recalling the gentle "Yan’er" from Stone Seat Elder before departing, Song Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly.