Zhan Ling was reckless, but not stupid.After being pushed back by the Earth Master, she asked me, "How is he this powerful?"
I wanted to ask her the same—had the demon hunter intel been watered down? Did the bounty board not even mark difficulty levels?But then I remembered how few demon hunters there actually were—no wonder.
The Earth Master, after forcing Zhan Ling back, didn't press the attack. Instead, he pulled out a yellowish bead, weighed it in his hand, and asked, "You came looking for me—was it for this Earth Bead?"
Even from ten meters away, I could feel the dragon vein energy radiating from the Earth Bead.
My face darkened as thoughts raced through my head.
He was unbelievably strong, and the Nine Provinces had more than one dragon vein. Even if I took this Earth Bead, he'd simply find a second, or third.
To solve the root issue, I needed to ensure he didn't target Xiaocui.
So I got straight to the point. "Master Taoist, may I ask—why, while in possession of the Earth Bead, are you targeting my wife?"
The Earth Master replied, "To enter the Ten-Thousand Mountain Range, I need a pass token. And the only one who has it... is your wife."
A pass token?
I frowned and quickly remembered—Back then, a man in black had tossed me a dark, wooden token, saying it would allow me to enter the Ten-Thousand Mountains.
Could that wooden token really be the pass token?
I asked, "So if you get the pass token, you'll leave my wife alone?"
Now that Xiaocui was with me, the pass token was useless to me.As for what lay inside the Ten-Thousand Mountains—I wasn't yet capable of getting involved.
Still, judging by how the man in black treated me back then—and how Xiaocui treated me now—things inside that mountain range were clearly not peaceful.But since Xiaocui wanted a peaceful life with me, I had no reason to get involved.Of course, if something did happen in the future, I wouldn't just stand by.
After thinking it over, I said, "Master Taoist, I do have a pass token and I can give it to you—but I have one request."
"You can have the Earth Bead!" he assumed that's what I was after.
Zhan Ling's eyes lit up, as if she couldn't wait for me to agree.But that wasn't what I wanted.
Leaving the Earth Bead with the Earth Master actually worked best for me.
If he entered the Ten-Thousand Mountains, who knew whether he'd survive?If he died, the Earth Bead would vanish with him.After all, people of his strength were rare in the world.
On the other hand, if I took the bead—something I couldn't use—it might just attract trouble if others came for it.Zhan Ling, for one, would stop at nothing to get it from me.
After a brief hesitation, under Zhan Ling's hopeful gaze, I shook my head. "I don't want the Earth Bead. I'll give you the pass token, but on one condition: any future Earth Beads you obtain must never fall into anyone else's hands."
It wasn't an unreasonable request. For the Earth Master, agreeing would cost him nothing.And he wasn't a villain—just someone obsessed with exploring famous mountains and rivers.That's why, when I made the offer, he was genuinely surprised. "You're sure you don't want the Earth Bead?"
I nodded.
Zhan Ling looked like she wanted to protest, but I cut her off. "This is between the master and me—not your place to speak."
Zhan Ling fumed, her chest heaving.The Taoist himself couldn't help but glance at her a couple more times. Then, retracting his gaze, he said, "Very well. I'll accompany you back to the city—and perhaps meet the Mountain Lord along the way."
I became immediately alert.But the Earth Master quickly clarified, "No need to worry. I only want to see if I can glean any secrets of the Ten-Thousand Mountains from her presence."
"You really have no interest in the Ten-Thousand Mountains?" he asked.
Of course I was curious about the secrets Xiaocui was hiding.Ever since the appearance of the spirit corpse, I had been wondering—could the secret to immortality lie within that mountain range?
But with my current strength, chasing those mysteries would only bring me trouble.Worse—it could endanger Xiaocui.
"No interest at all," I replied. "Xiaocui, or the Mountain Lord—whatever title she has—she's just my wife. All I want is to live a peaceful life with her."
The Earth Master nodded thoughtfully. "Your grandfather was a real schemer... a true winner in life."
Zhan Ling wanted to say something, but I didn't give her the chance. "Master, you know my grandfather?"
The Earth Master smiled but didn't answer.He walked over from beneath a pine tree, intending to return to the city with me.
As he approached, I still felt tense.Once I was sure he meant no harm, I tugged at Zhan Ling and motioned for her to head back.Without her, I had no way of getting the car back into town.
Zhan Ling, still fuming, stomped down the mountain.I tried to sidle up and explain myself.
"Get lost!"She shoved me—her floral scent lingered in my nose, stirring dangerous thoughts.
Back in the village, I spotted the Zhao brothers' vehicle and asked Zhan Ling what to do with it.
Circling it once, she sighed, "It's a nice car—shame. Just leave it here. A Yin Tactician will come pick it up."
I tensed. "They won't come after me, will they?"
"Relax," she replied. "I'll spread word that it was the work of a demon hunter."
Hearing that, I actually felt a little guilty.But the Earth Bead posed a threat to Xiaocui—bounty board or not, I couldn't risk giving it to her.
At the village entrance, we got in the car.Zhan Ling was still mad and floored the gas, speeding like crazy.I was so nervous, I thought she might crash us just to blow off steam.
Eventually, after she'd let it out, she eased off the gas.I let out a breath and started chatting with the Earth Master—probing for more about my grandfather.
But whenever the topic turned to Grandpa, the Earth Master would stop talking and say, "You'll understand in time."
In time, in time...The phrase irritated me.
But I had no other option.
We arrived back in the city around 3 a.m.Not wanting to disturb Xiaocui's rest, I asked Zhan Ling to drop me off at the shop.
As soon as the Earth Master and I got out, she gunned it and sped away—Clearly sick of the sight of me.
The Earth Master, obsessed with the pass token, stayed at the shop with me all night.We both meditated in silence—no words needed.
At dawn, I called Huang Xian'er and asked her to bring Xiaocui to the shop.The moment Huang Jiu heard that the boss lady was coming, he vanished out the back window like a gust of wind.
I dug out the pass token for the Ten-Thousand Mountains from the storage room—but didn't give it to the Earth Master right away.I only showed it, just enough to prove I had it.No reason to create tension between me and Xiaocui.
After displaying the token, I started chatting with the Earth Master about Su Dazhuang's situation, hoping he could help.After all, I'd have to climb dozens of mountains to redirect the dragon qi—But for him, that might only take a stomp of his foot.
Seeing the pass token, the Earth Master readily agreed.I quickly called Su Dazhuang, telling him to come over as soon as possible.
Around 9 a.m., Huang Xian'er and Xiaocui finally arrived.I rushed to the door to greet them.
After just one day apart, I grabbed Xiaocui's hand—and couldn't bear to let go.