Chapter 2 Making Good Connections

Qi Wuhuo listened intently, instinctively moving forward. He took a few more steps, skirting the rocky terrain. A full moon hung high in the sky, its light streaming down like water. His vision suddenly widened, revealing the poet reciting poetry.

Under the full moon, on a bluestone, sat an elderly man in a purple robe, cross-legged. His hair and beard were white, but he appeared energetic. A gourd dangled from his waist, and a hint of a smile played on his lips as he extended his hand to beckon him over.

As winter night approached, he encountered another elderly man in the mountains.

He might have lost his way, but he might also be a demon in disguise. Qi Wuhuo pursed his lips, his left hand tugging at the spot where he held his backpack, his right hand lowered to his waist, where a small, sharpened dagger lay.

He hadn't relied solely on bookish knowledge to avoid being bullied by the town's ruffians at such a young age. He took a few steps forward and said, "It's getting late, winter is almost here. The mountain is especially cold. At midnight, you could almost freeze to death. Why are you still here, old man?"

The young man's actions naturally couldn't be hidden from the numerous [Student Immortals] around him.

The numerous birds, beasts, and spirits hiding nearby were horrified by this sight. The old man before them was undoubtedly a man of status and magical powers. He had come here to cast an incredibly profound spell, attracting numerous spirits to preach. Although the spirits didn't know his identity, they were extremely respectful.

I didn't know how this young man had gotten in, and how he had such courage.

A nearby white-browed tiger, with its claws covering its mouth and its eyes wide as those of a mortal cat, was stunned. A newborn calf isn't afraid of a tiger, so how could this young child be fearless too?! The old man didn't seem to mind, simply stroking his beard. Suddenly, he smiled and pointed at his leg, saying, "My family lives west of the capital. I came here to visit relatives and friends. I saw the beautiful scenery of this mountain and went up to enjoy it. I didn't realize I was late, and in my haste to get down, I misstepped and broke my leg."

"There's no one in front of me, and no road behind me. I can only sit here for a while, making some noise, hoping there are still woodcutters and mountaineers who haven't come down the mountain yet and can attract them to help."

"Otherwise, with the heavy snow blocking the mountain today, I'm afraid I'll die here, eaten by wild beasts."

This joke sent a shudder through the monsters on the mountain. Qi Wuhuo took a look and saw that the old man's legs and feet were indeed unusual under the moonlight. He lowered his guard slightly and walked over to examine the wound. He felt the presence of flesh and blood, undoubtedly human. Seeing the elderly man again, his hesitation faded. He half-knelt and asked the old man to stretch out his injured leg. After pressing lightly to examine it, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's not bad. No injuries to the bones or muscles. Apply some medicine to the wound and rest. It should heal in about a month."

He first adjusted the old man's bones, then took out some dry food and a bamboo tube of water for the old man to drink to satisfy his hunger. The old man smiled and said, "Young brother, do you know any medicine?"

Qi Wuhuo helped bind the injured leg with a strip of cloth and said, without looking up, "Five years... When I was fleeing a disaster a while ago, I traveled with a gentleman for a while, and he taught me a few things.

The old man's expression shifted slightly, and he asked, "So, is that your teacher?"

"Where is he now?"

Qi Wuhuo paused, then replied, "When I was passing through Bingzhou, I accidentally fell into a demon kingdom. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced at the time. A demon was operating a roadside market, selling people as vegetables. To pass through the demon kingdom, you had to pay 100 kilograms of 'vegetables and meat.' He went into the market himself, and it was my turn to get out." "

"The younger one lives."

The old man's face grew increasingly ashamed. Suddenly, he felt his legs tighten. It was Qi Wuhuo who had firmly bound his injured leg. The young man breathed a sigh of relief, looked up, and smiled, "Now, your leg is fine. But it's getting late, and I'm afraid there will be heavy snow in the next few days."

"When the snow melts, the mountains are extremely cold. Even blind bears will find a place to sleep. If you don't mind, why don't you stay at my house for a while until your injury heals? Or I can carry you down the mountain to the town. While it's remote, there's an inn where you can stay."

The old man stroked his beard and smiled, "I think we get along very well, young brother."

"If you don't mind me bothering you, I'd love to spend more time with you."

Qi Wuhuo then tied the backpack into a loop with a rope and hung it around his neck. He placed it in front of him, squatted slightly, and let the old man lie on his back. Then he stood up. He often went to and fro in the mountains, chopping and carrying firewood. He was in good shape, and carrying an old man on his back was no big deal, as he still walked briskly.

The night fog from earlier was still thick, but now Qi Wuhuo could see it.

The old man lowered his eyes slightly, wanting to test his willpower. Instead of letting the mist dissipate, it deepened, making the mountain path seem steeper and his weight gradually increased.

When Qi Wuhuo took ten steps, he still felt like an ordinary old man.

Twenty steps and he was weighed like a thirty-year-old man.

After more than a hundred steps, it was almost like carrying a stone statue, just reaching the limit of Qi Wuhuo's strength. He was extremely tired, but he could still hold on. Qi Wuhuo's pace gradually slowed, but he never stopped.

The night finally deepened. As winter approached, the wild beasts of the mountains were frantic with hunger, each trying to store enough fat to survive the harsh winter. The sky was a deep blue, the trees silhouetted against each other, and the howling of wolves could be heard, seemingly approaching.

A normal person would have been trembling with fear.

Qi Wuhuo's breathing became erratic, but his steps remained steady. His right hand dropped to the dagger at his waist. Apart from that, the young man's sweat-soaked clothes and the heat on his neck proved that he was indeed extremely exhausted.

The old man nodded in approval. Suddenly, Qi Wuhuo whispered, "Old sir, just now, we first met. I held down the dagger, and then invited you down the mountain. I was a bit presumptuous. I hope you don't mind. I smell the scent of a demon, and that's why I'm worried."

The old man looked surprised: "Demon?"

Qi Wuhuo said: "Yes."

The old man asked: "Can you smell a demon?"

Qi Wuhuo paused, then replied:

"If you see a lot of demons, you can smell them a little."

The old man was speechless. Recalling the previous demon kingdom and the great disaster, he knew that this was not a memory that ordinary people would want to encounter.

Suddenly, he felt that such a test of character was boring.

Isn't this young man's temperament as clear as the bright moon?

He sighed and dispelled his magic.

Qi Wuhuo didn't notice the old man's weight behind him suddenly weaken. A mysterious feeling surged through him, healing the many hidden wounds left by the catastrophe. Qi Wuhuo felt his meridians instantly relax, and yang energy surged through his feet. His depleted strength was instantly restored. Looking up again, the night fog had dissipated, and lights could be seen faintly ahead.

Qi Wuhuo breathed a sigh of relief and said joyfully,

"Old man, we've reached my hometown."

With these words, he walked down the mountain with a swift pace, carrying the old man on his back.

The moonlight was bright in the sky, and the young man strode forward. Traveling in the mountains at night is inherently dangerous, but in places invisible to the naked eye, a group of demons and monsters protected them, driving away evil spirits silently and with a solemn and awe-inspiring ceremony. A fox held a candle in front, and a tiger held its claws behind.

The wolves and wild beasts, stricken by hunger, dared not approach, and the wandering spirits and ghosts, swarming with the mountain's yin energy, were even more fearless. There was a mountain god from this place, wandering at night, free and easy. He saw a group of demons and monsters wandering in the distance, stunned and horrified, retreating over a hundred miles. Looking back, he was still shrouded in the fog, with no way forward or back. His heart trembled, fearing that some demon, great saint, or immortal from the land was on patrol. He hurriedly burned incense to inform the gods.

Qi Wuhuo walked down the mountain, and the old man looked back.

The night fog that had enveloped the mountains and rivers for a hundred miles suddenly dissipated, becoming increasingly smaller and smaller, until, in the end, it was nothing more than a purple veil covering his head.

Besides, the mountains and rivers were clear, the wind was gentle, and the moon was bright.

That was all.

"Let's go back to my little brother's place."

"You've carried me for a thousand and two hundred steps, so we should make a good relationship."