Chapter 79: Back to Little Azure Mountain

By the time Mr. Yun and Mrs. Yun rushed to the hospital, Zhang Ziran was already there. The couple from the Yun Family tightened inwardly at his grave expression, only to breathe a sigh of relief the next instant when they saw Yun Shaoyang lying perfectly fine on the hospital bed.

The monitor beside him showed everything was normal.

Mr. Yun had spent these years cultivating his temperament, but even he couldn’t hold back his anger at the sight. “Zhang Ziran, what the hell is going on?!”

Zhang Ziran couldn’t even force a smile. The yin qi in the ward was heavier than in the hospital morgue. He said in a chilling tone, “What do you think? I couldn’t even force my way in.”

Mrs. Yun held Mr. Yun back, about to ask for the full story, when Yun Shaoyang—who had been in a coma—suddenly let out a agonized groan. Ignoring everything else, Mrs. Yun immediately called for the doctor. The doctor hurried in to check on him, blocking the Yun couple outside as they waited for news.

Mr. Yun lifted his chin. “How come others can force their way in?”

Zhang Ziran was furious. “Who the hell did Shaoyang piss off? Someone who wants him dead! Don’t ask me for proof—I’ve got jack shit to give you! What did Shaoyang do to make someone hate him this much? They didn’t leave him a shred of a chance!”

Mr. Yun and Mrs. Yun both paled. They had just been talking at home about how Shaoyang had done something stupid, but they hadn’t said it was offending someone. Mrs. Yun covered her mouth to stifle any irrational outburst.

Zhang Ziran had grown up playing with them. At twelve, he fell gravely ill. A master pointed out that he wasn’t meant for the mortal world; to keep him, they had to send him away from it, or he’d have at most three more years.

The Zhang Family hadn’t believed it at first, but as his health worsened, they tried countless famous doctors—Western medicine, then traditional Chinese medicine. The pills he swallowed could fill a mountain. In just half a year, the energetic boy was reduced to catching a raging fever at the slightest provocation. Finally, a ninety-year-old traditional doctor gave them advice: the child’s constitution was too sensitive for city life. Better to send him to a temple or daoist monastery to recuperate and build up his strength.

No matter how skeptical, the Zhang Family had no choice but to send young Zhang Shaoyang off to a daoist temple. Sure enough, after just a week of rest, he was full of vim and vigor. Bringing him back triggered an immediate relapse. In the end, they had to accept it.

Having known him for decades, Mrs. Yun had heard many bizarre tales from Zhang Ziran. Mr. Yun dismissed them as jokes, but Mrs. Yun believed. Trembling, she asked, “What do we do now… Shaoyang offended someone. He… today…”

She recounted everything that had happened with Yun Shaoyang from start to finish, choking up. “The Xiao Family kid and Zhou Family kid who went with him today have lost it… They’re downstairs. Do you want to see?”

Zhang Ziran listened, dumbfounded. He never imagined Yun Shaoyang capable of something like that. Sure, his face showed a life full of romantic entanglements—passionate yet fickle—but not ruthless like this. Overall, his features suggested a decent character; he shouldn’t stoop to such lows.

Zhang Ziran said, “I’ll go take a look. Lead the way!”

The assistant immediately started guiding him. Zhang Ziran moved at a brisk pace; neither Mr. Yun nor Mrs. Yun could keep up. Neither Mrs. Xiao nor Mrs. Zhou budged either. Mrs. Yun dared leave only because Yun Shaoyang hadn’t woken yet, but their own sons were acting possessed. With checkup reports pending, how could they leave?

When Zhang Ziran arrived, the two boys were in a quiet slumber. Mrs. Xiao, puzzled, asked, “Master Zhang, what brings you here?”

She realized immediately. “Master Zhang, quick, take a look at Lifan!”

Zhang Ziran nodded and pushed open the door. Xiao Lifan had thrashed so violently they’d restrained him with straps and sedated him heavily, or he’d still be screaming.

The moment Zhang Ziran stepped in, he spotted the Red Shadow sitting by the window with a mocking half-smile. His steps froze in horror—it was a red-clothed ghost!

His cultivation had granted him partial Yin-Yang Eyes, enough to glimpse such shadows.

His master had warned him endlessly never to provoke a red-clothed ghost. They formed from deep grudges and rarely targeted innocents without cause.

Zhang Ziran’s face drained of color as a shiver crawled up from his soles. He knew she was watching him now. She had seen him!

Zhang Ziran said, “You all… get out first!”

Mrs. Xiao was about to speak when Mrs. Yun, who had just caught up, pulled her away. Free of distractions, Zhang Ziran saw more clearly. Xiao Lifan was shrouded in thick yin qi, but it wasn’t emanating from him naturally or from any sin of his own. Something on him was drawing it in relentlessly—that was what had lured the red-clothed ghost!

Pretending not to notice her, Zhang Ziran examined Xiao Lifan’s body. Try as he might, he found nothing wrong until his senses zeroed in on the thickest cluster of yin qi. Suddenly, a golden gleam flickered on that patch of skin—a talisman seal!

The seal vanished in a flash, but Zhang Ziran had identified it: a Gathering Yin Talisman. Yet he couldn’t remove it! It wasn’t merely stuck on the skin; it was embedded inside, affixed straight to Xiao Lifan’s three souls and seven po!

Zhang Ziran struggled to stay calm, acting oblivious to the red-clothed ghost as he stepped out.

Zhou Nan was the same.

The problem had to stem from that young man!

“Where’s the file on that young guy? Let me see!” At Zhang Ziran’s words, the assistant handed over the tablet. Zhang Ziran glanced at it and grimaced upon seeing Chen Ji lived at the Mountain Lord Temple—an ancestral holding. His expression soured to the extreme.

The so-called Mountain Lord was a mountain god. They sounded respectable enough, but in truth? Most folk mountain gods were elected by villagers: refined spirits, ghost fiends, you name it. Some even declared themselves gods.

Only in these prosperous decades, with the nation stable and fortunes rising, had they kept their heads down. As faith faded, they lost power. Any that dared stir trouble? One bomb, and not just the temple—the whole mountain was leveled!

But go back a few decades—what kind of mountain god didn’t exist?

The lucky ones subsisted on incense fire without causing havoc. The worst demanded boys and girls every few years, brides for their beds… rape, plunder, massacres at whims, endless disasters!

In such a remote spot, deep in the mountains, with just one Mountain Lord Temple and a lone priest? And they dared offend him?!

Even ignoring the occult, a city boy in his twenties suddenly vanishing into Y Province’s wilds—riddled with venomous snakes and beasts—surviving, even thriving alone? No ordinary person could!

How could they provoke someone like that?!

“It’s him!” Zhang Ziran slammed his conclusion. “No ifs or buts. I can’t handle this. I’m calling my master ancestor…”

Mr. Yun frowned. “If it’s as you say, why not bring him here first? He’s at the airport.”

“What’s the point?!” Zhang Ziran’s voice spiked. “Shaoyang and the others have pissed him off beyond redemption! He wants them dead—not a lesson! You two go kowtow, and it might not help. Don’t go now; he’s still fuming. You might get dragged in too!”

Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Zhou went pale, waiting to see how the Yun Family handled it.

“You mean it?” Mr. Yun asked seriously.

Zhang Ziran was already dialing. Lives hung in the balance; he couldn’t wait for his master to wake naturally—the old man should be up soon anyway. “Do I look like I need your family’s cash?!”

“Okay… In that much of a hurry to fly back without waiting a day—must be urgent.” Mr. Yun took a deep breath. “Have someone book the same flight. We’ll apologize properly after landing.”

The Xiao and Zhou families planned to follow suit.

Just then, the assistant’s phone buzzed. After taking the call, he informed the Yun couple: “Sir, Madam, the young master, Young Master Xiao, and Young Master Zhou are all in similar states. To prevent self-harm, they’ve been restrained.”

Mrs. Yun broke down, collapsing to squat and sob into her hands. But after a few cries, she stood. “I’ll go! To the airport!”

Zhang Ziran signaled Mr. Yun to hold her back and hurried to the elevators. His master ancestor picked up. “Ziran, what’s wrong?”

Zhang Ziran explained everything, then pleaded, “Master ancestor, I know my nephew and his friends deserved it, but they don’t deserve to die. Please save them. The curser’s at the airport—I wouldn’t dare intercept, let alone apologize. Give us a way out!”

After a long pause, the voice replied, “…Fine. Where’s this young man’s roots?”

Zhang Ziran recalled the file. “Y Province, Little Azure Mountain.”

“Ah, that place… No wonder he struck so hard.” His master ancestor paused. “Though they brought it on themselves—no one to blame but them.”

Zhang Ziran begged a while longer until his master relented: come see first.

Meanwhile, Chen Ji slept until airport staff roused him—thirty minutes to boarding. With no luggage, he headed to the restroom, splashed water on his face, and only then discovered the VIP lounge offered free meals. He ordered a bowl of noodles before following the staff to the gate.

These noodles were surprisingly tasty… Should’ve eaten more last night. What a waste.

The System Cat yawned in his mind: [By the way, where’s Second Master Huang?]

Chen Ji patted his pocket: [Right here.]

[They didn’t even detect him?] The System Cat sounded shocked.

Chen Ji passed a coffee shop, eyeing the forty-buck price tag and passing on a cup. [Second Grandpa’s cultivated for centuries. If he couldn’t pull off an Illusion Spell, I’d question what the hell he’s been doing all these years.]

Yesterday, Second Master Huang had used an Illusion Spell to slip past the scanners through a gap.

Second Master Huang slept belly-up in Chen Ji’s pocket, oblivious to the griping. Chen Ji rubbed its belly—damn, the texture really was top-notch.

In the next instant, Chen Ji let out a hiss and yanked his hand back. Second Grandpa Huang was drowsy and muddled from sleep. Chen Ji’s petting had annoyed him, so he tilted his head and chomped down.

Chen Ji stared at the bloody bite mark on his hand. He silently pressed a napkin over it. Only after a good while did he ask the System Cat: […Should I go get a rabies shot?]

The System Cat replied: [I suggest you rinse it right now, then ask the staff for some iodine to disinfect the wound. Once we land, head straight to the nearest hospital for the vaccine! Those are teeth from hundreds of years ago… what if they carry some ancient virus?]

Chen Ji: “…!”