Chen Ji had barely stepped off the plane when three people in suits approached him—two men and a woman, exuding that sharp elite vibe, with friendly smiles and deferential attitudes. But their faces bore unmistakable signs of exhaustion, dark circles under their eyes, the kind that came from force-chugging energy drinks just to make it through overtime. The sort where even Red Bull and espresso shots couldn’t keep the crash at bay.
Chen Ji actually recognized them—they’d been sitting right in front of and beside him on the flight.
“Do you… need something?” one of the wage slaves asked another, and Chen Ji responded politely. No sense making life harder for fellow workers. He added, “If this is about Yun Shaoyang, save your breath. No need to say it.”
The three exchanged glances and nodded awkwardly. They’d been warned on the way here: they were employees, not martyrs. No point pushing their luck.
“Consider your apology accepted,” Chen Ji said with a teasing grin. “Or you could crash at a hotel for a couple days and report back that you staked me out for two days straight without a sighting.”
With that, he turned and walked away. They didn’t dare follow, left standing there unsure what to do next.
Chen Ji headed for the restroom. Second Grandpa Huang Er poked his head out of Chen Ji’s pocket, stretched lazily, and leaped out. Chen Ji was quick to catch him before he hit the floor—no way was he letting that weasel step on the grimy men’s room tiles and then back onto his clothes. Fine for pawing yellow mountain earth, but this? Absolutely not.
Chen Ji whispered, “Second Grandpa, is this really okay?”
【What’s not okay about it?】 Huang Er nimbly climbed up Chen Ji’s arm to his shoulder. 【We’re back home territory. Can’t a guy take a shortcut?】
Huang Er flicked his tail, and a pitch-black rift tore open in front of Chen Ji. He paused for a split second, then stepped through. The rift snapped shut behind him.
The moment Chen Ji entered the Ghost Path, his skin crawled. Last time Xiangxiang had brought him through, it hadn’t felt so bad. But now, with his eyes literally blinded in a physical sense, things weren’t just vague mists or shadows anymore. The instant he crossed over, countless pale, ashen faces turned toward him in unison. Who wouldn’t freak out?
Huang Er clicked his tongue and leaped down from Chen Ji’s shoulder. His body swelled dramatically, his two-meter-eight Dharma Image manifesting. Most of the Good Brothers lost interest in Chen Ji at the sight, though a few still eyed him with keen curiosity. Huang Er scooped Chen Ji up and settled him on his back. Chen Ji kept a straight, icy face—the kind that scared people off. Huang Er was about to kick into high gear when Chen Ji grabbed his fur. “Second Grandpa, first stop: No. 30 Baiyun Road!”
Huang Er: 【What’s that place?】
Before Chen Ji could answer, a voice chimed in teasingly: 【Pet hospital.】
Chen Ji glanced over and saw a young man in his twenties, piloting a convertible sports car. He winked at Chen Ji, who nodded back in greeting.
Second Grandpa peered over too, then asked puzzledly, 【You heading there again to buy stuff for that fat cat of yours who does nothing but eat?!】
Chen Ji stroked Second Grandpa’s fur tenderly. “Going to get something for Second Grandpa.”
【…Huh? What for me?! I’m a full-grown immortal—why the hell would I go to a pet hospital?】 Despite his words, Second Grandpa obediently veered off course. The young man in the convertible kept pace right alongside, his speed rivaling Huang Er’s.
【Whoa—】 the young man let out a low whistle, calling to Chen Ji. 【Bro, where’d you score this yellow weasel? Home-raised or wild-caught? Badass!】
It sounded like he was treating Huang Er like some rare Pokémon, fishing for the spawn location to toss his own Poké Ball.
Chen Ji replied politely, “Not caught. Sorry, Second Grandpa’s been protecting me all along.”
【Oh, gotcha.】 The young man said, 【One of those spirit medium types, huh? Not many in that line dare tread the Ghost Path!】
Huang Er sent mentally, 【Ignore him. Don’t give him your name—he’s probing your background.】
Chen Ji paused. The young man shrugged. 【Hey, no need to get uptight, Great Immortal. Just making friends.】
Huang Er whipped his head around and snarled at the young man, clearly warning him to shut it or face consequences. The young man slowed down and dropped back, no longer keeping up.
【Locust Tree Spirit,】 Huang Er explained. 【Don’t let that human getup fool you. He’s worn a lot of skins to get it—eaten plenty of people.】
Locust tree spirits were one thing if they didn’t amount to much. But if they did, their roots were buried in mountains of bones. High cultivation meant they could summon winds and rains with ease. This one was still green, a bit weaker than Huang Er, or he’d be real trouble.
Chen Ji blinked and simply flopped down on Huang Er’s back, playing the part of an innocent human kidnapped for drinks back home. He murmured softly, “These days, scarfing down that many people—won’t they just bomb the whole hilltop?”
【Probably decades ago,】 Huang Er said. 【Mass graves were a dime a dozen back then.】
Chen Ji got the picture. The Ghost Path was fast—felt like not even a quarter-hour had passed before Huang Er bounded out through a gap. Daylight flooded in, and they were in an alley. Chen Ji started to praise him, then froze, scanning around urgently—no cameras in sight. Thank goodness.
Talk about a close call!
He was used to the mountain life, roaming wild and free, buck-naked if he felt like it. But cities were a minefield of surveillance. If nobody was watching, fine. But if someone flagged footage of him jumping from airport to town in fifteen minutes flat—with zero sightings along the way—how the hell was he explaining that? The drive alone should’ve taken nearly two hours.
Decision made: he’d grab a cab back to Shangyang Village like a normal person.
Once inside the pet hospital, a sales associate greeted him. “Hello, how can I help you today?”
Chen Ji whipped Huang Er out of his pocket in a flash. “Give him a bath, deworming, and I’d like a rabies shot too.”
Huang Er’s little eyes went wide in bewilderment. What the hell was Chen Ji on about?
The associate reached for him, but Chen Ji waved her off. “God-tier battle beast level.”
She pulled her hand back fast, staring at the weasel who was playing limp as a noodle in Chen Ji’s arms. Deep thoughts indeed—true gods were the best actors.
Chen Ji cradled Huang Er close as he went to register and pay, cooing all the while. “Be a good Second Grandpa. We’ll get you all clean and fragrant, drive off those bugs, okay? Pick any jerky you want later! Those crunchy, yummy quail snacks too!”
Huang Er: 【Chen Ji! You trying to get yourself killed?! Treating me like a pet?!】
Chen Ji: “Second Grandpa’s the best, right? I’m so wiped out—I can’t wash you myself. Just this once, let them handle it…”
Huang Er: 【…That beat? What’d you even do to get this tired? Back in the day, your Second Grandpa fought that old fox next door for ten days and nights straight, came home caked in dirt, still scarfed meat, booze, dug dens, snatched chickens. I told you to bulk up, but you never listen… Fine, fine! Just this once!】
Chen Ji soothed Second Grandpa into compliance like a total dimwit, then unhesitatingly checked the deluxe bath package on the form. For the name: ‘Second Grandpa’. Ferocity level: ‘Peerless Fierce Beast’, ‘War God’. Likes: ‘Loves getting compliments’. Notes: ‘Must praise him first before touching’.
He handed the form over. The associate burst out laughing, her smile blooming like a flower. “Second Grandpa looks so majestic! So handsome!”
Huang Er huffed, but lifted his head proudly. Alright, this human girl had a way with words!
Chen Ji winked at her and ushered Second Grandpa into the grooming room. The groomer took one look at the form and launched into full rainbow-fart mode: “Second Grandpa, you’re so good-looking!” “Who’s the most obedient baby in the world? That’s right, our Second Grandpa!” Paired with pro-massage bathing techniques that rivaled ASMR videos, Second Grandpa was pampered into a daze, forgetting which way was up.
Meanwhile, Chen Ji stared at the needle for the rabies vaccine and its immunoglobulin booster, debating if it was truly necessary. I mean, Second Grandpa had lived centuries—rabies? Please.
The vet caught his hesitation and said with clear, earnest eyes, “It doesn’t hurt.”
Chen Ji squeezed his eyes shut. In for a penny…
He emerged moments later looking like a wilted eggplant. The System Cat cackled in his mind: [Doesn’t hurt, huh? Totally painless, right?!]
Chen Ji intoned gravely, [A doctor’s word: the devil’s lie.]
He’d figured one quick jab, maybe thicker needle, momentary sting. Nope. The doc pumped a whole syringe sideways, lengthwise across his hand, circled the injection site, then fanned it under the skin with scrapes. Pain aside, massive psychological trauma.
The System Cat kept laughing. Chen Ji mumbled dejectedly, [I’m getting hotpot.]
[Second Grandpa’s around—how you gonna explain popping into existence? Skip it.]
System Cat: [Gah?!]
Soon enough, Chen Ji was carrying Second Grandpa—now sporting a massive coffee-colored ribbon bow around his neck, freshly bathed, fluffy, and smelling amazing—to the hotpot spot.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yun asked, “So that’s their stance?”
“Yes,” said Lu Xiao, who’d spoken to Chen Ji at the airport earlier.
Just then, Zhang Ziran arrived with an old Daoist priest. Mr. Yun took a deep breath; he looked worn from a sleepless night. He extended a hand. “Daoist Su, hello. I’m Yun Lu, a friend of Zhang’s.”
The Old Daoist Priest nodded, then said, “Hold on. Let me check on the kid first.”
Zhang Ziran led him inside. Moments later, they checked on Zhou Nan and Xiao Lifan. The Old Daoist Priest shook his head at Zhang Ziran. “This won’t be easy… That talisman curse is odd—looks like southern-style work.”
Zhang Ziran nodded. “It’s the technique from Y Province.”
As he spoke, he handed over Chen Ji’s file. The Old Daoist Priest gave it a quick glance and pointed to the place name on the page. “Little Azure Mountain? Did this young man come from Little Azure Mountain?”
Zhang Ziran looked puzzled. “Grandmaster, what’s wrong with Little Azure Mountain?”
The name was far too ordinary, completely unremarkable. It sounded just like some nameless little hill, and that whole area seemed to use it. Zhang Ziran hadn’t paid it much mind.
The Old Daoist Priest sighed. “Little Azure Mountain is no good place at all… No wonder he strikes so viciously. So he’s from Little Azure Mountain.”
