Chapter 124: The Ancient Village in the Deep Mountains

"Where are we going now?" I asked.

"To a secluded place to find some peace and quiet for a few days. We'll emerge once those people have had their fill of causing trouble. Since you're my apprentice now, it's inevitable they'll come looking for you, so I'm bringing you along. By the way, turn off your phone immediately so you don't implicate anyone around you," Old Man Ma said.

I took out my phone and did as he instructed.

"How did things go with your solo task? Are you proficient in what I taught you? And what about that kid I told you to look after?" Old Man Ma asked.

His string of questions was a long story, hard to explain in a few words. I gave him a rough account of the situation.

He didn't seem to care much about Wang Yue, as if he had anticipated it all from the start, but he was deeply dissatisfied with the fact that I had been deceived by the Fourth Aunt, nearly killed by her paper effigy, and subdued by Zhang Haozi.

"You're an absolute disgrace! Use these next few days well; I need to train you properly so people don't keep finding out I have such a useless apprentice!" Old Man Ma said with disdain.

I felt incredibly annoyed, but regardless, I knew I was too weak and truly needed to train hard.

"Who exactly is that Fourth Aunt?" I asked.

Old Man Ma replied dismissively, "How would I know? There are plenty of people who hate me—all sorts of crooked, evil scoundrels. You’d better be sharper in the future; don't go around revealing who your master is so easily."

The car drove for a long time, getting on and off the highway, traveling into other cities. Aside from stopping once to refuel, we didn't pause at all.

Deep into the night, the car reached a certain county. It wound its way off the main road and onto a muddy path until the surroundings were pitch black and we were surrounded by mountains, with no houses in sight. Only then did the car stop.

Stepping out, I found nothing but mountains and trees. What was the meaning of this? Were we going to live like wild men in the mountains? Just how powerful were Old Man Ma's enemies that we had to hide to this extent?

Qu Xinchen did not get out, and the driver showed no intention of doing so either.

Qu Xinchen poked his head out and said, "Old Ma, call me anytime you need help in the future."

"Fine. I'll consider this a favor I owe you, and my apprentice will surely pay it back someday."

He was making me pay his debt? This old man was really calculating! Still, Qu Xinchen had saved me this time, so I accepted it.

The car made a turn and headed back the way we came. Only when it had completely vanished from sight did Old Man Ma switch on the flashlight he’d brought from the car and start walking toward the mountain.

I followed him. "Where are we going? Are we really going to live like wild men in the mountains?"

"Wild men? We have to cross this mountain to reach the place," Old Man Ma said.

There were no trails on the mountain, and the trees were dense. Old Man Ma sent me ahead to clear a path, pointing me in the right direction. After walking for a long time, we finally found a small, trodden mountain path and followed it forward.

I don't know how long we walked, but eventually, lights appeared in the distance, and we saw a cluster of houses. We had arrived.

A flashlight beam swung toward us, and a woman walked over. "You finally arrived. Why didn't you just take the main road?"

The main road? There was a road? I looked at Old Man Ma in astonishment. If there was a road, why did we have to trek over the mountains?

Old Man Ma glared at me and said to the woman, "I was afraid of being seen on the main road. Coming over the mountain is safer."

"Fine. I'll take you there now," she said, turning to walk into the village.

The woman, in her thirties, was named Yang Man. She was responsible for meeting us. She didn't say much else, but it was clear she was just an ordinary village woman.

It was very late now. Every house in the village was locked tight, and it was pitch black everywhere. The village was quite underdeveloped; the houses were mostly red brick, with some made of mud and wood. The only comfort was that there was electricity, as evidenced by the wires stretching to every home.

The woman led us to a mud-brick house. "The house is a bit old, but it's kept very clean. You can stay here for now. Since I didn't expect there to be three of you, I only prepared one room. I'll bring over two more quilts in a moment."

The light switch was the old-fashioned pull-string type, and the bulb was a dim, yellowish incandescent one. Combined with the mud walls, it gave me a feeling of being back in my old home as a child.

The room had basic necessities, but that was all.

"You must be hungry after your journey. I’ve saved some food for you and will bring it over shortly. From now on, I'll bring your meals every day. Just stay here and rest easy. If you need anything, come find me," Yang Man said, then left.

I looked around. This place was truly ancient. I couldn't help but ask, "Master, what kind of people are your enemies that we have to hide in a place like this?"

"I think you’ve had it too easy in life. Use these days to properly sharpen yourself. You two go and tidy up your rooms; don't cause her any extra trouble," Old Man Ma said.

I replied and called Tu'e to go into the room. Ever since we arrived at the village, he had worn a look of pure wonder.

I didn't know what Old Man Ma was planning. Aside from those two questions in the car, he hadn't asked about Tu'e at all. He had chosen to cross the mountain, likely to keep Qu Xinchen from knowing our true location, yet he had let Tu'e come along. What was the old man thinking?

Yang Man returned with the quilts and dinner. After eating, I lay on the bed. The night in the mountain village was just like in my childhood; the cold wind swept through the trees, making a low, mournful sound, accompanied by the rustling of swaying branches.

Cough... cough-cough...

A hoarse coughing sound drifted in. My heart jolted. It was the Ghost Crone! How could it be? Wasn't that Ghost Crone burned to nothing by Tu'e? Reduced to ash and gone forever!

Cough-cough... cough...

The sound came again. It wasn't my imagination! I bolted upright, too hurried to put on my shoes, and rushed to the window, throwing it open. The cold wind surged in, and I shivered, though I couldn't tell if it was from the cold or from fear.

Facing the biting wind, I looked out. A faint, ghostly green light moved slowly through the woods. My eyes widened in shock. It really was the Ghost Crone! She had returned! It was impossible! How could this be?

I shook my head and looked again, but the ghostly green light was drifting further away, disappearing into the dark distance. My heart went cold, and a dull ache spread through my chest. I clutched my chest and breathed rapidly.

The Ghost Crone wasn't dead. She hadn't vanished. She was still out there in the dark, carrying her blue oil lamp.

I reached into my pocket and took out the talisman paper concealing Sister Yan, clutching it tightly. Regardless of anything else, at least Sister Yan was back. I had to help her nurture her spirit and regain her consciousness!