Chapter 47: Ghost Fang Peak, Dark Mountain Hollow

“Damn! Is this little fox tricking us?”

After hearing the Little Fox Girl’s words, all the disciples were stunned. No one spoke for a long time.

Among the Academy disciples, someone finally spat out an angry curse, drawing immediate nods from many others.

Originally, at this point, they had essentially completed their task. Come daylight, they could have taken the demon heads back to the Academy to claim credit. Without a doubt, endless praise and rewards awaited them. Yet now, because of Fang Cun somehow provoking the Little Fox Girl into revealing that information, the situation changed drastically. Out popped some freaking Dark Mountain Hollow… what fresh trouble was this?

His exact phrasing was unclear. Couldn’t they simply return? They’d already rushed through mountain paths all day, fought monsters—wasn’t that enough?

What worried others more was, how could they all just go check out a place solely based on this little fox spirit dropping a name?

The mountains were full of strange, eerie places. How could they investigate every single one?

“Hey, little fox! What cultivation level were your parents?”

Someone caught onto something and suddenly asked the Little Fox Girl seriously.

The Little Fox Girl flinched, pulling her head in like a frightened turtle, not daring to utter a sound.

The questioner fumed, but after glancing at Fang Cun, didn’t press further. Instead, he speculated, “To become a leader in this Barbarian Mountain, their strength couldn’t be weak. Their power must have been at least equivalent to our Qi Refiners’ Treasured Body Realm…”

Once he mentioned this, many disciples secretly nodded within the group.

If monsters on par with the Treasured Body Realm were injured there, treating it as a forbidden zone, what would happen to people like them if they went…

“Since she mentioned it, we obviously must go check!”

Amidst the heavy atmosphere, it was Nie Quan who suddenly shouted sharply. Everyone looked over to see him glaring at Fang Cun, his face full of defiance. “No matter what, we have to go and see. One of the two of us has to emerge thoroughly convinced!”

The other disciples around him sighed inwardly in exasperation, ‘Why must he always clash with Second Young Master Fang…’

Torn between indecision, numerous gazes instinctively turned towards Meng Zhixue.

Seeing Meng Zhixue still frowning deeply, she paused slightly then said, “Since we set out, this sequence of events makes me feel that the disappearance of Elm Coin Town’s common folk likely isn’t simple. Everything seems too… coincidental, almost as if handed to us. Our assignment from the Academy is to uncover the truth behind the disappearances. Now that we have a lead, we must go investigate. If we keep delaying… well, complications might arise!”

Hearing this, the disciples all voiced their agreement.

Seeing her resolve, many felt their spirits lift. Yu Qingli swept his eyes over the group. “Our purpose in coming here was specifically to investigate the disappearances in Elm Coin Town. Since we have a potential lead, we naturally should follow it to uncover the truth. If we hesitate fearfully, afraid of danger, what was the point in accepting the Academy’s Demon-Subduing Dispatch in the first place?”

“Exactly! The Five Disciples of Nanshan Alliance are all present. With Senior Sister Meng overseeing things, what sinister place is there to fear?”

…

Though the decision was made to go, the disciples didn’t act recklessly. After brief discussion, they rested inside the temple to meditate, recovering their Cultivation Power. The Nanshan Alliance members conferred shortly before leaving the temple together. They left their horses tethered beside the temple. He Zhenzhang then summoned four brightly glowing Talismans to serve as torches. Stepping onto the mountain path at night, they moved unevenly towards Ghost Fang Peak.

Ghost Fang Peak, nestled deep in the mountains, wasn’t particularly conspicuous. Surrounded by tall peaks that just hid it from immediate view, its name came from its sharp, pointed shape. It was quite close to the dilapidated temple. After traveling no more than four or five miles, they saw it.

Fang Cun, seeing Ghost Fang Peak, nodded slightly to himself. “Here is probably the place.”

He had reasoned this: The signs of struggle in Elm Coin Town were staged; even the large bloodstains were fake. This could only mean the villagers walked out themselves. Most likely, someone used a Soul Captivation Art to lure them out. Such an Art inherently has a limited range: even the most powerful Qi Refiner or the most sinister technique encounters limitations. They couldn’t make the villagers walk too far.

Ghost Fang Peak was both concealed and close by – perfectly matching the required conditions.

“Everyone! Be careful! There’s likely something strange about this place!”

Fang Cun wasn’t the only one to see it. Meng Zhixue, surveying the scene, also warned the group in a low voice.

“I’ll advance with Senior Sister Meng in front! Junior Brother Nie Quan covers the rear! Brother He Zhenzhang, stay in the middle to provide support and illumination!” Someone commanded clearly. Their movement quickly became orderly as they cautiously approached the area behind Ghost Fang Peak. In a few steps, they reached the small path’s end. Passing through a few hill slopes, they saw a natural valley ahead. Surrounded by wild, untamed trees growing chaotically, unless specifically guided, one could easily pass it by unnoticed.

Natural mist hung midway through the valley, making things hazy and indistinct.

It was difficult to see far in, impossible to gauge its depth…

“It’s clearly a place infested with Demonic Evil…” Fang Cun murmured, eyeing the valley. “We must be extremely cautious.”

Soft chuckles floated around him. Nie Quan whispered mockingly, “Second Young Master Fang sure is a careful fellow…”

“Stop that now!”

Meng Zhixue abruptly hissed. Meeting everyone’s gaze, she spoke firmly, “If there truly is danger within that valley, utmost caution is essential. I will enter first to investigate. If it’s safe, the rest of you can follow. If something does happen…”

The disciples around her froze, immediately protesting. “Senior Sister Meng, you jest! How could we let you take such a risk?”

“It should be my duty…”

“Hah! With this many of us, charging in together—what’s there to fear?”

…

“My cultivation level surpasses yours!”

Meng Zhixue responded calmly to their pleas. “Furthermore, I possess protective Magic Treasures. They can temporarily safeguard me against most dangers. Therefore, investigating a place of unknown depth like this is inherently my task. The discussion ends here.”

Seeing her resolve, they reluctantly fell silent. Unable to dissuade her, He Zhenzhang beside her spoke up. “In that case, I’ll accompany Senior Sister Meng. I specialize in Talisman techniques. I can offer support. With two people, we can provide mutual assistance!”

Meng Zhixue nodded. It was settled.

Fang Cun, observing their organized arrangements without shirking the danger, viewed them with heightened respect. He Zhenzhang carved out two bright light Talismans for illumination. The rest guarded the valley’s edge, vigilant on all sides. Hearts in their throats, scarcely daring to breathe, they watched the pair advance step by precarious step into the valley depths.

Nearby, the Little Fox Girl, seemingly troubled, subtly sidled closer to Fang Cun.

“Whoosh…”

A faint sound emerged from the valley. The mist shimmered in response.

The disciples at the valley’s edge instantly tensed, urgently calling out, “Senior Sister Meng? Brother He? Are you…”

Inside the valley, silence reigned profound, empty like the Dead Sea.

“Heh heh… just a flock of moths…”

Just as panic gripped their throats, Meng Zhixue’s relieved laughter broke the silence. “Brother He, really! You’re far too tense. Wasn’t scared by the moths, nearly scared the daylights out of me by your reaction…”

To be immediately followed by He Zhenzhang’s sheepish voice, “My fault, my fault… too keyed up…”

Moments later, Meng Zhixue called out firmly, “Brothers, Sisters! The valley holds no issues! Come on in!”

The guardians at the edge breathed sighs of relief and began moving in.

However, among the group, Fang Cun suddenly frowned. His pace slowed imperceptibly, leaving him at the rear.

Walking in, he deliberately raised his voice and asked, “Fairy Meng! What’s actually inside the valley?”

Meng Zhixue’s voice answered after a noticeable pause. “Nothing. Just come in first.”

Fang Cun abruptly halted. “If there’s truly nothing inside… what’s the point of entering?”

The other disciples looked his way with strange, bewildered expressions.

Meng Zhixue’s voice, again delayed, replied, “There are some oddities that warrant investigation…”

But at this point, Fang Cun’s expression had turned icy. He urgently stopped the others. “Don’t go in yet!”

Everyone froze, confusion turning fully upon him. Fang Cun stared intently into the demonic mist in the valley. Suddenly raising his voice sharply, he shouted, “Brother He! Where did we meet for the very first time?”

Silence hung for several seconds inside the valley before He Zhenzhang’s voice rang out, void of urgency. “What childish nonsense! Just get inside already!”

Fang Cun’s gaze remained fixed on the thick fog. He commanded quietly but with force, “Something’s wrong. Fall back immediately!”

“What?!”

Shock rippled through the group.

Specifically, Nie Quan, standing midway, flushed with anger. “Fang Lao’er! This time, you can’t blame me for saying…”

But simultaneously, Meng Zhixue’s voice erupted from within the valley once more. It sounded the same as before, yet was imbued with stark desperation and fury. It vibrated differently. While each call alone might seem identical, hearing them consecutively revealed subtle differences.

Alarm jolted the disciples at the valley’s edge. Their guard snapped to maximum.

Yu Qingli and Meng Qing’er at the front had paled dramatically. They flew backward urgently, shouting, “RETREAT! NOW!”

“RUMBLE!!!”

Yet at that precise moment, the mist within the valley surged violently! It seemed to acquire a life of its own, bursting outward like a ruptured dam – akin to a gargantuan beast explosively unfurling its shape, lunging directly from the heart of the Demon Valley! Its colossal form instantly blotted out a radius of thirty to forty zhang. In that split second, it threatened to swallow them all whole!

“Disaster!”

Fang Cun’s eyes flickered with shock. He grasped the Little Fox Girl and fell back hastily.

But the demonic mist’s eruption was too swift, too ferocious. It flooded heaven and earth, leaving virtually no avenue of escape.

“This… how could it…?”

Beside Fang Cun, Nie Quan gaped at the tidal wave of demonic vapor. He watched it engulf the Academy disciples who were walking ahead. He saw it consume Yu Qingli and Meng Qing’er. He momentarily stood paralyzed, eyes wide with disbelief. Then rage ignited within him. With a fierce war cry, he whipped his long saber from his back! Swirling the blade into a wall of light, he charged recklessly INTO the oncoming tide!

“YOU! RUN! Fetch aid!!”

As he sped past Fang Cun, his teeth were ground together with furious determination, his voice thick with exertion.

The very next instant, he threw himself against the forefront of the surging miasma. Pouring every ounce of his Cultivation Power into it, he channeled intangible saber energy through his blade, desperately forming an invisible barrier before him! Against all odds, the demonic haze—and the shifting, malevolent formations concealed within it—momentarily STALLED!

But the mist held overwhelming power. He held it back for only a fraction of a second… before that hungry fog swallowed him too.