Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The earth spirit curled up into a ball, its two short paws covering its head, trembling.

It stole a glance at Gu Xiang.

This man is terrifying.

The sense of oppression it felt was stronger than any of the ferocious beasts it had ever encountered.

"Five...five days ago..."

Tu Ling swallowed hard, his voice high-pitched, "Yes... there was a group of people passing by."

"Explain yourself." Gu Xiang's voice was devoid of any warmth.

"It was...it was a carriage." Tu Ling recalled, fear showing in his eyes. "The carriage was very luxurious, and the horses pulling it were all imbued with spiritual energy. There were also several mounted guards, their bodies gleaming with golden light, looking like they were not to be trifled with."

That was a tribute from the Great Zhou royal family.

Gu Xiang's heart stirred.

"and then?"

"Then...it suddenly got dark."

Tu Ling shuddered. "It wasn't that it was dark, but a cloud of black mist suddenly rose from the ground. There were a lot of ghostly wails and howls coming from that mist, it gave me a headache."

Gu Xiang and Su Qing exchanged a glance.

Black fog.

The wailing and howling of ghosts and wolves.

This method sounds like something out of the demonic arts.

"Those golden figures are very powerful," the Earth Spirit continued. "They wielded swords and slashed at the black mist. But then many black chains emerged from the mist and bound them all."

"What about the people in the carriage?" Su Qing couldn't help but interject.

Tu Ling looked up and glanced at Su Qing.

Although the woman in red was a spirit, the flower on her head and the aura emanating from her body made it feel both familiar and dangerous.

That was the oppressive power of those in power.

"A girl in yellow rushed out of the carriage," Tu Ling gestured. "She was carrying a sword and was very fierce. She cut through several chains, but then something... something that didn't look human emerged from the black mist."

"Doesn't look human?" Gu Xiang frowned.

"Hmm." Tu Ling nodded. "That thing was wearing a black robe, had a white face, and no facial features. With a wave of its hand, the girl in the yellow dress fainted."

The Faceless Man.

Gu Xiang's fingers tapped lightly on the hilt of the sword.

Su Qing also remembered that in the cultivation world of Dongzhou in the game, only one sect would use this kind of attire.

"The Netherworld Cult?" Su Qing blurted out.

Gu Xiang shook his head: "The Netherworld Sect was destroyed by the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect three hundred years ago. This should be a remnant, or someone imitating it."

He looked at Tu Ling: "Which direction did they go?"

The earth spirit stretched out its claws and pointed to the west.

"there."

"There's a valley over there called Ghost Cry Valley. That cloud of black mist carried people away in that direction."

Ghost Cry Valley.

Gu Xiang knew that place.

That was a perilous place deep within the rocky slope, shrouded in miasma year-round. It was said to contain remnants of an ancient formation, and few who went in ever came out alive.

"Why are they arresting people?" Gu Xiang asked.

Tu Ling shook his head: "I don't know. But... I heard that faceless man say something."

"What did you say?"

He said... "Royal blood is perfect as a medicinal ingredient."

Gu Xiang's face instantly turned ashen.

Medicinal guide.

These two words touched the deepest scars in his heart.

Three years ago, Su Qing was also used as a "medicinal ingredient" and almost suffered a terrible fate.

Now, these beasts have set their sights on Li Qingge.

"court death."

Gu Xiang squeezed out two words through gritted teeth.

A violent killing intent erupted from his body, instantly flattening the surrounding weeds to the ground.

The earth spirit screamed in fright and burrowed into the soil, leaving only a tuft of green fur sticking out and trembling.

He had just tucked half his head in when he felt a tightness on the back of his neck.

Gu Xiang lifted it up like a radish and hung it in mid-air.

The earth spirit thrashed about, its screams piercing the winds of the wasteland: "My lord! I have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child to support. We mustn't go to Ghost Cry Valley! It's a death trap! If you go in, not even a bone fragment will remain!"

"An eighty-year-old mother?" Su Qing floated over, reached out and grabbed the sparse green hair on the earth spirit's head, tugging hard. "You earth spirits are born of nature, where did you get a mother? Did you spring out of a rock?"

Tu Ling grimaced in pain, but dared not resist the woman in red. He could only turn to Gu Xiang for help.

Gu Xiang didn't let go; instead, she lifted it even higher, to eye level.

"lead the way."

Two words: No discussion.

Tu Ling shook his head violently, his face covered in snot and tears: "No way! I'd rather die than go! That faceless man is horrible, and that black mist is even more sinister. With my meager skills, I'd just be offering myself up as food!"

"Not going?" Gu Xiang flicked his wrist, drawing his longsword half an inch from its sheath. The cold light reflected on Tu Ling's wrinkled face. "I'll send you to be reincarnated right now."

The righteous energy overflowed from the sword sheath, scalding the earth spirit and causing it to scream in pain, with a wisp of green smoke rising from its body.

"Go away! I'll go, okay?!" Tu Ling cried, covering his eyes with his paws. "What a disaster! I didn't check the almanac before I left home and ran into you two jinxes."

Gu Xiang tossed it casually.

The earth spirit traced an arc through the air and landed precisely on the black horse's back.

Before it could even settle in, Gu Xiang had already mounted the horse, holding the reins with one hand and pressing down on its skull with the other.

"Don't even think about running." Gu Xiang's voice came from above, colder than the autumn wind. "My sword is faster than you can burrow into the ground."

The earth spirit curled up into a ball, utterly desperate.

Su Qing didn't return the jade pendant; she remained floating to the side, still wearing the red flower atop her pendant.

Looking at Tu Ling's cowardly appearance, she felt inexplicably better, her fingertips twirling around a strand of hair.

"Gu Xiang".

"Um?"

"If this ugly thing dares to try anything funny, roast it." Su Qing glanced at the lump on the horse's back. "Earth spirit is very nourishing, it'll be good for you to recover, you've been really weak these past few years."

Tu Ling was so frightened that he trembled all over and almost tumbled off his horse.

It clung tightly to the saddle, cursing the two scoundrels a hundred times in its heart.

Gu Xiang turned around and strode towards the black horse.

Su Qing floated beside him, the red flower on her head trembling slightly with her movements.

"Su Qing," Gu Xiang called out to her.

"Um."

Gu Xiang stopped and looked at her.

"You are currently in soul form. Although you have the Soul-Gathering Flower, you will be in great danger if you encounter a spell specifically targeting the soul."

"I'm not afraid." Su Qing raised her chin. "Li Qingge got into trouble because she was coming to see me. If I don't go, I'll never sleep peacefully for the rest of my life."

She paused, then reached out and took Gu Xiang's hand.

"Besides, I've managed to run into you now."

Su Qing scratched his palm with her fingers. "If you dare to leave me, I'll pluck this flower so you can never touch it again."

Looking at her shameless demeanor, Gu Xiang's anger subsided somewhat.

He grabbed her hand in return and squeezed it hard.

"it is good."

Gu Xiang mounted his horse.

He moved back a bit, making room for the person in front.

"Come up."

Su Qing's eyes lit up.

She floated down and landed steadily on the horse's back, sitting in front of Gu Xiang.

Although she was a soul, under the influence of the Soul-Gathering Flower, she gained weight and a sense of touch.

Gu Xiang wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled on the reins.

His chest pressed against her back, and his heat flowed continuously to her.

"Hold on tight."

Gu Xiang gave a low shout and squeezed the horse's belly with his legs.

"drive!"

The black horse neighed and shot off like an arrow.

The wind whistled past my ears.

Su Qing leaned against Gu Xiang's chest, watching the scenery recede into the distance.

"Gu Xiang".

"Um?"

"If that faceless man is after the royal bloodline, then Li Qingge should be out of immediate danger," Su Qing analyzed. "Making a medicinal ingredient usually requires a specific time and place."

"I know," Gu Xiang's voice came from above, steady and powerful. "Today is September 17th."

"September 19th is in two days?" Su Qing thought for a moment, "The birthday of Guanyin?"

"It's also the day with the heaviest Yin energy," Gu Xiang said. "If you're refining an evil elixir, midnight is the best time."

Su Qing's heart tightened.

"Is it too late?" Su Qing asked.

"There's still time."

Gu Xiang swung his riding whip down suddenly.

The dark horse, feeling the pain, increased its speed even further.

"Even if it means breaking into the underworld, I will get her back."

Gu Xiang's voice carried a hint of ruthlessness.

Su Qing looked up at his resolute chin.

This is the Gu Xiang she knows.

He seems mild-mannered and reasonable most of the time, but once you cross his bottom line, he becomes the craziest madman in the world.

Back then, he dared to curse the heavens and kill people for her sake.

Now, for Li Qingge's sake, he dares to venture into the Valley of Ghost Cries.

"Gu Xiang".

"What's wrong?"

"You just said I look good wearing this flower?"

Gu Xiang paused for a moment, then looked down at her.

The person in his arms looked up, her eyes sparkling. The red flower swayed in the wind, making her face even more alluring and captivating.

"It looks good," Gu Xiang replied honestly.

"After we rescue Qingge, pick another one for me," Su Qing said. "I want to wear it when we get married."

Gu Xiang's hand trembled slightly.

He tightened his arms, holding her even closer.

"it is good."

Gu Xiang said, "Pick a whole truckload."

The black horse carried the two of them into the vast twilight.

The western sky was ablaze with the blood-red glow of the setting sun.

From the direction of Ghost Cry Valley, a wisp of black mist rose into the sky, like a gaping maw waiting for its prey to come to it.

Gu Xiang narrowed his eyes, a golden aura of righteousness flashing in them.

I don't care if you're human or ghost.

Since you dare to mess with my friends, be prepared to be torn to pieces.

"Su Mu Zhe: Asking the Way"

The grass is sparse, and the wind is rustling.

The earth spirit was alarmed and offered guidance to the lost traveler.

A thick black fog obscured the distant horizon.

Amidst the wailing of ghosts, there is no way to return.

The sword flashes coldly, my heart is as hard as iron.

A spirited horse, clad in fine clothes, gallops through the twilight moon.

Let us seek the old promise in the deep mountains.

We will die together, and our love will never be in vain.