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

The further southwest you go, the more rugged the terrain becomes.

The jumbled rocks stand like ferocious monsters, baring their fangs and claws in the night.

The black horse seemed uneasy, snorting frequently and pawing at the rocks with its hooves, sending sparks flying.

Gu Xiang reined in the horse and stopped the horse under a huge weathered rock.

"We can't go any further." Gu Xiang looked at the sky. "The horse can't take it. The yin energy here is too heavy. If we go any further, the horse will get scared."

Su Qing peeked out from his arms and looked around.

How far is it from here to Ghost Cry Valley?

Tu Ling slid off the saddle and sat down heavily on the ground, panting heavily.

"It's not far, it's not far." Tu Ling pointed to the dark mountain pass ahead. "Cross over that mountain over there, and you'll find the entrance to Ghost Cry Valley. That place is extremely eerie; going in at night is suicide."

Gu Xiang nodded and dismounted.

He found some dry branches and started a fire in a sheltered spot.

The flickering firelight dispelled the surrounding chill and illuminated Su Qing's radiant face.

Gu Xiang took out dry rations and a water bag from the pack on horseback and handed them to Su Qing.

Su Qing shook her head: "I'm not hungry. A soul can't eat this."

Gu Xiang paused, silently put away the dry rations, broke off a piece, and swallowed it with cold water.

Tu Ling watched longingly from the side, his mouth practically watering.

"Here you go." Gu Xiang tossed over a piece of dry food.

The earth spirit was overjoyed, holding it in its two paws and gobbling it down, even picking up and eating the crumbs that fell on the ground.

After eating and drinking his fill, Tu Ling let out a burp, his eyes darting around, and began digging a hole in the ground.

Its claws are extremely sharp, and it can dig the soil as easily as cutting tofu. In no time, it has dug a pit big enough for itself to fit in.

"What are you doing?" Su Qing asked curiously.

"Let's go to sleep," the earth spirit said matter-of-factly. "This place is so windy, it's more reassuring and warm to sleep in the earth."

It burrowed into the pit, leaving only its eyes sticking out, and slyly eyed Gu Xiang and Su Qing.

Suddenly, as if it had discovered something, it jumped out of the pit and ran to Su Qing with a dark stone in its hands, as if presenting a treasure.

"Pretty sister, this is for you," Tu Ling said ingratiatingly.

Su Qing glanced at it disdainfully: "What kind of junk is this? Coal cinders?"

"This is a treasure!" the earth spirit exclaimed excitedly. "It's a fossil of submerged wood, buried underground for thousands of years. It's incredibly nourishing for the soul! I dug it up while I was digging the pit, and I didn't even dare to eat it myself."

Su Qing paused for a moment, then reached out and took the stone.

It felt cool to the touch, and indeed, a pure yin energy flowed into her body through her palm, making her soul feel refreshed.

"You're thoughtful." Su Qing smiled and put the stone into her sleeve. "I won't call you ugly thing anymore, I'll call you... Little Radish."

Tu Ling grinned, revealing a set of uneven, yellow teeth.

It doesn't matter what you call it, as long as it's not roasted and eaten.

Gu Xiang watched from the side, his face turning somewhat dark.

He reached out and pulled Su Qing to his side, separating her from Tu Ling.

"Stay away from it," Gu Xiang said coldly. "It's dirty."

Tu Ling shrank back in grievance and silently crawled back into its pit.

This man is petty.

Night fell, and the wind howled, as if someone was weeping softly.

Gu Xiang added a few more pieces of firewood to the fire, and the flames leaped higher.

Su Qing leaned on his shoulder, looking at the flickering firelight, her eyes somewhat unfocused.

"Gu Xiang".

"Um."

"What do you think about us? If we don't go back to the capital, we can find a place to stay in these mountains. How about that?" Su Qing said softly. "We can plant a few acres of land, raise a few chickens, and replace your black horse with an old yellow ox."

Gu Xiang turned his head to look at her, the firelight reflecting in his eyes, making him look incredibly gentle.

"You know how to farm?" Gu Xiang asked.

"No," Su Qing said matter-of-factly, "but I'll eat it. You just need to know how to grow it."

Gu Xiang laughed and reached out to scratch her nose.

"Okay," Gu Xiang said. "Then let's find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters. I'll farm, and you'll eat. I'll raise chickens, and you'll eat. I'll weave cloth, and you'll wear it."

"Then what are you doing?" Su Qing asked.

"I'll watch you eat, I'll watch you dress." Gu Xiang held her hand. "As long as you're here, I'll do anything."

Su Qing felt as if she had been given a spoonful of honey, so sweet it was almost cloying.

"Idiot," Su Qing cursed, rubbing her head against his shoulder. "A prime minister, going to farm? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

"Who dares to laugh?" Gu Xiang said calmly. "The crops grown from the land I cultivate are imbued with a noble spirit. Eating them can prolong life. They would beg for them if they could."

Su Qing burst out laughing.

"boast."

The two snuggled together, whispering nonsense.

From the roast chicken of the capital to the tofu pudding of Qingniu Town, from the intrigues in the imperial court to the paulownia tree of Luofengpo.

Those once thrilling events have now become topics of conversation over tea and after meals.

The earth spirit, hiding in the pit, listened to the two's conversation and couldn't help but roll over.

It doesn't understand why humans always like to talk about these vague and unreal things.

Isn't it good to be alive?

Eat your fill, then sleep; sleep your fill, then eat—how practical!

Suddenly, the earth spirit's ears twitched.

It suddenly poked its head out of the pit and sniffed hard.

"Something's wrong!" the earth spirit shrieked. "The taste's changed!"

Gu Xiang's eyes narrowed, and his hand instantly pressed on the hilt of his sword.

"What does it taste like?"

"The smell of blood!" the earth spirit exclaimed in horror. "A very strong smell of blood! And...and a burnt smell!"

Gu Xiang stood up and turned his gaze toward Ghost Cry Valley.

The originally pitch-black night sky was now tinged with an eerie red light.

The red light wasn't firelight; it looked more like blood staining the clouds.

The wind direction has changed.

A nauseating, fishy stench drifted over on the wind.

"It has begun," Gu Xiang said in a deep voice. "They are performing a ritual."

Su Qing's expression changed: "Li Qingge!"

"Walk!"

Gu Xiang kicked out the campfire, mounted his horse, and pulled Su Qing up with him.

Before Tu Ling could react, Gu Xiang grabbed him from a distance and threw him onto the horse's back like a rag bag.

"Give me directions!" Gu Xiang shouted in a low voice.

The black horse seemed to sense the terrifying aura and neighed uneasily, but under Gu Xiang's urging, it still broke into a gallop and charged towards the red light.

The closer you get to Ghost Cry Valley, the more desolate the surrounding scenery becomes.

The vegetation was withered and dead, the rocks were jagged, and white bones could be seen everywhere on the ground.

A thin layer of black mist hung in the air; inhaling it caused a feeling of tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.

A faint golden light shone from Gu Xiang's body; it was his righteous energy automatically protecting him.

He held Su Qing tightly in his arms, using his righteous energy to isolate the surrounding yin energy.

"Little Radish, how much further?" Su Qing asked.

Tu Ling huddled behind the horse, trembling. "It's just ahead... past that mountain pass... I'm not going! I'd rather die than go! That's a hellish place!"

Gu Xiang ignored its cries and lashed the horsewhip down hard.

The dark horse charged up the mountain pass.

The sight before them made Gu Xiang and Su Qing gasp in shock.

In the valley below, a huge altar stood.

The altar was surrounded by black banners with hideous ghost faces painted on them.

Countless men in black surrounded the altar, chanting incantations.

In the center of the altar, a pale yellow figure was tied to a huge stone pillar.

It was Li Qingge.

She hung her head, her long hair was disheveled, and her clothes were tattered and stained with blood.

Beneath her feet was a huge pool of blood, where the blood was boiling and bubbling eerily.

A strange man dressed in a black robe with no facial features was holding a bone knife and walking step by step toward Li Qingge.

"stop!"

Gu Xiang roared, his voice booming like thunder, making the valley vibrate.

He leaped from his horse, his longsword already drawn mid-air.

A dazzling sword light, carrying righteous energy, fell like a meteor, piercing straight at the faceless man.

Su Qing followed closely behind. Although she was a spirit, the Soul-Gathering Flower on her head shone brightly with red light.

She formed a hand seal, and a faint phantom of a nine-tailed celestial fox appeared behind her, letting out a soul-shaking roar.

"Anyone who dares to touch my people is asking for death!"

"West River Moon - A Startling Incident During the Night"

Wildfires and blue smoke rise along the ancient road; cold stars and a pale moon illuminate the desolate hills.

Their words, spoken of mulberry and hemp, were gentle and tender; they said this life was enough.

Suddenly, blood-red clouds surged, and the mournful cries of ghosts were heard.

Clad in red, she angrily pointed her sword at the flowing light, vowing to slay all the demons.