Stone Fairy!

The Moyun Mountains are 800 li away from Yunmei City.

This place is shrouded in dark clouds and mist all year round, never seeing the sun, hence the name "Ink Cloud".

Looking from a distance, the continuous mountain ranges lie on the earth, their backs covered by a layer of gray, never-dispersing fog, which completely shrouds the entire mountain range, and even sunlight can only occasionally peek through the gaps in the fog.

The mountain is steep and rugged. Occasionally, birds are startled from the forest and flutter into the sky, only to be quickly swallowed up by the mist and disappear from sight.

The mountain path was difficult to traverse. It was more of a narrow trail worn down by wild animals and travelers than a proper path.

Xie Ning walked along the path, her steps steady and her breathing even.

She wore a dark blue, fitted outfit with narrow sleeves and a cinched waist. Her black hair was tied up high, and she looked neat and efficient. A red-tasseled spear was slung over her back, its tip gleaming faintly in the mist, the tassel fluttering gently in the mountain breeze.

The old turtle lay on Xie Ning's left shoulder, its palm-sized body curled up in a ball, its emerald green eyes half-open and half-closed, looking lazy.

The green snake coiled on Xie Ning's right shoulder, its foot-long body wrapped twice around him. Its head was held high, its eyes fixed on the mist ahead, its tongue occasionally flicking out to probe the air, as if sensing something.

A turtle and a snake, one on the left and one on the right.

"Little Green Snake, is the person we're looking for really in this place?" the old turtle asked lazily.

Its tone carried a hint of doubt; they had been wandering in the mountains for several days and had seen nothing but rocks, trees, and mist.

The green snake didn't reply. Its vertical pupils remained fixed on the front, and it flicked its tongue out before retracting it.

Xie Ning smiled and continued walking: "Don't worry, seniors, we'll find it."

She wasn't too worried. Although Daozhen didn't come because he was researching the true nature, he still made some calculations and concluded that the old turtle and the green snake had a karmic connection and ended up in the Moyun Mountains.

Before setting off, the old turtle also consulted the oracle and received a slightly auspicious result.

Xie Ning hadn't wanted to come. Her father had been incredibly busy these days, and as the Xie family's sole heir, she naturally had to share the burden. But the old turtle and the green snake specifically requested her to accompany them, saying that she was the only one in the entire Xie family who caught their eye.

Knowing that the two beasts had become entangled in karma because they had helped Yunmei City, Xie Ning couldn't refuse, so he packed his things and followed the turtle and the snake out the door.

"There's something in the fog ahead," the green snake said, her voice clear yet tinged with coldness.

Xie Ning paused, staring intently into the direction.

Ahead, at the bend in the mountain road, the fog was thickening and spreading towards her.

The old turtle also sensed the abnormality and transmitted its voice, "Someone is coming. They are not ordinary people, but their aura is not strong."

"Don't reveal your identity yet, keep a low profile."

The green snake slid down silently and coiled around Xie Ning's left wrist. Its emerald green body clung to the cuff, looking from a distance like a green jade bracelet.

The turtle's body shrank again, from the size of a palm to an inch in size. It jumped lightly from Xie Ning's shoulder and hung in Xie Ning's hair like an ancient hair ornament.

Xie Ning didn't move, but stood quietly on the mountain path, his right hand resting on the spear behind his back.

Suddenly, a flute melody rang out.

The flute music was clear and melodious, drifting through the mist, sometimes near, sometimes far, and it was impossible to tell which direction it came from.

The melody is simple and rustic, carrying the unadorned spirit unique to the mountains and fields.

Xie Ning circulated his inner energy, breaking through the fog.

Ahead, on a crooked old pine tree branch, sat a young girl.

She was barefoot, with a silver bracelet on her fair ankle, from which hung several tiny silver bells that jingled softly as she gently swayed her legs.

The girl was dressed in a jet-black outfit, with a loose top and narrow cuffs, and a long pleated skirt. The skirt was embroidered with totems that Xie Ning had never seen before, resembling the shapes of some kind of insects.

She had a pretty face with a lively expression. Her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders, adorned with delicate silver chains. Her face was chubby with baby fat, making her look a few years younger than Xie Ning.

However, on the right wrist of this spiritual young girl, there was a three-foot-long red snake wrapped around her wrist.

The red snake was entirely vermilion, with fine, dense scales that gleamed with a dark light in the mist.

The old turtle transmitted its voice through Xie Ning's hair, its tone carrying a hint of mischievous laughter: "Oh, little green snake, your kin."

The green snake coiled around Xie Ning's wrist, its tail tip slightly curled up, its voice full of disdain: "An uncivilized little snake dares to compare itself to me?"

Her gaze fell on Xie Ning, looking him up and down, then she blinked her big, bright eyes and spoke.

"Hey, you lady up ahead, don't move."

Her voice was clear and melodious. After speaking, she brought the flute to her lips and blew a few short notes.

The sound of the flute echoed through the mountains, carrying a strange rhythm.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the mist.

Xie Ning saw countless insects crawling towards the distance in the grass, in the cracks of rocks, and on the branches all around.

Xie Ning's hand involuntarily rested on the gun handle.

The girl put away her flute and, with a few light leaps, arrived in front of Xie Ning. Her bare feet trod on the muddy ground, the silver bells on her ankles jingling.

The girl tilted her head, looked Xie Ning up and down again, her gaze lingering on the spear behind her, before asking, "Sister, why did you come to such a deep place in the Moyun Mountains alone?"

Her tone was curious and concerned, not malicious.

Xie Ning smiled slightly and released his hand from the gun handle.

"I'm here to gain experience."

The girl's eyes lit up immediately.

She could feel a surge of intense energy circulating within Xie Ning's body, like a blazing furnace.

"No wonder you dared to come alone, sister." The girl's eyes were full of amazement, and her tone was sincere.

"My sister's vitality is even stronger than that of Huo Da in my clan."

Xie Ning was slightly taken aback: "Huo Da?"

The girl thought for a moment and explained, "It's probably the person with the strongest body."

The girl glanced at the spear in Xie Ning's hand, then said, "Sister, would you like to rest at my village for a while?"

"In this Moyun Mountain Range, we are the only village for miles around. After we pass this point, it will be a long time before we can find a place to rest."

Xie Ning did not answer immediately.

The old turtle transmitted its voice, "Promise her, this little girl is a Gu master, and that village is probably a Gu village."

"The people we need are very likely among them."

Xie Ning's heart stirred, but he remained expressionless and smiled slightly at the girl.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, little sister."