Chapter 7

The lord of the city, upon seeing her sweet smile, immediately felt weak in half of his body. He waved his hand and ordered someone to present a small boat, which was no larger than a walnut in the palm of his hand, complete with sails and a mast, intricately carved to life.

She said: "I am going to Jiuyin Mountain and will not disturb the City of Nightmares"

If she were to submit her resignation directly, the village chief would likely persuade her to stay for a while longer due to the lack of someone to take over. After all, this job is not something just anyone can do; it requires patience and sufficient ability to handle emergencies. Demons can live for a long time, but few can resist the temptation of the Buddha's bones. The reason she was able to take office in the first place was due to Master Lian's recommendation, so finding a suitable candidate to fill her position in a short period of time would likely be quite difficult

Wufang saw the determination reflected in his brows and eyes, knowing his fate; life and death could not change his heart. That kind of obsession was truly terrifying in its strength

Standing outside the city of Senluo and looking northwest, the vast sea of sand stretches endlessly, with crimson beaches and dunes seemingly connecting to the ends of the earth. If the previous Gobi was still bearable, moving further ahead brings multiplied suffering. There are no cities, water sources are scarce, and stepping into that region brings forth danger, which can rise above one's head at any moment

The lord of the city seems quite worried, "The Yin Mountain is in the realm of the Brahman, where evil forces run rampant, unlike the Tungsten Gold realm. The Brahman has been ungoverned for too long, and it has long since become a scattered mess, with demons and spirits committing atrocities without any restraint. If you go there, you may encounter danger."

Qu Ru expressed her profound admiration for him, shouting in the courtyard: "Ah, Junior Brother is truly clever! Master, rest assured, with him here, we will surely reach Yin Mountain smoothly"

No, no," he waved his hand. "In fact, Cang Hai came to pursue the young lady simply to offer her some assistance. You know that the surface of the Fanxing Chatu is ungoverned, but in reality, it is under Bai Zhun's control. The young lady's journey may be perilous; once she arrives in unfamiliar territory, there will be no one to look after her, and her actions will not be convenient. I have a slight acquaintance with Bai Zhun, so when the young lady gets there, she can go directly to find him and say that I introduced her... He can be inexplicable at times, but he has a good heart... I have a slight acquaintance with Bai Zhun, so when the young lady gets there, she can go directly to find him and say that I introduced her... He can be inexplicable at times, but he has a good heart...

Speechless and at a loss for words, she discovered that this disciple was indeed more astute than her in certain aspects. In fact, she had always been somewhat directionally challenged; when she first ascended Jixiang Mountain, she got lost several times even within sight of the mountain's outline. If it were truly just her and Qu Ru on the journey, they would probably take a thousand years to reach their destination.

Qu stood still on her shoulder as she walked past the gathering, her enchanting appearance drawing the attention of many. No one recognized her, and soon even the guard at the tower, Ah He, would be forgotten. Wu Fang thought that if she could safely escape from the Nightmare City, she would find a cave to reside in and cultivate her mind in peace, waiting for Master Lian to return to the temple, so she could go to auspicious mountain to pay her respects. One cannot choose their origins, but it is also good to always harbor a heart that wishes to achieve the ultimate fruit of cultivation.

She reluctantly accepted it, expressed her gratitude, and asked him to return to the city, "The road ahead is long, we must set off early, and bid farewell to the city lord here."

In the end, Wufang did not agree, "As I leave this time, I do not know when I will be able to return. It is better for the city lord to find another reliable person."

She smiled gently, her red lips curving beautifully beneath the translucent silk, and her eyes, crescent-shaped, arched towards him as she clasped her hands in gratitude, "Thank you, City Lord, for your kind consideration towards me"

The Lord of Senluo City, seeing her doubts, reiterated, "It is indeed very good. If you do not provoke him, everything can be negotiated. However, if you anger him, it will not be easy to deal with. Nevertheless, the young lady is beautiful, and beauty is a universal passport to roam the world. Although he may not be sensitive to romance, upon seeing the young lady, he will surely open the doors of convenience wide. Please rest assured, young lady"

Is it not curious, "Is the heart very good? Is it all up to the master?"

The Lord of Senluo City, with a face full of reluctance, watched her step onto the vast sea of red sand. That figure gradually receded, leaving only the crisp sound of bells, echoing in the boundless realm of the infinite and the books.

"Strange..." she murmured, could there be others who know they are going to Jiu Yin Mountain? Qu Ru's face, in its original form, was flat, lacking a nose bridge. Her vacant large eyes looked at her, and she opened her mouth to let out a strange cry of "Qu Ru," flapping her wings and soaring into the clouds

Zhenyi said no, "It is not because it is close to Fengdu that the sunlight cannot be seen, but because of the Iron Enclosure Mountain. The Iron Enclosure Mountain extends three hundred and twelve li into the water, and it also rises three hundred and twelve li out of the water. The mountain is too high, and the sun and moon are blocked by it, which is why the city of Yan has no sunlight throughout the year"

No longer able to keep her, she had given all her instructions and then set off on the road with Qu Ru and Zhen Yi

There is no place where one cannot express their opinion, suddenly asking: "The power you were drawn away by the cat, should there be a day when it can be restored?"

Her fingertips gently grazed the overlapping mountains, "So the realm of dreams is so close to Fengdu, no wonder it is shrouded in darkness all year round"

This is indeed an unexpected delight. She had previously worried that none of the female demons who accompanied her seemed willing to reveal the truth. If she were to ask them for directions, they would surely make many excuses. Since there is a map, that simplifies matters. She took the map and found Senluo City at one corner of the leather. To the west of the city lies the Vast Sea, and beyond the Iron Enclosure Mountains, on the other side of the mountains, is another realm of transcendent sanctity.

She handed the only key of the temple to the monk, advising him on the matters of guarding the tower. The village head, with his sleeves tucked, said: "Heron Xiaoshi... ah no, it is Lingyi. You have been guarding this tower for over fifty years, and no one is more reliable than you. I have reported your discharge to the city lord, and the city lord's intention is that you should focus on your own affairs. However, once the matter is concluded, can you be reinstated? This master will temporarily take your place, and when you return, he will go back to his own temple." I have reported your discharge to the city lord, and the city lord's intention is that you should focus on your own affairs. However, once the matter is concluded, can you be reinstated? This master will temporarily take your place, and when you return, he will go back to his own temple.

The ten days she had given to the village chief quickly passed, and he finally brought a monk, who was somewhat aged. She could see through the exterior; he was a person.

We can take a detour, the mountains are wide as well, but walking on flat ground is much less laborious than climbing mountains

However, regarding the matter she is investigating this time, it is uncertain whether it is related to that esteemed lord. If it is, would it not be akin to sending a sheep into the tiger's den?

Well then, since there are no regrets, let us set off! She lifted the gossamer-like silk with two fingers and tucked it behind her ear. Just as she was about to take a step, she heard someone calling her from behind. Turning around, she saw the Lord of Senluo City, dressed in a sky-blue robe, which made his already gloomy and cold expression even more pronounced.

Indeed, this makes sense, Wu Fang nodded slightly. Each has their own goals, but with a unified path, we can still work together towards our journey.

Without any hesitation, he said, "I have recently received several patients, the causes of their ailments remain a mystery, and I find it difficult to eat and sleep. All of these individuals have come from Yin Mountain, so I intend to investigate the matter there."

She was startled, turned around to look, and amidst the ebb and flow of people, everything that had just occurred seemed like an illusion

She furrowed her brows and said, "Disciple, you can still regret it now."

Zhen Yi seemed to have never considered retreating, he furrowed his brows and gazed into the distance, "My entire life has been a mistake, if I give it my all, perhaps there is still a chance for redemption..."

This is a sand boat, capable of sailing through the sand; as long as there is wind, traveling a thousand miles a day is not a problem. He turned his head and pointed into the distance, saying, 'The vastness of the Xumi Sea spans two thousand yojanas in size, and it is not easy to venture out. Even if the girl’s Quru can fly, it cannot carry a mortal body. Spending too long in the vast sea is not beneficial. With this sand boat, the girl can shield herself from the scorching sun and avoid the wind and snow.'

After spending so much time together, it was the first time he saw her true appearance. The young master, suddenly confronted with such beauty, was both astonished and flustered, unsure of how to respond. Without a plan, he stepped onto the stone steps and teased, "What? You no longer recognize your master?"

Zhenyi stood at the temple gate waiting for them to return, his injuries had mostly healed, and he could move freely. His face, once swollen, had regained its contours; his features were pronounced. Wufang was particularly fond of his eyes, which resembled the cold springs of Tianchi, deep and as dark as ink. Not ordinary, he inevitably exuded an imposing aura. Sometimes, she would have strange illusions; even when he bowed his head and listened attentively, she felt he had a rebellious spirit and would surely be unmanageable in the future

The guard Ah He, quite unremarkable, has a short stature and a nose covered in freckles. If she were to fall into a crowd, it would be difficult to find her even after several searches. She came from the main road and stopped at the entrance of the yamen. The guard, with his hand resting on his waist knife, saw her and called out loudly, "Xiao Shi, what brings you to the yamen? Is the divine tower repaired?"

The village chief who received her was naturally quite startled and asked her who she was. She briefly stated her identity and the reason for her resignation, bowing slightly as she said, "I truly have urgent matters to attend to and can only stay in Tianji City for ten days. Within these ten days, I kindly ask the village chief to inform the city lord to find someone to replace me as soon as possible"

She smiled faintly, did not respond, and walked towards the tall and narrow wooden door, her figure suddenly changing. The guard who watched her felt a surge of panic, almost doubting whether he was seeing things—her silhouette in that last moment was completely different from before. She appeared tall and slender, her hands clasping her willow-like waist gently swaying, and as she stepped over the threshold, the hem of her skirt fluttered, disappearing in an instant.

She appreciated his reminder and gazed at the boundless sea, "I like to get to the bottom of things. If I cannot find the reason, I will not give up. The city lord said that no one governs there, but I have heard that the Lord of Nightmares..."

He fell silent for a moment and said, "As long as I kill the cat demon, my powers will be restored. This is also the reason why I must accompany my master to the sacred land of Brahman."

He seemed as if he had been pricked by a needle, suddenly realizing that he had overreacted. He cleared his throat and said, "He has been quite busy lately... preparing for marriage, I suppose! You are walking into a tiger's den... I mean, you are going there rashly..."

It is indeed a fact that the climate in the vast sea is changeable; one moment it may be blazing with fire, and the next it could be filled with hail. Although he initially did not wish to accept it, after some hesitation, he stamped his foot and said: "Even if it is borrowed for the young lady, is that acceptable? Once we arrive at the Dream City, I would trouble the young lady to pass it on to the Lord as a congratulatory gift for his wedding. That should be fine, right?"

The mountain rises three hundred and twelve yojanas high, turning over is not an easy task

She strolled leisurely, brushing past the crowd, when suddenly she heard someone whispering in her ear: "Enjoy this sunlight while you can, for you may not see it again in the future"

He ran too fast, and the attendant holding the canopy behind him could not catch up, falling far behind. He arrived breathlessly in front of her and said: "The day before yesterday, I was drinking with the Lord of Tianji City, and he happened to mention you. He said you wish to go to Yinshan, is this true?"

The village head was still in a daze as she took her leave and stepped out. As she crossed the threshold, the warm sunlight shone on her face, and she could no longer remember how long it had been since Yan Wufang last appeared in the market.

He stood at a high place, while she was outside the mountain gate, her upturned face becoming exquisite and translucent under the sunlight. Zhenyi felt quite awkward and hurriedly stepped aside, lowering his hands and saying: "I have found the map of the Nine Yin Mountain, which spans five thousand youxun from north to south, and the Yandu is located north of the Yin Mountain. The southeastern corner of the Vast Sea precisely outlines the topography of Senluo City."

Walking westward, one cannot rely solely on one's legs. Without the ability to soar through the clouds, it is as if one has wings; however, being bound by the flesh, this physical form becomes a burden when in motion. Although willing to carry him, for a demon, carrying a person is akin to bearing a mountain. Thus, they moved slowly, stopping frequently, and it took half a month to reach the edge of the sacred land.