Chapter 2

The silver blade was stuck, and after a moment, it was flung away, embedding itself in a tree, while the merman grasped his neck with bare hands

He raised his hand slightly, signaling her to move the silver tray aside so that he could take the antidote

Having traversed the realms of the universe for some years, compared to Xiahou Feng and Mo Ji, Mo Long can be considered quite experienced. He has also had dealings with the mermen, yet he has never encountered a merman with such overwhelming prowess.

The merman took the pill with a hint of skepticism, placed it in his palm, sniffed it, and then looked at Mo Long, whose expression was sincere and not feigned. He then pinched the bear's chin, urging him to swallow the pill

The bear exhaled forcefully through its nose, directly receiving an axe. The wind howled, rushing towards his face. As the latter leaped aside, he drew an arrow from behind him, not bothering to use a bow, wielding the arrow like a sword, and lunged at the bear. With a swift motion, the bear swung the axe again, directly deflecting the small arrow with immense force, sending Xiahou Feng tumbling over several times.

Mo Long lightly tapped her toes, her body soaring out like a feather, gracefully landing on the railing of the stilted building. With a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, she looked towards the scholar in white.

Stars twinkled, and the silver dagger pierced directly at the merman's vital point. He intended to feint and immediately withdraw. However, the merman countered by gripping the silver dagger, forcefully snatching it away. He kicked towards her face, trying to compel her to release her grip

As she spoke, the bear's snoring ceased. She had thought he was about to wake up, but to her surprise, she noticed that even his breathing had grown faint. In a state of panic, she checked his pulse at the neck, which felt like a hidden current at the bottom of a stream, deep and unfathomable

Having said that, Mo Long raised his voice towards the forest path, "I am Mo Long, entrusted by the young master of the Lu family Pearl Shop. I have learned that a batch of East Sea pearls was accidentally lost here the other day, and I have come today to retrieve them. I kindly ask for your assistance in this matter." As per the usual practice, his words were very polite and courteous.

Hello! What will it take for you to give the antidote?

Mo Ji and Xia Hou Feng were greatly alarmed and wanted to rush forward to save him. However, the merman seized the silver dagger, leaned in close, and pointed the dagger's tip directly at his throat, leaving Mo Ji and the others too frightened to approach.

Wake this bear, and I will spare your life

"Do you want to tell them to stop? Or shall we have a fight ourselves?" he asked politely

Only after seeing the bear's throat roll did Mo Long feel a sense of relief as the pill safely settled in his stomach. He then casually asked, "Miss, are you an old friend of this bear brother?"

Moments later, a bear with a body as black as charcoal, except for a ring of red fur around its neck, approached with large strides, wielding two broad axes. Behind it, on the curved corridor of a stilted building, stood a scholar in white attire, with a feather fan and a silk headband, exuding calmness and composure as he leisurely waved his fan.

"These monkeys, making such a racket, are truly noisy." Mo Ji leaped out of the carriage, frowning, with her hands raised, but was held back by Mo Long.

"What will it take for you to give the antidote to save him?" she asked angrily

They do not understand the rules, so we must still adhere to courtesy before resorting to force

Brother Long

She is indeed not one of them, but I wonder why she came here to cause trouble for no reason? Mo Long was truly astonished

Although she was staring at him like that, Mo Long appeared relaxed and at ease. This girl, despite her strong physicality, fortunately has a simple mind

"Are you throwing it into the void?" Mo Long completed her sentence, appearing both indifferent and considerate, "Do not worry, young lady, I will not deceive you"

Mo Long's reaction to this was to dig in his ears

Miss

On the stilted building, the scholar in white squinted for quite a while. Although the bear had not yet shown signs of defeat, there were still onlookers watching the battle, which clearly indicated that the opponent was confident and prepared, making the situation quite dire. He shook out a small flag from his sleeve and shouted commands—those monkeys that had just thrown stones leaped out from the trees, screeching and rushing towards the carriage.

The peaks are layered and sharp, the ancient path winds through the hills, wild clouds drift in fragments, and the fragrant grass grows lush. The mountain stream washes against the stone walls, reflecting the sunlight, smooth as a jade disc, while nearby stand the green pines and emerald bamboos, and the verdant willows and blue phoenix trees, creating an indescribable sense of leisure and comfort. Several bamboo stilt houses are built beside the spring water at the foot of the stone wall, arranged in a harmonious manner. From a distance, one can see monkeys leaping and frolicking among the stilt houses, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers and fruits, all teeming with vibrant life.

Upon hearing this, the merman looked at him with a mix of belief and skepticism. After a moment, however, Sha Jian moved a little closer and said, "If you dare to deceive me, I will tear you into one hundred and eight pieces"

Mo Ji sauntered over and cast her a sidelong glance: "If you are asking for a favor, you should at least have the demeanor of someone who is asking for help. With a fierce and intimidating look like yours, you might as well wait slowly."

They really know how to choose a place! Xiahou Feng exclaimed with a click of his tongue

A swift shadow darted by, with Xiahou Feng standing in front of Mo Ji, his hair still dripping water.

He signaled for her to give the pill to the bear to take.

"Why is that young lady so concerned about him?" Mo Long continued to ask

As the scholar in white finished speaking, a sudden flash of cold light appeared in front of the stilted building, and immediately after, one saw Xiahou Feng being violently thrown out, landing directly in the spring water and causing countless splashes.

Beside the bear stood a girl dressed in a snow-blue shirt, her black hair as fluffy as seaweed, tied into two strands that fell to her waist, adorned with pearls that sparkled softly, enhancing her fair complexion, delicate and charming, just like the mermaid that Mo Long had seen by the ferry.

At this moment, there was no room for him to ask further questions, nor even to think too much, as the merman was already attacking him

Brother

Before he could finish speaking, the merman delivered a flying kick that sent him flying, causing him to fall back into the water. Immediately afterward, he reached out and seized Mo Ji by the neck, executing the move with a swift and graceful fluidity.

Mo Long nodded: "You are right. Tell your brothers to stop, and return that batch of Donghai pearls. We can have a good discussion if we do so"

Mo Long furrowed his brows and gazed intently ahead

Xiahou Feng had not yet arrived, and the scholar in white beside him had already rushed over like a gust of wind, eagerly offering to assist him. "Come, come, let me help you. Does your leg hurt? I felt a pang of sympathy when I saw you fall just now. In fact, I am a doctor, and I specialize in treating injuries..."

Mo Long leaned half against the car frame, originally dozing with his eyes closed. Upon hearing the words, he slightly lifted his eyelids and lazily remarked: "One of you is the mountain bandit king, and the other is the bandit queen, quite fitting."

The bear stood beside the mermaid, stretching its nose and sniffing vigorously, its face showing delight: "... ... honey from a hundred flowers, there is honey to eat ... ..." As it spoke, it became intoxicated, closed its eyes, and fell into a sweet sleep

Oh! The scholar in white seems even more surprised than him, stretching his neck to look around.

The merman seized his left leg with one hand, twisted and threw him down, decisively slamming him heavily onto the ground

The scholar in white could not discern his true nature, and with great difficulty swallowed his saliva, giving a dry laugh and saying: "Well, well... as the saying goes, the earth nurtures a hundred grasses, and people can harmonize with all matters. It is better to speak amicably and resolve issues through conversation, so why resort to violence?"

"Which rat dares to act wild in front of your grandfather's door!" The bear roared, causing the surrounding leaves to fall in a flurry, exuding an impressive aura.

Seeing Xiahou Feng suffer losses, Mo Ji naturally could not stand by. With a few swift motions, she drove away the group of monkeys, her long whip coiling back, the sharp tips ringing, as she advanced directly towards the merman and the bear.

You

"Why don't you go?" Mo Long said lightly, "Using Soft Dream Fragrance, this bear will be much more obedient."

Hey! Hey! Wake up!" The merman became a bit anxious at this point and shouted at the bear, "Hurry up and wake up!"

Mo Ji, who was watching from the sidelines, let out a light scoff and shouted, "Xiao Feng, I don't think you are its match"

The merman clenched his fist, enduring the urge to strike.

It seems that I have put you in a difficult position, my friend. Mo Long adjusted his robe sleeves and looked at him sincerely, saying, I think it would be more convenient to have a fight

The silver light flashed like lightning, directly targeting the features of the mermaid, forcing her to reluctantly release Mo Ji

The mermaid's heart is anxious, questioning Mo Long sternly

These beasts! Such outrageous disrespect!

Suddenly, a short dagger emerged from a diagonal thrust.

The young scholar in white seemed to have some difficulty with this pearl

Xiahou Feng would never easily concede defeat, spitting out the dry leaves from his mouth, leaping up from the ground, bending his bow and nocking an arrow, he shot several arrows in quick succession. In an instant, arrows flew like rain, and axes danced in a flurry, causing leaves to fall from the trees in a rustling cascade, while the dry leaves on the ground were swept up into the air in a swirling motion

Mo Long smiled faintly and said: "Miss, do not be anxious. The bear was in a deep sleep earlier because he was affected by the Soft Dream Fragrance. This fragrance has limited potency, so please be patient; he will awaken in a little over half an hour. However, just now, you fed him a Soul Snatching Pill. This pill is capable of capturing the soul, and without an antidote within half an hour, even a deity would find it difficult to save him"

The scholar in white was momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained his composure: "Of course, there is good tea. Please follow me." Although he did not recognize the merman, he knew that the bear was his brother, so he hurriedly began to extend all kinds of courteous invitations to Mo Long and the others, while waiting for an opportunity to obtain the antidote.

The excruciating pain pierced her heart, and Mo Ji staggered back a few steps, gasping for breath

The scholar in white hurried over and said to the mermaid with great courtesy: "That is not how it should be said. This young lady, upon witnessing injustice, drew her sword to help; she truly possesses the spirit of chivalry and a compassionate heart. I am greatly impressed, truly impressed! Young lady, after we drive off this group of ruffians, why not come to the building for a chat? I have some fine tea prepared..."

Mo Ji lifted the car curtain and peeked out, seeing something she liked. She advised, "When you make your move later, be gentle and don't damage the house. When we have some free time tomorrow, we can come here to stay for a while."

Enduring the pain in her legs, Mo Long quickly organized her thoughts and said as gently as possible: "This matter is simple, Miss need not worry. I have the antidote here; if you give him one pill, in the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he will awaken."

"Miss, please wait. If you kill me, you will not be able to obtain the antidote to save him," Mo Long reminded her. "If you wish to inquire about his matters, it must be quite urgent, right?"

Mo Ji remained silent, her eyes fixed intently on the battlefield, while her hands, concealed within her sleeves, were already prepared to strike at any moment

How could he be like this? What exactly did you give him?

The merman, filled with rage, flashed a glimmer of silver light in the palm of his hand and struck down with the long whip. This long whip was crafted from a thousand-year-old vine, infused with spiritual power by Mo Ji, and perfectly attuned to her mind, making it exceptionally easy to wield; ordinary weapons could not harm it in the slightest. Yet, unbeknownst to her, the weapon in the merman's hand was of an unknown nature, and with a simple slash, the long whip unexpectedly snapped in response.

Watching this group of people ascend the stilted building, the mermaid felt both anger and regret, angered by their treachery and cunning, and regretting her own foolishness for falling into their trap. She paced back and forth beside the bear, at a loss for what to do, stamping her feet, and then hurriedly followed up to the stilted building

Be careful! As Xiahou Feng just crawled out of the water, he shouted towards Mo Ji

The mermaid was petite, staring wide-eyed as the long, dark whip approached. It seemed she had never seen such a thing before, and out of curiosity, she did not dodge or even flinch, allowing the whip to wrap around her waist.

Hearing the words "we," regardless of whether there are others involved, at least he is present! Xiahou Feng couldn't help but feel secretly delighted and quickly said: "If you like it, then keep it... Long Ge, you must take a look, it truly is a wonderful place!"

Why did she have no reaction to the soft dream fragrance? Could it be that this scent is ineffective against the merman? Mo Ji exerted all her strength and once again formed a seal; the barbs on the whip began to grow wildly, attempting to forcibly embed themselves into the merman's body

Do you dare to touch her! Do you believe that I will...

Caught off guard, Mo Ji's dress ribbon was torn by a monkey, which greatly annoyed her. From her palm, she conjured a brown whip nearly two zhang long. The whip was swung out, tracing a beautiful arc, accompanied by a fierce wind. Any monkey struck by it felt a sharp pain, their cries growing louder. There were even some monkeys, unaware of the danger, attempting to snatch the whip with their hands. Upon contact, it was as if they had been burned by fire, blood gushing from their palms, only then realizing that the whip was covered in tiny, sharp thorns

"Cunning words and flattering expressions are rarely accompanied by true benevolence," the merman said coldly

The mermaid stared at the bear, determined to wait for him to wake up, and said impatiently: "I do not recognize him"

Yin Chao paused for a moment, moved away from his throat, and deftly spun a few circles on her hand. She watched him endure the pain as he propped himself up, pulling out a small jade bottle from his sleeve and pouring out a pill.

Shaking off the other vines entangled around her, the mermaid charged towards Moji

Didn’t Xiaofeng say he could do it

The mermaid was taken aback; this bear was of utmost importance to her and must not die. She slightly furrowed her brows, slowly released her grip, and having never encountered such a dilemma, found herself at a loss for a moment, only able to glare at him fiercely.

The mermaid struggled with astonishing strength, snapping several rattan strips in succession. Her beautifully arched brows furrowed in anger as she turned to glare fiercely at Mo Ji, and shouted sternly: "I don't care what tricks you have played; you must make him wake up immediately. Otherwise, I will tear you into one hundred and eight pieces and throw you into the abyss!"

It is not surprising to see someone wielding a broadsword; even a bear trained to perform tricks can do that. However, since he is able to speak human language, it indicates that he has attained a certain level of cultivation, unlike the previous owl-like creature. Although the owl-like creature is fierce and terrifying, it has not undergone any cultivation and can only be considered an ordinary ferocious beast

Hatred has arisen, Mo Ji twisted a spell, and countless slender vines sprouted from the long whip entwined around the merman, coiling around her like numerous tentacles, tightening their grip. ... Meanwhile, a faint fragrance seeped from the vines, growing ever more intense ...

"This young lady, you are not a person of the mountains, why must you wade through this water?" Mo Long stepped back, sheathed her silver blade, indicating that she did not wish to engage with her.

A glimmer of light flashed in Mo Ji's eyes as she tilted her head and looked at the bear with great interest

No, no, no ... ...

Mo Ji sneered coldly and exerted force to whip. On ordinary days, her opponent would surely be left with skin torn and blood flowing, but this time the long whip remained completely still, no matter how hard she tried, it was firmly wrapped around the waist of the merman

The bear slept soundly, even snoring.

When the word "tea" was mentioned, he was already in the air, and then with a splash, he fell into the spring water just like Xiahou Feng.

As he spoke, dozens of stones of varying sizes came hurtling through the air. Mo Long waved his sleeve, and the stones paused momentarily in the air before crashing down to the ground. In the distance, a group of monkeys could be heard chattering excitedly, their voices filled with agitation, yet none dared to approach, clearly under some command.

Mo Long completely ignored her and turned to the scholar in white: "I just seemed to hear that you have good tea here"

Mo Long crossed his arms and leaned casually against the cart, tilting his head to observe the two people wrapped in leaves. Mo Ji gazed at them for a while and couldn't help but remind him: "Aren't you going to help Xiao Feng?"

With every punch and kick, the force is tremendous. Each time he blocks, Mo Long can almost hear the sound of his bones cracking. Engaging in a head-on confrontation with this person is truly not a wise approach

That doesn't count; I was just teasing him!

"No rush, isn't there still half an hour?" As the situation took a turn, Mo Long leisurely turned his head and called out, "Xiao Feng, why are you still dazed? Quickly help me up."

The mermaid shouted in anger

She has always been tough on the outside but soft on the inside, clearly caring in her heart, yet she stubbornly refuses to show any warmth towards Xiahou Feng, presenting herself with an air of rejection that keeps others at a distance

Xiahou Feng, with a heart full of mischief, swaggered in front of Mo Ji, swaying and shaking as he approached, greeting the bear: "I say, brother, you have quite a loud voice! But a loud voice alone is not enough; you also need to know how to laugh, and it should be a fierce laugh, twisting your whole face... Come on! Give me a smile!"

Cultivation requires one to focus and maintain tranquility, breathing in and out, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, and gradually storing vital energy within the body over the years to refine the inner elixir. Although the physical form remains unchanged, the ability to speak human words signifies the initial success of the inner elixir.

"Get lost!" Xiahou Feng pushed the scholar in white away with a single palm, helped up Mo Long, and said discontentedly, "Who does he think he is?"

The merman, filled with rage, raised his dagger to strike.

There was a childlike seriousness in the way she spoke, her eyes unusually bright, fixed intently on Mo Long, not blinking at all

If you force me, I might mistakenly take the wrong antidote, and then he will lose his life. Mo Long coughed uncomfortably twice

I have some urgent matters to discuss with him