187: Worry-free Town

I can't beat him, and there's nothing to talk about, so what's the point of saying anything?!

Little Green Snake pouted. It flicked its tail unwillingly, leaving a winding trail in the pile of dead leaves.

"I'll sign, but on one condition—you have to swear not to make me do anything that goes against the Dao."

Little Green Snake flicked its tongue, its voice tinged with wariness.

It secretly glanced at the Rat Spirit beside it, who was tightly clutching the faintly glowing soul stabilizing pearl, its black bean-like eyes full of dead silence.

It had wanted to discuss it with her, but it seemed she was beyond hope.

Lin Hu tilted his head, not thinking too much.

"Deal."

He raised his front paw and drew a complex golden rune in the air.

The rune split into two, floating towards Little Green Snake and the Rat Spirit respectively.

Little Green Snake stared at the golden rune, feeling the powerful Yao power contained within it.

It gritted its teeth and touched the rune with the tip of its tail without hesitation.

The Rat Spirit trembled as it stretched out its paw, and the moment it touched the rune, the soul stabilizing pearl in its arms suddenly lit up.

The instant the rune merged into their bodies, a warm current spread from the point of contact throughout their entire beings.

Little Green Snake was surprised to find that its hostility towards Lin Hu was rapidly melting away, replaced by a heartfelt awe and closeness.

It looked up at Lin Hu, suddenly feeling that the Tiger Demon's figure was so tall and majestic.

"Boss!"

Little Green Snake cried out joyfully, its tail thumping the ground, "Why didn't you tell me you were so powerful sooner!"

The Rat Spirit also bowed its head respectfully: "Boss, I was very rude just now, please forgive me."

Lin Hu nodded with satisfaction; the power of the contract was even stronger than he had expected.

He jumped onto the bluestone, looking down at his two newly acquired subordinates: "Now, let's formally introduce ourselves. My name is Lin Hu, and our mission this time is to go to the Ten Thousand Mountains."

"When we return, I will naturally help awaken the soul in your arms. At that time, whether he Cultivates as a soul or reshapes his body, it's up to him."

Lin Hu squatted on the bluestone, looking at his two newly acquired subordinates with satisfaction.

The power of the contract was indeed strong; the tense atmosphere from moments ago had instantly become harmonious.

"Boss!"

Little Green Snake suddenly leaned closer, its emerald snake eyes gleaming with gossip, "You said you're going to the Ten Thousand Mountains, are you going to look for some treasure?"

The Rat Spirit also perked up its ears, the soul stabilizing pearl in its arms faintly glowing, as if also listening.

"Oh? You know about the Ten Thousand Mountains?"

Lin Hu narrowed his eyes, his tail unconsciously swaying gently.

Little Green Snake and the Rat Spirit exchanged a glance, then suddenly shivered simultaneously.

"We know."

The Rat Spirit clutched the soul stabilizing pearl in its arms tightly, its voice trembling slightly: "Boss... that place isn't for Yao to go..."

"You can't go, you'll die."

"Oh?"

Lin Hu became interested, jumping onto the Rat Spirit's head and squatting, "Tell me about it."

Little Green Snake flicked its tongue, the tip of its tail nervously scratching back and forth on the ground.

"Ten years ago, seven great Yao from our Qingzhou went to the Ten Thousand Mountains together to search for treasure, but..."

"As a result, only one returned."

The Rat Spirit took over, its claws trembling unconsciously.

"The one who returned was a Three-Tailed Fox Demon, her lower body was completely gone, and she kept muttering about 'Blood Moon', 'devour' and so on..."

"It was very eerie."

Lin Hu's ears perked up: "Blood Moon?"

According to the knowledge his original body received in its previous life, there was only one moon, and what they saw in Qingzhou was always normal. Why could they see a Blood Moon in the Ten Thousand Mountains?

"Yes, that Fox Demon lasted three days before she died."

Little Green Snake lowered its voice, "Before dying, she used her last Yao power to draw a pattern on the ground—under a Blood Moon, countless monsters were devouring each other."

"The pattern? Do you have it?"

Lin Hu's claws unconsciously tightened their grip on the Rat Spirit's head fur.

"Boss... that pattern... all the Yao who saw it... died."

Their strength was weak, so they had no chance to see it.

Now, the Ten Thousand Mountains had become a common taboo in the Monster Realm of Qingzhou.

The night wind whimpered over the mountain peaks, and the maple leaves rustled, as if warning of something.

Lin Hu jumped down from the Rat Spirit's head, his golden fur glinting in the moonlight.

"Interesting..."

He licked his paws, "It seems we have to go on this trip."

"Boss!"

Both Yao exclaimed simultaneously.

*** Three days later, on the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Lin Hu squatted on a heavily weathered boundary marker, looking at the misty valley ahead.

Little Green Snake was coiled around his neck, while the Rat Spirit nervously clutched the edge of the boundary marker.

"Boss, are we really going in?"

Little Green Snake flicked its tongue, its voice trembling, "This mist smells off..."

Lin Hu pushed aside the mist with his paw, his golden pupils slightly contracting: "Stay close to me, don't get separated."

The moment the three Yao stepped into the mist, the surrounding scenery abruptly changed.

The mist dispersed, revealing a bustling street!

"This... this is... a Yao Market?"

The Rat Spirit's eyes widened.

On both sides of the street were neat wooden buildings, adorned with colorful lanterns.

Various kinds of monsters walked on the street; some were fully human-shaped, while others retained some beastly features.

Cries of vendors and bargaining voices rose and fell, exactly like a human town.

But,

But... these were all transformed Great Yao!

"A Yao Market?"

Little Green Snake opened its mouth in surprise, "There's actually a Yao Market in the Ten Thousand Mountains?"

Lin Hu's tail also unconsciously tensed up.

The scene before them was completely different from the terrifying Ten Thousand Mountains of legend.

The monsters were trading peacefully, and there were even small Yao children chasing and playing in the street.

"Sir, are you new here?"

A Rabbit Demon wearing coarse cloth clothes came over, its long ears twitching, "Do you need a guide? Only three spirit pearls."

Lin Hu narrowed his eyes: "What is this place?"

"Oh, you don't even know 'Worry-Free Town'?"

The Rabbit Demon's red eyes widened in surprise, "This is the safest trading area in the Ten Thousand Mountains, protected by 'that Lord'."

"That Lord?"

Lin Hu keenly caught the keyword.

The Rabbit Demon suddenly covered its mouth, looked left and right, and lowered its voice: "You seem kind, so I'll tell you—it's the Lord of the Blood Moon!"

The tiger stripes on Lin Hu's chest suddenly pulsed with a sharp pain.

He forced himself to stay calm and said: "I'm new here, please tell me more, little brother."

After receiving the spirit pearls, the Rabbit Demon enthusiastically led them around.

"Our Worry-Free Town is divided into East and West Markets. The East Market sells daily necessities, and the West Market sells Magical Artifacts. There's also an auction on the fifteenth of every month..."

As he was speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.

A squad of Yao soldiers wearing uniform black armor came into view, led by a one-eyed Mountain Cat.

"Blood Moon Guards patrol! Unrelated Yao, make way!"

The monsters on the street immediately retreated to both sides, bowing their heads respectfully.

The Rabbit Demon quickly pulled the three Yao to hide at the entrance of a shop.

Lin Hu, however, noticed that those so-called "Blood Moon Guards" all had a faint wisp of black Qi coiling around them, and vaguely visible wriggling black matter could be seen in the gaps of their armor.