Chapter 92: The Hard Road, Fierce Beating of the Mountain Spirit, and the Golden Cicada?

Sheraton Inn.

Inside the spacious and brightly lit lobby.

“Sir, they are those three over there...” The attendant pointed to a corner of the hall.

Lu Fei looked up and saw three individuals seated at a meticulously cleaned eight-immortal table in the corner, each dressed distinctly.

One was a monk in yellow robes, wearing a monk’s hat;

Another was a middle-aged man in sturdy attire, wearing leather armor over his upper body;

The last was a scholar in a long robe, exuding a scholarly air.

“Quite a variety of professions...” Lu Fei thought to himself, following the attendant forward.

The attendant immediately introduced Lu Fei to the three: “This is the employer you are looking for...”

“Greetings, employer...” The three recipients of the notice all stood and bowed to Lu Fei, showing no disrespect despite his youthful, handsome, and sunny appearance.

“Please, be seated...” Lu Fei gestured for them to sit, then called the attendant over, “Bring a pot of hot tea...”

Whether they were swindlers or not, Lu Fei could afford a pot of tea.

“Certainly...” The attendant replied happily and went off.

Lu Fei then looked at the three, who were all watching him attentively.

Two taels of silver—just to inquire about a single piece of information.

With one dou of rice costing merely five or six copper coins, and one tael of silver equating to a thousand copper coins, enough to buy nearly two hundred dou of rice, the purchasing power was immense.

Two taels of silver could support one person in Yueyang Prefecture for a whole year, or longer with careful budgeting.

Offering such a hefty reward for information was indeed lavish and extravagant.

Faced with a year's living expenses, who would dare to be negligent?

“Tea’s here...” At that moment, the attendant brought over a pot of hot tea and four cups.

Lu Fei took a sip from the cup the attendant had poured.

He then looked at the three and said, “You may present your notices now...”

The three quickly took out sheets of paper from their bosoms.

Lu Fei took them and saw they were the three notices he had posted the day before, stating: Seeking the specific locations of “Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain” and “Flowing Sand River,” with a reward of two taels of silver for those who know.

Having roughly understood the local prices in Guyang Town, Lu Fei was well aware of the value of two taels of silver.

Though the information on Fang Cun Mountain and Flowing Sand River was worth even more to him, he dared not offer a higher price.

Firstly, to avoid attracting too many swindlers.

Secondly, too much is as bad as too little.

After putting away the three notices, Lu Fei looked at the three and said, “You all know what I seek. As long as the locations you provide are accurate, you will receive the reward...”

As soon as he finished speaking, the previously tense, adversarial atmosphere among the three eased considerably, and they smiled.

Lu Fei then turned to the monk on his left, “Let’s start with you, Master. What news can you share with me...?”

“I dare not call myself Master...” The monk in yellow robes bowed and said, “I do not know of the Flowing Sand River you seek, but I have heard of Fang Cun Mountain... According to what I have read, Fang Cun Mountain should be on the land of Xiniu Hezhou beneath our feet. As for the exact location, I do not know. I hope this information can help you, sir.”

After hearing the monk’s words, Lu Fei was silent for a moment, then clasped his hands together and bowed in return. “Xiniu Hezhou is vast and difficult to search. I appreciate your kindness, Master, but I cannot offer you the reward...”

The monk smiled, “I am here only to share this information with you. As for the reward, this cup of tea is enough.”

With that, the monk drained the cup of tea, bowed, and said, “Thank you for your hospitality. Farewell.”

He turned and left the inn swiftly.

Lu Fei then turned to the middle-aged man dressed in sturdy clothes and worn leather armor, his hands calloused.

The man bowed in the customary martial arts greeting, and Lu Fei thought silently, “A proper martial artist.”

The middle-aged man said, “I do not know of Fang Cun Mountain, but I have heard of the Flowing Sand River... When I was in Kaiyuan Town, there was a river called Flowing Sand River. On festivals, people would take boats to enjoy the river...”

When the man said this, Lu Fei immediately dismissed his information.

That Flowing Sand River was eight hundred li wide and ten thousand li long, with an inscription: “Eight hundred li of flowing sands, three thousand li of weak water depth; goose feathers cannot float, reed flowers surely sink.”

It was the deadly peril that caused the pilgrim Tang Seng to fail nine times—how could ordinary people just take boats there for leisure?

After the man finished, Lu Fei shook his head. “The Flowing Sand River you speak of is not the one I seek. I cannot give you the reward...”

“Farewell...” The middle-aged man was straightforward; seeing Lu Fei shake his head, he finished his tea, bowed, and left the inn.

Lu Fei then looked at the last man on the right, a young scholar in a faded long robe, looking somewhat scholarly but worn.

The scholar bowed and said, “I have some knowledge of Fang Cun Mountain, and I have heard of the Flowing Sand River. If I know the exact locations of these two places, may I request a higher reward?”

Looking at the scholar’s demeanor, attire, and tone, Lu Fei sighed inwardly, “Another fraud.”

But he smiled casually, “If you can tell me the exact locations of these two places, I will give you four taels...”

The scholar was very pleased and said, “Then listen carefully...”

He began to recite passages, seemingly from some book.

By the time Lu Fei had three refills of tea, the young scholar finally finished.

Lu Fei realized this fellow not only wanted to swindle his money but was also wasting his time.

Because the passages he recited did mention Fang Cun Mountain and Flowing Sand River, but only as phrases, such as “There is silt converging to form a river called ‘Flowing Sand River.’”

This left Lu Fei dumbfounded.

The first monk had at least mentioned a detail, saying Fang Cun Mountain was on Xiniu Hezhou.

The middle-aged man referenced a river of the same name.

But this scholar was clearly just making things up.

Lu Fei didn’t bother to be polite anymore; he waved his hand to dismiss him.

After the three left the table, Lu Fei decided to increase the number of posted notices from three to ten.

Casting a wider net might attract more swindlers, but it also increased the chance of finding the truth.

The next day, eight people came, three were swindlers.

However, Lu Fei gave half the reward—one tael—to one of them, because he provided some useful information, though not enough.

On the third day, ten people came, six were swindlers.

The others only knew superficial details.

Lu Fei didn’t give out any silver.

On the fourth day, ten people came, seven were swindlers...

This continued until the seventh day.

Early morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lu Fei’s door was knocked on as promised.

Waking from his breathing exercises, Lu Fei asked, “How many today?”

A voice replied, “Sir, only three today...”

“Bring a pot of hot tea like yesterday. I’ll be down shortly...”

“Certainly...”

The attendant left quickly.

Lu Fei gently patted the head of Xiao Bai, who was yawning beside him under the blanket, “Today is the last day. Tomorrow we leave here...”

Having stayed in Yueyang Prefecture for seven days, even in this world where information spread slowly, seven days was enough for such a tempting reward—two taels of silver—to reach the ears of most people in Yueyang.

Lu Fei even added the name “Wanshou Mountain” to the list.

Now there were three locations: Fang Cun Mountain, Flowing Sand River, and Wanshou Mountain.

But except for one man on the second day who mentioned some information about Flowing Sand River, the rest were either swindlers or knew only superficial details from books.

Though Lu Fei knew this was normal.

Apart from Fang Cun Mountain, which might have ordinary inhabitants, the other two—Flowing Sand River, a treacherous river, and Wanshou Mountain, hidden among perilous peaks—were places no ordinary person could access.

Those who dared were either lost souls or skeletons, with no survivors.

Today was his seventh and final day in Yueyang Prefecture.

If he couldn’t find any news, he would move on to another place.

After three years of venture, Lu Fei had grown patient.

Because without patience, there was no way forward.

Soon, Lu Fei and Xiao Bai arrived at the inn’s lobby.

At the same eight-immortal table sat three men in long robes—two middle-aged, one young—who appeared to be scholars.

Upon seeing Lu Fei’s arrival and the attendant’s introduction, all three rose and bowed.

After several days, Lu Fei was familiar with the routine and directly signaled for them to speak.

The two middle-aged men spoke first, but their answers were the same as many others before—only superficial knowledge.

They were not swindlers.

Lu Fei politely sent them away.

Then he turned to the last man, a young scholar in a faded light blue robe, clean but with a worn face of hardship.

Seeing Lu Fei’s gaze, the young man bowed and said, “I do not know Fang Cun Mountain or Wanshou Mountain, but I once found a book that said: There is a river called Flowing Sand... Many evil winds and ghosts haunt the river, and anyone who encounters them dies without exception. Above, no birds fly; below, no beasts run. Looking all around, one cannot find a crossing, only the skeletons of the dead as markers...”

“The book also said: The Flowing Sand River flows through a thousand mountains, separating two continents...”

Listening to the poor scholar’s words, Lu Fei’s expression turned unusually serious.

But he couldn’t get more; just as the story was most interesting, the scholar stopped.

“Anything else?” Lu Fei asked directly.

The scholar shook his head, “That’s all I remember.”

“Where is that book?” Lu Fei asked.

“I sold it to a Taoist...” he replied.

“...” Lu Fei was speechless.

“This is one tael of silver. Though it didn’t solve my doubts, your information helps to some extent—that is your due...” Lu Fei said, handing him the silver.

The scholar gratefully accepted it and left.

When the attendant brought the food, Lu Fei fell silent.

Though the scholar didn’t specify Flowing Sand River’s location, he provided useful information, like “Flowing Sand River flows through a thousand mountains, separating two continents...”

Lu Fei knew the river was on Xiniu Hezhou.

What the scholar said about separating two continents must mean Xiniu Hezhou and Nanzhan Continent.

Could it be that Flowing Sand River lay on the border line between these two continents?

This thought sparked activity in Lu Fei’s mind.

Knowing this, his next search direction became clearer.

However, he had only learned the location of Flowing Sand River, near Wanshou Mountain and Wuzhuang Temple.

But there was no clue about Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain.

Did this suggest Lu Fei was more connected to Wuzhuang Temple than to Xieyue Sanxing Cave?

But Lu Fei had no time to ponder.

In the following days, to find more detailed information, he stayed in Yueyang Prefecture for another half month, then moved on to the larger, more populous Kaiyuan Prefecture.

In Kaiyuan, Lu Fei stayed for a month searching for information.

And so, a year later.

North of Xiniu Hezhou.

Outside a village.

At a crossroads.

“Young man, although I don’t know why you insist on going to Evil Cloud Ridge...” An elderly man with white hair and beard, surrounded by several young men armed with hunting bows and short knives, looked at a young man with unusual short hair and a sunny smile, and advised, “There are not only beasts there that harm people but also monsters that have appeared before; someone was eaten by one there...”

“You must be very careful...”

Facing the village chief’s warning, the young man smiled brightly, thumping his chest, “Don’t worry, old sir, this stick of mine is no mere decoration. I’ll make sure those beasts don’t dare to cause trouble. As for monsters, there aren’t so many in this world...”

Seeing the young man wouldn’t listen, the old man shook his head and, helped by a few youths, turned to walk back to the village, muttering, “Good advice hard to give to a damned fool...”

“Shuisheng, burn extra paper money at the end of the month...”

“Grandpa Chen, why burn more paper money? We burn exactly the right amount...”

“You’re really stupid. The village chief meant burn some for that young man just now. He insists on going to Evil Cloud Ridge; he won’t live past the end of the month...”

“Ah... Then why let him go to Evil Cloud Ridge?”

“Didn’t you hear the village chief? He insists on going himself...”

“Good advice hard to give to a damned fool...”

Watching the white-haired elder and the youths walk away.

“Squeak, squeak...” A pure white giant rat with a long nose crawled out from the tiger-skin cloak on the young man’s chest.

This man and beast were none other than Lu Fei, who had been away from the Great Wilderness Mountains for nearly five years, and his treasure-seeking rat son, Xiao Bai.

Three years ago, he finally left the mountains.

In the past year and more, Lu Fei had made many inquiries and investigations, finally learning the route to the Flowing Sand River.

Now, he was not far from his destination—just another half month’s journey, crossing a dozen mountain ridges, and he should see the Flowing Sand River, ten thousand li long and eight hundred li wide, dividing Xiniu Hezhou and Nanzhan Continent.

In these years, he had yet to find the way to Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain.

Instead, he had found some information about Wanshou Mountain.

As for Flowing Sand River, it must have existed for so long that many traces remained, which was why Lu Fei had come searching for it.

Of course, it might also be fate.

After all, this was a world where magic and the divine manifested, where immortals and Buddhas coexisted.

The longer Lu Fei stayed in this world, the more he understood—

It truly was fate, destiny... something that could not be forced.

Yet, he thought it was more about his own insufficient strength.

If he had the power of Sun Wukong from his memories, finding Wuzhuang Temple or Xieyue Sanxing Cave would be trivial.

Of course, if he did reach Sun Wukong’s strength, new difficulties might arise.

Watching the group walk away, Lu Fei put away his bundle into his storage space for concealment, then gripped his black iron staff and set off.

Not far ahead, he saw a crude altar made of several stones, and his eyes lit up.

He approached the altar and called out with his demonic power, “Mountain god, where are you...”

“Mountain god, where are you...”

“Mountain god wh—”

Before the third call was finished, a thin figure appeared beside the altar, bowing deeply, “I do not know which immortal you are...”

But as he spoke, the thin old man dressed in dark official robes noticed something amiss and angrily shouted, “You brat... no, you demon! How dare you mock this god!”

“Watch as I kill you for my wine!”

With that, the skinny mountain god raised his wooden staff to strike Lu Fei.

Lu Fei was no stranger to such a greeting; experienced, he raised his black iron staff to block.

In the past year, Lu Fei had collected not only information about Flowing Sand River and Fang Cun Mountain but also mastery of various weapons—swords, spears, axes, hooks, maces, whips, hammers, crutches, and meteor hammers.

All in preparation to wield better weapons in the future and to assist his brothers still in Langlang Mountain.

As for the staff techniques he now used, he had studied several styles, practicing back and forth, blending them, combined with system proficiency bonuses at the small achievement stage.

His staff skills now were incomparable to those in Langlang Mountain.

At this moment—

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!” The demon and mountain god exchanged blows; only the ninth or tenth strike at most.

“Bang...”

Lu Fei suddenly appeared behind the skinny mountain god, swinging his iron staff like a thunderbolt toward him.

If the strike landed, the mountain god’s body would be shattered to pieces.

“I'm doomed!” The mountain god, caught off guard, saw the thick black staff descending with no way to avoid it, and fear and despair filled his heart.

Suddenly—

The iron staff stopped just above the mountain god’s nose with the force of thunder.

The fierce momentum chilled the mountain god’s entire body, and the ground around them rumbled violently.

Looking down at the uneven, smashed earth under his feet, beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

“Mountain god...” Lu Fei retracted the staff, resting it on his shoulder, and looked at the trembling, sweating, hunched old man.

“Can we speak properly now?”

“Y-yes, of course...” The mountain god wiped his sweat, memorized Lu Fei’s demonic face, then forced a smile, “Sorry, little demon, I was a bit impulsive.”

Lu Fei paid no mind to the hidden hatred beneath the forced smile; he had dealt with more than ten mountain gods and earth spirits. When a demon calls, they respond, but only after you withstand their initial assault.

Otherwise, don’t expect a calm conversation.

Of course, not all mountain gods and earth spirits were so irritable.

There were a few with good tempers, but very few.

So far, Lu Fei had contacted more than ten, and only one had not attacked and could talk properly.

Luckily, Lu Fei’s information was correct—the mountain gods and earth spirits he encountered were about his strength level, at the demon general stage, some even weaker.

That allowed his journey to go relatively smoothly.

He also had his own selection method: he avoided those with well-maintained altars and flourishing incense.

Only the poor gods without even shelter he dared to summon.

Like this one.

Though the old man now looked resentful, Lu Fei was certain that by the time he left, the mountain god would be cheerful.

“Greetings, mountain god. I, a little demon, was rude...” Seeing the old man calm down, Lu Fei bowed.

“Hehe...” The old man smiled coldly inside but kindly on his face, “It is fate to meet. This little god was too impulsive.”

Lu Fei didn’t mind and waved his hand, producing a smaller fox corpse before the mountain god.

The mountain god’s eyes brightened, “Ah, a fox spirit that has become a demon...”

Lu Fei chuckled inwardly and said, “Indeed. Please forgive my rudeness. I only wish to ask some questions. Consider this as an apology...”

At once, the mountain god’s face lit up genuinely, “Then I won’t be polite. Ask whatever you want...”

Lu Fei was not surprised by the sudden change in attitude and asked with a smile, “May I ask, mountain god, how far is Flowing Sand River from here?”

The mountain god immediately put away the fox corpse, smiling contentedly, “At your pace, a month is enough...”

“From Evil Cloud Ridge, just head straight ahead...”

“There are some monsters on the way, but at your strength, no worries...”

“At your speed, it will take no more than a month to reach Flowing Sand River...”

“But be careful, that river is no ordinary place; do not attempt to cross it by force...”

Perhaps unused to speaking much, the mountain god rambled on, providing many useful details.

This improved Lu Fei’s impression of the old god considerably.

Shortly after acquiring the information he sought, Lu Fei took his leave.

Surprisingly, the mountain god said, “I haven’t had a drinking companion for some time. Little demon, come visit me when you can. You can find me on several nearby mountains...”

With that, the mountain god disappeared.

Lu Fei smiled.

Whether it was his friendly demeanor or the generous offering of meat, this old god was not the first to invite him for a drink.

He shook his head, not thinking further, and headed towards Evil Cloud Ridge.

Half a day later.

When Lu Fei and Xiao Bai reached a stream flowing at the foot of the mountains, they suddenly saw a monk in yellow robes, wearing a monk’s hat and carrying a large pack, drawing water.

When the monk looked up, Lu Fei recognized his face and exclaimed, “Tang Seng?”