A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 80: Mountain Spirits, Spirit Child

"Lady Willow God…"

Bai Ming seemed to be in a daze from sleep, his small face filled with disbelief.

At the peak of Longkang Mountain, there stood an enormous towering willow tree, its shimmering radiance overwhelming all other "Immortal Families."

There appeared to be countless delicate branches swaying gently, resembling the flowing hair of a peerless beauty, bringing an ultimate sense of beauty.

This mystical scene instantly reminded Bai Ming of the most enigmatic Liu Shen Niang among the Mountain Spirits, as spoken by Brother Xiaotou.

"My body feels so light! Like a breeze… What's happening here?"

Bai Ming was somewhat flustered, clearly lying on his bed sleeping soundly; how did he end up outside?

"Brother! Brother! Brother… Why can't Brother hear my voice? Or see me?"

He called out to Bai Qi several times but received no response.

That familiar figure was deeply focused, standing at a post practicing kung fu, emitting heat akin to a blacksmith's fiery furnace, flames radiating like a red tide.

"Could I be dead? Brother said that after people die, they become ghosts..."

Bai Ming hadn't yet approached and felt a whipping sensation, followed by a scorching pain.

After all, he was still a young child, encountering such bizarre occurrences, inevitably frightened and unsure.

But as the inviting calls grew clearer beside him, Bai Ming felt as though he'd lost his soul, his head dizzy, blindly following the source of the voice, floating towards Longkang Mountain.

Passing by a large tree stump, there sat an old man, his figure round, bald on top, a smooth bald head.

"Which family's child is running around at night, thinking that carrying protective incense ash won't get blown away by the wind? Hurry back!"

The bald old man puffed on his tobacco pipe, vigorously waving his hands as if shooing away a mischievous child.

"I..." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Bai Ming didn't know how to respond, stammering, when suddenly a dull voice exploded:

"Child! Quickly enter the mountain! I grant you great fortune!"

Like an iron ball rolling in a large vat, buzzing loudly, dizzying Bai Ming, who lifted his feet to walk forward.

"Child, don't..."

"Rotten stump, don't meddle!"

Before the bald old man finished speaking, a roaring gust full of hostility erupted, seemingly containing terrible might, frightening beasts into hurried fleeing, trembling subservience.

"Alas..."

The bald old man sighed, lowering his head silently, not uttering another word.

"Such a sweet child, with red lips and white teeth! Come, I have candy here, come quickly!"

The fierce roar gradually faded, replaced by a seductive, sweet voice quietly emerging.

"You vixen! Dare to compete with me?"

"Finally found one with pure nature, able to leave the soul without cultivation… Swallowed whole by you, what a waste!"

"Haha, truly choking in the stench of arrogance! You think you can peacefully live by nourishing on yang energy and conning villagers to leap into the creek?"

"You dare insult further?"

"Insult you, so what!"

Longkang Mountain immediately became noisy, a massive fox with disordered fur, and a big tiger with a "king" mark on its forehead, stood in a standoff, baring teeth.

Meanwhile, the bald old man whose original form was a large stump, as well as the burlap-clad man of the locust tree, dared not interrupt.

The Mountain God has spirits, diverse in nature.

Strength or weakness, all depends on incense offerings.

Fox King Temple and Mountain Monarch Temple are the two places at the foot of Longkang Mountain with the most abundant incense offerings.

Naturally, their cultivation is highest!

"Enough, enough! Half each! It's not some rare treasure! An unsettled wandering spirit, what's the point in competing!"

Finally, the big tiger, which had transformed into a robust man, impatiently said.

"Alright, half to be your Chong Ghost, half as my Young Master, hehe..."

The vixen-like fox, seemingly having stolen a chicken, laughed uncontrollably.

Bai Ming, clueless and unaware, seemingly lacking the ability to think, continued his steps towards the depths of the five-hundred-mile mountain path when the two voices halted their truce.

"Don't touch him!"

Suddenly, a delicate and gentle voice echoed, a Huang Que'Er unexpectedly appeared, blocking Bai Ming's drift.

"Stinky fox! Fierce tiger! He has worshipped the Mountain Deity, I want to see who dares harbor improper thoughts!

Lady Willow God's principles, perhaps forgetting them all!?"

Bai Ming stared intently, seeing Huang Que'Er transform into a little girl with hair styled in pigtails and wearing a long-feathered dress. She stood with hands on her hips, facing the dark Longkang Mountain, and shouted.

"Lady Willow God..."

Mentioning this name, both the enchanting woman and the stalwart man instinctively rose in fear and respect.

But when they looked at the "tender-skinned" Bai Ming, they were reluctant to let go.

This was a tasty morsel delivered straight to their mouths!

"Secretly consuming blood food already goes against Lady Willow God's warning! If you further swallow human souls, that's a great defiance!

Without Lady Willow God's protection, the next time that fearsome one with the surname Ning comes into the mountain, just see how miserable your end will be!"

Huang Que'Er chattered brightly, though adorable, she put on a formidable demeanor.

"Forget it, forget it! Old bear of Chouyun Creek was just killed by that Ning guy, the body still undigested in my belly, it's not worth angering Lady Willow God for a morsel!"

The stalwart man was the first to retreat.

"You gossiping little nuisance! Humph, the other day you weren't shot by the hunter, consider yourself lucky!"

The enchanting woman grumbled as she left too.

In an instant.

Longkang Mountain returned to tranquility.

"Ah, you reckless guy, haven't even mastered cultivation, and you're attempting spirit detachment! Quickly go back, the incense ash won't protect you for long!"

After driving away two beings who weren't kind, Huang Que'Er looked angry, grabbing Bai Ming's hand and running down the mountain.

Both barely touching the ground, as if floating with the night breeze.

"You are..."

Bai Ming was muddled, stammering as he asked.

"The sparrow you saved, forgot? I was wounded by an arrow, you and your brother saved me!"

Huang Que'Er giggled, unaware that a guy called Xiaotou was nearby back then also.

"I can't keep up..."

Bai Ming panted heavily.

"Right, your spirit is too weak, move too fast and it might get blown away! Hold on!"

Huang Que'Er frowned slightly, putting two fingers into her mouth and whistling, soon seven or eight birds carried a big bunch of ginger-like black herbs to Bai Ming's mouth.

"What is this..."

Bai Ming found it familiar.

"Tiger Ginger! You call it 'Huangjing!' It's been steamed and sun-dried nine times, very nourishing! You can't eat it now, just inhale its scent!"

Huang Que'Er boasted proudly.

"I remember, my brother said this needs to be dried till the roots are brittle and easy to break, then rubbed repeatedly until it becomes black ripe Huangjing!"

Vigorously inhaling wisps of a faint tangible odor, Bai Ming instantly became sharp, his mind quickened.

"Finish inhaling it all!"

Huang Que'Er urged.

"I... want to save some for my brother! Ripe Huangjing can replenish essence, kill three worms, very beneficial for martial artists!"

Bai Ming's lips also became agile, as he was in spirit detachment, couldn't hold anything solid, helplessly looking at Huang Que'Er showing its true form.

"Your call! You're a kind person, so your brother must be too!"

Huang Que'Er transformed back into the little girl, whistling, and those birds flew noisily through the forest, heading straight down the mountain.

"I didn't ask yet, how can you perform spirit detachment? You haven't even practiced!"

Bai Ming scratched his head, hesitating for a while:

"I have an illness, when I'm dazed my head hurts, and I love dreaming at night. My brother taught me to read, write, and tell me stories, got a bit better.

Today I encountered a red paper packet with incense ash, when I slept I dreamed about climbing a tall building, going up layer by layer, the wind was strong, blew me losing my foothold... I woke up, then this happened."

Huang Que'Er's eyes widened:

"Turns out, you are a Spirit Child!"

Bai Ming was puzzled:

"What's a Spirit Child?"

Huang Que'Er couldn't explain clearly, repeating others' words:

"Those who can see ghosts from a young age, or speak with rabbits, chickens, ducks, fishes, and can see temple idols with a few inches of incense flame above, they are Spirit Children!"