I Can Devour Spirits

Duan Rong and the others were led by four people, walking out of the Lower Courtyard, along the mountain path, and into the misty forest...

The stone steps disappeared after passing the Lower Courtyard.

Now underfoot were jagged rocks that hurt their feet...

Among the rocks were patches of moss and ferns growing out of the stone crevices, many of which had been trampled and crushed onto the stones.

In recent days, this desolate and misty mountain path had been trodden by countless Registered Disciples.

A faint mist pervaded the forest, making visibility slightly poor.

Duan Rong and the old man surnamed Qin led the way.

Duan Rong cautiously observed his surroundings, fearing that a baboon might suddenly leap out from the forest and cause trouble again.

Duan Rong tightened the pack slung over his back. Besides the bundle he carried himself, the old man had given each of them a beast skin blanket and a Daoist robe earlier at the Lower Courtyard.

Poisonous snakes and scorpions occasionally crawled out from the grass and stone crevices.

These poisonous creatures, when startled by the sight of humans, would attempt to bite at Duan Rong’s feet, only to be kicked into mush by his swift movements.

Duan Rong cleared the way with his swift actions, sparing Xiao Yu and Shen Mizi from the disturbance of the venomous pests.

Xiao Yu was unfazed, being accustomed to such things from many years escorting caravans in the wild.

But Shen Mizi was most afraid of these snakes and insects, and as she walked behind Xiao Yu, her grateful gaze frequently turned towards Duan Rong who was not far ahead.

After walking through the forest for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they gradually emerged from the dense wood into a cliffside.

Beyond the cliff was a deep abyss, but at this moment, thick mist swirled around, all they could see was a vast expanse of white, with the shadowy outlines of several distant peaks looming in the mist, like watching beasts.

Suddenly, they stopped at a certain spot by the cliff.

A thin young man looked at Shen Mizi and said, ”Sliding down this cable leads to the Elder Hall. Let’s go.”

It was then that Duan Rong and the others noticed a thick iron chain, as wide as an arm, extending out from the cliff wall, disappearing into the foggy whiteness...

Shen Mizi bit her lip, her eyes reddened, and she turned to Xiao Yu, saying, ”Sister Xiao...”

The two of them had accompanied each other along the way, and now they had to part, an overwhelming sense of reluctance surged in Shen Mizi.

Seeing the look on Shen Mizi’s face, as if she was about to cry, Xiao Yu walked over, took Shen Mizi’s hand, and said, ”Look at you... it’s not like we won’t see each other again...”

Shen Mizi said, ”Sister Xiao, I will come to see you.”

Xiao Yu nodded, her eyes also reddening slightly.

By the iron chain, a stone pit had been carved out from the cliffside, and the thin young man took out two wraps made of beast skin from it.

The young man handed one to Shen Mizi.

He held the other one himself, looking at Shen Mizi, he said, ”Do as I do.”

The young man tied the thin vine ropes attached to both sides of the beast skin around his waist, grabbed the sides of the skin with both hands, and, crouching at the cliff’s edge, he placed the skin over the iron chain, and with a bound, his body soared.

The iron chain swayed, and the young man slid into the thick white mist, disappearing from sight.

Shen Mizi crouched at the cliff’s edge, tightly pressing her lips together, glanced back at Xiao Yu, Duan Rong, and Ximen Kankan, then suddenly slid down as well, and with a sway of the iron chain, Shen Mizi disappeared into the white mist.

Duan Rong and the three others watched Shen Mizi disappear into the mist, their expressions grew misty.

Though they were all within the Taiyi Sect, the vast mountain ranges meant they did not know when they would see each other again after this farewell.

The four of them had bonded deeply along the way. Especially for Xiao Yu, who had always regarded Shen Mizi as a sister.

While the others started to walk on, Xiao Yu still stood there in a daze, until Duan Rong walked over, patted her shoulder and said, ”Let’s go.”

Xiao Yu came to her senses and caught up with Duan Rong and the others.

They walked along the cliff’s edge for several more yards and stopped at another spot.

Here, by the cliff’s edge, not far from each other, were four iron chains affixed to the cliff wall, stretching into the white mist.

The two who were leading Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan each pointed at an iron chain and said, ”Slide down this chain.”

Xiao Yu turned her head, looking at Duan Rong with focused eyes, both remained silent, and Duan Rong’s lips moved slightly, unsure of what to say.

Xiao Yu paused for a moment, then softly said, ”I’m going.”

”Hmm.” Duan Rong said to her, ”Be careful.”

Xiao Yu nodded, secured the vine rope, and followed the person leading her, sliding into the white mist.

Ximen Kankan crouched at the cliff’s edge, turning his head to Duan Rong and said, ”Duan Rong! Remember, I’m working at the Weapon Workshop. Think of visiting me...”

Duan Rong uttered a sound of acknowledgment, but his gaze was fixed on the iron chain where Xiao Yu’s figure had vanished.

Ximen Kankan noticed his gaze and exclaimed, ”You care more about romance than friendship, don’t you!?”

”Are you going or not? If not, I’ll kick you down!” Duan Rong said, really aiming a kick at Ximen Kankan.

Ximen Kankan was startled and promptly jumped into the mist from the cliff’s edge.

As the white mist rolled, Ximen Kankan’s voice echoed, ”Duan Rong, just wait! When you come to see me, I’ll be sure to kick your behind...”

Duan Rong stood at the cliff’s edge, smiling slightly, but the next moment, he couldn’t help but tear up, looking at the iron chain swaying in the vast white fog, he murmured, ”Xiao Yu, Kankan, take care of yourselves.”

The old man surnamed Qin walked ahead, paused slightly, and Duan Rong caught this with the corner of his eye, immediately following him.

Now, by the cliff’s edge, only the two of them were left, one faced with the sheer cliff wall, the other enveloped in dense white mist, both walked on silently, heads lowered.