Chapter Eighteen: Ambushed Instead

I glanced at Qin Qing, who was lying on the ground. "Prioritize the mission. If he won't go, you find a way to handle it!"

Boss Hu chuckled. "Possession is our specialty. It's a good thing I brought an extra person along."

With a mere wave of Boss Hu’s hand, a puff of white mist snaked through Qin Qing's nostrils and into his body. Moments later, Qin Qing climbed to his feet, bowed to me and Boss Hu, took the red-cloth parcel, and hurried away.

Boss Hu then summoned a mountain rat. "This little guy is sharp. You won't go wrong using it."

"Head to Plum Blossom Temple first!" I had Boss Hu lead the way until we were near the temple. I beckoned the mountain rat over, tapped its forehead, and whispered, "All spirits hear my command, lend me your senses to inhabit this form. Let this vessel be my eyes and ears, carrying messages across a thousand miles without a trace. Go!"

The mountain rat shuddered as if jolted by electricity, then returned to its normal state. I pointed toward the distant Plum Blossom Temple. "Find that woman in red. Keep a close eye on her until she leaves the temple."

The mountain rat dashed toward the temple. Before long, I spotted a wildcat pelt hanging from a tree branch. The blood-caked skin had clearly been peeled off in one piece, displayed on the tree as a warning. That must have been the old cat-spirit that had plotted against Qin Yun.

As the mountain rat crept closer, I heard Qin Yun’s furious roar: "Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

"I told you to find the map, yet you triggered the traps and burned the house down! What use are you for anything?"

Just as the rat edged forward, a creature torn in half was tossed from the temple, landing near it. The mountain rat trembled, but cautiously crept toward the temple entrance.

Inside, Qin Yun raged: "Who is in charge of controlling the villagers? Did Qin Qing bring in an expert?"

Someone whispered, "Qin Qing brought a young man. He’s formidable—he killed one of my juniors with a single strike, and I couldn't even block him for three."

"Qin Qing..."

Before the person could finish, Qin Yun shrieked, "If you can't even block three strikes, what use are you?"

"Spare me..." Before the man could finish his plea, there was a sound of something being torn apart inside the temple. Soon, a severed black snake was tossed out.

Qin Yun said coldly, "If anyone else fails to get the job done, these people will be your example."

"If you haven't found the location of the Immortal's Fate before dawn, I will kill one person at a time until you are all dead."

In the midst of Qin Yun’s fury, the mountain rat had quietly reached the temple door. I caught a glimpse of Qin Yun, her hands stained with blood, turning toward a middle-aged man nailed to the wall.

The man was already beyond recognition. From the pool of blood beneath his feet, I could tell he was on the brink of death. Without treatment, he wouldn't last much longer.

Qin Yun walked up and gripped his chin, forcing his face up. "Wang, I’ll give you one last chance. Tell me the secret of the Three-Ridge Mountains, and I might spare your life."

The man looked at Qin Yun with his only remaining eye, let out a cold, mocking laugh, and spat a glob of blood. Though Qin Yun dodged it, she erupted in rage. Her right hand curled into a claw, striking toward his chest as if to rip his heart out.

But just as her fingertips brushed his chest, she stopped. "Feed him ginseng to keep him alive. I want to see how long he can hold out."

"I don't believe your stubborn mouth can stay shut forever." Before her cursing ceased, she noticed the mountain rat at the door. "You! Come here!"

Seeing no escape, the rat crept forward. Without waiting for it to settle, Qin Yun snatched it out of the air. As she held the rat before her face, I clearly saw the white spots on her pupils. I didn't know what method my grandfather had used back then, but it had left her eyes damaged for a decade.

Qin Yun asked menacingly, "Why are you late?"

The rat replied, "Qin Qing... Qin Qing went up the mountain. He’s heading toward the Dead Water Pool, carrying a red-cloth parcel. It seems to be emitting a treasure's glow."

"A treasure's glow?" Qin Yun hesitated. "What about the sorcerer he brought?"

"He... he left," the rat answered. "I saw them talking on the hillside. I didn't dare get too close, so I don't know what they said, but I saw the sorcerer leave."

Qin Yun muttered to herself, "What is Qin Qing doing at the Dead Water Pool?"

"Did he take what he's carrying from that 'Watchdog's' house?"

As she spoke, her grip on the rat tightened. The rat struggled and squeaked, "I... I don't know..."

"Come with me and see!" Qin Yun tossed the rat aside and vanished from the temple entrance in a few strides.

The rat followed them for over a mile before slipping away, and I crept into the Mountain God Temple. I approached the old man and placed my hand beneath his neck, intending to see if he could be revived. To my surprise, he jerked his head up, his eyes locking with mine.

His single remaining eye narrowed sharply, and a rattling, gurgling sound emanated from his throat.

Oh no!

I immediately drew my dagger and plunged it into his throat. The blade pierced through his neck and into the wall behind him. A foul, black mist spewed from the wound.

I held my breath and scrambled back. By the time I stood a few meters away, Qin Yun’s voice drifted from behind me: "Yuan Zheng, it’s been ten years. You’ve grown up."

I turned slowly to face her as she strolled in. "You knew I was coming?"

Qin Yun smiled. "Our fates have been intertwined for lifetimes. As long as you appear within five miles of me, I can sense your presence."

"I knew you were here the moment you entered Three-River."

"You want to take the 'Watchdog' away? To find out about your mother's origins, I presume?"

"You want to take people away, so I let you kill them."

"However, your trail isn't broken. Everything he knows, I know too."

"Agree to my conditions, and I’ll tell you. And I can tell you in even greater detail than this 'Watchdog'."

I looked at her coldly. "How can I trust you?"

Qin Yun produced a short axe. "The Watchdog’s heirloom—the Mountain-Cleaving Axe—is already in my hands. What could I possibly not know?"

"Don't doubt the truth of my words."

"It is far too easy for a woman to extract secrets from a man."

"Men are all the same. Once they encounter a woman who stirs their heart, even if they know she is dangerous, they will still throw themselves toward her."

"They will even sacrifice their own secrets just to win a smile from a beauty."