Walking by the Abyss on Thin Ice

Chapter 45 – Long Night Pastoral

The carriage shook as the long whiskers of the Candle Dragon swayed outside the window. Its speed gradually increased as it carried passengers through the two mountains, emitting a deafening roar.

The Candle Dragon's roar intimidated the demons and monsters lurking in the uninhabited area as it passed through.

Someone came to check their jade tokens, and Su Yun learned that they were the tickets to board the carriage.

There were two rows of seats under the window, each row could accommodate three adults. Su Yun sat opposite a handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a youthful vigor.

The young man's clothes were also extremely luxurious, with golden phoenix embroidery on the collar and golden crows pulling a chariot with the sun embroidered on the hem.

"The white wolves are monsters from the uninhabited area of Tian Shi Yuan, transformed into humans to work in the city," the young man spoke as if to them, yet also to himself. "In recent years, the number of monsters in the city has increased, and the public security has become increasingly chaotic. When will these monsters be eradicated?"

Su Yun was puzzled. "Brother, humans and monsters can be good or bad. Why eliminate monsters instead of bad people and monsters?"

The young man turned his head without looking at him, sneering. "You got on the carriage from the uninhabited area, accompanied by four children. It seems that you are also monsters transformed into humans. If you do evil, don't fall into my hands..."

Hua Hu whispered, "Xiao Yun, this person must have just come out of the official school, filled with strange ideas of eradicating monsters."

The young man's face turned red, and veins bulged on his forehead. He kept repeating the words "eradicate monsters" and "protect the way."

Su Yun smiled faintly as he watched. Beside him, Li Xiaofan was sticking out his tongue and licking the window.

The window was made of glass, cool and transparent, allowing a view of the outside scenery. As a fox from the countryside, he had never seen anything like it and felt like he was eating candy.

The young man opposite finally couldn't help but say, "Stop licking, that's glass, not candy!"

Li Xiaofan lowered his head, sitting there aggrieved. The young man's heart softened and he put aside his thoughts of eradicating monsters. He rummaged through his luggage for a moment and found a few pieces of candy. He put them on the table and pushed them towards Li Xiaofan, saying, "Eat this. It's the milk candy I bought for my sister from the Sheep City in the frontier. It's a bit sticky."

Hua Hu whispered, "Aren't you going to thank the big brother?"

Li Xiaofan, Hu Buping, and Qing Qiuyue all stood up at once, bowing and thanking him in unison.

The young man blushed again, feeling awkward. He kept saying, "Hey, hey, don't do this... If only my sister were as sensible as you. That girl is simply a demon king reincarnated!"

Su Yun and Hua Hu quickly became acquainted with the young man, Li Muge. He was a scholar from the Shuo Fang Wen Chang Academy and had recently become a spiritualist. He was here to train his spiritual powers in the frontier and was returning home for the New Year as it was approaching.

"The white wolves are wolf monsters from the uninhabited area, working in the Sheep City in the frontier."Li Muge said, "In recent years, monsters transforming into humans and entering cities to work has become a common occurrence. This kind of thing happens a lot in Shuofang. The government used to investigate, but later turned a blind eye. The monsters work for low wages and work like they're fighting for their lives. The government is happy to see this scene and does not expel them."

Su Yun was relieved. He promised the old couple Gou that he would protect Hua Hu and the others in human territory. He was originally worried that the people in the city would discover that Hua Hu and the others were monsters and would call for their heads.

Hua Hu followed him into the city, with a determination to die.

This friendship moved Su Yun deeply.

As the sky outside gradually darkened, suddenly Zhulong opened its mouth and a dragon ball flew out, hovering between its lips. The dragon ball's fire was as bright as a torch, illuminating dozens of miles ahead as if it were daytime.

Su Yun squeezed to the window to admire the view. He saw Zhulong walking among the mountains, already out of the Blizzard Zone of Tian Shi Yuan. The large mountains ahead were tall and imposing.

Zhulong climbed all the way up, quickly reaching the mountaintop.

When Zhulong turned its body, Su Yun could see the next carriage.

Some of those carriages were two-story wooden houses, with Ling Shi standing in the pavilion on the top floor, holding a very bright lamp in his hand. The light was like a pillar piercing through the night sky, shining all around.

Su Yun looked through the light and couldn't help but exclaim. He saw something flying in the darkness, moving very fast towards the carriage, but when it was illuminated by the light of the Ling Shi, it flew away.

Su Yun couldn't tell what that thing in the darkness was, he could only see some tattered clothes flying in the sky, but he couldn't see what was underneath.

"This is the edge of the old no-man's land."

Li Muge said, "The flying thing in the sky is the Yan Shi Puppet. If the Ling Shi's spiritual soul does not want to leave his dead body, it will turn into this strange thing. Those tattered clothes are what they wore in their lifetime. It is said that countless Ling Shi have died in the old no-man's land."

Hu Buping shivered and asked, "What's underneath the clothes?"

"Skeletons."

Li Muge added, "Flying skeletons."

The three children hugged each other, trembling with fear as they looked out the window.

Li Muge laughed and said, "Don't be afraid. There will always be Ling Shi accompanying Zhulong, and the Ling Shi in those pavilions are responsible for the safety of the carriages. Their lamps are spiritual weapons that specifically restrain Yan Shi Puppets."

Hu Buping was even more frightened and pointed outside, "It's the Third Ancestor Ape!"

Su Yun's heart pounded violently and he quickly looked out the window. He saw a white ape standing naked on the roof of a small building pulled by Zhulong. It held a mixed iron rod and smashed it down. The rod spun, and three white apes flew out, smashing the nearby pavilion to pieces!

The Ling Shi in the pavilion was holding a lantern and dealing with the Yan Shi Puppet. Unexpectedly, he was caught off guard and hit in the chest by the mixed iron rod. He couldn't hold onto the lantern and flew out of the carriage, falling from Zhulong.

The Ling Shi let out a scream of despair and was caught by the Yan Shi Puppets flying in the dark night, disappearing into the night sky.The carriage was in chaos, with panicked passengers unable to dispel the Yan Shi puppets without a spiritual master. They feared that the skeletal figures in clothes would enter the carriage and consume them all.

Since the establishment of the official school by the Emperor Yuan, forty-eight years had passed, but few had attended it. Most people could only recognize and write characters, and even fewer became spiritual masters.

Most of the passengers in the carriage were ordinary people, and they were all at a loss in the face of this situation.

"Yuan San Ancestor is chasing after us again!"

Su Yun's heart sank as he stood up. Just as he was about to speak, Li Muge also stood up and quickly said, "The guard spiritual master is dead, someone must guard the lamp, or everyone will be eaten by the Yan Shi puppets! Su Yun, junior brother..."

Su Yun walked outside and said in a deep voice, "Senior brother Li, you guard the lamp. The violent ape is here for me, and I will take care of it myself!"

Li Muge was stunned but quickly followed him.

Su Yun walked out of the carriage and said, "Er Ge, Bu Ping, you protect the people in the carriage!"

Hua Hu was invigorated and took off his coat, saying in a low voice, "Xiao Fan, Bu Ping, Qing Qiuyue, you guard this carriage. I'll go to the carriage without a spiritual master to make sure the Yan Shi puppets don't come in. Do you understand?"

"We understand!"

The three little foxes took off their thick clothes and Bu Ping and Li Xiaofan guarded the front and back of the carriage, while Qing Qiuyue guarded the middle.

The three little foxes, who had transformed into cute and silly-looking children before, now appeared exceptionally calm and composed.

- Foxes were also fierce beasts.

Now the three little foxes had entered hunting mode!

Su Yun flipped and jumped onto the platform of the carriage. The cold wind blew, and the wind on the roof of the carriage howled. The cold wind poured into his neck along his collar.

"Yuan San! I'm here!" Su Yun shouted loudly.

Yuan San Ancestor held a mixed iron rod and was crouching in front of the carriage window, searching for Su Yun's whereabouts.

When he heard Su Yun's voice, the old ape's body shook, and he slowly stood up and turned his head.

Li Muge jumped up and looked at Yuan San Ancestor, his heart trembling. "This demon is very strong and hard to deal with!"

Yuan San Ancestor had more muscles than an ordinary person, and his bone density, heart blood supply, and long breath were all superior to humans!

This meant that he was born stronger than humans, with strong blood and energy, longer arms, stronger attack power and explosive power, and a wider attack range!

This humanoid demon also had high intelligence, making it even harder to deal with!

"Su Yun, be careful!"

Li Muge rushed toward Yuan San Ancestor, suddenly leaped up, and jumped over his head.

At the same time, Yuan San Ancestor shook his mixed iron rod, and three white apes flew out and pounced on Li Muge in the air.

Li Muge activated his blood energy, and his spiritual power was immediately revealed. A sword floated above his head, with long tassels at the hilt.

After the sword was infused with blood energy, it appeared. Li Muge wielded the sword in the air, and sword lights flew out from the tip of the sword, displaying different sword moves to meet the three white apes!Li Muge focuses all his thoughts on the sword, so his spiritual power and abilities are all related to the sword. The martial arts he practices in the foundation building realm are all branded with sword techniques, imprinted on his spiritual power.

As he displays his swordsmanship, the sword techniques from his foundation building period are also displayed. The sword light pierces through, and swords fly out from the sword one after another, various sword techniques are wielded, sharp and powerful!

Although Li Muge blocked the three white apes, his arms were still numb from the shock. He was surprised: "This monster's blood and energy are too powerful!"

Before he could land, on the other side, a bell rang and Su Yun had already activated his spiritual power. A yellow bell appeared, and he charged towards the third ape ancestor like a wild ape!