Chapter 130 - 109: Long Mountain

Chapter 130: Chapter 109: Long Mountain

"Long, is this your daughter?"

"Do I look like an old hag who could give birth to such a pretty little girl?"

Granny Long smiled at the man before her.

The man said with a laugh, "You never know. After all, you were quite a beauty in your youth."

"That’s all in the past now."

Another year passed.

The black-haired girl had grown much taller. With the help of the Red Fox, their small Human Race community was living well, with almost no shortage of food.

Thus, the girl was also well-nourished. She was now tall and slender, like a flower bud on the verge of opening. Though she had yet to bloom, she already possessed the makings of a world-stunning beauty.

She held a large-tailed fox in her arms, standing beside Granny Long and watching the people come and go.

This was the Human Race’s triennial gathering.

The location chosen was Long Mountain, the place of Granny Long’s birth.

The weather today was not particularly good. It was misty and looked as though it was about to rain.

Granny Long held the girl’s hand and explained, "Every three years, each major region holds a gathering like this one. On one hand, it’s to see how the various tribes are doing. On the other, it’s a chance to trade for things."

Today was the gathering for this region’s Human Race.

The girl and Granny Long had brought a good number of animal pelts.

The climate differs from place to place, so the means of survival also differ. They followed the path of hunters, while some of the Human Race from other areas followed the path of farming and raising silkworms.

This gave rise to gatherings for barter.

Granny Long gave her a bearskin and told her to go trade for something she wanted.

It had been skinned from a Bear Demon, nearly at the Second Realm, that the girl and Granny Long had killed together.

The pelts of Demons and beasts were not the same. This Second Realm Bear Demon’s hide had many uses, making it quite valuable at the gathering. In truth, Granny Long had secretly set it aside for her.

The girl, holding the fox, said softly, "With this pelt, I want to trade for a new dress for myself. Is there anything you want? I can trade for a little something for you too. We can trade the rest for regular clothes and food, and some Spirit Fruits to take back for the people in our tribe."

She was reminded of the woman in the tribe who had just given birth.

’The little baby is so adorable,’ she thought. ’It even smiles at me. Its chubby little hands could melt anyone’s heart.’

"What a beautiful little girl."

Someone exclaimed in admiration.

The girl’s hair was now very long, covering her ears. Lacking the blue-green hair of a typical member of the Spirit Race, she looked no different from a human—just an exceptionally beautiful one. So, it was only natural that some would praise her.

The girl could only force a smile. Granny Long had told her this was called being polite.

She slowly walked over to the human trading clothes, pointed at a dress laid out on the ground, cut off a small piece of the bearskin, and offered it over. "May I have this dress?"

"Are you sure you want the black dress? I think a lively young girl like you would look better in something with brighter colors."

The girl couldn’t help but think.

’So the Human Race is a people who strive to live well, even in circumstances like these.’

She shook her head. "The black dress will be fine."

The human who wove clothes handed the black dress to the girl. "This dress is made from black silkworm silk. This way, I’m not taking advantage of you."

The dress felt cool to the touch, without a single loose thread. It was clear how meticulous the tailor had been.

The girl nodded.

The Red Fox suddenly began to squirm in her arms, signaling for her to walk into the distance.

"What’s wrong? Don’t fuss. I’ll buy you some jerky to eat later."

She had been living and eating with this Red Fox for a year now. The Red Fox seemed to have integrated into the tribe, even getting its own share of food, and had been putting a lot of effort into hunting recently.

So it deserved a little reward.

"Over there?"

The girl headed in the direction the Red Fox indicated.

There was a very strange stall owner there. A black robe covered his body, but one could still tell that he had a tall, sturdy build.

And in front of the stall owner were countless bones.

People would occasionally trade for bones to take back and grind into weapons, so bones did have a market.

The Red Fox nudged the girl, signaling for her to look at the stall owner.

’Is there something strange about the stall owner?’

’Based on his appearance, he just seems like a tall human.’

’No.’

The girl suddenly froze. Her nose wasn’t as sensitive as the Red Fox’s, but she was of the Spirit Race and could vaguely sense the differences between races.

’Could the Thoughts lingering on all these bones be affecting my judgment?’

Before she could think any further.

BOOM!

A clap of thunder exploded in the sky, and with it, a heavy downpour began to fall.

The girl frowned. ’It’s raining. I’d better find Granny Long.’

Now that it was raining, the gathering would have to pause temporarily and resume when the weather cleared.

But just as the girl was about to turn, her pupils suddenly constricted.

The stall owner in front of her, trying to avoid the rain, had shifted his black robe slightly, exposing his lower body. Those were definitely not human feet.

The feet were coarse, with long black nails and black fur.

’A Demon!’

’Why is a Demon at a Human Race gathering?’

The thunder in the sky grew more rampant. Amidst the flashes of lightning, it seemed as if some creatures were surrounding them from all sides.

The girl immediately turned, clutching the fox, and rushed toward the center of the gathering.

The earth suddenly split open, a huge fissure extending all the way to the foot of the towering Long Mountain.

’This is bad.’

’I have to tell Granny Long!’

A rare feeling of anxiety washed over the girl.

’Too late.’

Several enormous beings stood in the sky. Viewed through the pouring rain, their powerful auras were unmistakable.

The Spirit Race, the Ape Race, the Bear Race.

They hovered in the air. A member of the Bear Race spoke in a non-human tongue, "The humans in our clan are running low. My race claims fifty percent of the humans here."

A member of the Spirit Race said indifferently, "I won’t fight you for them. I was just passing by to have a look. I only want the things these humans have made."

The Spirit Race did not keep humans, but they were fond of the clothes humans wove and the exquisite food they made.

A member of the Ape Race laughed loudly. "In that case, I’ll take the other fifty percent back for the little monkeys in my clan to use as target practice."

The cold rain lashed against the faces of the girl and the fox, but they did not feel the chill.

A bone-deep cold, far worse than the temperature, made them tremble. The girl and the fox were both numb.

"Netherworld, run! The news of the gathering has been leaked!"

Granny Long had appeared beside them at some point. She grabbed Qiu Yuehan’s hand and ran toward the forest with all her might.

The girl quickly came to her senses, hugged the Red Fox tightly, and raised her hand, preparing to summon her Servant Spirit.

"Don’t use your power."

Although she didn’t know why, the girl obediently lowered her hand, simply hugging the Red Fox as she ran after Granny Long.

Until a massive boulder blocked their path.

Hissing sounds came from behind them.

’The Snake Race is here too?’

Granny Long stopped abruptly before the boulder, then turned and stroked the girl’s head.

The girl had a terrible premonition.

Her premonition came true.

Granny Long looked at her with a loving expression and said, "There are likely more Demons lying in ambush ahead. We can’t escape."

The girl said hastily, "I’ll use my Spirit power to get you out."

"It’s no use. With the Snake Race here, if we get out, we’ll just be leading them to the others. Even more people will die... This path of escape was intentionally left for us."

The Snake Race has a keen sense of smell and excels at tracking. Even the scent-masking black mud is useless.

If Granny Long escaped with the girl all the way back to their tribe, the result would be the capture of the entire community of humans.

"Netherworld, listen to me. You are not of the Human Race, you are of the Spirit Race. As long as you hide well, they won’t harm you."

Granny Long handed the girl a glowing stone from her hand.

It was a Fire Stone. A single stone could keep the entire tribe warm through the winter, perfect for fending off the severe cold. It was also the most precious thing Granny Long had traded for on this trip to Long Mountain.

"Take this back with you. Remember, you must take it back. This winter will be very cold."

"Granny?"

Granny Long stroked Netherworld’s head again. "You are a very strong girl. Though you are not of the Human Race, you have a tenacious heart just like one of them."

"No..."

Before the girl could finish her words, she smelled a fragrance and her whole body went limp.

’Isn’t that the Enchanting Fragrance Granny just traded for, the one used for hunting...?’ The girl’s thoughts grew hazy.

Granny Long smiled at her and placed her behind a nearby rock. Then she looked at the Red Fox. "Protect her."

The Red Fox froze for a moment, then nodded.

"You too. If you become powerful in the future, remember to lend the Human Race a hand."

Granny Long reached out her hand. This time, the Red Fox did not bite it as it usually would, but silently allowed her to stroke its head.

"No... don’t."

Granny Long waved her hand, covering the girl’s body with some tall grass. "You must take the item back. This winter will be very cold."

The heavy rain fell, drowning out Granny Long’s final words.

"Little fox, she’s actually a very lonely child. From now on, you’ll be the only one with her."