Chapter 181 - 5: Daughter of Gu Dao, Unfathomable Heart Nature

Chapter 181: Chapter 5: Daughter of Gu Dao, Unfathomable Heart Nature

Chen Ye nodded, drained his cup of wine, and then set down his chopsticks to look at her.

"Old Madam, did you invite me here about the incident at Black Wind Stronghold?"

"Indeed." Granny Liu nodded, her smile fading.

"The Evil God worshipped at Black Wind Stronghold is incredibly powerful and has grown more tyrannical in recent years. It often sends its ghosts down the mountain to torment the little ones I protect. Several of the children have already met a cruel end at its hands."

"I wished to deal with it, but I have grown old and feeble and am simply no match for it. All I could do was watch helplessly. If you hadn’t eliminated it this time, Warrior, our lives would have only become harder."

Chen Ye nodded, then grew a little puzzled. "But I wasn’t the only one who took action. Why did you only invite me, Old Madam?"

Upon hearing this, Granny Liu gave a wry smile.

"To be honest with you, Warrior, we mountain spirits wouldn’t dare approach any of the others."

It turned out that in Granny Liu’s perception, Xiao Hongye, being a Sword Cultivator, was far too sharp-edged. Her Sword Qi seemed to pierce the heavens, and just getting near her made the spirits feel like they were sitting on pins and needles. Naturally, they didn’t dare approach.

As for the brawny Shi Meng, his Evil Qi was overwhelming. One look was enough to tell he was a brute who killed without batting an eye, so no demon would dare get close to him.

Then there were the Sickly Ghost Zhao Ada and the young girl Su Yuan. One was brimming with eerie Ghost Qi, and the other was steeped in Gu Dao toxins. The malevolent energy they radiated was nearly on par with that of the Evil God from Black Wind Stronghold, so Granny Liu was even more terrified of provoking them.

But Chen Ye was different.

In Granny Liu’s eyes, although he was brimming with killing intent, his Magic Light was pure and righteous, and his aura was untainted. He seemed like someone they could interact with, so she had mustered her courage and sent the Big-eared Rabbit to invite him.

After hearing her explanation, Chen Ye finally understood.

He looked over and saw all the children hiding behind Granny Liu, peering at him with timid yet eager eyes. Or rather, they were staring at the table of wild fruits in front of him. Several of the little ones were secretly gulping, their faces a picture of longing.

Chen Ye knew that these children were actually Little Demons from the mountains. Because their sentience had only recently awakened and their Heart Natures were simple, they manifested as children.

He smiled and waved the children over. "Come on, let’s all eat together."

The little ones froze, then all looked to Granny Liu, not daring to step forward.

A loving look flashed in Granny Liu’s eyes. She sighed softly and said, "Go on. Since this..."

"My name is Chen Ye," he offered.

"Since Warrior Chen doesn’t mind, you can all go have some. Remember your manners."

With her permission, the little ones erupted in cheers and bravely scurried over.

The one in the lead was the chubby little boy that the Big-eared Rabbit had transformed into.

Chen Ye casually picked up a piece of Yellow Essence and handed it to him. The chubby boy hastily accepted it with both hands, offered his thanks, and then ran to the side to gobble it down, drooling as he chewed.

Soon, every child had a share, and they quickly devoured all the wild fruits on the table. The woods filled with their joyful cheers and laughter.

A smile touched Chen Ye’s lips as he watched the lively scene.

’They may be Little Demons,’ he thought, ’but with their innocent and adorable looks, they’re really no different from human children.’

Chen Ye then raised his cup, drained the wine in one gulp, and turned his gaze to Granny Liu beside him.

"Granny, you invited me here for more than just a drink, didn’t you? Is there something else?"

In truth, Chen Ye asked because he had noticed a trace of sorrow clouding Granny Liu’s expression.

Sure enough, upon hearing Chen Ye’s question, the warm smile on Granny Liu’s face gradually faded, replaced by an inescapable melancholy.

"Warrior Chen, since you’re so direct, I won’t beat around the bush."

Granny Liu paused, her voice growing heavy. "To be honest, as powerful as the Evil God at Black Wind Stronghold was, its focus wasn’t on us, so it wasn’t our greatest concern. The real threat to our survival is the Root Tree Demon entrenched on Withered Bone Slope, thirty li from here."

’Withered Bone Slope? A Root Tree Demon?’

Chen Ye remained silent, letting her continue.

Granny Liu continued, "In its early days, Withered Bone Slope was a Chaotic Burial Mound. It was later abandoned because it was too far from the county town. Now, after so much time, the rains often wash bones to the surface, which is how the slope got its name."

"As for the Root Demon, it was once an old locust tree in the burial mound. After being steeped in Yin Qi for ages, it eventually gained sentience. However, because it was born from the convergence of immense Yin Qi, its nature is inherently wicked. It later progressed to devouring the flesh and blood of passing creatures, becoming a true monster."

"Now, it has even gathered a host of Yin Ghosts and has become a formidable power in its own right."

At this, a look of helplessness and grief crossed Granny Liu’s face.

"I have grown old, and my Demonic Power has weakened significantly. So for the past few years, that Root Demon has been sending its Yin Ghosts to encroach upon my territory, bit by bit."

"Encroach upon your territory?" Chen Ye asked, confused.

"That’s right!"

Granny Liu raised her staff and pointed at the chubby little boy still gnawing on the Yellow Essence, her voice filled with anguish.

"Warrior Chen, though their sentience has only just awakened, they have been nourished by the Spiritual Qi of these mountains for years. Their bodies have developed potent medicinal properties. For Cultivators who practice Evil Techniques, especially those of the Dietary Stream, these children are prime medicinal ingredients!"

’The Dietary Stream!’

Chen Ye’s pupils constricted. He instantly thought of Lü Song, the man who ate bone ash.

"The Root Demon captures these children. Some it devours to increase its own Demonic Power, and others... it sells to those Evil Cultivators in exchange for the resources it needs for its Cultivation."

’So that’s how it is.’

Chen Ye looked at Granny Liu. "How strong is this Root Demon?"

"In terms of your Human Race’s Realms, it should be at the Unobstructed Realm," Granny Liu answered.

"But please, Warrior, don’t be intimidated by its Realm. The Cultivation of the Demon Race, especially for us spirits born of plants, makes us inherently weaker in combat. So while its Realm is high, its methods are clumsy. It relies entirely on brute force and ensnaring victims with its roots."

"And your Saber Technique, Warrior, is incomparably sharp, while your Magic Light is pure and righteous. You are its perfect counter!"

At this, a glimmer of hope ignited in Granny Liu’s eyes, and her tone became earnest.

"So I dare to be so bold as to ask you, Warrior, to please act and eliminate this fiend for us humble mountain spirits!"

Before Chen Ye could reply, Granny Liu hastily added, "Of course, we would never ask you to do this for nothing, Warrior!"