I furrowed my brows, staring intently at Zhan Ling's chest—trying to judge whether she was telling the truth.
Recalling how people from the Ten Thousand Mountains called Xiaocui the "Mountain Lord," if Zhan Ling was truly a ruler of the mountain, then the Earth Pearl would indeed have a suppressing effect on her.
Mountains flourish from dragon energy, but mountain rulers thrive by seizing that energy—the two are born natural enemies.
I looked at Zhan Ling and said, "If the Earth Pearl ends up in your hands, how do I know you won't use it against my wife?"
Zhan Ling replied, "There's no bounty for your wife on the demon hunter list."
It might not be there now, but that doesn't mean it won't be in the future.
I didn't say this aloud—just pretended to hesitate, then turned to Su Dazhuang. "The earth energy has already shifted. With the black dragon coiled around him, my grandpa won't make it through the night."
No matter who holds the Earth Pearl, getting it won't be easy. It won't be resolved today—if it could, Zhan Ling wouldn't have come to find me.
Zhan Ling glanced at Su Dazhuang.
Hearing my words, Su Dazhuang grew visibly anxious. He lowered his posture respectfully and said, "Miss, I'm Li Yang's grandfather."
Seeing him acknowledge me as family brought a twinge of emotion to my heart.
If only my second uncle were the one standing here right now.
Zhan Ling turned to me and said, "You have the Buddha Relic with you—let your grandfather wear it. He'll survive another seven days."
I looked to Huang Jiu, gave him a signal, and he pulled the relic out from his butt pouch.
"Grandpa, this is a national treasure. We borrowed it from the museum, so don't lose it. If it goes missing, we'll be in prison for life."
Huang Jiu really had a way with words.
My second uncle sold his dignity just to borrow a mirror and still came up empty-handed—let alone something like a Buddha Relic.
But as long as the relic worked, nothing else mattered.
Su Dazhuang took the relic with some nervousness. Feeling something change in his body, he lifted his shirt for a look.
The serpent mark on his body had visibly faded.
I said, "Grandpa, this is just a temporary fix. Once we get the Earth Pearl and break the feng shui formation, you'll really be safe. In the meantime, think carefully—did you offend someone?"
The feng shui setup is still active, so the other side won't make any moves for now.
But once it's broken, they may come straight for him.
After all, people don't go to these lengths without something to gain.
If we can find out who's behind it, we can prepare accordingly.
Su Dazhuang was a sharp man—he understood immediately. With sincere gratitude, he said, "Li Yang, thank you."
Watching his change in attitude, I came to understand something:
Faith—just like anything else—is based on need.
I said, "Grandpa, we're family. No need to speak so formally. My second uncle and Auntie Su Yimei are officially married now. When you have time, go visit them."
Hearing that, Su Dazhuang's jaw dropped.
His eyes flared with anger.
Worried I'd said too much, I quickly added, "Grandpa, I know it's not my place to speak on this, but I've seen it with my own eyes, and I'd feel bad keeping quiet."
"They're very happy now. Isn't your greatest wish for Auntie Su Yimei to live a happy life?"
Su Dazhuang didn't answer—he just let out a long sigh.
I didn't know what he was thinking, but I believed my words had struck a chord.
Whether that was good or bad… I couldn't say.
Since Zhan Ling had found us, I couldn't go back with Su Dazhuang.
These people weren't ones he should be involved with.
Returning to the graveyard, I reburied the snake corpse and retrieved the searing hot Blood Thorn.
After escorting Su Dazhuang back to his car, I reminded him, "Grandpa, if anything happens while I'm gone, go to my second uncle. He'll know what to do."
Just mentioning my uncle made Su Dazhuang visibly uncomfortable.
He hesitated, and I didn't push further—didn't want to make things worse.
After seeing him off, Zhan Ling rested one hand on my shoulder.
Only then did I realize she wasn't just "well-endowed"—she was tall, too.
Xiaocui was a full head taller than me, but Zhan Ling was half a head taller than her.
I figured I'd have to grow till I was eighteen just to reach her height.
"Little brother, you didn't even ask how much I'll pay you. You just agreed?" she teased, brushing against my shoulder.
Any taller and she'd be bumping into my face.
"As long as you don't use the Earth Pearl against my wife, I don't care about money."
I forced a smile, despite my own doubts.
Huang Jiu chimed in, "Talking money ruins relationships. Why don't we talk about something else…"
Gulp.
He swallowed hard.
Whatever he meant by "something else," Zhan Ling ignored him entirely.
She giggled like a "big" sister, threw her arm around me, and led me toward an off-road vehicle nearby.
Once we were in the car, she finally explained the situation.
The Earth Pearl was in the hands of a geomancer. According to her intel, he was currently staying at a temple on the outskirts of town—and he wasn't weak.
Geomancers are a special breed. Their skills at locating dragon points surpass even feng shui masters.
But their greatest ability? Moving dragons.
"Moving dragons" refers to shifting the dragon veins beneath the earth.
It's said that when a geomancer relocates a dragon vein, a new mountain rises in a few years—and if the dragon energy is strong, that mountain keeps growing.
Sounds like myth.
But only they could find the precise spot where the dragon head spits out the pearl—and retrieve the Earth Pearl.
But why would this geomancer target Xiaocui?
While driving, Zhan Ling replied, "Geomancers scour the famous mountains and rivers of the world. A place like the Ten Thousand Mountains is naturally one of their goals."
Hearing her mention the Ten Thousand Mountains, I couldn't help but ask, "Sister Zhan Ling, do you know what kind of place it really is?"
She smiled and said, "If I knew, it wouldn't be so mysterious, would it? But once word gets out that your wife is from the Ten Thousand Mountains, you'll be in for a world of trouble."
I didn't get any useful information out of her, so I scoffed, "If people fear the Ten Thousand Mountains so much, who'd dare provoke it? Besides, my wife is the head of the whole mountain!"
A little bluffing never hurt.
I had to hype Xiaocui up—at the very least, it might scare off some troublemakers.
What surprised me was that Zhan Ling actually smiled and seemed to accept my bluff.
Maybe the Ten Thousand Mountains really were that fearsome.
According to Huang Jiu, over the years, thousands—if not tens of thousands—have gone into the Ten Thousand Mountains. None made it out.
Even if the mountain didn't protect Xiaocui, I would.
As long as I'm breathing, I won't let anything happen to her.
That includes this Earth Pearl—there's no way I'm letting it fall into the wrong hands.
Zhan Ling drove for over two hours, far out of the city.
Eventually, we entered a small village.
She parked at the entrance, and we walked in, asking the locals about the location of the Mountain God Temple.
But after asking several people, no one knew anything.
I was speechless. I'd assumed she already knew where it was.
Turns out…
She didn't.
Honestly, I was starting to think I should've just stayed home with Xiaocui.
Just then, another off-road vehicle came rumbling into the village behind us—roaring so loudly it scared all the dogs off the road.