Chapter Forty-Two: Another Incident

A pitch-black night, and in the darkness, a shadowy figure moved furtively.

Huff... haa... huff... haa...

The sound of heavy breathing and rapid footsteps echoed through the night.

Clang... clink clink... clatter... clang...

A jarring, discordant melody rang out.

The footsteps came to an abrupt halt, though the ragged breathing lingered in the air.

"It's me... it's me... I'm on Gehong Mountain... I can't get out!... Huff... haa... whatever you do, don't... don't ever..."

A voice, trembling with fear and anxiety, tinged with the hush of secrecy, cut off mid-sentence.

The words ended.

The breathing, too, was silenced.

"Hello? Hey... what's wrong? What's happened?!"

Another voice, less forceful but tense with urgency, cried out.

Beeep...

A button was pressed, and all sound ceased.

...

Chen Jin rose early to exercise before setting off for work in the county town.

He stopped first at Wang Family Restaurant for breakfast.

But upon arrival, he found Qin Yang staring at him with uncharacteristic gravity.

"What's wrong?" Chen Jin asked, puzzled.

Usually, Qin Yang greeted him with a beaming, eager smile.

"Young Master Chen, please come with me," Qin Yang said, leading the way.

"Has something happened?" Chen Jin's first thought, naturally, was the black-clad man he had killed.

Truth be told, the ghost of the man in black was now trailing right beside Chen Jin, yet Qin Yang seemed utterly oblivious.

The ghost seemed fixated on Chen Jin, gnashing his teeth with undying resentment.

"The group leader, 'Sorrow in Wine,' has arrived," Qin Yang explained.

"The group leader?" Chen Jin was still confused.

Was the group leader some kind of plague that his mere arrival would put everyone so on edge?

Qin Yang led Chen Jin to a private room on the third floor.

Inside, a large round table stood surrounded by seventeen chairs; thirteen of them were occupied. Among those seated were Zhang Hui, as well as Hao Lian and Hao Lian—faces Chen Jin recognized from before.

Chen Jin took a seat, bemused by the unusual atmosphere.

All eyes turned to him as Qin Yang began the introductions.

She gestured to a man who looked to be in his late twenties, perhaps thirty, and said, "This is our group leader, Sorrow in Wine."

"Hello, my name is Zuo Dingshan, from Jiaocheng," the group leader said politely, managing a strained smile. It was clear a great matter weighed on them, leaving them troubled, yet he forced a smile out of courtesy toward Chen Jin.

"Greetings, Leader. I am 'Mist Among the Mountains,' real name Chen Jin," Chen Jin replied, his smile far more dazzling. After all, the group leader was indeed a figure of authority.

"So you're 'Mist Among the Mountains'? The one who was attacked last night?" Sorrow in Wine looked at Chen Jin with surprise.

It seemed Qin Yang had not revealed Chen Jin's online identity to the group.

Yet what puzzled Chen Jin more was how everyone seemed oblivious to the ghost of the black-clad man at his side, as though he truly did not exist.

What was more, even Zhang Hui seemed unaware, which shouldn't be possible—after all, Zhang Hui had a ghost wife at home. How could he not see this one?

Perhaps this ghost was special in some way?

Qin Yang moved on to the next introduction.

This was a middle-aged man, around thirty, with a listless air.

"This is 'Park and Dally,'" Qin Yang announced, her expression perfectly composed.

"Respected elder," Chen Jin greeted him with another bright smile, rising to show respect.

"Yes, my name is Zhuang Yan. You practice the old methods, like me, don't you?" Park and Dally said with a warm smile, his next words sent telepathically.

"Uh... yes, yes," Chen Jin replied, pausing before nodding repeatedly.

"This is 'Heart of the Zither,'" Qin Yang continued.

...

In total, Qin Yang introduced ten people to Chen Jin.

Each of them could be considered Chen Jin's senior in some way—some younger, some older, some enthusiastic, none aloof or arrogant. After all, everyone knew the world could turn in thirty years; fortune favored the bold, and it was unwise to slight the young and unassuming.

There were six men and four women present.

Chen Jin then sat quietly, listening to their discussion.

Sorrow in Wine turned to Chen Jin to explain.

"Last night I received a call from a group member. Last week, he went to explore Gehong Mountain, to investigate the ruins..."

"The day before yesterday, he told me he'd made some discoveries and wanted my help, but I had to postpone due to other matters."

"Then, last night, he called again. His words were strange, as though warning me not to go to Gehong Mountain. Here is a recording from my phone."

Huff... haa... huff... haa...

Urgent, ragged breathing sounded from the phone, accompanied by a strange wind and faint footsteps.

"It's me... I'm on Gehong Mountain... I can't get out!... Huff... haa... whatever you do, don't..."

Beeep...

The recording ended.

"I suspect something terrible has happened to him," Sorrow in Wine said.

Chen Jin recalled when he had first joined the group chat—someone had indeed mentioned forming a team to explore Gehong Mountain. He hadn't expected someone to really go, let alone get themselves trapped.

His thoughts drifted to his own recent journey through Gehong Mountain.

Could there be some connection?

"I've been to Gehong Mountain several times; there’s never been any issue. Besides, the legends of Ge Hong are probably just myths," Park and Dally, Zhuang Yan, commented.

"The County Gazette of Xialu can't be trusted," Zhang Hui agreed.

The other practitioners from Xialu County also expressed their skepticism, doubting that Ge Hong had ever practiced alchemy atop Gehong Mountain.

Chen Jin feigned ignorance, playing the part of a novice, though in fact he knew the matter better than any of them—he had fought side by side with Ge Hong himself, exchanged witty banter, and learned firsthand the depth of Ge Hong's wisdom.

"Indeed, there are few traces of Ge Hong ever being active in Fujian, but he did disappear from the historical record," Sorrow in Wine nodded.

"We can talk about this all we want, but it won't solve anything. Let's head to Gehong Mountain at noon," Park and Dally proposed with a frown.

"Who wants to go?" Sorrow in Wine asked, scanning the room.

Chen Jin was, of course, excluded—he was still considered a novice.

"I'll go," Park and Dally volunteered, perhaps simply bored.

"I'll go, too," Zhang Hui raised his hand.

"I'm in," Hao Lian and Hao Lian spoke in unison.

...

In the end, everyone decided to go—except Chen Jin, who was vetoed.

In their eyes, Chen Jin was still the greenest of newcomers. Perhaps his spirit was so powerful it concealed his true cultivation, making him appear to have only just stepped onto the path.

Xialu County seemed to have its share of cultivators, with more than a few of impressive rank.

Although the matter was now largely out of his hands, Chen Jin continued to listen for a while. After the meeting, the others left the restaurant and set out for Gehong Mountain.

After finishing his breakfast, Chen Jin also prepared to leave, but was stopped by the returning Hao Lian.

He fixed Chen Jin with a burning gaze.

Certainly, there was no hint of affection in that look...