I couldn't help but shake my head when I saw Huang Jiu's mischievous expression.
The small-footed girl blushed, her shy and timid little steps quickening to catch up with me.
Seeing this, Huang Jiu became even more excited and hurried to follow us.
I was worried that he might anger her. After all, she's a ghost, and right now, he's in his transformed form. If we end up in a fight later, he'd definitely be too weak to contribute much.
When he reached out to grab the small-footed girl's hand, I calmly said, "I'll report everything to Sister Xian'er when I return!"
Huang Jiu shuddered, instantly transforming back into his yellow weasel form, crouching on my shoulder.
"Ah, Li Ge, don't be so serious! I was just joking with the girl!" he said.
I gave a cold smile.
A joke? She's a ghost. Does she even need to walk with her feet?
But I couldn't be bothered to argue with him. After all, some habits can't be changed. Sooner or later, he'd end up in trouble with Huang Xian'er.
At the village entrance, Xu Dafa and Li Erwa had already been waiting, holding farming tools like hoes, shovels, and pitchforks.
Although they didn't have their usual weapons, they were farmers, and these tools were what they were most familiar with. Despite not looking impressive, they were capable of causing a fair amount of damage when wielded.
I followed the path that the Earth Dog Star had marked, and after a while, we entered the mountains.
This place wasn't like the forbidden area of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains behind our village, where the villagers wouldn't dare to chop firewood. Here, the trees weren't very dense at first.
After climbing for about forty minutes, the trees grew denser.
The path indicated by the Earth Dog Star no longer led up but instead veered toward the east, into the forest.
It seemed that the group was hiding in a mountain hollow.
We crossed a small pass, and ahead, the dense forest began to glow, with voices coming from it.
I stopped and said, "Xu Dage, wait here. If anything happens, I'll call for you."
Xu Dafa was a little nervous and swallowed before nodding.
I took a few more steps forward and hid behind a large tree, sending the Earth Dog Star ahead.
As for the small-footed girl who had been following me the whole way, I didn't want to order her around.
However, she seemed quite interested in the Earth Dog Star and immediately followed it.
After a while, Huang Jiu finally spoke up, "This little girl really has no taste. How come she's not interested in such a handsome young man like me, but is sticking to that short guy?"
I couldn't be bothered to respond to his petty jealousy.
Soon, the Earth Dog Star transmitted an image back. There were quite a few people around.
They had set up a wind-proof stove and were sitting around it, chatting.
One of them caught my attention, and I said to Huang Jiu, "Guess who I just saw?"
"Who?" Huang Jiu asked, his curiosity piqued.
I replied, "The grandson."
"Lai Youwei?" Huang Jiu immediately became excited.
I nodded. It was indeed surprising to run into him here after traveling so many miles.
The image from the Earth Dog Star didn't transmit sound, but from the group's expressions and gestures, it seemed like Lai Youwei was the one in charge.
Lai Youwei was sitting next to a man in his fifties. While he was speaking, his face bore a look of sorrow. I guessed this man was the employer.
Huang Jiu remarked, "No wonder he ran off when we saw him in the graveyard. He must have run into his grandfather!"
The Earth Dog Star had already scanned the area. There were eight people in total, including Lai Youwei. Six of them looked like bodyguards, tall and strong.
In the past, I wouldn't have dared to approach them, but now, with my increasing internal energy, I was strong enough to take them on without issue.
Not to mention, I had Huang Jiu with me.
As for the ghost servant, it was foolish, and I figured the small-footed girl could easily take care of it.
With this in mind, I called the Earth Dog Star back, and the girl followed suit, whispering, "Little brother, it seems like they're talking about you!"
Talking about me?
I raised an eyebrow and crawled closer.
Once I got closer, their conversation became clear.
The middle-aged man said, "Lai Master, when will your senior brother arrive?"
Lai Youwei replied, "Don't worry, Mr. Tang. As soon as my senior brother reaches the provincial capital, he'll come right over."
"And that young man is extraordinary. He has a fate of great fortune. If he can use his heart's blood to seal Mr. Tang's brow, there will be enormous benefits."
I frowned.
It sounded like they were talking about me.
But this so-called "fate of great fortune" seemed like a story spun to reassure the employer, Mr. Tang.
And the name "Tang" wasn't so easy to trick. I pressed further, "How do you know?"
Lai Youwei continued, "Fifteen years ago, someone set up a dragon trap in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. The dragon fell at a small village outside the mountains, and when it descended, a water coffin followed. Over the years, many capable people tried to investigate, but they all mysteriously disappeared."
Mr. Tang seemed both surprised and worried, "Is it really that incredible? But someone like that shouldn't be easy to deal with, right?"
"It was hard to deal with before, but from what I can observe, the person who was protecting him has passed away, so it shouldn't be a problem now."
Lai Youwei grew more excited as he spoke.
At first, I thought he was lying to Mr. Tang, but the timeline he mentioned was just right—my birth had indeed coincided with a heavy rain, and a coffin had mysteriously arrived at the door, a very strange occurrence.
But all that talk about a golden dragon descending was just nonsense.
Lai Youwei went on, "Being able to meet him here is all thanks to Mr. Tang's good luck. I failed earlier, but it wasn't because the boy was strong. It was because he had a transformed weasel with him. But don't worry, once my senior brother arrives, capturing it will be easy."
Mr. Tang seemed to brighten a little after hearing this.
I couldn't help but smirk. Lai Youwei was really good at talking big.
We had never even fought, yet he was boasting as if he were invincible.
With his meager internal energy, I could easily defeat him.
Mr. Tang, looking anxious but helpless, fell silent and stared absentmindedly at the burning charcoal in the stove.
It seemed the grief over the loss of his son still weighed heavily on him.
I crawled back a few steps and whispered, "He's called for reinforcements. We need to act now. Old Huang, take care of Mr. Tang and his bodyguards. I'll handle Lai Youwei."
I turned to the small-footed girl, "There's a ghost servant with him, so that will be your job."
The small-footed girl nodded.
Seeing her delicate appearance, I felt a little worried and encouraged her, "Don't be too delicate when you make your move. Go all out; she's no match for you."
The small-footed girl seemed nervous but nodded resolutely.
Once we had confirmed our targets, I instructed the Earth Dog Star to go around the back, and then I stood up to walk out.
As soon as I stepped out, the bodyguards, alert as ever, immediately stood up and looked toward the noise.
I walked forward, smiling at Lai Youwei, "Long time no see, grandson."
Huang Jiu stood up from my shoulder and smiled, "Why don't you greet your grandfather?"
Lai Youwei's face turned a mixture of pale and red, before he angrily shouted, "You little brat, don't get too cocky. Mr. Tang, have your men take him down! This is the person I told you about, the one with the heavenly fate!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he tried to run, but as he turned around, the Earth Dog Star ambushed him from behind and kicked him back.