Stone Town, population 30,000, primarily engages in ore mining. The town connects to the main road, providing direct access to bustling metropolises.
A lone boat descending from the sky didn't attract much attention from the townspeople.
Many cultivators pass through Stone Town, so the residents are accustomed to it. Furthermore, some families within the town have produced cultivators.
Chen Changsheng and Miaomiao presented themselves as Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. The pressure of their true qi caused the surrounding cultivators to slightly distance themselves.
There are fewer than five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators in the town, so the master and apprentice could practically do as they pleased here.
"This inn's food smells amazing, Master! Let's go to this one!" Miaomiao, disregarding the gazes of others, pointed like a child at the most luxurious inn in town.
Chen Changsheng smiled and nodded: "It has a strong firewood aroma, so let's go with this one."
As the two entered the inn, the lively hustle and bustle, along with a wave of heat, rushed towards them. The rich aroma of food made people involuntarily swallow their saliva.
"Immortal Master, you must be careful! The female ghost on the mountain is incredibly powerful! I've already hired three groups of cultivators, and all of them have perished!"
"This…"
The white-haired old man hesitated for a moment before reminding him: "Regardless, please be extremely careful, Immortal Master."
"That female ghost was originally a mortal woman from the town. Logically speaking, after turning into a fierce ghost, a Qi Refining cultivator should be able to easily subdue her."
"But the Qi Refining cultivators who were hired were all wiped out. I believe that female ghost must have obtained some kind of opportunity to become so powerful."
The old man kindly reminded him, but the young cultivator waved his hand dismissively.
"Alright, I won't blame you for being ignorant. Prepare your reward and await my return."
The youth, with a confident smile, brushed past Chen Changsheng and his apprentice.
The old man frowned, wanting to remind him again, but the words reached his mouth and were swallowed back. In the end, he sighed heavily.
Chen Changsheng surveyed the old man and the surrounding customers. Miaomiao ordered a mountain of signature dishes from the waiter, and also requested a jar of local wine.
"Waiter, what's the story with the female ghost that old man was talking about?" Chen Changsheng asked curiously, wearing the expression of a curious onlooker.
The waiter glanced at the white-haired old man and replied: "That's the town chief of our Stone Town. The fierce ghost on the mountain was originally a woman from Stone Town. Who would have thought that she would kill her husband on their wedding night, then flee to the mountain, accidentally fall to her death, and subsequently transform into a restless fierce ghost."
This matter was well-known throughout Stone Town, so the waiter didn't conceal his voice at all, not worrying that the town chief would be displeased upon hearing it.
"Killed her husband on their wedding night? Can anyone prove that?" Chen Changsheng asked again.
"Of course!" The waiter slapped his thigh and glanced at the town chief again: "That night, it was the town chief's son who stumbled upon the matter, witnessing the entire process of the woman killing her husband!"
"Why did she kill her husband, and why did she specifically choose to kill him on their wedding night?"
"Hey! What do you mean by that, Immortal Master?!"
Just then, the white-haired old man stood up angrily: "Are you implying that you suspect Zhuang'er is lying? My Zhuang'er is upright, kind-hearted, and helpful. Everyone in town knows that; it can't be faked!"
"That night, Zhuang'er attended that woman's wedding feast, drank too much, and entered the wrong room, just happening to witness the murder case. How did it become him being a suspect in your eyes?"
The old man's emotions were agitated, attracting the attention of many customers.
Chen Changsheng said calmly: "I didn't say that. Why are you so agitated? Could there be a hidden story?"
To be honest, he hadn't thought too much about it; he was just asking casually. After all, the waiter's description was too one-sided, and he was particularly curious about the specific process.
He didn't expect that this casual remark would cause the town chief to react as if his tail had been stepped on.
How suspicious…
The waiter quickly smoothed things over: "Esteemed guest, you misunderstand. It's just that among the many passing Immortal Masters, some have suspected Young Master Yan, so the town chief is a bit sensitive. It's all a misunderstanding."
The town chief, his emotions interrupted, sat back down.
"My Zhuang'er is dedicated to the people, but after hearing the story, the cultivators passing through Stone Town all say he's suspicious. How can I, as his father, not be agitated?"
The old man paused, his tone softening: "I'm very sorry, Immortal Master. I was rude just now. Let me pay for this meal."
Chen Changsheng smiled: "Alright, I accept your apology."
The topic of the woman killing her husband ended there. He didn't ask any further questions, and the waiter didn't intend to bring up the topic again.
The town chief quietly sat in the inn, waiting for the Foundation Establishment youth to return.
The sun set, and dusk passed.
The customers in the inn changed batch after batch.
Having waited until evening, without seeing the Foundation Establishment youth return, the town chief finally couldn't sit still any longer, and his expression became increasingly uneasy.
If they couldn't eliminate the female ghost on the mountain during the day, let alone during the night when the yin energy was dense.
Chen Changsheng and Miaomiao also didn't leave. The two of them ate and drank heartily in the inn. If it weren't for the otherworldly aura of immortals on them, they would definitely be mistaken for country bumpkins who had never seen the world.
Other cultivators were either refined and approachable, or cold and efficient, always distinguishing themselves from mortals in their words and actions, making people feel inexplicably awed.
But Chen Changsheng didn't have the slightest demeanor of a cultivator. He devoured his food without any regard for his image, and even rolled dice and challenged people to drink, having a great time in the crowd.
What was most regrettable was the beautiful female disciple by his side, who obediently observed him throughout the entire process.
When the master exclaimed in joy, she also exclaimed in joy. When the master frowned and sighed, she also furrowed her delicate brows.
What a wonderful girl, but she had to follow such an unreliable master…
Many customers sighed and shook their heads, secretly regretting it. If they had such a high-value and obedient female disciple, they would definitely cherish her every day!
After the evening's entertainment ended, the people of the town successively left the inn, leaving only a few passing cultivators who rented rooms in the inn.
The town chief still sat on the first floor of the inn, looking at the darkness outside the door, the disappointment in his eyes particularly obvious.
"Most likely, he died on the mountain again. I warned him to be careful, but all the cultivators look down on the ghosts on the mountain, each one self-important."
The town chief sighed helplessly, looked at Chen Changsheng, with hope in his eyes, and asked: "Immortal Master, would you like to try going up the mountain to eliminate the ghost? Stone Town has collected 3,000 spirit stones as a reward."
Chen Changsheng smiled upon hearing this: "Three thousand spirit stones? That's an insult to beggars!"
"Then how much reward would the Immortal Master want to be willing to take action?"
"I don't need a reward, I just want to know the whole story."
