Black Tortoise Mountain winds its way, linking Quantai and Yujin Prefectures.
The people of Yujin Prefecture habitually call it Turtle Hill because its shape resembles a turtle resting there.
Its tail borders Yujin, while its head points towards Quantai, causing a natural discord between the two prefectures.
Initially, Quantai wished to shave off part of the mountain, claiming it was unsightly, but Yujin refused, citing it would affect their feng shui, leading to constant friction between the two.
Mentioning feng shui was enough to unsettle the cultivators of Quantai, who, during their meditation on the mountain, constantly faced this sight, causing anyone to feel uncomfortable.
The conflict eventually escalated from the mortal inhabitants to the cultivators of the two prefectures and reportedly lasted for years before gradually fading away.
On the path of Turtle Hill is the well-known As You Wish Inn, where every so often cattle, horses, and mules are sold at low prices, popular among the locals.
The trees on either side of the path are meticulously trimmed, with a three-meter-high flagpole displaying the words "As You Wish."
Inside the inn, a beautiful woman dressed in a red skirt with a light blue gauze top, her white undergarment swaying as she walked, looking as if she were hiding two melons.
"What would you like to eat, sir?"
The woman bent over, revealing a large expanse of snowy white skin, her soft voice seemingly able to steal one's soul.
A young man who had just entered stared intently into the deep cleavage, vaguely muttering, "Gourd..."
The woman covered her mouth, tittering, "We don't have gourds here."
The young man snapped back to reality, wiped the drool from his mouth, and blushed, stammering.
"Whatever, anything to eat..."
A fragrant breeze wafted by as the woman suddenly sat on the young man's lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered, "Are you thinking of eating me instead?"
The young man, lost in the warmth and fragrance in his arms, couldn't hear what she said, his mind soaring to the heavens.
"Yes..."
The young man nodded shyly.
The woman laughed softly and puckered up, approaching him. The young man quivered with excitement, moving his lips to meet hers eagerly.
All of a sudden, blue smoke wafted gently from the woman's mouth, settling on the young man's face. In his lust-clouded mind, he felt utterly drained before collapsing in defeat.
"Husband, come and clean up."
The woman covered her mouth, laughing softly, then raised her voice towards the kitchen.
The kitchen door opened, and out came a four-foot-three-inch dwarf man, stocky, resembling a winter melon gone monstrous, with a scar extending from his left eye to the corner of his mouth. He silently approached the young man, hoisted him up, and carried him to the kitchen.
Han Yu found himself tied like a crab and tossed into a pile of firewood. When the dwarf brought the young man in, he exchanged a complex glance with him.
Both blushed simultaneously, then turned their heads away, not looking at each other.
Bah! Lustful ghost.
They disdainfully cursed each other in their hearts.
"What's going on here?"
After a long while, the man moved closer to Han Yu, unable to resist asking.
Han Yu sighed.
This inn is a black market, specifically targeting passing foreign cultivators, operating very covertly.
The scar-faced dwarf is called Qi Tiangao, and the proprietress is Jade Ruyi. Both are notorious figures on the Evil Path.
"How do you know so much?"
The young man looked surprised, asking Han Yu.
Han Yu nodded towards the blood-stained rope tying him, "Didn't you notice the rope binding you has blood? The brother who used it told me."
The young man asked in horror, "Where is he?"
Han Yu seemed to recall something unpleasant, turning ashen, "He was skinned, replaced with cowhide, and led away."
The young man's face instantly turned deathly pale, exclaiming in panic, "Creatures!"
The art of creating creatures originated from a war-torn era a thousand years ago when famine was rampant, making survival difficult for the common folk. A cultivator invented this technique, using a small part of the populace as food to save the rest.
Years after the war ended, this was exposed, causing the cultivator to disappear from history.
Not even his name was allowed to remain, indicating how forbidden this art was.
"Oh, you two are chatting?"
The kitchen door suddenly opened, and Jade Ruyi entered with Qi Tiangao, smiling.
This guy truly deserves to die.
Looking at the enchanting figure, shaped like a gourd, and her winter melon-like husband beside her, they couldn't help but curse jointly in their hearts.
"Let's finish them up tonight; we'll have three to sell tomorrow."
Jade Ruyi covered her mouth, laughing, and told Qi Tiangao.
"Why not do it now? Later on, I can take them to the city to sell, and buy some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar."
Qi Tiangao grinned, his scar twisting like a little snake.
Just as he was about to act, a commotion arose outside.
Jade Ruyi's expression changed subtly, smile blooming, "Wonderful, we'll have four now."
Both went out the door.
After they left, the young man's expression shifted, joyfully saying, "Great, it must be my sect companions coming to find me."
Han Yu glanced at him, unable to resist throwing cold water on his excitement, "What's so great? They will probably fall into the same trap."
The young man shook his head confidently, declaring, "Impossible, she absolutely won't fall for it, she's a woman."
Moments later, the kitchen door suddenly opened, and Qi Tiangao tossed a petite figure inside, bound in disgrace.
Han Yu's eyes glimmered as he glanced over. It was a rather pretty young girl, petite and delicate, so even Qi Tiangao's binding skills couldn't conceal her figure.
So he regretfully looked away, thinking, just a child!
"Is this what you call assurance?"
Han Yu shot the young man a sideways glance, teasing him.
The young man's face turned awkward, turning to the young girl, asking, "Coconut, how did you get caught too?"
The girl named Coconut, fuming with anger, gritted her teeth, saying, "It's because I waited for you and didn't see you coming, so I went in to find you. That vixen acted immediately."
Her expression shifted, mind turning, looking at him with a hint of suspicion, "Yi Xian, were you seduced by that fox spirit?"
Seeing the clouds of suspicion spreading across Coconut's face, Yi Xian broke into a cold sweat, shaking his head urgently, "Impossible, this gentleman and I were attacked as soon as we entered. If you don't believe me, ask him."
Han Yu solemnly nodded in agreement.
"Who is he?"
Coconut finally noticed the person next to Yi Xian and asked.
Yi Xian was momentarily stunned, turning to look at Han Yu, "Oh! Brother, I have yet to ask your name?"
"I'm Han Yu," Han Yu replied briefly.
"Are we going to die?"
After hearing Yi Xian's explanation, Coconut looked desperate, murmuring.
"Not usually that quickly dead."
Han Yu suddenly interjected.
"Do you have a way out?"
Yi Xian's eyes lit up, hurriedly asking.
Han Yu shook his head, "I'm just telling you, normally a farmer doesn't butcher livestock immediately after buying. They usually raise them for some time. We might eat fodder for a year or two before getting slaughtered."
Eat grass! Slaughter!
The words drained Yi Xian's face of color, and Coconut began to cry aloud.