"Another path?" Lu Fei was surprised.
"There is, but that path is even more difficult... The Dragon God wants to test your sincerity!" Old Man Qin put away the tortoise shell.
"If you can pass that path, you can enter the Dragon's Den and find what you want."
"If you can't... don't force it, try to preserve your life and retreat if you find it too hard. You have paid homage to the Dragon God; he won't utterly destroy you."
After speaking, he looked at He Yunsong.
"Old man, whether to go back or take another path, you decide for yourselves."
Yunsong He frowned, puzzled, and said, "Since the other path is more difficult, do we still have a choice?"
"It's different. There are no mud toads on that path, so it's not completely impassable, but there are a lot more other evil and filthy things." Old Qin explained.
"What kind of evil spirits are there?"
"You have to cross water on that path. Just the water monkeys and blood leeches will be enough for you to handle. As for the others, I don't know. I dare not take that path."
Old Qin shook his head, gazing at the misty distance, with deep fear in his eyes.
Yunsong He's complexion turned very grim, and he hesitated as he looked at Fei Lu, "Young Lu, what do you think?"
"I'm here to help Grandpa He find something, and I'll follow whatever he arranges," Fei Lu said.
Having made such a big fuss to come all the way here, he also wanted to find a talisman for the lightning-struck wood. To return empty-handed would be unacceptable, not just for Yunsong He, but for him as well.
Yunsong He pondered for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, the others will escort Old Duan and Little Lingyue back. Fei Lu and I will venture down that path."
"Old He, why take this risk?" Tiankui Duan hurriedly advised, "Zhisheng is a good kid. He wouldn't blame you."
"It's precisely because he's a good child that I need to make it up to him."
He YunSong sighed deeply.
"His father died from poisoning after testing a medicine for me; I've already wronged him. He lost an arm and had his leg crippled when he saved me. We had set a date for his marriage, but after seeing his condition, his fiancée cruelly broke off the engagement...."
"I owe him too much. If I don't do something for him while my old bones are still strong, how can I face his father in the afterlife?"
Duan TianKui looked at his old friend and, knowing his determination, said, "In that case, I will go with you!"
"No! You still have little LingYue to take care of." He YunSong immediately refused.
Duan LingYue hastily said, "I want to go too! Grandpa He, I'm not afraid. Grandpa said I need more exercise to become as strong as Brother LuFei!"
"No! This is no place for games. A Feng Shui master doesn't need to put himself in danger, let alone a girl like you."
Lu Fei interjected, "Grandpa Duan, just follow Grandpa He's plan. Having too many people might not be a good idea. We will do our best to protect Grandpa He. No matter whether we find the elderberry or not, we must return safely."
"Then, Xiao Lu, I trust you with this!" Duan TianKui patted Lu Fei's shoulder firmly.
"I also have something to ask of Little Lingyue." Lu Fei smiled as he took out the small black dog from his backpack, and with a smile, looked at Duan Lingyue: "Lingyue, could you help me take care of Xiao Hei?"
"Of course I'm willing, but..." Duan Lingyue held the small black dog, her round almond-shaped eyes filled with worry, "I know I don't have the ability to help Brother Lufei right now. Brother Lufei, you must come back safely!"
"Definitely!"
He Yunsong only left one bodyguard behind.
The others escorted the grandfather and grandson, Duan Tiankui, back the way they came.
Perhaps it was really the Dragon God watching over them; they did not encounter any more mud toads and managed to leave Drogon Ridge smoothly.
"Old man, I can only see you off to that path, I won't go further with you," Qin Elder said solemnly to He Yunsong.
"That path has no branches, just follow it straight and you will reach the Drogon Cave. If it gets dark, find a clean spot to start a fire, and never travel at night."
"All right, we understand." He Yunsong nodded with a serious face.
Qin Elder led them to the left and through a mountain crevice filled with strange, jagged rocks.
"Alright, it's just up ahead." He pointed to the path in front and took a bag of medicinal powder from his backpack, handing it to Lu Fei.
"This can help protect against the blood leeches. You must be very careful not to let those things get on you! Once they do, they won't come off, and they'll suck you dry."
"Thank you, Uncle!" Lu Fei gratefully accepted the powder.
"I'll make an exception and not return to the village tonight. I'll wait for you on the other side of the mountain." Old Man Qin waved his rough hand, "Go quickly. The Dragon God doesn't like being disturbed at night. If it gets dark and you haven't reached your destination, stop and rest, but don't make any noise or talk. It should be fine that way."
He gave them a multitude of instructions.
He Yun Song was also very grateful, bowing deeply to him, then he and Lu Fei set out with all haste.
After leaving the mountain, they came to a series of water pits of various sizes.
Thin mist floated over the water, making the area damp and eerie.
Fortunately, there were many stones here, which they could step on to cross without getting wet.
Lu Fei led the way in front.
The bodyguard supported He Yunsong as they walked in the middle, with Jing Jian bringing up the rear.
Everyone proceeded cautiously, stepping on stones to successfully cross several puddles.
The puddles here varied in depth; the deep ones were like black holes that sent chills down one's spine, while the shallow ones were crystal clear, allowing a clear view of the rocks at the bottom.
Also, grayish-white bones were wedged in the crevices between the stones.
Lu Fei carefully avoided the deep pits and extended his leg towards a shallow pit on the left, stepping on a stone in the middle.
"Hmm, why is this stone soft?"
As he stepped down, Lu Fei felt something was wrong. Looking down, he saw the stone actually wriggling!
The round body stretched out, turning into a long, slender shape, with one end becoming sharp and reaching towards Lu Fei's calf.
"It's a leech!"
Lu Fei instantly felt goosebumps all over his head, quickly retracting his leg and sprinkling some powder down.
Splash, splash, splash!
The leech twisted and retracted, but, stimulated by the medicinal powder, the crystal-clear water suddenly began to boil.
Those stones in the water actually all started to wriggle, transforming into one thick leech after another, clustering together densely.
This scene was simply suffocating!
The four of them were on the verge of panic, retreating step by step, terrified of being touched by the leeches.
Nourished by the aura of the true dragon, the spiritual creatures were more imbued with spirit, while the malevolent ones became even more sinister. Even the leeches grew to such a monstrous size!
If touched by these things, not only would they drain your blood, they would likely strip you of your flesh as well.
No wonder there were so many bones in the water pit!
The bodyguard's face turned deathly pale, and his tall frame trembled uncontrollably. He had never seen such a scene before. He would rather be beaten with a stick or slashed with a knife than face such an eerie and malevolent thing.
"Lu Fei, this place is full of these disgusting things. How are we supposed to get through?" Jing Jian felt every pore in his body filled with resistance.
"The deep water pit is impassable; we can only go this way." Lu Fei gritted his teeth, "If we can lure those leeches away, and if we move quickly, maybe we can get through."
"How do we lure them?"
"Blood!"