Chapter Eleven: The Redwood Forest

From Cloud Gathering Town to the eastern Redwood Forest was, in truth, not far at all—just a vast stretch of open land spanning barely a dozen miles. The two carriages raced ahead at full speed, and by mid-morning, the fiery glow of the distant woods already painted the sky crimson, like clouds ablaze at the horizon.

The journey had been uneventful so far. Yu Ge, half-drowsing against the carriage wall, was roused to alertness only upon nearing the edge of the Redwood Forest. Thanks to memories from his previous life, he remembered well that if one lost their way in these woods, they might easily wander into unknown territories, where one could encounter those deadly spirits. This had been tested by more than a few reckless souls among the former townsfolk of Cloud Gathering—his own return was merely a stroke of luck, one that left the complex routes indelibly etched in his mind.

The towering trees of the forest grew sparsely enough for the carriages to barely pass, though progress was slow, with frequent stops to confirm direction. Guided by Yu Ge, they soon drew near the opposite edge of the woods.

With the task nearly complete, Yu Ge yawned in boredom, pondering how to finish his check-in when a faint, strange sound reached his ears.

He stilled, turning his head at once to seek the source.

At that moment, as the carriage passed a tall, lush thicket, a green figure suddenly shot out, lunging straight for Yu Ge, who sat atop the front shaft.

The attack was so abrupt that he couldn’t react in time, only managing to twist aside on instinct—and in losing his balance, he tumbled from the carriage.

Landing in a roll, Yu Ge caught a clear glimpse of his assailant and couldn’t help a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

The creature was oddly familiar—it resembled the green toad he had once seen in his room, though according to Zhao Ziming, that toad had already been dealt with. Clearly, this one was different, and upon closer inspection, the differences were evident: it was larger, its green skin marked with twisted brown stripes.

So, the little one was gone, and here came the elder!

Yu Ge was at a loss for words, though his face betrayed no fear. Aside from its tongue, which possessed some offensive power, this creature was little more than an oversized toad. According to Zhao Ziming, it was merely a mutant tainted by dark energy, not particularly capable, relying only on its agility. With his own strength and the Ghost-Slaying Blade in his pack, he was confident he could handle it.

What’s more, there were plenty of people around.

At the sudden attack, the carriages ahead gradually ground to a halt. Two guards leapt down and moved to see what was happening behind.

Though Yu Ge was unafraid of the old toad, its speed was troublesome. He quickly unwrapped his bandages, drew the Ghost-Slaying Blade, and took his stand, waiting for the others to seal off any escape.

But to his surprise, the two guards abruptly halted mid-stride, shock plain on their faces. They shouted for Yu Ge to run, then vaulted back onto the carriage like a gust of wind.

A chill crept over Yu Ge.

When he looked back, his blood ran cold. Not far behind the toad, a wavering mass of black mist had appeared out of nowhere.

He shot the old toad a glare, catching a glimpse of derisive malice in its ugly eyes.

Just then, the black smoke swept through the woods.

Damn.

It had gone to fetch backup for revenge!

Swearing under his breath, Yu Ge turned and fled, sprinting toward the carriages a few dozen yards ahead.

"Should we…should we go, young master?" the terrified coachman on the rear carriage stammered, glancing at Si Yunhong inside.

After a brief hesitation, Si Yunhong’s solemn voice came from within, "Go!"

Relieved, the coachman didn’t dare look back. He cracked the whip across the horse’s rump, and with a pained whinny, the steed bolted, dragging the carriage away at full gallop. The second carriage followed close behind, and as they vanished around a thicket, nothing remained but a plume of dust.

Watching from afar, Yu Ge cursed Si Yunhong’s ancestors a hundred times over, but there was no choice—he ran as though his life depended on it.

The mountain ghost was quick, giving chase from a distance, but more annoying was the mutant toad, which darted around, harrying him at every turn.

Several times, Yu Ge was nearly caught by the ghost. Fleeing and pursuing, they quickly covered several miles.

The ghost and the old toad clung to his heels with relentless persistence, as if they never tired.

As he rounded a hill, Yu Ge steeled himself. When the toad came at him again, he struck at it fiercely with his dagger. The effort, however, cost him accuracy.

The blade glanced off the toad’s mottled hide. The creature shrieked in pain, and the brief delay allowed the mountain ghost to close in, emerging from the shroud of mist. Its jet-black, gleaming claws slashed straight for his heart.

Yu Ge’s expression shifted. The mountain ghost was monstrously strong, its body like iron, its claws deadly sharp. If that blow landed, he would be gravely injured if not killed outright.

With adrenaline coursing through him, Yu Ge threw himself into a roll, dodging without care for grace as the black claws raked the ground. He sprang back to his feet, widening the gap.

His earlier dagger strike, though not fatal, gave the toad pause. Now that it harassed him less, the pressure abated.

Yet the situation remained dire.

He was only human—his strength had its limits. The mountain ghost was different, a tireless creature that neither ate nor rested. If this dragged on, he was done for.

Worse still, night was falling.

No place would be safe then.

His gaze darted like lightning, searching every passing scene, but aside from outrunning his pursuers, no other options presented themselves.

A direct confrontation was out of the question.

That creature was simply too formidable. In their earlier clash, he had swung the Ghost-Slaying Blade with all his might, but the impact jarred his hand painfully—it was like striking solid bronze walls. The ghost had only staggered back a few steps, suffering no real harm. Fortunately, it did appear wary of the blade.

They continued their grim chase until, out of the corner of his eye, Yu Ge spotted a patch of gray-white structures. His heart leapt with hope—only to realize, as he drew close, that it was no town, but a solitary, ruinous house, forgotten and decayed.

As he moved away, a memory surfaced: Zhao Ziming had once said that certain ruins in the wilderness could serve as safe havens from danger.

Would this count?

After a moment’s hesitation, Yu Ge doubled back.

Passing the derelict house, he glanced over his shoulder and saw that the mountain ghost and mutant toad were no longer hot on his trail. Instead, they detoured several meters away, giving the ruin a wide berth.

There was a clear distance between them—something was off.

There was hope!

Realizing this, Yu Ge circled the ruin again, passing by the house once more, and confirmed his hunch.