Chapter 179: Fan Jie Mountain
Under the pitch-black night, there was a huge mountain standing silently between the sea and the sky.
This mountain was steep and precipitous, nearly vertical in its body, with a surface full of fine holes and no vegetation growing on it, looking like the most common reef in the sea.
This "reef" was unusually large, covering dozens of miles.
It stood like a giant in the blue waves of the South Sea.
Underneath this vast and pitch-black "reef rock," there were giant caves to the east, west, south, and north leading into the mountain's belly.
The surging water waves beat against the sides of the cave, emitting a crisp splash sound.
A small boat with a lantern lit at its bow, cruised through the enormous waterway and slowly entered the pitch-black giant mountain valley.
Inside the water cave, it was not dark and gloomy. Instead, the cave ceiling was filled with brilliant stars, emitting a soft starlight that illuminated the long waterway.
The little girl with a pair of fox ears tilted her head, curiously looking at the brilliant stars in the cave above her head.
Behind her, the woman named Madame Green Bamboo looked at her with a gentle smile in her eyes.
"Don't look too long or you might find those stars falling in love with you and never letting you go."
The little fox was somewhat puzzled by the doting smile of Madame Green Bamboo.
Her two fox ears raised slightly and twitched, becoming even more curious.
"Grandma, what are those stars? How come they seem to be always moving?"
Madame Green Bamboo looked curiously at the little fox, hesitated for a moment, and finally smiled and patted her head, saying.
"Those are not real stars, but the eyes of South Sea Giant Snakes. They are the guardians of the Fan Jie mountain's waterway, who lie above the waterway all year round, watching the movements of passing ships. It's impressive indeed."
"Your level of cultivation as a small demon is not high enough to fill the gaps in their teeth."
The terrifying words Madame Green Bamboo said made the little fox jump in fear.
"Ah? South Sea Giant Snake?"
She widened her eyes in disbelief as she gazed up at the dazzling "stars" above her head, unable to imagine that behind the beautiful stars lurked fierce giant snakes.
The little fox was scared and scooted closer to her godmother, lowered her head, and didn't dare look anymore.
Madame Green Bamboo looked at the little fox's frightened and cute appearance, smiled, stroked her hair, and said.
"Don't be afraid, your Godmother is here. So long as you don't cause trouble in Fan Jie mountain, these snakes will never harm you."
As they spoke, the small wooden boat sailed out of the waterway.
In front of them was a huge watergate checkpoint.
Looking beyond the water gate, the sparkling lights of the back could be seen. The city wasn't flat on the ground, but was instead densely packed, shining lights twinkling within dark caves.
Even though Fan Jie mountain is massive, it is surprisingly hollow inside.
On the rugged rocky walls, there were houses of different styles built one after another, all of them hanging on the rocks, as if they could drop down at any time.
The lights that shine through the windows of those houses densely illuminated the rock wall, like an alternative starry sky.
The vision of demons is extremely far-reaching. The little fox could clearly see the passages and suspension bridges between the houses on the cliff wall.
The cool night breeze blew from behind the pass, causing the clothes of the mother and daughter pair riding the boat to flutter.
At the same time, figures of the Mermaid race appeared at the water gate checkpoint.
"Who?"
The chief of the Mermaid people, wearing scales armor and unpretentiously, asked, "Do you have an affair to break into the pass at midnight?".
At the gate, there was a soft but bright beam of light falling on the water's surface, casting a perfect image of the two women in the small boat.
In the strong light, Madame Green Bamboo smiled slightly, then waved her sleeve, flinging out a piece of paper.
She said, "There's a travel pass, general, please take a look."
Under the curious gaze of many Mermaid soldiers at the gate, the paper gently floated down towards the Mermaid general.
After looking carefully twice, the Mermaid General nodded slightly and said.
"It turns out that you are a friend of Great Sage of Fu Feng, coming to Fan Jie Mountain to find the Witch Wu Gu for treatment... Let them pass!"
After gesturing to the subordinates at his side to open the door, the Mermaid General said towards the small boat below.
"Witch Wu Gu is currently in the Warm Fragrance Pavilion, you can go there directly."
When the Mermaid General spoke, the iron gate of the pass slowly rose up.
Madame Green Bamboo bowed respectfully to the Mermaid General above, thanked him, and then steered her boat into the pass.
Behind them, the startled Mermaid people all curiously watched the two demon cultivators depart.
On the little boat, the little fox was somewhat afraid and cuddled into Madame Green Bamboo's arms, being watched by a few curious eyes that made it feel scared.
Madame Green Bamboo smiled with a gentle and calm expression, quickly sailing her boat out of the passageway and into the port of the Fan Jie City.
At the passage, the Mermaid General watched the small boat leave. Until the small boat had completely left the passage range, he asked.
"Does the Divining Mirror find anything abnormal?"
The deputy general replied, "Reporting to the general, the Divining Mirror showed no response. Those two demon friends are not of demonic evil."
The Mermaid General nodded, but his gaze stayed away, staying on that small boat that was getting farther and farther away.
His eyebrows drew slightly together.
Although the mirror didn't find anything abnormal, he had an inexplicable discomfort in his heart. The smiling blue-clothed woman, although she was a friend of the Great Sage of Fu Feng, gave him a very uncomfortable feeling.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Inform the city guards to keep an eye on Madam Su."
The orders of the Mermaid General were succinct and clear, but didn't specify why they had to be done.
However, as a long-term partner, the deputy general understood the worries of the general, and unconsciously looked in the direction where the small boat had disappeared. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally said in a low voice.
"I don't think it's necessary, general... She's a friend of the Great Sage of Fu Feng. With Fu Feng as assurance and the Divining Mirror didn't find anything, she's unlikely to be an evil demon."
"If we act rashly and offend her...this Madam Su is the first female Demon Cultivator to make even the Great Sage of Fu Feng yield in hundreds of years."
The deputy general's worries are normal.
Although the Great Sage of Fu Feng and the Mermaid Kingdom have a good relationship, his temperamental and impulsive nature is also famous in the South Sea. If they angered the Demonic Sage, it would be difficult to explain it to the higher-ups...
The Mermaid General thought for a while, and couldn't help but sigh, "Haah...".
"Alright, just tell the lord of the city that the Great Sage of Fu Feng has a friend coming to town."
After that, the general paused, and then added, "And tell the city lord, when Madam Su entered the passageway, the Divining Mirror didn't react."
The Mermaid General specially added something useless.
The deputy general was a bit bewildered, but these words were not inappropriate, so he just nodded to indicate his understanding.
"Yes sir! I will send someone to inform the city lord right away."
