"What do you want from me?!" the hedgehog finally spoke, its voice sharp.
Xu Zhixing was taken aback; he hadn't expected it to actually talk. After a moment's stunned silence, he asked, "You... you can speak?"
"So what if I can? You all call me a monster, always ready to hunt and kill me. Now I can't outrun you. If you want to kill me or cut me to pieces, go ahead! But even in death, I'll bite a chunk of flesh off you!" It was only now that Xu Zhixing noticed a wound on the hedgehog's side, steadily seeping blood. Its eyes seemed to hold tears, yet there was also a desperate resolve for a fight to the finish.
"I was just curious. When did I say I wanted to kill you?" Xu Zhixing said gently.
"Really?" The hedgehog sounded suspicious.
"Really!" Xu Zhixing continued, "I just noticed you watching me and was curious to get a closer look. I didn't expect you to run off like that, so I gave chase."
"Oh... I've never seen anyone run so fast before," the hedgehog seemed to relax a little. It looked up at Xu Zhixing. "I won't look at you anymore. I'm leaving. Don't follow me!"
Delighted to have met a true talking spirit, Xu Zhixing wanted to converse more. "Wait a moment."
"What now?" The hedgehog bared its teeth.
"This humble Daoist is Xu Zhixing. It's my first time meeting a mountain spirit. I merely wished to make your acquaintance." Xu Zhixing bowed respectfully.
"My name is Bai Xiaowei. Is there anything else?" she replied.
"Bai Xiaowei? Did you choose that name yourself?" It sounded gentle and refined, like a young lady from a well-bred family. Xu Zhixing was curious.
"No, it was the shrine keeper grandfather who gave me the name." She was completely forthright, answering quickly. "Grandfather was very good to me, not like the people I met later who all wanted to capture me."
"The shrine keeper?" Xu Zhixing hadn't heard the villagers mention any nearby temples. Could this little spirit be an outsider? He asked, "Might I ask which famous mountain or ancient temple?"
"It's not a Buddhist temple. It's the mountain shrine on Mount Hengliang." A moment later, her expression turned sorrowful, and she said quietly, "A group of bad people have taken over there. I can't go home anymore."
Xu Zhixing's heart tightened at the mention of "the mountain shrine on Mount Hengliang." Could this be the monster that harmed people in the mountains? But from their conversation, it was clear this little spirit was simple-minded and guileless. Concentrating his senses to observe her, she was surrounded by a light, lively aura of vitality, with no sense of sinister energy at all. Puzzled, he asked nonchalantly, "Are there any other spirits like you on Mount Hengliang?"
"No. I was born and raised there. In over ten years, I've never seen any other... other spirits." Hearing Xu Zhixing call her a 'spirit,' the little hedgehog was very pleased. "You and the shrine keeper grandfather are good people, not like those villains who came a few days ago."
Xu Zhixing was perplexed. Could there be some misunderstanding? What about the person who had their essence and blood drained? Furthermore, for a little hedgehog to gain intelligence and master human speech in just over ten years was unheard of. But how could he casually inquire about such secrets of cultivation? He continued, "What about those villains? Why did they occupy the mountain shrine and injure you?"
"I... I was originally hiding in the woods outside the shrine. The shrine keeper grandfather told me I must hide when people come." She actually seemed a little embarrassed, becoming somewhat awkward. "I... I was hiding in the woods, but I smelled the pastry and couldn't resist sneaking in to eat a piece. The shrine keeper grandfather often gave me pastries before. Three years ago, he suddenly disappeared, and I never had any again. Usually, I can only eat insects, snakes, and wild fruits. That night, I really couldn't resist sneaking in to eat a piece. Just one piece!"
As she spoke, she grew angry again. "I only stole one piece of pastry, and over ten of them surrounded me with swords and blades, shouting about killing me! Luckily, I was quick. Even though they couldn't do anything to me, their circle kept getting tighter. Seeing there was no more room to maneuver, I ignored the shrine keeper grandfather's warning, took a chance to prick that big-bearded man with my quill, found an opening, and ran out the door. But someone secretly shot an arrow at me. Luckily, it was blocked by my quills, only grazing the skin. But... it seems I can't go back to the mountain shrine anymore."
"Big-bearded man." Xu Zhixing guessed she must be referring to Duanmu Cheng. Thankfully, there were no serious losses. With his physique, a minor injury would heal in a day or two. Seeing her speak with the innocent, artless charm of a child, it seemed she wasn't the blood-sucking monster. The earlier rumors must have been misunderstood. He asked again, "Did they use any magical tools or talismans against you?"
"Magical tools? Talismans?" She thought for a moment. "A woman threw a piece of paper over. I saw them all suddenly stop and stare at that paper. I took the chance to prick the big-bearded man's leg and ran out."
"A piece of paper..." Xu Zhixing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed the great master's spirit talisman was truly just for show.
"Have you been hunted by people before?" Xu Zhixing still wanted to clarify the story about the monster draining essence and blood.
"Why do you, Daoist, have so many questions?" As if impatient, she puffed out her cheeks but continued, "When I was little, people who entered the mountains often chased me, but they could never catch me. After the shrine keeper grandfather taught me how to hide, few people saw me anymore."
"Last year..." She seemed to recall something embarrassing, squatted down, and lowered her head for a moment, then said apologetically, "I won't steal pastries anymore from now on. Last year, a group of people rested in the mountain shrine at night. The pastries they brought were especially fragrant, just like the ones a few days ago. While they were sound asleep, I sneaked in and took one piece. Before I could even eat it, someone outside saw me and gave chase. I had to run into the woods. He chased relentlessly. While running, he accidentally tripped and fell down the slope. I was afraid he might be seriously hurt, so I ran down to check."
At this point, she shrank back as if frightened. "He fell and knocked over a dead tree. I wanted to see if he was okay. When I got closer, I found he seemed to have passed out. His hand was pierced by something, and blood kept seeping into the ground through that thing. In the blink of an eye, he became as old as the shrine keeper grandfather. When he woke up and saw me, he kept shouting 'Monster! Monster!', scrambled up, and ran, but after only a few steps, he fell again and rolled further down the slope. I couldn't drag him, so I ran back to the earth god shrine, secretly called 'Help!' a few times from outside, and when someone came out, I led them to where he had fallen before leaving."
As if still terrified, her quills stood on end. "I've never seen anything so frightening. After that, I never dared go near that slope again. Even when foraging for food, I went to other mountains."
So that's what happened. Xu Zhixing was filled with emotion after hearing this. But hearing her mention a dead tree, he grew suspicious. Could something be suppressed there? Now that he had some cultivation, why not go and eliminate it to prevent it from harming the world later? Presumably, that thing was still trapped and couldn't leave the suppression site, meaning it must be severely injured. If it broke free, with his current cultivation, it was hard to say who would win.
"Daoist, where are you from? What brings you to these mountains?" Seeing Xu Zhixing silent, Bai Xiaowei asked, "Why do you have so many questions?"
"My name is Xu Zhixing. I live at the Hunyuan Temple in Xishan Hollow, about a hundred li from here." Seeing the innocent, romantic nature of this mountain spirit, Xu Zhixing felt very fond of her and answered honestly. "Worldly affairs disturbed the temple, so I came to the mountains for quiet cultivation."
"Daoist Xu, you're a good person like the shrine keeper grandfather. Could you do me a favor?" Bai Xiaowei looked at him expectantly. "Could you go talk to those people in the shrine? Tell them I shouldn't have stolen their pastries. I... I can find some medicinal herbs from the mountains to compensate them. That big-bearded man I pricked will definitely be in pain and itching. I know what herbs can heal him; I'll find some for him too. As long as they give up the earth god shrine and stop trying to catch me, how about that? Hmm... they don't have to give it up, just don't come after me anymore."
Xu Zhixing couldn't help but smile. He said to her, "I can do that. To be honest, the 'villains' you mentioned... are my friends. They meant no harm; it was all a misunderstanding."
"What?" Bai Xiaowei exclaimed in shock. "You're with them? And I trusted you so much, told you all this!"
Seeing her quills bristle, Xu Zhixing hurriedly said, "Don't be angry, Miss Bai. It's all a misunderstanding."
He then explained the whole story in detail. Bai Xiaowei listened, shocked and doubtful. So many things had happened that she never knew about. "Alright then. Will they really not try to catch me anymore? Even though they shot an arrow at me, I also pricked the big-bearded man. That makes us even. You can call me Xiaowei. The shrine keeper grandfather called me that too."
"Then may I call you Miss Xiaowei?"
"Sure!" Hearing Xu Zhixing address her this way, she was exceptionally happy. She scurried up close, looked up, and said, "Then can I call you Brother Xu? Shall we go to the mountain shrine now? You can talk to them."
"Alright, let's go now." Seeing her eagerness, Xu Zhixing didn't hesitate. But seeing her wound still bleeding, he bent down and asked, "Miss Xiaowei, you're injured. How about I carry you on the way?"
"No, no! Grandfather said one must observe propriety between men and women!" she said with absolute determination. "This little injury is nothing. It had already scabbed over; it just tore open again when I was running for my life earlier. I can walk by myself."
"Alright then. You lead the way; I don't know the route." Seeing her serious expression, Xu Zhixing didn't insist. He followed her towards Mount Hengliang.
Meanwhile, following Bai Xiaowei, Xu Zhixing reached the mountain shrine in about the time it takes to eat a meal. Seeing the seal, he realized that Zhao Qingran was actually a princess.
The little hedgehog, seeing the mountain shrine sealed tightly, asked puzzledly, "Brother Xu, why did they block up my home?"
Xu Zhixing smiled and explained the reason, then said, "Shall we go find that dead tree together? Don't worry, I'm with you."
"Alright," Bai Xiaowei hesitated for a moment but agreed. "If we can't fight it, we'll run. I know these paths well. Just follow me then."
"Okay." Seeing her willingness to be so brave even when scared, Xu Zhixing felt even fonder of her.
After walking about seven or eight li, before Bai Xiaowei could speak, Xu Zhixing had already pinpointed the location. The mountain ridge ahead cut off the path like a giant axe suspended before them. A heart-palpitating dark energy continuously churned and surged from underground.