Because of its innate preferences, or perhaps due to that demon immortal from years ago, the living being sought by the shanxiao is usually a mortal maiden, rather than a beast from the mountains.

"The fifteenth is the day after tomorrow, and the night should be a full moon."

Brian Carter showed a contemplative expression and sat down on the chair. "At that time, the moonlight will spill over the mountains, the yin energy will be deep and eerie. That should be when the shanxiao sets its own ritual."

He pondered what he had learned, calculating how much confidence he could have.

"Before then, Little Grace shouldn't be in any real danger."

He thought to himself, "There are still two days to prepare; it's not a certain death situation..."

Chapter Two: Request

The next day, at dawn.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the morning sun was rising.

Brian Carter got up early and went around gathering some things.

Brush and ink, cinnabar, a black dog, a butcher's knife.

Because of last night's incident, the village of Li was quite unsettled, with talk everywhere. Some people had already formed groups, carrying steel forks, hunting spears, and other weapons, heading into the mountains to search.

However, most people believed that Mr. Foster's granddaughter was already doomed, and held little hope. Now, they were just doing all they could and leaving the rest to fate.

As for the depths of the mountains, it was always a place where people went in but never came out. Even the best hunters dared not venture deep. This search was mostly around the mountain's outskirts.

"Brian Carter... Brian Carter..."

Just as Brian Carter finished preparing and returned to the house, he heard someone calling—it was Mr. Foster inviting him.

"You go back and take care of Mr. Foster first. I'll come over in a bit."

Brian Carter tidied up for a moment, then went out.

...

"You know talismanic arts?"

As soon as Brian Carter stepped into the room, he heard this question.

Mr. Foster was already awake, waiting at home. He sat on the bed, propping himself up, leaning against the wall, breathing slightly heavily.

His face was pale, completely bloodless, but his mind was still clear.

At this moment, he quietly watched Brian Carter, waiting for an answer.

Brian Carter paused, then nodded and said, "I know a little."

Mr. Foster pondered for a moment and said, "Cinnabar is a substance of strong yang energy, black dog blood wards off evil. What, then, is the purpose of the butcher's knife?"

Brian Carter paused, then replied, "The butcher's knife is used daily to slaughter pigs and sheep. Its murderous aura is fierce and can be used as a deterrent."

Mr. Foster nodded slightly and said to the young man beside him, "Go, dig up the thing I told you about this morning."

The young man was honest and simple, named Henry Collins, kind-hearted, and was taking care of Mr. Foster. Hearing the order, he responded, grabbed a hoe, and hurried outside.

Brian Carter remained silent, quietly waiting.

Mr. Foster seemed a bit absent-minded, as if lost in thought.

For a while, there was silence.

Until Henry Collins brought something in.

It was a wooden box, covered in dust.

At Mr. Foster's signal, Brian Carter opened the wooden box. Inside was a booklet, and beneath the booklet, a long blade wrapped in tattered cloth, with spots of rust faintly visible.

A chilling, sharp aura rushed out, and in an instant, it felt as if he was standing amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"This is..."

Brian Carter was slightly surprised, turned his head to look, a bit puzzled.

"A blade that has killed people must have a fiercer aura than one used to slaughter pigs and dogs, right?"

Mr. Foster smiled faintly. "Besides, this blade has killed more than just one person."

"This is no ordinary blade." Brian Carter's pupils narrowed slightly. "This is a standard military saber, its murderous aura far surpasses the butcher's knife I have. The years... seem to be quite long as well."

Mr. Foster sighed softly. "It's an old story from many years ago."

Brian Carter closed the wooden box, looked at Mr. Foster, and said, "It seems Mr. Foster is not an ordinary person."

"I... once served under Franklin Foster in my early years. After Franklin Foster passed away, I stayed by the side of Franklin Foster's son, General Grant Foster."

Mr. Foster let out a long sigh. "Back then, General Grant Foster was defeated in battle, the army collapsed and scattered. I fled here, and as I grew old and frail, I no longer wished to return to the battlefield, so I stayed here."

Brian Carter pondered for a moment.

He was well aware of the current state of the world and the changes among the various states.

Because the matter of the Investiture of the Gods involved both immortals and mortals, it was not only among cultivators, but even the battlefields of the mortal world were the main stage for the Investiture.

Now the world is divided into three.

The village of Li, where Brian Carter was now, was on the southern border of Shu.

Further south was Nanliang.

To the north was Yuanmeng.

Franklin Foster, whose name was Samuel Foster, served as the Prime Minister of Shu. He was extremely talented, able to govern the country and command the army, making Shu unprecedentedly powerful, but later died of illness.

His son Grant Foster inherited military power, but was defeated in a campaign against Nanliang and died for his country.

Now, there are two people in charge of Shu's military. The chief is a general who surrendered from Nanliang, a disciple of Samuel Foster, named Patrick Harris, who serves as Grand General. The second is Douglas Reed, who also holds military power, though slightly less than Patrick Harris.

"This blade... was General Grant Foster's saber."

Old Foster sighed. "That booklet is Franklin Foster's handwritten manuscript."

Brian Carter asked, "What is written inside?"

Old Foster said, "Franklin Foster was well-versed in formations and talismanic scripts. Inside are his insights into these arts."

Brian Carter was suddenly shocked. "This Franklin Foster was a cultivator?"