Grant Foster, though disgraced due to defeat in battle, was nevertheless a battle-hardened general, having survived countless fights and slain hundreds beneath his blade.

The murderous intent of the long saber surged forth, chilling to the bone, as if a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood appeared before him; in an instant, the air was filled with the roars and wails of ten thousand souls.

Even an ordinary person gripping this blade would feel a chilling dread, let alone Brian Carter, who was half a cultivator himself.

“Old Foster buried the blade outside, likely aware of its dangers. If this saber were kept under the bed or in the house, its heavy baleful aura would damage the feng shui, harm the body, and even invade the soul.”

The blade was forged of metal, belonging to the element of metal in the five phases, and its sharpness could wound. Having slain so many living beings, it was stained with too much blood, its spirit diminished, and its murderous, yin-laden aura grew heavier—truly a deadly weapon.

It is said that when a person is fierce, even ghosts and gods are startled; so it is with a deadly weapon—its aura alone can intimidate lesser spirits and monsters.

“It's a pity I have no magical power, or I could inscribe a fire talisman to enhance the saber’s effect.”

Brian Carter felt a tinge of regret.

Among the five elements, fire overcomes metal, and also subdues yin and baleful energies.

He had no magical power; if he forcibly inscribed a fire talisman on the blade, it would diminish its sharpness and reduce its baleful aura, making it not worth the loss.

“So be it. This... can be considered adequate preparation.”

Chapter Five: Entering the Mountain

That day, after noon.

Brian Carter entered the mountain.

Along the way, some people saw him and, upon learning his intent, hurriedly tried to dissuade him, fearing he might meet with misfortune in the mountains.

After all, in everyone’s eyes, Little Grace was likely already lost.

But Brian Carter was resolute and entered the mountains nonetheless.

Deep in the forest, the wilderness was desolate.

No human voices, only the calls of birds and insects.

Everywhere he looked, there were traces of wild animals.

Brian Carter walked through the mountains, observing his surroundings. He had some knowledge of feng shui and sensed that the terrain here was quite extraordinary.

“The orientation of the nearby mountain ranges, the flow of the land—this is excellent feng shui, truly a marvel of nature, the work of gods and spirits.”

He walked through the mountains, saber in hand, exuding murderous intent enough to scare off ordinary small beasts.

This was the mountain’s outer edge, where fierce birds and beasts were rarely seen.

“Tonight is the full moon. When the moonlight falls, where should it land?”

Brian Carter wandered about, studying the terrain—its rises and falls, its winding lines.

Just then, his gaze sharpened as he looked toward a mountain.

The peak was not high, but atop it stood a thatched hut.

The hut was neither tall nor wide, covering about three zhang.

Deep in the forest, where wild beasts roamed, someone had actually built a hut and lived here?

Brian Carter showed a look of astonishment.

He moved forward, climbing the mountain.

The hut was empty.

But there were no weeds growing around it, and peering in through the window, he saw no dust inside. Clearly, it was not abandoned—someone still lived here.

“I wonder which reclusive master resides here?”

Brian Carter dared not intrude and so withdrew.

But as soon as he turned, he spotted a particular terrain, his eyes lighting up.

“High on all sides, shallow in the center, like a treasure basin. A stream winds nearby, able to gather water vapor and moonlight alike.”

“If the moon is directly overhead tonight, that spot should be where the moonlight is most concentrated.”

“If it’s off-center, then perhaps not.”

Brian Carter had only found the place most likely to gather moonlight when the moon was at its zenith.

But as the moon rose, it might not be directly overhead; it could be in any direction, and the place where the moonlight gathered would differ.

“I still need to search further.”

“Fortunately, the weather is good and won’t obscure the moonlight.”

...

That night.

No wind, no rain, no clouds.

The sky was dotted with stars, the moon high overhead.

The moonlight was clear and bright, pouring down.

The mountains were no longer gloomy and oppressive, but instead seemed to glow with clarity.

Birds and beasts were all at rest; only insects chirped and night birds fluttered.

From time to time came long, drawn-out howls, like wolves baying, sending chills down the spine.

But in the darkness, another figure quietly emerged from a cave.

It closely resembled a human, but was covered in jet-black fur, like a cross between an ape and a monkey.

Yet on closer inspection, it was different.

Though covered in black hair, a tuft of white fur grew atop its head, its ears hung down to its shoulders, and its long arms reached past its knees, nearly touching the ground.

Compared to ordinary apes and monkeys, its body was almost as tall as a human—an unusually robust specimen among its kind.

Its eyes were pale gold, wary as it looked around.

After a moment, it made sure all was safe, then returned to the cave. Soon after, it emerged carrying a little girl.

The girl had delicate features and a pretty face, but she was extremely haggard, barely clinging to life.

The ape-like creature tucked the girl under its left arm and moved forward.

The moonlight was thickest in that spot.

It did not know how to absorb the essence of the sun and moon, but was driven by instinct, by a natural urge.

It was agile, climbing mountains and crossing ridges at great speed. Even with a girl under its arm, it seemed unaffected.

But just as it was about to climb the peak, there was a rustling sound, as if something was swiftly moving through the grass.

The creature suddenly halted, stopping in its tracks.

“Found you.”

A voice came from the woods, tinged with relief.

Then, from among the vines hanging from the trees, a fair, smooth hand reached out, seeming to glow in the moonlight.