Chapter 129: The Vanishing Woodcutter

The Evil Wind Beast flicked its tongue, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse at Lu Han, having been rudely awakened from a pleasant dream. Suddenly, its vertical pupils constricted.

"Wait, she's following us."

The beast’s snake-like tail subtly pointed behind Lu Han, signaling that the mysterious woman was still trailing them. Whether she had overheard their conversation or not, the woman emerged from the woods, maintaining a constant, watchful distance.

At first, Lu Han hadn't paid much attention, simply seeking a populated area to determine his location and find his way back to Maple Leaf City. But after the Evil Wind Beast poked his arm with its tail and he looked back to see her still there, he was startled.

Lu Han offered a wry smile. "Miss, while I don't know why you are doing this, it must have something to do with the Cold Pearl in my Niwan Palace. I honestly have no idea of its origin, nor can I control it. Its appearance in my mind was entirely an accident."

The mysterious woman looked at him intently and gave a slight nod. She believed him; few others would have even recognized what it was.

*Although it has been transformed, the aura is unmistakable. How could it possibly be controlled by a human, and a First-Heaven Xiantian at that?* she wondered. She could not fathom why, given her deep connection to the pearl, it had chosen Lu Han and even manifested to protect him. Her pride found this hard to accept; she considered herself superior to any prodigy, and Lu Han seemed entirely unremarkable. She decided to stay and observe just what made him different.

"Sooner or later, you will choose me."

Seeing that the woman had no intention of engaging further, Lu Han shrugged and continued on his way.

"This is the Yanglin Hill, on the outskirts of the Beast Mountain Range," her cold, clear voice reached his ears.

Lu Han turned back in surprise, not expecting her to take the initiative to speak.

"The outskirts of the Beast Mountain Range... that makes sense," he muttered, nodding. The Soul-Chaos Plain was not far from these mountains.

*Now that the Nether Crow Throne has vanished along with the last shred of the Nether Heaven Great Sage's consciousness, the Soul-Chaos Plain no longer possesses that oppressive aura,* Lu Han mused. *Still, I dare not cross it easily; it is better to take a detour.*

The major sects and influential families stationed at the Soul-Chaos Plain were filled with experts far beyond the Third-Heaven Xiantian, some even reaching the Profound Monarch realm—like the elder from the Flying Snake Sect he had encountered earlier. Lu Han was only at the First-Heaven Xiantian level. While he might hold his own among his peers, he would have no chance of escape against a Profound Monarch, especially if he ran into the Flying Snake Sect again.

"I wonder what happened to her?" Lu Han sighed softly.

When the Nether Crow Throne had pulled him and the strange man into the inheritance space, Lu Han had lost consciousness. He knew nothing of what followed.

"I did my best. If the throne hadn't saved my life, my soul would have departed long ago. I suppose that settles my debt for Princess Qingcheng's kindness to my Lu family. It's a pity about my Biluo Sword; it’s likely in the hands of the Flying Snake Sect's young master now."

In that situation, Princess Qingcheng had no chance of escape. What Lu Han did not know was that Tan Jun, the young master of the Flying Snake Sect, was dead, and the Princess had left the Evil Wind Cave carrying his Biluo Sword. But that was a story for another time. The Biluo Sword was a rare divine weapon left to him by his master, Old Ling. If the old man were to wake up now, Lu Han would surely be in for a tongue-lashing.

Lost in thought, Lu Han walked toward the edge of the forest for half a day, the mysterious woman following in silence.

Suddenly, a song drifted toward them:
*Looking at the game, the wood handle rots; chopping wood, the sounds echo. At the edge of the clouds, I seek my path. Selling firewood to buy wine, laughing wildly to satisfy my spirit. Near the alley in high autumn, resting against the mountain god’s roots beneath the moon. Waking at dawn, recognizing the old forest; climbing cliffs and crossing ridges, ax in hand to cut withered vines. Collecting a bundle to walk the market, trading for three measures of wine. With no schemes or calculations, the price is fair...*

A woodcutter carrying a load of firewood appeared, singing as he walked.

Lu Han stepped forward, blocking his path, and cupped his hands. "Brother, is there a village or city nearby? How far is it?"

The woodcutter did not seem surprised. He gently set down his load, wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel, and pointed to the northeast. "To enter the Beast Mountain Range, you must pass through the Beast Town. It’s less than twenty miles from here."

"Many thanks," Lu Han said, bowing. He immediately set off to the northeast, the woman close behind.

The woodcutter watched their backs, seemingly in thought, then nodded slightly at Lu Han. A flash of green light emerged from his palm and sank into Lu Han's back—a movement neither Lu Han nor the mysterious woman noticed. The woodcutter smiled at the woman, shook his head, and vanished, as if he had never been there at all.

Not long after, Lu Han frowned. He felt something was wrong, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"The mysterious woman, the Cold Pearl, the Evil Wind Beast, the mountain song, the woodcutter! Yes, the woodcutter!"

The realization hit him. "How could there be a woodcutter in the Beast Mountain Range? Usually, only martial artists come here seeking fortune or rare treasures. A woodcutter without a trace of cultivation energy appearing here is completely illogical."

This was the Beast Mountain Range, teeming with beasts. Even on the outskirts, there were many Second-Level Xiantian beasts. Only mercenary groups or groups of travelers dared to enter. Unless one was a Profound Monarch or an Earth King, it was suicide.

Deciding to investigate, Lu Han turned back. But the spot was empty. There was no woodcutter, not even a footprint; he had vanished into thin air.

"Who was that? Why was he here? It was as if he were waiting for me!"

The mysterious woman watched from the side, silent.

"Lu Han, that was definitely no woodcutter," the Evil Wind Beast remarked.

"You're just realizing that now?" Lu Han replied.

Finding no traces, he gave up and headed back toward the Beast Town.

"Heh, an interesting little fellow," a faint, aged voice echoed shortly after they left.