Chapter 32 I'll be with you
The mountain was covered with lush vegetation, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow. The windless environment was extremely hot and humid. Apart from Chen Cheng, Cheng Ming and Zhang Qian were both covered in sweat. After walking for more than ten minutes, Cheng Ming pointed to an open area ahead and said, "This is it. I remember it very clearly. There are a few perfectly flat rocks here."
Chen Cheng walked closer and looked around carefully, then asked, "Where did your sister-in-law relieve herself last time?"
"This way."
As Cheng Ming pointed out the way, Chen Cheng followed him into the more secluded and remote mountain forest.
"This is it."
Chen Cheng looked around and saw nothing but rocks and tall trees. He took a few more steps forward and, through the thick thorns, discovered that there was a cliff ahead. He squatted down and carefully smelled the surrounding air, and then he understood.
"Did you find anything?"
"I'm not sure yet."
Chen Cheng stood up, clapped his hands, and replied to Zhang Qian.
Back at the place where Cheng Ming's family had their picnic, Chen Cheng took the cigarette that Cheng Ming offered him, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled, saying, "You two wait here for me for a bit, I'm going to go up to a higher place to take a look!"
"I'll go with you."
"I'm going to climb to a high mountain peak. It's hot and tiring. Why are you coming with me?"
"It's okay, I'm not afraid."
Zhang Qian said stubbornly.
Chen Cheng looked at Cheng Ming's smiling face, shook his head and smiled wryly in response, then stopped talking and started climbing up the slope to the side, while stretching out one hand.
Zhang Qian felt a warmth in her heart, reached out and pulled him along.
And so, Chen Cheng struggled to climb up, having to turn around every now and then to help Zhang Qian. At this moment, she felt a pang of regret, not because of the heat and exhaustion, but because her own willfulness had made Chen Cheng's life even harder.
"Brother Cheng, I'll wait for you here."
"What's wrong? Are you tired?"
Chen Cheng asked with a grin.
"You're working so hard, and you still have to take care of me."
"Oh ho, so you know how to care about people now?"
"Um".
In the past, Zhang Qian would have spat and made sarcastic remarks, but ever since she confessed her feelings to Chen Cheng, she no longer wanted to do that.
I still prefer you the way you were before!
Chen Cheng sighed inwardly, but maintained a cheerful expression on the surface.
"Yeah"?
"Yeah, it would be great if we could work together and bicker at the same time!"
"Get lost! You don't appreciate my kindness, but you enjoy being insulted!"
"Hehe, this is the taste!"
Chen Cheng laughed loudly and then said, "Little sister Qianqian, wait for me here. Your brother will come down to pick you up in a bit!"
"Get lost, and you watch out too."
Chen Cheng laughed heartily and continued climbing. Without Zhang Qian following him, he was noticeably faster. Watching his agile figure climbing the mountain wall made Zhang Qian's heart pound with fear, afraid that he might accidentally tumble down.
Chen Cheng climbed several dozen meters in one breath, then grabbed a tree branch and turned to look down. Sure enough, the weasel's nest was on the cliff protrusion below. Not far from the protrusion, on the cliff face, there was a towering rock, bare and without any obstacles around it. This should be the perfect place for the weasel to worship the moon and absorb its essence.
After observing the terrain, they prepared to go back and make preparations. They would come early tomorrow to arrange everything and wait for the weasel to fall into their trap. This guy must have been cultivating his chains for one or two hundred years, so they had to be extremely careful.
Returning along the way, Zhang Qian watched with trepidation as he rushed down from above to stand before her.
"How is the observation going?"
"It's alright. I'll go back and prepare this afternoon, and come again tomorrow."
"Will it enter Mulili's dream again tonight?"
"Last night, the two of us joined forces to cut off its legs, which was equivalent to severing a small part of its soul. It should be severely weakened. Tonight, I will give the couple a soul-stabilizing spell, and they will definitely be fine!"
Going up the mountain is easy, but coming down is difficult. It was just a short slope, but the two of them struggled a lot to get down. Zhang Qian's arm was not very flexible, so Chen Cheng had to pull her down the whole time.
Back in the county town, the group ate something casually, and Chen Cheng instructed Cheng Ming to buy several dozen meters of thin nylon rope and a large amount of sulfur powder.
Back home, he instructed his wife and son to divide the sulfur powder into smaller portions and pack them into a dozen small bags. He then found a basin, poured in half a basin of water, and soaked the rope in the water. He took out two concealment talismans, silently recited the incantation, and made a hand seal. The talismans spontaneously combusted without wind. He threw the talisman ash into the basin of water and chanted, "Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zhen, Lie, Qian, Xing," while his hands quickly formed a hand seal. Then, a golden light carrying Taoist energy struck the rope soaking in the water. The entire rope flashed with golden light and then disappeared. Zhang Qian, who was standing next to him, naturally could not see this miraculous scene.
"Are you done yet?"
Seeing Chen Cheng breathe a sigh of relief, Zhang Qian asked.
"Who's going to take charge? How could it not be good?"
"Pah, you conceited arrogance."
"Master Chen, we've packed the sulfur powder. What's the next step?"
Cheng Ming walked over and asked.
"There's basically nothing to do this afternoon; the main task is tomorrow night!"
Chen Cheng took out two talismans: "Although the evil spirit was injured by me, to be absolutely sure, you and your lover should each wear one close to your body tonight. I will get rid of it tomorrow night, and then you can rest easy!"
"Thank you, Master Chen. Thank you, Master Chen."
Chen Cheng waved his hand and said, "No need to thank me. It is our Taoist sect's duty to slay demons and monsters. Qianqian and I will go shopping later and meet up with you again at noon tomorrow so we can go up the mountain together!"
Zhang Qian was overjoyed when she heard that Chen Cheng wanted to take her out, but what about tonight? What should she do?
"Master Chen, you're going to stay somewhere else? Alright, I'll go book a room for you!"
Cheng Ming gave Zhang Qian a meaningful look and said.
Zhang Qian blushed upon hearing this.
"No need, we'll go shopping and find it ourselves. You stay home and take care of your sister-in-law."
"Alright, alright!"
After saying goodbye to Cheng Ming, Chen Cheng took Zhang Qian into the car.
"Where are we going?"
"Go to the hospital first and have the doctor check your arm. Your wound is so long, it would be bad if it got infected."
Zhang Qian secretly praised his thoughtfulness. In fact, she had felt some discomfort in her injury yesterday, but she had insisted on coming along despite his advice, so she was too embarrassed to mention it.
Chen Cheng turned on the navigation and headed straight to the hospital. After the doctor removed the gauze from her arm, he found that the suture site of the wound was a little red and swollen, which was a symptom of inflammation. He applied anti-inflammatory medicine again, changed the gauze, prescribed some anti-inflammatory medicine, and explained the precautions before the two left.
Once in the car, Chen Cheng noticed that Zhang Qian was in a bad mood and asked, "What's wrong, Qianqian?"
"Sigh, even if the wound heals, it will leave a long scar, and I won't be able to wear short sleeves in the summer anymore."
"Isn't there medicine for treating scars?"
"I asked, and they said it can only lighten the scar; it will still leave a faint scar."
"It's alright. Once your wound heals, I'll prescribe some Chinese herbal medicine for you. You'll be fine after a few uses!"
"Really"?
Zhang Qian asked in surprise.
"What good would it do me to lie to you?"
"Smack!" Zhang Qian reached out and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hey, I'm driving, and you're blatantly taking advantage of me?"
"Others would rather I take advantage of them than have them, so you should be secretly happy. These past two days, I've given you my first kiss, my first touch, and my first hug. What more do you want?"
Chen Cheng liked her playful side, but it would only hurt her.