At this point, Zhou Chun listened to the words of the mysterious person and quickly jumped out to look for Yan'er. However, to his shock, he couldn't find any trace of Yan'er. This frightened him greatly. At first, he assumed that Yan'er had gone nearby to relieve himself, but as the cries from others echoed around him, he became increasingly worried. He didn't dare to leave the spot because he was afraid Yan'er would return and not find him.
Amidst his confusion, he heard a faint voice from inside the house saying, "Why haven't you left yet?" Zhou Chun replied, "I just separated from my companion, and I can't find him. I am not sure if it's the monster you mentioned that took him away."
The person inside the house replied, "The monster is active at night, not before midnight. I don't believe your friend is taken by the monster. You should quickly visit the Great Master Baiyun. She can help you. Don't delay any longer."
With no better options, Zhou Chun followed the advice and moved forward. After walking for about five miles, he heard a strange sound behind him and a pungent odor. Sensing danger, he sped up, but as he reached a temple, the wind suddenly stopped.
Zhou Chun turned around and saw two red lanterns in the dense fog that appeared to be flying back and forth on the road he had just taken. The moonlight was bright, and the scene was clearly visible. He felt chills down his spine and realized that he was in a dangerous situation.
He decided to seek shelter and approached the temple. Inside, there were two withered willow trees in front of the temple. The moonlight cast a fragmented shadow on the ground, creating a serene atmosphere. The temple itself wasn't large, and the room where the religious scriptures were chanted was filled with the sound of sutra recitations. It seemed the temple's master was engaged in night prayers. A young novice girl brought tea and vegetarian food for Zhou Chun and disappeared into the temple.
Zhou Chun waited anxiously, but his curiosity got the better of him. He got up and went towards the rear courtyard, where he heard a conversation between a man and a woman. They spoke softly, with the man asking, "Second Senior Brother, why are you here so late? What can I learn from you?"
The woman replied, "I'm making inquiries about the monster on Yunling Mountain, which is not far from here. I saw a young boy by the side of the road, and he was in danger. I rescued him from the monster's clutches and used my sword to drive it away. I have brought him with me, and he's now being cared for by my disciple. His name is Zhou Chun, and I'd like to reunite him with his master."
The man said, "I came from Yunling Mountain, and I noticed the monster as well. I was about to investigate when I encountered a young boy. I saved him and sent him to Baiyun Mountain, then returned here. I came inside, and I found the young boy sitting in the Buddha Hall, so I believe you were about to meet him."
The woman responded, "You arrived just in time. The monster is formidable, and it took me a lot of effort to restrain it. It's lucky you came to assist me."
The man said, "The monster was indeed terrifying. My Xuan Yin sword was not enough to defeat it, only to drive it away. It's a good thing you were close by."
At this point, the woman noticed Zhou Chun standing outside the window and asked him to enter.
Zhou Chun was engrossed in their conversation. When the people inside asked him to enter, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and his face turned red. He walked inside, and in the room, he saw a middle-aged female monk, around forty or fifty years old, and a Daoist with a long beard and sharp eyes. Zhou Chun recognized that they were extraordinary individuals and bowed respectfully. The monk and Daoist both extended their hands to help him up and said, "No need for formalities."
The female monk, who had earlier rescued Zhou Chun, introduced herself as Yuan Yuan and mentioned that the Daoist was her senior brother, Li Yuanhua, also known as Bearded Immortal. She then asked Zhou Chun, "We have just talked about you, and your talented disciple has been accepted by Senior Brother Bearded Immortal. Are you willing to part with him?"
Zhou Chun replied, "My disciple is young, and it's an honor that he caught the attention of Senior Brother Bearded Immortal. I'm still an inexperienced teacher, and I fear I may hinder his progress. I wholeheartedly support him being under your guidance. However, on the way here, I encountered a person who is afflicted by a demonic poison, and his life is in grave danger. I beseech both of you great immortals to save him."
Bearded Daoist asked, "Is that person named Shi Lin? I came across him on the way and saved him. I have already taken him back to my mountain."
Zhou Chun expressed his gratitude, and Great Master Baiyun suggested, "You arrived at a fortunate moment. We shouldn't delay any further. Tomorrow morning, we will slay the demon together."
Bearded Daoist inquired, "What kind of demon is this, and why is it so powerful?"
Great Master Baiyun explained, "Originally, this mountain wasn't named Yunling Mountain. It earned its name when a snake demon took residence there. It would exhale poisonous mists in the morning and evening, which would then create beautiful clouds and illuminate the mountain. People found the sight breathtaking, so for the past hundred years, this mountain has been called Yunling Mountain. Initially, the demon only exhaled clouds without harming anyone. However, over the past three years, it has become more malevolent. It remains dormant in its cave from the hour of the Dragon (7 am) to the hour of the Rooster (5 pm). Travelers who pass during this time are unharmed, but those who do not are rarely spared from its deadly attacks. In these three years, I have fought the demon many times, but it has always managed to escape unharmed. It knows my strength and flees whenever it approaches my temple. Earlier, I heard the wind and knew the demon was nearby. It likely retreated when it heard you knocking."
Zhou Chun now understood why the demon had not pursued him earlier. Great Master Baiyun continued, "To defeat one creature, you need another. I have heard that the Grandmaster at Huangshan, Canxiao, possesses the remedy. At first, she was reluctant to part with it, as it is a treasure of her mountain. However, after I personally went there, I managed to borrow it yesterday. It was fortunate that you and Bearded Immortal arrived, as I believe the time to subdue this demon is drawing near."