So-called Mountain Patrol was not without its intricacies.
The locations where the disciples were stationed were not randomly assigned; they were strategically placed concerning the key routes leading into Ghost Ridge Palace from the outside world.
This arrangement was primarily to protect that trade route.
Located within the mountains, most of the resources for Ghost Ridge Palace had to be brought in from the outside world.
If external supplies were cut off, the black market would cease to operate, causing extreme difficulties for Ghost Ridge Palace.
The weakest disciples sent on Mountain Patrol had at least attained the Second Level of Yunling Realm, which made them much stronger on foot than ordinary people.
Even as they traversed steep mountains and ridges, their speed was not slow.
As time passed, more disciples reached their temporary stations and departed, and the long dragon-like line of disciples became shorter and shorter.
By sunset, only less than ten groups remained in the line.
"There's Niu Jiao Ridge," Su Jie said.
After crossing a ravine-filled narrow canyon, two small hills positioned like horn tips appeared in view.
"We've finally arrived," said Sun Zhihai, panting and drenched in sweat, sitting down on the ground while supporting his knees; the journey had almost worn him out.
"Black mountains and white waters, twin peaks like horns, a heart-piercing blade, precarious, truly a dangerous place!"
Looking at the terrain of Niu Jiao Ridge, Gu Weonian twisted a string of prayer beads in his left hand, murmuring under his breath.
Curiously, Su Jie asked, "Brother Gu, do you understand geomancy?"
With a self-deprecating smile, Gu Weonian responded, "A bit of this and that. I can't advance in my cultivation, so I have to pick up various other skills."
The two groups, totaling six people, headed toward Niu Jiao Ridge. As they reached the foot of the hill, they spotted wooden huts built every few hundred meters within the forest, though these places were already manned.
Six disciples waiting there kindly observed Su Jie and his group as they arrived.
The leader among these disciples, an elegantly mannered middle-aged man, immediately approached them cheerfully, "You are from Taoist Qiu's lineage, right? We received a letter from the Command Hall two days ago, we've been waiting for you. My name is Meng Dongge. I've been here twelve days, under Elder Zhong's command."
"Meng Dongge, this man is a Fifth Level of Yunling Realm, I've heard he offended an inner disciple, now it seems true. Otherwise, with his abilities, why would he be sent here?" Gu Weonian quietly said to Su Jie, who had been living in Ghost Ridge Palace for many years, and had access to much gossip.
"Mr. Meng, hello, we are ordered to be stationed here," Su Jie said, pulling out his token, speaking in formal terms.
"Mr. Meng, hello, we just arrived; sorry to trouble you." Chen Yun spoke very politely, representing her party.
Meng Dongge's expression shifted slightly, seemingly noticing that among the six people from Chen Yun's side, she had the highest cultivation, and his tone became considerably warmer.
"It's fine, it's fine. I'll lead you to your station. Having more people increases our sense of security. You wouldn't believe, but I haven't had a good night's sleep in half a month."
"Thank you."
"Let's go, let's head over together."
The group moved towards the temporary station and soon Su Jie and Chen Yun's teams were assigned to adjacent wooden huts on the left side of the peak at Niu Jiao Ridge, approximately two kilometers away from the huts on the right side of the peak where Meng Dongge and others were stationed.
Meng Dongge distributed some supplies necessary for living and repeated a few points of caution before turning to leave.
"He's really a good man! Much more pleasant than that guy named Chen Koudang who we just met," Sun Zhihai exclaimed as he watched Meng Dongge walk away. Sincere disciples like this were rare among the often indifferent and ruthless Ghost Ridge Palace disciples.
Gu Weonian nodded and added, "Earlier, Meng Dongge mentioned hoping we could come over to share the burden and collectively face the threat of Alien Ghosts, a common human reaction, he's genuinely sincere."
"Right?"
Finding agreement, Sun Zhihai then turned to Su Jie and asked, "Brother Su, what do you think?"
"Instead of discussing this, let's clean up the house first," replied Su Jie, not delving too much into the conversation.
After all, he felt that, in a Demon Cultivation Sect like Ghost Ridge Palace, finding a genuinely good person was extraordinarily difficult.
As they talked, Su Jie stepped forward and pushed open the wooden door of the three-story wooden house in front of him.
Such wooden huts were not temporarily built but had long been established.
Disciples sometimes used them for short stays while on missions outside, and the houses contained dry food and simple bedding.
However, as these instances were relatively rare and the houses were only used for temporary rest, no one cleaned them, leaving the houses generally very filthy.
Creak!
The grating sound of the heavy wooden door opening as Su Jie walked into the house first.
The interior was not as disorderly as he had expected; rather, it was exceptionally well-kept.
Running a finger across the surface of a table, Su Jie rolled his fingers together, finding no dust.
Looking up, the ceiling also bore no cobwebs.
It seemed that not long ago, someone had still been living and cleaning this place.
Turning to Gu Weonian and Sun Zhihai, who had just entered, Su Jie said, "There must have been people stationed in this room before we arrived. Did they mention if anyone other than Meng Dongge's group had been stationed here at Niu Jiao Ridge?"
Taken aback, Gu Weonian said, "Who knows! You can only find out the details of the disciples' assignments at the Command Hall, but no one cares unless it's an inner disciple."
"Perhaps some disciples cleaned it when they temporarily stationed here, saving us the trouble."
Sun Zhihai put down his bundle, opened all the doors and windows, and then picked out a room for himself.
"Brother Su, what are you thinking about?"
Seeing Su Jie's slight frown, Gu Weonian was puzzled.
"Meng Dongge only mentioned fearing the threat of the Alien Ghost. I remember they hadn't encountered an Alien Ghost, had they?"
"No, he seems not to have mentioned that. Is there a problem?"
"Did you notice? Meng Dongge's two teams were perfectly intact, six people exactly. If a team had been stationed here before we arrived and they encountered an Alien Ghost disaster, yet Meng Dongge's group remained unharmed with all members accounted for, don't you think there's a problem?"
Su Jie shared some of his suspicions, as now was not the time for riddles since everyone was in the same trench—more fighting power meant more security.
Old and cunning, Gu Weonian was woken up by Su Jie's hint and couldn't help saying, "Are you suggesting we fell into a trap?"
"Not sure, but it's possible, considering the house was chosen by Meng Dongge."
As Su Jie's tightly knit brows relaxed, he continued, "I want to find another stationary spot. Whether it's true or not, it's safer to be cautious."
As they say, a wise man does not stand beneath a tottering wall. Su Jie was unwilling to take risks, especially those concerning life.
"Right, let's change places."
Surviving to such an old age in a ruthless sect like Ghost Ridge Palace, Gu Weonian might not have the best talent, but he knew that being cautious ensured longevity, albeit sounding either careful or cowardly.
Hearing Su Jie's words and harboring suspicions, Gu Weonian wisely decided to follow.
Just then, Sun Zhihai, who had chosen his room upstairs, came down and asked, "Hey, aren't you choosing rooms? I've taken the one on the left upstairs. Pick another one."
"Brother Sun, we plan to change our stationing spot," Gu Weonian said, immediately sharing Su Jie's suspicions with Sun.
"Ah! Could it be that you're overthinking it?"
Hearing this, Sun Zhihai was reluctant, since cleaning another house would be required.
"Anyway, I'm leaving."
Su Jie glanced at him, picked up his bundle, and walked out the door.
"Brother Sun, it'd be best for you to come with us," Gu Weonian kindly admonished, grabbing his bundle and quickly following Su Jie.
"Hey, you guys, I'm coming too, don't leave me behind!"
Although somewhat reluctant, Sun Zhihai was more afraid of being left alone.
Seeing the two walking away, he hurriedly packed his bundle and caught up with Su Jie and Gu Weonian.
At Niu Jiao Ridge, similar wooden houses were numerous. Su Jie did not go far and stopped at one about seven to eight hundred meters away.
"This is the place. Let's clean the house first."
As Su Jie pushed open the door of the chosen wooden house, a musty smell wafted out. The table and floor were covered with a thick layer of dust, indicating it had been uninhabited for a long time.
"Brother Su, about Chen Yun, should we go over and remind him…"
Gu Weonian hesitated and then tentatively spoke.
"I'm not that petty. However, others might not believe it or want to move."
Su Jie was noncommittal. Being a good person was not easy these days.
Patting his chest, Gu Weonian said, "No worries, I'll just go and let him know."
"Then go quickly and come back quickly."
Su Jie looked at the sky; the sun was already setting behind the mountains.
Though the Alien Ghosts roamed day and night, nighttime remained their most active period, making it too dangerous to be out alone.
"Alright, I'm heading there now."
Gu Weonian immediately set off, considering the distance wasn't too far.
Meanwhile, Su Jie and Sun Zhihai started cleaning the house, not thoroughly but just removing the dust accumulated in the living areas.
Su Jie also set up a few simple bell traps afterward, though these were hardly effective against Alien Ghosts.
Alien Ghosts weren't mere beasts. They possessed high intelligence and knew how to avoid common traps.
The real security measure was the dozen dragonflies Su Jie released. Their panoramic vision greatly facilitated surveillance the area.
Besides the dragonflies, Su Jie also released a few small moths since dragonflies' vision at night was poor, and night-active moths could compensate for this lack.