Seeing Li Gou directly enter the Phantom Ghost Bamboo Forest, Qingyun Shangren's expression changed several times.
Although this brat had been fleeing in panic from his pursuit, Qingyun Shangren did not dare to even think about entering, even if the boy had valuable treasures on him.
This bamboo forest was a notorious deadly place within a hundred miles.
Over the past ten years, countless Qi Refining cultivators and demonic beasts had entered, but the vast majority never came out.
The few who did manage to come out were all insane.
They kept repeating the words "Don't eat me," which was extremely terrifying!
There were rumors that within the bamboo forest lived a Yin-Yang Ghost Mother, a cruel and murderous being who enjoyed devouring living beings' flesh and blood to enhance her cultivation.
After pondering for a moment, Qingyun Shangren decided to wait outside the bamboo forest for a while.
If the brat was lucky enough to come out insane, he could still kill him to vent his anger and might even get the treasure he carried.
...
Inside the bamboo forest.
Li Gou stopped flying and jumped off the Spiritwood Sword, gripping it tightly in his hand.
Although he had entered to escape, this did not mean the bamboo forest was not terrifying.
For some unknown reason, even at night, the white mist in this place remained clearly visible.
The faint crying he had heard earlier was becoming more distinct.
Until, suddenly, the voice appeared right behind him.
"Wuuu... my child, have you returned?"
Li Gou, like a startled frog, jumped up and turned around, infusing a large amount of spiritual energy into the Spiritwood Sword before quickly throwing it.
"Whoosh!"
The Spiritwood Sword shot out like an arrow released from a bow, aiming straight at the shadow in the mist.
The shadow raised a hand and caught the Spiritwood Sword.
Hiss—
Li Gou gasped in shock, completely stunned.
The Spiritwood Sword had enough power to penetrate solid rock.
Yet, this unknown figure, whether human or ghost, had caught it barehanded.
Terrifying!
"Wuuu... my child, how can you be so naughty? I'm your mother!" the shadow cried out.
'I'm your father!'
Li Gou cursed in his heart.
But he dared not utter a word, fearing that if he angered this entity, his life would end immediately.
Li Gou decided to play along and see if he could find a way to survive.
"Mother, is that really you? I thought I'd never see you again," Li Gou choked out, pretending to be emotional.
"Wuuu... It's been over ten years. I finally see my son again."
The shadow floated closer, revealing itself as a middle-aged woman in a white dress.
This woman looked to be in her thirties, with a fine figure and a mature charm.
However, her delicate face was deathly pale, and her lips were bloodless, as if devoid of any life.
A chill ran down Li Gou's spine, and his whole body stiffened.
This woman could play Nie Xiaoqian without needing makeup.
"Wuuu... my child, it's been over ten years. Let your mother hold you properly!"
With that, the woman pulled Li Gou into her embrace.
Li Gou's face was immediately buried in a soft, ample bosom, causing him to feel a little suffocated.
Huh?
It was surprisingly warm and soft!
It seemed it wasn't what he had imagined.
Though the scene was somewhat intimate, Li Gou, whether in this life or the previous one, was not naive.
Li Gou knew well that "lust is a sharp knife," so he did not let himself be captivated by this situation and began to think about how to handle the current predicament.
Since this woman in white mistook him for her son, for some unknown reason, Li Gou would be safe until the truth came to light.
As long as he played along, he might be able to sneak away once she relaxed.
Having made up his mind, Li Gou looked up and said, "Mother, could you let me go? I'm having trouble breathing."
Hearing this, the woman in white hurriedly released him.
She gently caressed Li Gou's cheek, looking very distressed.
"My son, you've suffered so much all these years. You've become so dark and thin. Come, let's go home. I'll make you something delicious."
The woman in white said, taking Li Gou's hand and leading him deeper into the bamboo forest.
Li Gou dared not resist but kept observing the surroundings as they walked deeper into the forest.
Apart from the pervasive white mist, the bamboo forest, while not particularly large, was also not small.
At an average walking pace, they arrived at a mist-free bamboo house after the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.
Looking up, he could see the moon and stars clearly in the sky.
Li Gou didn't linger long looking at the familiar night sky. Instead, he focused on the bamboo house.
The house was strange. It was symmetrical, divided into two sides down the middle, with each side having a living room and a kitchen.
However, the styles were completely different.
The left side of the bamboo house looked clean and serene, with open doors and windows and a vegetable garden beside it.
The right side looked eerie and filthy, with closed doors and windows, covered in fallen leaves and dust.
The woman in white led Li Gou into the left side of the bamboo house. Inside, a few glowing night pearls illuminated the room, making it very bright.
"My son, wait here for a moment. I'll go and make you something delicious."
"Mm-hmm."
Li Gou cooperated with a look of eager anticipation.
As soon as the woman in white left, Li Gou began to carefully look around.
The interior was simple. Besides the table and chairs, there was a writing desk and a bookshelf behind it.
On the desk were several freshly painted portraits of a baby boy, each vivid and lifelike.
The bookshelf contained some thick books with no dust on them, indicating they were frequently read.
However, Li Gou dared not touch anything, fearing that if he angered the woman in white and she stopped pretending he was her son, he might lose his life.
Soon, a mouthwatering smell of meat and the fresh scent of vegetables wafted in, and Li Gou's appetite was aroused.
He hadn't expected that entering the bamboo forest would not only allow him to escape his pursuer but also give him a free meal.
This fake son's identity was quite useful.
Li Gou was secretly pleased.
Before long, the woman in white brought the food to the table.
Seeing that the food looked normal and fresh, Li Gou didn't hesitate and started eating heartily.
The woman in white watched Li Gou eat with a smile, looking very happy. She held his hand and talked with him until dawn, while Li Gou cautiously played along.
Their conversation mostly consisted of trivial matters about her life in this place and questions about Li Gou's past.
As dawn approached, the woman in white's expression grew serious. She quickly moved to the door, bolted it, and took out a compass, setting up four small flags in the room's corners.
"Mother, what are you doing?" Li Gou asked curiously.
"I'm setting up the Four-Phase Formation to keep your aunt from next door from barging in while I rest. She is a demonic cultivator, bloodthirsty and cruel. I'm afraid she might harm you," the woman in white replied.
Li Gou was stunned. Although he didn't know what a demonic cultivator was, the words "bloodthirsty and cruel" were certainly not describing a good person.
"Mother, once you set up this Four-Phase Formation, will I still be able to leave?" Li Gou naturally cared most about his chance to escape.
"The Four-Phase Formation is a First-Grade Advanced Formation. Without me, you definitely can't leave, but your aunt won't be able to get in either," the woman in white replied.
It seemed there was no way to escape for now.
At least it was safe here.
Li Gou sighed inwardly.
After setting up the formation, the woman in white sat cross-legged and closed her eyes.
When the first ray of morning sunlight entered the room, she opened her eyes again, looking at Li Gou with a cold smile. She licked her lips, and her gaze was filled with bloodlust and greed, as if she had just been released from a starving prison.
"Not bad. After all this time, a new prey has finally come to me."
Li Gou was startled. The look in the woman in white's eyes now sent chills down his spine.