novelraw Chapter 109 : Mount Long
Chapter 109 : Mount Long
Chapter 109: Mount Long
“Long, is this your daughter?”
“You think this old woman looks like she could give birth to such a pretty girl?”
Granny Long smiled as she looked at the man before her.
The man chuckled. “Can’t really say. You were quite the beauty when you were young.”
“That’s all in the past.”
Another year passed.
The black-haired girl had grown a lot taller. With the help of the red fox, their human settlement was living quite well, with almost no shortage of food.
Thus, the girl was well-nourished. Her figure had become slender and tall, like a flower bud about to bloom. Though she had yet to open, she already carried the foundation of breathtaking beauty.
She held a large-tailed fox in her arms, standing beside Granny Long, watching the crowd come and go.
It was the triennial gathering of the human clans.
The location chosen was Mount Long—the place where Granny Long had been born.
The weather today was not very good; a hazy mist lingered, as if rain were about to fall.
Granny Long held the girl’s hand and explained, “Every three years, each large region holds a gathering like this. On one hand, we see how each tribe is faring, and on the other, we exchange goods.”
Today was the gathering for their local human tribes.
The girl and Granny Long had brought many animal hides.
Because the climate differed across regions, each tribe survived differently. Their tribe followed the hunter’s path, while others cultivated crops or raised silkworms.
Thus was born this barter gathering.
Granny Long handed her a bear hide and told her to trade for whatever she wanted.
This was the hide they had skinned together after killing a nearly Second Realm bear demon.
The hide of a demon and that of a beast were not the same. The hide of a Second Realm bear demon had many uses and was quite valuable at the gathering. In truth, Granny Long had secretly saved this one for her.
The girl held the fox and said softly, “I’ll trade this hide for a dress. Do you want anything? I can trade a little for you too. The rest, I’ll trade for some clothes and food, and maybe a few spirit fruits to take back for the tribe.”
She thought of the woman who had just given birth in their tribe.
The baby was so cute, always smiling at her—those chubby little hands could melt anyone’s heart.
“What a beautiful young lady,” someone exclaimed.
Now, the girl’s hair had grown long enough to cover her ears. Without the blue-green hair of the common Spirit Clan, she looked no different from an ordinary human.
Except she was too beautiful—almost unnaturally so.
It was normal for others to compliment her.
The girl forced a small smile; Granny Long had told her that was called “manners.”
She slowly walked to the stall trading clothes and pointed to a dress laid on the ground. Cutting a small piece of bear hide, she handed it over. “May I have this dress?”
“You really want the black one? I think a bright color would suit a lively girl like you better.”
The girl couldn’t help but think—
So humans were a race that tried to live well, even in such harsh conditions.
She shook her head. “The black one will do.”
The human weaver handed her the dress. “This one’s made of black silkworm silk—so it’s a fair trade.”
The fabric felt cool to the touch, without a single stray thread—proof of the tailor’s care.
The girl nodded.
Suddenly, the red fox in her arms shuddered, signaling for her to walk away.
“What’s wrong? Don’t make a fuss. I’ll buy you some dried meat later.”
She had lived with the red fox for a year now. The fox had blended into the tribe, even earning a share of the food. Lately, it had hunted diligently.
So she wanted to reward it a little.
“That way?”
The girl followed the direction the fox indicated.
There stood a strange stall owner—his body shrouded in a black robe, yet his large, sturdy build was unmistakable.
In front of him were laid out numerous bones.
Some people did trade for bones to polish into weapons, so bones had a market.
The red fox nudged her again, urging her to look closely at the stall owner.
What was strange about him?
At first glance, he seemed just a tall human.
No—something was wrong.
The girl froze. She wasn’t as sensitive as the red fox, but as a Spirit Clan, she could vaguely sense differences between races.
Perhaps the lingering resentment in all those bones was clouding her senses?
Before she could think further—
Boom!
Thunder roared through the sky. At the same time, heavy rain poured down in torrents.
The girl frowned. “It’s raining. We should find Granny Long.”
When it rained, the gathering had to pause until the skies cleared.
But just as the girl turned to leave, her pupils shrank sharply.
The stall owner, shifting slightly to avoid the rain, exposed his lower leg—and that was no human foot.
It was rough, with black claws and coarse fur.
A demon!
Why would a demon be at a human gathering?
The thunder grew louder, lightning flashing across the heavens. Something seemed to be closing in from all directions.
The girl immediately turned and ran toward the center of the gathering, clutching the fox tightly.
Then—the earth split open with a deafening crack, a massive fissure tearing all the way to the foot of Mount Long.
No.
She had to tell Granny Long!
For once, anxiety filled her chest.
Too late.
Several colossal figures loomed above, their auras terrifying even through the downpour.
Spirit Clan. Ape Clan. Bear Clan.
Hovering in the sky, the Bear Clan’s leader growled in an inhuman tongue, “There aren’t enough humans in our lands. Half of the humans here belong to us.”
The Spirit Clan being spoke calmly, “We won’t fight you for them. I only want the goods these humans crafted.”
The Spirit Clan did not enslave humans—they merely liked their woven garments and delicate foods.
The Ape Clan laughed loudly. “In that case, I’ll take the other half back to give the little monkeys something to play with.”
The cold rain lashed the girl and fox’s faces, yet they didn’t feel the chill.
The cold that gripped their bones came not from the rain—but from fear.
They were both frozen.
“Min! Go—now! The gathering’s been leaked!”
Granny Long had somehow appeared beside them, grabbing Qiu Yuehan’s hand and running with all her might into the forest.
The girl quickly reacted, holding the red fox tightly and raising her hand to summon spirits.
“Don’t use your power!”
Though she didn’t understand why, she obediently lowered her hand, clutching the fox as they fled with Granny Long.
Until a massive boulder blocked their path.
Hissing cries echoed behind them.
The Snake Clan?
Granny Long stopped abruptly before the boulder, then turned and gently patted the girl’s head.
A terrible feeling rose in the girl’s chest.
Her premonition proved true.
With a loving expression, Granny Long said, “There are demons hidden ahead too. We can’t escape.”
The girl hurriedly said, “I’ll use the spirits to take you out!”
“It’s no use. With the Snake Clan here, if we flee, we’ll only lead them to the others. More people will die... This path of life was left open on purpose.”
The Snake Clan had an acute sense of smell and excelled at tracking. Even the black mud that masked scent wouldn’t work.
If Granny Long took the girl and ran back to the tribe, the whole settlement would be captured.
“Min, listen to me—you’re not human, you’re Spirit Clan. As long as you hide, they won’t hurt you.”
Granny Long handed her a glowing stone.
It was a firestone—just one could keep the whole tribe warm through winter, warding off the bitter cold. It was the most precious thing Granny Long had traded for at Mount Long this time.
“Take this back. Remember—whatever happens, bring it home. This winter will be very cold.”
“Granny?”
Granny Long stroked Ming’s head again. “You’re a strong girl. You may not be human, but your heart is just as tenacious.”
“No...”
Before the girl could finish, a sweet scent filled her nose, and her body went limp.
That was the same enchanted incense Granny Long had bartered earlier—for hunting. The girl’s thoughts blurred.
Granny Long smiled at her and gently laid her behind a nearby stone. Then she looked at the red fox. “Protect her well.”
The red fox hesitated, then nodded.
“You too—if you ever make something of yourself, remember to lend the humans a hand.”
Granny Long reached out to pet it. This time, the fox didn’t bite her as usual—it stayed still, silent.
“No... don’t...”
Granny Long waved her hand, covering the girl’s body with grass. “Be sure to bring it back. This winter will be very cold.”
The rain fell heavily.
Drowning out Granny Long’s final words.
“Little fox... don’t quarrel with her again. She’s a very lonely child.”