Chapter 1504 - 1501: Under the Moon

Ye Qiu followed Fang Wushang's finger and indeed saw the moon seemingly standing right on top of a mountain peak.

"You mean that peak is right under the moon, truly under the moon."

Fang Wushang nodded and said, "We don't have any concrete leads now; we can only head there and see."

Ye Qiu thought it over and felt that Fang Wushang made some sense, so he nodded and said, "If that's the case, let's go check out that peak."

With that, he picked up Fang Wushang in one arm and Black Panther in the other, descending back to the ground from the peak.

Without the biting cold wind at the top of the peak, Fang Wushang immediately felt much more comfortable.

"Let's go." Ye Qiu said to Fang Wushang, "We're heading to below the moon now."

Upon hearing this, Fang Wushang nodded immediately and said, "Alright."

Looking at Fang Wushang walking ahead, Ye Qiu would be lying if he said he wasn't moved. Fang Wushang's willingness to accompany him so tirelessly touched the softest part of his heart.

"What are you doing? Hurry up, or the moon will vanish." Fang Wushang noticed Ye Qiu standing there not keeping up and quickly said.

Ye Qiu nodded immediately, then ran quickly to Fang Wushang's side, and together they walked toward the mountain peak.

Black Panther trotted directly behind them, leaving a trail of small footprints in the snow.

Ye Qiu and Fang Wushang soon arrived at the peak they talked about earlier. Fang Wushang looked up and said, "This mountain doesn't seem so high."

Ye Qiu nodded and said, "But from the previous peak, the moon is closest to this one; we should still go up. Maybe height doesn't matter."

Fang Wushang nodded immediately, letting Ye Qiu hold onto him. Despite his skills, Fang Wushang hoped Ye Qiu would keep holding him while climbing this peak.

In no time, Ye Qiu reached the top of the peak with Fang Wushang in his arms, and the moon seemed directly overhead under the moonlight, presenting a clear view of the scene.

"Ye Qiu, is there nothing on this peak? Did we come to the wrong place?"

Fang Wushang looked at the environment and found nothing valuable except a pool of water.

Ye Qiu's eyes were puzzled as he looked at the pool because he remembered the goddess statue's words: the mountain top, under the moon, Shuiqingque. And now, a spring was right before him.

"Ye Qiu?" Fang Wushang found Ye Qiu not responding, noticed Ye Qiu's gaze fixed on the pool, and also looked at the pool confusedly.

Somehow, Black Panther suddenly approached the pool, also staring intently at the water.

Little did anyone know that a cat's eyes were the most formidable, and since Black Panther joined them, nothing unusual had happened. Now its gaze on the pool suggested there was definitely something strange here.

Suddenly, Black Panther extended its claw towards the pool and, in a flash, pulled out a fish from the water.

"..." Ye Qiu was speechless seeing Black Panther's action, thinking it had found something special only to realize it was fishing.

"It's catching fish?" Fang Wushang was equally speechless, "But its fish-catching skill is so proficient; it must fish often."

Black Panther placed the fish aside and began eating it.

Ye Qiu remained silently fixed on the pool, and soon the water began to ripple, initially mild but gradually growing larger until the entire pool started trembling.

Ye Qiu quickly pulled Fang Wushang behind him and called Black Panther back.

Black Panther glanced at the pool, calmly carried its fish behind Ye Qiu, and resumed eating; it seemed to trust Ye Qiu's ability completely.

"Watch Black Panther."

Ye Qiu told Fang Wushang, drew his longsword, and stared intently at the water's surface.

Fang Wushang agreed and nervously watched Ye Qiu by Black Panther's side.

Ye Qiu's eyes never blinked as he watched the water, feeling that something was definitely inside and quite dangerous.

The water's vibration intensified and, with a sudden splash, something leapt from the surface.

"It's a Jiao!" Ye Qiu exclaimed at the creature that emerged from the water.

Indeed, what surfaced was a Jiao, its scales glistening coldly, long whiskers waving beside its mouth, glaring maliciously at Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu was astonished that a dragon-like creature resided in the pool; it looked aged and like a dragon. Perhaps in a few years, it would ascend to true dragonhood.

"Ye Qiu, be careful!"

Fang Wushang warned fearfully, seeing the legendary Jiao for the first time and knowing its mere existence hinted at great power.

Ye Qiu did not respond to Fang Wushang, his eyes locked onto the Jiao's, fully unyielding as he faced the menacing dragon.

The Jiao appeared annoyed at the disturbance, wearing a hostile expression, and Ye Qiu tightened his grip on the sword as tension filled the air.

Suddenly, the Jiao seemed impatient, opening its mouth wide and charging at Ye Qiu. Ye Qiu dodged the attack with a swift move and countered with a stab towards the Jiao's neck.

The Jiao was covered in scales, and Ye Qiu's sword barely scratched it as if tickling it, causing no harm.

Seeing this, Ye Qiu frowned deeply, expecting the Jiao's power but not its extreme toughness, his sword proving ineffective.

Yet, Ye Qiu's action seemed to anger the Jiao further; it swung its tail at Ye Qiu promptly. Caught off guard, Ye Qiu was struck by the tail and hit the ground with a loud thud.

"Ye Qiu!" Fang Wushang shouted anxiously to Ye Qiu, "Are you alright?"