The quiet streets were filled with a cool mist, while the small town still slumbered in tranquility. Except for a tavern that conducted business day and night, the doors of which were adorned with crimson lanterns. The lanterns dispersed the faint mist at the entrance, as the tavern, with its doors wide open, seemed to be guiding someone.

The unspirited shop assistant lay on the table and yawned, boredly dozing off. Occasionally, he would startle awake and take a glance outside the door.

When the first ray of morning light pierced through the thin mist, the waiter once again looked towards the small path outside the door. He then saw a handsome man dressed in dark blue walking with a leisurely pace towards the tavern.

The ink-black long hair loosely tied behind the head, the clear and beautiful facial features, slender figure, accompanied by a chilling mist, as if coming out of a painting.

As soon as the shopkeeper saw him, he immediately perked up and stood up with a snap, quickly approaching him.

"Ah, honored guest, you're here! What would you like this time?" A thin, shabbily dressed man with an earthy brown outfit smiled widely and asked the moment the man stepped into the tavern.

This person can also be considered a regular customer. Starting from three years ago, they would come here every month for a visit. Previously, they would always come together with a handsome man dressed in white. But today, how come...

"A pot of Bamboo Leaf Green tea and two servings of Green Dumplings."

The low and deep voice, filled with a chill, interrupted the distraction of the innkeeper. He took a smaller wine gourd from his waist and handed it over.

The shop assistant nodded and took it with both hands. The man then walked over to a table and sat down.

"Why didn't your older brother come today?" The shop assistant lifted the curtain and called out to the backyard, "Two portions of green glutinous rice dumplings!" Then he turned back, walked to the counter, squatted down, and placed the wine that was left outside onto the table.

"Hmm... I have something to attend to," the man tapped on the table, absentmindedly telling a lie.

The man is actually Shen Qing.

Three hundred years had passed since he had crossed over, and thinking about this, Shen Qing found it rather amusing.

In the past, I used to think it was all a dream, after all, everything went so smoothly. Plus, every time I closed my eyes and opened them again after a cultivation session, it would already be several decades later. Shen Qing really didn't have much of a sense of reality.

However, three hundred years had indeed passed without a doubt, and Shen Qing couldn't help but believe it.

Shen Qing checked the time and took out a piece of silver from his sleeve, placing it on the table. Sure enough, in no time, the waiter brought over the wine jug and a bundle of green dumplings wrapped in a paper bag, as usual sticking a thin bamboo skewer in it.

Shen Qing took it and left.

He shook the wine jug and remembered that the big monster would occasionally take a sip, and after drinking, it would squint its eyes slightly, with a satisfied and contented look on its face. Without realizing it, his throat became dry, and he also wanted to taste the flavor of this wine.

He remembered the big monster telling him a month ago that he was going to refine his demonic energy. Considering the time, it should be coming out in the next couple of days.

"Lord Xiaoqing."

When walking to the middle of Qingcheng Mountain, the sound of a oriole's call came from the branches. Shen Qing paused and looked up, anticipating what the other person would say next.

Xiaoqing, sir.

These four characters lingered in his throat for a moment before Shen Qing finally swallowed them. Since the great monster had always called him Xiaqing, this group of little monsters also followed suit and called him Xiaqing Daren.

In order to maintain her image, Shen Qing also does not pay too much attention to how others refer to her, which has led to the default usage of this title by the little demons.

"You look really beautiful," the tiny yellow oriole said shyly, turning its little head to the side in a sincere manner.

"...What a load of crap! Who cares if it's good-looking? I'm a man! I fucking refuse to believe that they would have something useful to say!"

Shen Qing's mind crazily flickered with the six big characters, "Are you fucking kidding me?" Yet her expression remained unchanged as she nodded calmly and replied, "Thank you."

Then, he turned around and calmly left.

Three hundred years, for Shen Qing, felt as short as only four months had passed.

The three-month experience was mainly gained from going down the mountain and having fun with the big monsters.

So Shen Qing's temper is still the same, he never really grew up.

Surface skills and cultivation have improved.

The area around the cave, which was once devastated by Bai Suzhen's misfortune, has now grown dense with trees again, once again concealing the hiding place of the "Mountain King."

Shen Qing followed the familiar demonic aura and emerged from the forest, shifting his gaze to the large tree on the right side of the cave. There, a man dressed in black leaned against it, with silver-threaded edges revealing a translucent pattern of auspicious clouds. His loose silver hair cascaded behind him, gently swaying in the breeze, appearing both gentle and ethereal.

At the moment when Shen Qing glanced at him, the man also looked over and revealed a sinister smile.

Shen Qing made a great effort to maintain her aloof demeanor as she leisurely walked towards the tree. However, her eyes were glued to the man, watching his slightly mischievous smile. In the end, she couldn't resist and a smile appeared on her lips.

Failed to show off.

Shen Qing despised himself for a moment, no longer pretending. With a tap on the ground, his figure soared into the air and leaped onto a sturdy tree branch. He landed perfectly on the tip of the tree, supported by an invisible bundle of air.

"Brother."

At first, it was simply an attempt to please Bai Suzhen with the title, but now it has become a habit and after three hundred years, this demon is truly regarded as a brother.

Shen Qing found it rather amusing, untied the jug from her waist, and threw it away.

"Xiao Qing." Bai Suzhen reached out and the wine jug was handed directly into his hands. He stared at the jug for a while, lost in thought, then suddenly called out.

"En." Shen Qing couldn't help but take a small step forward, feeling tickled by his address.

"I'll be leaving the mountain later, you stay here by yourself... demon. You should diligently cultivate and not let it go to waste," Bai Suzhen said, her eyes lowered and not looking at him. Her voice was so soft that Shen Qing could hear it clearly, but her tone was extremely serious and solemn.

After saying these words, Bai Suzhen removed the gourd cap and brought the mouth of the wine gourd close, her nostrils twitching as she sniffed the aroma of the alcohol inside.

Silence spread between the two of them. After a moment, Shen Qing let out a sigh, understanding that what Bai Su Zhen meant by "going down the mountain" was not just a temporary visit, but rather a permanent departure.

"...Shen Qing furrowed his brows, 'I'll go with you.'"

"I am here to repay a debt of gratitude, but if you follow me, it will hinder your cultivation," Bai Suzhen raised her eyes and looked with disapproval, "If you focus on cultivating diligently, there is hope for shedding the snake's skin and transforming into a dragon."

The words "transformation" and "dragon" struck a chord in Shen Qing's heart. He pursed his lips and, to be honest, for the descendants of Yan and Huang, being able to transform into a dragon was truly inexplicably alluring. However...

Shen Qing clicked his tongue. However, deep down, he truly wanted to stay by the side of the big monster after all.

The great monster has a good and gentle temper, and it feels particularly comfortable to be by his side. His voice is also pleasant, and he looks handsome. After all, I am also a monster, so there's no rush to cultivate, I can take it slowly.

"I just want to follow you." Shen Qing listed out Bai Suzhen's genuine advantages and persisted.

"It would waste a hundred years of time."

"Oh." So, it's only been a hundred years, huh? Judging by how serious you look, I thought it had been much longer! Shen Qing wiped his face and concluded, "It's nothing."