Spirits and demons

In the dense mountain forest, three teenagers were passing between the trees. From the serious expression on their faces, it seems that they are not in a playful mood, walking on the road covered with dead branches and leaves.

The teenagers, probably around 15 years old, armed with weapons, are carrying out a task that, for them, is feared to determine the fate of the future, that is, the village rite of passage. They are walking on thin ice, careful, even a small step, but also after careful consideration.

Suddenly, the two tall teenagers walking at the front of the group seemed to notice some movement and immediately rushed towards the target. The small Rui, on the other hand, was caught off guard by the sudden situation and took a while to react, then yelled "wait for me" and caught up with his companion.

After crossing the bushes, only to see two companions confronting a person. Xiao Rui fixed his eyes on a young girl, a little older than them, elegantly riding on a huge dog. The young girl had the attire of a traveler and was carrying a huge scroll on her back, no matter how you look at it, there was no way she could be an ordinary young girl.

This young girl is none other than Median, and the huge dog is naturally the canine demon Kogon. Compared to Khung's vigilance, Ming Essence looked confused - could it be that she had met a bandit? Nowadays, the age of mountain bandits is getting younger and younger?

"You must be the Mountain God!"

The young man's cold words changed their status from bandits to believers.

Ming Duan surveyed himself and asked suspiciously, "Huh, with this outfit, will I be recognized as a 'god' by others?"

"Don't stink, one word from the little kid and you're in the sky." Xiao Kong coldly replied to Ming Diao, then turned to the teenagers and asked, "Who the hell are you and what do you want?"

"Wow, the dog spoke. To be able to tame a divine dog into a mount, she is no ordinary person!" "What luck, to find a target so quickly! Looks like we'll be able to pass this trial easily!"

Seeing that he couldn't interject, MingDiun simply began to play with his hair. On the other hand, Khung said helplessly in a tone that lamented the declining customs of the world, "Don't kid nowadays ever learn to listen to people properly?"

"I'll say it!"

Xiao Rui, who had been silent in the back, suddenly used a voice capable of attracting vicious wolves and overshadowed the heated discussion of his companions. Seeing that he had successfully attracted the attention of everyone present, Xiao Rui instead became somewhat restrained again, "I think, this sister should have something to say."

At last, we could talk properly. After spending a few minutes explaining to the teenagers, Ming Mei finally convinced them that she was not some mountain god. In addition, she also obtained information about the mountain from the exchange.

They were all teenagers who lived in the village at the foot of the mountain. The village was sheltered by the mountain god and was able to live in harmony with the mountain as well as the animals and plants on the mountain. Once the teenagers in the village reach the age of adulthood, they will undergo a trial by the mountain god, and only when they pass the trial will they gain the acceptance of the mountain and truly live together with it.

"In other words, you are now undergoing the trial of the mountain god?" Receiving an affirmative answer, Mingdian curiously asked, "Then how did you misidentify me as the Mountain God? Do I look similar to the Mountain God?"

"It seems that no one else in the village, except the elders, has seen the Mountain God, they just know of his existence." "After all, we've never seen you before, and you just happened to appear at this time, so it's not our fault if you're mistaken." "It turns out you're just an irrelevant passerby, causing me to look forward to it so much, what a waste of effort."

Seeing the two companions saying something rude with impunity, Xiao Rui was busy making amends to Ming Duan: "Sorry, they didn't mean it, they just cared too much about the trial."

Xiao Kong turned his head to the other side, accepting Xiao Rui's apology in a twisted way. On the other hand, Ming Diao smiled and waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to care.

When asked where he was going, he said that he was entrusted by someone to deliver a letter to the village, but he didn't expect that the mountain was too big, so if he went around and around here, I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to deliver the letter within the time limit.

Xiao Rui immediately said that he was willing to lead the way for Ming Chuan. But the two companions disagreed.

"Are you going to help her?" One of the teenagers said, "We are now in a trial, every minute is critical for us. Is it worth it if you can't pass the trial just to help her?"

Another teenager also said, "Besides, shouldn't someone who would appear in the mountains at a time like this first suspect her true identity? If she is someone who is not good for the village, wouldn't it be leading the wolf into the house for her?"

The young man could not help but praise the young man for his thoughtfulness, "If you say so, it is true that the most suspicious person is me!"

Xiao blankly shot a glance at Ming Duan and scolded, "What are you doing following the blind, shut up now!"

But Xiao Rui didn't think so. If what Ming Yuan said was true, it wouldn't be good for the village if the delivery of the letter was delayed. It would also be against the teachings of the village and Oyama to leave people in trouble unattended. Therefore, Xiao Rui decided to put aside the trial for the time being.

Seeing that Xiao Rui had already made up his mind and would not be swayed by other people's persuasion, the two partners could only agree with him. Before they left, they also gave Xiao Rui a flare to use to notify them or the village if they encountered any danger.

"Looks like they still care about you." After seeing the two teenagers leave, Mingdian said to Xiao Rui, "Then let's go too. I will try my best to speed up and not delay your trial."

MingDiun pulled XiaoRui onto XiaoKong's back and followed XiaoRui's directions, heading towards the village.

Halfway through the journey, Xiaorui suddenly asked, "Sister Mingdian, there's a question I'm curious about."

"Ugh, what is it?"

"If you were going to the village to deliver a letter, why did you appear on the mountain? There isn't any road to the village on the mountain."

"That ...... is probably because I'm a roadie, ahaha ......" Gu said Ming Chan, suddenly changing the subject, "Xiao Rui, I'll let you I'll let you see the ability of the Tengu Kogon!"

With that, Khong used his ability to "step in the air" and climbed up an invisible ladder into mid-air, opening the eyes of the young man who had only been able to walk on land all his life.

When the young man was pleased with his resourcefulness, Xiao Rui raised another question: "If you can use such a convenient ability, why didn't you use it in the first place?"

This time, even Xiaokong sighed helplessly. Fortunately, though, Ming Duan soon found a means to untie the situation.

"Look, that must be your village."

Little Air landed steadily, and Little Rui jumped off Little Air's back and said to Ming Duan, "Welcome to the village."

After other villages finished their farming work, the villagers would gather together to play cards or chat, but the villagers in this village used martial arts practice and sparring to pass the time. Probably because of the strong martial arts atmosphere, the villagers here are all tall and big, and if a war breaks out, they can immediately gather a team with strong fighting ability.

On the way to the village head's house, Xiao Rui tried to avoid the villagers' eyes, and even when he was asked, "Xiao Rui, aren't you at the trial?

After parting with Ming at the intersection, Xiao Rui ran quickly back to his house, and at the moment he closed the door, he breathed a sigh of relief like a sigh of relief. His parents had gone out to work on the farm and there was no one else in the house, which made Xiao Rui feel much more relaxed.

After a while, a knock on the door woke Xiao Rui from his sleep. When did he fall asleep? Xiao Rui yawned and answered the door, but the visitor was Ming Chuan.

Xiao Rui was surprised by the arrival of Mingentian: "Mingentian, what brings you here? Are you finished with your work?"

"Well, it's just a letter delivery, it will be over soon." Median asked Xiaokong to wait outside the door, entered the house, and toured the house with great interest while saying, "I plan to help you finish the trial, so let's leave right away."

Xiao Rui subconsciously took a step back and shook his head, "No, I don't need to participate since I quit halfway through."

Ming Diao asked curiously, "Is there such a rule as 'quitting in the middle of the race is considered as giving up? If so, am I not doing you a disservice?"

"No, no, no, there is no such rule." Xiao Rui hastily denied, "It's just that I ......"

"It's just that you want to use this opportunity to quit the trial." Ming Duan took over Xiao Rui's words and said in a tone that suddenly became stern, "So that you have an excuse, not that you withdrew of your own accord, but because of some outsider who somehow appeared so that you can avoid being blamed by the village people."

Xiao Rui was speechless. He no longer seemed to recognize the person in front of him, whose name was Ming Chuan. It was as if she had put on a horrible mask, hiding all traces of emotion, leaving only a cold face. How would this face scold and mock next?

Xiao Rui closed his eyes and quietly waited.

What he finally waited for was a gentle hug.

"Can you tell me what you think?"

A simple question made Xiao Rui teary-eyed.

Xiao Rui has been weak since childhood. While other children kept growing in size, he always lived in the envy of looking up to others. In this village of martial arts, there seemed to be no place for him. When he was old enough to attend the coming-of-age ceremony, Rui, with anxiety and fear, embarked on this unknown journey under the expectation of others and his compulsion.

But in the end, he chose to run away and became the coward of the village.

After listening quietly to Xiao Rui's narrative, Ming Cun touched his head and said, "I don't think you are a coward, Xiao Rui. Look, didn't you bravely take the first step and choose to participate in the trial?"

"But ......"

"Not 'but', but 'unfortunately', the courage was consumed halfway through the trial. So, courage has been replenished now, right?"

"Can I still, as a member of the village, participate in the trial again?"

"Didn't you say that there is no rule that 'quitting in the middle is considered abandonment'? So, continue your journey!"

Xiao Rui dried his tears and regained his strength. He also wanted to change his weak self, the self that worried his parents, the self that was looked down upon by the village people. At this moment, he was filled with strength inside, and it seemed that no difficulties could stop him from moving forward anymore.

"Let me help you, too, as a thank you for guiding my way."

Xiao Rui and Mingdian had just stepped out of the room when Xiao Kong, who had been waiting at the door, shouted "Be careful", and the surrounding sand and rocks suddenly flew away, making it impossible for people to move and even open their eyes. After that, huge vines emerged from underneath and bound Ming Dui and Khung.

"What's going on?"

Xiao Rui shouted while braving the sand and wind towards Mingdian, trying to rescue her. Suddenly, a figure appeared out of nowhere. Xiao Rui fixed his eyes and saw that it was a majestic and sacred giant wolf.

The giant wolf stared at Xiao Rui and said, "My trial, is it for you to come and go whenever you want?"

So, it was a mountain god? Little Rui did not expect that he would meet with the Mountain God in such a way. Moreover, the other party did not look like the god who lovingly guarded the village and the villagers, but a bloodthirsty giant wolf with fangs bared.

Median kept struggling to get rid of the tree roots and could hardly speak. She shouted at Xiao Rui, "Xiao Rui, run! Don't worry about us, we'll find a way to escape!"

The giant wolf glanced at Mingdian with contempt, then said to Xiaorui: "You are at least a child of this village, so I can spare you for now. But those outsiders over there, who dare to interfere with my affairs, will never be tolerated!"

I will not die, I can live ...... In the few words casually spoken by the mountain god, Xiao Rui has walked between life and death. Forgiven, can return to their previous life, is not also, quite good? However, Xiao Rui thought that he had only intended to change himself with the encouragement of Ming Cun, and if he intended to give up before even taking a step, what would be the point of living even if he could?

"Lord Mountain God!" Xiao Rui's voice was comical because of the trembling, but he was indeed about to cry, "Please spare Mingdeng's sister and Xiaokong, they only came to the village to deliver a letter. I was too weak to use them and let myself escape the trial. So if you want to punish, you should punish me!"

"Ho ho ho, unknowing brat, how dare you to say that." Perhaps it was rare for someone to give his opinion to his face, the mountain god spared a glance at Xiao Rui, "It's not that easy to calm my anger!"

The mountain god lifted his huge front paw and struck the ground with a heavy fear, immediately shaking the ground and leaving a deep claw mark.

It would be a lie to say that he wasn't afraid, but Xiao Rui stood up between the mountain god and Mingdian and stammered, "I want to protect Mingdian, sister, and bet on the reputation of the village!"

The mountain god sneered and raised his huge claw again. Xiao Rui closed his eyes in fear, but instead of a fatal claw strike, he was greeted with a slap. He opened his eyes and found that his surroundings had returned to their original state, with the Mountain God sitting in front of him, Little Air lying not far away, and Ming Cui running towards him while applauding.

"Congratulations Rui, you have passed the trial!"

Xiao Rui was still a bit overwhelmed by what was happening in front of him. He looked blankly at the Mountain God and inquired, "But, I haven't done anything yet?"

The mountain god changed his previous fierce and fierce look and abruptly became, as in the story, a loving deity. He said with a smile, "If you really 'did not do anything, then it would be impossible to pass the trial."

It turns out that, for some time, the village has described the trial as a test of "strength and martial arts skills". But the real trial is customized by the mountain gods according to the characteristics of each child. Therefore, in Xiao Rui's trial, the mountain god invited Ming Diao, who happened to visit, to participate in Xiao Rui's trial. It was only during this process that Ming's indiscretion, coupled with Xiao Rui's insight, almost led to the disclosure of the matter.

"Xiao Rui, what you have, what you lack, and what you are lacking in this trial, you need to continue to pursue in the future of your life. Here, in the name of the mountain god, I offer you my blessing."

The mountain gods brought Xiao Rui's coming-of-age ceremony to a successful conclusion, and the long road ahead would require Xiao Rui to walk on his own.

The journey of Mei Mei's death also had to continue, just before saying goodbye -

"Hey, stupid wolf, it's just an act, why did you tie me to death with roots?"

"Stupid dog, if you don't make it more realistic, the intelligent Rui will see through it!"

Perhaps the sinful relationship between the two of them will continue as well.