Wait a minute, where is my master?

Wishes are always beautiful, but reality is often cruel.

After Grandma Yu's message was sent, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, and despite waiting for half a day, she received no reply from Yu Yaoer.

"Strange, Yaoer usually replies quickly to messages aside from when she's studying new recipes. Could it be she's entered some secret area?"

Seeing that her granddaughter hadn't replied in time, a trace of concern couldn't help but arise in her heart.

——————

At the same time.

Within the mysterious territory of the Age Chicken clan.

The moss-covered stone walls slowly descended and closed after Jin Xu and the others entered.

They first passed through a long footpath that was ten meters high and five zhang wide, eventually arriving in front of an open lawn almost as large as the Imperial City of Great Xia.

"Little Red, your clan's territory is really quite grand," said the little Taoist as he looked at the expansive meadow before him, and the Age Chickens scattered about, seemingly engaged in various activities.

The place was not only spacious, but the grass on the lawn was lush, and even the sky above featured what appeared to be a very realistic blue sky with white clouds and a massive light source.

All of this must surely be the work of a certain kind of composite formation.

"Giggle-dah!"

"Temple master, Little Red says that this is just the usual place of activity for his clan members."

"Giggle-dah x2."

At that moment, Mr. Hong and an aged Age Chicken also called out in their own way.

The former was addressing Jin Xu, while the latter was calling out to those Age Chickens on the lawn, which were flustered and scattered at the sight of humans.

"Temple master, Little Red's father says he's very grateful that you saved his son. You may walk around here for a while; he's now going to command the chickens to prepare a banquet."

"Additionally, he'd like to ask if it's true that you can help their clan break the curse on the land, as Little Red mentioned."

Little White translated while her eyes shone as she looked at the Age Chickens running about on the lawn.

However, once she realized that these were Little Red's clan members and were not to be eaten, the gleam in her eyes dimmed.

Yet moments later, upon remembering the feast that Mr. Hong mentioned, her eyes brightened once again.

Unaware of Little White's emotional journey, Jin Xu curiously glanced at her eyes flickering with light and then cautiously began to speak.

"Chicken... uh, Red...er, Uncle, why don't I go take a look at the cursed land while you're arranging the banquet. If all goes well, perhaps by the time the banquet is ready, the issue with the cursed land might be resolved."

The young Taoist wasn't being arrogant with his offer, as the only thing he was somewhat worried about was the possibility that, if the curse on the land was lifted, leaving behind a fountain in the territory of the Age Chicken clan might be somewhat inappropriate.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Hong's eyes immediately lit up with delight.

He had not expected this human cultivator to be so proactive.

It seemed his son really hadn't deceived him; the other party was indeed a very good person, quite different from those cultivators who would think of eating them on sight.

"Giggle-dah!"

"Temple master, he says he's extremely thankful and insists on treating us with the highest standard of banquet that the Age Chicken clan can offer," Little White relayed.

At the side, the aged Age Chicken, too, excitedly called out a few times.

Subsequently, the three humans and three chickens crossed the meadow, passed over two streams of flowing water whose sources were unknown, and went beyond a large area of delicately made chicken coops and residences.

They headed towards the deepest part of the Age Chicken clan territory.

Along the way, Little Red's father explained in detail to Jin Xu and his companions the horrors of the cursed land and repeatedly urged them to be careful.

However, since no chicken from their clan had managed to come out of there alive over so many years, Mr. Hong's explanations were vague at best.

The most he could do was describe how, in a particular year and month, someone entered and after a certain number of screams, was never heard from again.

"Uncle, from your description, it seems that this cursed land doesn't actively abduct your people, so why is your Age Chicken clan so persistent, continually trying to enter it to explore the truth?"

Jin Xu was curious and couldn't help but ask.

This time, before Mr. Hong could answer, Little Hong burst out chuckling.

"Temple master, Little Hong says he knows that their clan fears the cursed land might suddenly expand one day, or unleash some peril.

"It's like sleeping next to someone who snores. Their Age Chicken clan is not strong, and although they've finally found a pure land, there is still such a dangerous place within it.

"So naturally, their tribe wants to understand what exactly is going on here.

"Moreover, it's said that because of the existence of the cursed land, the hens in their clan are laying fewer eggs."

After listening to Little White's translation, the young Taoist silently nodded.

Then he noticed Mr. Hong chuckling while starting to peck at Little Hong's wings.

"Little White, what are they doing?"

"Oh, temple master, Little Hong's dad is educating him. He said that phrase means 'How can one tolerate others snoring on the couch next to them?'

"And also that one should not spill all the clan's gossip."

As Shiqi was translating, Mr. Hong turned his head and clucked at them both.

"Temple master, he says sorry for causing laughter."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the young Taoist lifted his hand to wipe the nonexistent sweat from his forehead.

Indeed, no matter how old you are, your dad will always be your dad.

Little Hong, who once saved the lives of a hundred thousand people in Shangjing City, was still being scolded by his father like a son.

Accompanied by the sound of preaching and rebuttals,

the group finally arrived at the location of the cursed land.

Jin Xu looked up and saw that the so-called cursed land was actually a small hill a hundred feet tall and dozens of feet wide.

"Uncle, is this the place?"

The young Taoist spoke, noticing a cave entrance hidden by vegetation not far away, which was probably the entrance to the cursed land.

"Gee gee da!"

"Temple master, he says this is it, and that we must be extremely cautious."

Jin Xu responded with a reassuring smile full of ease.

Then he stepped forward, cleared the weeds at the entrance, and peered inside.

"Little White, Little Yu, it's unclear what's inside, so you two should wait for me out here for now."

While speaking, the Cultivator's Spiritual Sense had already spread into the cave, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Temple master/Young master, you..."

Both girls clearly wanted to go in with Jin Xu, but he interrupted them.

"Little White, be good and stay outside. When the feast starts, you can eat first," he said, then sends a message to Yu Yaoer, "Little Yu, you need to watch Little White for me. I don't want her to lose control and eat a few of Little Hong's clan while I'm inside—that would cause trouble. So your task is very important, do you understand?"

As soon as Shiqi heard she could start eating at the feast by herself, her face instantly showed a struggle.

The Little Fish Demon heard her young master entrust her with a significant task, and immediately promised to fulfill it secretly, puffing out her chest and helping to persuade Little White.

In the end, between entering the cave and attending the feast, Shiqi chose the feast.

And Jin Xu, he stepped boldly into the cave leading to the cursed land.