As he was still puzzled, a sudden burst of white mist erupted from the bamboo figure with the missing "arm." Accompanied by an angry shout, "Damn it!" a monk in white robes emerged from the mist. He covered his right shoulder with his left hand and gred at Su Qiuchi.

  At the same time, the bamboo figure on the other stone also began to transform. A man's figure slowly materialized from the white mist. Su Qiuchi let out a startled cry and stumbled backward, falling to the ground. He pointed at the two figures that had appeared out of nowhere, speechless in shock.

  "You′re lucky today, you little demon!" The monk spat hatefully at the man across from him, then gred at Su Qiuchi. Chanting a few words, he turned into a puff of blue smoke and disappeared into the air.

  "No matter how many times we go through the cycle of life and death, you still can′t change," the man said, shaking his head. He flicked his blue robe and jumped down from the stone.

  "You..." Su Qiuchi was uncertain whether this man was human, ghost, god, or Yaokai.

  His gaze was drawn to the man′s ke-blue hair and his clean, gentle, and exquisitely handsome face. If this man were human, his beauty was so extraordinary that even women would be jealous of him, let alone men.

  "Don′t be afraid, Su Gongzi," the blue-haired man said politely, extending a hand with a smile. "Quick, get up. I truly must thank you and Li Gongzi today. If you hadn′t helped and disrupted that bald monk′s formation, I might not have escaped this camity."

  "You..." Su Qiuchi stared at the man in disbelief, sensing nothing but friendliness in his gaze, with no hint of danger. He allowed the man to help him up, but once he regained his bearings, he immediately jumped back to the side, shouting loudly, "What are you?!"

  The man smiled and gave a polite bow to Su Qiuchi. "I am Jiu Jue, just a humble man from the countryside."

  Su Qiuchi was quite surprised. "How did you know my surname is Su?"

  "I overheard your conversation," Jiu Jue replied casually. "But first, we should help Li Gongzi out of his predicament."

  Jiu Jue walked toward Li Huai, who was anxiously watching them from a distance. Since his soul was tethered to his body, he couldn′t follow Su Qiuchi to the two stones, and he was growing increasingly desperate.

  Both Su Qiuchi and Li Huai thought Jiu Jue hadn′t done much, except dip his finger in the pond water. He then traced two marks on Li Huai′s forehead with his finger before flicking the remaining water drops onto Li Huai′s soul. Jiu Jue then leaped into the air, grabbing hold of Li Huai′s soul with one hand and pulling it back toward the body. In no time at all, the seemingly lifeless body sprang back to life, and Li Huai joyously wiggled his fingers and toes, shouting, "This is great! I′m alive! I′m really alive!"

  "This pond is not for ordinary people to drink from," Jiu Jue said, casting a gnce at the jade-like water. "This pond is called Wuyou, or 'No Worries.' If an ordinary person drinks from it, their soul will leave their body. Without help, they would be doomed to wander as a lost spirit for an entire lifetime."

  Su Qiuchi and Li Huai both broke into a cold sweat as they listened, with Li Huai muttering, "The name sounds nice... No Worries..."

  Jiu Jue ughed heartily, saying, "All human troubles come from this stinky mortal body. Cast off this shackle, separate the soul, and see things with crity. Naturally, there will be no worries."

  Changing the subject, Jiu Jue continued, "If you two trust that I am no bad person, please come to my humble abode for a rest. I have some aged wine that would make for a fine treat." His gaze turned toward the forest behind the waterfall, offering an enthusiastic invitation.

  "Yes, yes! I′ll go!" As soon as Su Qiuchi heard there was wine, his inner alcohol cravings were awakened, and he was eager to go without a second thought. Li Huai gave Su Qiuchi a disdainful gnce, muttering "Drunkard," but didn't oppose the invitation. To be honest, after all the strange happenings of the day, he was utterly exhausted. If there was a pce to rest and have a few drinks, it seemed like the perfect solution. The three of them followed Jiu Jue, walking toward the forest behind the waterfall, along the edge of the `No Worries Pond′.

  "That guy said this bamboo forest shouldn′t exist in this space. How did you and that monk end up here? How did you two crawl out of those bamboo leaf figures?"

  "These things are best expined when we get to my pce," Jiu Jue replied smoothly.

  "Your name is so strange—Jiu Jue? Is there even a family name, 'Ji'? Is your older brother named Bajue?" Su Qiuchi teased.

  "………."

  "Su Qiuchi, if you say one more word, I, Li Huai, swear I will throw you into the pond to feed the fish!" Li Huai threatened.

  "You brat, shut up! If it weren't for me, you'd still be a wandering spirit in that bamboo forest!" Su Qiuchi shot back.

  "I'll make sure to chop off your head when I go back!" Li Huai growled.

  "You change your mind faster than a woman! You were just calling me a friend in adversity, and now you want to chop off my head? Let me tell you, my grandfather is the prime minister! Who gets chopped is still uncertain. And you ruined the wine pot I bought for 800 taels of silver—pay me back!"

  "Who told you to block my way, you dim-witted goose? It′s a mercy I didn′t crush you!" Su Qiuchi snapped.

  Along the way, Su Qiuchi and Li Huai were constantly at odds, acting like sworn enemies, disrupting the once peaceful and tranquil atmosphere around them.

  Watching the two young masters bicker nonstop, Jiu Jue merely smiled and said nothing.