Hmm.

Chen Xu's senses enveloped the small creature under the moonlight, gently yet firmly perceiving it.

Considering the other as small is not entirely accurate.

It stood about a foot tall, standing upright on its legs.

The aura around it was quite refreshing, seemingly untouched by the dusty, mundane world.

Yet subtly, it appeared to have a slight connection with the moonlight above.

The pulsation of its energy was like the ethereal sounds of clouds and water, occasionally emitting a soft "chirping" echo.

Chen Xu immediately understood, this was not a human, this was a demon.

A demon full of clear, pure energy, entirely free of any contamination.

Chen Xu recalled the two Mouse Demons at his home. Reflecting on it now, the Mouse Demons had similar refreshing and pure auras.

Although the aura of Mouse Demons was more mysterious and elusive, making it challenging to sense.

Yet the one before him appeared much more apparent.

Of course, it could also be because Chen Xu's cultivation had advanced, making the demon at the window seem more apparent.

Chen Xu got up, draped his clothes over him, walked to the window, and opened it, smiling as he responded, "Having friends come from afar, isn't it delightful? Fellow Daoist, please come in."

As the window opened, a foot-long silhouette darted into the room.

Moonlight spilled in, illuminating the figure.

The other was dressed in yellowish-brown coarse hemp clothing, small in stature, rounded belly, wearing children's tiger-head shoes, with hair standing straight up in tufts on its head—

So, this little fellow really wasn't a foot tall?

One foot equals ten inches, among those ten inches, probably at least four inches were its hair.

A small face, pointed nose, a pair of bead-like black eyes, almost entirely human-like.

Chen Xu had to concentrate for quite a while in his mind before recognizing it through the tuft of hair on its head, realizing it was a little hedgehog!

Hedgehog Demon, no wonder it was called Wei Yuan.

Turns out this "Wei" is that "Hedgehog."

This little demon was quirky too, carrying a mini book box on its back, who knows who made it for him.

It held its hands and emulated humans by cupping its fists in salute, saying to Chen Xu, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist, having friends come from afar, isn't it delightful…"

While speaking, its head constantly glanced out the window, seemingly ready to escape at any moment if Chen Xu made any sudden moves.

On high alert, exactly like a hedgehog ready to bristle at any time.

Out of respect, Chen Xu stifled a laugh.

Remembering the Flowing Clouds Wine he stashed in the Bright Heart Gourd before the exam, he immediately walked to the table, set out two tea cups, and used his mind to pour some Flowing Clouds Wine from the Bright Heart Gourd into a wine pot in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

He took a small wine pot from the cabinet next to him, pouring two shallow cups of wine.

An entry showed: [Used in a treasure for ten days, famous wine Flowing Clouds Wine, but due to insufficient time, it hasn't transformed into Spirit Wine. Possesses slight Spiritual Qi, sweet and delightful to taste, drinking it can bring joy to living creatures.]

Yes, Chen Xu's Bright Heart Gourd hadn't been exposed to moonlight for half a month yet.

He didn't expose it to moonlight on the night of the exam, nor did he tonight.

It's four or five days short before Flowing Clouds Wine can truly become Spirit Wine.

Yet it was still a high-quality wine, as it entered the cup, Wei Yuan merely sniffed it lightly from a distance, and already showed an expression of intoxication on its nearly human-like face, even the hair standing atop its head seemed to soften.

When Chen Xu said, "Fellow Daoist, please sit."

Wei Yuan jumped up to the chair in front of the table but slipped on the chair, almost falling directly down.

Due to its short stature, even standing on the chair, its head was not above the table.

Chen Xu couldn't hold back a soft laugh, and said, "Fellow Daoist, please come sit on the table."

Wei Yuan's hair, which had started to soften, stood up high again, and it leapt onto the table, face flushed red, stammering to Chen Xu, "Fellow Daoist, the wine aroma has a slight intoxicating scent, it's not that my cultivation is lacking, standing unstably."

"I see," Chen Xu said, "Fellow Daoist is cultivating diligently in the mountain, likely rarely drinking wine, so having a lighter tolerance is natural. No need to rush, Fellow Daoist."

Wei Yuan let out a long breath, and its upright hair slightly relaxed downward.

It dared not directly drink the wine, merely sitting next to the wine cup, gently sniffing it, while seemingly recalling something important, it appeared solemn as it said:

"Fellow Daoist, I came this time to inform you of an important matter."

Chen Xu became serious and said, "Fellow Daoist, please speak."

"I, I…" The Hedgehog Demon's face showed a difficult expression.

It seemed unsure of how to phrase it, hesitating for a long time before saying, "I heard some ghost voices buried beneath the locust trees from Pufeng Mountain, thirty li outside Yunjiang Prefecture, saying someone bumped into Bookworms during the Great Li Dynasty's exams.

This… this scholar, so full of Literary Qi, carries the most spirit, devouring one would boost a hundred years of cultivation.

We must… we must stand guard, waiting for the scholar to leave the city and devour them at night…"

The second half of the words were deliberately softened to a low pitch, appearing like an old ghost deeply buried, discussing people during the day.

The tone was eerie and chilling, as if the next moment it might suddenly arise, pounce on Chen Xu, revealing a cavernous mouth.

The little hedgehog even made an earnest pouncing motion, but seeing Chen Xu remain unmoved, it swiftly relaxed its body, sitting back on the table with a thud.

Its pea-like eyes stared at Chen Xu, who also looked back.

Four eyes met, and the little hedgehog's face flushed with embarrassment, it stammered and said, "How… how come you're not moving, are you not afraid?"

Chen Xu thought: I'm afraid of accidentally stretching out a hand and strangling you to death, naturally I dare not move recklessly.

Currently, his cultivation advanced to the mid-stage of the Meridian Passage Realm, Innate Qi was beginning to penetrate the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, his perception became increasingly sharp.

He could sense the weakness of the Hedgehog Demon, seemingly no different from an ordinary hedgehog.

Or rather, for him now, it made no noticeable difference.

Reflecting, the two Mouse Demons at home, though seemingly not strong in combat, their foundation must be countless times deeper than this little hedgehog before him.

Thinking of it, Chen Xu still considered Master Jiu profoundly unfathomable.

The little hedgehog emphasized again, "That ghost is very scary, it truly wishes to devour you, you must be careful."

This time Chen Xu stood up, cupped his hands in thanks to the little hedgehog, "Yes, I'll certainly be careful, thank you, Fellow Daoist, for coming to inform me."

Now that demons and ghosts seemed to be attracted to him, he indeed should be more cautious.

Chen Xu remembered Wei Yuan's words, harboring a bit more vigilance in his heart.

He asked the little hedgehog about the ghost's specific cultivation strength as well as any potential help it might have.

This time the little hedgehog appeared dumbfounded, foolishly answering, "Ah, cultivation… at least a few hundred years. The locust trees on the mountain are all under its control, any living person entering that locust tree forest cannot exit.

The forest is full of fog, so many shadows at night, very frightening.

I also entered by mistake, luckily, my book box provided cover, allowing me to safely exit."

Its book box?

Chen Xu curiously glanced at the little hedgehog's book box.

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