192: The mysterious old man is so terrifying.

A tiger's roar, carrying a suffocating king's pressure, swept across the entire mountain forest.

Birds scattered in fright, and all beasts lay prostrate.

The young herb collector, who had originally been vigilant and preparing to leave, heard the tiger's roar and his face changed drastically.

"Oh no! It's... it's the Mountain Lord!"

He turned and ran wildly in another direction, as if his life depended on it!

His speed was a hundred times faster than someone being chased by their parents with a bamboo stick.

"Keep up!" Lin Fan said to Zhang Dabao beside him.

His Divine Sense had already probed the source of that tiger's roar.

A Yao Beast whose cultivation had at least reached the Middle Stage of Martial Venerable—a Striped Tiger with Hanging Eyes!

Such a Vicious Beast, let alone an unarmed Mortal youth, even an ordinary Martial Venerable expert would likely retreat three paces upon encountering it!

The youth was clearly familiar with the terrain of this mountain forest down to his bones.

He twisted and turned, and soon led Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao to a very hidden, large tree hollow.

The tree hollow was covered by dense vines and weeds; if one didn't intentionally search for it, it would be difficult to discover.

The youth dove straight in.

Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao exchanged a glance and also flashed inside.

Inside the tree hollow, there was a world of its own.

The space was large, enough to accommodate seven or eight people, and it was dry and well-ventilated, clearly having been meticulously renovated by someone.

"Shhh—!" The youth put his index finger to his lips, made a silencing gesture to the two, and then pressed his ear tightly against the inner wall of the tree hollow, listening intently to the movements outside.

His nervous demeanor was as if he were hiding from some world-destroying Vicious Beast.

Seeing this, Lin Fan felt somewhat amused and exasperated.

He could feel that the Striped Tiger with Hanging Eyes, after roaring once, had no further movements; clearly, it was only asserting its territory and had not truly pursued them.

...

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

After confirming that there was no longer any movement outside, the youth finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked at the two uninvited "guests" before him, his clear eyes still holding a hint of vigilance, but his hostility had dissipated considerably.

If they hadn't followed him just now, but had chosen to flee in another direction, they would likely have become the Mountain Lord's meal by now.

It could be considered... enduring hardship together.

Then he said, "You two are quite smart, otherwise you'd definitely be dead."

Lin Fan smiled, offering no explanation.

Zhang Dabao spoke first, "Little brother, may I ask your name? And why are you alone in such a dangerous place?"

The youth hesitated for a moment, but eventually reported his name.

"My name is Song Buyu."

"I have lived in this mountain forest with my grandfather since I was little, and it has been thirteen years now."

Thirteen years?!

Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao were deeply shocked.

This mountain forest was fraught with danger, and Yao Beasts ran rampant!

Let alone an ordinary person, even with their level of cultivation, they wouldn't dare to say they could live here safely for thirteen years.

Zhang Dabao couldn't help but ask directly, "I say, Lin Boy, how did you and your grandfather, just two people, survive in this godforsaken place?"

"This... is it difficult?" Song Buyu looked somewhat puzzled upon hearing this. "In this mountain, besides the occasional few rather fierce animals, there's no danger."

He paused, then added, "Just like that big tiger just now, although its roar was a bit scary, as long as you hide and wait for it to pass, you'll be fine."

Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao were utterly speechless after hearing this.

They were now one hundred percent certain.

This Lin Boy simply didn't know what a Martial Artist was, or what a Yao Beast was!

In his eyes, that Striped Tiger with Hanging Eyes in the Middle Stage of Martial Venerable was probably... no different from an ordinary tiger down the mountain.

This... this is just too outrageous, isn't it?!

Lin Fan felt speechless.

He subtly swept Song Buyu's body with his Divine Sense.

It was still empty.

There was no Internal Energy fluctuation whatsoever.

He was just an ordinary Mortal.

But how could a Mortal live safely in such a dangerous place for thirteen years?

However, he did not press further.

He knew that some things, even if asked, the other party might not say.

...

As dusk approached, Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao followed Song Buyu back to his and his grandfather's "home."

It was a simple stone house built from rocks and wood, nestled in a beautiful, secluded mountain valley.

"Grandpa isn't back yet."

Song Buyu welcomed them into the house, scratching his head somewhat apologetically, "He went out early this morning and might not be back until later."

"Please sit, I'll go pour you some tea."

Saying that, he skillfully boiled water and prepared tea.

Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao surveyed the stone house, which, though simple, was exceptionally clean and tidy, marveling in their hearts.

Just at this moment!

An old, yet vigorous voice, came from outside the house.

"Yuer, do we have guests?"

As soon as the words fell.

An old man, dressed in coarse linen, slightly hunched, and carrying a medicine basket in his hand, slowly walked into the stone house.

The old man looked unremarkable, just like an ordinary old farmer seen everywhere in the villages down the mountain, with no difference.

But the moment he stepped into the stone house!

Lin Fan's pupils suddenly constricted!

All the hairs on his body stood on end at that instant!

An indescribable sense of terrifying crisis, originating from the depths of his Soul, instantly engulfed him!

It was as if he wasn't facing a dying old man.

But rather... a Primordial Vicious Beast capable of destroying heaven and earth!

Zhang Dabao beside him, however, was completely oblivious, still maintaining his usual carefree demeanor, even smiling at the old man.

"Old man, you're back? We are..."

He hadn't finished speaking when Lin Fan grabbed his shoulder.

Lin Fan's heart was pounding!

He instinctively wanted to activate his Divine Sense to probe the old man's true nature!

However!

The moment his Divine Sense had just left his body!

The old man, who had been wearing a kind smile, his cloudy old eyes inadvertently glanced in his direction.

Just that one glance!

It was plain and unremarkable.

But Lin Fan trembled all over.

He only felt that his Divine Sense, as if hitting an invisible yet indestructible barrier, was instantly bounced back.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of blood uncontrollably spurted out.

His face, which had been somewhat ruddy, instantly turned pale.

"Lin Boy! What's wrong with you?!" Zhang Dabao exclaimed in shock upon seeing this.

Lin Fan did not answer.

He clutched his chest tightly, in disbelief!

Although he hadn't probed very carefully just now, in that instant, he clearly felt an... unusually powerful, even overwhelming, fleeting Internal Energy fluctuation.

That power was stronger than any Martial Artist he had encountered before!