I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 245 Arrival at the Valley

Hearing that sound, she managed to hold back, without even picking up her shoes, and ran towards the house at the crossroads at the entrance of the alley.

She was buttoning her clothes and tidying her messy hair as she ran, and she almost tripped and fell at a corner.

Gu Yusheng has a large family, and at this time most of the neighbors are gathered on her kang (heated brick bed) working and chatting.

The reason she was late today is that she overslept at noon.

If Long Jiu hadn't thrown that stone, she probably could have slept until tomorrow morning.

Gu Datong's wife suddenly pushed open the door, not even closing it, and ran into the inner room shouting, "Quick...quick, everyone...everyone hurry up and get dressed, come...come with me to see...the excitement!"

"What's all the commotion about, Datong?" the woman asked, quickly grabbing her jacket and putting it on.

Gu Datong's wife sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), panting heavily: "I don't know... it's someone's cat that stole the food, right in Dazhu's uncle's yard."

Everyone knows what kind of situation that dilapidated courtyard is in.

"Where are you stealing food in this freezing weather?" a woman, already wearing her shoes, asked with a look of surprise.

Gu Datong's wife picked up the water glass on the kang table. It was unclear who had drunk from it, but she gulped it down and wiped her mouth. "Oh dear, didn't you hear that slutty thing? Hurry up, or I'm afraid none of you will see it if you're late."

Hearing this, a young woman perked up, put down her embroidery, picked up her cotton-padded coat, and quickly put it on: "Oh my, are you so desperate for food?"

Another woman picked up her shoes and walked out, saying, "Hurry up."

"Hey, in this freezing weather, whose family is so hungry!"

"I don't know, let's go and see! It's been a while since we've had anything exciting to see."

"Tsk tsk, aren't you cold?"

……

Seeing how hurried and flustered Gu Datong's family was, the women were convinced that the commotion was definitely real.

The women in the room, young girls and married women alike, all put on their coats and went outside.

The commotion they made also alerted the men in the next room.

Seeing all those old women rushing out in such a hurry, I thought something terrible had happened.

They all got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and followed behind. Most of these old women were the wives of these men.

Seeing that people were coming from both sides of the road, Long Er and Long Jiu realized they had achieved their goal and slipped away.

……

Dongfang Jin was unaware of the commotion around her; she was currently standing halfway up a mountain in a large valley, gazing into the distance.

The shape here resembles a human eye, with the pool of water in the middle resembling the eyeball.

The left eye corner curves upwards, the right eye corner curves downwards, the lower eyelid is a slope, and the opposite eyelid is also a slope.

However, it is higher than the bottom, and there is a cliff at the top, which looks just like an eyelid with a double eyelid attached.

The clouds and mist here are like a fairyland, and the clouds and mist above this mountain all come out from the "eye corner" and the center of the "eye".

Moreover, there are many different kinds of animals here, gathering in groups of three or five by the pool to drink water and play, living together in harmony.

"Could this be the depths of Cloud Mist Mountain?"

Ruyi, [Get those two out of here. Their wounds have healed, and I've already found out what happened.]

This is where an old monk cultivates. The valley in front is where he grows medicinal herbs. The old monk also seems to understand animal language.

The white tiger said that when the man left, he told them that he was going out to find someone destined to be with him.

The man also said that if one day these two encounter a human with spiritual water, that person would be the destined one he was looking for, and their master.

The person led them to the valley where you grow vegetables and told them that a destined person would appear there.

I think it was because you watered those grapevines with the Five Spirit Spring that they discovered it, since they go there for a stroll every now and then.

Dongfang Jin did not bring the two out. Standing halfway up the mountain, she looked at the fruit trees below, and the fruit was the passion fruit in the little golden monkey's hand.

There are about a dozen passion fruit trees, and a couple more fig trees not far away, though those are rather short.

There are some other fruit trees not far away, with fruits that are yellow, green, red, and purple.

There was a grapevine, though there were no grapes. There was a deck chair under the vine, and it looked rather strange, as if it was woven from the branches of a tree.

Next to the recliner was an irregularly shaped large stone table with a teapot on it.

Upon seeing this, Dongfang Jin brought the white tiger and black bear out of the space.

As soon as the white tiger appeared, it roared towards the valley. The small animals were not afraid when they heard the roar; they just looked in its direction and then went about their business.

Seeing all this, Dongfang Jin was shocked and curious at the same time.

The black bear came to Dongfang Jin's side and lay down: "Little girl, I'll take you for a spin."

Dongfang Jin laughed and looked at it, asking, "Who taught you to talk like that?"

White Tiger strode over with elegant steps, his tone tinged with annoyance: "It's that damned fox. It said that humans call women 'little girl,' and only this idiot listens to it."

Dongfang Jin raised an eyebrow: "What about the fox?"

The black bear said in a simple and honest voice, "It took its wife on a trip. It said that's how learned humans are."

They also said that those talented scholars all like to travel and broaden their knowledge, but unfortunately I can't go.

It said that if I went out, I would be killed by humans in no time, and that I was covered in treasures.

Dongfang Jin nodded: "What it said is right. Some humans outside like to eat bear paws, and your fur can be made into cloaks, fur rugs and the like. In addition, your gall is a precious medicinal material."

The black bear took a step back in fright: "Ah, that was really dangerous! Luckily I didn't sneak down the mountain, or I wouldn't have been able to come back!"

Dongfang Jin nodded: "They really can't come back."

At this moment, the white tiger glanced at the black bear with disdain and said, "That vixen's wife was the one it brought back from its first travels. After showing off, it left."

"Hmph! I don't know what he's showing off for, like nobody can't find a wife."

Dongfang Jin found their words somewhat amusing; it seemed these two were really angered by that fox.

The black bear said angrily, "That's right, we'll both find wives and show them off to it when it comes back."

Dongfang Jin was amused by its words: "Maybe when it comes back, it will have a family with it."

The white tiger tilted its head in a very human-like way, looking at Dongfang Jin with a puzzled expression: "You mean it can have children?"

Dongfang Jin nodded: "Yes, so you two need to hurry up and find wives."

The black bear said, "That's a good idea. You can get on my back, and I'll take you for a ride. After that, I'll go find a wife."

Dongfang Jin chuckled as he climbed onto the black bear's back and patted its head: "Good luck."

After hearing this, the black bear happily carried her on its back and ran down the slope towards the valley.

Baihu ran alongside them, saying, "This time we'll definitely get our face back."

Black bear: "Definitely."

Riding on the back of the black bear, Dongfang Jin felt a sense of dominance over the forest: "Take me to see the cave where that old monk lives first."

"Okay master."

Dongfang Jin...

How did you become the master?

"I've already made a pact with them," Ruyi said smugly in the space.

[You acted quickly; they were actually willing to form a contract with you?]

"Of course I'd be willing! A contract with me would grant me longevity, who wouldn't want that?"

Dongfang Jin fell silent. "Are you sure I can survive them?"

Ruyi was somewhat displeased and said irritably, "They have already developed intelligence, and their lifespan is at most around a hundred years."

If you cultivate well, even just completing the first level will grant you a lifespan of two hundred years, not to mention the second level will double that.

Dongfang Jin was shocked to hear its words: "Why live to such an old age?"