The babbling brook clattered against the pebbles strewn across the path, producing a clear and melodious sound. Every now and then, cute little fish leapt from the water, seemingly welcoming Su Chen’s arrival.
He looked around, enchanted by the captivating scenery along the way, feeling incredibly relaxed and at ease.
"Sunshine Mountain, why is it called Sunshine Mountain?"
He chuckled with a slight confusion, then started walking towards the mountain peak. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✦𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚✦𝕟𝕖𝕥
Sunshine Mountain, compared to Jade Emperor Summit, is indeed more than a hundred times more beautiful. Not only are there exotic flowers and rare herbs growing along the way, but also countless unknown exotic treasures and animals, wandering around, providing a pleasing aesthetic. Streams frequently appear in the mountains, occasionally with waterfalls suspended high, bringing a refreshing and cool mist. With jagged rocks and dancing butterflies, Su Chen felt as if he had entered a rare paradise on earth rather than just a mountain.
A long cry of a wild beast echoed through the woods. The setting sun’s slanting glow passed through the dense leaves, casting an indescribable taste on Su Chen’s somewhat rugged, handsome face. Two brown-haired, sharp-toothed squirrels stood under a tree, watching him from behind, momentarily forgetting to pick up the fallen pine cones on the ground.
Su Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the scene that came into view after passing through patches of forest, he couldn’t help but exclaim joyfully.
Not far away, a marvelous spectacle shrouded in ethereal mist appeared prominently. Those drifting clouds seemed far away in the sky, yet also as if they were right before his eyes, enveloping everything above. On all sides were sheer cliff walls with flowing streams, lush and evergreen vines climbing on them, bringing flashes of vivid green. Below the cliffs were irregular and enclosed small ponds, with wisps of pale white mist seemingly emerging from them. Beside the ponds were several blue stone benches, around a low circular stone table, with a chessboard and snacks leisurely and liberally placed on top. Closer in view, an ancient arch bridge, like a crescent moon, was poised over a babbling brook, with its handrails carved with unknown and exotic beast patterns, vivid and lifelike. But what most attracted Su Chen’s attention was the somewhat secluded small corner on the right front of the bridge.
At this moment, three small figures were busy with their tasks, completely unaware of the arrival of an outsider. Judging by their physique, Su Chen knew in his heart that they must be those three Dwarf Witch Immortals.
But what were they busy with at this time?
Su Chen focused his gaze and noticed the corner entangled in green vines, presenting a graceful setting that sparked the urge for playful frolicking. And those three simple iron chairs hanging under the stone wall—weren’t they swings?
"Dorong, lend me your hammer, the swing chair is loose."
One of the green-haired dwarves, without raising his head, reached out while fiddling with the swing.
The pointy-eared dwarf on his right, however, ignored him, striking again and again at the fissured joint of an iron rod, letting sparks fly in front of his eyes.
"Hey, I’m calling you, did you hear, Dorong?"
The green-haired dwarf called again, this time even reaching out to smack his companion hard on the shoulder.
"Don’t bother me, you green-haired ghost!"
The pointy-eared dwarf replied impatiently, still engrossed in repairing the severely damaged iron chair, his tone carrying a hint of anger.
"You dare call me a green-haired ghost, you lousy bug, do you believe I’ll use your hammer to smash your big head?"
The green-haired dwarf turned around and screamed sharply, his furious old face full of wrinkles, eyes wide open, showing a fierce look.
The pointy-eared dwarf let out a couple of cold laughs, then turned back, rubbing his pale large nose with his left hand, grunting: "A green-haired ghost is a green-haired ghost. This hammer is mine; when was it your turn to boss me around? Buzzing like sparrows in my ear, I will no longer help you refine medicine with the copper cauldron!"
The green-haired dwarf’s face changed, gritting his teeth, but in the end, he could only say with resentment: "You lousy bug, you... you’ll see, when I have the fire flames, you’ll pay!"
"When you have the fire flames? Hmph, wouldn’t that be waiting until the end of time, when the seas dry and the stones crumble, hahaha!"
The pointy-eared dwarf suddenly burst into laughter, then, under Su Chen’s stunned gaze, lowered his head again to work on repairing the swing.
The green-haired one pounded hard on the swing’s iron chair, his old face twisted, but in the end, he could only swallow his anger.
"Andy, here’s a rock for you to make do."
The cold-faced dwarf on the left, who had been silent all along, suddenly handed over a crumbling rock.
The green-haired dwarf’s mouth twitched, glaring at him hard, then stood up while holding his temper, but as he turned around, he saw Su Chen approaching with an intrigued look on his face.
"Kula, Dorong, someone is coming!"
The green-haired dwarf called Andy suddenly shrieked out!
Instantly, the other two dwarves sprang up, watching Su Chen with clear eyes, faces full of hostility.
"You little shorty, who... who are you?"
The dwarf with pointed ears wrinkled his large nose, his face cold as he asked sharply, though his eyes, glued to Su Chen’s physique, were clearly filled with envy.
"My name is Su Chen. May I ask if you are the Three Witch Immortals?"
Su Chen asked politely.
The three dwarves exchanged glances, their eyes conveying questions, puzzled by this unexpected guest. Eventually, the green-haired dwarf cleared his throat and said, pretending to be serious, "I am the leader of the Three Witch Immortals, Andy. You can call me Elder Andy."
"Tch, little shorty, don’t listen to him. I’m Dorong, and I’m the leader of the Three Witch Immortals."
After speaking, the pointy-eared dwarf, Dorong, glared at the cold-faced dwarf. The latter’s mouth twitched, his old face turning somber, and he remained silent.
Su Chen felt the sweat forming in his heart but still suppressed the awkwardness, smiled, and said, "Elders, sorry to disturb you. I’ve come to Sunshine Mountain to borrow something from you."
"Borrow... borrow something?"
Andy panicked and hastily refused, "No way, we have nothing to lend you!"
"Yes, yes, aside from our three old lives, we have nothing. Little shorty, just give up and leave now!"
Dorong also waved his hands repeatedly.
Su Chen remained composed, naturally saying, "Elders, may I tell you what I wish to borrow first?"
This time, the three dwarves asked in unison!
"The fire seed of Flame and the intermediate fire spell book..."
"The fire seed of Flame?"
"And the intermediate fire spell book?"
The three dwarf witch immortals exclaimed almost simultaneously, then quickly stepped back a few paces, looking at Su Chen with alertness. Green hair Andy’s old face flushed slightly as he exclaimed unsteadily, "You impudent little dwarf, asking for something worth my life right off the bat. Have you gone mad for treasures?"
Su Chen smiled slightly, respectfully saying, "Elder Andy, I only wish to borrow them, not to keep them.
"You little dwarf, robber, bandit! Acting all virtuous, I spit on you!"
Long-eared Dorong wrinkled his large nose and cursed with obvious disdain, "Get out of here quickly, or we won’t be polite!"
"Indeed, leave now. Our Sunshine Mountain doesn’t welcome people like you!"
Su Chen, however, remained unflustered, glancing meaningfully at the still-swaying swing, then said to Andy with friendliness, "Elder Andy, I noticed your swing is very badly broken. Without proper tools, it might be hard to fix. Without its company, you must feel quite lonely, right?"
Andy was taken aback but then suddenly had a thought, frowning as he asked, "So you’re saying you have a way to fix my swing?"
"There is indeed a way. Simply forging a fine iron hammer would do it."
Su Chen spoke with full confidence.
With his long following of Elder Ling, forging a Spiritual Artifact was no difficult task, let alone a mere fine iron hammer. Nevertheless, he had little confidence in luring this playful witch immortal, as the three seemed to harbor mutual suspicions and restrictions. Perhaps, to achieve his goal, he needed to open their hearts one by one.
"You can really forge an iron hammer? You’re not lying to me?"
Andy was greatly surprised, and even Kula, who had always kept a cold face, along with Dorong, proud of his forging, felt a tinge of shock.
"If Elder Andy trusts me, I can forge a Spiritual Artifact level iron hammer for you on the spot, provided that you have quality wrought iron ore. Of course, the exchange condition is the fire seed of Flame and that fire spell book."
Andy felt a surge of ecstasy in his heart.