Chapter 27: Demon

Zhang Jian swept his gaze around the small temple, but saw that the several able-bodied soldiers beside the firewood pile were not startled, and even the two night‑watch stalwarts felt nothing at all.

"Have you two heard any sound?"

Zhang Jian directly asked.

The two stalwarts, hearing Zhang Jian's voice, quickly rose to their feet.

"Young Master, what sound?"

One of the young stalwarts was somewhat startled; he was the young stalwart who had previously exchanged words with Hu Shan, and Zhang Jian remembered that the other stalwarts all called him Xiao Xie.

Seeing the other stalwarts successively startled awake, Zhang Jian furrowed his brow and waved his hand, his eyes showing a hint of strangeness.

That sharp phoenix cry, he heard it genuinely; it was certainly not false.

Zhang Jian recalled the story Zhang Yi had told.

It is rumored that in Phoenix Yang Commandery there exists a feng shui layout known as Double Phoenix Arrival that has existed since ancient times, with a male and female phoenix dwelling in the Double Phoenix Mountains, nurturing the earth veins; every so often, Phoenix Yang Commandery gives birth to a noble lady of extraordinary spiritual grace from the mountains and rivers.

The feng shui layout may lie somewhere around Phoenix Nest Mountain.

Inside it might have nurtured something astonishing.

Is it a treasure? Or something else terrifying?

Thoughts flickered in his eyes; he glanced toward the depths of the mountain range, but at this moment he had no desire to explore.

Sometimes having a little less curiosity might be better.

With his current cultivation, any treasure related to phoenixes would surely be useless to him; there's no need to take risks.

If there really were a phoenix inside, who knows its temperament? If it had a bad temper, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?

Moreover, Zhang Jian also sensed something strange from that phoenix cry.

"Cry!"

And almost in that instant, Zhang Jian heard that phoenix cry again.

That phoenix cry grew sharper, carrying a hint of gloom, urgent.

"Young Master, it seems there is something……"

The stalwart called Xiao Xie raised his head, nervously glanced at the pitch‑black mountain, and instinctively moved closer to Hu Shan beside him.

"I also feel it!"

Several other stalwarts also nervously looked around.

Zhang Jian gazed speechlessly at the dozen or so stalwarts; these people didn't seem to have heard anything.

Now it seems more like a psychological effect.

Zhang Jian lifted his spiritual eyes and, through his innate spiritual sense, sensed that on the mountain base a layer of intense yin‑cold spiritual energy burst forth like a spring.

The air was violently trembling.

In his innate spiritual sense, it was as if a 'spiritual energy earthquake' had occurred on the mountain base, its aftershocks sweeping over him, also making him feel a faint chill.

This made Zhang Jian sense an ominous presence.

He thought, then took out seven or eight yellow talismans from his hand and handed them to Hu Shan, Xiao Xie, and the others.

"You few, paste these talisman papers around the temple; remember, if you encounter any mishap, you must keep your minds firm and not wander about!"

"Young Master?"

Hu Shan, that veteran soldier, vaguely sensed a hint of danger and couldn't help but turn his gaze over; Zhang Jian waved his hand, signaling them to just stay calm.

Facing such a strange occurrence, he likewise felt a bit unsure.

After two consecutive phoenix cries, the small temple at the mountain base suddenly seemed unusually quiet; Zhang Jian noticed that even the chirping of insects around had vanished completely, this tranquil atmosphere making one's heartbeat feel as if it had skipped a beat.

Zhang Jian glanced at each stalwart gripping their swords tightly, then looked at his own empty hand, feeling as if he lacked a bit of security.

But a glance at the thick stack of thunderwalk talismans in his sleeve instantly brought back a hint of security.

A thought flickered; at that moment he gazed toward the deep forest, merely glancing, yet a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.

But the other stalwarts were as if facing a great enemy.

But in the dark night, a rustling of footsteps came from the woods, accompanied by a faint firelight appearing from afar and drawing near.

Soon a man and a woman emerged from the darkness, appearing as a married couple; the man leading them held a long blade, his build stalwart, his complexion reddish, though his eye sockets were somewhat deep.

Behind him was a woman with her head lowered, her figure rather graceful, her head wrapped in a scarf, and she remained silent with her head down.

The leading blade‑man, seeing the people in the temple all wearing armor and holding swords, instantly became a bit wary, yet still clasped his fists and spoke loudly.

"Friends, are you officials?"

He paused slightly, then said: "I and my wife missed the place to lodge; seeing the firelight in this small temple, I rashly came to disturb. We merely seek a sheltered spot to spend the night, with no other intent. Friends, if you could make room, I and my wife would be deeply grateful."

A group of stalwarts turned their gazes to Zhang Jian.

At this moment they also relaxed, relieved that they were merely people.

What is known is always better than what is unknown.

Zhang Jian slowly rose to his feet, his bright, piercing gaze falling on the couple, his brow furrowed.

Then his gaze fell upon the woman; for some reason, upon seeing her his spiritual sense always felt a sense of familiarity.

A faint, almost imperceptible scent was caught by his spiritual sense.

Besides that, it also seemed rather suspicious.

After thinking, he said calmly.

"Please excuse us, the temple's space is limited and inconvenient; you two had better go elsewhere to seek shelter."

Zhang Jian directly refused.

Hearing this, the blade‑man immediately furrowed his brow and spoke in a low voice:

"Sir, I see that although you are many, there should still be room in this temple; my wife and I have traveled a long night road and are indeed somewhat weary, we only seek a sheltered spot that will not disturb you! Meeting by chance, we might as well become friends."

Though he appears fierce, he is nevertheless quite sincere.

Seeing his earnest plea, Zhang Jian felt a slight hesitation in his heart, and he stepped toward the swordsman and the lady.

As he approached, a strange glint appeared in the swordsman's eyes.

At that moment the lady lifted her head, her headscarf slowly slipping down to reveal a beautiful face like flower and moon, bearing the pitiful charm of a virtuous woman; in the dim night she seemed like an elf in the darkness, alluring.

"Demon?"

Zhang Jian suddenly stopped, finally grasping that faint sense of unease in his heart.

It wasn't just because he was passing by at midnight.

Those martial artists traveling at night weren't exactly outrageous.

What made him deeply uneasy was that familiar scent.

The scent on this woman's body was extremely similar to that of the two gray hawks.

Moreover, there was also a nauseating fishy odor, similar to the smell on the two demon corpses he had previously slain with thunder.

All things considered, Zhang Jian could easily conclude that she was not human, and her flirtatious gestures made her seem even less like a respectable person.

This was not racial discrimination.

Almost the instant he uttered that word, he suddenly felt a change in the environment before him.

Before him seemed a peerless beauty gazing at him with autumn waves, as if saying, you can do anything!

But in his hand were six thunder‑walking talismans that shot forth instantly!