Chapter 114: Killing Corpse Demon (II)

"Oh, so it's an Image‑Preserving Stone. Why, aren't you afraid the Stabbing Demon will cause you trouble?" Cheng Xin asked curiously.

"It's fine, I won't stray too far from the sect gate!" Wei Yuning lifted the Demon‑Seeking Mirror in his hand and said.

His decision was not a whim. If the Stabbing Demon were still mentally normal as before, the Half‑Mountain Annex, being within the Cloud Hidden Sect's domain, would certainly not let the Stabbing Demon enter.

Now that he has the Demon‑Seeking Mirror, it can detect the approximate range of the Stabbing Demon; even if the warning hue is dark red, he has enough time to return to the annex.

If the Stabbing Demon truly goes mad, even within the Mountain‑Guard Array it will find a way to get in, and the outcome will be the same. So, why not be straightforward.

More importantly, taking photos is not merely fun for him.

Since he resolved to create Image‑Preserving Stones, Wei Yuning has wanted not only to capture scenery but also to photograph the world's unique things, just as when he lived on Earth, hunting demon heads is tailor‑made perfect material.

Perhaps those from the spirit‑beast world cannot comprehend this behavior, but for Wei Yuning it is somewhat like his nostalgia for Earth life, and it constantly reminds him that in the unknown Nine‑Continents world, that place was once his home.

"That's right, with the Demon‑Seeking Mirror we can escape in time. Fine, then come with me! You're a mortal in the Foundation Establishment stage, demon heads are a tonic; if I have any spare, I'll give you one!" Cheng Xin said casually. The Buddhist cultivation lineage roams far and wide, not foolishly naive; each has a few demon or evil cultivator lives in their hands, treating danger as ordinary.

Cheng Xin, having entered the Void Realm as a Buddhist cultivator, can fly off the ground; Wei Yuning's "Rocket Body Technique" is even swifter. Though high‑altitude flight is forbidden within the sect, the two sprint close to the ground at full speed!

After exiting the teleportation array and arriving at the Half‑Mountain Annex, they ran straight into Mei Xuan.

Mei Xuan's face was streaked with tears; seeing Wei Yuning she froze, then sobbed, "Uncle, Nie Zi Qing took advantage of my absence and forcibly seized Red Plum Villa; even my steward was driven out!"

"Could everything inside have been taken?" Wei Yuning first thought of the Wood Spirit; Mei Xuan kept insisting the Wood Spirit was on her, yet she hadn't produced it, so the items were likely still in the villa.

"There's not much inside; the treasures are on my body, and my steward also brought a bit!" Mei Xuan said.

"Then why are you crying? Safety is paramount." Wei Yuning comforted.

"I… yeah, seems there's no real loss, just a bit sad!" Mei Xuan continued sobbing.

"Alright, you go rest first; I… I'll go avenge you!" Wei Yuning, realizing he still can't freely enter and exit the sect, said sheepishly.

"I'll handle the revenge myself; I… wuwu… I'm leaving first!" Mei Xuan cried as she entered the teleportation array and went back.

"Pure Demon Fellow, what trouble has this young lady encountered? So sorrowful!" Cheng Xin said sympathetically.

"Oh, her father's murderer took advantage of her absence and seized her home!" Wei Yuning said calmly.

"There are still such vile people in this world, Pure Demon Fellow; I cannot stand such injustice. If… that lady is willing to pay a fee, I am ready to help punish the thief!" Master Cheng Xin said indignant.

"Master, you actually take such jobs?" Wei Yuning wore a look of disbelief.

"Hehe, the Buddhist cultivation lineage travels far and wide; clothing, food, shelter all cost money. If we don't broaden our sources of wealth, where would the expenses come from? Yet we never do unrighteous deeds; all money is earned properly!" Master Cheng Xin said, defending himself.

"Is that true? Then you don't need to look for Mei Xuan; as her uncle, I can pay that sum for her. However, Mei's situation with that vile man isn't something that can be cleared in a few words. Mei's father once expelled the vile man's father from the gang; in fact, Mei's father was the original instigator. Of course, this vile man's actions are even worse and must be punished. I can ask you to handle this, but his crime doesn't merit death—at most, we can ruin his cultivation!" Wei Yuning said.

Of course, he wasn't being merciful. Killing warrants death, debts demand repayment. Regarding Nie Zi Qing's execution of Mei Jiu Gen, Mei Jiu Gen's fate remains unknown, so Nie Zi Qing cannot be deemed a confirmed murderer. Yet his crimes are severe and cannot be lightly forgiven; thus this punishment—worse than death for a cultivator—is the only option.

Wei Yuning made this decision quite naturally, aligning with the moral view he had grasped that day: the world contains both good and evil; rewards may be given for good deeds but not exceed the good done, punishments for evil should not exceed the evil committed. This is both the way of fairness and the way of nature.

"Very well, Pure Demon Fellow, though you have no affinity with the Buddha, you have great insight into the Buddhist cultivation path—what a pity!" Master Cheng Xin said.

"Master, be prepared to slay demons and eliminate monsters!" At this moment, the two had already reached the sect gate entrance.

The Half‑Mountain Annex has a large gate at its entrance, but it remains open year‑round, protected only by a thin semi‑transparent shield. All large protective arrays within the sect, including the Mountain‑Guard Array, are outward‑facing; outsiders cannot enter, while those inside may leave freely.

However, the sect's array shield is not a solid object; ordinary mortals or beasts without spiritual energy fluctuations can also enter. The Half‑Mountain Annex's location is special—unlike the peak sections shrouded in clouds and dangerous barriers, its perimeter is built with tall walls.

A few dozen zhang beyond the sect gate, along the roadside, stand phosphorescent stone lamps provided by the sect; farther along, two rows of roadside shops line the path, each doorway sparsely adorned with weak phosphorescent lamps.

Over three hundred zhang away lies a mortal town affiliated with the Cloud Hidden Sect, with roughly two thousand residents. Along the mountain road between the town and the sect gate are various shops—general stores, inns, and hotels; the Bai Lian Trade & Transport Agency outpost sits not far outside the sect gate.

The gatekeepers are two errand disciples, each accompanied by a lively yellow dog, whimpering and growling in the darkness as if frightened of something!

One of the skinny, dark‑featured errand boys actually knows Wei Yuning; he served as an attendant at the last alliance banquet, where Wei Yuning had truly stolen the spotlight.

"Uncle Yuning, why are you out so late?" the disciple named Shun Zi recalled only Wei Yuning's original Daoist name.

"Master is coming to capture the demon head; I'm coming to help too!" Wei Yuning pointed at the solemn Cheng Xin.

"A demon head?" Shun Zi stepped back two paces, "No wonder the big yellow one kept barking all night!"

"Yes, but don't worry, they're all Corpse Demons, they won't cause much trouble." Wei Yuning reassured.

"Hey, Master, wait a moment, I'll give you something!" Just as Master Cheng Xin stepped out of the sect gate, ready to act, Wei Yuning hurried to stop him.

"What thing?" Cheng Xin, the monk, said with an impatient expression.

"It's too dim here; it will affect my filming, so I'll install a lamp on your head!" Wei Yuning ignored Cheng Xin's slight reluctance and, in a flash, fitted the master with a hat‑like device resembling a construction worker's helmet.