Chapter 82: Wait, No, You You You (10k)

Five days later, the group arrived at a remote town named Yunlan Town as planned.

This town housed a supply station of Taiqingmen, and it was where they would rest.

“Greetings, fellow senior brothers!”

Three outer-disciple cultivators, each at Qi Condensation fifth or sixth layer, guarded this post—they looked ancient, and one was already completely white-haired.

Normally, they never had the chance to interact with the sect’s core disciples; now, seeing this group of young cultivators with their calm, restrained aura, they were overwhelmed with excitement and reverence, quickly tidying up their rooms and preparing meals.

“You’ve worked hard!” Yan Xiaohu’s expression was stern as he casually tossed five or six spirit stones toward them; the three immediately caught them, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces.

Zhou Qing watched their subservient demeanor and sighed softly—yet Third Senior Brother was usually stingy; why was he so generous now?

Seeing Zhou Qing’s puzzled look, Yan Xiaohu glanced around, confirmed no one was watching, then instantly reverted to his usual sly, cheeky expression.

There are people like this all over Taiqingmen—they know their cultivation talent is limited, and they’ll never get past Qi Condensation, so they voluntarily take on assignments like this; otherwise, they’d just be cannon fodder anywhere else.

“And after serving a certain number of years, if any of their descendants show cultivation talent, the sect prioritizes them and grants them examination slots—essentially paving the way for their offspring.”

Hearing Third Senior Brother’s words, Zhou Qing’s heart churned with mixed emotions.

He didn’t know whether to pity them or admire them.

He also understood Third Senior Brother’s earlier actions.

“Enough. Eat, then rest early—we’re continuing tomorrow!” Yan Xiaohu said, glancing at the humble meal on the table.

Zhou Qing nodded.

He then placed the old hen on the floor, scooped some food onto her plate, letting her eat—after all, eating nothing but powdered spirit stones must be tiresome; occasional plain meals were good for her.

As she took just two bites, the door opened and a woman, face smeared with soot and hair disheveled, entered carrying a tray of food.

“Your Excellencies, please!”

She bowed her head, carefully placing the dishes on the table, every movement radiating humility, then quietly stepped back to leave.

Just as Zhou Qing was about to pick up his chopsticks, a strange feeling stirred in his chest—he sensed something was off.

He sharply turned his head toward the maid, now standing near the door.

For atop her head, clearly visible, was a golden annotation: 【Very Smart】.

Zhou Qing froze, his mind reeling as if struck by a storm.

He instinctively rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he saw.

Then, hesitantly, he asked: “Lu Shimei?”

Yan Xiaohu, ravenous, was wolfing down a steamed bun and hadn’t heard clearly; he looked at Zhou Qing in confusion. “What?”

Zhou Qing kept his gaze locked on the woman at the door and spoke again, more certain now: “Lu Yaoyao?”

Clang—

The tray slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor; her body trembled slightly, then she snapped her head up, eyes sparkling as she stared at Zhou Qing.

In that moment, her heart swelled with joy and emotion.

She had disguised herself so well as a local, thought he wouldn’t recognize her so soon—yet he saw through her ruse at a glance.

So impressive!

Instantly, she broke into a wide grin, radiant as the brightest spring blossom.

“Senior Brother Zhou, how did you find me?”

Lu Yaoyao abandoned the pretense entirely, beaming with delight.

Watching the girl skip up to him, Zhou Qing still couldn’t believe it.

Yan Xiaohu, mid-bite, dropped his half-chewed bun in shock.

“Wait—you… how are you here?” Yan Xiaohu’s heart leapt; his powerful spiritual sense immediately swept outward.

But he detected no trace of Li Daoxuan, He Han, or the others.

And when you came in, why didn’t I sense any spiritual energy from you at all?

Lu Yaoyao, seeing their stunned expressions, looked genuinely delighted.

After learning they were heading to Qingmu City, she made her decision immediately, found the route, and slipped away unnoticed by Senior Brother Da; then she set off that very night.

Knowing Yan’s group had higher cultivation and faster sword-flight speed, she barely rested at all, barely making it here in time.

Here, even if they tried to send a message, the sect wouldn’t receive it—the distance was perfect.

…………

“So you ran away?”

At the table, Yan Xiaohu asked while eating; he didn’t mind—male-female pairs worked better, and having a junior sister along made the journey less dull.

He just worried that if danger struck and this little princess got hurt, explaining it to the Sect Master would be a nightmare.

Lu Yaoyao nodded: “You could say that—I just wanted to get out. The sect is so boring. Oh, Senior Brother Zhou, how did you recognize me?”

“I didn’t even lift my head, and I changed my appearance and voice, even stuck concealment talismans all over my body.”

Yan Xiaohu also turned to Zhou Qing—he was curious too.

Zhou Qing didn’t know how to explain; after thinking, he pointed to his nose.

Both instantly understood.

Lu Yaoyao groaned in frustration—how could she have forgotten?

After all, Senior Brother Zhou could smell even the scent of Spirit Eel Fluid.

【Heart Insight +5】

【Heart Insight +6】

Under Zhou Qing’s bewildered gaze, the annotations above their heads changed.

Yan Xiaohu’s annotation reverted from 【Little Brother Like a God of Wealth】 back to 【Little Brother Stronger Than a Dog】.

Lu Yaoyao’s changed from 【Very Smart】 to 【Great Nose】.

After Lu Yaoyao’s pleading and coaxing, the two had no choice but to take her along to Qingmu City.

They couldn’t let her return alone—what if something happened on the road? No one could bear the responsibility.

Sending someone to escort her back was even less practical—it would take days round-trip, and Qingmu City was already in desperate need of aid, given it involved a Jin Dan cultivator and several Taiqingmen disciples’ lives.

“I promise I won’t slow you down!” Lu Yaoyao beamed when they agreed.

After eating their fill, the three stepped out and entered another private room, where laughter and shouts filled the air.

“One toast! Two friends! Three stars shine! Four blessings! Five champions! Six smoothness!”

Yan Xiaohu pushed open the door and found everyone gathered around the table, playing drinking games.

Except for Niu Guangmo, bruised and swollen, sitting quietly in a chair.

As Yan Xiaohu and the others entered, Niu Guangmo slowly opened his eyes—and when he saw Lu Yaoyao smiling brightly, he was startled.

But he quickly regained composure, muttering something under his breath.

Probably cursing.

The others now noticed Lu Yaoyao; the noisy room fell silent.

Then all turned to Yan Xiaohu and Zhou Qing.

Wait—this girl before us must be the junior sister from Shenyue Peak, right?

How did you two pull her out of nowhere?

Yan Xiaohu offered no explanation: “This is Lu Shimei from Shenyue Peak—you’ve all met her before.”

Everyone bowed respectfully: “Greetings, Senior Sister Lu!”

Though Lu Yaoyao’s cultivation was weaker than theirs, she was a true core disciple—the Sect Master’s newly adopted sixth disciple.

“Hello everyone. If my presence causes any inconvenience, please forgive me. A small token, nothing much.”

Lu Yaoyao smiled sweetly and waved her hand—eight exquisitely wrapped gift boxes appeared on the table.

Everyone’s faces lit up.

“No need, Senior Sister, you’re too kind!”

“Yes, yes! If you need anything, just call me Old Sun!”

“Don’t worry—we’ll protect you fully. This journey will be smooth and pleasant!”

…………

Yan Xiaohu stole a glance at Zhou Qing, secretly impressed.

Lu Shimei wasn’t just generous—she was genuinely thoughtful.

He remembered when a lake appeared behind Shenyue Peak; she generously invited everyone to fish for Ice Soul Deep-Scale Fish.

That night, she prepared a bonfire dinner and gifts, helping everyone get acquainted.

“She’s better at handling people than both of us, plus she’s beautiful, noble-born, and her personality is perfect!” Yan Xiaohu whispered privately.

Zhou Qing wholeheartedly agreed.

Then Yan Xiaohu signaled everyone to quiet down and introduced Lu Yaoyao: “This is Zhuge Fan, Liu Ru, Liang Ji… and this unlucky fellow is Niu Guangmo—he got stung by a wasp right before departure.”

Niu Guangmo stood and used spiritual energy to write in midair: 【Greetings, Junior Sister】.

Seeing Niu Guangmo’s pathetic and comical state, Lu Yaoyao frantically rummaged through her storage pouch, then looked apologetic.

“I forgot to bring the detox pill.”

Yan Xiaohu walked over and slapped Niu Guangmo’s neck loudly, then draped an arm around him: “Lu Shimei, don’t bother—Old Niu’s body is allergic to these Spirit Stinger Wasps. He’s taken detox pills for days now; normally he’d be fine, but nothing’s changed.”

The others laughed and teased.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qing, who had been standing across from them, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

His heart skipped a beat.

For just now, as Third Senior Brother slapped Niu Guangmo’s neck, he saw the man clench his fists tightly—his fingernails nearly digging into his flesh.

But he quickly let go.

Yet his face still nodded, as if he would have grinned back—if not for his swollen face.

Something’s off—

Zhou Qing knew well the eight followers of Yan Xiao Hu; they had faced countless life-or-death crises together, and if any one of them fell behind, the others would turn back without hesitation to rescue them.

The kind of trust where you could safely leave your back to the other.

And men, after all, brawling and shoving each other, punching and slapping, were everyday occurrences—how could anyone secretly harbor resentment and endure it silently?

There’s a problem!

And along this journey, Niu Guangmo had barely spoken to them at all; everyone knew he couldn’t speak, yet, as Third Brother had said, hasn’t the poisoning lasted too long?

There’s still no sign of the swelling subsiding.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing felt a sudden unease stir in his chest.

They were far beyond Taiqingmen now, in a remote region, with Lu Yaoyao added to the group—if someone truly was impersonating them and struck from behind, even their mother-child scroll wouldn’t have time to activate.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing felt a chill run down his spine.

Especially now, Third Brother was casually hugging him, laughing and chatting, completely unguarded—if this man suddenly struck, taking down Third Brother, the strongest fighter among them, would they even have a chance to resist?

But why had the opponent barely lifted a finger all this time? What was he planning?

Was his strength insufficient, or were others waiting to ambush them ahead?

Countless questions flashed through his mind; Zhou Qing felt his throat dry up.

Careless! Too careless!

But what if he was wrong again?

Zhou Qing wrestled with doubt, then his gaze hardened.

His talent skill [Heart-Viewing Gaze] still had one slot left, originally reserved for suspecting Gao Xuan’s senior uncle.

Now, focus on what’s right before him.

“Bind him!” Zhou Qing silently commanded, staring at Niu Guangmo before him.

Soon, the 【？？？】 above Niu Guangmo’s head turned gold at a visible pace.

The moment he saw the note, Zhou Qing’s pupils shrank—he rubbed his eyes, staring closely.

【A troublesome disciple!】

With a gulp, Zhou Qing involuntarily swallowed hard.

No way!

It’s Master!

At this moment, Zhou Qing finally understood why Master had told them this journey was safe, urging them to relax—because the enemy wouldn’t strike.

And why, when they left, he hadn’t come to see them off.

And why the true disciple Niu Guangmo had happened to be disfigured the day before departure, and still hadn’t recovered.

And why, after Third Brother slapped him twice on the neck, his fists had been clenched so tightly.

Because the man before him was Master Mo Xingjian.

He probably couldn’t change his appearance as easily as Second Uncle, nor could he disguise himself or follow them without drawing attention—so he simply kept his face swollen, to confuse everyone.

At this moment, Niu Guangmo seemed to notice the flicker of shock in Zhou Qing’s eyes; when he looked at Zhou Qing, the man involuntarily shuddered, his eyes filled with a trace of reverence.

Instantly, his lips curled slightly upward as he nodded at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing’s face twitched—he was about to pretend he knew nothing—when a voice whispered into his ear.

“So you figured it out? I knew you’d smell me out. All my preparations were wasted. Tell me, what does my body smell like?”

Mo Xingjian’s voice echoed in Zhou Qing’s ears.

Zhou Qing smiled bitterly and replied along the soundwave: “A manly scent—strong, dignified, commanding, yet full of paternal warmth!”

“Heh, don’t tell Third Brother. I hear him calling me ‘Old Mo’ all day—quite natural, isn’t it? I’d love to hear how he really curses me behind my back!”

The next moment, Mo Xingjian warned.

Zhou Qing nodded rapidly: “Don’t worry, Master. I understand your concerns. Only heaven, earth, you, and I know your identity. Too many people knowing would risk exposure—even a single involuntary gesture of respect could betray you.”

Mo Xingjian finally nodded.

“Third Brother, let go of him—he’s…” “Ah!”

Zhou Qing suddenly felt a sharp pain in his mind—he immediately crouched down, slapping his head in agony.

“Zhou Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

“Old Four, are you alright?”

The group, who had been laughing and chatting, rushed over at once.

Lu Yaoyao and Yan Xiao Hu asked anxiously.

Niu Guangmo pretended to join the crowd gathering around, but another whisper entered Zhou Qing’s ear.

“Don’t even think of sending him a mental message. Before me, every spiritual sense fluctuation escapes my perception. If you warn him again, you’ll limp for a month—or I’ll use other methods you can’t even imagine!”

Hearing Mo Xingjian’s voice, Zhou Qing sighed helplessly.

Third Brother, fend for yourself. Brother can’t help you anymore.

After all, let the other sect member die, not the poor disciple!

Then he lifted his head slightly, forcing a weak smile as he faced the crowd: “Nothing serious—just my leg went numb. A little movement’ll fix it.”

Hearing this, the group relaxed slightly.

Lu Yaoyao frowned: “Why are you touching your head if your leg’s numb?”

Zhou Qing: “...”

I feel like it—what’s it to you?

After confirming Zhou Qing was fine, Yan Xiao Hu turned to Niu Guangmo: “Niu, find a clean room and lay out the bed for your junior sister first.”

Seeing this, Zhou Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

Niu Guangmo was stunned, then quickly wrote a line of tiny characters in the air with spiritual energy: 【I’m sick. Weren’t you supposed to take care of me?】

Yan Xiao Hu said: “I’m taking care of you right now—move around more, maybe the wasp poison will clear. Go on, you’ve rested two days already—now you dare question my orders?”

After speaking, Yan Xiao Hu kicked Niu Guangmo in the buttocks: “Hurry up!”

Zhou Qing shuddered all over.

He could already picture the day Master would repay every humiliation he suffered today—hundredfold, thousandfold—on Third Brother.

“I’ll go!” Zhou Qing quickly said.

Yan Xiao Hu waved him off: “No need, let him go.”

Watching Master leave with a sour expression, Zhou Qing sighed helplessly.

I hope we can reach Second Sister this time—otherwise, Third Brother is doomed.

The next day, after a simple breakfast, the group hurried toward Qingmu City.

Finally, after another ten days, a quiet city appeared before them.

Though far smaller than Yanlong City at the foot of Mount Taiqingmen, it had its own unique charm.

The entire city wall was built from massive blocks of green stone, and everywhere—inside and out—trees cast thick shade, lifting the spirit.

Taiqingmen’s stationed disciples had already gathered at the city gate to welcome them, along with a stout middle-aged man flanked by a squad of city guards.

“Greetings, Senior Brothers!”

As the group landed, the Taiqingmen disciples hurried forward to bow.

Yan Xiao Hu remained silent, his face clearly displeased.

“Has the acting steward of Qingmu City, Feng Cheng, not returned yet?” Yan Xiao Hu demanded, voice authoritative.

A man at late Foundation Establishment stage hurried to reply: “Senior Brother, no—he hasn’t. Since Steward Feng led a team out to investigate the cause of the spirit fields’ withering, he’s been missing for seventy-five days. All disciples who could leave have been sent to search, but… but so far, no leads.”

Hearing this, Yan Xiao Hu’s face darkened.

At last, the stout middle-aged man seized his chance and bowed deeply to Zhou Qing and the others.

“Hu Xuantang, city lord of Qingmu City, greets you, my lords. Since Steward Feng vanished, we’ve never stopped searching—but they vanished as if into thin air, leaving not a trace.”

Yan Xiao Hu glanced at him coldly, then walked in with his hands behind his back.

“Take me to those spirit fields first!” Yan Xiao Hu ordered.

They hurried to lead the way.

Inside, Qingmu City, once bustling, now felt eerily empty.

The streets were nearly deserted; inns and shops were all shuttered.

Yet the group sensed that behind every closed door, people were peering out cautiously through windows and cracks.

“Is it because of those evil spirits?” Zhou Qing asked, glancing around.

City Lord Hu Xuantang replied quickly: “Yes, my lord. Ten days after the spirit fields withered, evil entities began appearing around Qingmu City—some forcibly draining yang energy, others possessing people, some killing outright.”

“So everyone’s terrified, hardly daring to step outside. Some tried to flee, but the surrounding villages were just as bad—nowhere to run. Fortunately, our Taiqingmen disciples have cleared away the most murderous ones.”

Zhou Qing fell into thought, then subtly glanced at Master Mo Xingjian.

Mo Xingjian said nothing, merely following behind the group.

Soon, dozens of acres of spirit fields came into view.

Once vibrant, the fields now lay utterly lifeless—the furrows cracked and dry, no trace of moisture between them, as if all vitality had been sucked away.

The soil, once fertile and faintly glowing with spiritual energy, now appeared a dead, lifeless gray-white.

The rice plants, half-grown, hung their heads; their once emerald spirit leaves had turned yellow, shriveled, curled at the edges, ready to snap in the wind.

Seeing this, every face turned grim.

Governor Hu Xuantang glanced cautiously at Yan Xiao and Zhou Qing, realizing that the investigators sent from above were clearly following these two as their leaders.

He said nervously, “Qingmu City has thirteen thousand mu of spiritual farmland; over sixty percent are now in this condition. If we don’t find the cause and treat it in time, the rest won’t survive. Two months ago, when the problem first appeared, it was only thirty mu…”

Everyone stepped forward, crouching to examine closely.

“It’s not contagious!” Yan Xiao spoke up soon after.

At that moment, the Foundation Establishment disciple hurriedly said, “Senior Brother, you’re right. Spiritual rice usually suffers from only a few known ailments. We’ve guarded this land for years and seen every minor and major illness—each has its remedy. But this symptom… we’ve never heard of it before.”

Zhou Qing, however, glanced at his master.

Mo Xingjian also examined carefully; sensing Zhou Qing’s gaze, the two locked eyes, and he gave a slight shake of his head.

If that’s the case, there’s only one option left—though I don’t know if it’ll work.

Then Zhou Qing directly performed an appraisal.

Soon, a piece of information returned.

【Contaminated Spiritual Rice: These are spiritual rice grains polluted by Blood Tai Sui. Their vitality is continuously declining; in about half a month, all will wither and die, and this soil will be unable to grow any spiritual grain for at least ten years.】

Seeing this, Zhou Qing’s brows tightened.

It’s Blood Tai Sui!!!

Since last time he detected the Ling Ao fluid, he’d truly studied up on it, focusing especially on these obscure substances.

As luck would have it, one of them was Blood Tai Sui.

If he remembered correctly, it was a rare corrupt entity, born from horrific ancient battlefields.

When blood stained the earth and hatred mingled with malevolent energy, lingering for ages, the land shrouded in death gradually fell silent.

Yet the intense emotions and energy left by the fallen slowly transformed.

Blood seeped into the soil, interacting with its spiritual energy, and over countless years, the embryonic form of Blood Tai Sui slowly took shape.

It continuously absorbed hatred and malevolence until it developed its own consciousness.

Its shape was wildly irregular, like a twisted mass of flesh, crimson in color, glowing with bloodlight.

It also emitted a foul stench—the smell of death and decay.

Its spread was vast; ordinary beings couldn’t smell it, but evil spirits detected it instantly and were drawn to it.

For them, Blood Tai Sui was the finest food—and they, in turn, were its best nourishment.

That explained why so many evil spirits had appeared around Qingmu City recently.

But judging by the current state, Blood Tai Sui seemed to be slowly consuming these spiritual rice grains to accumulate power—otherwise, it would’ve attacked the evil spirits already.

It’s… weak right now!

Zhou Qing’s eyes suddenly lit up.

A fully mature Blood Tai Sui brimmed with endless blood qi; a single strike could summon a sea of blood, and it could manipulate others’ minds.

Even his master here might not be able to defeat it.

At that moment, the old hen in his arms leapt out and pecked at the ground with quick taps.

Watching its behavior, Zhou Qing felt a thought stir.

Ordinary people couldn’t absorb Blood Tai Sui—but this mutated hen could transmute all things. Could it lay him two pure blood eggs?

Wait, what am I thinking? What time is this?

Zhou Qing stood up, turned directly to Governor Hu Xuantang, and asked, “Governor Hu, are there any ancient battlefields near Qingmu City? Or any place where hundreds of thousands died?”

At Zhou Qing’s sudden question, the confused crowd all turned to him.

“Old Four, do you have a lead?” Yan Xiao asked.

Zhou Qing said, “It’s just a hunch. You know my nose is sharp—I detected a faint stench from these withered spiritual rice.”

“A stench?” Lu Yaoyao and others frowned.

They sniffed hard—but smelled nothing.

Only Yan Xiao and Mo Xingjian showed signs of thought, then both suddenly brightened.

“You mean Blood Tai Sui?” Yan Xiao exclaimed in delight.

【Heart-Appraisal Points +9】

Before Zhou Qing could answer, he saw his master’s head tag—【Unreliable Disciple】—instantly change to 【Somewhat Clever Disciple】.

Zhou Qing smiled happily.

His master had clearly realized it too—and approved his deduction.

While others still didn’t understand, Yan Xiao stared at the spiritual rice and slapped his thigh: “Of course—it must be Blood Tai Sui. Only this thing can explain everything happening now.”

Hu Xuantang, who was only at Foundation Establishment, naturally had no idea what Blood Tai Sui was, but after a brief pause, he said, “There is one—three hundred li west of Qingmu City. It’s not an ancient battlefield, but a ghost city.”

At that moment, Lu Yaoyao gazed at Zhou Qing with shining eyes, full of admiration.

Though she still didn’t know what Blood Tai Sui was, it was clear Zhou Senior Brother had found the cause of the withering grain.

And her head tag, 【Good Nose】, had changed to 【Well-Read】.

【Heart-Appraisal Points +7】

Yan Xiao frowned, deep in thought.

Director Feng Cheng, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, hadn’t returned—apparently, he’d been controlled into becoming a pawn.

This meant Blood Tai Sui had already gained some strength.

And his own head tag, originally 【Little Brother Stronger Than a Dog】, had now changed to 【Little Brother Who Benefits from Proximity】.

Zhou Qing glanced again at his master, who appeared utterly indifferent.

Fine—it seemed he’d handed full responsibility to the two of them.

After a brief pause, Zhou Qing analyzed: “Everything matches Blood Tai Sui’s profile. But as Governor Hu said, that ghost city is over three hundred li west of Qingmu City. Logically, even if it drew evil spirits, they wouldn’t cluster so tightly around Qingmu City.”

Yan Xiao’s eyes lit up: “You mean Blood Tai Sui is actually near Qingmu City?”

Zhou Qing nodded: “Don’t forget—evil spirits’ noses are far keener than mine. And these withered soils and rice prove Blood Tai Sui is growing slowly. It’s still too weak to threaten them.”

“Similarly, evil spirits from all over want to devour Blood Tai Sui to evolve—but they can’t find it. So they’ve grown furious, killing people and draining their essence to grow stronger. Both sides are waiting for the right moment.”

As Zhou Qing finished, Lu Yaoyao clapped enthusiastically, eyes full of worship.

“Senior Brother Zhou, you’re amazing!”

Zhou Qing nodded: “Don’t forget, evil spirits’ noses are far more sensitive than mine. These dried-out soils and spirit rice all show Blood Tai Sui is slowly growing—it still can’t threaten evil spirits.”

“Similarly, evil spirits from all over also want to devour Blood Tai Sui to transform, but have been unable to find it, so they’ve grown furious and begun killing, even draining the vital essence of ordinary people to grow stronger. Both sides are waiting for the right moment.”

“Old Four, your analysis is spot-on. Thank goodness I’ve always kept you by my side, teaching you by example. Look at Old Mo—he doesn’t even look like a master. Day after day, he’s lazy and useless, always picking on us.”

“He says we’re always causing trouble, never quieting down—but with disciples as smart as us, he should be grateful!”

Yan Xiao grumbled.

Several True Disciples quickly turned away, pretending they hadn’t heard.

Zhou Qing’s face twitched, especially when he saw the clenched fists of “Niu Guangmo,” and hurriedly said, “Third Senior Brother, Master is actually quite good—he secretly shares his cultivation insights with us…”

Yan Xiao waved his hand: “There’s no one else here—you don’t need to defend him. In his heart, Big Brother is always best, Second Sister isn’t bad, but us two? We’re just the ones he picks on when he’s bored—like beating a kid on a rainy day.”

“I think Mo Xingjian is kind and gentle,” Lu Yaoyao couldn’t help saying.

“Niu Guangmo” turned to her, smiling warmly.

Zhou Qing’s face twitched, especially as he glanced at the clenched fists of the ‘Niu Guangmo’ behind him, and hurriedly said, “Third Senior Brother, our Master is actually quite good—he’s secretly given us his cultivation insights all along…”

Yan Xiao waved his hand: “There’s no one else here, so you don’t need to defend him. In his heart, Senior Brother One is always the best, Second Sister isn’t bad either, but the two of us? We’re the ones you beat when it rains—just because you’ve got nothing better to do.”

“By the way, Old Four—Blood Tai Sui naturally emits a rotting stench. Your nose is sharp—can you sniff it out?”

Yan Xiao suddenly turned to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing rubbed his nose, then shook his head: “Evil spirits can’t sense it yet—neither can I. I think we should proceed with caution.”

“You mean Director Feng Cheng?” Yan Xiao mused.

Zhou Qing nodded, then turned to the Foundation Establishment disciple: “Director Feng is late Foundation Establishment. His soul flame still burns in the sect—meaning he’s not dead, just trapped. Who did he take with him?”

The man hurriedly replied, “Twelve Foundation Establishment disciples—all mid-stage—and over forty Qi Condensation cultivators.”

Zhou Qing thought: “That’s just our Taiqingmen. Blood Tai Sui likely began lurking and rising from the ghost city three hundred li away. During that time, who can say it didn’t control others—travelers, explorers?”

“Otherwise, how could Director Feng, leading so many, vanish without even sending a distress signal? Was he ambushed by others under its control—or has Blood Tai Sui already gained the power to crush Foundation Establishment disciples at will?”

“We must also watch out for the Cangyan Dao Palace and the other faction—don’t let them strike like the mantis catching the cicada while the oriole waits behind.”

After hearing Zhou Qing, Yan Xiao’s frown deepened.

Zhou Qing pondered: “This is only our Taiqingmen’s part. Blood Tai Sui likely began lurking and rising from the ghost city three hundred li away. During that time, who can say he didn’t control others? Like passersby or explorers who entered?”

Even Mo Xingjian looked at Zhou Qing with admiration—and a touch of shame.

He’d only ever noticed their flaws, never their strengths.

But that Third Brother—his mouth was too loud.

And his heart was as small as his eyes!

Zhou Qing knew his master was nearby—but what if his hidden presence was meant to counter Cangyan Dao Palace and others?

They couldn’t let their own recklessness ruin his plan.

“So what do we do now?” Yan Xiao asked Zhou Qing.

Unconsciously, he’d begun treating this little brother who’d always stood behind him as an equal.

Zhou Qing said, “For now, we can only wait for a variable.”

We can't let these people's recklessness completely disrupt Master's plans.

"What do we do now?" Yan Xiao Hu asked Zhou Qing.

Without realizing it, he had come to regard this younger brother who usually protected him from behind as an equal.

Zhou Qing said: "For now, we can only wait for a variable."

Everyone fell silent.

Indeed, they had only just arrived today and understood little; now, they could only respond to change with stillness.

But at that moment, a figure staggered over—when the city lord Hu Xuantang saw the man’s appearance, he immediately signaled his personal guards.

Two city guards immediately blocked the man.

“My lord, please save my wife! I beg you!”

Zhou Qing and the others turned to look and saw a man in his thirties collapse to his knees, weeping uncontrollably, bowing his head repeatedly.

“City Lord Hu, what’s this?” Yan Xiao asked, puzzled.

Hu Xuantang looked embarrassed, then apologized sincerely: “His name is Shi Chuan, our Qingmu City’s Sichen. Two days ago, his wife was possessed by an evil spirit that has been draining her essence—we truly couldn’t stop it. Don’t believe me? Ask Brother Dong—”

Hu Xuantang glanced at the Foundation Establishment disciple from Taiqingmen.

“I apologize for disturbing you all today!” Hu Xuantang quickly bowed.

Lu Yaoyao, seeing the man’s pitiful, relentless bowing, felt pity and turned to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing sighed softly and stepped forward.

Clearly, he had no other choice, or he would never have come to them in desperation.

Perfect—I can test the Azure Thunder Sword Art. It naturally suppresses yin and evil entities; it should be able to kill it.

A small act of kindness from you might change someone’s entire life.

But Yan Xiao spoke up now, eager to act.

“Let me handle it! Back when I was young, I dealt with plenty of these evil spirits. Just now, I remembered a technique—maybe I can try it, find that Blood Tai Sui.”

As he spoke, Yan Xiao’s eyes gleamed with a hint of madness.

“You—lead the way!” Yan Xiao stepped forward.

The kneeling man heard this and burst into uncontrollable sobs, ignoring the dirt on his face, rushing forward.

“Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!”

Soon after, the group followed the man to a courtyard, where even from outside they felt a chilling coldness.

Inside, a shrill female scream howled, making the hair on their necks stand on end.

“Interesting.”

Yan Xiao snorted and walked inside.

As the door opened, everyone frowned slightly.

In the dim room, a strange aura hung thickly; a woman’s limbs were tightly bound to the bed with heavy iron chains.

Her face was grotesque and terrifying, her eyes blazing red, as if two flames of evil burned within.

Her hair hung wild and disheveled, her body thrashing violently, the chains clanging loudly.

Seeing the crowd enter, she opened her mouth again, letting out piercing shrieks—sounds like demons from hell—making Lu Yaoyao tense up and hide behind Zhou Qing, clutching his clothes tightly.

Beside them, Shi Chuan’s face twisted with anguish—he moved to kneel again, but Zhou Qing stopped him.

“Don’t worry—we’re here,” Zhou Qing reassured him.

Yan Xiao stepped to the bedside, looked at the woman’s chilling yin aura, and scoffed.

Then he slapped his storage pouch, and out flew a Bagua disc and three talismans of different colors.

The others grew curious—this was unlike any conventional method they knew.

They all stepped aside, falling silent.

Even Mo Xingjian watched this scene with thoughtful silence.

Yan Xiao said nothing, then pulled out a black feather, dipped it in an unknown liquid, and began drawing on his eyelids.

But at that moment, the screaming woman suddenly fell still—her red eyes dimmed, returning to normal human color. She stared at Yan Xiao’s actions, then asked suspiciously: “Yan Xiao?”

Yan Xiao, mid-drawing a special talisman on his face, froze, turned, and suddenly recognized her—his face filled with shock: “Li Shitao?”

The woman exhaled white mist and burst into laughter: “Are you joking? After all these years, you’re still doing this ghost-expelling nonsense?”

“How are you here? No—I mean, how are you still alive?” Yan Xiao couldn’t believe it.

Seeing the two suddenly start talking, everyone was stunned.

Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao stared at them, confused.

What’s going on?

Third Master, do you know this evil spirit?

Behind them, their Master Mo Xingjian seemed to realize something—and turned away, speechless.

Shi Chuan looked from his wife to Yan Xiao, his mind utterly blank.

(End of Chapter)