Chapter 18: The Seal of Sanmen

Master Qiao glared at Xu Yuan with a gaze more venomous than that of an old locust.

The old locust loosened its hind legs behind its back, pointed at Xu Yuan, and said to Master Qiao: “I’ve found the boy for you. I told you long ago—in these mountains, no one beats my family at finding things.”

Then it grinned coldly: “But the old price won’t do anymore. You saw how this brat killed a whole swarm of my good grandchildren—three blood offerings won’t cut it.”

Xu Yuan gritted his teeth and accused Master Qiao: “You’ve conspired with the anomalies!”

In the first few days after arriving at Qihe Terrace, Xu Yuan had wondered: how could Master Qiao possibly protect the town?

After all, Master Qiao was merely a ninth-rank Wen Xiu—even if he was strong among ninth-rank cultivators.

Any anomaly in Wushan Mountain with even a modicum of power could surpass Master Qiao.

Yet over the years, though occasional anomaly-related killings occurred, the town remained largely safe.

Qihe Terrace sits at a crucial point along the imperial road; Master Qiao controls the town and earns hundreds of thousands annually!

Master Qiao gritted his teeth and asked the old locust: “How much do you want?”

“Three hundred.”

“Impossible!” Master Qiao refused bluntly: “Where am I supposed to find three hundred living people? If that many vanish without explanation, the authorities will investigate to the end.”

The old locust’s antennae twitched: “I didn’t ask for this myself—the recent Yù just intervened too—it’s not cheap to summon it! Of these three hundred, two hundred are for it.”

Master Qiao’s hatred for Xu Yuan stemmed from this very thing.

Capturing Xu Yuan came at too high a cost—he couldn’t pay it. But if he didn’t pay, the old locust would never let him leave—he’d become blood food himself.

The old locust chuckled grotesquely: “Why don’t you go negotiate with the Yù yourself?”

Master Qiao’s aura collapsed.

That thing was cruel and insane—no communication possible. If I went to speak with it, it might just eat me first.

In Wushan Mountain, many such anomalies exist; Master Qiao always deals with them through intermediaries like the old locust.

“You summoned it to save your grandchildren—this cost shouldn’t fall on me.”

The moment Master Qiao spoke, the old locust’s expression darkened: “You old bastard want to renege?”

All the locusts around turned hostile eyes toward Master Qiao.

Sweat broke on Master Qiao’s forehead: “One hundred and fifty—that’s my limit. More than that, you won’t kill me, but the authorities will!”

The old locust’s antennae traced circles in the air: “Three hundred blood offerings—and I’ll personally introduce you to a few from Guanghuo Street.”

A flash of eagerness crossed Master Qiao’s eyes, yet he sighed helplessly: “I truly can’t get that many…”

“I’ll allow you to pay in two installments: one hundred and fifty now, another one hundred and fifty in a month,” the old locust said. “This is my final offer!”

Master Qiao was tempted and probed: “And about Guanghuo Street…?”

“I keep my word!”

“Fine!” Master Qiao gritted his teeth and agreed.

The old locust grinned happily, pointing its foreleg at Xu Yuan: “Take him.”

Master Qiao stepped before Xu Yuan, sneered, and pulled three slips of paper from his sleeve. Each bore a single character—“ Feng ”—written in a different script.

With a flick of his hand, the three slips ignited without fire, rose without wind, and imprinted the three “ Feng ” characters onto Xu Yuan’s body.

Xu Yuan instantly felt paralyzed—even his “abdominal fire” was sealed.

Master Qiao grabbed Xu Yuan, slung him over his shoulder, and vanished swiftly.

Once beyond the old locust’s territory, Master Qiao hurled Xu Yuan to the ground, spitting: “Half a month ago, when Xu Linshi brought you to me, I actually believed she wanted to drive out her unwanted stepson!”

Hmph, how foolish I was then—I thought you were a gift of blood food, planning to send you into the mountains months later!”

Over the years, young laborers and women working in Qihe Terrace often vanished mysteriously in Wushan Mountain.

The townsfolk assumed it was anomalies doing it—none knew Master Qiao arranged their deaths, sending them into the mountains as offerings.

His tricks fooled the ignorant townspeople, but not the Holy Mother.

That’s why the Holy Mother said his dream of becoming “Baozhang” was pure delusion.

Xu Yuan hit the ground, his forehead cracking against a rock, blood streaming; his cheek scraped raw by dirt and gravel.

Yet Xu Yuan showed no despair—his eyes shifted, glancing coolly at Master Qiao.

Master Qiao caught that look instantly and snorted: “Disgruntled? I’ve sealed every ability you possess.”

Thinking of the murdered accountant Liu, Master Qiao ground his teeth: “This time, you won’t escape again!”

“So far, your body has revealed two forces: Dan Xiu and Fa Xiu,” Master Qiao said. “In Qihe Terrace, I have eyes everywhere—whatever you’ve shown publicly, I’ve learned afterward.”

“I always overestimate my enemies—I’ve added Ming Xiu as well. Three sects’ powers? Enough? Those three slips? Each one seals one sect!”

Master Qiao sat on a rock opposite Xu Yuan, nudged his toe against Xu Yuan’s face, leaving a clear mud-print from his filthy sole.

Xu Yuan rolled from his side to his back, making himself easier to interrogate.

“Tell me the truth—how did you meet the June Insect? If you’re cooperative, I might spare your miserable life.”

Xu Yuan’s eyes flickered, signaling he couldn’t speak.

Master Qiao snorted: “If you try any tricks, I’ll break your arms and legs—you’re clever. Why suffer the pain?”

Xu Yuan’s eyes softened; Master Qiao raised his hand, and one “ Feng ” character loosened slightly from Xu Yuan’s body.

Xu Yuan could move again.

“Speak.”

Xu Yuan hesitated, as if resigned: “When I arrived, my stepmother gave me a small bamboo cage and some old rice—those were for catching June Insects.”

Master Qiao frowned deeply: “A bamboo cage? Rice? Did you catch any?”

“I caught one. I ate it.”

Master Qiao asked: “Where’s the cage?”

“In my pocket.” Xu Yuan pulled the small bamboo cage from his tattered clothes, held it in his palm, and offered it to Master Qiao: “See? This one.”

Master Qiao reached to take it—his fingers barely touched the cage when it suddenly sprang open, racing up his finger and swallowing his entire hand.

The bamboo slats became fangs; the cage, a ravenous mouth.

After devouring his hand, it swiftly consumed his entire arm.

Master Qiao gasped in shock: “Jiang Xiu!”

How does this brat have so many sect powers?!

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(End of Chapter)