[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-18":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310403,4514,"Chapter 18: The Seal of Sanmen","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>Master Qiao glared at Xu Yuan with a gaze more venomous than that of an old locust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan gritted his teeth and accused Master Qiao: “You’ve conspired with the anomalies!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first few days after arriving at Qihe Terrace, Xu Yuan had wondered: how could Master Qiao possibly protect the town?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Master Qiao was merely a ninth-rank Wen Xiu—even if he was strong among ninth-rank cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any anomaly in Wushan Mountain with even a modicum of power could surpass Master Qiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet over the years, though occasional anomaly-related killings occurred, the town remained largely safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qihe Terrace sits at a crucial point along the imperial road; Master Qiao controls the town and earns hundreds of thousands annually!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao gritted his teeth and asked the old locust: “How much do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao’s hatred for Xu Yuan stemmed from this very thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old locust chuckled grotesquely: “Why don’t you go negotiate with the Yù yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao’s aura collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thing was cruel and insane—no communication possible. If I went to speak with it, it might just eat me first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wushan Mountain, many such anomalies exist; Master Qiao always deals with them through intermediaries like the old locust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You summoned it to save your grandchildren—this cost shouldn’t fall on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Master Qiao spoke, the old locust’s expression darkened: “You old bastard want to renege?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the locusts around turned hostile eyes toward Master Qiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of eagerness crossed Master Qiao’s eyes, yet he sighed helplessly: “I truly can’t get that many…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao was tempted and probed: “And about Guanghuo Street…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I keep my word!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!” Master Qiao gritted his teeth and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old locust grinned happily, pointing its foreleg at Xu Yuan: “Take him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan instantly felt paralyzed—even his “abdominal fire” was sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao grabbed Xu Yuan, slung him over his shoulder, and vanished swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmph, how foolish I was then—I thought you were a gift of blood food, planning to send you into the mountains months later!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, young laborers and women working in Qihe Terrace often vanished mysteriously in Wushan Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The townsfolk assumed it was anomalies doing it—none knew Master Qiao arranged their deaths, sending them into the mountains as offerings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tricks fooled the ignorant townspeople, but not the Holy Mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why the Holy Mother said his dream of becoming “Baozhang” was pure delusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan hit the ground, his forehead cracking against a rock, blood streaming; his cheek scraped raw by dirt and gravel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Yuan showed no despair—his eyes shifted, glancing coolly at Master Qiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao caught that look instantly and snorted: “Disgruntled? I’ve sealed every ability you possess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of the murdered accountant Liu, Master Qiao ground his teeth: “This time, you won’t escape again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I always overestimate my enemies—I’ve added Ming Xiu as well. Three sects’ powers? Enough? Those three slips? Each one seals one sect!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan rolled from his side to his back, making himself easier to interrogate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me the truth—how did you meet the June Insect? If you’re cooperative, I might spare your miserable life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s eyes flickered, signaling he couldn’t speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao snorted: “If you try any tricks, I’ll break your arms and legs—you’re clever. Why suffer the pain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s eyes softened; Master Qiao raised his hand, and one “ Feng ” character loosened slightly from Xu Yuan’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan could move again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao frowned deeply: “A bamboo cage? Rice? Did you catch any?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I caught one. I ate it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao asked: “Where’s the cage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bamboo slats became fangs; the cage, a ravenous mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After devouring his hand, it swiftly consumed his entire arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao gasped in shock: “Jiang Xiu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How does this brat have so many sect powers?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Requesting monthly votes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1105,"2026-06-20T12:07:23.516Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e66e75fc519292cfdab9fe00c7cf4adceb50adc51449ae32781f42310258cd4a","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-19","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-17",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]