Chapter 149

If it were in the past, Zhou Shuo would absolutely not mind killing the boss and assistants of this black shop together, then chopping them up to feed the dogs, but having just eaten a free meal at their expense, although they also had ill intentions, he still felt uneasy.

Since you all don't want to die, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourselves through merit." Zhou Shuo looked at the shopkeeper and assistants kowtowing like pounding garlic, his heart stirred; no matter what he needed to do first in this world, he would first settle the matter of Lanruo Temple before speaking further.

Go to Lanruo Temple and gather some information for me." Facing Zhou Shuo's words, the shopkeeper and assistants who had originally shown a hint of relief instantly turned dazed; as locals, they knew the situation at Lanruo Temple.

Hmm, if you won't go to Lanruo Temple, then I……" Zhou Shuo looked at the dazed bunch, tapping his right-hand divine-ability whip against his left palm.

I'll go, I'll go." Facing Zhou Shuo's action, the black shop's shopkeeper and assistants instantly went limp, not daring to muster the slightest bit of ferocity.

Then go! Go now; if you handle the matter well, I won't only spare you, I'll also grant you wealth and honor." Zhou Shuo dealt out a blow, and didn't forget to offer two sweet dates.

But, sir hero, what exactly do you want us to do at Lanruo Temple?

I want to duel a master there; I don't know if he has set traps to harm me, so I want you to go check." Zhou Shuo threw out the words without blinking an eye; this was no lie, he simply hadn't said that the "master" was a monster.

That master……" the shopkeeper's gaze relaxed a bit; it turned out to be a showdown between otherworldly adepts, and being cautious wasn't wrong.

You don't need to worry about that; just go and have a look. I know what kind of place Lanruo Temple is, and precisely because of that I fear the other side may set a trap against me; you wouldn't want to see a master like me fall here, right?" Zhou Shuo rounded off his words, at the same time putting on an obvious expression as he asked.

Yes, yes, yes." Facing Zhou Shuo's obvious expression, no one lacking in perception dared to shake their head and say no.

Since you all said yes, what are we waiting for? Let's go! We were about to take advantage of the darkness to investigate, but once it's light, those fellows will surely be on guard." Zhou Shuo waved his divine-ability whip, driving the black shop's shopkeeper and assistants out of the inn like herding sheep, telling them to go together to Lanruo Temple.

Lanruo Temple lies three li east of Guobei Town; it used to be just an abandoned temple, but in recent years it has become increasingly gloomy and terrifying, with people often disappearing nearby, and a sinister aura palpable inside and out. Normally, even fierce bandits would dare not approach it casually, but today the black shop's shopkeeper and assistants, having encountered Zhou Shuo—who is even more ruthless—had no choice but to steel themselves and walk the night road.

Shopkeeper, what should we do?" In the pitch-black forest, the black shop's group, even though they moved forward together, remained trembling with fear; an assistant plucked up courage to ask the shopkeeper.

You ask me, I ask who—cut the nonsense, hurry up and go, we'll talk after finishing that hero's business." The shopkeeper stared at the pitch-black gloom, a chill running up his spine, but he could only steel himself and press forward.

Zhou Shuo stood at the rear, looking at the hesitant group ahead, and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Damn," he thought, "you lot show plenty of guts when doing black‑shop work, yet you're scared stiff before the ghost even appears—what would you be like if it actually showed up?"

I wonder if I can lure the old lady out!" Zhou Shuo thought, following at a distance behind the black shop's gang, watching them enter Lanruo Temple, then observing from afar, his mind imagining those fellows encountering a ghost and swarming out, so he could prepare to go up and fight the monster.

Plans in this world never keep up with changes; Zhou Shuo watched for a while, only to see the black shop's gang circling outside the ruined temple in the forest, then suddenly bustling, they all rushed toward a certain small grove, and from afar came excited shouts, as if they couldn't wait.

Damn, what kind of reaction is this?" Zhou Shuo watched the impatient crowd rush into the small grove, his eyebrows twitching slightly as he leapt over; looking into the grove with the naked eye, he saw a brightly lit pavilion standing still, from which a scent of powder and perfume drifted far away, mixed with waves of yin energy.

That small building truly exists, but its position in the small grove is extremely jarring; its aura is even more dark and uncanny, something a normal person can sense at a glance. Yet the black shop's crowd all had staring eyes, already seized by the jarring lust, and involuntarily surged inside.

Bewitched by ghosts." Zhou Shuo looked at the brightly lit pavilion, then at the swarm rushing into the pavilion inside the black shop's group, and his eyebrows jumped; this result truly exceeded expectations—seeing a ghost not only didn't frighten them, they were actually eager, even the legendary seductive ghost could not be more so.

Hey, what monster dares to harm people here? I'm coming!" Zhou Shuo looked at the crowd swarming into the pavilion, let out a loud shout, his body turning into a beam of immortal light that flew up and landed straight inside the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion was a viewing platform, and behind it lay a secret chamber; the chamber was luxuriously decorated, with a water pool and a cloud terrace, flower petals drifting about, while the black shop's group was currently being enticed by several gorgeous-robed seductive ghosts, about to lunge into the pool below filled with corpse ghosts, but before they could even reach the water, they heard Zhou Shuo's loud shout coming from outside.

Ah!" The gorgeous-robed seductive ghosts, hearing Zhou Shuo's startle, all let out a sharp cry, trying to flee like birds and beasts, but the black shop's gang, whose minds had been bewitched, each had a talisman appear on their body, strands of black qi drifting out, instantly enveloping the fleeing female ghosts and forcibly gathering them together.

How dare you try to snatch the meat from my mouth!" a voice alternating between male and female sounded; in the secret chamber, gloomy white qi rose, and several tree vines protruded from the white qi—some like spirit snakes stabbing at the incoming Zhou Shuo, some reaching to grab those female ghosts, and others like giant pythons lunging to seize the terrified black shop's group.

Pah, you dead monster, spouting big talk without fear of biting your tongue!" Zhou Shuo flew into the pavilion, released a sheet of golden radiance to block the thrusting or coiling vines from all sides, and at the same time caught the female ghosts, bundled into a fist‑sized ball of spiritual light, in his palm.

Hmph, your underlings are already bound by me, yet you still dare to spout big talk." Zhou Shuo grasped the multitude of female ghosts, looked at the cloud terrace before the water pool in the secret chamber, and spoke.

Ah, who exactly are you, daring to come to my Lanruo Temple and cause havoc?" Gloomy mist rose, amid a chorus of chattering voices, bald‑headed little demons with topknots in green‑flowered garments clustered together, and on their backs sat a noble lady draped in silk robes, adorned with gold and silver, who opened her mouth to emit a voice alternating between male and female.

Hey, these days monsters even stake out territories—you say this Lanruo Temple is yours, did you piss on it or carve your name?" Zhou Shuo looked at the manifested old monster, his eyebrows jumping; nowadays monsters even learn human ways, playing the whole announce‑your‑name routine before a fight.

Since you neither pissed on it nor carved your name, I still say this Lanruo Temple is my ancestral property from several hundred years ago; I've come now to take it back. If you're sensible, quickly gather your things and scram; I, the great lord, not collecting rent from you is already a sign of respect—otherwise I'll dig up your root system and make you suffer heavenly thunder punishment.

Zhou Shuo unleashed a torrent of curses, not waiting for the old monster to reply, he waved his divine‑ability whip; golden radiance spilled out like water splashing everywhere, the magnificent pavilion instantly vanished, replaced by stretches of ruined wreckage, the sewage pool filled with piled‑up white bones, thick dust on the rotting wood—though the pavilion was real, its splendor was merely an illusion.

Ah!" The golden radiance splashed all around, dispelling the illusion; the tree demon seated on the little demon vanished from its spot, and at once a deep‑rumbling male roar like muffled thunder rang out, accompanied by that howl the yin wind surged up like rolling waves.

Sir, save me!" Faced with the blinding golden light and the yin wind rolling like huge waves, the crowd whose minds had been bewitched all came to their senses; seeing themselves in the ruined pavilion, they were nearly scared to wet themselves.

Cut the crap, all of you shut up—I lost the magical duel, you're all going to die here, old monster; let's have a proper fight today." Zhou Shuo thrust his divine‑ability whip firmly into the ground, released a sheet of golden radiance to envelop the black shop's group, then let out a loud shout.

If you've got the guts, come out—I, the old lady, will today devour your primordial spirit, leaving you unable to reincarnate forever." Amid the deep‑rumbling male roar, a sharp female voice shouted; accompanied by the scream, countless tree vines and wooden spears flew in from all sides of the ruined pavilion.

If you're able, don't seal the gate—I, grandpa, will dig up your root system, leave you to bake in the wilderness, and suffer the punishment of heavenly lightning." Zhou Shuo spat back curses, meanwhile fully activating the Heaven‑Reaching Scripture; azure light shone from his eyes, and as he waved both hands he simultaneously released two Five Thunder Talismans, then with a unified chant the talismans, like clones, split from two to four, then to six, surrounding his body on all six sides.

In an instant, blazing electricity streamed out in torrents from the golden radiance; upon striking the tree vines and wooden spears probing from outside the pavilion, the tree demon's roots instantly turned charred, then the electricity gradually reduced them to powder that vanished.

Ha!" Amid the rolling electric current, a mixed male‑female roar rose; a strip of scarlet, thorn‑studded soft flesh shot down violently from the pavilion's broken roof, heading straight for Zhou Shuo as he released the thunder talismans.

Old monster, you don't know death—look, grandpa I'll pull out your tongue!" Zhou Shuo looked at the thorn‑studded meat dangling from above, grinned, pointed a finger, and the golden radiance spread across the ground converged beside him, instantly forming a golden hand that seized the descending red flesh; but before he could act, the thorn‑studded skin at the tip of the red tongue tore apart violently.

Sizzle— the thorn‑studded red skin tore apart, revealing a bone‑like maw resembling a crocodile's snout; from its mouth sprayed countless tendrils that whipped and probed outward, cracking the golden radiance in countless places, trying to scoop the black shop's group inside the radiance into its maw.

Old monster, grandpa's not playing today." Zhou Shuo looked at the golden radiance cracked and spreading, a blue gleam flashed in his eyes; his right hand scattered a sheet of spiritual‑light talismans that cracked and shattered the pavilion with a pop‑bang, while his left hand stuck a sheet of spiritual‑light talismans onto the black shop's bunch, forcibly hauling them outward as he rushed out.