Chapter 1623: Heaven's Mandate Seven Children's Monster-Hunting Record 14

The group had just reached the main street when the wind and clouds suddenly changed.

"What a huge wind—ah!"

Jing Xingcan was blown into disarray; just as he opened his mouth to speak, he felt something plug his throat, coughed a few times turning away from the wind, and ended up with a mouth full of black ash.

"Run! It's going to get dark again!" shouted the townspeople on the street.

Then everyone became even more panicked and fearful; stall owners and shopkeepers, and some who didn't even have time to pack their belongings, ran to their doorsteps, with every household tightly closing their doors, and faint cries could still be heard.

"We have to go into the painting again……How are we going to get through today…"

"Oh heavens, who will come save us?!"

Jin Chen randomly grabbed a person on the street to ask; his clear, bright peach-blossom eyes full of innocence and doubt, making it impossible to refuse, "Miss, what painting? What are you afraid of?"

The girl he questioned, even though anxious, hurriedly replied in a few words, "It's… that dirty painting! Those who got caught all died!"

The girl pointed to the largest temple hall in the town; the blank wall under the dark eaves was indeed suitable for painting, at this moment a few black blobs fell onto the wall, and then the sky was covered with black clouds, instantly turning day into night, heavy with yin energy!

Xu Qie had a bad feeling, "Could it be that Xiao Hua is drawing somewhere, pulling all of West Mausoleum Town into the painting?!"

They are obviously inside the painting now!

Just as his words fell, misty fog appeared at both ends of the street; in the fog, one side a hemp-clothed ghost carrying a coffin walked over, the other side a ghost of a deceased commoner holding a red lantern appeared, walking slowly toward the middle, gazing at each other from afar.

【【Scary scary! I'm fleeing! Host, be careful, mua!】】 Ling Gun Gun covered his eyes and locked himself in the small dark room.

——

The Heaven's Mandate Seven Children, wary, split into groups of three or four, backs to each other, facing off against the ghosts coming from both directions; Bai Shi Yun was still afraid, let alone so many ghosts appearing at once, the two groups trembled and hid in the corner.

But at this moment, the street, which had been relatively empty, suddenly had a few more people appear.

"Ah!!"

The bun shop owner, seeing the street scene, hadn't even had time to think about how he got here from home, was already scared witless, his legs went weak and he collapsed to his knees, unable to stand.

"Spare my life! No matter which ghost or deity, please spare me!"

Jin Chen went toward their voices, looked over, his tone rising with an affirmative hum, "These people look quite familiar."

Except for the old man whose family had many deaths, he hadn't actually met most of them before.

"In the forest." Rong Zixu immediately realized, his gentle brows furrowing, "Everyone who deliberately lured the Dahua father and son into the landslide zone."

Xu Qie exclaimed in surprise, "But… if Xiao Hua wants revenge, why only now capture these people, and earlier harm so many innocent civilians?"

Yang Yu, who had spent the most time with Xiao Hua, mused, "Perhaps… because of the red lantern."

Yang Yu said, "Last night I and Xiao Hua exchanged a few words; I could barely make out her gestures, but generally I understood her saying that many people had scolded her and her father, calling it the ill omen of West Mausoleum Town."

"It's only because their family, since the customs of West Mausoleum Town began, has never lit a red lantern."

After he said that, most of the remaining matters became clear.

So Xiao Hua made those red lanterns burn all night, turning everyone's joyful celebrations into mourning.

And today, after they uncovered the truth, Xiao Hua only then summoned these people to avenge her father.

No one paid attention to their pleas for mercy, but they exchanged glances, and upon seeing each other, they simultaneously thought of the same thing, and were filled with shock.

"Sin…" the old man trembled his lips, "Could it be… could it be that Dahua has come to claim his life?"

"Pah! How dare he come for his life? That's a divine medicine rarely seen in centuries! And it's not even his up on the mountain!" the gray-clothed man spat, but couldn't hide the fear in his eyes.

"Exactly…" the bun shop owner still knelt on the ground, unable to rise, but over the years showed no remorse whatsoever; instead, he lamented not having obtained that divine medicine.

"Not even offering us a share; even if ground into powder, we could get a bit… saying it's all for his daughter's illness, isn't she just a mute girl?"

"Tsk." Jin Chen, hearing their muttering, couldn't help but say, "They really deserve to die."

Gong Sim Yue's temper flared, her lips pressed tight: "If it were up to me, I'd have Xiao Hua kill them all, only pitying the innocent people caught up in it."

"What does the senior brother say?" Yang Yu asked.

After hearing that, Rong Zixu closed his eyes for a moment; when he opened them again, he saw two groups of ghosts steadily approaching.

The red lantern calls for life, the coffin…

Thinking of the father and son whose lingering souls were still searching for a path on the mountain, Rong Zixu's eyes flashed cold, he slightly opened his lips, and ordered: "Protect the civilians, break the ghost domain."

The Heaven's Mandate Sect's rules state: those who commit rape, plunder, and the ten unforgivable sins shall not be saved.

West Mausoleum Town has more people worth them saving.

Ghosts drifted; the Seven Children faced the yin wind, and in an instant the cool yin and the heavenly righteous qi collided, kicking up clouds of black ash and soot on the ground.

But the seven people, in tacit understanding, none touched the coffin, for fear of damaging it.

They all guessed Xiao Hua's true intention in having the coffin parade the streets, which was also the sole ghostly intent to break the ghost spirit.

First, to kill the enemies who harmed her father.

Second, to let her father's shattered body, with no grave to speak of, be laid to rest in the coffin and buried in the earth.

"Ah——"

The bun shop owner was pierced through by a ghost, his whole body instantly turning ashen and collapsing, blood pouring out!

Afterward, several others met the same fate, dying on the spot.

Bai Shi Yun, watching from the corner, even if he were a master of disguise, trembled with fear; he had not guessed the truth, nor did he understand why those seven people claimed to save civilians yet stood by and watched those people be killed.

"Could it be that the Heaven's Mandate Seven Children are not just this simple in eliminating anomalies?" Bai Shi Yun's thoughts were in turmoil, unable to comprehend.

This fight, for Jin Chen, could be described as extremely aggravating.

At this moment, spiritual energy first appeared in the world; whether ghosts or the Heaven's Mandate Sect's cultivators, they were still weak, yet achieved a delicate balance.

Jin Chen carefully controlled and exerted force, fighting was still quite tiring.

Fortunately, after those who harmed the Dahua father and son were all dead, the fierce ghosts seemed to no longer crave killing, having withdrawn considerably.

Only the hemp-clothed ghosts carrying the coffin continued to circle.

Jin Chen said, "I'll go up the mountain and fetch Xiao Hua's father."

It seems that last night he was asked to sit on the coffin, which was also Xiao Hua wanting to find someone to clear the way, but this little girl was too decisive, not giving anyone a chance to think.

"I'll go with you." Rong Zixu replied without hesitation. Seeing Jin Chen actually sweating, he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to him.

"Lao Er, go find Xiao Hua." "Okay."

Jin Chen didn't take the handkerchief, just lowered his body and brought his face close, his peach-blossom eyes slightly blinking; in the hazy night, a wanton, alluring vigor of youth burst forth.

"Senior Brother, help me wipe."

Rong Zixu looked at him, raised his hand, the handkerchief brushed over Jin Chen's forehead and temples, his tone also gentler: "On such a cool night, how can you sweat so much?"

I'm really exhausted; one move took them out without scaring you.

Jin Chen silently complained in his heart, yet his face smiled bright as stars: "I have a fiery temper."

Rong Zixu: "……"

He tapped Jin Chen's brow, then pushed away.

"Let's have some cooling flower tea tomorrow."

I remember seeing a tea stall set up in this town.

Jin Chen insisted, coming over to hug him, determined to see the ultimate goodness through to the end: "Is it the kind you personally brew, Senior Brother?"

Rong Zixu rubbed his head without good grace: "You're thinking rather nicely."

Yang Yu took Chang Wuming and the insistent Bai Shiyun to look for Xiao Hua, while Jing Xingcan watched the embracing Jin Chen and Rong Zixu leave, feeling somewhat strange.

"I wonder..."

Xu Qie looked at him, thinking: "Could it finally be that not only she can gossip!"

Jing Xingcan frowned: "Xiao Chen, are we not okay anymore?"

The Senior Brother is cold-hearted; they used to be a duo! Now he can only be with the two older sisters.

Xu Qie: "……"

She put her arms around Jing Xingcan's neck: "Xiao Liu really needs to adapt; days like this will be many from now on."

Gong Simoyue clicked his tongue: "I feel like I've discovered something."

Xu Qie once again gave hopeful looks to her close female friends.

Gong Simoyue stroked his chin, lips curling: "Xiao Chen must have thought of something fun again to trip up the Senior Brother."

Xu Qie: "…………"

Gossiping alone, so lonely.

Alas, could it be that no one notices Xiao Chen's budding romance?