Chapter 790: Obedient disciple comes into the embrace 24

Jin Chen soothingly patted the person's shoulder, pulled them into his embrace, then lifted his gaze to look at the frightened villagers.

"That night, who else heard the strange noise and went out?"

Several villagers exchanged glances, and two middle-aged men stepped forward.

"We were there too, but we went together, and with no lantern in the dead of night, we were too scared to go any further."

"Only Yang Liu went up to the rear mountain hollow on that side."

Upon hearing that, the other villagers immediately chimed in, "Immortal Master, you don't know— the rear mountain hollow is eerie; if you go that route in pitch darkness, you won't come back alive. Many have died there."

"And you can't even find their bones!"

Listening to the villagers' chatter, Jin Chen picked up the key clue and glanced toward the rear mountain hollow.

It seems the man-eating demon tribe is right there.

Then we might as well catch them in a jar.

"Tonight at midnight, we need a brave villager to accompany us up the mountain."

Jin Chen's voice remained cold, yet the villagers dared not defy him; just one glance from him made them shiver all over.

After a moment's thought, that villager immediately raised his hand and stepped forward.

"Immortal Master! I'll go with you—I, Laohei, am a widower; if this life can kill a demon, it will be worth it!"

Jin Chen examined him from head to toe, and only after confirming there was no dark aura did he relax.

With the Immortal Master in the village, all the villagers felt completely at ease and happily returned to their farm work.

Fei Mian glanced again at the reclining Yang Liu, took Jin Chen's hand, looked up, and said, "Master… I'll catch it."

"Just to make up for my childhood regret of not being able to personally slay the demon tribe that harmed my mother."

"Hmm, as you wish."

——

At midnight, the moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the night was thick as ink.

Three figures headed toward the rear mountain hollow.

Only Laohei held a torch; otherwise, the path would be impossible to see.

As they neared the spot, a sudden gust of yin wind blew.

Jin Chen lifted his eyes and casually waved his hand.

The torch that was about to be extinguished flared back to life, burning even brighter.

In an instant, the yin wind surged from all directions, howling without cease.

Laohei, who had lived most of his life, had never seen such a sight; he clenched his fists to bolster himself and followed behind the two Immortal Masters as they continued upward.

Upon reaching a cave entrance, the two of them halted.

Fei Mian quietly told Laohei, "Uncle, we need you to lure the demon tribe out, but don't worry—we won't let you come to harm."

"Hey! Okay!"

Laohei knew he was useful too, gritted his teeth, and entered the cave.

At the same moment, Fei Mian flipped her hands, forming a seal; a tender vine‑like thread shot up from the ground, turning into mist that coiled around Laohei.

But shortly after, a piercing shriek echoed from inside, excruciatingly sharp.

The demon tribe emerged.

Fei Mian's form flickered, she darted into the cave, dagger already in hand.

She released a burst of mystic power, shielding Laohei behind her.

Seeing someone spoil his fun, the demon flew into a rage, its foul‑smelling mouth gaping wide as it lunged at Fei Mian to tear and bite.

But tonight, Fei Mian bore an especially heavy killing intent.

His gaze was icy; he hardly used any mystic power at all, relying almost purely on brute force.

The blade carved one unhealable gash after another into the demon's body.

Only after confirming it had no capacity to fight back did Fei Mian transform the wooden vine into a rope, tightly binding the demon.

Glancing at the half‑dead demon on the ground, Jin Chen took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, lowered his eyes to wipe Fei Mian's hands clean, and said, "Mianbao, your strength has grown recently—you're formidable."

Fei Mian pressed her lips, smiled at him, her icy gaze softening; in front of Jin Chen she remained ever the obedient one.

Laohei also kept praising them.

"This Immortal Master is young, yet his strength is astonishing!"

The three brought the demon back to the village, and only when they reached Yang Liu's house did they notice many villagers eager to know the truth gathered around his home.

Upon seeing such a terrifying demon, they kept stepping back, muttering frightened remarks.

Laohei, who usually had little interaction with others, became a hero tonight; several men kept refilling his tea and wiping his sweat, repeatedly asking what had happened on the mountain.

But Laohei refused to speak; he had always been tight‑lipped.

"Don't ask me—if the Immortal Master doesn't say, I won't either."

Fei Mian once again brandished her dagger, pressing it to the demon's heart, forcing it to look at Yang Liu's current state, and demanded in a cold voice, "Was it you who wounded him?"

The demon, nearly addled from the beating, glanced briefly and nodded in affirmation.

Fei Mian's voice grew colder, and she asked, somewhat agitated, "Five years ago, did you also harm people in the Lingnan region?"

"No, no! I've only just arrived in the mortal realm! It wasn't me, it wasn't me!"

The demon begged repeatedly, "I! I can tell you which demon tribe is garrisoned in Lingnan now—don't kill me, just let me go!"

"You have no right to negotiate terms with me."

The blade pierced the skin; Fei Mian heard the demon's anguished cries, and the hatred in her eyes could not be concealed.

"Speak."

"Ow ow!! I'm speaking! It… it's the Flame Demon Lord! He's been in Lingnan for centuries—and still is!"

That demon didn't seem to worry about betraying its own kind, perhaps thinking this little immortal master stood no chance against the Flame Demon Lord, so it felt no psychological burden.

Finally having gotten the relevant clue, Fei Mian let out a breath and calmed down a little.

He looked at Yang Liu, who showed no signs of recovery, and said, "Since he was wounded by your demonic energy, you ought to know how to wake him."

"This..."

The demon's eyes darted about, it wished to sink into the ground, and it kept changing the subject, refusing to tell the truth.

Jin Chen, who had been observing all along, seemed to have understood something.

He raised his hand, and an ice blade shot out from his palm.

It pierced the demon's chest, instantly turning it into an ice sculpture that shattered into pieces.

The whole process took less than three seconds.

The villagers who had just been afraid all stared wide-eyed toward Jin Chen.

Goodness, I thought this little immortal was already impressive, but I didn't expect there to be someone even more formidable!

"He's healed!"

Aunt Liu suddenly screamed, lunged at Yang Liu, and incredulously felt him over.

The body that had been stiff during the day had now softened, and even its dark complexion had faded.

Fei Mian stared at the fragments on the ground, her eyes trembling.

So… as long as the demon race is killed, the wounded will recover instantly.

He suddenly felt puzzled.

When he was young and unaware of things, he also knew that the neighboring Daoist grandfather was very capable, and his family got along well with them.

Now it was judged that his cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Why did the Daoist uncle prefer to bring him across the barrier and take him as a disciple of the Xuanzong Sect, yet never find that demon to avenge his mother?

Fei Mian pursed her lips, heedless of the others present, and leaned into Jin Chen's embrace.

In his ears was Aunt Liu's joyful weeping.

Today's events had somehow tugged at his heartstrings.

"Master... I'm tired."

All he wanted was to sleep soundly in Master's arms.