Chapter 23: Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 23: The Key

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 23: The Key

The window on the second floor of the Xizhao Inn was open, and Xie Wan leaned out, looking at the young man whose steps were slightly swaying.

He had a golden-yellow wine gourd tied to his waist. The gourd was well-chosen, with exquisite craftsmanship. As Zhao Chan walked, the gourd swung back and forth, and a line of small characters was carved on its body. If not for Xie Wan's exceptional eyesight, she wouldn't have been able to see it at all.

"Wandering with wine, idle with tea; lying under willows, sleeping among flowers."

Xie Wan murmured as she read, her face turning red in an instant. She spat: "Little Toad doesn't even know the meaning of these eight characters and dares to hang it on his waist! If others see it, who knows how they will mock you!"

A Ping spat out a small mouthful of dark red blood and then laughed heartily: "He's a young man, after all; he should have some romantic spirit. Being too repressed is not a good thing."

"Hmph, he's having a good time!" Xie Wan spat. "If others know that I am close to Little Toad, I don't know what they will think."

"Let's talk business." A Ping got off her bed and stretched his arms. After taking the Fusheng Pill refined by the Xuanwei Sect and resting for two days, the internal injuries he sustained from killing the old Jiao dragon were mostly healed. "Zhao Chan is truly stubborn. He didn't go to the Demon Slaying Division but returned to Nongsui Lane; there must be an inside story. Perhaps he is going to kill the demon he mentioned."

Xie Wan discussed: "Why don't you go and look after Little Toad? If he dies at the hands of the demon, the Xuanwei Sect will lose a genius."

"Hmm, I would have to protect him even if you didn't say so."

A Ping thought for a moment and said helplessly: "There isn't enough time. I really can't think of a way to save the people of Youju Town. It seems I can only borrow the hand of the demon."

Xie Wan sneered: "I told you long ago, I have been in Youju Town for eight years and know this place inside and out. If I can't think of a good way, how could you?"

"Pan Xi is known as the Hundred Treasure Zhen in the Xitang Kingdom. Although his cultivation is far from the word 'Zhen,' he truly possesses all kinds of Dharma Artifacts.

After the news of Pan Xi's death in his cave abode spread, it attracted a crowd of cultivators who flocked to it.

Fortunately, those who came were all cultivators of the Lower Four Realms and couldn't be taken seriously. You and I can handle them."

A Ping stood with his hands behind his back, sighing with emotion.

She walked to his side, wrapped her arms around his, and deliberately rubbed against him with her proud chest: "Senior Brother, you also know that I stayed in Youju Town and opened this inn precisely because I learned that Pan Xi died here..."

"If you have something to say, say it. Don't you know the principle that men and women should not touch?"

"Ha! We grew up together wearing split-crotch pants; do we still care about that? If Senior Brother likes my body, just say the word, and I will give it to you."

A Ping was truly helpless against his Junior Sister Xie. "How could I dare to want your body? If you have something to say, say it quickly!"

"Senior Brother, after we confiscate those Dharma Artifacts from Pan Xi, you can let me have the credit."

"You help me obtain the Demon-Illuminating Mirror?"

"We already agreed on this matter."

"It's not impossible," A Ping weighed.

The Xuanwei Sect was exceptionally generous with the credit established by its disciples—spirit herbs, spirit pills, wonderful medicines, cultivation manuals, cave abodes, Dao companions, wives, and concubines... As long as the credit was great enough, they could have whatever they wanted.

"Senior Brother agreed?"

"Heh heh, I have a condition here too."

"Senior Brother, just say it."

"After returning to the sect, you have to publicize two things for me."

Xie Wan asked curiously: "Which two things?"

"First, that I tried every possible way to save the people of Youju Town, and that I was not at the scene when those cultivators slaughtered them." A Ping said in a low voice.

"Alright, I agree. What is the second thing?"

A Ping looked into her eyes: "Second, that I returned to Youju Town in a fit of rage and, disregarding your dissuasion, acted alone to kill the many cultivators who laid hands on the innocent people, avenging the victims who died tragically."

Xie Wan feigned affectation: "But Senior Brother didn't do these things!"

"That is why I need Junior Sister to cooperate, isn't it?"

"Alright, it's a deal. Do you still want my body, Senior Brother? You only need to say the word."

"Haha... Junior Sister is a fairy of the Xuanwei Sect; how could I dare to desecrate such a filthy thing as me?"

After saying this, A Ping walked out of the room.

Xie Wan closed the window and sat on the yellow pear wood round stool. Only after A Ping's footsteps disappeared from the wooden stairs did she sneer: "A hypocritical fake gentleman. No wonder outsiders often say the Xuanwei Sect has a corrupt style."

Zhao Chan went home and put down the earthenware wine jar. The alcohol surged up, and he washed his face with cold water, feeling much better.

His head was still a bit dizzy, but it wouldn't affect him for the time being.

He emptied his thoughts and slowed his breathing.

The corners of Nongsui Lane were severely covered in mold.

He stopped in front of a house whose door frame was already full of mold spots.

Bai Yuqing and Bai Youjun were standing on the roof again, watching Zhao Chan's actions from afar.

Bai Youjun's palms were sweating, and she was full of worry.

It seemed that killing the Mold Ghost was indeed very dangerous for Zhao Chan. Bai Yuqing held a sword in her hand, the hilt of which was a white snake, and the white snake opened its mouth to spit out a sword blade over three feet long.

"Sister, you must intervene before the Young Master encounters danger. Don't let the Mold Ghost hurt the Young Master," Bai Youjun pleaded.

Bai Yuqing glanced at A Ping, who had just jumped onto the roof, and ignored her plea, speaking softly about another matter: "Qing, so many outsiders gathering in Youju Town are actually coveting the cave abode left behind by the loose cultivator Hundred Treasure Zhen Pan Xi of the Xitang Kingdom. As far as I know, in order to ensure his treasure-hiding cave abode was foolproof, Hundred Treasure Zhen fused the key to open the cave abode into the luck of this small town of Youju Town. If one slaughters all the people in the town and destroys the foundation of Youju Town, one can open the cave abode."

"Ah? Then Hundred Treasure Zhen must be a very powerful cultivator, right?"

"He is in the Upper-Grade Destiny Knowing Realm of the Lower Four Realms. For cultivators in the Body Refining, Qi Gathering, and Foundation Establishment realms, he is indeed very powerful."

Bai Youjun asked strangely: "He is only in the Upper-Grade Destiny Knowing Realm but dares to call himself 'Zhen.' Is he not afraid that a true Zhen cultivator will kill him?"

"He is just a local snake in a small place, and a slippery loose cultivator at that. Those Zhen cultivators are too lazy to pay attention to him."

"Sister, look, that person... that person seems to be targeting the Young Master!" Bai Youjun pointed at A Ping and whispered.

Bai Yuqing arched her brows. She indeed saw that A Ping was focusing most of his attention on the youth, and she said with disdain: "It is just as I expected. These outsiders looking for Pan Xi's cave abode are trying every means to borrow the hands of others to slaughter the people of Youju Town, in order to destroy the luck here and open the cave abode to snatch the treasures left behind after Pan Xi's death."

"Shameless!" Bai Youjun puffed out her cheeks in anger. "They don't dare to bear the consequences and are afraid that the Demon Slaying Division will come to their door afterward, so they use demons to achieve their goals by any means necessary. Pfft, how base!"

She pleaded again: "Sister, you must help the Young Master!"

Bai Yuqing said impatiently: "I know, I know."

Bai Youjun gradually felt at ease. She saw her sister gripping the sword and knew that her sister intended to intervene.

The sword was named Fufeng.

It was forged for her sister by the chatterbox Daoist priest of Da'e Mountain. It is said that on the day the sword was completed, there was a white python omen that spanned three hundred miles.

A Ping noticed them.

He glanced at Zhao Chan, who was standing still, smiled, and jumped to the side of the two sisters, asking with a smile: "Are you two having a good time in Youju Town?"

He had changed his attitude toward them.

Bai Youjun snorted and ignored him.

Bai Yuqing, however, replied: "Youju Town is a place of outstanding people and a very good treasure land. If this place were to be destroyed, the Demon Slaying Division of Lancang Prefecture would definitely be furious."

When A Ping first met Bai Yuqing, he used the Lancang Prefecture Demon Slaying Division to pressure her.

"The young lady is right. Youju Town is a place of spiritual beauty; it would be a pity if it were destroyed."

After a while, he added: "The Demon Slaying Division of Lancang Prefecture is busy with ten thousand things a day; I am afraid they will not pay attention to such a small place as Youju Town."

Bai Yuqing asked with a smile: "Are you really not afraid?"

"Young lady, why ask again? I also know your identities. If things get noisy, it won't look good for anyone. Why not sit down and talk properly, and think of a way that is best for both worlds?"

Bai Youjun said with disdain: "Who wants to sit down and talk properly with you!"

"Since that is the case, then I am sorry. The crime of demons breaking into Youju Town and slaughtering the people can only be borne by you two," he said, his voice as calm as an ancient well.

"A threat?"

"No, no, no, it is a fact!"

Bai Yuqing asked: "Are you not worried that we will report you to the Demon Slaying Division?"

"Would the Demon Slaying Division believe the words of demons!" A Ping said as if it were a matter of course.

Bai Youjun burst into laughter.

Bai Yuqing said with an expressionless face: "Let us wait and see."

"Ha, let us wait and see!"

A Ping jumped back to his previous position.

The Mold Ghost could not die; it was a good knife!

"Sister," Bai Youjun said in a very low voice, "why are these heartless and ungrateful people dragging their feet and not taking action? Are they all waiting for someone else to move first?"

"There is a time for the cave abode to open."

"When?"

"The fifteenth of the eighth month."

"The fifteenth of the eighth month? Today is the eleventh of the eighth month; there are still four days!"

"Hmm."

"Where did Sister learn about this? Why didn't I know?"

Bai Yuqing said: "I met an old friend in Lingzhou City last time, and she mentioned this matter."

"Lingzhou City? Oh! I was walking through the streets and alleys in the city. Lingzhou City is so big that I almost couldn't find north!" Bai Youjun recalled, "No wonder Sister looked unhappy when she found me; it was actually because of Youju Town."

"No, it was because you were gluttonous!"

"Sister, look quickly, the Young Master has pushed open the door!"

Zhao Chan didn't knock; he pushed the door and stepped inside.

He arrived in the courtyard and heard people whispering inside. With the sound of footsteps, the talking stopped abruptly.

"Who is it?"

"It is me, Zhao Chan."

"Zhao Chan? Why did you come? Is something the matter?"

An old woman, around sixty years old, walked out of the room.

Zhao Chan asked: "Aunt Feng, has mold grown in your room?"

"Look at what you're saying. Whose house doesn't grow mold? Let alone my house, every household in Nongsui Lane has grown mold. Tell me, it's too strange. In previous years, no matter how much it rained at this time, it wouldn't grow mold. I don't know what's going on this year! Oh, I feel unlucky when I see this mold!" Aunt Feng complained bitterly.

"Does Aunt Feng still remember that I came to find you the year before last?"

"I remember, how could I not? You broke your leg while gathering lacquer on the mountain and came to me limping to buy dog-skin plasters. I dare not boast about other things, but the dog-skin plasters your Aunt Feng makes are better than those sold in the pharmacy! You know your stuff too!"

Zhao Chan felt relieved; Aunt Feng was not the Mold Ghost. "I will come to buy a few more plasters in a few days."

"A few? I don't have many left at home."

"Four plasters."

"No, no, I can only sell you two. Wait, Zhao Chan, do you have money? Oh? Have you been drinking?"

"I saved some money. I won't disturb Aunt Feng's rest."

"Zhao Chan, it's not easy for you to earn money. Don't drink; that stuff is quite expensive!"

"Thank you for your concern, Aunt Feng."

Closing the gate for her, he looked at the mold covering the door frames on both sides, puzzled as to why Aunt Feng was not the Mold Ghost.

There were eight households in Nongsui Lane.

Zhao Chan walked to the house next to Aunt Feng's. This time, he didn't push the door but wanted to knock first.

But his hand fell before the door, yet he didn't knock.

Something was wrong!

Aunt Feng had been a widow for many years and made a living by selling dog-skin plasters. Where would there be people in the room talking to her?

"Maybe someone came to buy plasters."

That wasn't right either!

"She has a kind of... smell like meat that has been left out for too long and is covered in mold," Zhao Chan muttered to himself.

He understood.

He returned to Aunt Feng's courtyard and shouted: "Aunt Feng, I thought about it, and I want to buy two plasters now."

"Why are you back again?"

"Can I go into the room?"

"No! No!! You stay in the courtyard, and I will get the plasters for you!"

Aunt Feng walked out with a look of anger, holding two plasters...

Bai Youjun, who had been paying attention to Zhao Chan, felt her heart jump to her throat: "Sister! Sister, you must, you must help the Young Master!"

Bai Yuqing said lightly: "Look at how panicked you are; your ideal Young Master hasn't even done anything yet."

On the other side, A Ping couldn't help but sigh. The Mold Ghost had not been able to hide from Zhao Chan. Next, he could only prevent Zhao Chan from killing the Mold Ghost, and also not allow the Mold Ghost to kill him.

The youth was someone he had scouted for the Xuanwei Sect and had great use! Let alone being killed, even if he suffered a small injury, he would feel heartache.

"Two plasters for forty wen!"

"Alright, I will get the money for you."

In an instant, Zhao Chan pulled out the peach branch tucked into his waist and, with the speed of lightning, used the third form of the *Shake God Sword*, "Sword Trace," to cut off Aunt Feng's head.

Blood flowed freely.

However, Aunt Feng's blood was not the normal red, but as brilliant as the mold spots, and the suddenly erupting mold smell made one feel nauseous and sick.

Zhao Chan retreated a few steps and watched the old man walking out from the room.

The old man was disheveled, baring his teeth, and his teeth were no different from the mold spots.

"Your name is Zhao Chan, right?" the Mold Ghost asked with a grin. "You killed my ghost servant; what is your crime!"

It walked toward Zhao Chan step by step: "It's a pity, someone won't let me kill you. Otherwise, I would definitely plant mold all over your body!"

The Mold Ghost took a step toward him, and he took a step back, soon retreating to the side of the gate.

"Do you know fear now?"

The Mold Ghost laughed: "I won't make things difficult for you. Kneel down respectfully and kowtow to me three times, and I will let you go!"

If it weren't for the fact that Xiaoshui Zhenren had said the words "become a Patrol Mountain Ghost Envoy of Fei Mountain together with Zhao Chan," how could it have let him off so easily?!

There was no other way; its future cultivation still depended on Xiaoshui Zhenren. Since Zhao Chan was the other Patrol Mountain Ghost Envoy appointed by the Zhenren, it could only be magnanimous and let him off.

As the saying goes, a prime minister's belly can hold a boat. The Mold Ghost, wishing to go further on the path of cultivation, was willing to swallow this breath. After all, it had great ambitions and wanted to achieve the fruit of a Ghost Immortal, so it had to make compromises on some small matters.

Zhao Chan's arm trembled, not knowing if he was deliberately pretending or truly afraid of the Mold Ghost.

"What are you stunned for? Come over! Kneel down!" the Mold Ghost shouted.

Zhao Chan's arm holding the peach branch hung unnaturally, as if he had accepted his fate, understanding that he was no match for the Mold Ghost, and walked toward it step by step.

"That's right, that's right, good! Just stand there, kneel down and kowtow."

"Why are you drinking, you little rabbit? I want to drink but can't!"

A Ping, standing on the roof, let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed that this matter had come to a perfect conclusion; neither Zhao Chan nor the Mold Ghost had died. ===== CHAPTER 24 =====