Chapter 25: Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 25: Sudden Change

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 25: Sudden Change

Taoli Lane was planted with a row of peach and plum trees. In the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom, a warm breeze would blow lightly and cleverly, covering the small alley with peach blossoms, like a ten-mile red dowry.

Chen Xianggu carried a bucket of water and poured it into the drainage ditch built of stones in the alley.

She heard the noise of the children on Caiyan Street, as well as the clear voice of the youth.

"Xianggu!"

"Grandmother."

"We are almost out of salt at home. Buy some back."

"Alright," she replied softly.

She put the bucket in the courtyard, took ten wen, and advised her grandmother, who was coughing constantly: "Grandmother, you should rest. I will go to the pharmacy to buy medicine after I buy the salt."

"What medicine? It's just that it's been raining these days, and I've caught a cold. I'll be fine if I just endure it," her grandmother, who was struggling to chop firewood, put down the rusty axe, smoothed the silver hair falling on her cheeks, and after a violent dry cough, said painfully and slowly.

Chen Xianggu sighed secretly with worry and ran toward Caiyan Street.

After the continuous autumn rain, the weather was getting colder. She wore a faded bean-green narrow-sleeved jacket and a peach-red camisole, a wrinkled short skirt tied at her waist, pink-white trousers, and a pair of embroidered shoes with several patches that made it hard to tell their original color, though one could vaguely recognize the crookedly embroidered peach blossoms.

Zhao Chan finished talking to Zhou Wangcai and watched Zhou Wangcai lead a group of children back to Xiliu Lane like a child leader, shouting and chasing each other.

He turned and saw Chen Xianggu.

Her hair was simply coiled up, held by a wooden hairpin, with a few strands falling onto her soft, beautiful neck.

"Miss Chen," Zhao Chan took a deep breath imperceptibly and called out softly.

Chen Xianggu lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, her pointed chin like the tip of a small lotus leaf. Not knowing what she thought of, she gathered her courage and looked up to gaze at Zhao Chan, her peach-blossom-like eyes covered with a layer of mist. "I heard... you joined the Demon Slaying Division and became a Demon Slayer?"

"Yes."

"You... you must be careful. I, I, I am a little worried about you." Her words were soft and lingering; if one didn't listen carefully, one would think it was just a breeze passing by the ear.

Zhao Chan took another deep breath and walked toward her.

"Your outfit is a bit strange."

"Hmm, the peach branch was given to me by Lao Liu. I think he broke it from Taoli Lane. The wine gourd was a gift from Uncle Zhou at the wine shop. The private school teacher said I lacked the spirit of a youth and was too dull, so he told me to drink some wine to increase my high spirits. By the way, look, this sword is called Green Snake; Brother Wang picked it out for me, and I like it very much..."

Zhao Chan walked to Chen Xianggu's side. Her profile was like the silhouette of a green mountain, her lips slightly pale.

After a long while, Zhao Chan said: "I have always been working very hard and have never been lazy."

The mist covering her peach-blossom eyes intensified, and she said softly and tremblingly: "I, I, I have seen it all."

Chen Xianggu hurriedly added: "Grandmother has also seen it. She, she said you are willing to work hard and endure hardship, and in the future, you will definitely be the pillar of the family. She, she also said that these years have been hard on you.

I won't say any more. Grandmother told me to buy salt, and after I buy the salt, I have to buy medicine for her. It has been raining constantly these days, and Grandmother's health is not good to begin with; perhaps she has caught a cold.

We... we will talk next time."

She ran along the side of Caiyan Street toward the salt shop.

Zhao Chan thought for a moment, intending to send her two taels of his remaining silver before sunset. Chen Xianggu and her grandmother depended on each other and had a very difficult life.

Suddenly, he thought to himself that the Mountain Ghost Flower Money had the effect of protecting the body, and Chen Xianggu needed it far more than he did.

As for whether the Mountain Ghost Flower Money was precious or not, the young man didn't care.

Wang Huan fell asleep leaning on his "Lion Mountain" heavy sword.

After arriving at the Demon Slaying Division, Zhao Chan didn't disturb him and walked to the backyard on tiptoe, holding the Green Snake Sword to practice the *Shake God Sword*.

He practiced the "Sword Trace" form over and over again.

The sun set in the west.

Wang Huan, who seemed to have had a nightmare, hugged his heavy sword and stared blankly at Zhao Chan practicing his sword skills diligently.

He didn't want to say a word. Shao Hua and the others had gone to Shanniu Village and never returned; it had already been the second day, and the result was self-evident.

Wiping away his sweat, Zhao Chan sheathed the Green Snake Sword and walked up to Wang Huan: "Brother Wang."

"Hmm? Is something the matter?" Wang Huan asked, as if awakened from his stupor.

"I killed a Chang Ghost and a Mold Ghost in Nongsui Lane."

"What did you say?" Wang Huan asked, as if he hadn't heard clearly.

Zhao Chan told the whole story.

After listening.

Wang Huan was silent for a long time.

This youth brought him too many surprises.

"Are you not afraid?"

"I am," Zhao Chan said calmly. "But I am even more afraid that the demons will harm people."

Wang Huan no longer had any of his previous dissolute behavior. "Recruiting you into the Demon Slaying Division is the most correct thing I have ever done. Come, take me to see the Chang Ghost and the Mold Ghost."

The two stepped into the orange-red sunset light and hurried to Nongsui Lane.

Pushing open the gate of Sun He's house.

Wang Huan confirmed that Sun He was a Chang Ghost and was suddenly dazzled.

This Chang Ghost was exactly the same as the one killed on that small mountain. The Mountain Ghost had not died, and Shao Hua and the others had indeed died at its hands.

"Did you know long ago that the Mountain Ghost hadn't died?" Wang Huan asked a rhetorical question.

Zhao Chan nodded.

"So you guessed that Sun He died in Shanniu Village and was refined into a Chang Ghost by the Mountain Ghost?"

"Sun He's personality changed too much, as if he were a different person."

Wang Huan said: "You are neighbors; you do understand him."

Walking into the room and staring at the corpse of Sun He's mother, he punched the door frame and cursed: "That beast should be cut into a thousand pieces!"

Sun He's father was a constable in the small town and had gone to Shanniu Village with Shao Hua; the family of three had all died under the Mountain Ghost's claws.

He slapped himself hard.

"Brother Wang!" Zhao Chan shouted.

Wang Huan gritted his teeth: "I only hate that I am a piece of trash! A useless piece of trash! I can't even protect the people of Youju Town!"

He stood blankly for nearly the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

Wang Huan sighed: "Take me to see that Mold Ghost."

"Yes."

The two went to Aunt Feng's house.

"Amazing. If I ask myself, Zhao Chan, you are truly amazing. A fierce ghost like a Mold Ghost has at least the cultivation of the Upper-Grade Body Refining Realm, and you actually killed it..."

Wang Huan stared at Zhao Chan.

"The people of Youju Town are fortunate to have a Demon Slayer like you!"

He had said this before, and he said it again, which showed that he held not only appreciation for Zhao Chan but also a deep expectation.

He expected this youth to grow into a Demon Slayer of the Yang County Demon Slaying Division, so that he could help the common people kill more demons and ghosts.

Zhao Chan lowered his head and bowed: "I am unworthy of Brother Wang's great love."

"You can speak well now, not bad, you have grown up," Wang Huan sighed with emotion. "Don't be humble anymore. Killing a Chang Ghost is nothing, but you killed a tiger demon and a Mold Ghost, which is truly rare. If, if I am lucky enough to survive, I will definitely report your merits to the Yang County Demon Slaying Division. No, once we return to the Demon Slaying Division, I will write a letter of merit. If I die, you don't have to worry about anything; just take the letter to the Yang County Demon Slaying Division and beg them to avenge us."

"Brother Wang, things have not reached such a point."

Wang Huan stared at Zhao Chan exhaustedly: "You also know that many outsiders have come to the town. They are Mountain cultivators, plus the Mountain Ghost lurking outside. Youju Town... Youju Town will be very difficult to preserve."

"We can seek help from the Yang County Demon Slaying Division," Zhao Chan said.

Wang Huan shook his head: "It's too late. Although I don't know what secrets Youju Town has that could attract so many cultivators, I can sense that they have a kind of malice toward this place.

If my guess is true, the mountain road to Yang County has been cut off by them.

Sigh, blame me, blame me! Blame me! I don't know what I was doing, not seeking help from the Yang County Demon Slaying Division in advance, but foolishly waiting for death. Could it be that I really wishedfully thought that the reputation of the Demon Slaying Division could deter them?"

He said: "That rainy night, it should have been the last chance. I didn't listen to you. Do you resent me?"

Zhao Chan said calmly: "I have some resentment."

Looking up, one could see the twinkling star curtain and a bright moon that was not yet full.

It was almost the fifteenth of the eighth month.

The elders of Youju Town said that the moon on the sixteenth is rounder than on the fifteenth.

Actually, Zhao Chan liked the full moon very much, but after his parents died of illness, he didn't like it, and even hated it.

He was thinking distractedly.

Youju Town, which had just received some moonlight and starlight, suddenly erupted in hysterical screams.

"Demons have broken into the town!"

"Demons are eating people!"

"Help! Help! Run!"

"Where is the Demon Slayer!"

Wang Huan trembled and rushed out with his heavy sword.

Zhao Chan followed closely behind.

Arriving at Caiyan Street, they saw a wolf demon the size of a small calf fiercely biting someone in front of Taoli Lane.

"Wang Huan, save me! Save me quickly!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.

Before she could shout a few times, the wolf demon tore off her neck and swallowed her head whole.

Wang Huan muttered: "A demon in the Upper-Grade Body Refining Realm."

He immediately rushed toward the wolf demon with his sword.

And Zhao Chan recognized the person being torn apart by the wolf demon; it was Ma Lan from Xiao Hua Xiang, who often spread rumors about Sister Cuicui.

"Taoli Lane."

Zhao Chan suddenly realized that the wolf demon had run from Taoli Lane to Caiyan Street.

He no longer hid his skills, mobilized the strength in his muscles and bones, pulled out the Green Snake Sword with a backhand, took a few large strides, and surpassed Wang Huan, who was rushing to kill.

He left the wolf demon for Wang Huan to solve, while he rushed into Taoli Lane.

Facing him was a single-horned ox.

This ox was truly too big and could barely squeeze into Taoli Lane.

The row of peach and plum trees planted there was ruined by the ox demon.

It was still the third form of the *Shake God Sword*, "Sword Trace."

The Green Snake Sword was so fast that the trace was blurred, and the force was so great that after the sword blade split the ox's head, Zhao Chan, who was holding the sword, passed through the ox demon's body without stopping for half a step.

Just like when he killed the tiger demon, he split it into two with one sword.

Zhao Chan was bathed in demon blood, threw away the things that were unknown organs hanging on his body, and hurriedly found the door to Chen Xianggu's house. The door was not bolted, so he pushed it open and entered.

The courtyard was quiet.

He hung his heart, unable to maintain his calm, and shouted: "Miss Chen, I am Zhao Chan."

Very quickly.

A voice that was almost inaudible came from the side room next to the main room: "Zhao Chan, Grandmother and I are hiding here!"

The tone was full of surprise.

Chen Xianggu opened half the door.

The youth was covered in blood, standing in the courtyard with a sword.

Seeing that she was safe, Zhao Chan took out a Mountain Ghost Flower Money and threw it to her, saying concisely: "Keep it close to your body, and hide well with your grandmother."

"Hmm!!" Her peach-blossom eyes opened wide. Although her heart was filled with confusion and questions, she anxiously urged: "You must not be reckless!"

Zhao Chan nodded solemnly and ran back to Caiyan Street.

The wolf demon and Wang Huan were evenly matched.

Several outsiders stood on the roof, watching like they were watching a play.

The place where the man and the demon were fighting was not far from the Xizhao Inn.

Zhao Chan glanced at the second floor. The window of Xie Wan's boudoir was open, and A Ping was watching coldly. However, A Ping discovered that Zhao Chan had noticed him, and a bit of anger suddenly appeared on his face.

A Ping jumped down from the window and scolded: "Demon, how dare you! How dare you break into Youju Town."

He drew his sword, and the wolf demon, which had been fighting Wang Huan to a standstill, died under his sword in an instant.

Wang Huan was panting, too late to thank him, and turned to run toward Daguan Lane.

There was another demon there.

A Ping explained his inaction: "They are all small demons; the Youju Town Demon Slaying Division can handle them independently."

Zhao Chan's expression was as calm as an ancient well, and he chased after Wang Huan into Daguan Lane.

Wang Huan's sword blade was dripping with blood, and his heavy sword had chopped into a dog demon. As his strength increased, the dog demon died at his feet.

However, the dog demon had bitten four people who couldn't escape in time to death.

They were all residents of Daguan Lane.

Wang Huan's face was extremely ugly: "It's a demon from Eren Mountain."

"The demons of Eren Mountain have come down the mountain?"

"Last year, the Youju Town Demon Slaying Division wanted to kill the demons of Eren Mountain, just to prevent them from running down the mountain. In that battle, seven Demon Slayers died. I saw this dog demon, the wolf demon, and the ox demon you killed in Taoli Lane on Eren Mountain. At that time, there were too many demon beasts, and we let them run away."

Pointing at the lifeless dog demon, he said: "This dog demon hasn't opened its spiritual wisdom and is just a demon beast. The ox demon you killed is about in the Middle-Grade Body Refining Realm."

As they talked.

They walked along the streets and alleys, looking for any fish that slipped through the net.

Every household closed their doors tightly, not daring to breathe.

After about an hour and a half, confirming there were no other demons, Wang Huan forced himself to be energetic: "Go home and rest."

Zhao Chan did not decline: "Brother Wang, take care."

"I am a strongman of the Demon Slaying Division! Don't worry."

He watched the youth's figure turn the corner of the alley and muttered to himself: "Middle-Grade Body Refining Realm. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe that Zhao Chan could become a cultivator in the Middle-Grade Body Refining Realm in just one or two days."

"Heh, what kind of bullshit Yang County Demon Slaying Division is this? Zhao Chan should go to the Demon Slaying Division in the prefecture or the capital to show his skills. He doesn't belong in a small place!"

He looked up at the bright moon that was about to be full.

"It is said that there is a toad on the moon, so the people call the moon 'Chan.' Zhao Chan, Zhao Chan... he should be a magnificent bright moon hanging high in the sky."

Zhao Chan went home, took two taels of silver, and ran to Taoli Lane. He stood in front of Chen Xianggu's door and took a deep breath for a long time before knocking.

"Who is it?" It was still her soft voice.

"It's me."

Chen Xianggu seemed to have been waiting behind the door all along. She hurriedly moved the door bolt, opened the door, and looked at the youth whose bloodstains had dried, searching for any wounds with tears in her eyes.

"Are you not injured?" she asked tremblingly.

Zhao Chan shook his head: "No, I only killed that ox demon."

The ox demon's corpse, split into two, still lay in Taoli Lane, and the peach and plum trees were lying in a mess.

Chen Xianggu lowered her head, wiping her tears silently.

He held her hand: "This is two taels of silver."

"I don't want it!"

"Your grandmother is sick," Zhao Chan found a reason she couldn't refuse.

"I..."

Zhao Chan placed the silver in Chen Xianggu's palm and closed her hand: "The money was 'earned' by me, not stolen or robbed. You can rest assured and accept it."

"Then... this copper coin..."

"It is called Mountain Ghost Flower Money, and it can protect the body. Let your grandmother carry it and try it; perhaps it will have miraculous effects."

"Zhao Chan! You... you have changed," Chen Xianggu sobbed very, very softly.

The youth smiled and answered a different question: "Actually, on that night six years ago, I swore to take good care of you."

They were playmates who grew up together. Six years ago, Zhao Chan's parents died of illness at the same time. Chen Xianggu, who was still a child, stubbornly pulled her grandmother to his house to help handle the funeral arrangements for Zhao Chan's parents.

Otherwise, how could a child with no relatives in Youju Town possibly send his parents to their graves?

She also knelt with Zhao Chan before the grave for a long time. That day was the fifteenth of the eighth month, with a full moon hanging high in the night sky. The two children spent the Mid-Autumn Festival together in the wilderness, as if they had spent their lives together.

"Have you given up?" Bai Yuqing asked.

Bai Youjun's tears flowed freely, and she choked: "I am more suitable for the Young Master than she is."

"Injustice." ===== CHAPTER 26 =====