Chapter 48

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 48: Meeting a Lamp in a Dark Room

Xie Wan scooped cool water from the bucket into a basin and washed the vegetables, which were no longer very fresh, with both hands. A Ping's attention remained on the picture book; never mind helping, he didn't even glance at her.

"Is it really that good!" Xie Wan said angrily.

"You don't understand, I bought this book with great difficulty." He said with justification, "Don't be impatient, I'm almost finished."

"Senior Brother, I have spread the news."

A Ping slammed the picture book shut, "Wait quietly for a good opportunity!"

"By the way, on my way back, I saw Little Toad take a stranger to Nongsui Lane."

"A stranger?"

"Yes, he should be a cultivator with a not-low cultivation realm."

A Ping pondered, "Could Zhao Chan have requested a Hundred-Household from Yang County?"

"A Hundred-Household of the Demon Slaying Division should be at the Foundation Establishment realm." Xie Wan said, "Then that is likely the case."

"Heh, Zhao Chan is truly providing us with charcoal in snowy weather, a lamp in a dark room." A Ping immediately beamed with joy, "If he really is a Hundred-Household of the Yang County Demon Slaying Division, wouldn't the cultivators who came to Youju Town have to take risks?"

"If Little Toad cannot extricate himself..."

"Impossible. Later I will go see Xiaoshui again and make this matter clear. In Youju Town, anyone can die, but Zhao Chan cannot. He belongs to the Xuanwei Sect! You keep an eye on Zhao Chan's safety; don't let outsider cultivators harm him while I am away."

"Rest assured, Little Toad is related to my future, how could I not be attentive?! Senior Brother, what should be done if that old flood dragon takes action against you?"

A Ping took a Fusheng Pill from a porcelain bottle in his bosom: "What a big deal. If it dares to rely on the background of Wangqing River and disregard everything to take action against me, I will let it know how the last old flood dragon died."

The cultivation world says that demon cultivators of the same realm are stronger than human cultivators. What a joke, I want to let the old flood dragon know that since we are both in the Knowing Fate realm, I, A Ping, kill it as easily as killing a pig or dog!"

"Since Senior Brother has such spirit, it doesn't matter even if Pan Xi is a Middle Five Realms cultivator."

"Pan Xi set up this trap but never showed his face. Even if he is still alive, he is just lingering on his last breath and not worth mentioning."

"Senior Brother, why have you become so arrogant?"

A Ping laughed: "Zhou Sheng's grandson is about to become a disciple of the Xuanwei Sect. Why would Zhou Sheng have any need to deceive us? He must have told us the truth. Zhou Sheng is a Middle-Grade Opening Mansion realm cultivator. No matter how powerful Pan Xi is, how powerful can he be? Even if he is a Middle Five Realms cultivator, at most, he is a Lower-Grade Opening Mansion realm."

Xie Wan laughed, "Then I shall look forward to Senior Brother displaying his divine prowess."

A Ping narrowed his eyes: "This matter can only succeed and must not fail. It concerns the future of both you and me!"

She finished washing the vegetables, cut them into sections, threw dry firewood into the stove, and when the heat was sufficient, added lard to stir-fry the vegetables. After flipping the spoon a few times, Xie Wan lifted the pot with one hand and poured the vegetables onto a plate: "Serve the dish."

A Ping carried the vegetables to the hall, his face full of smiles, and said to Bai Yuqing: "The landlady's specialty stir-fry, please taste it, guest."

Huangfu Changqiu glanced at the dish and scoffed: "The heat was too intense, it's slightly burnt. Fortunately, in this small town with no shops in front and no village behind, one should be grateful to have a bite to eat. If it were anywhere else, the guests would have smashed your inn long ago."

"Please bear with it, guest. The landlady is both the accountant and the cook," A Ping apologized with a smile.

"Ha, what you say is true, go down."

"Alright, just call me if you need anything, guest."

He walked to the back kitchen, clenched his fists tightly, and said angrily: "Damn them!"

"Did they insult you?" Xie Wan asked.

A Ping described Huangfu Changqiu's appearance: "If I have a chance, I must kill her."

"Senior Brother, we should worry about whether they will hinder us."

"Things have come to this, I can't care about that much anymore." A Ping said viciously. In an instant, his expression calmed down, and he hesitated, "Junior Sister, we must make two preparations. In case they mess up our affairs because of them, we must quickly escape and flee... back to the Xuanwei Sect. With the sect there, even the Demon Slaying Division would not dare to tear their faces. A Demon-Illuminating Mirror that is a Lower-grade Spirit Tool, I really want it."

Huangfu Changqiu, sitting opposite Bai Yuqing, sneered: "A tiny Lower Four Realms cultivator dares to threaten me."

She sensed a faint murderous intent from A Ping's gaze.

Xun Lan laughed: "Why bother with such a hypocrite."

"I want to kill him."

"You are a Baoyu Studio cultivator. Isn't Baoyu Studio a mountain sect that leans towards Buddhism? Moreover, it is not good to talk about killing in front of Fairy Bai," Xun Lan said slowly.

"Baoyu Studio is not a Buddhist sect, it just leans towards Buddhism in its cultivation philosophy. Your Hengwu Pavilion is the same..."

Huangfu Changqiu suppressed her murderous intent and looked at Bai Yuqing, who was picking up food: "Fairy Bai, can someone like me join the Demon Slaying Division?"

"The Patrol Platform is not suitable for you. Your personality is actually suitable for the Goucha Court."

"Ha, who doesn't know that the Goucha Court is not well-regarded in the Demon Slaying Division. Forget it, I'd better honestly stay in Baoyu Studio."

Bai Yuqing said pointedly: "Are there many disciples like you in Baoyu Studio?"

"Only me." Huangfu Changqiu smiled again.

"I advise you that since you have refined one year of the Xitang Kingdom's national fortune, tuck your tail and hide back in the sect. Wait until the limelight passes before going down the mountain to travel," Bai Yuqing said coldly.

"Fairy Bai, sigh, I was forced to..." Huangfu Changqiu explained, "I chanted scriptures for her for three days, and she actually gifted me the Jiulong Sifeng Pearl Crown, Zhaiyi, Dashan Sleeve, Feishi Sword, etc. If you really talk about it, I am the most wronged person."

Bai Yuqing sneered: "Unauthorized wearing of the Xitang Kingdom Empress's ceremonial dress and refining one year of national fortune, this matter has blown up. Baoyu Studio will definitely be implicated by you."

"Will the Demon Slaying Division come to visit?"

"The Goucha Court will definitely intervene in this matter."

Huangfu Changqiu's face turned pale instantly.

Xun Lan spoke at the right time: "Fairy Bai, don't scare her. Since it was gifted by the Empress, it can't be traced back to her."

Bai Yuqing said: "Having a knife and not using it are two different things. The Xitang Kingdom Demon Slaying Division can intervene in the Heinei Kingdom's affairs. Do you think the Demon Slaying Division won't use this matter to reach into the palace?"

"Fairy Bai is being a bit alarmist."

"Qing, how do you view national fortune?"

Bai Youjun swallowed the food in her mouth: "Elder Sister, I remember that Baize Hall attaches great importance to a country's national fortune."

"Yes, some Xiuyi Guards know that there is no hope of breaking through their realm and want to strive for the imperial court's edict, and a country's national fortune is related to the height of the divine position."

The divine position of a strong dynasty cannot be mentioned in the same breath as that of a small country.

Even if they are both Mountain Gods and Water Gods, the divine power of the mountain and water deities in a strong dynasty is much higher than that of the deities in a small country.

Incense and national fortune are also incomparable. A large country has a rich population and thick incense. As the years of the deity absorbing incense deepen, perhaps they can win a chance to raise their divine position. National fortune is the same; the amount of national fortune directly determines the number and upper limit of deities.

While a small country has a withered population and sparse incense, every bit of incense and national fortune is precious.

Xitang Kingdom is a small country. Huangfu Changqiu refined one year of national fortune, which must have moved the food of the Xitang Kingdom's deities. It would be strange if they didn't argue with you.

Mountain sects have national fortune, and a country also has national fortune, but a country's national fortune is often called national fortune.

Large dynasties with deep foundations have more or less ways to cultivate national fortune.

Bai Youjun picked up a chopstick of food and stuffed it into her mouth: "If I were a Baize Hall Xiuyi Guard, I would take the opportunity to investigate this matter. First, I could make a contribution and perhaps win a high-level divine position in Xitang Kingdom. Second, the Demon Slaying Division could also extend its influence into the palace."

"Well said."

The two sisters sang in harmony, and Huangfu Changqiu's face turned even paler.

Xun Lan frowned: "Don't panic. After you return to Baoyu Studio, pick some good 'gifts' to offer to the Xitang Kingdom Demon Slaying Division."

"Senior Sister Xun is right." Huangfu Changqiu temporarily suppressed her inner anxiety.

She had already anticipated this before, deceiving herself that this matter was no big deal, that it was the one year of national fortune gifted to her by the Empress, and that the culprit was the mistress who lived deep in the palace. But after Bai Yuqing said it like this, tearing down this layer of window paper, she felt fear.

Huangfu Changqiu laughed: "Let me treat this meal."

Kong Yanxing stood in the courtyard, and Zhao Chan tightened the reins.

Two horses were ridden from Yang County, and the other one was at the Youju Town Demon Slaying Division.

"Big Brother Kong, come into the house."

"Have you lived a bitter life alone these years?" he asked.

"Bitter."

"Haha... I thought you would pretend to be a man and say it wasn't bitter."

Zhao Chan said calmly: "It really wasn't bitter."

"You just said it was bitter, and then said it wasn't. Why?"

"Because I learned a craft and can support myself." The young man helped him into the house.

Kong Yanxing glanced at the bed that had been hacked to pieces by Qiu Gao: "Was it done by that cultivator who assassinated you?"

"Yes."

"Do you hate him?"

"I hate him." Zhao Chan was still honest.

Kong Yanxing sighed faintly: "There are countless cultivators like him who think that because they have become cultivators, they don't take the common people seriously, as if they are the most precious in the world, and everyone else is a lowly slave.

Wang Huan should have mentioned to you that we Demon Slayers don't just kill demons, but also this group of cultivators who do evil. Heh, they are not even as good as demons."

Thousand-Household Yuan had once talked to Zhao Chan about this problem, and that Baize Hall demon cultivator had gnashed his teeth while recounting it.

Kong Yanxing sat down slowly and let out a long breath, his body still aching everywhere, making him grimace.

"By the way, take me to see the Chang Ghost and Mold Ghost you killed."

"Big Brother Kong, you should continue to rest. It won't be too late to see them next time."

"No, let's go now."

Zhao Chan could not refuse him, so he helped him up and walked towards Sun He's house.

During this time, Kong Yanxing asked with a smile: "How is the Feishi Sword newly allocated to you?"

"Big Brother Wang said Feishi is a Low-grade Dharma Artifact? And I am not even a warrior, is it appropriate for me to hold a Low-grade Dharma Artifact now?"

"What's inappropriate about it? Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I am injured, and Youju Town is frequently suffering from demon disasters. It is the time for young heroes to step forward."

He paused.

Kong Yanxing endured the severe pain and laughed: "Besides, your contribution is enough for the Thousand-Household to promote you to Captain. I have told you more than once, what are you afraid of?"

Zhao Chan grabbed the hilt of the Feishi sword and slowly pulled it out.

Kong Yanxing paid more attention to the peach branch that was also inserted in the scabbard. Seeing that the blade of Feishi did not hurt it at all, he continued: "You still need to make greater contributions... The Demon Slaying Division has storage bags, storage rings, storage jade pendants, etc., for storing items. If you exchange your contributions for them, you can put the peach branch inside and take it out whenever you need it."

Zhao Chan, holding the Feishi sword, asked curiously: "What is that?"

"Heh, cultivation Dharma treasures are strange and varied, you will see them in the future. As for the storage bag, it is a powerful cultivator who opens up a tiny world from a Dharma treasure to store weapons and various items."

Zhao Chan slashed forward, the blade of the Feishi sword was cold.

"Is it handy?"

"Handy, a bit heavy, I need to adapt more."

"You only know the third form of the 'Shake God Sword'?"

The young man thought for a while and nodded: "I like the 'Sword Mark' form very much."

"Do you think it's not flashy, and the sword moves are straightforward?"

"Yes."

"The 'Shake God Sword' manual is only a Body Refining realm technique. When you see those exquisite sword manuals, you won't think so."

Zhao Chan put away the Feishi sword and pushed open the door of Sun He's house.

Kong Yanxing stood beside the corpse of the Chang Ghost and looked down for a while, then walked into the house and stared at Sun He's mother, who was no longer in human shape: "This mountain ghost is a bit different."

In the reporting room of the Yang County Demon Slaying Division, Zhao Chan had already told him that Sun He had been refined into a Chang Ghost by the mountain ghost.

He muttered to himself: "I can't detect a trace of the mountain ghost's aura at all. Mountain spirits like mountain ghosts usually have auras that are difficult to hide."

"Let's go to the Mold Ghost."

Before leaving Sun He's house, Zhao Chan turned his head and glanced.

The door was wide open.

The miserable state of Sun He's mother showed the cruelty of the mountain ghost.

If he doesn't kill the mountain ghost, the young man's heart cannot be calm or at peace!

Zhao Chan thought to himself, I wonder what changes that strange old book will undergo after killing the mountain ghost.

When he saw the corpse of the Mold Ghost, Kong Yanxing's face was instantly filled with anger: "Kid, well killed! The resentment on this Mold Ghost is entangled and difficult to disperse. It must have harmed more than a hundred people to possess such resentment! If it continues to kill, it will definitely become a Foundation Establishment realm ghost. By then, more people will die!

The Mold Ghost is different from other fierce ghosts. The human scent on this ghost is strong. Unless it is a Foundation Establishment realm or Upper-Grade Qi Gathering realm Demon Slayer, it is absolutely difficult to discover it!

The contribution you made must be raised. This Mold Ghost alone is worth seven or eight demons."

He looked up at the outside of Youju Town and muttered to himself: "I can't hold onto the idea of catching the mountain ghost anymore. The water in Youju Town is very muddy. Who knows what is strange about that mountain ghost."

Returning home with Kong Yanxing, Zhao Chan ran to Yang Yun's house in Zhecao Alley to take a look. Seeing that the door was locked, he was suddenly terrified. He had persuaded Yang Yun and Zhang Cui Cui to leave the town temporarily. After killing that demon, Zhao Chan was worried about whether the two would encounter new demons coming down the mountain.

If they were harmed because of his words, he wouldn't know how to deal with himself.

"Source Water Village..."

Source Water Village is not a village under the jurisdiction of Youju Town. He had heard the old people in the village mention that the villagers of Source Water Village were afraid of strangers. Except for occasionally coming to Youju Town to buy salt and cloth, one could not see the people of Source Water Village all year round.

"Should I go to Source Water Village? What if they encounter a demon disaster?"

It's just that Source Water Village is too far from Youju Town, nearly sixty or seventy miles away.

On second thought, he happened to have a horse, and riding a horse back and forth should be very fast.

He ran home and told Kong Yanxing about this.

"After you leave, if Youju Town encounters another demon disaster, I'm afraid Warrior Wang cannot handle it alone."

Kong Yanxing comforted him: "Good people have their own heaven, and the Yang Yun you mentioned doesn't look like a short-lived person."

"The woman named Zhang Cui Cui is a bit strange."