Chapter 245: Sunset Glow in the Western Regions

It was the very day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Outside Runze City, the inn was exceptionally lively.

Some were drinking, some were sleeping soundly, some were singing loudly under the influence of alcohol, and some were chatting about trivial matters and interesting anecdotes.

The waiter had also stolen a few cups of wine and was tipsy. Relying on his newlywed wife to help in the shop, he simply leaned against the inn's pillar to slack off, listening happily to the guests' conversations.

Someone mentioned the yaoguai on the official road outside Runze City last year, saying that a divine expert had taken action, subdued the yaoguai, and even ordered it to return all the money.

Those hearing it for the first time listened with great interest, feeling that it was not only more exciting and interesting than the immortal stories they usually heard, but also had a rare sense of reality since it happened nearby. However, to the waiter, it sounded like old news; he had heard it countless times right here.

Although this matter had nothing to do with him, just because he knew about it earlier, knew more, and even clearly knew who the immortal was—and had even had contact with them—he felt a sense of reflected glory.

Someone else brought up the affair of the Green Water Immortal last year.

Without a doubt, no matter how much the people here had previously believed in that Green Water Immortal, once the Green Water Immortal died and the yaoguai's corpse fell from the waterfall, it didn't take long for the truth to surface automatically.

Now, the people of Runze all knew it was a yaoguai.

It was just that they still didn't know how that yaoguai had died.

At that time, the area beneath the Immortal Ascension Platform was very lively, and among the guests present, there were many who had been there in person, so they took turns recounting the details of that day.

Firelight, fighting, incantations.

An armored figure, a rising gale.

The waiter sat to the side listening, still happy.

Although these people knew a lot, they still weren't as knowledgeable as him.

In a daze, he even felt that he surpassed these guests in this regard.

He heard guests at a nearby table say:

"What does this count for? About half a year ago, a flood suddenly occurred by the Wei Shui River, wreaking havoc on several villages along the bank, and waves rose on the river without wind, overturning many boats. Surely you don't know about that?"

Immediately, another guest with a hint of alcohol in his voice took up the conversation:

"How could I not know? Only people from out of town wouldn't know! That was a great yaoguai king causing trouble, capturing hundreds of people to eat. I heard that not long after, celestial soldiers and generals descended from the heavens and wiped out that great yaoguai king along with all the yaoguai soldiers and generals beneath him! The yaoguai king's bones were left on the bank; it was a dragon, longer than two or three houses!"

The visiting merchants heard this and only widened their eyes, not believing it was true.

Immediately, someone else refuted:

"That wasn't any celestial soldiers or generals! It was some martial artists, plus two Daoist priests, a man and a woman—they were probably immortals! At that time, the hundreds of people captured by that yaoguai were all released after the immortals eliminated it. There's a boatman in our village who was captured, and many martial artists went to the county magistrate's office to claim rewards afterward. If you don't believe me, go ask!"

"Martial artists?"

"What about martial artists? Before many incredible immortals became immortals, weren't they also heroic generals? If you don't believe me, go ask! The county magistrate's office wouldn't dare lie about such things!"

The visiting merchants had no choice but to believe.

For a moment, their eyes were filled with even more shock.

They had heard many stories of immortals, yaoguai, and ghosts—some true, some false, some big, some small—but they had never heard of anything so real and so grand.

That was hundreds of people.

What kind of yaoguai could capture so many people at once?

And where did these immortal experts come from to be able to eliminate them all at once?

The waiter was still listening to the side without making a sound, until the kitchen called for someone to serve the soup and dishes. Although he wanted to slack off, he was afraid the soup and dishes were too hot and would burn his wife, so he went to serve them himself.

When he came out, everyone was already asking the person who spoke last what the immortals looked like.

"According to that person from our village, it was too dark in the dungeon, and they couldn't see clearly. Having been locked up for so long, no one could see clearly. They only knew it was two immortals, a man and a woman, who looked very young but had great bearing, and they brought a protective divine general and a white fox."

"Eh?"

The waiter became interested.

This person actually knew quite a bit.

But still not as much as he did.

He knew everything clearly.

The immortals even lived in his own home.

Looking at the whole world, who had such good fortune as him?

However, there were many regular customers in the inn, and as soon as they heard this, they exploded, all looking puzzled:

"A man and a woman? Looking young? And brought a white fox? Why do I feel they look familiar?"

"It seems I've seen these two immortals here?"

"I seem to have seen them too..."

"Could it be that the immortals live here?"

"Eh? I heard from those people who were extorted for money and offerings by yaoguai on the official road behind us that the immortals lived around here. They had even come to visit but couldn't find them. When I asked them where the immortals lived, they refused to tell me no matter what. Could it be that the immortal who subdued the roadside yaoguai last year and the immortal who eliminated the yaoguai king by the Wei Shui River this year are the same person?"

The waiter was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

If these people kept discussing it like this, would they really find the immortals?

The immortals had warned him not to talk!

But even he, who knew the most clearly and was closest to the immortals, hadn't said anything, so why would they say it?

Just then, someone said:

"This inn is right here, and this waiter is here every day. If we want to know if we remembered correctly, why don't we just ask this waiter!"

Numerous gazes looked over, all filled with anticipation.

The waiter was a bit flustered for a moment, yet felt happy in his heart.

The immortals had warned him not to tell, so how could he say anything?

The waiter wanted to refuse, but the alcohol was too strong, and in a moment of carelessness, it slipped out:

"The immortals told me not to say..."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, and then they were even less willing to let him go.

"It seems you, the waiter, really know quite a bit!"

"Speak quickly! Don't keep us in suspense!"

"Was it really those two immortals who eliminated the yaoguai king by the Wei Shui River? Why would the immortals be here?"

"What about the immortal who eliminated the Green Water Immortal? Do you know?"

"Tell us and we'll reward you!"

How could the waiter withstand such urging? Under the influence of alcohol, he simply stopped caring and just said:

"You guests are truly confused. There have been yaoguai and immortals here before, but when have there ever been so many eliminations? Now that there are three in a row, naturally, it's all the work of the same immortal passing through."

"Where do the immortals live?"

"Haha!" The waiter's face was already red, and for a moment, it was even more radiant. "Naturally, far away in the heavens, yet right before your eyes!"

"What do you mean?"

"They live in my home!"

"Ah?"

The waiter of a small inn suddenly experienced the feeling of being the center of attention, the focus of the conversation.

This was truly...

Extremely satisfying!

Especially facing everyone's shocked gazes, the waiter was simply in high spirits, like that time on his wedding night.

"Tell us in detail!"

"No rush, no rush. This matter must start with the Green Water Immortal. That day, two Daoist priests came to my inn, and they looked just like immortals..."

The waiter simply sat down to tell the story in detail.

Unknowingly, it turned dark, and unknowingly, the bright moon rose above the pine tips. Everyone listened, mesmerized, both yearning for such immortal yaoguai-elimination deeds and shocked to realize the immortals were right beside them without them ever noticing. The waiter who was telling the story also enjoyed this kind of enjoyment immensely, speaking vividly and fluently.

Only more people came, and no one left.

By the time the waiter came to his senses and looked at the surprised crowd around him, a glance with his peripheral vision showed that it was already night outside.

Someone couldn't help but ask: "Where did those immortals go?"

This question stumped the waiter.

Looking at the night outside, the waiter suddenly felt a sense of loss.

Ever since the immortals left, he had often pondered this question.

Where did the immortals go?

This wonderful experience of his, this wonderful fate, seemed to have ended briefly right there. Once the immortals left, he was still the ordinary self, with no follow-up.

On Lin Jue's side, it wasn't dark yet.

It was just twilight.

A few people walked into a desolate village. Ahead was a straight road through the village, flanked by low houses buried by wind and sand. Only on a small slope directly ahead was a village temple built. At a glance, one could see the village temple situated on high ground, connected to a set of stone steps below.

The village temple was the end of the village road, and for a moment, there was a feeling that the entire village devoutly worshipped the deity in the temple.

Lin Jue held a small bottle, gathering the energy of the wind and sand.

"Ying wu ya..."

The fox turned its head and said to Lin Jue.

"What is it saying?"

The junior sister turned her head and asked her senior brother.

"Ahead! House! Can't run anymore!" The fox then turned its head and said to the junior sister.

"Can't run anymore~"

The colorful civet cat to the side said with a yawn.

Lin Jue was not surprised by this.

Having chased for so long, that yaoguai rat was finally exhausted, its body and spirit unable to hold on any longer. This was actually something he could feel gradually; as opponents, they were both very clear about each other's state.

In the distance, the setting sun slowly sank, and the clouds overhead were gradually coated with a golden-red luster.

Lin Jue put away the bottle in his hand.

The three of them led their horses forward, the wind and sand beneath their feet.

Following the village road to the end, they arrived at the foot of the village temple, walked into the first gate, and could only walk up the stone steps to enter the second gate, which was the ceremonial gate of the village temple, and there was one more gate before entering the village temple.

*Creeak. *

The village temple was already dilapidated, and even the statues inside were broken. Because it was facing away from the setting sun, the light was dim, and dust fell with a rustling sound.

A hanging rope hung from the rafters, and a ghost stood beside it.

The moment they saw the ghost, it turned into a streak of yellow smoke and blew toward them.

However, the few of them remained expressionless, not even dodging.

"Eh? Are you also resting here?"

"It's not dark yet, and you dog thing are already out harming people. You must have some cultivation, right?" Luo Seng stood to the side and said.

"What are you saying? Come, come, stand here, I'll show you a treasure!"

Seeing Luo Seng answer its words, the ghost beckoned to Luo Seng, asking him to stand in front of the hanging rope.

The ghost thought Luo Seng was bewitched by it, but it was already muddled and didn't know that martial artists had vigorous blood energy and were not afraid of these crooked and evil little tricks at all.

"You come over, I'll show you a treasure too."

"What?"

The ghost was a bit confused for a moment.

Only to see the martial artist draw his long saber, the blade filled with heavy malevolent energy and emitting its own spiritual light, shocking the ghost into a daze, and it turned to run.

But how could it outrun Luo Seng?

*Swish! * The long saber swung down. Although the temple was dim, a blade light flashed, directly cutting the ghost in half.

This was also a common tactic used by the yaoguai rat along the way—

If it knew of any yaoguai or ghosts anywhere, it would definitely bring them over to delay their time, perhaps also harboring the hope of harming them to death, which added a lot of spiritual charm to Lord Luo's precious saber.

But at this time, it was all in vain.

The fox left the temple.

The group also followed the fox out of the temple.

Under the increasingly dim light, a string of very small footprints in the sand led to the sand dune behind the village temple.

When the group climbed the sand dune, the yaoguai rat was sitting there. Not only did it not have a shred of strength left in its whole body, but its magical power was also exhausted, and it couldn't even find a gap to replenish it.

It looked like it had accepted its fate, but in reality, it was just exhausted.

The fox and the colorful civet cat walked up one on the left and one on the right, unhurriedly, and stood on the left and right sides of the yaoguai rat respectively.

"Sigh..."

The yaoguai rat couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, its expression tightened, and it gripped its wooden staff.

*Poof! * It directly turned into two yaoguai rats, one running to the left and one to the right, fleeing separately.

The fox and the colorful civet cat didn't move, just turned their heads in unison, watching the yaoguai rat running to the right stumble a few steps before falling down again, while the yaoguai rat on the left ran frantically forward, but its body was so illusory that it was obviously fake, and it disappeared with a *poof* before running far.

Only then did the fox and the colorful civet cat walk up.

The three of them also ran toward the yaoguai rat.

Lin Jue had no expression on his face.

He had chased it for half a year and clashed many times, only for it to run away. The key to this was the earth-escape technique, true, but it was definitely not just that.

This yaoguai rat was very capable.

It was just that its capabilities were not in fighting.

At this moment, when it was finally time to decide the winner, Lin Jue had an indescribable feeling. There was satisfaction, but also a feeling of emptiness. Therefore, he just walked slowly up the sand dune and said to the yaoguai rat:

"You were marked by us and could still run for so long; I truly admire you. If given the chance, you might not have been unable to become a yaoguai king. I mean a real yaoguai king."

"Didn't you also chase me for so long..."

Although the yaoguai rat was weak, it supported itself with its wooden staff, not letting itself show any decadence, and its voice also tried its best to remain stable, maintaining its dignity.

But it still couldn't help asking Lin Jue: "Are you really so unwilling to spare me?"

Lin Jue looked at it, still expressionless: "If I spared you, could you forget the blood feud you've held onto for several years and stop seeking revenge on me?"

"..."

The yaoguai rat was silent, then let out a sigh, closed its eyes, and just said one sentence:

"If there is an afterlife, I wish to be human."

*Chirp! *

Lin Jue's long sword pierced down from the top of its head.

The wind blew the yellow sand, carrying a hint of a bloody smell.

This matter was finally over.

"..."

Lin Jue took a deep breath.

Half a year of chasing yaoguai, full of spirit, yet with wind, frost, rain, and snow in between, and thousands of miles of rushing—how could it not be wearing?

Now that this matter was settled, he was naturally lighthearted.

It wasn't just that he didn't have to worry about the yaoguai rat going to rely on some yaoguai king to help it take revenge, or seeking revenge on him in the future after achieving something; more of it was the relief of a grudge that had been lingering in his heart being settled. Therefore, in the relief, there was a bit of satisfaction, and in the satisfaction, there was a bit of emptiness.

Lin Jue sat down, simply not thinking about anything, emptying everything, and properly appreciating the scenery at this moment.

It was the desert sunset, with boundless glow.

The setting sun had only a corner left, the sky was already orange-red, not just at the horizon, but also overhead, and even the entire desert was reflected red.

The shadows of the three people, three horses, one fox, and one cat were all elongated.

The night wind blew continuously. At this moment, one could really do nothing, think about nothing, not have to worry, and not have to exert effort, just blowing in the wind and watching the sunset in the distance.

Until the sun completely set, the horizon still retained a glow, with dreamlike gradient colors.

Unknowingly, the whole person was immersed in the scenery at this time.

This vast world was empty, and the Daoist's heart was also empty. It was unclear whether the empty world contained a Daoist, or the Daoist's eyes and heart contained this empty world.

Amidst the whistling wind, there was suddenly the Daoist's voice.

"Lord Luo? Is this the Western Regions?"

"It is indeed the Western Regions."

"The Western Regions, ah..."

The Daoist's body moved slightly, and a bottle fell out, landing in the sand. The white glaze of the bottle reflected the sunset glow at this moment.

Lin Jue, as if guided by a ghost, picked up the bottle.

He reached out and pinched at the distant horizon, then put it into the bottle. It was a seemingly plain action, but there was an extra touch of glow in the bottle, dreamlike and difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion, just like the horizon at this moment. ===== CHAPTER 246 =====