Chapter 286: Paper Soldier Corps

"Why are you harvesting human oil here?"

"I'm not harvesting human oil—I'm cultivating here! This place is my home! Harvesting oil is merely a side matter!" Hua Daoist corrected solemnly, "It benefits me and also serves the lazy, undisciplined women of the capital who crave beauty—it's an act of facilitating virtue."

"What do you use human oil for?"

"You young ones don't know—my paper-cutting art is much like your bean-carving soldiers, though easier to source materials, it has other weaknesses." Hua Daoist, though unconcerned they overheard, had to be mindful of the three from Zhenjian Palace, and said, "I've overcome this weakness, but other cultivators practicing this method haven't. Such flaws in these arts are the cultivator's fatal point—I won't speak of them openly, lest word spread. It's bad, no, very bad. I'll tell you privately later."

This Hua Elder is quite particular.

But the Jiang Daoist beside him spoke up:

"Afraid of water and fire?"

"Huh?"

Hua Daoist turned sharply, his dog eyes wide: "You young Daoist—you've got some insight!"

Jiang Daoist fell silent.

Since then, Hua Daoist had no need to hide it.

"Indeed, this art is made of paper—and paper, as you know, fears water and fire." Hua Daoist said, "Those unaware of this weakness see paper soldiers, paper generals, paper yecha and assume they're made by other arts. The duller ones even think they're real soldiers and generals, so they rely on brute force—and it's nearly impossible to defeat them. But if you know the weakness and are prepared, a single water-syringe or torch from the Hidden Fire Corps can crush them utterly."

The sun had fully emerged, illuminating the thousand peaks and deepening their green. The group stood in the mountains, speaking in the breeze.

"To resist water, you need oiled paper. But oiled paper fears fire even more. To resist fire, you must use human oil to make the oiled paper, then refine it with special techniques—only then can it withstand both water and fire."

"I see."

"Though I'm a lone cultivator, I'm half from a reputable sect—I can't kill people to boil oil, and I fear retribution. But after living so long, I've gained other skills, so I come here to harvest oil." Hua Daoist glared, "They're happy, I'm happy, even the high officials of the capital are happy. The only ones unhappy are the Star Gazing Palace."

Lin Jue nodded and asked further:

"Regarding the recent murders of women in the capital—did all these women come here? Do you know any clues?"

"How would I know? I harvest oil, not lives. And I don't take only women's oil—men too… It's still early. Wait—if it were later, why hasn't anyone come up the mountain yet?"

"We've stationed a junior brother to block the path below," Daoist Qingxuan Daoist smiled.

"So it was you!" Hua Daoist said. "I thought if it were later, you'd see men coming to me too! I don't discriminate!"

"I've already seen them," Lin Jue said.

"Then there you go! Besides, I don't slit bellies or stick bamboo tubes in to suck oil—I take it remotely. For years I've been skilled—I've never killed anyone by accident. How could this happen?"

"Hmm…"

Lin Jue said nothing, only turned his head.

Unnoticed, Luo Seng had appeared behind them, holding a horse by the reins. On its back sat a short, middle-aged man, motionless, barely breathing.

"He's still alive!"

Luo Seng met his gaze and spoke.

This too was proof—

According to Hua Daoist's own words and nature, if this Wan Daoist had truly come to avenge himself, and if this dog demon were truly a killer, Wan Daoist would already be reduced to dust and ash.

But Luo Luo Gongceng had clearly overheard their earlier words. He frowned, lost in thought, then suddenly asked:

"Do you have a grudge against the Star Gazing Palace?"

"Huh? Why ask that now?"

"Investigating the case."

"You investigate by asking this?"

"Please answer."

"If you call it a grudge, yes, but minor—and long past. My feud with Fuxiu Peak is bigger, but only by a hair." Hua Daoist said.

"What feud?"

"The late Konggu Daoist—he once sent bean soldiers to surround Yushan. The Star Gazing Palace, proud of their status as the top observatory, believed even Fuxiu Peak's ordination certificates came from them, so everyone must obey them. They came to break the siege. Hah—they got beaten badly."

When Hua Daoist said "beaten badly," though his face was a dog's, the way he opened his mouth and tilted his head made it unmistakably human laughter:

"They were beaten to pulp!"

"But that was years ago. Who remembers such things? They've surely forgotten. The only thing they remember is that Fuxiu Peak's Daoists won't obey them."

"Hmm?"

Hua Daoist paused, as if struck by a thought, then turned sharply to Lin Jue: "Kid, did the Star Gazing Palace send you here?"

"No. I came on behalf of the Ju Xian Mansion, at the order of the Ministry of Rites' scribe—I came of my own accord," Lin Jue said calmly.

"Good! Not the Star Gazing Palace!" Hua Daoist exhaled. "If they sent you to harass me or duel me, they'd have ill intent!"

Beside him, Luo Seng frowned.

That was exactly what he was thinking.

The Star Gazing Palace isn't petty—but it's arrogant. And arrogance often breeds narrow-mindedness.

He'd known Lin Jue had just returned, and the next day, Ministry of Rites' Wu Ling came calling. He'd assumed it was just good intelligence—or coincidence.

He'd known about the Stone Horse incident, and had heard Lin Jue mention a tense encounter with an old Star Gazing Daoist leaving the Scripture Hall. He'd thought it coincidence too.

Until today, hearing the Star Gazing Palace knew this dog demon's background, disliked it, and held Fuxiu Peak in low regard—he instinctively realized one thing—

This dog demon's temper is so strange, anyone who comes is bound to be threatened—unless they retreat or flee, they'll end up fighting.

If a real fight breaks out and someone dies, whether winner or loser, it's a bad outcome.

Even if one survives, should they later learn this demon wasn't the true killer, but perhaps an old friend of their ancestors—or that this Daoist never meant to kill them, but was instead a successor to the late Hongye Pavilion—no matter which side, how could they ever cultivate their Dao again?

Worse still, even if no fight occurred, no harm was done to the Star Gazing Palace—only an earlier recognition.

Luo Seng shook his head.

This kind of thing would never leave evidence.

The dog demon continued:

"Those Star Gazing Palace's ox-nosed monks…"

"Hey! I'm not talking about you!"

"They always think I steal their incense, always come to bother me—but I don't take incense at all. In my view, they've been scamming incense for so long they can't stand any real 'deity' who actually does things properly."

Jiang Daoist smiled faintly.

Daoist Qingxuan Daoist smiled too, more openly—clearly agreeing.

This was precisely their confidence in coming to the capital.

Only now, seemingly confirming this demon had no connection to the murders, Daoist Qingxuan Daoist stepped forward and smiled: "So you're an old acquaintance of Master Yishan—and also of Lin Daoist and Liu Daoist. Good, good. No greater misunderstanding."

"You…"

"We're from Huizhou," Daoist Qingxuan Daoist said. "I'm Daoist Qingxuan of Qiyun Mountain, currently residing at Zhenjian Palace."

Jiang Daoist and Ma Ma Shidi then introduced themselves.

"I know you—you're the ones sent by Jade Mirror Emperor and Lord Yi Li Lord Yi Li Shenjun to steal incense from Lord Tianweng!" Hua Daoist spoke grandly, then turned away. "Though no one's come up the mountain, don't stand here talking. Come, to my cave for a chat."

The group exchanged glances, each lost in thought.

"Fine!"

"Wait a moment—I need to tidy up."

Hua Daoist bent down, swiftly gathering the torn and burned paper scraps, as if managing a thrifty household.

The others helped too, with the junior sister working the hardest.

Lin Jue walked among the many bean soldiers, seeing their armor shattered and exposed skin riddled with sword and axe wounds, pierced by arrows—he felt deep sorrow.

He carefully pulled out each arrow, cleaned the wounds thoroughly to ensure no broken shafts or splinters remained, then recalled them.

Repairing them afterward would be no small task.

At this moment, Lin Jue thought:

If only I had Longlife Wood.

Third Master told him: Longlife Wood isn't especially hard, and bean soldiers made from it aren't extraordinary—but when wounded, as long as limbs aren't severed or the core damaged, they can heal themselves under ritual cultivation.

Perfect for a lazy man like him.

"Sigh…"

But Longlife Wood is rare—unpredictable, unobtainable.

When Lin Jue finished, the others had also gathered Hua Daoist's paper scraps, neatly stacked into a large pile. Hua Daoist called several wolf-headed soldiers, who carried the paper back to the cave, then gestured to the group:

"After you!"

The group exchanged glances and followed.

The junior sister refused to walk—she insisted on riding the horse, sitting upright on the Stone Horse's back, clutching her longsword, swaying slightly with each step, glancing left and right, her face solemn—as if posing as a silent, lofty master.

Behind her, Jiang Daoist and Daoist Qingxuan Daoist looked at her, then at the two Stone Horses, and exchanged glances.

Soon, they reached a cave.

Hua Daoist invited them inside.

As they entered, the light vanished instantly.

The cave wasn't wide, but tall and long, seemingly open through, with a steady, perfectly balanced breeze keeping the air fresh—neither cold nor hot at this season.

"Don't think I live in a cave because I'm poor—this is one of the hundred Li of Fengshan's most spiritually concentrated spots! My cave is designed: the front gate here, the back gate on the other side of the mountain. Unless it's freezing winter with snow, I never seal the front gate—only the back gate can be closed or narrowed to control the wind."

"Inside, the path twists so the wind can't rush straight through."

"Hmph! You came at the wrong time—if you came in midsummer, you'd know how cool it is; if in winter, how warm. It's one of the rarest places on earth!"

Luo Luo Gongceng listened, said nothing.

The junior sister remained seated on the horse, though she couldn't hit her head, she instinctively bent low. Hearing this, she said:

"Mountains are cool in summer anyway."

"Huh!! Who says that? You'll only know when you come here—my cave is the coolest!"

As they spoke, they had already walked deep into the cave.

The surroundings plunged into complete darkness.

In such an environment, there was almost no light—even a dog's eyes could not see clearly—so Master Hua slapped the wall, and firelight flared up all around.

The fire revealed a spacious cave leading into an even larger chamber, and illuminated rows of paper figures standing on either side of the wide passage—starting from this stretch, every so often, two paper figures, propped up by bamboo frames, were placed along the cave walls, followed by yecha demons at intervals.

The paper figures alone were terrifying enough, but all were carved into fearsome, green-faced, fanged demon forms; their glossy surfaces reflected the firelight off the cave walls, making them appear deeply unsettling.

The junior sister had grown utterly transfixed.

Master Luo, Daoist Daoist Qingxuan, and Daoist Jiang were equally astonished, while Brother Ma felt a chill of dread.

Only then did they realize—

This Master Hua had not lied; he had indeed not taken all his forces out.

Lin Jue even spotted cavalrymen in the cave armed with spears and bows, and for a moment, he was reminded of the time he and his companions had been hunted down by three hundred light cavalry in the Western Regions.

Fortunately, there were only about a dozen cavalry here, and all the paper soldiers and officers combined likely did not reach three hundred; moreover, the mountain terrain was unsuitable for cavalry combat.

Otherwise, the outcome might truly have been uncertain.

Yet even this force, placed anywhere, was a power not to be ignored.

"No wonder…"

No wonder the Observatory Palace had never moved against him all these years.

Lin Jue thought to himself.