Chapter 124: "I...let...you..." "Don't move!!!"

This matter had to be clarified immediately upon returning home.

Although Lu Yuan's [Vanquish Demons and Exorcise Evil] system did not label Qingwan as a Malevolent Deity.

That didn't mean she was absolutely safe.

Was there a possibility that perhaps Qingwan was originally meant to be nurtured as a Malevolent Deity by the Liu Family?

Considering the previous circumstances, Lu Yuan felt it was highly possible!

There was that evil curse, those Yansheng Coins, this and that.

As for why it ultimately didn't succeed...

That was probably because some accident occurred, leading to the interruption of the nurturing plan.

And Tan Jiji had just stated clearly that the Malevolent Seed and the Malevolent Deity were practically one entity.

Therefore, even if Qingwan wasn't a Malevolent Deity now, that only meant Qingwan hadn't been nurtured by the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family and ultimately didn't become a Malevolent Deity.

This couldn't determine whether inside her head...

There was that damned Malevolent Seed!

At the mere thought of this possibility, Lu Yuan's heart suddenly constricted.

If...

If there was one inside Qingwan's head, then Lu Yuan had to remove it for Qingwan immediately.

After all...

Good heavens!

That's Gu Qingwan we're talking about!!

If the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family could control Qingwan to do things, like killing this one, killing that one...

That would be absolutely disastrous!!

As for how to remove it...

Ask the Patriarch, of course!

Since the Patriarch could help the "Deity of Beauty," naturally he could help Qingwan too!

Of course, first they had to confirm whether there really was one inside Qingwan's head.

Tan Jiji was halted by Lu Yuan's sudden shout, stopping in his tracks and turning back in confusion.

Under the bonfire's glow, the expression on Lu Yuan's face shifted unpredictably.

First shock, then a kind of urgent realization, finally transforming into an almost scorching stare, firmly locked onto Tan Jiji.

This look made Tan Jiji's heart flutter with unease, and he subconsciously took half a step back:

"Lu, Daoist Lu?"

"You..."

Before he could finish, a figure had already rushed before him.

Lu Yuan grabbed Tan Jiji's wrist, his five fingers like iron clamps!

"Old Brother!!"

The force was so great that Tan Jiji's brows instantly knitted together in pain.

"All that nonsense about the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family, you hiding and concealing it, I won't hold it against you!"

"But what exactly is the Malevolent Seed, you can at least tell me that, right?!"

The bonfire crackled and popped, sparks flying.

It illuminated the almost scorching urgency on Lu Yuan's face with particular clarity.

The force with which he gripped Tan Jiji's wrist didn't relax in the slightest, his gaze fixed tightly on the other, allowing no evasion.

Tan Jiji was stunned by Lu Yuan's sudden, pressing questioning.

The force transmitted from his wrist and the grave seriousness in Lu Yuan's eyes made Tan Jiji realize this was no casual inquiry.

If he didn't speak today...

Tan Jiji pursed his lips, a struggle flashing across his face.

But looking at Lu Yuan's eyes, he finally slowly let out a breath, exerting slight force with his wrist to signal Lu Yuan to let go first.

Lu Yuan loosened his grip slightly, but his gaze remained locked on him.

Tan Jiji rubbed his wrist, walked to the bonfire, picked up a branch, poked the fire, stirring up a few sparks.

"It's not something that can't be said, didn't I already mention it earlier?"

"It's the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family's method of controlling Malevolent Deities."

"Extract the essence of three yin types, earth yin, water yin, human yin, and fuse them together."

"After fusion, a furnace is set up in a 'Yin Gathering Place,' and finally refined into the Malevolent Seed..."

"You're not going to ask me how to refine this Malevolent Seed, are you?"

"How would I know that? This kind of Malevolent Method is the most secretive technique of the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family, absolutely impossible for outsiders to know!"

After listening, Lu Yuan immediately said:

"Of course I'm not asking about that. I want to ask, how is that Malevolent Seed implanted?"

"And also, how can one tell whether a vengeful entity might be a Malevolent Deity?"

Tan Jiji: "????"

What kind of messy questions were these?

Regarding this, Tan Jiji thought for a moment and said:

"How it's implanted..."

"I did hear my father mention a bit about this. They use Malevolent Methods to ignite the refined Malevolent Seed."

"Wait until the Malevolent Seed burns, producing a strange red smoke, then coordinate with the ritual, forcibly 'nailing' the red smoke into the target's brow soul aperture."

"These red smokes will re-coalesce within the soul aperture, reverting to the form of the Malevolent Seed!"

"It's similar to how they cast gu curses down south inside the Pass."

At this point, Tan Jiji immediately added:

"Like that one the 'Deity of Beauty' spat out earlier, that's it."

For a moment, Tan Jiji couldn't help but recall the earlier scene:

"Your Patriarch really has extraordinary methods."

"Actually pulled it out by the roots for her, crushed it, that's why she could break free from control and gain her freedom."

Lu Yuan didn't respond to that, instead immediately asking:

"Then... if the Malevolent Seed is implanted into the target's soul aperture, but ultimately... the nurturing into a Malevolent Deity isn't successful?"

"For example, some accident occurred midway, the Liu Family gave up, or the target was sealed, suppressed?"

Tan Jiji shrugged and said:

"Then it's not a Malevolent Deity anymore."

Lu Yuan hurriedly said:

"I know it's not a Malevolent Deity, I mean, in such a situation, would it still be controlled by the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family?"

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Tan Jiji stated decisively:

"Yes!"

"One hundred percent yes!"

"Once the Malevolent Seed is nailed into the soul aperture, it's like a malignant tumor growing in the soul, impossible to get rid of forever!"

"Even if it doesn't become a Malevolent Deity, if the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family wants to control it, it would only be easier!"

Lu Yuan: "..."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan stopped dwelling on this issue. Anyway, even if Qingwan really had a Malevolent Seed in her head, they'd just have the Patriarch help.

Immediately, Lu Yuan asked again:

"Then how can one confirm whether a target has been implanted with a Malevolent Seed by the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family?"

Lu Yuan's questions were really a bit too strange.

Tan Jiji blinked blankly, then looked at Lu Yuan with an expression of seeing a fool:

"Chop open the target's original body's head, dig it out and see if there's a Malevolent Seed, isn't that it?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

"That's the only method?"

His voice was somewhat dry.

"From other aspects, like appearance, aura, are there any characteristics that can indicate it?"

Tan Jiji shook his head straightforwardly.

"No."

"That thing is extremely concealed. As long as the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family doesn't chant incantations to activate it, no one can tell, no one knows."

Lu Yuan, unwilling to give up, blinked, lowering his voice even further.

"Then... what about the vengeful entity itself?"

"Does it itself know whether a Malevolent Seed has been implanted in its head?"

Tan Jiji: "..."

He fell silent.

He looked Lu Yuan up and down with an extremely peculiar gaze.

Finally, he leaned closer, lowered his voice, and asked with a serious expression:

"Bro, tell me the truth."

"Are you... secretly raising a Malevolent Deity at home?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

A few seconds later, Lu Yuan widened his eyes and immediately said:

"How can you slander my innocence out of thin air!"

"How is that possible!!"

"I'm a proper Taoist priest from an orthodox temple, how could I do such a thing!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Tan Jiji stared deeply at Lu Yuan for a while before saying:

"You'd better be..."

Then Tan Jiji added:

"About the question you asked, I don't know. Wait until next time you encounter the 'Deity of Beauty' and ask her yourself."

"However, judging from her earlier reaction, the 'Deity of Beauty' probably didn't know."

"She only knew there was such a thing inside her head after the Malevolent Seed was dug out by your Patriarch."

Listening to Tan Jiji's words, Lu Yuan couldn't help but purse his lips.

Then this matter absolutely required a trip back.

But, the old man's Celestial Master Grand Ceremony couldn't be delayed either...

In an instant, thousands of thoughts flashed through Lu Yuan's mind, ultimately converging into a resolute decision.

He abruptly turned around, his gaze sharp as a torch, sweeping over everyone present.

"Everyone, the situation is urgent. I have a proposal."

"We, split up and act separately!"

Having said that, disregarding the shocked looks of the people around him, light flashed in Lu Yuan's hand.

Clatter—

A large pile of dazzlingly radiant objects appeared out of thin air, piled beside the bonfire, their treasure glow almost overpowering the firelight!

Jade talismans, ritual swords, coins, bells... each item brimming with spiritual energy, definitely not ordinary goods.

Everyone: "????"

Tan Jiji's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, his mouth agape enough to fit a fist.

Shen Shulan was also stunned, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

This... where did this come from?!

Then Lu Yuan looked toward the large chest of treasures Shen Shulan had brought from home and said seriously:

"Senior Sister Shulan, shall we also divide up that chest of treasures of yours?"

After snapping out of her shock, Shen Shulan nodded immediately without any hesitation.

These things, once Shen Shulan took them out, she hadn't planned to take them back.

Finally, when the sky began to lighten at dawn.

The ritual tools and treasures had also been distributed.

Lu Yuan and Shen Shulan, these two Celestial Masters, would act alone.

Tan Jiji was a professional against the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family, but not against Nurturing Malevolence Sites.

Moreover, Tan Jiji's own strength wasn't as strong as Lu Yuan's and Shen Shulan's, so Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an were assigned to assist him.

Thus, three teams were formed.

Lu Yuan and Shen Shulan were each responsible for two sites, while Tan Jiji, Xu Erxiao, and Wang Cheng'an, the three of them, were responsible for one.

After everyone cleared the sites they were responsible for, they would meet at the last Nurturing Malevolence Site.

Together, they would deal with the last Nurturing Malevolence Site!

...

Five days of bloody battle felt like a lifetime ago.

North outskirts of Fengtian City, beside the official road.

A dilapidated roadside tea stall stood in the thin morning mist, like the skeletal remains of a silent beast.

Dawn had not yet broken.

Cold dew clung to the tips of withered grass.

Five figures slumped against broken walls and rubble, like five statues eroded by wind and frost.

No one spoke.

The air was filled only with the sound of heavy, ragged breathing rising and falling like broken bellows.

And the smell of blood, medicinal herbs, the earthy scent of soil, and the sour stench of sweat, all mixed together, nauseating.

Lu Yuan leaned against a charred black pillar, eyes closed, the dark circles under his eyes deep like bruises.

His Taoist robe was long unrecognizable from its original color, caked with mud, bloodstains, and the bodily fluids of unknown monsters, forming a hard crust that crumbled with every movement.

Injuries, he hadn't suffered many.

But that kind of exhaustion, as if his soul and body had been wrung dry, made even lifting a finger feel like a tremendous effort now.

The others were even more disheveled.

Shen Shulan's hair bun was disheveled, her stunning face smeared with blood spots.

Tan Jiji's arm was wrapped in blood-stained cloth.

Wang Cheng'an and Xu Erxiao looked like they had been fished out of mud.

"Senior Sister Shulan, Old Brother Tan Jiji."

"We part ways here."

"The three of us must return to Zhenlong Temple immediately."

Lu Yuan was the first to speak.

Fortunately, this matter was finally perfectly resolved.

And fortunately, everyone was fine.

Only Tan Jiji suffered a minor injury.

Actually, this was more normal.

After all, they couldn't possibly encounter a Malevolent Deity inside every time, could they?

That would be too unlucky.

Moreover, everyone had the treasures Lu Yuan gave them, plus what Shen Shulan brought from home.

Ordinary Nurturing Malevolence Sites really weren't that big of a deal, it was just that the timeframe was too tight, truly exhausting people beyond measure.

After speaking, Lu Yuan looked at Shen Shulan, whose face showed no less exhaustion than his own, and said with utmost seriousness:

"Sister Shulan, this favor, I, Lu Yuan, will remember it."

"In the future, whatever you need me to do, just say the word. If I can help, I'll help immediately. If I can't help, I'll find a way to help!"

After hearing Lu Yuan's words, Shen Shulan repeatedly waved her hands and said softly:

"Uncle-Master, please don't speak of favors. It's only right for me to help Uncle-Master. I'm the one repaying Uncle-Master's favor."

Regarding Shen Shulan's words, Lu Yuan didn't say much more.

But anyway, Shen Shulan's favor toward him, Lu Yuan kept it in his heart.

As the saying goes, great favors need no thanks; just see how Lu Yuan acts in the future.

Then, Lu Yuan turned to Tan Jiji and slightly cupped his hands:

"Old Brother, I helped you with the Mangniu Village matter, you helped me with the Nurturing Malevolence Site matter. Let's consider it even today."

With that, Lu Yuan pulled out a wad of banknotes from his pocket and handed it to Tan Jiji:

"Take this money, go into the city, find a good place, take a hot bath, have a big drink, sleep for three days and three nights."

"When there's a chance in the future, I'll treat you to something even better!"

Tan Jiji wasn't polite either, even though he only took down one Nurturing Malevolence Site.

But the thing was, clearing Nurturing Malevolence Sites wasn't his profession; he wasn't a Taoist priest, not a specialist.

Moreover, his strength really couldn't compare to Lu Yuan and Shen Shulan, these two orthodox Celestial Masters.

So, even though he only took down one, it truly exhausted Tan Jiji thoroughly.

He still had other matters to attend to; he really needed a good rest and to buy some supplies.

All these required money, so...

After taking the money, Tan Jiji directly cupped his hands and said:

"My money fell into that black water inside the Nurturing Malevolence Site. Consider this money a loan from you, I'll pay you back later!"

Lu Yuan grinned, saying no more.

At that moment, a horse-drawn carriage came through the morning mist.

Lu Yuan slightly cupped his hands toward Shen Shulan:

"Then I'll trouble Senior Sister Shulan to help me take the horses back and feed them for a few days."

"We'll take this carriage and prepare to return to Zhenlong Temple now."

Fengtian City, the three of them wouldn't enter.

Lu Yuan also didn't plan to seek out Celestial Master He Xun.

Anyway, this matter required going back to find Qingwan, so they might as well ask the old man together.

As for the two aunties at home...

This time, they wouldn't bring them back either. After all, this trip back had urgent matters; meeting the parents and such could wait a bit.

The five horses everyone rode were truly unable to run anymore after these five days.

Even if they could run, the three of them couldn't ride anymore; they really hadn't slept much in these five days.

If they had to ride horses back for another day and night, they'd probably fall asleep on horseback.

...

The next day, around nine o'clock at night.

Ink-black night dyed the outline of Qixia Mountain deep and obscure.

At the mountain's foot, the stone steps leading to Zhenlong Temple wound under dim starlight, disappearing into endless darkness.

Days of exhaustion and the eagerness to return home made this last stretch of mountain path feel particularly long.

Lu Yuan walked in front, followed by Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an.

All three carried the scent of blood and malevolent energy that couldn't be washed away, exhaustion seeping deep into their bones.

But the outline of Zhenlong Temple was just ahead; that longing made their footsteps unconsciously quicken.

The temple's lights seemed capable of washing away the weariness of their journey.

"After we get back, first offer incense to the Patriarchs, then you two take a month off, rest well."

Lu Yuan's voice carried a hint of hoarseness.

The matter of the Nurturing Malevolence Sites was finally settled.

Lu Yuan didn't plan to take on any jobs for a while recently. Since that was the case, he'd let these two rest properly at home.

Hearing this, Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an's faces instantly lit up with excitement.

Lu Yuan glanced at them and added:

"But you can't neglect your cultivation. I'll check on you both after a month; if there's regression, that won't do!"

Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an excitedly nodded repeatedly.

Just as the three turned a familiar mountain bend and could already see the vague outline of Zhenlong Temple's eaves not far ahead—

A sudden change occurred!

In the middle of the mountain path ahead, the shadow of a gnarled old tree suddenly "came to life."

No, not the shadow coming to life.

It was something slowly "separating" from the "substance" of the shadow.

Like ink blooming into human form on rice paper, or moonlight coalescing into solid form.

First appearing was a flowing lock of hair, shimmering with a cold, glazed luster, followed by a side profile so perfect it was flawless.

Starry eyes suddenly lit up in the darkness, carrying three parts laziness, seven parts mischief, looking directly at Lu Yuan walking at the front.

Bare feet lightly touched the ground, no lotus shadows beneath them, but a hazy, moonlight-like glow naturally flowed around her body.

It dispelled the darkness for several feet around, also illuminating her plain yet still peerlessly graceful porcelain-patterned dress.

It was precisely the "Deity of Beauty"!

She had actually appeared silently on the only path back to Zhenlong Temple.

Lu Yuan's footsteps slammed to a halt, his pupils suddenly contracting, every muscle in his body instantly tensing.

Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an gasped, almost crying out in surprise.

Lu Yuan's face—what...

Why was this woman waiting for him here?!

The "Deity of Beauty" seemed to greatly enjoy Lu Yuan's look of being on high alert. Her red lips parted slightly, emitting a light, cat-like laugh.

"Aiya yaya~"

Her ethereal voice echoed through the dead-silent mountain forest, the tail end drawn out, carrying a hook.

"Whose little Taoist priest is this, why so flustered?"

As she spoke, she took cat-like steps, walking unhurriedly over.

Bare feet stepping on the cold mountain stones, actually making no sound at all, as if she were a weightless illusion.

Lu Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed, forcing himself to calm down, his voice dry:

"Why are you here?"

She had said before she needed to handle "matters that must be dealt with."

Could the matters she needed to deal with be at Zhenlong Temple?

"Me?"

The "Deity of Beauty" had already walked before Lu Yuan, less than three feet apart.

She tilted her head slightly, those eyes that seemed to contain an entire starry sky blinked, long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

"Naturally, I missed you, little thing."

Before her words faded, she lowered her posture, that face that stole all the world's radiance suddenly brought close to Lu Yuan's.

Her nose almost touched Lu Yuan's nose.

A wave of icy yet rich cold plum fragrance instantly engulfed Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan watched helplessly as she leaned in again to sniff, just like last time, and possibly even... would...

He instinctively wanted to retreat, but found his body as if frozen by invisible ice, unable to move.

An aura locked him firmly in place!

"Don't move~"

The "Deity of Beauty's" face was full of the playful cunning of a hunter seeing prey.

However, just as she was about to touch Lu Yuan.

The space behind her showed a barely perceptible distortion.

A rift was forcibly torn open.

...

...You...

"...Don't move!!!"

That voice wasn't human speech; it was more like the sound of some rule being forcibly twisted.

Broken and intermittent, yet carrying a terrifying authority that brooked no doubt, instantly piercing the dead silence of the mountain forest!

The "Deity of Beauty's" starry pupils suddenly contracted to pinpoints!

The lazy playfulness on her face instantly froze, replaced by an almost instinctive horror at a higher-level threat!

She subconsciously wanted to turn her head, to see clearly the existence tearing space behind her.

But—

Too late!

That snow-white jade hand reaching out from the void rift was faster than time itself!

Five slender fingers, fingertips shimmering with a heart-piercing, soul-penetrating cold gleam.

Without the slightest hesitation, without any of the "Deity of Beauty's" playful elegance, only the most primitive, most direct violence and control!

!!!

A terrifying, teeth-grating crack, somewhere between porcelain shattering and bone breaking, suddenly exploded!

That hand, with pinpoint accuracy, clamped tightly around the "Deity of Beauty's" perfectly slender neck!

Immense force transmitted; the moonlight glow flowing around the "Deity of Beauty's" body swayed violently like candle flames in a gale, nearly extinguishing!

Her bare feet instantly left the ground, her entire body lifted by an irresistible, tremendous force!

Only then did the torn space fully reveal itself.

It was an extremely unstable rift, edges flickering with blood-red and dark-purple electric sparks.

Like a wound forcibly torn open.

Thick, substantial red blood mist surged out from within, yet without the scent of blood, instead carrying an extreme chill and deathly stillness.

Instantly dyeing the surrounding several yards with an ominous dark red.

From the most concentrated area of blood mist, a figure slowly "flowed" out.

Gu Qingwan.

She wore the moon-white dress Lu Yuan had given her.

But now, that dress seemed to flow with countless fine, dark-red patterns too tiny to see clearly, wriggling slightly as if alive.

Her stunningly beautiful face showed no expression whatsoever, neither anger nor ferocity.

But those beautiful eyes revealed a kind of icy, utterly indifferent gaze, as if looking down at ants.

Just like that, she single-handedly held the "Deity of Beauty," who struggled continuously, her glazed radiance flickering, her face showing pain and disbelief for the first time.

Her posture was like holding a disobedient plaything just picked up from the roadside.

Qingwan's red lips parted slightly, each word she uttered carrying absolute chill and authority.

"I... let... you..."

"Don't move!!!"