Chapter 272

"Old Brother Niu, how would you know that during this time, Xuanqing Daozhang has been residing at Old Brother Wang's home…"

Cheng Yong blurted out, before he finished speaking he suddenly realized and self‑mockingly said, "You're practically becoming an old fool, Old Brother Niu, you're Old Brother Wang's neighbor—Xuanqing Daozhang staying at Old Brother Wang's place isn't anything shameful, how could you not know?"

As soon as his words left his mouth, Cheng Yong saw the worried expressions on Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua's faces, not diminishing in the slightest, and he spoke again to comfort them:

"Old Brother Wang, although it's not a good thing for a monster to break into your home and seek to take Old Brother Ping'an's life, you now have Xuanqing Daozhang in your household, and you know his abilities— not even one monster, even two or three or four, would be a match for Xuanqing Daozhang."

"What do you have to worry about? Could it be that Xuanqing Daozhang isn't at your home today?"

He speculated whether, after Xuanqing Daozhang had finished setting up the formation at the Wang family's home, he had risen and left the Wang household to return to the Xuanqing Temple; otherwise, if Xuanqing Daozhang were still at the Wang household, the two of them would not look like this.

"No, Xuanqing Daozhang is still at my home…"

Wang Lin, face ashen, hadn't finished speaking when Cheng Yong interrupted him doubtfully: "Old Brother Wang, since Xuanqing Daozhang is still at your home, why do you still look like this? Do you think Xuanqing Daozhang wouldn't be a match for the monster that broke into your home intending to harm Old Brother Ping'an?"

Wang Lin didn't answer Cheng Yong's question, but instead countered: "Village Chief, do you know whether Xuanqing Daozhang would suddenly set up a formation at our home?"

"I'm not a roundworm in your and Xuanqing Daozhang's stomachs—how could I possibly know this?"

Cheng Yong snorted.

Actually.

He could roughly guess why Xuanqing Daozhang had set up a formation at the Wang family's home: not only because Wang Lin's grandson Wang Ping'an is a Great Benevolent Person Reincarnation, worrying that Wang Ping'an might be harmed by demons and monsters.

Moreover, it's because Xuanqing Daozhang greatly values this child Wang Ping'an!

It is said.

This child Wang Ping'an seems to have a talent for cultivation, and Xuanqing Daozhang intends to take him as a disciple.

Not to mention Xuanqing Daozhang, even the renowned wealthy family Luo Taiqing, Lord Luo of Qingyang County, surely values this child Wang Ping'an as well, right?

Rumor has it.

The rumor is that Lord Luo wishes to take Wang Ping'an as a son‑in‑law, but the Wang family—more precisely, Wang Ping'an's mother Liu Dongzhu—objects.

Therefore.

Lord Luo therefore plans to adopt a roundabout strategy, building a villa next to the Wang household, and furthermore intends to, once his daughter comes of age, arrange for her to study at the scholar's residence.

Studying is a pretense; the real aim is to have a chance to interact with Wang Ping'an and become childhood sweethearts.

Of course.

This is merely a rumor; although it originated from the Luo household, it's not that no gossiping women have gone to the Wang family to inquire.

Yet they all failed to obtain a definite answer from the Wang family!

Whether it's true or false, nobody knows.

"Village Chief, you might not know, but initially Xuanqing Daozhang never considered setting up a formation at our home; according to his own words, he actually isn't skilled in the way of formations."

Wang Lin, with a complex expression, said: "He suddenly changed his mind and set up a formation at our home because he had just suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a monster, which prompted him to change his mind and set up the formation at our home?"

"How could that be? How could someone as formidable as Xuanqing Daozhang possibly suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of a monster?"

Cheng Yong instinctively retorted—not just him, but everyone around also found no reason to believe Wang Lin's words, since what he said was too outrageous. They all knew how formidable Xuanqing Daozhang was, unaware of how many monsters have perished at his hands; now Wang Lin actually claims that Xuanqing Daozhang suffered a crushing defeat at a monster's hand—how could they believe him?

Wang Lin gave a self‑deprecating laugh, seeing that not only Cheng Yong but also the others didn't believe him, and he wasn't angry.

If this matter hadn't been told to him personally by Xuanqing Daozhang, he wouldn't believe it.

Cheng Yong took a serious look at Wang Lin, seeing that he didn't look like he was lying, his face instantly grew extremely grave, and he said: "Old Brother Wang, are you telling the truth?"

Wang Lin countered: "Village Chief, do you mean I'm making fun of Xuanqing Daozhang's reputation?"

Cheng Yong's face underwent a huge change; the surrounding civilians, who are all grateful to Xuanqing Daozhang, hardly anyone would dare to joke about his reputation, and Wang Lin himself isn't the type who likes to tease people.

Cheng Yong suppressed the fear welling up inside him and stammered: "Do you mean that the monster which today broke into your home, seeking to take Old Brother Ping'an's life, is the very monster that not long ago defeated Xuanqing Daozhang?"

Wang Lin nodded.

Although.

He didn't want to believe that the monster daring to break into his home today was the same one that had defeated Xuanqing Daozhang that day, but aside from this possibility he couldn't fathom which monster would have the gall to come to his house.

"Don't you realize that during this period Xuanqing Daozhang has been living at his place?"

Moreover.

Since Xuanqing Daozhang settled in this region, although rumors of monsters still surface, it is rare to see a monster dare to wreak havoc.

In this novel you have arrived

All have been awed by Xuanqing Daozhang!

Where would anyone still dare to approach a human village?

"If that's the case…"

Cheng Yong gazed at the spirit turtle's silhouette above the Wang household, unsure whether it was a trick of the mind, he noticed that the spirit turtle showed signs of imminent collapse, and from time to time his ears were assailed by deafening explosions; his face showed no trace of ease, only pure alarm, and he hurriedly shouted:

"Everyone, stop gawking here and hurry home—no, don't even stay at home, let's go to the county seat, yes, let's rush to the county seat!"

"Village Chief, our place is far from the county seat!"

A Hutou Gou villager muttered.

"Far? If you're afraid the walk will be exhausting, then you and your whole family might as well stay here and wait to die!"

Cheng Yong gave a cold shout, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings; seeing that everyone's expressions varied, it was obvious many people were still unaware of what would happen next, and he reminded them:

"Over the years, thanks to Xuanqing Daozhang's influence, you've all nearly forgotten how ferocious monsters can be—but you must never truly forget how ferocious monsters can be."

"Once the monster destroys this spirit‑turtle formation and wounds Xuanqing Daozhang, the elders and youths of our village will likely all perish at its hands; only the county seat can guarantee our safety."

Of course.

He still had much more to say, not because he didn't want to, but because he feared frightening everyone—and even himself.

He wasn't just afraid that Xuanqing Daozhang would be wounded by a monster; he also worried that the monster might eat him.

He had heard that monsters have huge appetites; if they ate Xuanqing Daozhang and were still not satisfied, the entire village would suffer.

"Village Chief…"

A middle‑aged Hutou Gou villager who still wanted to raise a few objections was instead met by the elderly Hutou Gou villagers, whose faces drastically changed as they shouted angrily: "If you're not afraid of death, then stay here and wait to die—but I must heed the Village Chief's words and lead my whole family to flee to the county seat!"

(End of chapter)