Chapter 285: In a vast forest, all kinds of birds appear

We sneaked along the mountainside, just about to reach the riverbank, when Hui Moqiong blocked us head-on.

Many corpses lay on the riverbank; underfoot was a slick dampness, and the air reeked of an unbearable bloody smell.

It was obvious that a fight had already taken place here, and the battle had been fierce.

I didn't see Liu Junyan, so I hurriedly asked Hui Moqiong, "Where's Āyàn?"

Xiao Jiu'er, don't panic, take a deep breath first.

He lowered his voice, his eyes fixed on me, but I saw solemnity in his gaze.

I steadied myself and said, "Just tell me directly; I'm not panicking."

Hui Moqiong pointed toward the Buddha head and said, "Those bastards are like turtles pulling their heads in; they sent out a few squads of soldiers that are neither dark nor Buddhist, which we wiped out completely, yet they then blocked the exit of Small Camp Mouth, intending to wear us down."

This was within my expectations.

After all, this is the Great Lama's home turf; if we can't beat him, he can still retreat.

All we fear is that he'll stay hidden like a turtle and never come out.

We can't afford to be worn down.

Once tonight passes, the three-eyed toad will finish its tribulation, and then everything will be too late.

If we can't kill our way in, we can only lure the enemy.

To make Hui Moqiong look this worried, it seems Liu Junyan has unleashed his second killing move……

Instantly my whole body tensed up; I stood there dazed, my head like a spinning kaleidoscope blooming, expanding in circles, and I felt a moment of dazedness.

Xiao Jiu'er, snap out of it!

Hui Moqiong waved his hand in front of my face; seeing my eyes clear, he asked, "Xiao Jiu'er, have you figured something out?"

I nodded and said just two words: "Evil monk."

I had guessed it from the start.

Only the identity of an evil monk could interest the Great Lama enough for him to willingly take the risk.

This is Liu Junyan's second killing move.

Hui Moqiong had nothing to say: "Xiao Jiu'er, you're too smart; nothing can be hidden from you."

It's not that I'm smart; it's that I know Liu Junyan well enough.

I asked, "Where is Āyàn now?"

Hui Moqiong opened his mouth, suddenly looked southeast, and Hui Yumo also lowered his voice and exclaimed.

I slowly turned my body and looked in that direction.

In the black night, the rain curtain was hazy under the Buddha head's golden light.

Within that rain curtain, Liu Junyan stepped firmly forward along the riverbank, one step at a time.

With his steps, golden copper coins climbed rapidly up a red line from his soles.

He kept turning his prayer beads in his hand, his lips moving as he chanted sutras.

My eye sockets instantly moistened and blurred, making it hard to see Liu Junyan's figure.

I could only see the continuously climbing gold, from the soles, to the calves, then to the waist……

The next moment, I lifted my foot to run toward Liu Junyan.

No! He must not go!

What misfortune befell the evil monk that he was sealed in the west room of Dang Pu?

What could Liu Junyan possibly rely on to achieve what the evil monk could not back then?

As long as the Great Lama opens the barrier and lets the evil monk enter the Small Camp Mouth ancient battlefield, Liu Junyan faces near-certain death.

Hui Yumo hugged me tightly, urging, "Sister, you need to hold up at this moment; everyone's watching you, Seventh Lord is risking himself, you are everyone's backbone."

One sentence was like a bucket of ice water poured over my head, instantly calming me.

I wiped the tears and rain from my face and looked around.

Although the light was dim and everyone hid in the shadows, I still saw.

I saw Hui Xiaotiao, I saw Hui Moqiong's subordinates, I saw Fang Lao's several senior brothers and sisters… finally, I saw a woman I had never seen before, whose silhouette immediately gave me a clue.

The moment I saw her, Liu Junyan had just walked past not far ahead of where she stood.

At that moment, the golden copper coins had already covered Liu Junyan's face and were leaping toward his crown.

He had completely turned into a Copper Coin Person!

That woman wore all white, standing not far opposite, her long hair flowing, a white veil covering her face.

Her emotions were even more out of control than mine, her whole body lunging forward.

She was crying, shouting.

Bai Jingmo pulled hard at her, urging her.

Amidst her hysterical sobs and cries, I heard over and over: "Xingyi… Xingyi…"

I dazedly muttered, "Is it Bai Shulan, right?"

"It's her." Hui Moqiong said with difficulty, "We didn't know she would come; she and Bai Jingmo also took part in that earlier battle."

After a pause, Hui Moqiong sighed and said, "Back then, he was just like this, walking step by step toward us, into our hearts……"

Bai Shulan has a heart demon.

Her heart demon is the Copper Coin Person.

Before coming to Changshi, I had discussed with Liu Junyan that after settling matters in Changshi, we would invite Bai Shulan into the west room of Dang Pu to see the Copper Coin Person in person.

At that time I still hoped we could sever Bai Shulan's heart demon this way.

Liu Junyan also said that if she could pass this heart tribulation, and if she still wished to rejoin the Five Blessings Immortals, we would still give her another chance.

Who would have thought? Fate toyed with us, and she actually chased after us to Changshi.

I still saw with my own eyes Liu Junyan transform into a copper‑coin person, becoming an evil monk.

This scene will once again unearth the person deeply buried in Bai Shulan's heart, giving him form… awakening her inner demon…

I fear that Bai Shulan may not survive this century‑long soul‑piercing tribulation.

Seeing Bai Shulan, my emotions instead become completely calm.

"Grey Fifth Lord, Yu Mo, quickly tally the troops and stand ready for battle."

Grey Mo Qiong and Grey Yu Mo immediately received the order and went off to attend to it.

"Little Jump!"

Grey Little Jump had been standing not far from us, maintaining his human form.

Now, however, he has turned into a large rat, his cat‑like body poised to leap into the river.

I know he intends to sneakily follow Liu Junyan from behind and follow him into the small camp entrance.

After I called his name, Grey Little Jump turned his head and squeaked twice at me; I said, "Little Jump, go back and guard the townsfolk and villagers. Tonight, I want you to make sure not a single person, corpse, or spirit monster that comes out of this small camp entrance escapes!"

Grey Little Jump immediately shifted back into human form, clasped his hands together, and solemnly said, "Little Jump obeys the order!"

After Grey Little Jump left, a senior sister of Fang Chuanzong approached me and said, "Shopkeeper Xiao Jiu, Mao Jingxuan was captured by us on his way back after fleeing; we beat him severely and forced him to produce the antidote for the cinnabar poison. All the major sects have already been detoxified. My junior brother sent me to tell you not to worry about the rear; you can hold the line. As for Mao Jingxuan, once this matter is over, the major sects will demand an explanation from Mao Shan."

Mao Jingxuan has actually been captured.

His purpose for this trip was the three‑eyed toad.

Now that he has been captured…

I added a warning: "Guard Mao Jingxuan well, lest he kill himself out of fear of guilt."

Mao Shan, being such a large sect, has always acted openly and uprightly; it would hardly resort to such sneaky and despicable deeds.

But in a big forest there are all kinds of birds; Mao Jingxuan's actions today are likely motivated by personal greed.

Now that the matter has been exposed, he has no face to return to Mao Shan.

But we need a reasonable explanation, so Mao Jingxuan cannot die for now!