Chapter 48

(As usual, I'm asking for recommendations and new readers to add this book to their collection. I suddenly realized I'm really good at making rhymes, in just two minutes.)

A faint demonic aura, intermittently present, seemed to exist between reality and illusion.

Su Qignian focused his mind. No wonder many martial artists had come these past few days, none of them could discern the truth. Such a subtle demonic aura, if not for his cultivation of the "Mind-Bewitching Great Technique" and reaching the second level, even with his original first-level power, he might not have been able to detect it.

Looking up, the sun had set, and the world was bathed in a crimson glow. Shadows began to form in the courtyard of the Hu family.

Along with the shadows, a faint aura of malevolence also rose.

"Hmm? A young lad, you also want to claim the bounty?"

In the courtyard, seven or eight martial artists had already gathered. A man with a bare chest, disheveled beard, and dressed in short clothes saw Su Qignian walk in and laughed out loud.

Besides this man, there were four or five middle-aged martial artists, some in martial attire, others wearing hoods, not revealing their true faces. The only one around Su Qignian's age was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in black robes, cold and aloof, standing alone in a corner, not bothering to converse with anyone.

"Gentlemen, the child has been particularly troublesome at night. I hope you will be cautious and take care."

This was an elderly man who looked somewhat prosperous, dressed in a purple-black brocade robe with gold trim. He didn't look like a nouveau riche but rather had a refined and scholarly air.

However, at this moment, the old man's face was filled with worry and sorrow. Beside him were a young couple, both dressed in fine clothing, but now they looked dejected, with tear marks on their cheeks, occasionally glancing toward the corner of the courtyard.

"Lord Hu, rest assured. If it's truly a malevolent spirit, I, Mao Jiu, will surely expose it!"

"That's right. This is Shiyan Prefecture, where the Wudang Three Mad Taoists are renowned. I doubt any evil cult would dare to cause trouble here. Even if they did, we will certainly help Lord Hu resolve the issue!"

The middle-aged martial artists puffed out their chests, spouting flowery words as if they were free. This made Lord Hu's eyes reveal a hint of disappointment. A person's true abilities can be seen in their words and actions, but with Wudang not yet sending anyone, he could only hope these wandering martial artists had genuine skills to subdue the malevolent spirit.

"Gentlemen, please follow me. I hope you will be careful not to harm the child."

Lord Hu took a deep breath, bowed to the group, and led the way.

"Young brother, don't be reckless. The child becomes particularly fierce after sunset, not even recognizing his parents. It would be bad if you got hurt."

The young couple, though heartbroken, tried to stop Su Qignian. Su Qignian looked too young, a teenager around fifteen, who probably hadn't practiced martial arts for more than a year. They thought he was just a young man full of blood and might have sneaked out of his home.

"Don't worry, I will be cautious."

Su Qignian continued to follow the group. The man of the young couple was taken aback, seeing Su Qignian's shoulder slip away from his hand as if nothing had happened. He had practiced the "Running Horse Strength" for years, reaching the fifth level despite his lack of insight. He had used four or five parts of his strength to stop the young man, but Su Qignian had easily slipped away without any resistance.

A master!

In an instant, the man was startled. He hadn't expected such an unassuming young man to be a hidden master.

Was it the sixth or seventh level of "Running Horse Strength"?

The man guessed that he couldn't have done what Su Qignian did. He couldn't fathom Su Qignian's cultivation but was certain it was far above his own.

"Go! Go!"

Regaining his senses, Su Qignian had already disappeared around the corner. The man grabbed his wife's hand and hurried after him.

...

In the Wudang Mountains, Huangya Peak.

At the foot of the mountain, one of the six outer courtyards, a courtyard filled with plum blossoms, the air fragrant.

"You two have such resolve, which is somewhat unexpected."

Under a plum tree, Gu Yuehe stood with one hand behind his back and the other stroking a white jade dragon turtle. He was dressed in white, his eyes cold, blending with the winter snow.

At this moment, several feet away, two young Taoists were bleeding from the corners of their mouths, but their spines were straight, their eyes unwavering, staring at Gu Yuehe.

"I'm curious what has changed you two, but it won't change anything. Go, since we are all outer courtyard disciples, I won't be too harsh on you."

Gu Yuehe waved his hand, and two young disciples nearby came forward to escort the two out.

"Brother Gu, these two are so disrespectful, just let them go like that?"

A young disciple, around twenty, with a robust build and sinewy muscles, his narrow eyes flashing with cold light.

"Since we are all outer courtyard disciples, we should be harmonious. What respect or disrespect? Don't let the senior masters hear and think I, Gu Yuehe, bully the weak, tarnishing my reputation."

Gu Yuehe spoke calmly, his fingers gently stroking the dragon turtle. Suddenly, a playful smile appeared on his lips. "Zhou Qin, you have just reached the seventh level of the 'Turtle Snake Technique.' Go to Green Mountain Town and bring back Su Qignian. Remember, bring him back unharmed, and don't give others a chance to gossip."

"Yes, Brother Gu."

Zhou Qin's eyes flickered with a strange light. He understood that the calmer and more casual Brother Gu Yuehe's tone, the bigger the trouble.

...

In Green Mountain Town, Jili Ridge, the Hu family residence.

Just around the corner, Su Qignian felt a cold and sinister aura invade him.

His eyes turned cold, and his internal qi and blood flowed like a burning furnace, his muscles and skin trembling. The sinister aura instantly dissipated like snow in spring.

The others, except for the black-robed youth, shivered.

"Damn, it's not even night, but the cold is so intense."

"There's no demonic aura, but the cold is coming from this room. I, Mao Jiu, will see what evil spirit is here!"

With a bang, the man pushed open the door of the room, and a cold wind rushed out.

Sigh!

At that moment, the man, who had been full of vigor, suddenly stopped. The oil lamp in the room had long been extinguished, and it was almost dusk. A crescent moon was rising, casting a dim light. The room was not large, and the furniture was scattered on the ground. On the ground, where glutinous rice paste had been poured, there were dark red bloodstains.

Behind a fallen chair with a missing corner, a small figure sat with its back to the group, hugging its knees, its exposed arms pale and lifeless.

At that moment, the small figure turned its head. A boy, about two or three years old, with a pale face and green eyes, grinned, revealing a deeply cynical smile.

Chilling!

A cold chill rose from the soles of their feet, instantly spreading throughout their bodies.

Thump, thump, thump!

The next moment, the man who called himself Mao Jiu turned pale, took several steps back, and finally fell to the ground, stammering.

"What, what, what is it!"

The other middle-aged martial artists also shivered, though not as badly as Mao Jiu.

The black-robed youth's eyes turned serious, his coldness fading. He clenched his fists, and a hot aura began to emanate from his body.

...

"Monk's wine! Monk's wine! Drink monk's wine, sleep soundly without a headache! Monk's wine! Drink monk's wine, the Buddha of Ling Mountain won't live long! Monk's wine! Drink monk's wine, step up to the ninth floor in one step!"

At this moment, at the entrance of Jili Ridge, several passing villagers stared in amazement at a disheveled little monk in a moon-white robe, wearing blind shoes and carrying a bamboo staff with a wine gourd, singing and walking into the village. (As usual, I'm asking for recommendations and new readers to add this book to their collection. I suddenly realized I'm really good at making rhymes, in just two minutes.)