Chapter 31

The Demon's Selection (31)

"Keeaaak!"

With a horrific scream, Pang Wuyi's limbs convulsed as if struck by lightning.

Fan Jiawei slowly pulled his arm out.

As he fully withdrew his blood-soaked arm, Pang Wuyi's body collapsed to the ground.

Just before he drew his last breath.

Pang Wuyi belatedly realized something.

"Y-You... you are..."

With those words, Pang Wuyi's breath ceased.

Shamuxin, who had staggered to his feet, respectfully bowed to Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiawei.

"Shamuxin of the martial world pays respects to the two Evil Elders."

"Evil Elder" was a respectful title used to address a few grandmasters of the entire evil faction, regardless of their affiliations, due to their exceptional martial arts skills. They were called this because they were the two most outstanding martial artists in the evil faction.

"How did you know?"

In response to Fan Jiawei's question, Shamuxin answered respectfully.

"An uncommonly large build and an extremely high level of martial arts. Who else could it be, standing alongside the person you call Brother?"

Chao Ailiang glared at Fan Jiawei with a displeased expression.

"Why don't you just spread rumors everywhere?"

"What did I do wrong?"

"You called me Brother Chao."

"Didn't you say you'd scold me if I spoke informally?"

Muttering to himself, Fan Jiawei glared at Shamuxin for no reason.

"We've never been here."

"Huh?"

"All of these people were killed by you."

"Ah! Yes, I will remember that."

Shamuxin, who quickly grasped the situation, nodded. Chao Ailiang looked at Shamuxin.

"There's no need to say much. We have our reasons and can't help you any further. So, go on your way."

"I will repay this favor."

"You need to stay alive to repay the favor."

Chao Ailiang's eyes darkened.

"Hide and wait. When the time comes, I will act personally. Don't get involved in unnecessary matters rashly."

"I will remember that."

With Shamuxin behind them, Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiawei turned and left.

After walking for a while, Fan Jiawei suddenly asked Chao Ailiang.

"Brother Chao, did you use your inner energy just now?"

"A little, just a little. I only wrapped it around the tips of my fingers."

"You always call me stupid, but have you forgotten what Doctor Dan said?"

"I can't just put my bare skin against a blue sword!"

"I'll tell Doctor Dan."

"Then we'll have to tell him we were here too?"

"Huh? We can't do that."

"Think before you speak. Is your head just a decoration on your shoulders?"

Grumbling, the two figures disappeared from sight, leaving Shamuxin standing there with a dazed look on his face.

* * *

After Feng Jinsheng joined, the group headed straight for Shaanxi Province. They mostly traveled on the main roads, and the carriage made the journey easy.

The border between Gansu and Shaanxi was strictly guarded to prevent refugees, but with the travel permit and token prepared by Feng Jinsheng, they passed through without difficulty.

Thus, the group entered Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province.

"Is there anything uncomfortable?"

Duan Aoxian looked at Fan Jiawei with a worried expression.

His expression had been poor since they entered Xi'an.

Frowning deeply, Fan Jiawei replied.

"My head hurts."

"Your head?"

"Every time I come here, I can smell the Huashan Sect."

Duan Aoxian lifted the carriage curtain and sniffed, but he couldn't detect any smell.

"What does the Huashan Sect smell like?"

"Like a hundred-year-old dust. Very musty."

Chao Ailiang, sitting beside him, chimed in.

"Still better than the smell of rotten bean paste."

"What kind of smell is that?"

"Zhongnan."

Duan Aoxian chuckled.

"Still better than my mother."

"How did the Demon Lord describe it?"

In response to Chao Ailiang's question, Duan Aoxian put on a haughty expression.

"Why do the Huashan Sect's disciples obsess over plum blossoms? It's to hide the thousand-year-old widower's smell."

"Hmm..."

Fan Jiawei chuckled, seemingly quite satisfied with the Demon Lord's evaluation.

"What about the Zhongnan Sect?"

Duan Aoxian answered in a chilly tone.

"A bunch of 'Thirty-Six Sons of Heaven.'"

"Ha!"

An insult alluding to the Zhongnan Sect's secret technique, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords. The short but powerful jab made Chao Ailiang unable to suppress a laugh.

Feng Jinsheng, watching the scene, smiled wryly.

"The Wulin Alliance people will soon come to greet us, so please be careful."

Feng Jinsheng spoke to Duan Aoxian, but it was clear he was addressing Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiawei.

The two cleared their throats and turned their heads.

At this moment, someone was approaching Feng Jinsheng.

A Taoist priest with a neat Taoist cap and a dark blue robe, exuding a refined aura, was approaching.

Feng Jinsheng was surprised to see the elderly Taoist priest leading the group.

"Who is this!"

Recognizing Feng Jinsheng, the elderly Taoist priest bowed respectfully.

"It's been a long time, Patriarch."

"To have you come here in person... I don't know what to do with myself."

"I had to come. No matter how far the journey, I had to come."

The elderly Taoist priest smiled gently.

"I heard that the disciples of my sect were greatly indebted to you last time. I am unworthy, but I come to express my gratitude now."

As the elderly Taoist priest bowed, Feng Jinsheng was startled and helped him up.

"Excessive courtesy is unnecessary. How can the Qingxin Hongmei of Chibi bow to a mere village doctor like me?"

At that moment, a muttering sound came from inside the carriage.

"Chibi? A Huashan Sect disciple?"

"Tch, so stiff with us, but you saved it for this moment?"

Feng Jinsheng's smile faltered.

He knew the person in front of him wouldn't miss what he had heard.

Sure enough.

Qingxin Hongmei, Zhen Xianzhen.

The junior of the current Sect Leader, Huashan Shenjian Zhen Mingzhen, and the leader of Huashan's generation of disciples, looked towards the carriage.

"Fortunately."

"Excuse me?"

"Traveling with such a witty group must have made the long journey less boring."

Feng Jinsheng sighed in relief. Fortunately, he didn't seem too upset.

At this moment, Zhen Xianzhen turned his head to look behind.

"Come and greet him. He is the Patriarch of the Jinsheng Clan."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Huashan Sect Taoists lined up behind him bowed with their swords in hand.

A young Taoist priest at the front spoke in a clear voice.

"I, Mingjian, the third-generation disciple of the Huashan Sect, greet the Patriarch of the Jinsheng Clan."

Feng Jinsheng looked at the young Taoist priest who introduced himself as Mingjian with surprise.

The twenty-four plum swordsmen were the core of the Huashan Sect. Mingjian was the leader of these plum swordsmen, the Chief Plum Sword, and was known for his outstanding skills and character among the Huashan Sect's promising disciples.

He was surprisingly young.

Hardly more than a young man?

Considering that he had taken the position of Chief Plum Sword three years ago, the surprise was even greater.

A recluse of Huashan.

A true "Western Peak's Finest."

The most representative Taoist sects in the martial world were Huashan and Wudang.

Especially Huashan, which had inherited the orthodox lineage of Taoism, was founded by Xue Daotong, one of the seven disciples of Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen Sect, who laid the foundation for most of Taoism.

As such, their pride was higher than anywhere else.

Occasionally, this pride led to conflicts.

What they saw as pride could be perceived as arrogance by outsiders.

However, Mingjian's straightforward and upright gaze and demeanor left no room for misunderstanding.

He was both dignified and humble.

"I didn't have the chance to properly thank you that day."

Mingjian bowed again, and Feng Jinsheng shook his head.

"I only did what I had to do."

"Please, Patriarch, speak more casually. I can't bear the weight of such formalities."

"To the Chief Plum Sword of Huashan, how can I..."

Mingjian smiled playfully at Feng Jinsheng.

"Excessive courtesy is unnecessary, as you said earlier."

"Ah?"

"Please speak more casually. It will ease my burden."

Amused by Mingjian's friendly attitude, Feng Jinsheng finally laughed.

"Hehe. Alright, I will."

Watching the two converse with a pleased smile, Zhen Xianzhen spoke to Feng Jinsheng.

"My disciples will escort you to the Wulin Alliance."

Feng Jinsheng was surprised.

He hadn't expected the plum swordsmen to join the escort. He glanced at the carriage but had no reason to refuse.

"Thank you, I'll leave it to you for a while."

As Feng Jinsheng nodded, Mingjian headed