Chapter 12

Releasing Princess Yunluo is not difficult, but this Denglizi from the Kongtong Sect speaks ambiguously, making it hard to understand what he means.

Kongtong Mountain, the place where the ancient sage Guangchengzi practiced his Dao, is said to have received some of Guangchengzi's teachings, making the Kongtong Sect a part of the Chan Sect.

Xuan Kong did not want to quarrel with Denglizi for no reason, so he pretended not to understand and said, "This female corpse has been harming the hunters on our Laoshan Mountain. Was this also part of your teaching, Senior?" Denglizi's plump face showed a hint of anger as he scolded, "You brat, I told you not to cause trouble on others' territory, but you just wouldn't listen! Now look what trouble you've caused. Who will help you?"

While scolding Princess Yunluo, Denglizi bowed to Xuan Kong and apologized, "I will make Yunluo expel the yang energy of the hunters. There's still time to save them. Please let her go this time."

Seeing Denglizi's polite manner, Wang Qi straightened his back and said, "Who asked you to do good? My eldest brother had already made the female corpse expel the yang energy of the hunters!"

Denglizi, not angry at being contradicted by a junior, said, "So you are the eldest disciple of the Laoshan Sect. Indeed, you are impressive."

Xuan Kong did not stop Princess Yunluo, but he looked at her and frowned, "Since your master has come, why don't you go with him? Do you want me to invite you to enjoy the incense offerings?" People eat food, but ghosts enjoy incense offerings. On Laoshan Mountain, the incense offerings are for the deities, not for Yunluo to enjoy.

Wang Qi, being talkative, asked, "Why did you come to our Laoshan Sect without clearly explaining your mission, and just release a monster to harm people? It's truly hateful!"

He had been a disciple of the Laoshan Sect for nearly two months, often chopping wood and carrying water, and was very familiar with the hunters in the mountains, so he spoke out of anger.

Denglizi didn't think much of it and pulled the golden lock in his hand, smiling, "I am here on the orders of the Imperial Preceptor of the Song Dynasty, Master Cihang Pudu, to capture this criminal surnamed Nie. I apologize for any offense."

The hunter surnamed Nie, whose acupoints were sealed by Denglizi, could not speak but glared at Denglizi with intense hatred.

He tried to use his gaze to kill Denglizi.

The hunter surnamed Nie was not the god Erlang Shen Yang Jian, so his gaze could not kill anyone. Instead, Denglizi looked at him, and two beams of white light shot from his eyes, causing the hunter to close his eyes in pain.

Xuan Kong was startled and asked urgently, "This is a hunter on our Laoshan Mountain. How did he become a wanted criminal by the court?"

Denglizi smiled, "This Nie, for some reason, decided to oppose Master Cihang Pudu. He gave up his position as the commander of the Jinyiwei to mix with scholars and write articles criticizing the court. He fled to the mountains when his crimes were exposed."

Xuan Kong bit his finger and cursed Pu Songling for the hundredth time. Is this really the world of Liaozhai?

Damn, even the Jinyiwei is here, how unfair!

Seeing Xuan Kong silent, Denglizi knew this young Daoist had considerable cultivation and became interested, "Young friend, why don't you come with me to the capital? I can recommend you to Master Cihang Pudu for a position."

Xuan Kong did not respond, but Wang Qi was tempted.

As the saying goes, one learns martial arts to serve the imperial family.

Seeing that he had gained his eldest brother's favor on Laoshan Mountain, it was time to lay the groundwork for his future. He glanced at his eldest brother, hoping he would speak up and pave a path to a position for both of them.

Xuan Kong shook his head, "Senior, you must be mistaken. I have known this hunter surnamed Nie since childhood. He has always hunted on Laoshan Mountain and has never left, let alone go to the capital to become an official."

Denglizi thought Xuan Kong was trying to protect the hunter out of old friendship and did not take it seriously, "How could I be mistaken? Don't ruin your own future, young friend!"

If it were anyone else, knowing the gap in their cultivation, they would not insist on saving an unknown hunter.

But this was Xuan Kong. Who knew what kind of suicidal thoughts he had?

He stood in front of Denglizi and said, "I will vouch for this person. He is just an ordinary hunter in the mountains." Even a clay figure would get angry at this point. Denglizi sneered, "With your strength, go back and practice for another hundred years before you say such things to me."

In fact, Xuan Kong had his own calculations. Having traveled through time, he wanted to meet the famous Nie Xiaoxian and see how other Liaozhai stories unfolded.

On the other hand, this was still Laoshan territory. Letting Denglizi take the person away would be a loss of face.

In his previous life, he had stepped into the world of politics for the sake of face.

In this life, he was again risking everything for the sake of face.

Seeing Xuan Kong not backing down, Denglizi's expression hardened, and he shouted, "So Laoshan has produced a great figure!" He pointed his hand, and a token flew out of his sleeve, spinning in the air.

"This is the secret treasure of the Kongtong Sect, the Ghost-Exorcising Token. Young friend, think carefully!" After all, he was on someone else's territory, so Denglizi still spoke coldly to warn him.

Xuan Kong ignored him, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't care, but I must protect this hunter surnamed Nie." Denglizi had no idea about Xuan Kong's bizarre collection desire. While others collect stamps or bottles, Xuan Kong liked to collect stories.

Especially in the world of Liaozhai, he wanted to experience every Liaozhai story and would not let Denglizi take the hunter, who might be Nie Xiaoxian's father, just because he was afraid of trouble.

"Eldest brother is right!" Not wanting to be seen as a coward, Wang Qi clenched his fists and stood beside Xuan Kong.

Wang Qi, who had just experienced a thrilling night, was now full of confidence in Xuan Kong.

Xuan Kong, however, was inwardly distressed. Seeing Wang Qi stand even further forward, he knew that dealing with Denglizi alone was already difficult. If Wang Qi had known better, he would have stayed as far away as possible. But if he had known better, he wouldn't be Wang Qi.

Denglizi laughed, "Just the two of you, you are overestimating yourselves."

He pointed to the sky and cast a spell on the Ghost-Exorcising Token, causing a true fire to shoot out. Xuan Kong grunted and formed a hand seal, using the Wind-Returning Fire spell to block the flames.

This fire was not ordinary fire; it was specifically used to exorcise demons.

Denglizi was surprised, "You have some cultivation." He waved his brocade robe to extinguish the flames Xuan Kong had deflected and cast another spell. This time, a bolt of lightning struck from a clear sky.

Xuan Kong and Wang Qi were knocked to the ground, barely avoiding the Thunderbolt of Demon Exorcism.

Despite their disheveled state, Xuan Kong smiled and glanced at Wang Qi, "Do you know what our Laoshan Sect is best at?"

Wang Qi, who had been a disciple for a short time, still knew to support his elder brother. He puffed out his chest and said, "Of course, our Laoshan Sect is skilled in all kinds of spells!"

Xuan Kong heard him exaggerate, saying things like, "The great immortal of Laoshan, with boundless power and great influence." He sighed inwardly, thinking, "Lack of education is truly terrifying. Even flattery can't be done well."