Chapter 71

Old Master Wang took out a small dagger inlaid with gems from his bosom, picked up a snake, and cut it into pieces inch by inch with the dagger, then stuffed it into his mouth.

He chewed with a crunching sound, and the blood splattered on his face, but he didn't bother to wipe it off.

After swallowing two large snakes, Old Master Wang finally let out a long breath and said apologetically, "Since the beginning of the year, I've been suffering from this illness. If I don't eat live snakes every day, my whole body aches. Only by eating two snakes daily can I alleviate this condition."

Wang Jun was dumbfounded, while Xuan Kong nodded, already understanding the source of the black aura between Old Master Wang's eyebrows.

Old Master Wang walked back to his seat, took a towel from a servant to wipe away the blood, and smiled bitterly, "I've also consulted doctors, but they all said that my love for snakes is harmless to my health."

Wang Jun interjected, "I've never heard of such a preference."

Xuan Kong, however, recalled a story from the book "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio": "I have heard of a man named Lu Fengning who had a natural fondness for eating snakes. He was skilled at sniffing out the scent of snakes and once smelled a snake through a wall. He rushed outside and indeed found a snake about a foot long. Without a knife, he started eating the snake's head, while the tail was still wriggling in his mouth."

Old Master Wang, hearing the immortal's vivid description, felt a great weight lifted from his heart and laughed heartily, "So that's it. I thought I was under some evil spell, but it turns out to be just a natural inclination. There's nothing to worry about then."

The servant holding the towel also said, "If it's just buying and eating snakes, we can afford to supply the old master with a basketful every day!"

Wang Jun found it amusing and realized that "a basketful" was a family saying passed down by his uncle, with the same tone of voice.

Xuan Kong, however, didn't laugh; instead, he frowned. He knew the matter wasn't so simple. The Lu Fengning in the story could be said to have a natural preference, but Old Master Wang was clearly not like that.

It seemed more like he was under the influence of a Miao curse, but he didn't know who the enemy was.

He stood up and said, "I've troubled you for a long time, Uncle. I'm a bit tired, so I'll go rest first."

Old Master Wang patted his head, blaming himself, "Right, right, I forgot."

He quickly called for a servant to lead Xuan Kong down, and a smiling head servant of the Wang family came forward. The Wang family had already arranged accommodations for Xuan Kong and his disciple, and the head servant's arrangements were considerate, which pleased Xuan Kong.

Wang Jun, more adept at social interactions than his master, quickly engaged the head servant in conversation.

The head servant also flattered these divine guests.

Fortunately, Wang Jun only asked about the local customs and culture of Ninghai County, which the head servant knew well and spoke about fluently. Xuan Kong didn't speak but listened attentively, already suspecting a target.

Wang Jun and the head servant chatted warmly, and soon, under the head servant's guidance, they arrived at the most luxurious row of guest rooms in the Wang family's courtyard. These rooms had never been used since they were built, and this time, they were finally occupied by guests of appropriate status.

Although no one had ever stayed in them, the servants had kept the rooms very clean, and all the necessary furniture was in place.

"These are the guest rooms for our honored guests. The old master has ordered them all to be opened. Sir Immortal, you and your disciple can choose any room you like," the head servant said, opening all the doors for Xuan Kong to choose from.

Xuan Kong, indifferent to external comforts, didn't even look and chose the nearest room.

Wang Jun nodded and thanked the head servant, then chose a room next to Xuan Kong's and moved in.

Once the head servant left, Wang Jun immediately rushed into Xuan Kong's room and asked, "Master, I noticed something odd about Old Master Wang. Is he under a spell?"

Xuan Kong, understanding what his disciple meant, smiled and said, "You've done well to notice. From what I see, there's something very strange about Ninghai County. There may be more than one evil spirit or demon."

He waved his hand in front of Wang Jun, urging him to look for himself. Wang Jun, a good disciple, responded and leaped onto the roof, shading his eyes to look at the city. Indeed, there was a mix of demonic aura in the air.

Wang Jun guessed, "Master, you want me to look for the demonic aura. It's likely that Uncle's father was harmed by a demon in the city. But how will you deal with it?"

He jumped down and saw Xuan Kong already sitting cross-legged on the bed, saying, "I was injured on the journey and haven't fully recovered. I need to meditate to restore my energy."

Wang Jun acknowledged the order and asked, "What about the demons in the city? How should we handle them?"

Xuan Kong closed his eyes and said calmly, "If Old Master Wang invites us to dinner, you can decline for me. As for the curse on him, I will find a way to remove it."

Wang Jun asked curiously, "What is a curse?"

Xuan Kong pulled out a bamboo scroll from his sleeve: "This is a record of curses from our Laoshan Sect, but the specific methods of use are not clearly described. Curses are a branch of the ancient witchcraft, and even Grand Master Wenchong knows little about them."

There are no records in the passed-down traditions.

This bamboo scroll was completed by Xuan Kong based on his memories from his previous life, filling in this gap for the Laoshan Sect. However, he didn't know that if he hadn't intervened, the world would have evolved on its own.

Hundreds of years later, the Golden Silkworm Curse would emerge, causing great turmoil.

Of course, these were still distant possibilities. Wang Jun took the bamboo scroll and returned to his room to study it. Since he became Xuan Kong's disciple, Xuan Kong didn't rush to teach him Daoist magic but only imparted some breathing and qi cultivation techniques.

What Wang Jun gained the most from were the various secret and strange stories of the three realms.

He didn't know where his master got them, but many things were unheard of even in the books in Wang Jun's family library. For example, the art of raising curses was quite eerie, and only Wang Jun could force himself to read it despite the chills.

After finishing the bamboo scroll, the sun had set, and the last rays of sunlight cast a golden-red glow on the floor through the doorway.

"Indeed, the sunset is beautiful, but it's near dusk."

Wang Jun stood up, stretched, and sighed. He heard the head servant's footsteps nearby and quickly went out to block him, saying, "My master is meditating at this time. Please don't disturb him, Mr. Head Servant."

The head servant was troubled, "The old master has prepared a welcome banquet and wants me to invite the immortal and his disciple. What should we do?"

Wang Jun smiled, "No problem, I'll go with you and explain to Old Master Wang myself."

The head servant shook his head, "Sigh, I suppose that's the best we can do." Wang Jun apologized on behalf of his master, "My master is deeply devoted to his practice and doesn't understand the world's rules. Please don't be offended!" Seeing the disciple of the immortal lower his stance, the head servant had nothing more to say and left Xuan Kong to meditate, leading Wang Jun to the front hall for the banquet.