Xichuan County City, Demon-Slaying Bureau back courtyard, Yang Family Mansion.
A streak of escaping light tore through the sky, flying over the Yang Family’s roof.
The escaping light circled once before descending straight to the ground.
An elder cloaked in black, his face concealed, appeared at the Yang Family gate.
He emanated a faint black, chilling aura from head to toe, giving off an ominous feeling.
The two gatekeeping Qi Refinement Stage servants immediately became vigilant, their hands gripping the hilts of the long blades at their waists.
One of them barked, “Who are you? What business do you have at our Yang Family?”
The black-robed elder said nothing, simply flicking his hand and sending an invitation flying toward the servant.
The servant fumbled to catch the invitation.
Upon glancing down at it, his expression instantly changed, and he reverently offered it back with both hands, saying, “Senior, please wait a moment. I’ll go report to the Old Ancestor right away.”
With that, he rushed through the side door, scrambling and tumbling as he dashed into the mansion.
Not long after, the Yang Family’s main gate swung open wide.
Yang Zhen led Yang Deguang out to greet the visitor, their faces full of smiles. Yang Zhen said, “He Laoge, I’ve been waiting day and night for you, and finally, you’ve arrived!”
The black-robed elder let out a sinister chuckle, saying, “Yang laodi, it’s been decades. I didn’t expect you’d still remember this old man.”
Yang Zhen laughed heartily, “He Laoge, your abilities are formidable and your skills extraordinary. How could I possibly forget a great figure like you? Please, come in! I’ve already arranged a banquet to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey.”
As he spoke, he stepped up with eager hospitality, ushering the black-robed elder into the courtyard.
The black-robed elder strode into the courtyard, saying as he walked, “No need for any welcoming banquet. We cultivators don’t care much for worldly pleasures. Just have what you promised me in your letter ready, and that’ll do.”
Yang Zhen replied with a smile, “It’s long been prepared, just waiting for your arrival, He Laoge. Come, let’s discuss it in detail inside.”
The three of them entered the inner residence. Once inside, they each took their proper seats.
With a wave of his hand, Yang Zhen signaled Yang Deguang, who respectfully handed over a sheet of paper with both hands to the black-robed elder, saying,
“Senior, this is the detailed information on Xiling Village. The village has a total population of three hundred sixty-six, including one hundred and thirteen able-bodied men. All of them are at your disposal as offerings for your cultivation. Does this satisfy you?”
The black-robed elder glanced at the paper, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.
He put the paper away, raised a teacup and took a sip, then chuckled, “Yang laodi, if your Yang Family loses an entire village under your control, aren’t you worried that the authorities will come asking questions afterward?”
Yang Zhen said indifferently, “It’s just a small village. Afterwards, we’ll toss a few demon corpses inside, set the place on fire, and claim the villagers were all killed by demons. The higher-ups won’t be able to find any fault with my Yang Family.”
The black-robed elder praised, “You officials are truly ruthless—no less so than us demonic cultivators when it comes to the common folk.”
Yang Zhen’s face fell, and he sighed, “He Laoge, our Yang Family bears the heavy responsibility of protecting all the people of Xichuan County. For a hundred years, we’ve spared no effort, devoted ourselves entirely, and fulfilled our duty. Now that damned demon has stolen my family’s Foundation-building Pill and is hiding in that Luoyun Cave in Xixia Mountain. If I had any other way, I wouldn’t use the lives of an entire village just to ask for your help.”
“As long as you, Laoge, help my Yang Family kill that demon, the three hundred sixty-six lives of Xiling Village will be yours to handle as you please. If you can, before killing her, get the whereabouts of the Foundation-building Pill and bring it back, my Yang Family is willing to offer up two more villages!”
The black-robed elder burst into loud laughter, “Good! It’s a deal!”
He took out a Wanhun Banner from his storage pouch and gave it a shake. A semi-transparent Spirit Ghost flew out of the banner, hovering before him.
This Spirit Ghost’s face was deathly pale, filled with resentment, and brimming with ominous aura.
Yang Zhen and Yang Deguang immediately felt a cold wind rush through the room, the air growing much colder.
Yang Deguang, with his lower cultivation, couldn’t help but tremble in his legs.
The black-robed elder looked at the Spirit Ghost before him, a proud look on his face as he introduced, “The Main Soul of my Wanhun Banner is the soul of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, immune to all physical attacks. Even most Foundation Establishment Cultivators can’t do anything to it. Killing a mere Body Tempering Stage snake demon is as easy as flipping my hand.”
Yang Zhen’s face was filled with joy as he cupped his hands, “Then I’ll trouble He Laoge to take action as soon as possible. I, your younger brother, wish you victory in advance!”
……
Luoyun Cave, upper cavern, within the hot spring.
Hong Yanzhi was soaking in the water, washing her body over and over.
After Lin Xue used the Wood Spirit Detoxification Technique to remove the anesthetic from her body, she had gone straight to the hot spring, bathing for well over an hour.
She felt filthy beyond measure, wishing she could scrub off an entire layer of her skin inside and out. Her fair skin was rubbed so red it almost glowed.
Lin Xue didn’t rush her, allowing her to vent her feelings by punishing her own skin.
After two hours, Hong Yanzhi finally finished bathing and changed into a rather plain new dress. She stood before Lin Xue, looking a bit shy.
Half a month ago, she was the young lady, and Lin Xue was the maidservant.
Now Lin Xue had become her master, while her own status had fallen to that of a servant, her life and death entirely in Lin Xue’s hands.
But Hong Yanzhi bore no resentment at all. Compared to being defiled to death by a thousand little demons, this was already the best ending she could hope for.
She had once considered becoming Shu Da’s servant, handing over the Meishan Secret Realm’s opportunity in exchange for a chance to survive.
But she couldn’t bring herself to make that decision.
If she became Shu Da’s servant, she would never be able to take revenge against Shu Da in this life.
That was something she could never accept. She would rather die than go down that path.
She originally considered choosing Shu Er, but Shu Er never came to the room to see her, and she never got a chance to meet him.
Later, Shu Er finally arrived—but he brought Lin Xue along.
The moment she saw Lin Xue, Hong Yanzhi immediately gave up on Shu Er and decided to choose Lin Xue as her future master.
She could see Lin Xue’s aversion to Shu Da and Shu Er.
She could tell that the so-called marriage to Shu Er was only forced upon her by Shu Da’s intimidation.
She guessed that Lin Xue would surely rebel against Shu Da and Shu Er in the future.
If she entrusted that opportunity to Lin Xue, she would still have a chance to seek vengeance by following Lin Xue.
Hong Yanzhi was very satisfied with her choice.
Lin Xue looked at the busty Hong Yanzhi before her, feeling quite satisfied as well.
She never expected to gain such a devoted, utterly loyal maid.
The previously somewhat annoying Hong Yanzhi now seemed rather endearing in her eyes.
Suddenly, she recalled that earlier in the partitioned room, Hong Yanzhi had spat out a long jade slip from her mouth.
She’d been curious about it all afternoon and had long wanted to know what the secret was.
She asked Hong Yanzhi how she managed to hide such a long jade slip in her mouth.
Hong Yanzhi explained, “This is a spell my mother taught me. It allows me to open up a small Chu Wu Kong Jian in a rarely used tooth and hide small items inside. If Miss Xue would like to learn, I can teach you.”
Lin Xue nodded with great interest. “Of course I’d like to learn.”
So, Hong Yanzhi passed on the chant and some key tips for this little spell to Lin Xue.
After she finished, the System Panel suddenly opened up, and a line of text appeared before Lin Xue’s eyes:
“Detected new technique ‘Oral Chu Wu Kong Jian’, fully recorded in the system and available for learning with Experience Points.”
Lin Xue was stunned: Oral techniques could be recorded too?
This System is just too heaven-defying!