“That’s right…”
Wen Yuxian looked at the tightly shut door of the secret chamber and said softly, “Her name is Zhang Qingsu. Besides her son Li Genmiao, she is the last inheritor of Nuogui opera in this world. I met her once when I was young.”
The world is vast, but the circle of the Xuanmen is small. In this mortal realm, after wandering, everyone eventually circles back to each other.
Yan Shouyi remembered the name Zhang Qingsu.
He said, “There are no more demons in the dungeon. You can let Grandma Zhang come out now.”
“Alright.”
Wen Yuxian slowly floated to the door of the secret chamber, opened the door through the mechanism, and finally called out softly, “Qingsu, it’s alright now. You can come out.”
Zhang Qingsu, dressed plainly, emerged from the secret chamber.
Yan Shouyi observed Zhang Qingsu. This grandmother had a kind face. Although she was elderly, she still wore light makeup, maintaining her refinement even in old age. It was a pity that her figure had changed, but one could still discern her past elegance.
Presumably, Zhang Qingsu must have been a great beauty in her youth, and her Nuogui opera must have been very popular among the deceased.
Zhang Qingsu stepped out and sized up Yan Shouyi.
Just as she was about to speak, Yan Shouyi suddenly heard a sound of tearing through the air!
Wen Yuxian’s expression changed drastically: “There’s still someone!”
A black arrow rapidly magnified in Zhang Qingsu’s pupils. Just as the arrow was about to strike Zhang Qingsu, Yan Shouyi suddenly stood in front of her!
At the same time, a Buddha seal flashed between his brows, and golden Buddha light instantly engulfed the arrow!
Before the arrow could reach Yan Shouyi, it was illuminated by the Buddha light, dissipating into black mist!
Concurrently, a scream came from a corner!
“Didn’t you say there were no more demons in the dungeon?” Liu Yiren asked in surprise.
Yan Shouyi snorted, offering no explanation, and waited patiently for a moment.
A short while later, Old Huang emerged from the corner, licking the residual blood from the corner of his mouth with his tongue.
Upon seeing this, everyone understood what had happened.
Yan Shouyi turned back apologetically and said, “Grandma, Grandma Zhang, I wasn’t sure if they had any backup plans left, so I intentionally let Old Huang hide nearby to keep watch, using Grandma Zhang as bait to lure out this last one. I put Grandma Zhang in danger, and I hope Grandma Zhang can forgive me.”
Zhang Qingsu breathed a sigh of relief. “You did the right thing. There’s no need to apologize. Rather, I should thank you for saving my life.”
Wen Yuxian, shedding all pretense of formality, playfully swatted Yan Shouyi on the head.
“You scared me to death just now! Why didn’t you give me any advance warning?”
Yan Shouyi rubbed his head and chuckled naively, “If I had said something, that guy probably wouldn’t have shown himself.”
“Hmph, actually using us as bait!” Wen Yuxian became more indignant the more she thought about it and hit Yan Shouyi several more times.
However, after this commotion, there were indeed no more demons left in the dungeon.
Kang Jinlong’s final killing move had been chewed up by Old Huang.
“Old Huang! We really owe you thanks just now!”
Yan Shouyi called Old Huang over and affectionately petted its dog head. Old Huang thoroughly enjoyed it, its eyes narrowing in contentment.
Liu Yiren glanced at Kang Jinlong, who had fallen unconscious, and asked, “Is it… over?”
“Not yet.”
Yan Shouyi sighed softly. “The battle here in the dungeon is over, but the battle on the mountain probably isn’t. Moreover… we still don’t know how Old Heavenly Master is doing.”
The Stage Actor was very clever. He assigned different tasks to different people. Following the Stage Actor’s plan, it was highly likely that he himself would go to the Heavenly Master’s Mansion to stall Old Heavenly Master.
Yan Shouyi got up and said, “The poisonous gas outside should be dissipating soon. Let’s pack up and leave the dungeon.”
Long Feicheng hesitated, “Brother Yan, the dungeon is very safe right now. If we go out now, aren’t we… cough, cough, I’m not being cowardly or afraid, I just think we’ve worked so hard to protect Grandma Zhang, and now we’re taking Grandma Zhang out again. What if it’s dangerous outside…”
Yan Shouyi explained, “We subdued Kang Jinlong. The final outcome is no longer within our control.”
“Ah?” Long Feicheng’s expression and reaction told Yan Shouyi that he clearly hadn’t grasped the situation.
Wang Jiwang said helplessly, “Our fate is now in the hands of Old Heavenly Master. If Li Genmiao defeats Old Heavenly Master, then Grandma Zhang will surely die. But if Old Heavenly Master controls Li Genmiao, then everyone will be safe.”
Luo Ning nodded, “So whether we stay in the dungeon or not makes no difference.”
“Then…” Long Feicheng looked at Wen Yuxian.
Wen Yuxian nodded, “Let’s go. Let’s go out and see.”
Once everyone agreed, they tidied up, took the unconscious Kang Jinlong with them, and headed for the exit to find Yan Chou and the others.
After all, Miaoji’s Buddhist incantation restriction wouldn't dissipate so quickly.
…
Longhu Mountain was not peaceful tonight.
Under the pouring rain, Longhu Mountain should have been deserted from front to back.
But in reality, the sound of shouting and killing echoed from the foot of Longhu Mountain!
A team formed by Longhu Mountain disciples and disciples from the younger generation of various sects had been fiercely fighting the demons for a long time!
Their opponents included malevolent ghosts, resentful spirits, and monsters, but more of them were those lost souls who had joined the new Xuan Shan Sect!
“Kill!!!”
In the heavy rain, Zhao Chengxiang, Yuan Jianxin, Han San, Yan Nanfei, and others were already red-eyed from battle.
And behind Longhu Mountain, Lin Zhitong stood silently at the courtyard entrance, gazing into the distance.
Zhang Shantong floated in mid-air, meditating with his eyes closed.
Old Jin was extremely anxious, pacing back and forth restlessly, as if he could hear the sounds of battle from the mountain below.
Suddenly, Old Jin thought of something and quickly approached Wang Zhilai, the赊刀传人 (debt-cutting inheritor).
Wang Zhilai appeared very calm, sitting quietly at the table, fiddling with a nine-link puzzle, as if everything outside had nothing to do with him.
Old Jin squatted down and asked with a smile, “Little Wang, you have the ability to foresee the future, right?”
Wang Zhilai looked up, glanced at Old Jin, and then nodded.
Old Jin was overjoyed and said, “Then calculate for me, can we all remain safe tonight?”
Wang Zhilai nodded again.
Old Jin blinked in surprise, “You answered so quickly. Are you perhaps toying with me?”
Wang Zhilai snorted, seemingly displeased by Old Jin’s doubt, and was about to lower his head to continue playing with his toy.
“Hey, hey, hey, it was my fault!” Old Jin quickly lowered his head. “Since we’re fine, then Old Heavenly Master must be able to overcome this danger, right?”
To his surprise, Wang Zhilai didn’t answer immediately this time. He frowned and pondered for a long time.
“You were really fooling me earlier!” Old Jin shouted loudly.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck at Wang Zhilai’s feet!
Old Jin’s remaining few strands of hair stood on end from the lightning strike. Startled, he sat down on the ground with a thud.
Lin Zhitong turned her head to look, Zhang Shantong also opened his eyes, and Zhu Feifeng, holding an umbrella in the corner, had a face full of confusion and bewilderment.
“Wh-what’s going on?” Old Jin came back to his senses and quickly pulled Wang Zhilai into the house. “An ominous sign, this is an ominous sign!”
Wang Zhilai, who should have followed Old Jin, suddenly stopped.
His legs seemed to be nailed to the ground. No matter how Old Jin pulled, he wouldn’t move an inch!
Old Jin asked in confusion, “Zhilai, what’s wrong again?”
Wang Zhilai’s eyes were vacant. He tilted his head back and shouted at the top of his lungs:
“Old Heavenly Master is going to die!”
“Old Heavenly Master is going to die!”
“Old Heavenly Master is going to die!”
Three consecutive shouts, each louder than the last!
Before Old Jin could react, Wang Zhilai’s legs gave out, and he fainted!
“Zhilai!”
Old Jin immediately panicked.
What in the world was going on!
Didn’t they say Wang Zhilai was mute? How did a mute person suddenly start talking?!
Old Jin, as a descendant of ancient physicians, was at a loss. It was Zhang Shantong who drifted over with a grave expression and said sternly,
“When a mute person speaks, it is an ominous sign. The one speaking just now was not Wang Zhilai, but destiny.”
Lin Zhitong also moved closer, “Destiny?”
Zhang Shantong sighed deeply, “If Wang Zhilai’s words are accurate, then tonight… it is likely the death of Old Heavenly Master.”
Lin Zhitong’s expression changed.
If Old Heavenly Master died, it would undoubtedly be a world-shattering event!
If Li Genmiao had the ability to kill Old Heavenly Master, who would be able to stop Li Genmiao in the future?!
Lin Zhitong quickly turned back and said, “Daoist Zhu, quickly go and inform Old Heavenly Master, that Li Genmiao…”
Mid-sentence, Lin Zhitong froze.
Zhu Feifeng was nowhere to be seen, leaving only an overturned, dirty umbrella, swaying in the wind and heavy rain.
…
Boom!
The rain poured down.
Thunder rolled.
The gate of the Heavenly Master’s Mansion was wide open, blown by the wind, emitting creaking noises.
Old Heavenly Master was still sitting there, quietly humming a peculiar little tune.
At this moment, after a flash of lightning and thunder, a figure appeared outside the Heavenly Master’s Mansion.
Yu Luming immediately stood up, cautiously checking the identity of the person.
But he soon relaxed his guard. The visitor was a familiar face, Zhang Wuma.
Zhang Wuma entered the Heavenly Master’s Mansion, knelt on both knees, and shouted, “Disciple Zhang Wuma, pays respects to Old Heavenly Master!”
Old Heavenly Master stopped humming and opened his eyes, asking, “You are not down the mountain slaying demons and ghosts. Why have you come to me?”
Zhang Wuma stood up and said, “Disciple is here to protect Old Heavenly Master’s safety at the Heavenly Master’s Mansion, as ordered by my master.”
“Do I need your protection?” Old Heavenly Master scoffed.
Zhang Wuma’s face showed a hint of awkwardness, but he still replied, “Disciple feels it is unnecessary, but a master’s command is like a mountain. I implore Old Heavenly Master to allow this disciple to stay by your side.”
Old Heavenly Master smiled, “Alright, then Luming guards the left, and you guard the right. Come over!”
Zhang Wuma lowered his head and walked to the right rear of Old Heavenly Master.
Yu Lu squinted at Zhang Wuma, his eyes filled with unfathomable meaning. Da Feng Novel
When Zhang Wuma had taken his position, Old Heavenly Master smiled and looked ahead, saying loudly, “The guest has arrived!”
Boom!!
This time the thunder was louder, and heavier!
That thin figure, drenched in the heavy rain, looked quite pathetic.
He stooped, his hands hanging naturally by his sides, like a soulless corpse.
A startling bolt of lightning flashed, illuminating the outside of the Heavenly Master’s Mansion as if it were daytime.
In that instant, Yu Luming clearly saw the face of the approaching person.
He showed an expression of disbelief.
This guest—was Zhu Feifeng, a young Daoist priest from their Longhu Mountain!