Volume One: Kingdom of the Endless Night Chapter Seventy-One: Subduing Demons and Exorcising Evils

Before the Chunyi Pavilion.

That scholar clenched his fists.

His expression flickered with uncertainty.

Inside the entire Chunyi Pavilion, apart from the serving maids, no one knew Bai Chuanling.

Clearly, Bai Chuanling had personally come downstairs to welcome Zhao Si, and the men wielding clubs had also withdrawn because of Bai Chuanling, yet even the pavilion master adamantly insisted that no such person existed.

The pavilion master did not look like she was lying and had immediately gone up to the third floor, but the scholar did not follow; he had already realized a very serious problem.

Bai Chuanling might be a demon!

She had clouded everyone's senses.

The scholar was well-read in the classics of sages, where everything was recorded, and he instantly figured many things out.

Ultimately, his affections had been misplaced.

Yet even if Lady Bai was a demon, he felt he was special, and those feelings were hard to let go of easily.

Scholars understood tolerance best; what did it matter if she was human or demon?

But now, it was Lady Bai who had betrayed him.

He had to make Lady Bai change her mind.

Therefore, he had to do something.

Celestial Master Tao lived in West City Lane!

He narrowed his eyes slightly and strode away.

......

Kutan, Shangyang Commandery, the Temple of the Martial God.

The two stone Qilin statues in front of the gate were lifelike.

Yet one of them had developed a crack.

Luo Xianshan wore a blank expression as he looked at the neatly lined-up members of the Temple of the Martial God, who were all bruised, swollen, and weeping sorrowfully. He shouted in a deep voice, "You are all trash!"

The members of the Temple of the Martial God all lowered their heads in deep shame.

Rong Yulu said in shock, "Just a single person beat all of you up and then swaggered away?"

Someone lowered their voice and replied, "That person claimed to be Gu Jingfeng, a martial artist of the Mountain-Marsh Faction. We didn't even manage to see what he looked like clearly..."

Rong Yulu was even more shocked, "Could he be a Grandmaster!"

Luo Xianshan said, "The martial artists of the Temple of the Martial God who are at the peak of the fourth realm and above have not yet returned from subduing demons and devils; perhaps they merely took advantage of an empty house. If he truly were a Grandmaster, given the operational style of the Mountain-Marsh Faction, I'm afraid they would have turned the Temple of the Martial God into ruins. How could he just beat people and leave?"

Rong Yulu said, "But Gu Jingfeng's actions are also a slap in the face to our Temple of the Martial God. Venerable, this grudge must be avenged!"

Luo Xianshan said indifferently, "The dignity of the Temple of the Martial God certainly cannot be insulted. Once everyone returns, even if we have to turn Kutan upside down, we will find Gu Jingfeng. But for now, you should clean yourselves up first. Look at you all, bruised and swollen like that, what kind of appearance is this?"

Rong Yulu said with indignation, "The Mountain-Marsh Faction are the parasites of the Sui State. After all these years, no one can do a thing to them. Just thinking about it makes me furious!"

Luo Xianshan frowned and said, "The backing of the Mountain-Marsh Faction might not be simple, but it is only because the truly great figures have not made a move. To put it bluntly, they are merely a group of clowns, posing no great threat, yet they are endlessly annoying."

Throughout the entire Sui State, from high-level cultivators down to ordinary martial artists, there was no one who did not feel disgust toward the Mountain-Marsh Faction. The great figures could not be bothered to deal with such trivial matters, while those at the bottom could only stare in frustration.

Because the members of the Mountain-Marsh Faction came and went like ghosts, unless he bumped into them head-on, even Luo Xianshan could not find their whereabouts.

In the past, the Mountain-Marsh Faction only targeted the Qingxuan Bureau, but now they had come to the Temple of the Martial God to act wild, and anger had accumulated in Luo Xianshan's heart.

......

West City Lane.

Jiang Wang looked at the half-open courtyard gate and walked straight inside.

Celestial Master Tao was feeling quite smug about defeating the figure in black with the aid of the Wall-Breaking Divine Talisman. Lifting his eyes to see Jiang Wang, his face stiffened slightly. Subconsciously feeling somewhat guilty, he forced a dry laugh and said, "Young Marquis, what brings you here so late?"

Jiang Wang looked at the talismans scattered all over the ground and said casually, "I just have something I'd like to ask Celestial Master Tao."

Celestial Master Tao was very nervous and hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "I don't know anything!"

Jiang Wang looked suspicious and said, "I haven't even asked yet? What kind of reaction is that?"

Celestial Master Tao said cautiously, "What does the Young Marquis want to ask?"

Jiang Wang said, "That stone at the intersection of Qixia Street."

Celestial Master Tao let out a long sigh of relief and smiled, "Why has the Young Marquis suddenly taken an interest in that stone?"

Jiang Wang stared at his face and said, "Is Celestial Master Tao hiding something from me?"

Celestial Master Tao's expression stiffened once again, but he quickly recovered and said, "How could that be? Speaking of that stone..."

He naturally wanted to change the subject.

Jiang Wang's gaze was piercing. Raising a hand to interrupt him, he said, "In just a few breaths, your expression changed several times, as if you were very unwilling to see me, yet forced to keep a smiling face. I consider my relationship with Celestial Master Tao to be quite decent, so you must be hiding something, and it has to do with me."

Cold sweat poured down Celestial Master Tao like rain. With a trembling voice, he said, "I had a close friend when I was young, but later we parted ways due to differing philosophies. This person is vicious at heart and always comes to show off whenever something happens, though it's actually just to humiliate me."

"It's just that today I managed to humiliate him back. Though I feel quite pleased, driving the talismans also consumed my vital energy and spirit, so my condition is inevitably a bit poor. It has not the slightest bit to do with the Young Marquis..."

Jiang Wang said coldly, "Do you take me for an idiot? First you were hunched over your desk drawing talismans, brimming with joy, but the moment you saw me, your expression instantly stiffened. As soon as I stated my purpose, you immediately relaxed, but when I questioned you further, your expression changed again. It has nothing to do with me? Guess whether I believe that."

Celestial Master Tao was shocked and said, "The Young Marquis is actually so observant!"

Immediately realizing his slip of the tongue, he opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but his mind was a complete mess, and instantly his face fell into deep dejection.

Jiang Wang patted Celestial Master Tao's shoulder and smiled faintly, "You'd better confess honestly, or else I'll dislocate your arms."

Celestial Master Tao was terrified. If you dislocate my arms, how am I supposed to draw talismans?

I am already on the verge of mastering the threshold! I am about to become a true celestial master!

"Young Marquis, hold on!" Celestial Master Tao said righteously, "This old man is open and honest in his conduct, and has never uttered a falsehood..."

"It is because someone is looking for a baby boy born in the yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour. Such conditions are extremely rare, and neither Kutan nor Longchan has found one. But I was in great luck, and at a glance I saw that the Young Marquis fits the criteria. If I pass this information along, I can attain the opportunity to truly become a celestial master."

Celestial Master Tao held nothing back, telling him everything in one breath as he shouted, "And the person looking for him bears the surname Xiao, and he is right here in Hun City!"

With that, he quietly moved Jiang Wang's hand off his shoulder, took three steps back in succession, and said once more, "In fact, although the other party has a purpose, they harbor no malicious intent whatsoever. This old man can guarantee that much, otherwise no matter how great the opportunity offered to me, it would be impossible for me to betray the Young Marquis."

Jiang Wang fell into deep contemplation.

When it came to anyone surnamed Xiao, his first reaction was Xiao Shinian.

After all, there truly was no one with the surname Xiao in Hun City.

He suddenly recalled something, and looking at Celestial Master Tao, he frowned and asked, "If I remember correctly, the first time you came directly to the Marquis's estate to tell my fortune, you mentioned that the method to resolve the so-called baleful and ominous aura was to marry a maiden born in the yang year, yang month, yang day, and yang hour. Yet I happen to be born in a yin year; these two things must be related, right?"

Celestial Master Tao chuckled dryly, "Because I wanted to make sure I hadn't seen wrong, I thought of taking the opportunity to observe further, but in truth, it was all nonsense. On this point, I truly did not lie; the Young Marquis really must believe me."

Jiang Wang gave a cold smile. "Let's talk about that stone."

Celestial Master Tao hurriedly said, "Hun City has an ancestral precept: no matter what, that stone must not be moved. Although the older generation nowadays no longer knows the reason behind it, adhering to the principle that it is better to avoid extra trouble than to create it, that stone has always remained safe and sound."

"The garrison commander was once very curious and invited me to take a look. I gave him the answer that this stone harbored an extremely dense baleful aura, but in truth, I wasn't all that certain."

"It's just that afterward, whenever I was asked about it, in order to maintain my reputation, I always gave that same answer. After all, the existence of that stone had to have some reason for it."

Jiang Wang stared at him and said, "You really are a fountain of lies."

Celestial Master Tao felt extremely awkward and ashamed. In the past, he had indeed engaged in swindling and bluffing, otherwise how could he have associated with the figure in black? But after all, he still had his bottom line; he only told harmless little white lies.

"That stone truly does conceal some baleful aura, but it is very faint. I merely exaggerated it, and it also kept the people of Hun City away, so it can be considered a well-intentioned lie."

Jiang Wang said no more.

Although it was Celestial Master Tao's exaggeration, there was clearly something wrong with that stone.

Since a situation had arisen with Bai Chuanling, and if the stone statue was the item suppressing the demons, he figured the stone at the intersection of Qixia Street might serve another purpose, or perhaps had nothing to do with demons at all. He wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Wait!

Jiang Wang's brow twitched at this moment. "You just said that close friend of yours from your youth is also a celestial master?"

Celestial Master Tao said, "I bear an undeserved reputation, but that fellow surnamed Fan is indeed already a true celestial master. Why is the Young Marquis suddenly asking about him again?"

Instead of answering, Jiang Wang asked, "He likes to humiliate you, which means this isn't his first time coming to Hun City?"

Celestial Master Tao nodded and said, "Even if he wants to humiliate me, he'll find plenty of excuses. Therefore, although the number of times he comes to Hun City isn't huge, he manages to come twice a year. This year is quite strange though; this is already his third visit."

Jiang Wang inquired once more, "When was his previous visit?"

Celestial Master Tao thought for a moment and said, "It was roughly around the time when that mirage hung high over Qixia Street, just a few days before and after."

Jiang Wang's expression turned grave.

According to Bai Chuanling's account, she had also arrived in Hun City around those few days and had encountered the celestial master from back then. The only person in Hun City who could be called a celestial master was Celestial Master Tao, and the fellow surnamed Fan was the sole outsider who was a celestial master.

He immediately left West City Lane and headed toward the Chunyi Pavilion.

Seeing that Jiang Wang's expression was amiss, Celestial Master Tao felt curious and followed along behind him.

......

At this moment, the Chunyi Pavilion was surrounded by bailiffs from the Garrison Office.

The original patrons had all been dispersed outside, and the scholar was among them.

The pavilion master of the Chunyi Pavilion was questioning Constable Zhou about the situation.

She simply could not believe that there were demons inside the Chunyi Pavilion!

The figure in black was on the second floor, gazing fixedly at the gauze curtains of the third floor. Knowing this was the work of Celestial Master Tao, he immediately cast a talisman. The gauze curtains burst into flames one after another, yet without affecting anything else.

Bai Chuanling looked down at him, her clenched fists turning slightly pale from excessive force.

Zhao Si's painting was incomplete, and he was furious. Seizing a teacup, he hurled it fiercely at the figure in black.

Bai Chuanling was first shocked, then moved. She had once again misinterpreted the actions of that dog Zhao.

Slap!

The figure in black reached out and caught the teacup thrown by Zhao Si, while his other hand lifted his hood, revealing a dark, swarthy face. He said in a deep voice, "Evil creature, your time of death has come."

Deeply moved by Zhao Si's actions—proving that he truly protected her despite his sharp tongue and refusal to admit it—Bai Chuanling was gazing at Zhao Si with deep affection. Hearing the voice of the figure in black, her expression instantly turned icy cold.

"Fellow surnamed Fan." Bai Chuanling looked at him with utter disgust. "You use talismans under the pretext of helping that young nobleman bully innocent people, skimming wealth for him and committing every evil deed imaginable. How are you qualified to speak of subduing demons and devils? By comparison, you are the true evil entity!"

Celestial Master Fan had broken into the Chunyi Pavilion under the banner of subduing demons and devils, and his purpose was blatantly obvious. Yet Bai Chuanling was very puzzled: she had been hiding in the Chunyi Pavilion for so long without any incidents occurring; how had Celestial Master Fan managed to track her down?

"You have escaped from my hands three times; this fourth time, you will have no such opportunity."

Defeating Bai Chuanling the first time was indeed due to Celestial Master Fan's own ability, for back then Bai Chuanling was merely a very ordinary ghoulish spirit.

Defeating Bai Chuanling the second time likewise relied on his own ability, as Bai Chuanling had not grown much stronger by then.

Defeating Bai Chuanling the third time was achieved with the aid of divine talismans. Without those divine talismans in hand, he would have long since been buried beneath the yellow earth.

Bai Chuanling was now a魅孋 (meili - a charm demon), having caught a glimpse of the Zaoxue realm. Yet whether it was a ghoulish spirit or an evolved charm demon, they shared the exact same weakness: born to be restrained by talismans.

If he were facing Marquis Wu, Celestial Master Fan would have fled as far as possible, because talismans had zero effect on Marquis Wu.

Usually, even if Celestial Master Fan encountered a charm demon, his priority was to run, simply because he lacked the capability to draw talismans that could restrain charm demons. But now, with divine talismans by his side, suppressing a charm demon was as easy as reaching into his pocket and taking something out.

Among the divine talismans he had wasted in the past, two had been used on Bai Chuanling, and this time he intended to settle that score.

He cast a cold glance at Bai Chuanling and said, "You are hiding in the Chunyi Pavilion undoubtedly plotting to drain life essence. Today, I shall subdue you!"

"Where did this piece of charcoal come from!" Zhao Si spat, thinking that he had been just a hair's breadth away from completing a masterpiece before being interrupted—a grievance irreconcilable as fire and water. "This young lady and I are of one mind, infatuated with... and deeply devoted for a long time. You piece of charcoal actually dare to call her a demon; I'd say you must be truly blind. I advise you to scram outside immediately, or else bear the consequences!"

Thinking his tone wasn't forceful enough, he added, "I am a man of the Marquis's estate; you can't afford to provoke me!"

As Celestial Master Fan frequently visited Hun City, he naturally knew of the Marquis's estate and had even once attempted to ingratiate himself with them, only to be beaten out with a flurry of clubs. Remembering this old grudge, the gaze he cast upon Zhao Si grew chillingly cold.

"So there are actually two demons here! Then I shall subdue them both together!"

He directly threw a talisman, aiming straight for Zhao Si.

Bai Chuanling's pupils constricted. With a wave of her hand, black Qi spread out, striking the talisman paper down and causing it to fall.

Ordinary talismans might still hold some restraining power over ghoulish spirits, but to Bai Chuanling, they were no different from waste paper.

What she truly dreaded was the divine talisman in Celestial Master Fan's hand that could restrain charm demons.

Yet to protect Zhao Si, she had no choice but to risk her all.

Zhao Si was furious.

How could the backing of the Marquis's estate be completely useless?

They were even trying to kill him as if he were a demon.

He had a brain and quickly realized that this piece of charcoal probably held a deep grudge against the Marquis's estate.

This truly was lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet.

Zhao Si looked at Bai Chuanling and asked, "Can you hold out?"

Bai Chuanling was deeply moved. As expected, my dear lord cares for me deeply.

If Jiang Wang were here, he could even glean Bai Chuanling's thoughts and would certainly have plenty of complaints to air: What do you mean, your dear lord?

Girl, simps don't get true love!

Moreover, Zhao Si is truly a scoundrel; what you're doing is completely meaningless!

"I can hold out." Bai Chuanling's gaze was resolute.

Zhao Si immediately said, "Then I'll go fetch reinforcements!"

He bolted toward the downstairs area right away.

However, seeing Celestial Master Fan blocking the second floor, he hurriedly beckoned to Bai Chuanling, "You hold him off first!"

Trusting Zhao Si implicitly, Bai Chuanling leaped down from the third floor, charging directly at Celestial Master Fan.

Taking advantage of the moment, Zhao Si fled at top speed.

Constable Zhou was just about to charge inside.

The two of them crashed directly into each other.

"Why are you out here? What's the situation inside?"

Before Zhao Si could answer, the scholar standing amidst the crowd suddenly burst out with intense emotion: "You actually ran out! You actually left Lady Bai behind in there!"

Zhao Si ignored him because he had spotted Jiang Wang.

"Just as I expected." Looking at the scene before the Chunyi Pavilion, Jiang Wang furrowed his brow tightly. He gripped the saber at his waist, pushed aside the crowd, and Celestial Master Tao followed closely behind.

Acting as if he were possessed, the scholar kept repeating that single sentence until Jiang Wang easily shoved him aside.

"Young Marquis, Celestial Master Tao!" Constable Zhou was pleasantly surprised. "With the two of you here, I can finally set my mind at ease."

When it came to solving cases, he was capable, but subduing demons and devils was not something the Garrison Office could handle—at least not in Hun City.

Celestial Master Tao had achievements in subduing demons, and the Young Marquis was an even more powerful cultivator. Constable Zhou felt as though a stabilizing anchor had instantly dropped into his heart.

The voice of the Night Wandering Deity sounded, "The demonic aura inside the Chunyi Pavilion is extremely potent. I reckon that Lady Bai has already made her final desperate gamble; the opportunity to nourish the divine realm has arrived."

Jiang Wang nodded silently and said to Constable Zhou, "You just wait here; do not let anyone approach."