Chapter 28: Demon!
Under the dim night, an agile figure darted across rooftops like a nimble sparrow, streaking from house to house as fleetingly as a meteor. Chasing the strange, drifting shape ahead, Qi Xiu’s eyes glimmered with hidden gold.
This thing had nearly traversed the entire Baohe County.
What was its purpose?
Just as Qi Xiu pondered, two other figures, their presences deep and formidable, approached from opposite directions. In an instant, the three met.
“You?”
“You?”
Master Wu and Jin Tai recognized each other at a glance. The next moment, both turned their eyes toward Qi Xiu.
Sensing the scrutiny and wariness in their gaze, Qi Xiu pressed his lips, about to explain.
But before he could utter a word, Master Wu and Jin Tai struck out in unison—Mixing Monument Throw! Mysterious Yin Rain! Thunderous attacks, intent on lethality, surged toward their opponents.
Damn it, I’m just passing by! Even passersby aren’t spared!
Seeing the deadly moves barreling toward him, Qi Xiu’s temper flared.
Fine, let’s fight! Who’s afraid!
Channeling his full strength, Qi Xiu unleashed a furious palm strike, the energy lines flickering subtly on his hands.
Black Sand Palm!
Smack—
Six hands collided.
A deafening explosion like thunder shook hundreds of meters around. A translucent shockwave radiated madly in a circle, shattering and scattering every rooftop tile in its path.
Countless sleeping townsfolk were jolted awake, thinking an earthquake had struck, and scrambled to hide beneath their beds with their families.
“Half-step Qi Condensation?!”
“Where did this master come from?!”
Tearing sounds echoed as Jin Tai and Master Wu’s sleeves burst apart; both quickly retreated to widen the distance. Looking down at their palms, they saw their hands blackened—clearly poisoned by the palm.
With a grave expression, Master Wu slowly hid his right hand behind his back, quietly circulating his energy to expel the poison.
When did Baohe County gain another martial arts master…
On the other side, Jin Tai frowned deeply, clenching his left fist as white smoke curled between his fingers, using his energy to dissolve the poison.
Black Sand Palm! Someone actually managed to cultivate this third-rate palm technique to such a level…
“I am Jin Tai of the Guard’s Gate. It’s all been a misunderstanding. May I ask your esteemed name, brother?”
His eyes flickered as Jin Tai quickly introduced himself.
The rascal’s tongue is quick! Master Wu shot Jin Tai a resentful glare, then bowed and said,
“I am Wu Changqing of Rainflower Temple. I sensed demonic energy spreading in the city—ghosts stirring trouble—so I came out to investigate. If I offended you, please forgive me.”
Seeing their attitudes shift, Qi Xiu’s expression remained unchanged. His voice was hoarse as he replied,
“Foshan, Ip Man.”
Foshan? Ip Man?
Searching their memories, Master Wu and Jin Tai both shook their heads inwardly.
They’d never heard of him.
He must be a master from outside.
Casting a glance at Master Wu, Jin Tai suddenly cupped his hands toward Qi Xiu.
“Brother Ip, you may not know. Wu Changqing is a notorious demon priest, skilled in sinister arts. He corrupted my Guard’s Gate disciple’s family and caused his father’s death. Such a vile person deserves to be eliminated by martial artists like us. I beg you, Brother Ip, to join me in slaying this villain and restoring justice for my junior!”
Jin Tai, who appeared burly and not particularly clever, turned out to be quite scheming.
Master Wu’s beard bristled with rage. He quickly glanced at Qi Xiu’s reaction, seeing no change in expression.
He then angrily retorted,
“You shameless oaf! It’s your Guard’s Gate that seeks to seize the Qian family’s estate. Out of compassion, I accepted the Qian heir’s invitation to guard their house. Don’t turn the tables and accuse the innocent!”
“Compassion? If you had compassion, even an old sow would climb trees!”
“Filthy language! Filthy language!”
Watching the two argue endlessly, Qi Xiu quietly stepped back.
Then, he turned and ran!
“You…”
Startled, Master Wu and Jin Tai watched Qi Xiu’s figure quickly vanish, their expressions complex.
This man is rather peculiar.
With Qi Xiu gone, Jin Tai and Master Wu looked at each other, murderous intent flickering in their eyes, but both wary of the other and unwilling to act rashly.
After a prolonged standoff, neither could muster the resolve for a deadly battle, and so each departed.
…
Back home, Qi Xiu returned to his original form, sitting in a chair in the main hall, letting out a long, heavy sigh.
So that man was Master Wu?
And the burly one, like a bear—he must be Qian Yuchuan’s senior.
Recalling Master Wu and Jin Tai’s appearances, Qi Xiu looked down at his hands.
It seems I’m not as weak as I imagined.
Thinking of their grave eyes and the respectful tone that followed, Qi Xiu mused silently.
Both were likely at the Qi Condensation stage.
Evenly matched, so to defeat the other, each needed an outside force of equal strength.
Like me…
But I’m only at half-step Qi Condensation.
The poison of Black Sand Palm is unstable, sometimes effective, sometimes not, utterly uncontrollable.
It might intimidate, but against true Qi Condensation masters, I’d likely suffer.
Besides, neither seems to be a good person.
Better to let them fight to the death among themselves—it would be for the best.
But they mentioned demonic energy, ghosts… Are those demons?
Qi Xiu’s eyes flickered, and after a moment of silence, he tapped his knees lightly.
Perhaps I should leave the city for a few days.
The appearance of demons and ghosts made him uneasy.
Even Jin Tai and Master Wu, such experts, grew tense upon hearing of demon traces.
Clearly, demons must be extremely dangerous.
“But before leaving, I need to visit the Ghost Market for news.
The city isn’t safe, but neither is the outside.
The Golden Flower Mother cult—mentioned by Peng Chong—is one such threat!
If I can’t stay outside, I’ll need to find somewhere safer.”
With his plan decided, Qi Xiu, who hadn’t pasted charms on his doors and windows in some time, now brought out a stack of “Ward” talismans and thoroughly sealed every entrance.
He nodded in satisfaction at the tightly secured doors and windows.
“At last, I feel a bit safer.”
…
The next day, Ghost Market Treasure Boat.
Disguised as a burly man in black, Qi Xiu strode quickly to a teahouse lit by yellow-green lanterns.
“Three Teahouse.”
The small, dimly lit establishment held only three or five tables.
Each table had a candle, and a man wearing a Pai Gow mask sat at one side.
Clack!
A hundred taels of snowflake-patterned silver landed on the table.
The masked man looked up at Qi Xiu, smiling as he accepted the silver.
“Someone, bring tea! Finest Ziwei Pu’er.”
A fragrant, enticing pot was brought over, and the masked man poured three cups for Qi Xiu.
Three cups, three questions.
The higher the grade of tea, the more secret the answers.
That is the rule of the Three Teahouse.
Sliding the first cup in front of the masked man, Qi Xiu whispered,
“Will the Golden Flower Mother cult attack Baohe County soon?”
Lifting part of the mask to reveal a slender chin, the masked man drank the tea:
“A branch of the Golden Flower Mother cult entered Huangtan Prefecture six days ago.
But when attacking Qingliu County, they met fierce resistance from Magistrate Li Jiufang. The standoff continues.
For at least the next twenty days, Baohe County should remain safe.”
Hearing the cult wouldn’t arrive soon, Qi Xiu relaxed slightly, then pushed the second cup forward:
“Where is the safest place now within the Grand Province of Dianchuan?”
This time the masked man drank the tea directly and said,
“Too broad.”
Too broad?
Qi Xiu frowned, then realized.
This Ghost Market Treasure Boat only covers Huangtan, Yuantong, and Jiayi Prefectures.
Asking about the entire Grand Province was beyond its scope.
“Then among Huangtan, Yuantong, and Jiayi, which is safest now?”
This time the masked man did not refuse, drank the tea, and said:
“Yuantong has fallen and become a branch of the Golden Flower Mother cult.
Jiayi saw a sudden influx of evil cultivators and demonized beings two months ago.
Of its seventeen counties, nine have been massacred; the rest may not escape disaster.
Huangtan is invaded by the cult, but only two counties have fallen; the other thirteen remain untouched.
The cult’s attack moves from west to north, so the northernmost county is currently safest.”
Northernmost?
Qi Xiu took out a map of Huangtan Prefecture and squinted at it, his face darkening.
The northernmost county of Huangtan—
That’s Baohe County.
“Last question.”
With a gloomy expression, Qi Xiu pushed the final cup forward:
“Are there demons around Baohe County?”
Staring at the cup, the masked man fell silent for a long time.
He unexpectedly pushed the cup back toward Qi Xiu.
…