"Black Mountain Demon?"
The three people under the pavilion exchanged glances; the chubby monk and the sharp-nosed woman seemed unimpressed, while Taoist Yunxu smiled slightly and gave a polite response.
"Your name echoes like thunder in the ears."
Can't catch the joke...
Zhang Kui didn't mind, turned to look at the Black Corpse Taoist, and sneered, "Have you figured it out? Letting you roam wildly in Jianghu would weaken my reputation?"
"I could spare your life if you change your name for the world to know. How about Corpse Lying Taoist..."
The face of the Black Corpse Taoist twisted with rage.
In both the righteous and evil paths, reputation is everything in Jianghu. If forced to change his name by an unknown junior, he might as well cut his throat and die.
"Looking to die!"
The Black Corpse Taoist roared, forming seals with his hands, and his Taoist robe swelled as if filled with wind, with hideous faces appearing as if to burst from the cloth.
Opposite under the pavilion, the chubby monk had just taken off a skull prayer bead when Taoist Yunxu slightly shook his head at him.
The chubby monk immediately understood and put it away with a smile.
This Black Corpse Taoist had committed a dozen bloody crimes in the Capital City, infamous regardless of real strength or folly, brazenly parading under a huge name.
But Jianghu is like this; with a big reputation, others will want to step on it to rise.
Just the right time to test his skills.
By now, the Black Corpse Taoist was done casting his spell; a chilling wind howled in the courtyard, with pairs of black footprints appearing, wilting plants wherever they went, and sizzling smoke from the flagstones, enclosing Zhang Kui tightly.
The three people under the pavilion showed a trace of seriousness in their eyes.
Evil spirits are terrifying to ordinary people, but dealing with them daily, these three naturally had sharp eyes.
"Formless corpse specter, refining corpses while refining ghosts, impervious to blade and sword, the Black Corpse Taoist indeed has marvelous skills..."
The surrounded Zhang Kui's expression remained unchanged, but a flame of anger and sorrow flickered in his eyes.
Others couldn't see, but under his Tongyou Skill, he clearly perceived.
These were young children, their bodies like splashed with acid, constantly sizzling smoke, clawing and snarling, faces twisted with pain and resentment,
Since coming to this world, used to demons and ghosts, but the cruelest to their kind are humans...
The Black Corpse Taoist opposite bulged with veins, trembling hands forming seals, smile twisted in distortion,
"You reckless Taoist, let grandpa..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhang Kui, with eyes filled with deathly calm, unsheathed a large umbrella from his back and spun around.
Boom!
The courtyard filled with black mist, enveloping him and the corpse specters completely.
Within the courtyard, the black mist churned endlessly, and the three under the pavilion stood up, eyes full of shock.
"Is this... an Ancient Artifact?!"
The Qian Dynasty is riddled with ancient relics, mostly weathered bricks and stones, but mysterious occurrences often happen in some places.
Occasionally, someone would enter, barely escape alive, or even find ancient items. These often seem tattered yet possess miraculous abilities.
Previously, around these things, much bloodshed ensued, but people gradually discovered the sinister nature of these artifacts.
Most people died gruesomely after prolonged contact, with only a few surviving and able to use them.
Since then, Ancient Artifact became a term both envied and despised.
In a few breaths, the black mist rapidly contracted.
In the courtyard, Zhang Kui was spattered with blood, holding a large black umbrella in his right hand, and the head of Black Corpse Taoist in his left, glanced coldly at them as he prepared to leave.
Taoist Yunxu stood up suddenly,
"Taoist Friend Heishan, please stay!"
Zhang Kui squinted slightly and paused.
"What, you want to fight for this guy?"
Taoist Yunxu laughed heartily,
"This Black Corpse did not know heaven's height, offending you is his fate. I just wish to make friends with you."
Zhang Kui glanced nonchalantly at the ghostly hall, then laughed freely.
"Of course, I love making friends the most!"
Eliminating the Black Corpse also provided a lot of energy.
Zhang Kui suddenly realized,
Compared to those demons,
He wanted more to take down these guys...
Taoist Yunxu, hearing this, rejoiced, immediately ordered someone to clean the courtyard and led the three to a quieter place.
"Come, come, this is Spirit Tea from Cloud Mist Mountain, best for cleansing the lungs, Taoist Friend Heishan, please try it."
"Let me introduce, this is Zen Master Miaoshan, and this is Qing Gu, also known in Jianghu as the assassin 'Devouring Heart'..."
Strength is righteousness.
Having witnessed Zhang Kui's power, Zen Master Miaoshan became full of peace, the sharp-nosed woman also nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Zhang Kui laughed heartily, tossing the Black Corpse's head to Old Huang, "Hold it, I heard there's a reward for this guy, even a mosquito is still meat."
Taoist Yunxu's eye twitched,
"You looking to earn the court's bounty, Taoist Friend Heishan?"
Zhang Kui raised an eyebrow,
"Why, is the Court's money not money?"
"Well, money is money no matter whose it is, nothing shameful about it..."
Old Huang, being a clever one, let out a strange laugh and revealed his true form. He casually tore down the drapery inside the house and wrapped the bloody head with it.
The other few people looked a bit uneasy, all carrying rewards with them.
In the past, no one in Qingzhou had such thoughts, but somehow, around Zhang Kui, they felt somewhat unsettled.
Could this guy really be a decent person?
All three of them had the same thought simultaneously, but looking at Zhang Kui's fierce demeanor, and seeing him with the demons he led, they couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't a good person.
Taoist Yunxu gave a dry laugh,
"Indeed, the people are bustling, all for the sake of profit. I wonder, Taoist Friend Heishan, what are your plans next?"
"Plans?"
Zhang Kui thought for a while, "I guess I'll start by collecting some debts..."
"Oh..."
Taoist Yunxu's interest was piqued,
"Is there someone in Qingzhou who owes you a debt?"
Zhang Kui chuckled and turned to look at Zen Master Miaoshan, revealing a sinister smile.
"You broke my treasure sword, aren't you planning to compensate?"
The three of them felt a blackout before their eyes, cursing inwardly at the same time.
What treasure sword, it was clearly just ordinary iron.
How could this person be even more conniving than us?
Truly a money-grubbing demon Taoist!
Zen Master Miaoshan's eyes flared with anger, but after glancing at the big black umbrella beside Zhang Kui, he forcibly held back his temper.
Taoist Yunxu quickly tried to mediate,
"Zen Master Miaoshan meant no harm, we are all fellow practitioners, let's not damage our relations. I'll take responsibility for this matter and ensure that Taoist Friend Heishan finds a suitable weapon."
Zhang Kui immediately changed his expression, bursting into laughter,
"No problem, no problem, I'm not the kind of petty person, just don't try to fob me off with some junk..."
Taoist Yunxu's mouth twitched,
"Of course, we would never disappoint you. Come, let's have some tea."
Taoist Yunxu had a way with words, and under his guidance, the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.
Zhang Kui could tell that this man, regardless of his identity, was recruiting able hands with some ulterior motive.
However, he was tight-lipped, and Zhang Kui, fearing exposure, didn't probe further, thinking it likely related to the ghostly beings in the grand hall.
Before he knew it, it was noon. Taoist Yunxu held a grand banquet to entertain the group, fortunately offering nothing strange or bizarre, instead serving a spread of delicacies from the mountains and seas.
Zhang Kui, too, happily ate until he was greasy-mouthed.
After returning to the room arranged by Yunxu, Old Huang the weasel was about to ask something when Zhang Kui signaled him with a look and then opened the black umbrella to enter the Black Fog Space.
Old Huang the weasel's gaze was somewhat tense,
"You've already killed the Black Corpse Taoist, why stay here any longer?"
A glint flashed in Zhang Kui's eyes,
"Did you notice that grand hall?"
"Are you crazy..."
Old Huang the weasel exclaimed in surprise, looking at Zhang Kui as if he were a fool, "Do you know what's inside?"
Zhang Kui shook his head.
Old Huang the weasel mumbled a few words to himself, then pulled out his opium pipe, lit it, and took a couple of puffs.
"Let me ask you, what is the source of the chaos in Qingzhou?"
Zhang Kui replied, "The cultivation skill of the Stone Man Tomb."
"As long as you know that."
Old Huang the weasel snorted, "To obtain the cultivation skill, you must find that reincarnated guy. The best way is naturally to control all the cities."
"Those powerful evil spirits occupy temples and Taoist temples, pretending to be deities, and then recruit demonic Taoists and monsters to serve as their façade. Every newborn child has to be registered and screened."
"You ask why Black Water City hasn't fallen into chaos, and this is the reason. They need to maintain a semblance of order, fooling the ignorant populace and keeping them corralled."
"Anyone who dares to do this is a monster who has been in the Grain Avoidance Realm for many years, some even reaching the Celestial Tribulation Realm."
"A celestial tribulation involves the great trial of thunder, fire, and wind. Without a tribulation crossing skill, nine out of ten will die. These guys are already mad; even if a National Guardian True Man came, they'd dare to act. You're practically seeking death!"
At this point, Old Huang the weasel advised earnestly,
"With the head of the Black Corpse Taoist, we've already fulfilled our duty. Leave the rest for the Astronomical Bureau to worry about. We just need to earn our share of the benefits."
"So that's how it is..."
Zhang Kui pondered, stroking his chin, his eyes quickly becoming resolute, "If you're scared, you can take the head back to the inn first and send Old Wu to do something for me..."
After their discussion, Old Huang the weasel promptly disappeared from the Taoist temple with the head, looking at Zhang Kui like he was a dead man walking before leaving.
"Will I die?"
Zhang Kui sneered,
looking towards the grand hall.
By now, it was past noon, the Yang Qi began to wane, and the sky-reaching sinister Yin Qi started to rise, gradually enveloping the entire city...