“Young master, be careful!”
The white-robed youth’s cultivation far surpassed Yan Jie’s. At this moment, his body was shrouded in black smoke, and the power of the evil-repelling talisman could not breach his defences in a short time.
If this ghostly entity got within three feet of Lu Zheng, it was likely that Lu Zheng would be in grave danger.
A smirk crossed Lu Zheng’s lips. He hadn’t expected Shen Ying’s strength to have reached such heights, nor was Shen Ying fully aware of Lu Zheng’s current cultivation level.
However…
As a modern man, if he could use strategy, he would never resort to brute force.
Thus…
In the eyes of the white-robed youth, Lu Zheng’s vital energy roared as he gripped his longsword behind his back with one hand, while his left hand formed a fist and struck towards his own face.
“To be so arrogant, Shen Ying, are you truly blind? Do you choose your lovers based solely on their looks?”
The white-robed youth laughed heartily. Black energy surged from his folding fan, transforming into a rope that ensnared Lu Zheng, pulling him close before reaching out to grab him.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Twenty evil-repelling talismans were plastered onto his body.
A burst of cyan light exploded, tearing the black smoke to shreds.
“Ah!!!”
The white-robed youth let out a piercing scream. Upon closer inspection, where was Lu Zheng’s figure?
“An illusion!”
Immediately after, two beams of cyan light appeared behind him.
“Evil-repelling talisman! You’re a Taoist!”
The white-robed youth turned, his black smoke forming a barrier to block the cyan light of the talismans.
“A lay practitioner of Baiyun Temple, please enlighten me!”
Lu Zheng announced his title first, his hands unrelenting. Using transport techniques alongside evil-repelling talismans, he attacked like a shower of blossoms.
“My lady, go assist our friends from the Yin Division. Don’t let them suffer losses!”
Shen Ying’s divine body was impure and could still be affected by the evil-repelling talismans. Rather than teaming up with Lu Zheng, it was better for her to aid the Yin Division soldiers.
“Alright!”
Seeing Lu Zheng severely injure the white-robed youth in one move with illusions and talismans, Shen Ying was both shocked and delighted.
“Stinking Taoist, you’re a priest, yet you consort with a peach ghost. Is this what Baiyun Temple teaches you?”
Lu Zheng blinked. “Who said I’m a Taoist? Are you deaf? I’m just a lay practitioner. What do I have to do with Taoists?”
The white-robed youth was dumbfounded, unsure how to respond.
Wasn’t it common knowledge that a lay practitioner of the Taoist sect was still considered a Taoist?
Lu Zheng’s feet never stopped moving. He hurled evil-repelling talismans and struck with evil-repelling spells. With his Xiuchun blade on his back and his Seven-Star Sword at his waist, he had no intention of engaging the white-robed youth in close combat.
“Coward!”
The white-robed youth waved his folding fan, his figure darting about, using minimal black smoke to detonate the talismans and spells, dodging their residual waves.
At the same time, ghostly energy gathered in his eyes, ensuring he wouldn’t be ambushed by Lu Zheng’s illusions again.
However, having been struck by twenty talismans at once, the white-robed youth was gravely injured and found himself entangled by Lu Zheng.
…
On the other side, Shen Ying surrounded the black-robed crone with her peach blossom aura, while also supporting the Yin Division soldiers, methodically eliminating the remaining Night King ghost soldiers.
Lu Zheng pursed his lips. The jade seal in his mind showed no reaction, indicating these ghost soldiers’ deaths had nothing to do with him. With or without him, they were doomed.
“Young Master Ji, save me!”
After going berserk, the black-robed crone’s strength plummeted. Under Shen Ying’s assault, she could only parry clumsily.
A Peach Blossom Immortal far stronger than the three of them.
A Taoist with considerable cultivation.
Three city-patrolling envoys capable of facing a red-robed female ghost together.
How could he save her?
He was already gravely wounded. It was a miracle he hadn’t perished himself!
Seeing the black-robed crone was beyond saving, the white-robed youth steeled himself, spat out a cloud of black smoke to envelop himself, and, enduring Lu Zheng’s talisman attacks, fled towards the outside of Peach Blossom Manor.
If he didn’t escape now, he truly wouldn’t make it!
The red-robed female ghost saw clearly and also tried to flee.
But with such a prime opportunity for merit, the three city-patrolling envoys wouldn’t let her go. They fought desperately to block her, managing to keep the red-robed ghost within Peach Blossom Manor.
“Young Master Ji, save me!”
This time, it was the red-robed ghost who cried out.
The white-robed youth paused, then turned towards her.
Tonight’s venture was a catastrophic failure. Having one more to share the Night King’s wrath would be better. With the black-robed crone holding Shen Ying, he was confident he could save the red-robed ghost.
Seeing the white-robed youth about to escape, Lu Zheng shook his head. Close combat it was.
“Clang!”
The Seven-Star Sword was drawn.
Lu Zheng stepped with the Heavenly Dipper, instantly appearing in front of the black smoke. His short-range speed was faster than the white-robed youth’s.
“What?”
The white-robed youth was startled, instinctively thinking it was another of Lu Zheng’s illusions.
Lu Zheng channelled his true energy, his sword glowing. A single thrust produced seven sword shadows, dispersing the black smoke entirely.
He then dove into the smoke, golden light shimmering around him. The now-thinned smoke couldn’t breach the Golden Light Mantra’s defence.
His left hand unleashed a barrage of talismans, while his right wielded the longsword with sweeping strikes.
In an instant, Lu Zheng faced the white-robed youth head-on.
“You?” The white-robed youth’s eyes widened, his pure black pupils not terrifying but betraying a hint of fear.
“Swish, swish, swish!”
The Seven-Star Sword, imbued with Taoist true energy, could harm both man and ghost.
The white-robed youth struggled to counter with his folding fan, retreating step by step. To his horror, he realised that even at his peak, he likely couldn’t defeat this man.
This time, he truly couldn’t escape.
…
“Buzz!”
Twenty-nine strands of fate light were gained.
Unfortunately, only the white-robed youth contributed to his fate. Neither the black-robed crone nor the red-robed ghost gave him any.
What a loss!
…
Duan Zhong and the other two city-patrolling envoys grinned, holding the ghost pearl formed from the red-robed ghost’s essence, eager to claim their reward.
Lu Zheng held two items.
One was the white-robed youth’s ghost pearl, pure black with wisps of smoke swirling around it, quite an extraordinary sight.
The other was a folding fan with a frame of green jade, its surfaces carved with ferocious deities, volcanoes, and underworld rivers.
When opened, one side depicted a dark cloud pressing over a city, painted with beryl ink, while the other was pure black, shrouded in smoke.
It clearly wasn’t of wholesome origin.
“This fan’s material is fine. Let me cleanse the ghostly energy for you, young master,” Shen Ying said, drawing close and naturally taking the fan from Lu Zheng’s hand.
“Uh, alright!”
Lu Zheng gave a dry laugh, fully aware of Shen Ying’s intentions.
“My thanks to the three envoys and Young Master Lu for your aid. I am deeply grateful,” Shen Ying said, clasping her hands. “Please, come into the manor for tea, and let me fulfil my duties as host.”
Duan Zhong and the other envoys exchanged glances, their eyes twinkling with amusement.
The relationship between Shen Ying and Lu Zheng was obvious to anyone, yet the two refused to acknowledge it in words, leaving others to wonder what game they were playing.
