Crossgate Seal Chapter 422

Ding Mountain County, Snow Bamboo Town.
This town is located in the northwest of Ding Mountain County, quite close to Tonglin County, and is renowned for a vast expanse of snow bamboo spanning nearly a hundred miles in the foothills of Ding Mountain.
Besides farming and some service industries, the town is home to various workshops that use snow bamboo as raw material.
On ordinary days, Snow Bamboo Town is bustling, as its bamboo products are in high demand, attracting merchants who come to purchase. For those wanting to earn more, they can sell directly in the county or even the prefectural capital.
However, in recent days, the atmosphere in Snow Bamboo Town has been noticeably off. No one wears a smile when meeting others, as if a dark cloud looms over their hearts.
“Was there a death yesterday?”
“No news of that yet.”
“Hasn’t anyone reported to the town head?”
“Don’t know.”
Five days ago, a night watchman from Big Bamboo Workshop died in the workshop. The townsfolk reported it to the county, and the coroner’s conclusion was death by natural causes, with no illness.
So, people didn’t dwell on it, assuming he had some sudden ailment and continued their routines.
But the next day, another watchman from Li’s Bamboo Workshop died, and everyone sensed something was wrong.
Reported to the county again, constables and the old coroner came to investigate, reaching the same conclusion as before.
Not only did the townsfolk doubt it, but even the constables and coroner questioned their own findings, promptly escalating the matter.
However, it takes time for reports to be processed and responded to, so the people of Snow Bamboo Town could only wait.
Thus, on the third and fourth days, two more ordinary townsfolk died unnaturally.
Today marked the fifth day.
By the afternoon of the fifth day, no one had reported to the authorities.
“Could it be no one died today?”
Just as this question arose, a townsman came running frantically from afar, shouting, “They’re here! They’re here!”
“Who? Who’s dead?”
“Not one, but two! Li Dahe and his wife didn’t show up for work all day and were found dead at home this afternoon.”
“Two!”
“Heavens!”
“More and more deaths!”
“What do we do?”
“I, I don’t know. Why hasn’t the court sent anyone yet?”
“The town elders have already gone to Mysterious Crane Temple east of the county. I heard the temple’s priests are skilled at crafting talismans and can subdue demons!”
“Really? When will they arrive?”
As the group discussed in a panic, two priests had already reached the outskirts of Snow Bamboo Town.
“Brother Yuan Jing, we’ll need to trouble you with Snow Bamboo Town’s matter this time.”
“No trouble at all. Slaying demons and saving people is the duty of those like us who engage with the world.”
Of the two priests, one, appearing under thirty and wearing the cyan robe of White Cloud Temple, was Yuan Jing.
The other, younger, wore a black-and-blue robe with a dark crane embroidered on the sleeves, marking him as Ling He, a direct disciple of the current master of Mysterious Crane Temple.
Mysterious Crane Temple is a small temple with some techniques for crafting healing talisman water and chanting spells to expel ghosts.
However, these are only effective against minor supernatural entities. For stronger ones, they’d need to seek help from major temples in Yi Prefecture.
In recent decades, they’ve also sought aid from White Cloud Temple in Tonglin County, and Yuan Jing had come to assist Ding Mountain County several times.
This time was different. Yuan Jing had sought out Mysterious Crane Temple first, intending to ask if there were reports of people weakened or killed by drained yang energy, when townsfolk from Snow Bamboo Town arrived to burn incense and seek help.
Thus, Yuan Jing didn’t delay. Leaving behind the slower townsfolk, he hurried to the town.
Mysterious Crane Temple couldn’t ignore the matter, especially since the townsfolk had come to them. The temple master immediately sent his chief disciple, Ling He, to assist.
The two traveled swiftly, arriving at Snow Bamboo Town’s borders by the hour of You (5–7 p.m.) on the fifth day, stepping into the town before the last rays of sunlight faded.
Walking a few steps along the town’s main street, Ling He asked with some concern, “The sky’s getting dark. Who knows when that ghost will appear?”
Yuan Jing glanced at the sky, then surveyed the surroundings, pointing to a square, five-story building in the town’s center. “Let’s go to that inn’s roof to observe. If the ghost makes a move, we should spot something.”
Ling He followed Yuan Jing’s gaze, his expression faltering.
“What’s wrong?” Yuan Jing noticed Ling He’s hesitation.
Ling He stammered, “That, that’s the town’s largest brothel.”
Yuan Jing, “…”
Why would a town’s largest building be a brothel? In Tonglin County, the tallest building is Bright Moon Tower, not Spring Breeze Tower!
Yuan Jing sighed, “No matter. We won’t go inside, just to the roof.”
Ling He nodded repeatedly, “No problem then.”
By the end of the You hour, the sky was half-dark, the sun long set, and Snow Bamboo Town was engulfed in night. The streets were deserted as people had returned home, leaving them eerily quiet.
Not just the streets…
“This is a brothel?”
Yuan Jing arrived at the building and looked up. Only a few rooms had dim lights; most, including the halls on the first and second floors, were pitch black.
Ling He blinked, “Probably because people have been dying every day lately.”
Everyone was hiding at home, too scared to come out.
But against such supernatural entities, wasn’t hiding at home just self-deception?
“Let’s go! Up!”
Yuan Jing lightly gathered his energy and leaped to the second floor, his body floating like willow fluff, ascending layer by layer to the roof.
Ling He, far less skilled, still managed to scale walls with ease, reaching the roof in moments.
However, he caused a slight disturbance, prompting a few startled cries from the rooms below, followed by hushed gasps.
Ling He glanced at Yuan Jing sheepishly, but Yuan Jing wasn’t looking at him, instead scanning the town carefully.
Ling He composed himself, glanced around, and asked cautiously, “Can we spot that ghost?”
Yuan Jing shook his head, “Don’t know.”
If the ghost was skilled, it wouldn’t let its aura leak freely, making it hard to sense.
Standing in the town’s center, Yuan Jing hoped to either sense its aura or catch sight of it.
…
Time passed bit by bit.
As the Hai hour (9–11 p.m.) neared its end and the Zi hour (11 p.m.–1 a.m.) approached, a sudden burst of magical energy erupted from the town’s east.
“Someone’s making a move!”
Ling He barely spoke before Yuan Jing had already darted off.
“Brother, wait for me!”
Ling He hurriedly followed.
Yuan Jing leaped from the building, white clouds supporting his light steps as he glided across rooftops, swiftly arriving at the scene.
In a small courtyard, a white-robed, disheveled ghost was surrounded. Three women in pink, peach-patterned, spring-cloud brocade dresses stood around it, some wielding weapons, others forming seals.
In just a few exchanges, the three women slew the ghost cleanly and decisively.
“Peach Blossom Maidens!”