“Money! Money! Give me money!”
“I, I want to earn lots of money! I can earn lots of money!”
“I want to be rich and noble!”
The man bound like a dumpling had bloodshot eyes, muttering to himself, baring his teeth.
The demonic qi on his body surged in waves, consuming his life force on one side while enhancing his strength on the other.
Visibly, those thumb-thick hemp ropes were stretched to their limit, and they might even snap under his struggle.
This was not something an ordinary person could do.
For cultivators, they could convert cultivation into demonic qi, but for common folk, they could only exchange life force for strength.
Once he died, this unbound demonic qi would transfer to others, using human hearts as a trigger, snowballing and growing more.
“You think well, but it is of little use. Do you really think the Town Anomalies Office and people like us are decorations? As long as there is a slight disturbance, it will attract attention from other cultivators. Even if we cannot destroy him, healing the commoners is easy.”
“For example, this time.”
Guang Yue was the host, so he naturally took action.
He pinched a seal in his hand, turning it into a “swastika” rune, and pressed it onto the man’s forehead.
The rune flashed with golden light, entering the brain instantly and merging into his soul. The next moment, as if in a stress response, his pupils turned pure black, though the black faintly revealed golden light, very eerie.
However, the source of the demonic qi on him was just a trigger; the rest was generated by his body, far weaker than Guang Yue by more than ten levels.
After the rune entered, in a breath or two, it expelled the demonic qi and wrapped around the source.
“How is it?” Lu Zheng asked.
“A master, not below that Ben Kun monk.” Guang Yue replied, then Buddhist light surged from his hand into the man. The light was like a tide, eventually grinding away the demonic source completely.
But…
The demonic qi was gone, yet the man rolled his eyes and fainted straight away.
“This…”
“Master…”
“His soul is too severely injured, very weak. He will wake in at least three days, and will often feel sleepy and tired. As for how long to fully recover, that depends on his fortune.” Guang Yue said.
“Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!”
As long as he lived, it was fine. Several people thanked him profusely; they were likely his relatives. A woman pulled a half-grown child to kneel and kowtow.
Guang Yue reached out, lifting them up from thin air. “All rise. Tell me, what is the situation with this man? How did he get possessed?”
After Guang Yue showed his divine power, the commoners were even more trembling and quickly answered.
“Replying to the master, we are all from Dongxi Town, living in the town usually. He is called Wu Zhuang, making a living by selling small items in the villages below the town.
Ten days ago, when he returned from outside, he started muttering oddly, but it was not serious. He spoke and acted fine, but from three days ago, upon seeing people, he only demanded money. If not given, he hit them, with great strength. He did not listen when spoken to, so we had to bind him.
We called a doctor; the doctor said it was hysteria, prescribed a few doses, but no improvement. Then he said it might be possession, perhaps encountering something unclean.”
Guang Yue frowned. “In Dongxi Town, are there others showing these signs?”
“This…”
The people looked at each other, then all shook their heads. “Master, forgive us, we do not know.”
Guang Yue asked a few more questions; clearly, they knew nothing, only that ten days ago, this man went to Tianjia Village under Dongxi Town, located in the mountains, remote.
…
They requested a sandalwood carving of the Buddha and a share of incense, which could calm the mind, quiet the spirit, and nourish the soul, then thanked profusely and took the man away.
Guang Yue and the others returned to the backyard chamber, brewed clear tea, and sat down.
“The comer is not friendly; this person’s cultivation is not below that Ben Kun monk.” Guang Yue confirmed again.
Lu Zheng nodded. “Report to the Town Anomalies Office, ask Lord Chu to act.”
Master Jue Xuan: ???
Guang Yue knew Lu Zheng’s ways, so he did not object. “How about Brother Dao goes to Yizhou? Uncle Master and I will first go to Dongxi Town and Tianjia Village to investigate.”
Though Guang Yue was not strong, with the Bright Sarira in hand, it specialised in countering demons. Even against old demons, he could help.
Lu Zheng nodded. “I have no objection.”
“Uncle Master?” Guang Yue looked at Master Jue Xuan.
Master Jue Xuan stroked his big beard; of course, no objection. “Yin stays in the temple. Let us go now.”
Having a young novice lead Yin away, Master Jue Xuan took Guang Yue and rose into the air, flying straight northeast.
Lu Zheng also took Shen Ying and flew towards Yizhou Prefecture.
On the way, Lu Zheng suddenly realised. “You can go this far now?”
Shen Ying smiled lightly, pursing her lips. “Not only has Husband’s cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, this wife has not idled these years either. Within Yizhou Prefecture, I can now move freely.”
“Good, good, good!” Lu Zheng laughed. “The demon is not weak; let us hurry.”
Lu Zheng held Shen Ying’s waist, waved his hand to cast the “Western Extreme Wind Summoning Curse”. White clouds drifted leisurely, instantly accelerating, and soon they reached Yizhou Prefecture.
Moments later, a white cloud and a black light rose from the Town Anomalies Office, heading towards Pingtan County.
…
Pingtan County, Dongxi Town, Tianjia Village.
Looking at the six bound villagers and nearly twenty muttering ones, Master Jue Xuan waved his hand to expel the demonic qi from their bodies.
But Guang Yue frowned tightly, because according to other villagers, nothing unusual had happened in the village recently; these people had not experienced anything special.
In that case, where to find that demon?
Master Jue Xuan tapped his Zen staff and shook his head. “The demon is cunning; it did not alert the commoners and has already left.”
“Left?” Guang Yue asked.
Master Jue Xuan nodded. “The one with the mildest symptoms was infected seven days ago. This demon is very sly; it left before the first batch’s demonic thoughts erupted.”
As he spoke, Lu Zheng brought Shen Ying and Chu Jin descending from the sky.
Chu Jin and Master Jue Xuan greeted each other; Guang Yue stepped forward and explained the matter.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. Set on playing guerrilla warfare?
Chu Jin said gravely, “This demon is quite bored, spending over ten days to affect a hundred or so commoners. Once discovered by us, we heal them with a wave. What does he gain?”
Guang Yue pondered silently; Lu Zheng and Shen Ying looked at each other, also unable to think of anything.
Master Jue Xuan’s eyes half-open half-closed, slowly saying, “Perhaps… looking for someone.”
“Looking for someone?” Chu Jin was puzzled.
Master Jue Xuan nodded. “Among the common folk, finding someone suitable for cultivating demonic arts.”
Chu Jin’s eyes flashed with sudden understanding.
Lu Zheng also thought of the big-headed demon they had slain at Peach Blossom Flat before.
“So that is it.”
