“Dead?” Chu Jin asked.
“Dead.” Master Jue Xuan nodded. He could still judge if the opponent was truly eliminated.
“This time it was simple and quick.” Chu Jin laughed upon hearing this.
Master Jue Xuan also smiled. “This is largely thanks to Young Friend Lu’s help. Without the prior scouting, we went straight to the core.”
In theory, once such a demon had harmed too many lives or learned of the court’s investigations, it would grow vigilant, setting traps or posting sentries.
But this time, whether just starting or for some other reason, it was slightly negligent. Directly confronted by three experts, including a master like Jue Xuan, it knelt immediately.
With the demon dead, Shen Ying and Guang Yue withdrew their protections. They organised the villagers to return and help repair the houses damaged in the recent clash.
Fortunately, the affected area was small, only a dozen houses damaged. Guang Yue and Shen Ying cast spells for the heavy work, leaving the details to the villagers.
Now mostly done, Guang Yue hurried over and asked, “Who knows if other demons are doing the same?”
“Demons of this calibre, even when that Demon Ancestor was still in Da Jing, there were not many under him. This one was not nameless in his ranks.”
Chu Jin shook his head, then nodded. “But I will report this upon return and ask the local Town Anomalies Offices to investigate further.”
As the commander of one prefecture’s Town Anomalies Office, and with Master Jue Xuan a high monk of Great Vajra Temple, if such demons numbered in thousands, the Demon Ancestor would not hide; he could crush Da Jing directly.
So, Chu Jin was quite pleased. He reached out, captured a strand of drifting demonic qi, sealed it as evidence.
“Husband.” Shen Ying arrived gracefully. Seeing Lu Zheng unharmed, she relaxed.
Chu Jin said, “This time, many thanks to Young Master Lu for the scouting merit. I will report it myself.”
Lu Zheng cupped his hands and smiled. “Just doing what is expected, Lord Chu need not mind.”
Chu Jin glanced at Lu Zheng’s gourd and requested softly, “If there are minor matters in future, please do not hesitate to assist.”
Hundreds of li away, neither he nor Master Jue Xuan could locate it, yet Lu Zheng found the demon’s exact position with a treasure mirror. Both understood the mirror’s extraordinary nature.
Master Jue Xuan, as a Buddhist elder, neither needed it nor found it proper to show curiosity.
But Chu Jin was different. As head of a prefecture’s Town Anomalies Office, he would often need to track various rogue cultivators. With Lu Zheng’s help, who knew how much effort it would save.
If this treasure mirror were in the hands of someone like Daoist Ming Zhang, Chu Jin would not dare ask, just as he could not request Qin Tian Jian experts for every divination.
Though Qin Tian Jian, or even the Town Anomalies Headquarters, had powerful scouting, tracking, and divination methods, if every local office called on headquarters for help, they would be overwhelmed.
But Lu Zheng was at least a junior, with good ties to the Town Anomalies Office. He always notified them of matters and merits, so Chu Jin made this request.
“Lord Chu need not stand on ceremony. Just try not to cause extra trouble.” Lu Zheng agreed.
This was a good thing!
If he had nothing else or faced a decent opponent, he could tag along for the excitement and lend a hand.
Gain favour, harvest destiny light, win-win!
“Naturally.”
Chu Jin nodded in understanding, then laughed. “If I need Young Master’s aid, I will personally call upon you.”
Lu Zheng’s artefact was no trifle. Those plotting in Da Jing, learning of this, would target him. Lu Zheng’s wish to avoid extra branches was reasonable.
No one wanted constant hassle, right?
Hearing this, Lu Zheng nodded. The matter settled amicably.
Seeing things resolved, villagers came to thank them one after another. At a glance, several had been tainted by demonic qi, starting to assimilate.
But fortunately, these were in the initial stage. Guang Yue sacrificed the Bright Sarira; a sweep of Buddhist light ground away the chaotic demonic qi.
“Nothing more here. Let us go.” Chu Jin nodded.
“No, two more.” Master Jue Xuan suddenly turned back, looking towards the ancestral hall.
“Hm?” Chu Jin followed suit.
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed. “That father and son?”
Earlier, scouting in the treasure mirror, they saw a father and son worshipping in the hall. Had the demon lured them too?
Guang Yue blinked, puzzled. “I sense no demonic qi?”
Perhaps not started yet; the demon had not implanted the triggers?
The group turned back together. They saw the middle-aged man in shabby scholar’s garb, holding a clear-featured half-grown boy, looking shocked yet relieved towards them.
Master Jue Xuan nodded, then planted his staff. Wisps of black drifted shakily from the father and son’s heads.
“This demon’s method was hidden, but unfortunately, it met me.” Master Jue Xuan said flatly.
Lu Zheng gave a thumbs up. “Impressive!”
…
With the matter ended, Chu Jin bade farewell and flew straight to Yizhou Prefecture. Master Jue Xuan and Guang Yue prepared to return to Pingtan County. Lu Zheng and Shen Ying headed to Tonglin County, not on the same path, so they parted in the sky above the mountain village.
“Who would have thought, just testing the Cloud Palace Treasure Mirror led to so much trouble.” Shen Ying sighed, then linked arms with Lu Zheng, her tone proud. “Fortunately, Husband was here, preventing the demon from harming more commoners.”
Lu Zheng nodded. In the cultivation world, disputes among otherworldly folk easily affected ordinary people. Be it ancient “Journey to the West” or “Investiture of the Gods”, or modern “Legend of Sword and Fairy” series, even slightly lower “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio”. A careful read showed the miserable plight of commoners in those recorded worlds.
Like the entire Lion Camel Kingdom eaten by Lion Camel King, or King Wu’s campaigns against Zhou with endless battles, or Green Robe Ancestor killing for treasure refinement.
Da Jing seemed prosperous and peaceful, but truly just barely suppressing the four directions, preserving itself, with no power to expand.
“A world without nuclear bombs is truly dangerous!” Lu Zheng sighed.
“What egg? Who is What Egg?” Shen Ying pouted. “Some opera dan role? Surname He? Better than me and Qing Yan?”
Lu Zheng shook his head solemnly. “A particularly powerful expert, stronger than you and Qing Yan combined!”
Seeing Lu Zheng joking, Shen Ying giggled. “People stronger than me and Qing Yan are plenty, like Husband…”
“Hiss” Lu Zheng inhaled sharply. “Where is that hand touching?”
“Husband~” Shen Ying waved, and a pink mist enveloped the surrounding woods.
