"Thank you, Senior Sister." Wang Xiu noticed the embarrassment on Ji Zidian's face and smiled. "Although I'm extremely interested in Thunder Technique, the elders and peers of the Thunder Sect have misunderstandings about my Divination Sect. If you were to personally teach me, I'm afraid it would provoke gossip and damage your reputation."
Wang Xiu forced a 'reluctant' smile. "I should probably start with simple spells and slowly teach myself!"
Ji Zidian's expression softened. He's so considerate. Even though he's completely fascinated by Thunder Technique, he doesn't want to put me in a difficult position. You have to understand, the senior brothers I've met before clung to me like a persistent rash, harassing me incessantly. Even after I told them a thousand times I wasn't interested, they just assumed it was a test and shamelessly kept pushing themselves on me. They never once considered a girl's feelings or her reputation. Compared to them, Junior Brother Wang Xiu is a hundred, no, a thousand times better!
"What's the big deal?" A carefree look appeared in Ji Zidian's eyes. "My conscience is clear, so who cares what other people think or say? We can exchange our sect's communication sigils later. In the future, if you want to cultivate Thunder Technique or have any questions about it, just ask me anytime."
"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Wang Xiu said.
"Don't be so formal, Junior Brother," Ji Zidian replied.
Jiang Ling'er and Jiang Yourong were bewildered. What's going on? Hasn't this Wang Xiu kid even started cultivating Thunder Technique yet? Why does it feel like sparks are already flying when those two look at each other?
「...」
After exchanging their communication numbers, the three of them arrived at the Maple City Taoist temple. Once they received the intelligence report on the murder case, the trio flew on their swords toward Mingyue Mountain in the eastern suburbs.
Mingyue Mountain was a vast range located in the eastern suburbs of Maple City, comprising more than a dozen peaks. Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the full, bright moon would hang perfectly above its summit. The white moonlight reflecting off the red maple leaves created a scene of exceptional beauty.
However, beauty is often accompanied by danger.
Geomantically, Mingyue Mountain was a place where yin energy naturally gathered, and maple leaves were also items that accumulated yin. As a result, the mountain was teeming with all manner of mountain spirits and wild ghosts, ghouls and specters, so ordinary people never dared to approach. Only cultivators gathering medicinal herbs or slaying demons would venture into the mountains on their swords.
At the same time, under the deterrence of the Sanqing Immortal Sect, the demonic ghosts of Mingyue Mountain typically did not descend to trouble the common folk. They would remain on the mountain, absorbing yin energy and the essence of the sun and moon, cultivating peacefully. A tacit understanding existed between the common people, the demonic ghosts, and the Immortal Sect, maintaining a stable balance.
Of course, unruly demons and malicious ghosts would occasionally appear, which was the reason for their current mission. A traveler passing by Mingyue Mountain was ensnared by an evil presence, lured into the mountains, and killed. This was a classic case of a demonic entity harming a human, which required the Sanqing Immortal Sect to dispatch disciples to carry out justice.
Murderous demons! Man-eating ghouls! As cultivators of Taoism, it is our duty to descend with sword in hand and execute them!
「...」
With Mingyue Mountain now in sight, Ji Zidian's eyes flashed with fighting spirit. "Junior Brother, when the fighting starts, just focus on protecting Junior Sister Ling'er. Leave the Malicious Ghost for me to slay."
Wang Xiu nodded. "Alright. Senior Sister, please be careful!"
Ji Zidian scoffed. "Don't worry! I've already mastered the Thunder Sect's secret Wind-Thunder Talisman Sword Art. Combined with my superior-grade magic artifact, the Celestial Heart Sword, I'm unrivaled in the Foundation Establishment Stage!"
[Ding!]
[Bragging detected. Congratulations to the Host for gaining Mana +9.]
"As long as that foul creature in Mingyue Mountain isn't a Ghost General at the Core Formation Stage or above, I'll cut it down in three moves!"
[Ding!]
[Bragging detected. Congratulations to the Host for gaining Mana +9.]
"Senior Sister is truly mighty!" Wang Xiu exclaimed.
Jiang Ling'er and Jiang Yourong were once again baffled. He could easily take down an early Core Formation Stage cultivator if he went all out, yet he insists on hiding his strength and hyping this girl up. What on earth is he thinking? Playing the wolf in sheep's clothing? This isn't how you do it. His games are just twisted.
"The biggest problem now is how to lure that Malicious Ghost out." Ji Zidian scratched her head, then hefted her Celestial Heart Sword and started toward Mingyue Mountain. "Maybe I should just slash into the forest a few times and see what happens!"
Wang Xiu winced. Good grief. You're wearing the robes of a Sanqing Immortal Sect True Disciple and practically radiating pure, orthodox Thunder Technique. What kind of ghost would be brave enough to show its face?
He hurriedly pulled Ji Zidian back and said with a smile, "Senior Sister, your divine might is immeasurable. If that puny ghost so much as glimpsed you, it would never dare to appear. It would be better for Ling'er and me to pose as passing travelers to lure it out. Then you can make your move!"
"Pose as travelers?" Ji Zidian's eyes lit up. "I can do that too!"
Wang Xiu sighed and looked at her. "Senior Sister, with your purple hair and the immense power of Thunder in your body, which is a natural counter to ghosts, I'm afraid you'd be very difficult to disguise."
Alas, when you're this exceptional, you really can't hide it, Ji Zidian thought with a sigh. She looked regretfully at Wang Xiu and Jiang Ling'er. "Then what relationship will you two pretend to have?"
"Husband and wife!" Jiang Ling'er blurted out.
"Brother and sister!" Wang Xiu said at the same time.
He rolled his eyes at Ling'er. Are you kidding me? You're only thirteen. What's this nonsense about pretending to be husband and wife?
He took out three sets of coarse, commoner's clothes from his Storage Bag, some even with patches. "We'll pretend to be refugees fleeing a disaster. Senior Sister, you can hide and keep watch. If everything goes according to plan, we should be able to draw that creature out."
Without another word, the three of them quickly changed. Ji Zidian suppressed her aura, cast a concealment charm, and hid in the shadows. Wang Xiu and Jiang Ling'er smeared dirt on their faces, wrapped their heads in cloth, and began walking slowly along the path at the edge of Mingyue Mountain, their faces etched with fatigue, looking every bit the weary travelers.
Soon, they arrived at the base of the mountain, their nerves stretched taut.
Suddenly, a thick fog began to rise around them. The path they had come from was completely obscured by the mist, and their visibility dropped to about ten meters. Beyond that was nothing but a white expanse.
"The fog is poisonous and can cloud the mind," Wang Xiu transmitted to Jiang Ling'er with his divine sense. "Hold your breath."
He had already held his breath and was on high alert. Most fiendish ghouls could create demonic toxins and baleful auras to mesmerize their victims, making them see grand palaces in desolate ruins and delicious banquets in a feast of maggots and scorpions. One could see a creature floating toward them and still not feel the slightest thing was wrong, their minds fixated on only one thing.
Although Wang Xiu had never slain a demon, he wasn't born yesterday. As a dignified Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, he wouldn't make such a foolish mistake.
"My lord~"
"My lord~"
"My lord~"
A haunting call, gentle and lingering, echoed from the wilds. It felt like a slender, delicate hand caressing one's chest, enchanting and disorienting.
Then, a slender figure in white floated out from the woods, landing before Wang Xiu. She was tragically beautiful and full of charm. "My lord, I have waited so, so bitterly for you~"
A look of fascination crossed Wang Xiu's face. He replied with equal tenderness, "My dear, I've also… Holy hell!"
Grabbing Jiang Ling'er, Wang Xiu zipped a dozen meters away in a flash.
In the next instant, a sword beam of pure thunder—seven feet wide and tens of feet long—descended from the sky with overwhelming power, striking the female ghost directly.
BOOM!
A massive, deep crater appeared in the earth, black smoke curling up from its center. As for the female ghost, she had been instantly obliterated by the strike, not even ash remained.
"My lord?" Ji Zidian spat as she descended from the sky, sheathing her sword. "Waited bitterly for you, my foot! Shameless creature!"
"What is it?" Seeing Wang Xiu's deep frown and troubled expression, Ji Zidian's brow furrowed. "What, are you unhappy that I destroyed your ghost bride?"
Wang Xiu gave a wry smile and shook his head. "It's not that, Senior Sister. Haven't you noticed a problem?"
Ji Zidian looked puzzled. "What problem?"
Wang Xiu took a deep breath, produced the Black Tortoise Mirror, and said helplessly, "The ghost is dead, but the fog hasn't dispersed."
「...」
Not only had it not dispersed, but with the white-robed female ghost's soul shattered to nothing, the fog on Mingyue Mountain grew even thicker.