Shen Wang, with the swiftness of lightning, changed his daughter's diaper without stopping his feet.
He really couldn't delay, as he couldn't be sure that once it turned dark, that thing wouldn't realize he was not home and make a move.
The mountain path became increasingly steep, with Liu Shan and Hongping following behind, panting heavily, their previously wet clothes now drenched with sweat again.
Seeing Shen Wang's face unflushed and breath steady, still moving with light footsteps, Hongping admired, "Even dad can't compare to the mage."
"Father-in-law is just a first-rate fighter, but the master seems to be an Innate Grandmaster. I never thought we'd encounter such, it's a blessing."
Liu Shan lamented, as he and Hongping weren't really experts, it's rare to see such a grandmaster level existence.
"You should follow the master and learn well; maybe in the future, you can inherit my dad's martial arts school and won't be stuck living in the countryside anymore."
Hongping spoke candidly without hesitation.
"Let's talk about it after we arrive. Look, this mountain path is getting steeper. Here, grab my hand."
Liu Shan began to assist his wife since Hongping had just given birth and had been afflicted with evil, with insufficient Primordial Qi and a weak aura, without his help, it'd be difficult to quickly climb the mountain.
Shen Wang didn't turn back but was quite satisfied with the two in his heart.
Though they weren't powerful, they were loyal, knew when to advance and retreat, understood the rules, and taking them back to the ancestral home shouldn't cause any trouble.
He maintained their maximum speed, finally seeing Hongping was obviously exhausted, he turned around and grabbed Hongping's hand to proceed.
"Thank you, Master."
Hongping felt a bit ashamed, as someone who practiced martial arts, but after being pregnant and postpartum, she hadn't been able to cultivate, her skills had regressed to third-rate level.
"My surname is Shen."
Shen Wang revealed his background and said, "Name Wang, courtesy name Wen Da."
"Master Shen."
Hongping was very pleased with Shen Wang revealing his name.
"We are about to arrive."
Shen Wang looked up; the sunset had already disappeared, but there was still a ring of light in the sky; their side was already dark.
Fortunately, the ancestral home was already in sight, less than an incense stick's time to reach.
He sped up a bit, Liu Shan having difficulty keeping up, with Hongping scolding from the side, "You see, for not practicing diligently, you're useless in a critical moment."
Liu Shan responded resentfully, "I must help with the family business, unlike in the martial arts school where I could just train."
"You can still speak, which means you have energy left."
Shen Wang quickened his pace, leaving Liu Shan speechless.
However, the light around them was visibly dimming, and as they traveled halfway, they were plunged into night.
He glanced at the Grave Mountain area; it seemed like the suppression was lifted, and a layer of black air emerged and spread towards the normal area.
This was the energy of Yin Fiend; as the Yang Qi of heaven and earth receded, Yin Qi began to rise, suitable for demons and ghosts to act.
"Faster!"
Shen Wang said in a deep voice, if it weren't for today's magical combat initiated by the Great Power Cultivator causing the heavy rain and hail, they wouldn't have taken this long to arrive.
"Master Shen, I'm at my limit, I can't go any faster. Why don't you go on ahead?"
Liu Shan gasped and panted.
"Anywhere else you could, but not here."
Shen Wang frowned, "Hongping, hold your son."
He handed the chubby boy to Hongping, with Shen Chuxue tied to his chest, unaffected.
Freeing his hands, he grabbed Liu Shan and accelerated towards the ancestral home.
Liu Shan didn't understand why Shen Wang was in such a hurry to return, only driven forward by a tremendous force, feeling much easier.
At this moment, a gust of Yin wind suddenly blew down from the mountain, raising leaves and dust, with eerie laughter faintly heard in the wind.
Liu Shan felt his whole body tingling, squinting his eyes to avoid sand entering, vaguely seeing a mass of black, strange wind rising from afar, flying rapidly towards them.
"Master Shen... Master Shen, what is that thing!"
Liu Shan asked with some dread.
"It's coming after all!"
Shen Wang's face darkened; he no longer held back his Spiritual Power, pushed it madly, and with two adults and two children, leaped forward, covering three zhang with one step on the mountain path, like ascending a ladder quickly rushing towards the ancestral home.
Stimulated by the Yin Fiend's Qi, the Ancestral Tower emanated a circle of golden light, like a lighthouse guiding the way, as Shen Wang's speed increased.
A mile, a hundred zhang, a hundred meters... just a few steps before Shen Wang could return.
"Heh heh heh!"
Amidst sinister and bizarre laughter, a mass of black wind carried a swirling green and red whirlwind rushing down from above, with a long tail resembling a black snake.
"Shen..."
Liu Shan still wanted to ask what it was.
Shen Wang's face changed dramatically, throwing him out.
"Ah, no, I don't want to be a demon's meal."
Liu Shan screamed in fear, and suddenly light appeared before him, as two fireballs whizzed past him, flying diagonally and smashing into the falling black air.
Boom boom boom!
The two fireballs exploded instantly, lighting up the night, creating a wave of heat, leaving Liu Shan's ears ringing, smelling his hair singeing.
Just as he was about to hit the ground hard, Shen Wang appeared beside him, caught him, and tore him forward again.
In an instant, the hundred-meter distance shortened to ten zhang, the black air approaching in the sky had been blasted by the two fireballs, some black gas scattered, revealing a sharp black claw, hairy with green fur, unlike a human hand.
"Heh heh heh!"
The claw shook, and the firelight was immediately drowned out by black air, unaffected, it again swayed close.
Shen Wang glanced and found that the two Low-Level Fireball Talismans hadn't caused substantive damage, only briefly hindering the opponent, couldn't help but feel a bit heavy in his heart.
He took a step forward, advancing ten meters, and once again threw Liu Shan out.
"Ah!"
Just recovered from shock, Liu Shan flew out again, feeling aggrieved; how could he be tossed around like an object?
Shen Wang had no time to explain, tossing the person then quickly turning to grab some Yellow Paper and throwing them out coldly said, "If you don't want to die, get over here!"
Under the stimulation of the Yin Fiend's Qi, the Yellow Paper began to glow, golden runes appearing, containing an aura of mystery and light.
The evil spirit, having suffered under these runes before, hesitated cautiously, halting its advance.
Shen Wang seized the opportunity to rush the last dozen meters, catching Liu Shan once more, successfully reaching the doorstep of the ancestral home.
"Husband, come in quickly!"
Jia'Er was already there, opening the door for Shen Wang, who entered smoothly.
The evil spirit, intimidated by the Yellow Paper, realized it was fooled, and in a fit of rage bellowed, "You shall die!"
"I'll let you have your arrogance for now; eventually, I'll scatter your soul into oblivion!"
Standing at the door, Shen Wang's eyes were cold.
If not for the Yellow Paper bluffing the spirit, it would've been truly dangerous a moment ago.
Bam!
Without giving the opponent a chance to speak harsh words, he slammed the door shut, causing the black air to roil angrily, shrieking bizarrely outside.
"Master Shen... is that the thing that harmed Hongping? It's terrifying."
Liu Shan trembled, partly from being thrown twice by Shen Wang and partly from fearing the malevolent spirit outside.
"Stop asking questions and prepare to rest,"
Shen Wang didn't want to say more.