"I was born into a family of officials.
My father was framed by a corrupt official and exiled three thousand miles away.
While traveling with him, I was murdered.
He buried my remains beneath an old locust tree.
I never expected that the locust tree had long since gained sentience and cultivated into a spirit.
It seized control of my bones, forcing me to seduce men and absorb their Yang energy on its behalf.
Now it wants to marry me off to the Black Mountain Demon..."
Inside Orchid Temple, Lillian recounted her tragic story, her voice choked with sobs and grief.
After hearing her out, Chixia's expression softened. The hostility in his eyes faded; he no longer held resentment toward Lillian.
Fenric stepped forward and comforted her, "Lillian, don't worry. You'll stay here tonight. At first light, we'll retrieve your bones. If that old tree demon dares interfere, I'll roast her into charcoal."
Upon hearing this, Lillian bowed deeply to Fenric. "Thank you, young master… If I recover my bones, I can finally reincarnate and stop harming others."
Fenric nodded and turned to Chixia. "Beardy, Miss Lillian is bound to the Black Mountain Demon through a forced marriage contract. If we just let her go, that monster won't take it lightly—he'll come for her. When he does, I want you to lead me into the Dead City. Deal?"
Chixia was stunned, then muttered, "So that's your plan? A clever scheme. It might work… but it's risky. That place is the demon's domain. They say countless monsters and ghosts roam its streets. Are you truly… sure?"
Fenric laughed confidently. "Don't worry, Beardy. I won't drag you into a trap. That old demon's committed too many sins—he should've been dead long ago!"
Fenric's bold declaration seemed to stir Chixia's blood. He shouted, "Alright then! I'll accompany you through this trial!"
Lillian, standing beside them, stole a glance at Fenric.
In the original tale, Lillian was easily moved. Just because Naichen didn't insult her and shielded her from a small snake, she grew fond of him—eventually falling for him in silence.
But Fenric had saved her directly. And compared to Naichen's timid demeanor, Fenric's image and aura were far more captivating. It was only natural that Lillian would be drawn to him.
The next morning.
At dawn, Lillian was nowhere to be seen.
Fenric understood—she was a female ghost, after all. She couldn't appear in daylight.
"Beardy, let's move."
Just as they were about to depart, Fenric asked, "By the way, you know where her bones are buried, right?"
"Yes, in the back mountain."
Soon, Chixia led Fenric behind Orchid Temple, to a desolate hill dotted with graves. It resembled a mass grave site.
Among the scattered tombs stood one belonging to Lillian.
Nearby, a massive old locust tree towered above them, its lush branches casting shadows over half the hillside and blotting out the sky.
Fenric asked, "Beardy, is this the old dryad's true body?"
"Yes… and no," Chixia replied, shaking his head.
"Don't talk in riddles. Just spit it out."
"It is her original body," Chixia explained. "But after cultivating into a spirit, she detached herself from it. Now, any of the locust trees on this mountain can serve as her vessel. You want to destroy her? Just felling this big tree won't work. You'd have to uproot every locust tree in the entire mountain."
Fenric nodded in realization.
No wonder Chixia stayed at Orchid Temple for so long in the original tale without killing the demon—it wasn't cowardice; the tree monster was simply too elusive and cunning to destroy.
In the story, even after a millennium, the tree demon wasn't truly slain—only severely wounded by Chixia.
"What if I destroy just this tree?" Fenric asked.
"That would wound her, yes. But not fatally. Worse—it would enrage her."
"Oh? Enrage her?" Fenric smirked. "Even better."
As soon as he finished speaking, Thor's Hammer appeared in his hand.
Chixia's eyes widened. "When did you bring a hammer?"
Fenric couldn't be bothered to explain. He raised the hammer high.
Suddenly—
Dark clouds rolled across the sky.
BOOM—!
Thunder cracked. What had been a clear morning was now cloaked in ominous black clouds. Even a fool could tell something unnatural was happening.
Chixia stared at Fenric in shock.
"Beardy, stay back!" Fenric warned.
Electric arcs began to flicker around his body as he summoned the storm.
BOOM—!
A lightning bolt surged down from the heavens, striking Thor's Hammer. The weapon absorbed it fully, crackling with divine energy.
Fenric stood bathed in lightning, like the God of Thunder himself.
Chixia instinctively backed away, face filled with awe and disbelief.
He had never imagined Fenric possessed such terrifying power.
Next moment—
With a swing of the hammer, Fenric unleashed a thunder dragon—a roaring bolt of electricity tearing through the air toward the ancient locust tree.
BOOM—!!!
A deafening explosion erupted.
Thunder and lightning danced in a wide radius. The trunk of the massive tree—thicker than an elephant's body—snapped with a thunderous crack.
Blood-red sap gushed from the wound.
Moments later, flames burst forth, devouring the ancient tree.
"ROOOAR!!!"
A pained howl echoed through the mountain, like a wounded beast.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
The nearby locust trees screamed in response, their shrieks sharp and piercing like magical cries.
With a clang, Chixia unsheathed his sword, watching the surroundings warily.
But Fenric remained calm.
"Keep howling," he muttered coldly, "and I'll blow up your whole mountain!"
With another swing of Thor's Hammer—
BOOM—! BOOM—! BOOM—!
Lightning rained from the blackened skies, smashing into tree after tree.
In mere breaths, the hillside was devastated—splintered trunks, scorched earth, smoldering roots.
It was as if the mountain had been bombarded by missiles.
Then—silence.
All the ghostly wails vanished. The remaining locust trees visibly trembled in terror.
Gulp.
Chixia swallowed hard, staring blankly at Fenric.
Brutal!