Just at dawn, the morning mist thickens.
Two silhouettes, one tall and one small, glide through the leaves, whistling past the hill, talking as they go.
"Ten-Mile Slope, a group of Human Demons resides here."
"What's a Human Demon? It's a demon formed by humans; eighty years ago, during a severe drought in Qingzhou, the people of a village hid in the mountains, eating people and beasts, gradually turning into demons..."
"The Astronomical Bureau? They only care about the cities, not paying attention to those missing travelers..."
In a cave, a group of Human Demons is snoring in deep slumber. Their skin is pale and ashen, their figures tall and hunched, with red eyes, fangs, and bone spurs at their elbows.
Rotting dried meat hangs on the walls, white bones litter the ground, both human and beast, flies buzz around, and a stench fills the air.
Naked, feasting on raw flesh and blood, humanity lost.
Bang!
The cave ceiling collapses, and amidst the billowing dust, a tall figure breaks through with the morning light, surrounded by flashing serpent-like golden light.
"Ugh, what a stench!"
Zhang Kui frowns, covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve, and with a backhand pull, draws Lu Li in a flourish of swordplay.
The Human Demons in the cavern have all awakened, crawling on the ground, baring their fangs and hissing, saliva dripping.
Zhang Kui stands horizontally with his sword under the pillar of light. In the surrounding darkness, there are countless red eyes.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Grayish-green silhouettes howl and pounce.
Zhang Kui, instead of being alarmed, is delighted. His wrist flicks, and the Lu Li sword battles in all directions in the night, sword qi rampaging, Cold Yin Gang Evil spreading outward.
The Human Demons are split in half in mid-air, frozen into meat ice, shattering upon hitting the ground, yet more Human Demons madly rush forward.
Old Yellow Weasel stands at the cave entrance, seeing the continuous rumble and frost gradually spreading from the entrance...
"Tsk tsk, this one has quite the temper!"
Old Yellow shakes its head disdainfully, sidling to the side, puffing on a large opium pipe.
After half a pipe's time, there's no more movement inside. With a swoosh, Zhang Kui leaps out, looking pleased, brushing off the frost from his body.
"Let's go, next stop!"
"Still haven't vented enough..."
"Not enough, the more, the better."
"Alright then, there's a nest of Mountain Demons at Jiming Mountain..."
Before the words are finished, the two silhouettes have already sped down the slope and disappeared...
...
The golden crow sets in the west, the waning moon bends like a hook.
In the Astronomical Bureau office at Black Water City, scholar Qin Yi gently blows the tea foam in his cup.
Captain Zhou stands beside him, beaming with joy.
"Mr. Qin, you guessed correctly, that fool of a Daoist didn't appear tonight, probably already dead."
Qin Yi smiles slightly, taking a sip of tea,
"In this world, being able to fight is nothing; having brains is how you live long."
"You're absolutely right!"
Captain Zhou beams ingratiatingly and then a look of worry crosses his eyes, "But won't Chang San enter the city at this time?"
Qin Yi sneers, "They're all trying to find someone; that Old Demon still has to rely on us to get in, what's more, the Nine-Child Ghost Witch might arrive anytime, who knows who will run then."
Captain Zhou instantly breaks into a wide grin.
Knowing his own limited abilities, he has no thoughts of those cultivation skills, letting those cultivators fight while he just rakes in the silver.
"Report!"
Just as the two prepare to disperse, they see a subordinate enter, kneeling on one knee.
"Captain, word from the Guerrilla Camp, someone saw the figure of that Daoist in Huanglong Village. Sent people to investigate and found that several nearby Demon Nests had all been eliminated."
The two look at each other, uncertain and suspicious.
Captain Zhou exclaims, "Didn't the scout say that Daoist was under Chang San's Evil Curse, why isn't he dead yet?"
Qin Yi's eyes narrow slightly,
"Seems we underestimated this guy, must have some protective means, let's not bother... who?!"
Before the words are finished, he suddenly stands up, looking at the front hall door with suspicion, cold sweat on his forehead.
Outside the courtyard, white mist has appeared unknowingly, faintly accompanied by the laughter of children.
Thud, thud, thud...
The sound of a wooden staff tapping on stone slabs moves from far to near, as an old woman in a black robe, hunched and with white hair, slowly approaches.
"Eunuch Liu's people are so rude, not even getting an old lady a bowl of hot water..."
The old woman shows a creepy smile.
At her feet, Infant Spirits in red bellybands, their entire bodies iron-grey, crawl around.
Qin Yi hurriedly bows,
"The Black Water Astronomical Bureau welcomes Senior."
"Hahaha..."
The old woman laughs like a night owl,
"It's my first time being welcomed by the Astronomical Bureau, how amusing, good, good, all good children..."
...
Meanwhile,
In a ruined temple outside the city, dozens of miles away.
With a crash, Zhang Kui crashes through the roof, leaping out.
Behind, the temple's wooden beams and stones decay and weather at a visible speed, crashing down.
Zhang Kui turns and shakes his head,
"It's a good thing you warned me about the Ancient Temple Painting Spirit, or regular folks would have fallen for it. Indeed, quite a few artifacts have turned into spirits."
Old Yellow Weasel sighs,
"Everything has a spirit; over time, strangeness will arise, nothing surprising. It's said that most inside the Stone Man Tomb have become demonized artifacts."
"We've worked all day; you've cleared all known Demon Nests around Black Water City, ensuring peace for at least decades. Isn't that enough..."
Before finishing the sentence, Old Yellow's eyes widen.
Zhang Kui, eyes closed, his aura rising ever higher, inexplicably gives him an ominous feeling.
Zhang Kui, with eyes closed, sees in his mind's interface that his Guiding Skill has already leveled up twice, now at level four.
This day has been fruitful, acquiring nine skill points, added to yesterday's remaining one, leaving three points.
Unfortunately, leveling up to level five still needs five skill points.
For ordinary folk, advancement is fraught with danger, yet he possesses a straight path to the heavens.
Once Guiding Skill reaches the maximum level of ten, he can practice Grain Avoidance Skill, reaching the Grain Avoidance Realm, beyond that lies Pill Manipulation Skill, progressing on the Golden Core Path to become an Immortal.
Those Old Demons in the Grain Avoidance Realm have cultivated for centuries, with life-and-death struggles, while he's reached such a level in less than a year.
Zhang Kui opens his eyes, frowning as he gazes at the starlit sky.
"Unfortunately, still not enough..."
Having swept through Demon Nests near Black Water, reaching full level in Guiding Skill might require clearing all of Qingzhou.
Those Old Demons in the Grain Avoidance Realm won't wait for him.
The good news is, with abundant mana now, he can freely utilize various skills.
Nearby, the void occasionally still releases serpent shadows. Zhang Kui, watching the bursts of golden light from his body, feels a bit helpless.
Seems like I'll have to wait for help from the Capital City people.
"Let's go back to the inn for some hotpot."
"That sounds great..."
The two rise and soar over the ridge, Old Yellow Weasel still comforting, "Surviving Common San's Poisonous Curse with just an Enlightenment Realm, you've already achieved much."
Zhang Kui smiles without saying anything.
Minutes later,
Both man and demon's expressions turn ugly simultaneously.
The frequency of serpent shadows increases rapidly until it's like a torrential storm, and the Protective Golden Light never stops, truly turning into a human-shaped beacon.
Zhang Kui looks at a small town bathed in starlight below, face serious, "What place is that?"
"Tumu Village..."
Old Yellow Weasel grips the pipe tightly, "This place has been peaceful for a long time, didn't expect Chang San here, we must flee quickly!"
Zhang Kui shakes his head,
"It's too late; they've already spotted me, you should leave!"
"But this..."
Old Yellow Weasel hesitates.
Zhang Kui grins,
"Don't be such a worrier, if I survive, you'll treat me to a drink!"
With that, he dashes straight down the slope with a swoosh.
Old Yellow Weasel grips the pipe tightly and then releases it, gritting its teeth, turns, and scurries towards Xiangfu Inn, disappearing in a flash...
...
The starlight dims, the night breeze slightly cool.
Zhang Kui descends and strides toward a small temple, drawing Lu Li sword with a backward pull.
The surrounding insect sounds cease, every household is pitch-black, quiet to the point of being eerie.
He knows the opponent is waiting for him.
Above the small temple, as if a giant serpent shadow slowly opens its cold eyes...