CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: WHO’S AFRAID OF WHO!

Under the dark night, agile figures flitted across the rooftops like swallows, streaking through the sky like shooting stars, leaping from roof to roof. Chasing after the eerie silhouette ahead, Qi Xiu’s eyes glinted with a hidden golden light.

This thing had nearly traversed the entirety of Baoho County.

What exactly did it want to do?

Just as Qi Xiu was filled with suspicion, two figures with profound auras nearly simultaneously gave chase from two different directions. In the blink of an eye, the three encountered each other.

"You?"

"You?"

Wu and Jin Tai recognized each other instantly. The next second, both turned their heads to look at Qi Xiu. Sensing the scrutiny and wariness in Wu’s and Jin Tai’s eyes, Qi Xiu pursed his lips, about to speak and explain himself.

Hunyuan Monument Smashing Hand!

Mysterious Yin Rain Transformation!

Before Qi Xiu could even open his mouth, Wu and Jin Tai suddenly made their move, striking like thunder, aiming at the two in front of them. Their attack was ferocious, as if aiming to take lives.

Damn it, I was just passing by, and you attack even bystanders!

Watching two powerful moves bearing down upon him, full of force that could corrode bones and flesh, Qi Xiu also became enraged.

If it’s a fight you want! Who’s afraid of who!

Gathering all his strength, Qi Xiu angrily lashed out with a palm strike, the energy patterns on his hands faintly visible.

Black Sand Palm!

CLAP—

Six palms collided. The deafening boom was like a thunderclap, shaking the area for hundreds of meters. A visible, semi-transparent shockwave spread out in a circle, lifting and shattering all the roof tiles it passed over.

Countless sleeping townsfolk were abruptly awakened. Mistaking it for an earthquake, they frantically took cover under their beds with their families.

"Half-step into the Condensation Realm?!"

"Where did this expert come from?!"

RIP—

With an exclamation, Jin Tai’s and Wu’s sleeves burst apart as both rapidly retreated to create distance. Looking down at their palms, they saw that the centers were already blackened. Clearly, they had been poisoned by the palm technique!

With a serious expression, Wu slowly moved his right hand behind his back, silently circulating his internal energy to force out the palm poison.

Since when did Baoho County have another Martial Path expert...

On the other side, Jin Tai frowned and clenched his left fist, white smoke curling between his fingers as he used his internal energy to neutralize the palm poison.

Black Sand Palm! To think someone could practice this third-rate palm technique to such a level...

"I am Jin Tai of the Taibao Sect. The previous encounter was a misunderstanding. May I ask for your esteemed name, brother?" Jin Tai quickly introduced himself with a calculated gaze.

That little beast is quick with his words!

Glaring at Jin Tai, Wu also offered a Daoist salute, saying, "I am Wu Changqing of Yuhua Temple. I sensed a demonic aura pervading the city and a malevolent ghost causing trouble, so I came out to investigate. I apologize if I offended you, sir."

Watching the sudden change in the two men’s attitudes, Qi Xiu’s expression remained unchanged. His voice was hoarse and low as he said, "Foshan, Ye Wen."

Foshan? Ye Wen?

Searching through their memories, both Wu and Jin Tai internally shook their heads.

Never heard of him. It seems he’s a skilled master from outside.

Glancing at Wu, Jin Tai suddenly cupped his fists towards Qi Xiu and said, "Brother Ye, you might not be aware. This Wu Changqing is an evil Daoist, a charlatan who uses Evil Methods to seize the property of our Taibao Sect’s Disciples and even caused the death of one such Disciple’s father. Such a vile and depraved individual deserves to be eliminated by us practitioners of the Martial Path. I humbly request that Brother Ye join me in eradicating this fiend and bringing justice for my junior brother!"

Who would have thought Jin Tai, looking so tall and imposing, almost a bit dim-witted, could be so insidious! Wu’s beard bristled with anger. He quickly glanced at Qi Xiu’s reaction and, seeing his expression hadn’t changed significantly, only then did he angrily scold Jin Tai, "You shameless oaf! It is clearly your Taibao Sect that wants to forcibly seize the Qian Family’s property. Out of compassion, I was invited by the Qian Family’s heir to protect their home. Don’t you dare be the villain who complains first!"

"Bullshit!" Jin Tai shot back. "If you had a compassionate heart, pigs would be climbing trees."

"Profanity! Such profanity!" Wu fumed.

Watching the two argue incessantly, Qi Xiu subtly edged backward. Then, he turned and bolted!

"You..."

Startled, Wu and Jin Tai turned to look, their expressions complex as they watched Qi Xiu’s rapidly vanishing figure.

What a strange person.

With Qi Xiu gone, Jin Tai and Wu exchanged glances. The intent to kill swirled in their eyes, yet both were subtly wary of the other and did not act recklessly. After a standoff that seemed to last an age, neither could bring themselves to fight to the death, so they turned and left separately.

...

Having returned home, Qi Xiu reverted to his original form. He sat on a chair in the main hall and let out a long breath of turbid air.

So, that person earlier was Wu? And that man, as towering as a giant bear, he’s Qian Yuchuan’s senior martial brother?

The images of Wu and Jin Tai surfaced in his mind. Qi Xiu looked down at his hands.

It seems I’m not as weak as I thought.

He remembered the solemn look in Jin Tai’s and Wu’s eyes, and their noticeably more polite tone later on.

I silently speculated. Both of them must possess the strength of the Condensation Realm. Being evenly matched, to eliminate the other, they would need an equivalent external force to intervene. Just like me... But I’m only half-step into the Condensation Realm. The palm poison of the Black Sand Palm is extremely unstable; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s completely uncontrollable. It’s fine for bluffing, but in a real fight against a true Condensation Realm master, I’d most likely be at a disadvantage. Besides, neither of those two are likely good people. It’s best not to take sides and let them fight each other to the death. That would be the best outcome. But what they mentioned earlier, about the demonic aura, the malevolent ghosts... are they Demons?

His eyes shifted slightly. After a moment of silence, Qi Xiu gently tapped his knees twice.

Perhaps I should leave the city and hide for a couple of days. The emergence of Demons and malevolent ghosts made me feel a trace of unease. After all, even Condensation Realm masters like Jin Tai and Wu showed a degree of solemnity and tension upon learning about traces of Demons. This indicates that such beings must be extremely dangerous.

But before I leave, I must visit the Ghost Market to gather some information. Inside the city isn’t safe, but outside might not necessarily be any better. The Golden Flower Maternal Sect that Peng Chong mentioned is one such danger! If I can’t find refuge outside the city, I’ll have to find a way to move to a safer place.

Having silently made his plan, Qi Xiu, who hadn’t affixed talismans to his doors and windows for some time, once again took out a stack of "Suppress" Characters and firmly pasted them all over his doors and windows. Looking at the securely sealed doors and windows, he nodded in satisfaction.

Finally, I feel a bit safer.

...

「The next day, Ghost Market Treasure Ship.」

Disguised as a large man in black, Qi Xiu quickly approached a teahouse lit by yellow-green lanterns.

Three Teas House

The small teahouse was dimly lit, with only three to five tables in total. A candle flickered on each table, and a man wearing a Pai Gow tile mask sat at one side of one of them.

THUMP!

One hundred taels of snowflake-patterned silver were placed on the table.

The man with the Pai Gow tile mask looked up at Qi Xiu sitting opposite him and, with a chuckle, accepted the silver.

"Someone, bring tea! The finest Purple Rose Pu-erh."

As he called out, a pot of tea with a rich, captivating aroma was brought over. The Pai Gow tile masked man stood up and poured three cups for Qi Xiu.

Three cups of tea, three questions. The higher the grade of tea, the more secretive the questions one could ask. That was the rule of the Three Teas House.

Pushing the first cup of tea toward the man with the Pai Gow tile mask, Qi Xiu said in a low voice, "Will the Golden Flower Maternal Sect attack Baoho County in the near future?"

Lifting his mask halfway to reveal a slim chin, the masked man drank the tea and replied, "A unit of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect’s volunteer army entered Huang Tan Manor’s territory six days ago. However, while attacking Qingliu County, they encountered fierce resistance from County Magistrate Li Jiufang. Both sides are currently in a stalemate. It is expected that Baoho County will remain safe for at least the next twenty days."

Hearing that the Golden Flower Maternal Sect wouldn’t be arriving anytime soon, Qi Xiu breathed a small sigh of relief and then pushed the second cup of tea over, asking, "Right now, what’s the safest place within Dianchuan Province?"

This time, the masked man didn’t drink the tea but instead said, "That area is too large."

Too large an area?

Frowning slightly, Qi Xiu understood.

This Ghost Market Treasure Ship is only responsible for the Huang Tan, Yuan Tong, and Jiayi Manors. Asking about the entire Dianchuan Province was naturally beyond its scope.

"Then, among Huang Tan, Yuan Tong, and Jiayi, these three manors, which is currently the safest?"

This time, the masked man did not refuse. After drinking the tea, he said, "Yuan Tong has already fallen and become a branch stronghold of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect. Two months ago, a large number of Demonic Cultivators and demonized individuals suddenly appeared in Jiayi. Of the seventeen counties in that manor, nine have already been massacred. It’s hard to say if the remaining counties can escape the same fate. Although Huang Tan Manor has been invaded by the Golden Flower Maternal Sect, only two counties have fallen so far; the other thirteen have not yet been affected. The Golden Flower Maternal Sect’s invasion route is from west to north, so the northernmost counties are currently the safest."

The northernmost?

Taking out a strategic map of Huang Tan Manor from his robes, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes. His expression immediately darkened.

The northernmost county of Huang Tan Manor... Isn’t that Baoho County?

"One last question." With a grim expression, Qi Xiu put away the map and pushed out the final cup of tea. "Around Baoho County... are there Demons?"

Looking at the teacup before him, the man with the Pai Gow tile mask remained silent for a long while. Then, he pushed the cup of tea back to Qi Xiu.

...