Aunt Liu's retreat was like a pebble thrown into the stagnant waters of the "Mutual Aid Association," creating ripples of helplessness. Aunt Wang relayed my message, and Aunt Liu thanked me profusely, promising to keep it a secret. Afterward, she truly reduced her contact with us, only exchanging a knowing, apologetic glance when we occasionally met on the street.
Zhang Cai'e was somewhat dissatisfied, feeling that Aunt Liu lacked loyalty. Aunt Wang, however, was more philosophical: "Everyone has their own ambitions. Her husband's return is something she's been hoping for for years; it's understandable that she doesn't want trouble. As long as she keeps her mouth shut, we'll pretend nothing happened."
The core of the "Mutual Aid Association" consisted of me, Aunt Wang, Zhang Cai'e, and Xiao Fen, still bedridden and needing protection. Oh, and there was also an unofficial "advisor"—the fox fairy Hu Xiaoyue.
As for Chen Fugui, the rumors of "haunting" in the village seemed to have some effect. Twice I saw him standing on his rooftop, peering towards the mountains behind his house through what looked like binoculars, his brow furrowed. His wolfhound was chained even tighter, barking incessantly at night. Wu Jinfeng had practically become invisible, rushing to and from grocery shopping without daring to look up.
But I knew this was just a facade. Li Xiulian's secret communication with the sorcerer through the "human-faced centipede" demon slave hadn't ceased, indicating their real "business" was still ongoing, and might even have become more secretive and urgent because of our interference.
We couldn't just wait. Passive defense would only allow them time to regroup. We had to find a way to strike hard when they thought the heat had died down and were preparing for their next move (likely targeting Liu Yan, or gathering "materials" again).
The target remained the rat-whisker sorcerer. He was the source of Chen Fugui's evil magic, and also the direct perpetrator of the harm. If we could cripple him, Chen Fugui would become a toothless tiger.
"Miss Hu," I discussed my ideas with Hu Xiaoyue, "last time we used the 'Turbid Qi Pill' to interfere, it was just a minor punishment. This time, we need to find a way—either find his hiding place and deal with him directly, or… give him a major backlash when he performs a significant evil spell!"
Hu Xiaoyue pondered for a moment: "Finding his lair directly is difficult. This person is cunning, and there's that demon servant patrolling and guarding. Attacking him while he's casting a spell offers a better chance, but it's also more dangerous. We need to know when, where, and what kind of spell he's performing."
"The oil paper Li Xiulian sent last time…" "Could that package be a clue?" I analyzed. "That thing is for the sorcerer; it's very likely the 'catalyst' or 'sacrifice' he needs for his upcoming spell. If we know what it is, perhaps we can deduce what he's planning."
"That makes sense," Hu Xiaoyue nodded. "The scent of that oiled paper package... I remember it being somewhat peculiar. Besides the common resentful aura, it seemed to also contain a very faint, almost burnt sandalwood core smell, and a hint of... aged ink sticks?"
Sandalwood core? Ink sticks? This combination is a bit strange. Sandalwood is usually used for sacrifices and meditation, while ink sticks are associated with documents and contracts... Could the sorcerer's ritual be related to "contracts," "invoking deities," or "suppression"?
"Could it... be related to what's in Liu Yan's belly?" I suddenly thought. "Liu Yan's condition is getting stranger and stranger. That parasitic evil creature needs to be 'born,' perhaps requiring a specific ritual or 'sacrifice' to accelerate its maturation or complete the final step?"
Hu Xiaoyue's eyes lit up: "Very likely! If that evil creature is related to a 'contract' (like Liu Yan unconsciously agreeing to something), or needs 'recognition' or 'possession,' then the sandalwood offering to the gods and the ink stick sealing the contract make sense!"
This makes time crucial! We must stop the sorcerer before he completes the ritual!
"Miss Hu, could you use your method to track down that 'human-faced centipede' demon slave? Or, sense where the most unusual evil or yin energy has recently gathered in the area behind the mountain?" I asked urgently.
Hu Xiaoyue closed her eyes, a very faint, almost invisible red aura emanating from her body. Her ears twitched slightly, and her nostrils flared. After a long while, she opened her eyes, her gaze grave. "That demon servant's whereabouts are elusive, and he's concealed by magic, making him difficult to pinpoint. But in the northeast corner of the back mountain, near 'Dragon-Severing Cliff,' the deathly aura and resentment are several times denser than usual, and there's a faint scent of incense and a...distorted power of will gathering. That area is usually a mass grave for the village's dead livestock, so the yin energy is already extremely heavy."
The mass grave at Dragon-Severing Cliff! That's an even more sinister and less frequented place than the previous valley!
"That's it!" I asserted. "That sorcerer likely chose that place for his final ritual! Because the deathly and resentful aura there is strongest, maximizing its ability to conceal and enhance his evil magic!"
"When do we make our move?" Hu Xiaoyue asked.
"The sooner the better!" I said in a deep voice, "But we need to be fully prepared. This isn't just interference; it's likely to be a direct confrontation."
For the next two days, Hu Xiaoyue and I prepared tirelessly. I dug out a small jar of "lightning-struck wood" powder from the bottom of my grandfather's trunk (said to come from a peach tree that survived a lightning strike, possessing extremely strong yang energy to dispel evil), mixed it with my pure yang fingertip blood, and drew over a dozen enhanced "Five Thunderbolts Exorcising Talismans." I also found a palm-sized, slightly damaged "Soul-Startling Gong" left by my grandfather, said to be able to scare away evil spirits when struck.
Hu Xiaoyue, using her demonic power, refined three "Foxfire Yin Thunders," resembling red glass beads, containing compressed pure demonic fire and a trace of the afterglow of heavenly lightning (collected during her tribulation). Once detonated, they would be quite powerful, especially effective against yin spirits and evil beings. She also took three of the longest and reddest tail hairs from her own tail, saying they could transform into "illusionary barriers" at crucial moments to interfere with the enemy's perception.
We also devised a simple plan: Hu Xiaoyue would use her speed and stealth abilities to infiltrate first, investigate the situation, and try to bury the "Foxfire Yin Thunders" at the key point of the ritual. I would provide support from the outside, using talismans and the "Soul-Startling Gong" to create chaos and draw attention, coordinating with Hu Xiaoyue's actions. Once the time was right, we would attack from both inside and outside, aiming to severely injure the sorcerer and disrupt the ritual.
The night before departure, I called Aunt Wang and Zhang Cai'e over and gave them brief instructions, telling them to be extra careful these two days, to take good care of Xiaofen, and not to go to the back mountain if they heard any noise, and to lock the doors and windows. Although they were worried, they knew they couldn't dissuade me, but repeatedly urged me to be extremely careful.
A dark and windy night, a time for murder and arson. Tonight there was no moon, the time when evil spirits were most active.
Hu Xiaoyue and I sneaked into the back mountain again, heading towards the mass grave at Broken Dragon Cliff in the northeast corner. The closer we got, the colder and stickier the air became, carrying a heavy stench of decay and an indescribable sense of oppression. The forest was eerily silent; even the chirping of insects had disappeared.
The mass grave, a natural pit at the foot of a steep cliff, was filled with animal bones and garbage, its stench pervasive over the years. Even scavengers rarely ventured there.
But now, a clearing had been cleared at the edge of the mass grave. An altar, more complex and eerie than the one in the valley, had been erected.
The altar, constructed of black stone, was an irregular octagon, each corner adorned with a small black flag inscribed with twisted runes. In the center of the altar stood the black earthenware jar inscribed with runes. Around it, arranged in specific positions, were seven eerily burning green oil lamps, their flickering flames casting ghostly shadows.
A rat-whisker, dressed in a black robe embroidered with grotesque ghostly patterns, held a bone staff and stood before the altar, chanting incantations. Kneeling beside the altar was a woman—none other than Liu Yan! She wore only a thin white robe, her eyes vacant and lifeless, her belly swollen high, and in the green lamplight, something seemed to be slowly writhing within it!
Li Xiulian stood beside her, trembling as she held a tray. On the tray lay the same oiled paper package from before, a small, rusty bronze pair of scissors, and a stack of yellow paper cut into the shapes of tiny figures.
Even more chilling was the sight of dozens of venomous insects of all sizes and shapes—centipedes, scorpions, spiders, and strange creatures I couldn't name—crawling silently in the shadows surrounding the altar. Their eyes glowed with an eerie red light, like an evil army.
Deep within the mass grave, a larger, blurry black shadow could be vaguely seen rising and falling, emanating a chilling, violent aura that sent shivers down one's spine—it was the thing from the river! Had it also been summoned? Or was it part of the ritual itself?
Hu Xiaoyue had already sneaked in nearby before me, hiding behind a boulder, and gave me a hand signal that everything was ready and to proceed as planned. She had already quietly planted "Foxfire Yin Lightning" at several key locations on the altar.
I was furious, but I forcibly suppressed it. The time wasn't right; I had to wait for the sorcerer to reach the most crucial, distraction-free step.
The sorcerer's chanting grew increasingly urgent, his white bone staff waving, and streams of black energy shot into the black earthenware jar. The jar began to vibrate slightly, and thick black smoke billowed from its mouth. Suddenly, Liu Yan, kneeling, trembled violently, groaning in pain. Her stomach swelled visibly, and the bluish-black veins beneath her skin were even visible!
Following the sorcerer's instructions, Li Xiulian tremblingly opened the oil paper package. Inside was a small amount of something mixed with grayish-white powder (like bone ash?) and dried blood, along with a small piece of dark red, congealed blood. She carefully poured the contents into the incense burner beside the earthenware jar and lit it.
A thick plume of smoke, carrying the scents of sandalwood, blood, and acrid burning, rose, guided by the sorcerer, enveloping Liu Yan.
Liu Yan's groans turned into piercing screams. Her hands gripped the ground so tightly that her nails broke and bled. The convulsions in her abdomen intensified, as if something was impatiently about to burst forth!
Now! The ritual had entered its most crucial and vulnerable moment!
"Attack!" I shouted inwardly, leaping from my hiding place. With a flick of my left hand, three "Five Thunderbolts Exorcising Talismans" shot in a triangular formation towards the sorcerer and the earthenware jar in the center of the altar! Simultaneously, my right hand slammed the "Soul-Startling Gong"!
"Clang—!!!"
The deep, hoarse, yet soul-piercing sound of the gong suddenly exploded, like a thunderclap in the deathly silence of the mass grave!
The sorcerer, completely absorbed in his spell, was startled by the sudden gong sound and the talisman that pierced the air, his incantation abruptly halting! He looked up sharply, saw me, and his eyes flashed with a mixture of shock and rage: "It's you again, you little bastard!"
He reacted swiftly, waving his bone staff, a black energy barrier appearing before him, while simultaneously letting out a piercing shriek!
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!" Three lightning talismans struck the black energy barrier, exploding into three blinding bolts of lightning. The barrier shook violently; though not completely shattered, it caused the sorcerer to groan, stagger back half a step, his face flushed.
The sound of the "Soul-Startling Gong" also stirred the poisonous insects around the altar. Many of the smaller ones instantly froze, while the larger ones became sluggish. Liu Yan's screams abruptly ceased, seemingly affected as well.
"Foxfire Yin Lightning, explode!" Hu Xiaoyue's cold voice rang out.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The three "Foxfire Yin Thunder" spells buried near the octagonal flag positions on the altar were simultaneously detonated! Crimson demonic fire mixed with streaks of lightning exploded violently, shattering the eight small black flags to pieces. The resulting flames and shockwaves left the altar in ruins, instantly extinguishing several green oil lamps!
"Ah! My altar!" The sorcerer's eyes widened in horror, his heart aching so much he almost vomited blood. He had spent a long time setting up this altar; it was the core of the ritual. Now destroyed, the ritual was forcibly interrupted!
Worse still, the backlash from the interrupted ritual struck instantly! The black earthenware pot shattered with a "bang," the black energy within surging back and slamming into the sorcerer's chest! Liu Yan screamed in agony, spitting out black blood, collapsing backward, her abdomen convulsing violently. Her swollen belly seemed to be contracting, but the swirling black energy made it extremely unstable.
From the depths of the mass grave, the enormous black shadow roared in fury, but its connection to the place seemed weakened by the interruption of the ritual; it merely stirred restlessly, not immediately charging out.
"I'll kill you all!" The sorcerer, like a madman, blood trickling from his mouth, eyes bloodshot, brandished his bone staff and charged at me recklessly! At the same time, he bit his tongue, spitting black blood onto the staff, and two pale green ghostly flames suddenly ignited in the eye sockets of the skull of some unknown animal at the top of the staff!
"All insects, heed my command! Bite them!" he screamed shrilly.
The remaining poisonous insects, as if receiving a command, surged towards Hu Xiaoyue and me like a tidal wave!
"My benefactor, be careful!" Hu Xiaoyue flashed in front of me, shielding me with her hands, and with a wave of her hands, several red foxfires swept out like whips, burning the leading poisonous insects to ashes! But the insects were too numerous, relentlessly attacking.
I gripped the copper coin sword tightly, infusing it with pure yang energy. The blade glowed faintly as I charged towards the oncoming sorcerer!
"Clang!" The copper coin sword clashed with the bone staff, producing a metallic clang! A chilling, malevolent force surged through the sword, numbing my arm! This sorcerer was powerful, especially adept at insect control and evil magic. Close combat didn't seem to be his forte, but in his rage, his strength was not to be underestimated.
We grappled, poisonous insects swarming around us. Hu Xiaoyue continuously released foxfire to repel them, while remaining vigilant against the shadowy figure deep within the mass grave and Li Xiulian and Liu Yan beside the altar.
Li Xiulian was already paralyzed with fear, trembling on the ground. Liu Yan lay unconscious, her fate unknown.
After several rounds, I began to feel the strain. The sorcerer's black aura was corrosive; my Taoist robe, after being touched a few times, immediately emitted black smoke, and my skin burned. The light on the copper coin sword also dimmed considerably. "Heh heh... Kid, is that all you've got? You dare ruin my plans?" The warlock grinned maliciously, his attacks growing increasingly fierce.
Just then, Hu Xiaoyue suddenly let out a clear shout, and her fiery red tail instantly swelled, transforming into a blazing whip that lashed out at the warlock!
The warlock was startled and hurriedly used his bone staff to block.
"Crack!" The bone staff was actually cracked by the fox tail whip!
The warlock cried out in pain, his movements faltering. I seized the opportunity, my copper coin sword thrusting straight at his heart!
The warlock dodged awkwardly, but the sword tip still tore through his robes, leaving a bloody gash on his shoulder. The blood that flowed was dark red and emitted a foul stench.
"Ah!" The sorcerer cried out in pain, his eyes flashing with even greater ferocity. He abruptly pulled a small black gourd from his robes, uncorked it, and pointed it at Hu Xiaoyue and me: "Collect!"
A powerful suction force emanated from it, as if trying to suck our souls in! The surrounding light dimmed!
It was a soul-collecting artifact!
"Miss Hu!" I exclaimed in shock.
Hu Xiaoyue snorted coldly, advancing instead of retreating, spitting out a ball of pure, blazing white natal foxfire, aimed directly at the black gourd!
"Sizzle—!"
The foxfire collided with the gourd's suction force, producing a violent friction sound. The gourd trembled violently, fine cracks appearing on its surface!
"My treasure!" The sorcerer was both shocked and furious, hurriedly trying to retrieve the gourd.
But Hu Xiaoyue wouldn't give him the chance. Her fox-tail whip lashed out again with lightning speed, this time aimed directly at his wrist holding the gourd!
A sharp crack rang out, accompanied by the sorcerer's scream. His wrist fractured, the black gourd flew from his hand, rolled a few times on the ground, and its suction abruptly ceased.
Seizing the opportunity, I pounced again, my copper coin sword aimed at his throat!
The sorcerer, terrified, abandoned all pretense of decorum, dodging with a lazy roll and grabbing the unconscious Liu Yan from the ground, holding her in front of him!
"Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll kill her!" he roared like a mad dog, his fingers gripping Liu Yan's neck.
Hu Xiaoyue and I, hesitant to act, stopped.
"Release her! You can't escape!" I shouted.
"Heh heh...escape?" The sorcerer's eyes gleamed with madness. "Who said I... *splat*!"
Before he could finish his sentence, his face suddenly froze, and he looked down. There, inexplicably, a thin, black, hair-like thread had pierced his chest! The other end of that black thread was connected to the slightly swollen abdomen of the unconscious Liu Yan!
It was the parasitic evil entity inside Liu Yan's stomach! It seemed that due to the interruption of the ritual and the sorcerer's weakness, it had lost control and was now turning against its host and the caster!
"No...impossible...I..." The sorcerer's eyes were filled with disbelief and fear. He felt his lifeblood and soul being rapidly drained by the black thread!
He tried to release Liu Yan, but found himself unable to move! The black thread, like a living thing, tightly bound him!
"Save...save me..." He reached out to me, a final plea in his eyes.
But I just watched coldly. "What goes around comes around."
Within a few breaths, the sorcerer's body visibly withered, finally becoming a skin and bones corpse, collapsing to the ground with a thud, utterly lifeless. The black silk also shrank back into Liu Yan's body. Liu Yan's stomach seemed to have calmed down somewhat, but it was still swollen, and her breath was weak.
The enormous black shadow deep in the mass grave, seemingly utterly broken by the sorcerer's death and the ritual's collapse, let out a resentful roar, slowly sinking down, its breath fading away.
Li Xiulian had already fainted from fright.
Hu Xiaoyue and I exchanged a glance, both relieved yet still feeling a lingering fear. Fortunately, the evil creature had backfired on the sorcerer; otherwise, the consequences would have been unpredictable.
We quickly checked her over. The sorcerer was dead, his soul scattered. Liu Yan was still alive, but barely breathing; the evil creature in her stomach, though temporarily quiet, hadn't disappeared, only lost its controller. Li Xiulian was simply overwhelmed by shock.
"This place is no place to linger," Hu Xiaoyue said. "Take Liu Yan away first. This place… let's burn it down."
I nodded and carried the unconscious Liu Yan on my back. Hu Xiaoyue then picked up the terrified Li Xiulian.
Before we left, Hu Xiaoyue used foxfire to burn the altar, the sorcerer's corpse, and the remaining poisonous insects to ashes. The roaring flames illuminated half the sky and burned down this evil spirit's lair.
Back in the village, it was already late at night. I quietly took Liu Yan home and left her at her room's door (I didn't dare disturb the village chief, fearing I wouldn't be able to explain). Hu Xiaoyue used her magic to erase part of Li Xiulian's memory and left her near her own home; when she woke up, she would only think she had a nightmare.
After doing all this, Hu Xiaoyue and I returned to my hut, exhausted both physically and mentally, but a huge weight had been lifted from my heart.
The sorcerer was dead; Chen Fugui's greatest support was gone. Although the evil spirit within Liu Yan wasn't removed, the creature in the river remained, and Chen Fugui himself was still alive, the enemy's core strength had been severed by our intervention.
"Miss Hu, thank you so much this time," I said sincerely.
Hu Xiaoyue sat by the bed, her face pale; the battle and casting spells had taken a toll. She shook her head, her amber eyes looking at me with a hint of a smile: "You're too kind, benefactor. We're allies. Besides… it's quite interesting working with you."
She paused, looking at the brightening sky outside the window, and said softly, "Now that this matter is settled, my injuries are almost healed. Tomorrow, I should return to the mountains to continue my cultivation."
I was taken aback, a sudden pang of reluctance welling up inside me. These past few days, spending every day together, fighting side-by-side, even knowing she was a demon, I had unknowingly come to regard her as a trustworthy partner, even… a sense of inexplicable closeness.
"Miss Hu… you're leaving?" I asked, a touch of melancholy in my voice.
"Gathering and parting are common occurrences." Hu Xiaoyue smiled slightly, rose, and walked to me. She extended her slender hand, gently stroking the area on my face where the black energy had grazed it. A cool, gentle demonic energy seeped in, instantly relieving the pain.
"My benefactor, you are kind-hearted and talented, but you are still inexperienced and your cultivation is shallow. You must be even more cautious in your future interactions between the yin and yang realms. Chen Fugui, having lost his ally, will not let this go easily. Be careful, lest he resort to desperate measures." She softly advised, her eyes filled with concern. "This 'Crimson Scale' is for you. In case of emergency, crush it, and I may be able to sense it and rush to your aid."
She placed a warm, jade-like scale, shimmering with a faint red glow (I didn't know where it came from), in my palm.
I gripped the scale tightly, a warm current flowing through my heart: "Miss Hu, thank you. May our friendship endure forever. If you ever need my help, Chen Chanan, please don't hesitate to ask."
Hu Xiaoyue smiled radiantly, her beauty captivating. She glanced at me one last time, her form gradually becoming transparent, dissipating like morning mist into the gradually brightening dawn, leaving only a faint, captivating fragrance in the air.
I stood in the empty room, clutching the warm, crimson scale, my heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.
The fox spirit Hu Xiaoyue was gone, leaving behind a powerful enemy (Chen Fugui), an unsolved mystery (Liu Yan), and a precious friendship and promise.