Blame your bad luck (sneer) [New book please collect!]

People often joke that someone is ugly by saying they look like they can ward off evil spirits.

In reality, ghosts aren't afraid of ugly people. No matter how ugly a person is, can they be uglier than a ghost?

Today, Li Chu proved through personal experience that being handsome is what wards off evil spirits.

After dealing with the vengeful spirit, he didn't linger in the empty Xue Family Residence but walked straight out.

As soon as he stepped out the main gate and onto the street, he heard a shout from the opposite street.

Zhou Dafu, leading a group of constables, emerged from a nearby alley and called out hurriedly, "Little Daoist Priest Li, where are you going?"

Li Chu didn't answer but looked at them curiously.

After a moment's thought, he guessed that these officers had never actually patrolled, too scared to enter, and had been watching from the alley. Now that they were running out, they probably thought he was going to run too.

As he approached, Zhou Dafu's face flushed under Li Chu's gaze. He chuckled, "I just got my brothers back and wanted to come reinforce you. We can start now!"

Li Chu shook his head, "It's already over."

"Ah?" The constables were greatly surprised.

Zhou Dafu also exclaimed, "Little Daoist Priest Li, you... finished with the First Wife... that quickly?"

"Yes, it went quite smoothly," Li Chu said calmly.

Looking at the constables' faces, he decided to gloss over the exorcism process in a single sentence to spare them any sadness.

"So, where are you headed now?" Zhou Dafu knew Li Chu wouldn't lie, and he immediately relaxed, a smile returning to his face.

Li Chu said, "It's still early. I plan to head back to Ten Li Slope."

It had only been shortly after nightfall. If he went back now to grind monsters, he wouldn't fall behind on his daily progress, which made him quite satisfied.

He paused, then added, "However, since I eliminated the vengeful spirit in advance, the bounty should still be paid as agreed, right?"

"Don't worry, the bounty is no problem," Zhou Dafu waved his hand, then leaned in and tugged Li Chu's sleeve, whispering, "How about we celebrate tonight, guys? Go have some fun?"

"Have some fun?" Li Chu was confused.

A nearby constable smirked, "He means go to Spring Full Pavilion, spend some money, have some fun..."

Li Chu felt awkward and politely declined, "No, thank you."

Another constable chuckled, "Is Little Daoist Priest Li feeling shy? Don't worry, you'll get used to this sort of thing."

"I just think..." Li Chu looked up at him and said slowly, "There's no need to spend money on this sort of thing."

With that, he nodded to everyone and turned to leave.

Watching his straight back, an old constable scoffed softly, "Can't tell this little Daoist priest is also a miser. Hmph, no flower, no grass."

But after saying it, he immediately felt something was off.

Thinking about Li Chu's face, it seemed... even if the girls from Spring Full Pavilion paid him, no one would refuse.

Thinking this way, it was no wonder he felt it unnecessary to spend money.

A group of constables exchanged glances, suddenly feeling the wind tonight was a bit chilly.

"Damn it!" someone angrily cursed.

Even though he didn't know what he was angry about.

A cool summer night, stars and moon bright.

From Yuhang Town to Ten Li Slope was only a short ten-li journey. Li Chu would arrive in a while even if he walked at a leisurely pace.

Although the path was a wide Official Road, both sides were Wild Forest, with no sign of anyone.

The curfew of the He Luo Dynasty wasn't very strict, but the city gates were still tightly controlled. Moreover, this was a world rampant with Evil Things. Unless it was a matter of utmost urgency, normal people wouldn't travel at night outside the city.

Cultivators, of course, were an exception.

As he walked, near Half River Pavilion midway, Li Chu sensed something was wrong.

It was too quiet around him. A summer night in the wilderness should be filled with Living Creatures. Toads in puddles, Rodent Birds in the woods, Cicadas on trees, Wild Beasts howling in the mountains – they were usually noisy, but now they had all disappeared.

Furthermore, a fishy, foul smell began to waft to his nose.

Among the four types of Evil Things – Demons, Monsters, Devils, and Ghosts – Demonic Qi was foul and fishy, and prolonged exposure could make mortals dizzy. Devilish Qi was pungent and could incite malevolent spirits in mortals. Ghost Qi was cold and could make mortals nauseous.

Monsters, as a collection of strange and exotic beings, were varied and diverse. They didn't actually belong to the same category and had no unified aura.

One could say that aura was the most distinct characteristic of Evil Things, and also the most important basis for judgment. It was precisely because the vast majority of Evil Things could not conceal their aura that they could only operate outside human settlements.

Otherwise, if Evil Things could freely infiltrate cities, humans might not have enjoyed such peace.

Li Chu could be certain that the smell he was detecting now was Demonic Qi.

And it was more concentrated than anything he had ever sensed before.

Out of caution, he didn't intend to stir up trouble and quickened his pace, wanting to return to Virtuous Cloud Temple as soon as possible.

But trouble, as fate would have it, found him.

He took three quick steps forward when his waist suddenly seemed to touch a thin yet tough thread, and a recoil force snapped back.

He swiftly twisted and retreated, discovering his white belt had already been corroded black.

This thread was poisonous!

Under the bright moonlight, he sharpened his eyes and scanned his surroundings carefully. Only then did he see that the threads ahead were arranged in a Bagua pattern, like a giant spider web!

Not only was the official road blocked, but the forests on both sides were also densely covered with these black threads! Several animal carcasses lay on the grass in the woods, apparently having died from poison after touching the threads.

High, low, left, and right, even birds couldn't escape.

What was this for, hunting?

This was Li Chu's first time encountering such a situation. He cautiously stepped back two paces, wanting to find another path.

Just then, a black figure flashed out from the Half River Pavilion by the roadside.

Hearing the commotion, Li Chu immediately looked over.

He saw a bald man wearing black tight-fitting clothes, with cuffed sleeves and leggings.

Li Chu didn't know why he was wearing night-traveling clothes, as it wasn't very effective.

His bald head was too conspicuous in the night! The moonlight shone on it, reflecting like a halo around him. If Li Chu were a Buddhist, he would have knelt down to kowtow.

Precisely because his bald head was so bright, and due to the "under the lamp it's dark" effect, people couldn't see his facial features clearly.

It was also because of this bald head that Li Chu noticed on his second glance that the most astonishing thing about him wasn't his head, but his arms.

He had a total of eight arms!

Each one looked sturdy and powerful, with bulging muscles.

As his figure appeared, the surrounding Demonic Qi grew even denser, rippling as if in waves. Clearly, he was the culprit.

Li Chu stared at him, remaining silent. He hadn't encountered many Demons and Monsters, and without knowing the other party's origin, he didn't know how to speak.

This Eight-Armed Man also sized up Li Chu. Young, with no True Qi fluctuations, he seemed to be just an ordinary Little Daoist Priest.

So, he let out a series of strange, chuckling laughs.

Just as Li Chu didn't understand what he was laughing at, he suddenly attacked!

The Eight-Armed Man quickly raised a right hand. A dark, black slit opened in his palm, and with a chi sound, a black beam shot out, almost invisible in the night!

If Li Chu's eyesight wasn't exceptionally sharp, he would have barely seen this black light. He quickly shifted sideways, narrowly dodging the black light.

A hissing sound echoed from the ground. Li Chu then realized this black light was a stream of poison. It landed on the official road, instantly corroding a hole through the sand and soil! If it had landed on a person, it would surely have left their flesh and bones incomplete.

Li Chu frowned and looked at him, "I have no enmity with you, why attack me without provocation?"

"Hehehehehe." The Eight-Armed Man grinned cruelly, "Who told you to appear here tonight? Blame your bad luck!"

The Eight-Armed Man tilted his head back. Li Chu then saw clearly that his face actually had two rows of eyes! It was terrifying!

He stood under the moon with all eight arms spread, fierce and menacing, looking like a demon!