After dealing with the Old Man, Lin Chan did not immediately go pick up Little Li. Instead, he checked his luggage.
The Custom Carriage had been destroyed beyond use. He could only take everything out, travel light, and press on.
"Such a waste of meat!"
Looking at the dried meat scattered across the ground, Lin Chan felt deeply regretful.
He could only gather up the clean pieces, then bundle everything else into a large pack and carry it on his back.
As for the rest that was still edible, he let Little White eat as much as it could.
By the time Little Li hurried back, there was barely any meat left on the ground.
Little Li had worked its paws to the bone, yet Little White, that foolish dog, had done nothing and still eaten so much good food. Enraged, it started fighting Little White again.
But it was too exhausted. It had pulled the cart and chased enemies all day, so it was quickly defeated.
Still, it and Little White were only fooling around. After their scuffle, they shared the remaining feast together.
Lin Chan casually dug a pit and buried the Tortoiseshell Cat Ghost. Then he slung the bundle onto his back, took the cat and dog with him, and headed to the carriage ahead.
There was nothing valuable on the white-haired Old Man's body. He had not carried the art of refining Cat Ghosts with him either. Lin Chan merely glanced over the inside of the carriage before immediately withdrawing.
"Forget it. The carriage is covered in blood. Better not use it."
After thinking it over, Lin Chan abandoned the carriage and continued toward his next destination on foot.
After walking for a while, Little Li was simply too tired. It curled up atop the bundle on Lin Chan's back and fell fast asleep.
Little White, on the other hand, had slept enough and was no longer tired, walking beside Lin Chan.
The next few days went very smoothly.
Along the way, he encountered a merchant caravan traveling in the same direction. After spending a little silver, Lin Chan smoothly blended into their ranks.
With the [Karma Eye], Lin Chan could roughly distinguish good from evil among these merchants, so he was not afraid of being plotted against.
After traveling for two days, they finally reached a fork in the road and parted ways.
After that, he stayed at inns whenever he could. He had plenty of travel money, so he did not care.
After traveling for another half month, less than half the journey to the Shu Mountains remained.
On the road, Lin Chan encountered several groups of bandits.
But Lin Chan was alone and wore nothing luxurious, looking utterly shabby. The bandits let him go without much trouble.
That night, as the sky gradually darkened, Lin Chan spotted a Broken Temple ahead. After some thought, he decided to stop there for the night.
"Pardon my intrusion."
Lin Chan bowed toward the broken clay statue, showing his respect.
Then, he set down his bundle.
One man, one cat, and one dog divided up the work. After gathering some firewood, Lin Chan used flint to start a fire.
"There isn't much food left either."
Lin Chan tossed some dried meat to Little White and Little Li.
Little White and Little Li swallowed it in a single bite, then ran back to Lin Chan's side.
"No! I'm hungry too!"
Lin Chan shook his head. If he did not eat his fill, he would not be able to sleep well.
If he had known, he would have bought more food at the last place. He had misjudged his own speed.
Now, they were out in the middle of nowhere without even a human shadow in sight. There was no way to find food.
After finishing everything they had, Lin Chan still felt a little hungry.
"Little Li! Go catch some prey and bring it back!"
Lin Chan gave Little Li a playful kick.
Having received Lin Chan's order, Little Li was somewhat unwilling, but it still walked out of the Broken Temple and slipped into the darkness.
When they had been in Yulin City, they had gone on autumn hunts together before.
After all, hunting was an annual activity. Lin Chan had learned it once he was a little older.
Seeing that Little Li had truly gone, Lin Chan did not stop it.
If it could bring back some prey, that would be good. If not, it did not matter.
To let his own body rest properly, Lin Chan switched into Little White's body and kept watch over the fire.
Not long after Little Li left, there was movement outside.
"Back so soon?"
Lin Chan was somewhat disappointed. He had thought Little Li had truly grown up and could bring back a pheasant or rabbit or something.
But the one who entered was not Little Li, but a Red-Clad Woman.
The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, with fair skin and a tall, slender figure. She stepped lightly into the Broken Temple.
"Young master!"
Seeing Lin Chan asleep against his bundle, the woman softly called out. Her voice was sweet and seductive, bewitching the heart and soul.
Lin Chan immediately returned from Little White's body and opened his eyes, while using the [Karma Eye].
He saw gloomy black qi swirling around the woman. She carried even more Bad Karma than Little White.
Lin Chan said nothing. His hand gripped the hilt of his blade, ready to draw at any moment.
"Young master, why does it feel so hot? Don't you feel it too?"
The Red-Clad Woman began unfastening her clothes. Her outer garment slipped down, revealing her undergarments beneath, a lush and alluring sight.
Hearing the woman's voice, Lin Chan felt heat rise within him, his lips turning dry.
"An illusion technique?"
Realizing something, Lin Chan no longer hesitated and slashed at the Red-Clad Woman.
Struck by the blade qi, the Red-Clad Woman let out a scream and dissolved into a cloud of smoke and dust.
"That was close."
Lin Chan felt lingering fear. That woman had definitely used some kind of illusion technique. Otherwise, he would never have harbored such wicked thoughts.
At the very least, he would not have been stirred after merely two sentences.
That was far too unnatural.
He did not know what the Red-Clad Woman had been. Most likely, she was some kind of ghost.
"This is absolutely no good place!"
Lin Chan looked around and considered leaving.
But Little Li had not returned yet. If Lin Chan left now, Little Li would not be able to find them when it came back.
Besides, these ghosts were putting on such mystifying tricks, which meant they were not all that powerful.
After all, if they had truly been formidable, there would have been no need to do something so superfluous.
Just then, there was movement outside again.
An old woman wearing a headscarf entered, carrying a stack of food boxes in her hand.
"Young man, you must be hungry! Come eat something."
As the old woman spoke, she opened the food boxes. Inside were several dishes—fish, meat, and large, fragrant steamed buns.
The food gave off an enticing aroma that made one's mouth water.
Then what greeted the old woman was merely a casual slash.
The blade qi swept through her, and just like the Red-Clad Woman before her, the old woman dissolved into smoke and dust.
The food boxes fell to the ground, and the delicacies within turned into insects and ants that scattered in all directions.
This time, Lin Chan did not waste words. Using the [Karma Eye], he confirmed that the old woman too was steeped in Bad Karma, then cut her down with a single strike.
Next, a richly dressed merchant ambled over. Before he could open his mouth, a slash came for him.
Not long afterward, a person in Daoist robes approached and said,
"I can guide you in cultivation and teach you to consume qi without dying."
As soon as the words fell, blade qi arrived. The Daoist Robe Youth was struck by a slash as well.
Just as Lin Chan thought it would never end, the entire temple fell silent.
Lin Chan immediately packed his things, preparing to leave.
As for Little Li, he could only hope it would slowly catch up.
After shouldering his bundle, Lin Chan developed misgivings again.
"These ghosts came into the temple to beguile me. Wasn't it just to lure me outside? Perhaps the temple itself isn't the problem. On the contrary, maybe the temple is the safest place."
Thinking this, Lin Chan set the bundle down again.
He would stay in the temple and wait until dawn.
Before you continue