Five Guardian Soldiers

Hearing that voice, Zhou Sheng's heart jolted, then he relaxed.

It was Master!

At the same time, he closed his eyes. The remnants of Magic Power in his Dantian rose through the Governor Vessel, passed Fengchi, and entered the Shuaigu acupoint, making the spot between his brows swell faintly.

His spiritual senses climbed to their peak as well.

Sure enough, he sensed an incomparably cold, vicious gaze three zhang southeast of his back.

In an instant, every pore along his spine stood on end like the fur of a startled wildcat.

I was careless!

The battle at the Zhu residence had drained much of his Magic Power. On top of that, the sun had risen and dawn had broken, whitening the eastern sky. Ordinary evil spirits did not dare show themselves at such a time, and he had let down his guard.

Yet he had never expected a Guardian Soldier to silently creep up behind him!

Guardian Soldiers, also known as the Five Guardian Soldiers, were exceptionally ferocious ghosts. Some said they were the heroic souls of soldiers who had fallen in the battle between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou. Others said they were the remnants of the Six Cavern Heaven Demons subdued by Zhang Daoling, the Celestial Master Zhang.

Zhou Sheng did not know which account was true, but he knew that among all ghosts, Guardian Soldiers were notorious for their tyranny and savagery.

Ordinary Daoists did not even dare set up an altar to summon Guardian Soldiers, because they only carried out orders and cared nothing for the means.

For instance, if one ordered a Guardian Soldier to eliminate a Fierce Ghost, it might slaughter every wandering ghost within dozens of li as well.

If it was not satisfied or had not enjoyed itself enough, it might even turn on the Daoist who had opened the altar.

Its killing intent was immense, and its baleful aura even greater!

If someone built it a Five Guardian Temple yet rarely offered incense, the Guardian Soldier would actively assault nearby living people, leaving them muddle-headed and seriously ill.

Thus, they were also called Cold Altar Tyrant Soldiers!

Zhou Sheng had never seen a Guardian Soldier before, but seeing that it still dared emerge and act after the sun had risen in the east, he understood just how fierce it was.

He had no time to consider why the Zhu residence kept Guardian Soldiers. Every pore on his body tightened, and a chill shot from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head.

Because he sensed that the Guardian Soldier three zhang away was inching closer.

Two zhang, one zhang, four chi, three chi, two chi, one chi...

As the distance steadily closed, the oppressive force Zhou Sheng felt grew ever more intense and terrifying. Though it was morning and the rising sun had just appeared, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit, as though a shadow blacker than the night itself had enveloped him.

His back was drenched in sweat, and the skin beneath his clothes was covered in goosebumps.

Clang...

He vaguely heard blades being drawn, and caught a trace of blood stench that not even the morning wind could disperse.

Was it merely testing me, or did it truly want to... kill me?

Zhou Sheng lowered his eyes slightly, a trace of resolve appearing on his face.

He did not even have time to use the Luo Shu for divination now, because the blade was already at his neck and could fall at any moment.

I'll risk it all!

Just as Zhou Sheng prepared to fight for his life, the gates of the Zhu residence suddenly opened, and a figure strode out.

At that instant, the Guardian Soldier behind Zhou Sheng seemed wary of something and instinctively retreated several steps.

"You brat, why are you only getting here now? Where are the medicines I told you to fetch?"

Yu Zhensheng emerged from the Zhu residence carrying a medicine chest. The moment he saw Zhou Sheng, he called out to him. His expression was utterly natural, as though he could not see the Guardian Soldier behind him at all.

Zhou Sheng reacted at once. He hurriedly stepped forward with a smile. "Master, my stomach hurt. I lost track of time while using the latrine. All the medicine you wanted is in this chest."

Yu Zhensheng nodded. "Good. Let's head back first. Something happened in the Zhu residence, so these medicines won't be needed for the time being."

"Master, what happened? I heard such a commotion inside. I knocked, but no one answered."

Yu Zhensheng gave him a merciless rap.

"Children should ask fewer questions. Just mind yourself."

The two then headed toward home. The Guardian Soldier behind them hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not follow.

Once they returned home, Yu Zhensheng's face instantly turned cold, his expression grave.

"You've grown capable, haven't you? Sneaking into the magistrate's residence, singing Jiang Taigong, using Palm Thunder, hehe..."

He casually grabbed the White Ash Rod beside him, his voice icy.

"You'd best give me an explanation. Otherwise, I'll break your legs so you can no longer sing Yin Opera. Better that than having to collect your corpse one day!"

"Master, I never expected Magistrate Zhu's residence to be keeping Guardian Soldiers..."

Zhou Sheng took a deep breath, then recounted the entire chain of events.

Yu Zhensheng's expression barely changed throughout. Only when he heard that the Evil Corpse was Old Xu did his expression shift slightly, but it vanished in a flash.

"Master, I suspect Uncle Xu was killed by someone in the Zhu residence. He—"

"Enough."

Yu Zhensheng cut him off coldly.

"Take off your shirt. Ten strokes."

Zhou Sheng immediately pulled a long face. "Master, are you really going to hit me?"

Yu Zhensheng said blandly, "Twenty strokes."

Zhou Sheng immediately behaved himself. He removed his shirt, exposing his lean upper body. His muscles flowed in smooth lines, their contours as though carved by blade and axe, as if he wore a coat of fish-scale armor.

Bang!

Yu Zhensheng brought the rod down. He used the snapping and shaking force of spear techniques, whipping the White Ash Rod viciously across Zhou Sheng's back like a lash, even producing a crack through the air.

With a crisp smack, Zhou Sheng bared his teeth in pain.

After twenty strokes, his back was mottled blue and purple, with scarcely an inch left unmarked.

"Do you know your mistake?"

"Your disciple knows his mistake."

"Where did you go wrong?"

"I should not have meddled in other people's business."

"Wrong!"

Yu Zhensheng suddenly raised his eyes. His gaze was sharp, and every word struck the ground like a hammer.

"Old Xu helped you train your voice for three years and helped you pass the Molting Season. That was kindness, and it must be repaid. Otherwise, we truly will become the 'Unrighteous Opera Actors' people call us."

"Remember this: no matter how others may despise performers like us, we must never despise ourselves!"

"If you sing the operas of our ancestors, you cannot disgrace our ancestors. Otherwise, you will never sing Yin Opera well for the rest of your life."

Zhou Sheng froze, astonishment showing on his face.

"The neighbors of Qinggu County have shown you much kindness. You pursued the murderer and eliminated evil for them—that was not wrong. Old Xu showed you kindness, and you took in his soul in order to find his killer—that was not wrong either."

"Master, then why did you still hit—"

"Your mistake was thinking that because your Dao cultivation had improved and you had gained a little trifling skill, you could become arrogant and act rashly. You dared sneak into the Zhu residence without knowing much about it, and even sang Yin Opera!"

"Do you think you're a Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, or the headmaster of Maoshan?"

"Did you know that if I had not happened to be invited to treat the magistrate's wife today, sensed your aura, and secretly held back the Guardian Soldier for a while, your corpse would likely have gone cold by now?"

Only then did Zhou Sheng understand. No wonder the Guardian Soldier had never arrived while he was fighting the Evil Corpse inside the residence. It had only targeted him after he left the Zhu residence.

"Master, I was wrong. From now on, your disciple will certainly cast off arrogance and impatience, and think thrice before acting!"

Seeing the sincerity on Zhou Sheng's face, Yu Zhensheng's expression finally eased. With a casual toss, the White Ash Rod landed upright in the corner behind the door.

"Fine. It's good that you know your mistake."

"Open the Ghost Raising Altar and let Old Xu out."

Yu Zhensheng sat in the grandmaster's chair, his fingers lightly tapping its armrest. The weariness in his weathered eyes suddenly vanished, and a frightening gleam of ferocity flashed through them.

Like a gaunt tiger that had slept long amid wind and snow suddenly opening its eyes and shaking the frost from its body.

It had not yet roared, yet the entire forest was already filled with a murderous chill.

"Next, let's see... whose name King Yama has called."

Thanks to reader 20230102134810702 for the one-hundred reward, hearts!