Demon Core, Strange Dreams

Song Chengan rested for a moment, then got up and walked toward the fish demon.

The fish demon's corpse was over ten feet long, covered in green scales, with a single horn on its head and two protruding ridges above its lips.

"Already taking on the form of a Flood Dragon—didn't expect it to have Flood Dragon blood in its lineage."

"Its ancestors must have been something once."

Song Chengan shook his head, pulled a small knife from his bosom, and began cutting open the fish's belly.

The fishy stench made him gag, but he forced himself to endure.

Before long.

A smile spread across his face.

Inside the fish's belly, he found a bead the size of a fingernail.

It reeked of fishiness.

Song Chengan didn't mind at all; he carefully tucked it into his bosom.

A Demon Core!

Any demonic creature that walks the path of cultivation will condense a Demon Core.

It is the essence of a monster's power.

A valuable treasure!

"Immortal Master!"

After Song Chengan finished, a line of torches appeared in the distance.

It was the people of Zhao Family Village, carrying firebrands.

Many had come—men, women, and children alike.

"Is this the monster!"

"This Immortal Master is amazing!"

"The Grand Sorcerer is here too!"

"The Grand Sorcerer and the Immortal Master must have subdued the monster together!"

"I think the Immortal Master killed it alone—that Grand Sorcerer nearly got himself killed earlier!"

"All of you, shut up!" Seeing the crowd's talk spiraling out of control, Old Village Chief Zhao barked.

Despite his aged appearance, his voice was thunderous.

These ignorant fools.

That was a monk from Xuanqing Temple—careless words could bring disaster.

"Immortal Master, how should we handle this monster?"

The old chief walked up to Song Chengan, who wore a Bamboo Hat, and asked.

"Burn it." Song Chengan waved a hand dismissively.

"Immortal Master, why don't you share the monster meat with everyone? There's so much of it!"

"Sister-in-law Shuisheng, keep your boy in line—don't spout nonsense before the Immortal Master."

"Zhao Quan, take a few young men and find some firewood!"

After giving orders, the old chief looked at Song Chengan, a bit apologetic: "Immortal Master, please don't mind—children don't know any better."

He feared the child's innocent words might upset Song Chengan.

Song Chengan smiled. "It's nothing."

He picked up the child. "After a monster cultivates, Sha Qi builds up inside it, especially in these evil demons."

"The flesh and blood of such a beast—other monsters can eat it safely, and high-level cultivators can suppress it, but ordinary people who eat it risk turning into monsters themselves."

"So no one can eat it!"

Song Chengan said to the child.

And to everyone else as well.

As a torch was tossed onto it, the fish demon's corpse burst into flames.

"Master Ciren, Immortal Master, please come to the village—I've ordered food and drink prepared!"

"No need, I have matters to attend to."

"You can entertain Master Ciren."

Song Chengan waved his hand.

How could he eat or drink while wearing a Bamboo Hat?

"I won't go either—I have things to do and need to leave first." Yu Changfu, still disguised as the Xuanqing Temple monk, quickly waved his hand.

"Well... all right then."

"This way, please." The old village chief led the two men to a quieter spot.

"Someone..."

At once, servants brought forth two trays.

"Master Ciren!"

The old village chief stepped before the monk.

"Old Village Chief Zhao!"

"A small token of gratitude. Please accept it!"

"Many thanks, Old Village Chief!"

Yu Changfu hesitated for a moment.

In the end, he took the silver and clasped his hands in salute. "Old Village Chief, I'll take my leave now."

With that, he turned and left directly.

He knew full well that the old chief had given him silver first precisely because the amounts for the two of them were different.

If he lingered, he'd be showing a lack of tact.

"Immortal Master, this is the silver promised from the start."

Song Chengan took it.

It was rather heavy.

He'd never seen so much silver in his life!

"By the way, Old Village Chief."

Song Chengan set aside some of the silver.

"Does your village have a butcher? I need to buy a few things."

"What would the Immortal Master require?"

"An ox head, a goat head, and a pig head—all of a single color!"

"The three sacrificial offerings?" The old chief looked puzzled, unsure why the Immortal Master wanted these.

"Here's the matter: I received help from a spirit in this area to subdue that monster. According to custom, I must offer a return gift and hold a sacrifice for that spirit."

"Does your village have a venerable elder of high standing who could write a prayer for me?"

"That's no trouble at all."

"After all, this is ultimately for the sake of Zhao Family Village."

"Keep this silver, Immortal Master."

"Very well. Then let's consider it a joint sacrifice," Song Chengan said after a moment's thought.

The spirit he had summoned possessed such vast Water Magic—if the people of Zhao Family Village could forge a good connection with it, that would be excellent.

Song Chengan hadn't expected the old village chief to be such a straightforward man.

As soon as he heard it was a sacrifice to the River God, he immediately ordered the slaughter of oxen and sheep.

By daylight, everyone in Zhao Family Village knelt by the banks of the Tong Sheng River.

Song Chengan opened the prayer in his hands:

"Incense lit in reverence, Song Chengan and the faithful folk of Zhao Family Village humbly offer this prayer to the honored spirit who aided in vanquishing the demon..."

After Song Chengan finished reading the prayer, the crowd bowed three times.

"This matter is concluded. Old Village Chief, I take my leave."

With those words, Song Chengan turned and walked away.

As he left, a gust of wind swept across the riverbank.

In a daze, Song Chengan seemed to hear a few soft laughs.

Or perhaps it was just his imagination.

"Elder, the Immortal Master is far off now," Zhao Quan said, watching the old chief gaze at Song Chengan's retreating figure.

"He's a divine immortal with vast powers!"

The old chief sighed.

"But strangely, he touches neither wine nor meat."

Zhao Quan replied, "I'd guess he's a high-ranking Quanzhen cultivator. I've heard that Quanzhen masters, like the monks of Xuanqing Temple, must observe those precepts."

"True."

Zhao Quan hesitated for a moment before speaking: "I wonder where the elder found that Master Ciren."

"From his demeanor, he doesn't seem like a high monk from Xuanqing Temple."

"I've been to Xuanqing Temple, and those masters there—their bearing is not like that of ordinary men."

The Old Village Chief nodded at this: "He wasn't invited by us."

"He came on his own, claiming to be a master from Xuanqing Temple."

"He said he was here to help us exorcise the monster, and when he displayed his divine powers, we had no reason to doubt him."

"It wasn't until he was gravely wounded by the monster that I came to my senses—I suspect the man had tricked us with some sleight of hand."

"Then why didn't you, venerable elder, expose him?"

"You, ah..." The Old Village Chief said helplessly: "Think about it—if we, with our mortal eyes, could see through it, do you think the Immortal Master couldn't?"

"Since the Immortal Master didn't call him out, he must have deeper considerations. We must not add unnecessary trouble."

"Besides, who knows if that man is some kind of villain? We're honest folk—provoking him could lead to trouble. Better to spend some silver and send him off."

"The elder is indeed thoughtful."

"Speaking of which, this time we have you to thank for bringing the true Immortal Master. Otherwise, that monster would surely have come back for revenge."

"By the way, have everyone start preparations later. The whole village, young and old, is invited. I, Zhao Da, will foot the bill to treat everyone to a good meal."

"Also, go fetch the Yin Yang Master to handle the funeral rites for the deceased."

"For their families—if they have no livelihood, find them one. If there are young children, the clan will support them until they marry."

"I'll need to discuss with everyone whether we can pool some money for those households."

"And you'll need to go to the Government Office, find the officer from the Demon Suppression Division, and report this matter. The yamen must record it in the files."

Now, as Song Chengan was walking home.

He was going along just fine when he suddenly felt drowsy.

At first, he didn't think much of it.

But as time passed, the drowsiness grew heavier.

In the end, he couldn't resist and fell asleep under a tree by the roadside.

Yet when he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange and wondrous place.

It was a palace beneath the water.

Walls of crystal, paths paved with gems.

Coral for adornment, colored glass for lamps.

Where is this!

Song Chengan was horrified.

Could it be that some evil spirit had stolen his soul!