Old Thing, You Dare Set Me Up?

Early in the morning, Jiang Dao mounted his horse and hurried back to the Jiang residence.

"Whoa!"

The moment he arrived, Jiang Dao's expression changed slightly.

It seemed something had happened at the Jiang residence again.

White mourning banners hung everywhere outside the gates, while joss paper had been scattered all over the ground.

He could even clearly sense an invisible aura lingering around the Jiang residence.

Jiang Dao immediately swung down from his horse and headed through the gates.

Pang Lin, the head of the guards, noticed Jiang Dao at once. His face filled with astonishment as he blurted out, "Young Master, you... you're back?"

"Master Pang!"

Jiang Dao immediately bowed and asked, "Where is my father? Did something happen in the residence again?"

"Master is fine, but... Malevolent Spirits caused trouble again last night. Seven servants died."

Pang Lin's face looked grim.

"What? Where is Taoist Changbai? What did he say?"

Jiang Dao asked.

"The Taoist priest only came to take a look. He said the Malevolent Spirit has already set its sights on the Jiang Family, and that he will keep watch tonight to deal with it."

Pang Lin said.

"Keeping watch tonight?"

Jiang Dao narrowed his eyes. "Good. Thank you, Master Pang!"

Since Old Daoist Changbai wanted to keep watch tonight, it was exactly what Jiang Dao wanted.

He could take this chance to see just how capable this old Daoist truly was.

And test whether these Malevolent Spirits truly could not be dealt with through martial arts.

Jiang Dao bid Pang Lin farewell and headed for Jiang Dalong's room.

"Father..."

Jiang Dao pushed open the door and spoke.

"Dao'er, you... why have you come back again?"

Jiang Dalong's expression changed drastically. "Did Magistrate Wang not let you leave the city?"

"He let us leave the city. I was only worried about the family, so I came back."

Jiang Dao shook his head. "But there is something wrong with this Magistrate Wang. He let us leave the city, yet deliberately set an ambush outside it, intending to kill us and seize our wealth. I killed them all. As for my younger brother and sisters, I arranged for them to go to Fengzhou City and hide there for the time being."

"What? What a vicious Magistrate Wang!"

Jiang Dalong's eyes reddened, and he ground his teeth in hatred.

He had taken so much silver from him and still was not satisfied!

He did not even intend to leave him a single stick of incense!

This man's conscience had been eaten by dogs!

"Father, don't worry. I'll deal with Magistrate Wang."

Jiang Dao said.

Jiang Dalong suddenly came to his senses. "Dao'er, you just said you killed those people lying in ambush outside the city. You... when did you gain such strength?"

He was both shocked and bewildered.

"Father, don't ask. As long as it isn't a bad thing, that is enough. I have my own fortunate encounter. I simply never mentioned it before."

Jiang Dao said.

"Good, good son!"

Jiang Dalong gently patted Jiang Dao, his old heart greatly comforted.

Of his six sons, if even one turned out to be capable, he could die with his eyes closed.

"By the way, Old Daoist Changbai said he plans to keep watch tonight and deal with the Malevolent Spirit in the residence? Father, I ask to keep watch with Old Daoist Changbai!"

Jiang Dao said gravely.

"No. Though you have learned martial arts, they are still of no use against Malevolent Spirits. Do not take such a risk..."

Jiang Dalong hurriedly said.

"Father, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. If it truly becomes impossible, I'll keep my distance!"

Jiang Dao said. "Does our family have any good iron? I want someone to forge a weapon for me."

"Good iron? Yes. There is a piece of black iron in the house from ten years ago. We were never able to sell it. I'll take you to get it right away!"

Jiang Dalong immediately headed out the door.

Jiang Dao followed behind him.

Before long.

Jiang Dao found a pitch-black lump of iron in the family storeroom, about the size of a basketball.

With a casual grab, he lifted the entire iron block.

It weighed at least nearly a hundred jin.

"Dao'er, what kind of weapon are you planning to forge?"

Jiang Dalong asked.

"A staff. A black iron staff, the thicker the better."

Jiang Dao said.

Among the martial arts he had learned, the Mad Demon Staff Art was of the highest grade. With a black iron staff, he could bring this technique fully into play.

As for those saber techniques, he could likewise sweep them out with a black iron staff, using the staff as a saber.

"Good, I'll have someone forge it at once!"

Jiang Dalong said.

He immediately went out and summoned the servants to invite a craftsman from the city.

"Dao'er, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Father will arrange some food for you!"

Jiang Dalong quickly left.

"Alright!"

Jiang Dao nodded.

Time passed swiftly.

The entire day slipped by soundlessly.

Evening arrived once again.

The sun sank behind the western hills.

The sunset clouds stained the horizon red.

Before long, lanterns of every size hung throughout the Jiang residence.

Taoist Changbai wore a long robe of blue silk. His expression was indifferent as he looked at Jiang Dao beside him again and said, "Eldest Young Master, have you thought this through? You truly intend to keep watch with this old Daoist?"

"That's right. I'll have to trouble you to look after me, Taoist priest."

Jiang Dao nodded.

"Mm."

Taoist Changbai nodded lightly and said nothing more.

He sneered inwardly.

This Jiang Dao had learned martial arts for two days and truly thought himself somebody. He actually dared keep watch with him?

Little did he know that the Jiang residence had already been targeted by an extremely terrifying force.

When the time came, everyone in the Jiang residence would die without exception.

He had already made plans to flee.

Originally, the old Daoist had intended to run away tonight. But since Jiang Dao dared keep watch with him, he did not mind casually getting Jiang Dao killed before fleeing.

The entire Jiang residence was doomed to die sooner or later anyway. Dying early or late made no difference.

Even Hengzhou City would have to lose a third of its population before this could end.

Killing Jiang Dao and taking the Jiang Family's wealth with him would be perfect for fleeing far away.

Night fell.

The enormous Hengzhou City instantly became pitch-black.

Inside the room where the maid had died.

Old Daoist Changbai sat upright and proper, holding a cup of freshly brewed hot tea as he quietly savored it.

Beside him, Jiang Dao gripped a steel saber and sat motionless in a chair, like a statue.

Time passed second by second.

Before they knew it, it was as though a layer of dark clouds had drifted overhead, blotting out the stars and moon.

The courtyard instantly became pitch-black.

Even under the lantern light, everything remained dim and hazy, as if shrouded beneath an iron curtain.

Jiang Dao, inside the room, instantly narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was wrong.

Then he pricked up his ears and vaguely heard bursts of children's laughter.

"Hee..."

"Hee hee hee..."

Jiang Dao's heart shook.

That laughter!

It was the same as in the previous dream!

Jiang Dao clenched the saber sheath tightly in his five fingers, held his breath, his gaze sharp as every muscle in his body tensed to the limit.

"Tch..."

Old Daoist Changbai glanced at Jiang Dao without a trace, a hint of mockery appearing on his face.

This young master truly thought martial arts could deal with Malevolent Spirits?

Not to mention dealing with the Spirit Child of Spirit Child Palace, even dealing with an ordinary Malevolent Spirit was absolutely impossible.

When he faced the Malevolent Spirit later, he would learn what true despair was.

"Hee..."

"Hee hee hee..."

The strange childish laughter drew closer and closer.

It seemed to echo throughout the entire courtyard.

It was as though an eerie child were playing outside the courtyard.

"Eldest Young Master, won't you go out and take a look?"

Old Daoist Changbai said with a smile.

"Wherever the Taoist priest goes, I go!"

Jiang Dao said in a low voice.

Old Daoist Changbai smiled faintly, gently set the teacup in his hand onto the table, and strode toward the door, his great sleeves floating.

Jiang Dao immediately rose to his full height and followed close behind, his gaze sharp.

The courtyard was dark and deathly silent.

The instant Old Daoist Changbai stepped out of the room, his body flashed. A cloud of white mist shot toward Jiang Dao.

Jiang Dao's expression changed as he hurriedly covered his face.

But the next moment, he dispersed the mist and rushed forward.

The courtyard was pitch-black and grimly silent.

Old Daoist Changbai had already vanished without a trace.

"Old thing, you dare set me up..."