The slash scattered the darkness, and Lin Yan carried his lantern onward once more, his footsteps swift.
This time, he smoothly covered several li.
But soon, darkness blocked the road ahead again.
These evil spirits came out at night and were practically everywhere.
He had only frightened one batch away when another arrived.
All because, in this pitch-black night, Lin Yan was the only living person.
The scent of flesh and blood.
The aura of vitality.
A complete soul.
To this great horde of evil spirits, he was like a rare delicacy laid right before them.
Lin Yan understood that the farther he was from Gao Liu City, and thus from the main body of Willow Venerable, the weaker the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp became.
Here, he was too far away. The light of the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp alone could no longer suppress the evil spirits and monsters.
So at this moment, Lin Yan set down the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp and drew his long saber.
"Willow Venerable isn't here, after all. I can understand why you won't give him face."
Lin Yan pointed his saber ahead and said in a low voice, "But I'm here. You'd better give me some face."
He swung his long saber and shouted harshly, "Who the hell won't give me face? Step forward!"
Over the past year, he had killed more than a hundred people. He was even fiercer than an executioner!
He was already covered in murderous Killing Intent, and with the enhancement of the Demon Quelling Divine Ability, his fearsome might seemed to surge a thousandfold in an instant!
In a daze, it was as though a Sea of Corpses and Blood had appeared, murderous aura churning like a tsunami.
This was the might of Demon Suppression!
The darkness surged, as though its "emotions were fluctuating," wavering uncertainly.
After a moment, the darkness receded like a tide.
The firelight of the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp gradually illuminated the road ahead.
"Ungrateful bastards!"
Lin Yan picked up the Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp, held his long saber in one hand, and sprinted forward.
Whenever anything blocked the road ahead, he said nothing and simply slashed at it.
He had originally intended to follow the rules of this world, avoid fighting, and conserve his strength.
For he knew that a bloody battle would be unavoidable later.
But this place was too far from Gao Liu City. These evil spirits clearly had no intention of following the rules.
Then he could only use the long saber in his hand, along with the murderous aura and killing intent covering his body, to make these roadblocks understand the rules of this Killer Star!
He ran onward, covering another three to five li before entering the mountain forest.
"We're almost there!"
Following the rugged mountain path, Lin Yan finally found an old pagoda tree halfway up the mountain.
Legend had it that this old pagoda tree had gained wisdom. Passersby traveling through this place had to offer Three Incense Sticks to ensure a safe journey.
"I heard that tigers have been appearing nearby. This junior has an urgent matter and must seek this 'Mountain Lord' for discussion!"
Lin Yan spoke softly, relit the Three Incense Sticks, planted them in the earth before the tree, and bowed in salute.
"Tonight, I offer Three Incense Sticks. I trouble Sophora Venerate to guide my way!"
Before his voice had faded, the wind suddenly rose.
The Three Incense Sticks toppled over in the wind.
The incense offering was rejected!
"..."
Lin Yan furrowed his brows.
Perhaps Sophora Venerate feared the Mountain Lord.
Perhaps the Three Incense Sticks had previously been offered to the black-mist evil spirit blocking the road, and offering them to Sophora Venerate now was like presenting leftover scraps.
He sighed and bowed again. "This junior left home in too much haste and made inadequate preparations. It was unavoidable that I would be discourteous. Once this matter is settled, I will certainly offer sacrificial wine and incense to Sophora Venerate!"
After speaking, he picked up the Three Incense Sticks and planted them in the ground.
This time, he pushed the bottoms of the Three Incense Sticks all the way in, burying them deep in the soil.
But before he could straighten up, the Three Incense Sticks toppled over again.
"..."
Lin Yan drew a deep breath, thinking of Second Brother's perilous situation.
Then a glimmer of light flashed through the darkness.
The saber's gleam swept across the tree trunk.
The bark split beneath the blade.
A shallow saber mark remained on the trunk.
Then he picked up the Three Incense Sticks and, expressionless, planted them into the saber mark on the trunk.
The mark was extremely shallow, less than an inch deep.
Once the Three Incense Sticks were inserted, they were about to fall the instant Lin Yan released his hand.
But suddenly, a sinister wind blew!
The fallen Three Incense Sticks were blown against the tree by the night wind, where they held firm and steady, like branches that had naturally grown from the trunk.
The sinister wind grew fiercer. The treetops swayed.
Every branch turned toward the left rear.
"Thank you!"
Lin Yan remained expressionless as he bowed.
Then he carried his long saber and hurried in the direction Sophora Venerate had indicated, not daring to delay for even half a moment.
The wilderness was desolate, and the mountain road rugged.
The road ahead was a stretch of darkness, yet three figures walked side by side, their footsteps steady as though they were strolling on level ground.
The person in the middle was carrying half a roast chicken. His expression was somewhat dazed as he looked up at the pitch-black sky.
But he narrowed his eyes, as though he still found the light too bright and glaring.
"Dabao, did your family move this far away?"
Lin Lei sounded somewhat worried. "The sun is almost sinking into the water. If it gets dark later, I'm afraid I won't make it home in time."
He was dressed simply and had an honest, good-natured face, but he seemed troubled.
"It's fine. It's only afternoon. Let's go to my house first and discuss the important matter between us brothers. You can head home at dusk. If that doesn't work, stay at my house for the night."
The other figure's voice was somewhat stiff, with an added hint of hoarseness.
"That won't do. My wife is still at home, waiting for me to return."
Lin Lei immediately shook his head, then smiled. "Speaking of which, when did you take in a daughter? And when did you and my third child take a liking to each other?"
Chen Jiangbao did not reply and continued trudging forward with his head lowered.
The figure on the far right was petite, seeming to be a girl. At his words, she quickened her pace, as if embarrassed.
Seeing this, Lin Lei could not help laughing. Then he pulled Chen Jiangbao closer and lowered his voice. "I'm telling you, you owed me two ounces of silver before. You have to pay me back first. Only then can I scrape together enough money to prepare the betrothal gifts, arrange the wedding banquet, and invite the guests."
"The old house is far too small. It's enough for my younger brother to live alone, but once he starts a family, it won't be spacious enough. Later, let the young couple move into my house first."
"My A'Yan can earn money now, too. He's only missing a wife to keep him in line."
"Have your daughter keep a strict eye on him and save some silver for him. As for me, at most I'll save for another three to five years. Then the two of us brothers can pool our money, borrow a little from our relatives, and still build another house for the couple."
As Lin Lei spoke, he looked left and right before saying, "Come to think of it, the place you moved your new home to is far too distant. My feet are already sore from walking. By the time we finish discussing the important matter, I'm afraid it'll be dark and I won't make it back."
As soon as his voice fell, a town already appeared ahead, with people coming and going and quite a lively bustle.
"We're here, we're here."
Chen Jiangbao raised his hand and pointed at the pitch-black heavens. "The sun is still up. If we finish talking early, you'll still make it back to Gao Liu City before nightfall."
At that moment, the girl's voice rang out again. "My family also has a Tiger Whisker Night-Illuminating Lamp from this town."
Chen Jiangbao replied, "That's right. With the town's night-illuminating lamp, backed by the might of the 'Mountain Lord,' you can travel another dozen or so li on the way back. The evil spirits won't dare bother you."
Lin Lei still sounded worried. "But once you're far away, I'm afraid even the town's night-illuminating lamp won't be able to suppress the evil spirits."
"That's no problem. My family also has a Willow Branch Night-Illuminating Lamp in storage. Take it with you."
Chen Jiangbao said, "Once you're far from here, you'll be closer to Gao Liu City... The first half of the journey will be watched over by the 'Mountain Lord,' and the second half protected by 'Willow Venerable.' The road will be safe and trouble-free."
The girl's voice rang out again. "Even if it gets late, just stay at my house. Second Uncle can sleep in my brother's room for now."
Hearing this, Lin Lei could not help but beam. "You little girl, you really know how to please people. You haven't even married into the family, yet you've already changed how you address me."
As he spoke, he continued forward.
In his eyes, they had already entered the town.
The sky was still bright, with streets and shops lining both sides.
People came and went, and the place was quite lively.
But for some reason, everyone seemed to be looking this way at that moment, their gazes somewhat stiff.
Under the many gazes, Lin Lei felt a little uneasy.
Then he heard the girl say, "My family just moved here. The local neighbors are all very hospitable, and extremely friendly."
"That's wonderful, wonderful."
As Lin Lei said this, his gaze began to grow hazy, and he failed to notice anything amiss.
Only when they drew near Chen Jiangbao's new residence did he suddenly sense something strange and abruptly awaken.
"Dabao, why is your home a temple?"
"..."
Chen Jiangbao's stiff voice trembled at that moment, carrying a sobbing note. "I didn't want this either... You kindly lent me silver, but I never intended to repay you."
"Now that I'm dead, if I don't trick you here for the Mountain Lord to eat, what will I do when you come asking my son for the money and debt in the future?"
"You can't blame me for this. Who else in the entire Lin Jiang Ward was kind enough to lend me money?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lin Lei felt a chill throughout his body and turned his head.
He saw Chen Jiangbao.
But through Chen Jiangbao's body, he also saw the vegetation behind him.
Was Chen Jiangbao's body only a phantom?
In an instant, Lin Lei's hair stood on end.
The night wind blew, carrying a bone-deep chill.
In a daze, the scene shifted.
What town was there?
What streets and shops?
There were no bricks or stones on the ground, only vegetation and mud.
The surrounding weeds and withered trees were filled with flickering figures, all illusory.
Every illusory figure stiffly turned its head. Their faces were expressionless, their eyes hollow.
A howling sound rose, shrill and piercing.
It was a freezing, bitter wind blowing through the treetops and scraping across the withered branches. The sound was unbearably mournful, like ghosts wailing.
Was this place full of ghosts?
Lin Lei's pupils contracted. He turned and tried to flee for his life, only to find that his body no longer obeyed his mind.
At this moment, his entire body was rigid, and even his legs had gone weak.
At the same time, within the temple, a cold and cruel gaze slowly lit up like a lamp in the night.
The howling cold wind grew fiercer.
The howls, like the cries of ghosts, became increasingly mournful and chilling.
The girl walking at the front came over and took Lin Lei's arm. In a gentle voice, she said, "Second Uncle, we're at my house. Let's go in."
Lin Lei was just about to struggle when he discovered that his entire body was rigid.
The girl practically dragged him toward the temple.
Lin Lei's gaze grew increasingly dazed, gradually turning blank.
"For something as important as a marriage, why don't I discuss it myself?"
But at that moment, a cold voice rang out.
The atmosphere abruptly froze.
The ghostly wails around them grew even more mournful and chilling.
But this time, the sound did not come from the cold wind blowing through the branches.
It was genuine ghostly wailing.
The ghosts outside shrieked in terror.
Then, not far away, a light appeared.
It was a tiny flame swaying in the wind, yet radiating a warm glow.
It was an incense candle.
A hand holding the incense candle extended forward.
Wherever the firelight shone, it was as though raging flames were burning. The ghosts shrieked and fled in panic.
In the blink of an eye, they scattered like willow catkins blown by the wind.
Illuminated by the firelight, the newcomer's hair and sideburns were disheveled, and he was breathing slightly hard, as though he had just undergone a frantic sprint.
Yet his face remained utterly expressionless, cold to the extreme.
He wore a black robe, and in his other hand he held a narrow, elongated saber.
The blade was somewhat dark in color, about three and a half fingers wide and three feet three inches long.
This saber had once slain more than a hundred people!
Today, it would slay ghosts!
And then demons!
Before you continue