Brother, I Wasn't Wrong About You

The next day, Old Hu still went out early to gather information.

Su Fan took out the ancient book that recorded the Outer Realm Demonic Beings and continued reading it.

After all, the Outer Realm Demonic Beings had not appeared for a very long time. In the past, whenever he read this book, he had treated it like an online novel.

He had never expected to actually run into one.

Unfortunately, the records concerning the Outer Realm Demonic Beings in this book consisted of only a few simple descriptions.

Su Fan flipped through it for a long while without finding anything useful, so he could only put the book away.

Forget it. What did the Outer Realm Demonic Beings have to do with him?

He had no intention of getting involved in this mess.

He could not wait any longer. If there were still no boat leaving today, he would leave Luqu County that very night.

In any case, this place was already at the edge of the True Demonic Sect's sphere of influence. Traveling at night should not cause any problems.

Just then, Old Hu returned from outside.

He walked into the room as if his soul had left his body, then sat down with a grief-stricken face.

"The county's chief constable led the expedition yesterday. Not a single person on that boat made it back..."

Su Fan did not respond. He poured a cup of tea and placed it beside Old Hu.

"Was there someone you knew among them?"

Old Hu nodded and said, "A brother I grew up playing with. He had two children at home, and the younger one was only five."

After saying that, he took the teacup and drank from it, then wiped his mouth.

"The county is recruiting able-bodied men. I have to go with them..."

"Old Hu, I advise you not to go. It's better to stay out of this."

Hu Guanghai gave a bitter smile and said, "I know. Don't try to persuade me. This time, a Celestial Master from Qingsong Temple is leading the group, and we'll be taking the land route."

Su Fan thought for a moment, then said, "How about this? I'll go with you too..."

Old Hu froze. He looked up at Su Fan, then waved his hand.

"Brother, these past two days have been downright strange. Don't wade into this muddy water. You're different from me. I have no choice but to go."

"Elder Brother, I'll still go. At least I can lend you a hand when the time comes."

Old Hu raised his head and looked at Su Fan for a while, then patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother, I wasn't wrong about you..."

After saying that, he stood up and said, "I still have to find a few people. Get yourself ready. We'll set out at noon."

After Old Hu left, Su Fan began to mull things over.

He would go along this time and take a look. If they encountered danger, he would do his best to protect Old Hu and help him escape.

Old Hu had taken good care of him over the past few months. Since he was leaving, he would help if he could.

Then again, if they really encountered some Outer Realm Demonic Being, there would be nothing he could do.

Su Fan sat cross-legged on the bed. His eyes sharpened as he began sweeping the ghost-face tattoo on his arm with his Spiritual Sense.

He swept over it several times in succession but found nothing unusual.

Ever since leaving Black Profound City, he had inspected the ghost-face tattoo incessantly every day.

This was now Liangzhou, ten thousand li away. Surely that witch would not chase him all the way here over such a trivial matter?

Sometimes, Su Fan even wondered whether he was being too cautious.

When noon was approaching, Old Hu took Su Fan to eat a meal in the city.

Ever since the monster had appeared in the city, the once prosperous and bustling Luqu County had become bleak and deserted.

Most of the shops along the streets were closed, and hardly anyone walked through the streets.

The entire county was steeped in desolation.

The two of them ate a simple meal, then went together to the county office.

By then, the entrance to the county office was already surrounded by people.

A dozen constables stood around several carriages. Nearby, dozens of able-bodied men carrying bows and wearing sabers led their horses by the reins. Some of the men's families had also come to see them off.

When everyone saw Old Hu, they greeted him one after another.

A burly man walked over and cupped his fists toward Old Hu.

"Big Brother, the two horses you wanted have already been brought over. I picked them out personally for you."

Old Hu nodded and said, "Where are Dahai and the others?"

"They've all been held up by their families. They'll be here soon. Haha..."

Su Fan did not go over. Instead, he found a place where no one was paying attention and stayed there.

Old Hu had considerable prestige in the county. Several able-bodied men followed behind him, carrying themselves like heroes of the martial world.

Just then, several of the county's officials came out.

They respectfully saw the Celestial Master from the prefectural city onto the carriage, then exchanged pleasantries with the recruited able-bodied men.

"Let's go..."

Following the leading constable's shout, dozens of able-bodied men mounted their horses one after another and followed the convoy toward the city gates.

Su Fan rode on horseback, his entire body stiff with discomfort. In two lifetimes, he had never ridden a horse.

Fortunately, this horse was rather docile, and it did not throw him off.

After leaving Luqu County, the group of dozens proceeded slowly along the Qingsong River.

Because the carriages moved so slowly, they probably would not reach Sishui Crossing until noon the next day at the earliest.

"This business is a bit fishy. I heard from the people at the dock that no boats have come from the north for several days."

"I've been to Sishui Crossing. Trouble used to break out there all the time. Could there be a demon?"

"It's fine. With a Celestial Master from Qingsong Temple accompanying us, what demons should we fear?"

"Exactly. So what if there's a demon? There are so many of us. If it dares come, we'll chop it to pieces."

"Keep bragging. On the day the demon was in the city, why didn't I see you go up against it?"

"That day, I had already left the city. If I'd been there, I would've chopped that demon to death with a single saber strike."

Su Fan followed behind Hu Guanghai, listening to the able-bodied men around him chat.

When he heard one of them bragging, Su Fan nearly laughed aloud.

If there really was an Outer Realm Demonic Being there, not one of these people would escape. Every last one of them would die.

The sun sank toward the western hills, and the sunset was like blood.

At the far end of the distant horizon, the crimson sun slowly descended, dyeing the entire sky a bloody red.

The sky gradually darkened, and the group stopped to find a place by the river to camp.

Everyone had traveled for an entire day and was utterly exhausted.

They ate a simple meal, then went to sleep one after another.

Beside the bonfire, Su Fan sat directly on the ground.

His Spiritual Sense spread out completely, taking in everything within several dozen zhang. Even the insects beneath the earth could not escape his scrutiny.

He glanced at the distant carriage. The Celestial Master inside had not detected his Spiritual Sense.

Just then, Hu Guanghai came over and sat beside him.

"Brother, go to sleep. I'll keep watch during the first half of the night..."

Su Fan shook his head and said, "Elder Brother, I can't sleep anyway. We shouldn't both stay up together..."

Old Hu smiled, took a bottle of wine from his robes, and shoved it into Su Fan's hands.

"The night wind is cold. If you're cold, take a good swig..."

Around midnight, the surroundings were utterly silent.

Su Fan sat cross-legged on the ground, picked up the wine, and took a sip. The fiery liquor scraped his throat painfully, as if it were burning.

Now that's got some kick...

It tasted far better than Spirit Wine worth ten spirit stones. Before leaving the Mortal World, he would buy some good secular wine and bring it back.

Suddenly, Su Fan turned his head and looked toward a stretch of woods in the distance.

He slapped his Storage Bag, brought out the Evil Ghost Banner, and released Sister Zhen.

He activated the Hidden Breath Art, slapped an Invisibility and Qi Concealment Talisman onto himself, and vanished into the pitch-black night with a single movement.

Two people dressed in black robes stood in the woods, coldly watching the distant camp.

"Heh heh... They're all able-bodied men. Once we've collected them, that should just about be enough, right?"

"Kill the Celestial Master in the carriage first, then deal with these mortals."

"Bullshit. A Qi Refining First Layer cultivator is fit to be called a Celestial Master?"

"Enough. We still have to hurry back before dawn. Let's do it..."

The two had just started to leave the woods when a figure suddenly appeared before them.

They were nearly scared to death. Just as they reached for their talismans, the other party seized them by the throat, lifting their bodies clear off the ground.

Su Fan looked at them coldly and tightened his left hand.

"Crack..."

The man on the left had his neck crushed by Su Fan. His head lolled to the side, and he knew nothing more.

"Senior, spare... spare my life... I..."