Red and White Twin Evils

Qin Bo crouched down and gently stroked Little Black Charcoal's head, sighing:

"Little Black Charcoal, I'm going away this time, and I'm afraid I can't take you with me. You'll have to take good care of yourself."

Little Black Charcoal seemed to understand him.

Its pair of emerald-green eyes stared straight at Qin Bo, and it meowed repeatedly, as if responding.

Qin Bo finished packing his things, took one last look at Little Black Charcoal, and turned to leave.

But the moment he reached the doorway, he felt something furry brush against his feet.

Looking down, he saw that Little Black Charcoal had somehow caught up with him and was gazing at him pitifully.

Qin Bo smiled helplessly.

He bent down and picked up Little Black Charcoal. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Forget it. Since you're such a wondrous little fellow, come with me. Maybe we can look after each other on the road."

Carrying Little Black Charcoal, Qin Bo met up with Old Taoist Songhe and the others.

When Du Sanniang saw Little Black Charcoal in Qin Bo's arms, she couldn't help laughing.

"Little handsome guy, you're taking such a tiny toy with you even when you leave home? Still, this black cat looks pretty clever."

Qin Bo scratched his head awkwardly. "It kept following me. I couldn't bear to leave it behind."

Old Taoist Songhe glanced at Little Black Charcoal and nodded slightly. "No matter. Let it come along. It might even prove useful."

Master Li and his wife, along with Li Ergou and the others, stood at the village entrance, their eyes full of concern and reluctance.

Li Dong stepped forward, patted Qin Bo firmly on the shoulder, and said:

"Bozi, be careful in everything while you're away."

"If you run into any trouble, find a way to send word back. Our village may be small, but everyone will do their part to help you."

A warm current surged through Qin Bo's heart, and his eyes reddened slightly.

He nodded. "Brother Dong, don't worry. I'll take good care of myself. You all be careful at home too. If you run into trouble, don't try to tough it out—send me word."

Li Dong's wife stepped forward and handed him a bundle. It was stuffed full, and she said:

"Bozi, there's some dried food and a few changes of clothes inside. Take them with you. When you're away from home, don't be reluctant to eat or spare your clothes."

Qin Bo accepted the bundle and said gratefully, "Sister-in-law, thank you. Sorry for the trouble."

Li Ergou scratched his head and chuckled. "Brother Bo, when you get back, you have to tell me all about the interesting things outside!"

Qin Bo replied with a smile, "Definitely. Ergou, you take good care of things at home and keep an eye on my house for me!"

After everyone had given him another round of instructions, Qin Bo finally shouldered his pack, took Little Black Charcoal with him, and set out on the journey with Old Taoist Songhe and the others.

Along the way, fragments of village life kept surfacing in Qin Bo's mind.

The villagers' simplicity and warmth made him all the more determined to grow stronger and protect everyone.

"Boy Qin, cultivate diligently! If you want the heart to protect others, you need powerful strength!"

As he walked, Old Taoist Songhe spoke to Qin Bo with earnest gravity.

Qin Bo nodded forcefully, his gaze resolute. "Rest assured, senior. I won't let down your expectations."

Along the way, they crossed mountains and valleys, passing through an ancient forest.

A thin layer of mist hung over the forest, eerie and still.

Occasional strange roars of beasts rang out, putting everyone on alert.

Little Black Charcoal pricked up its ears in Qin Bo's arms, its eyes warily surveying their surroundings.

A low whimper rumbled in its throat.

Qin Bo gently stroked Little Black Charcoal, signaling for it not to be nervous.

What Qin Bo didn't know was that Old Taoist Song glanced at the other two.

All three immediately prepared for battle.

"Whoosh!"

A wave of white smoke spread out from both sides of the woods.

"Meow!"

At Little Black Charcoal's sudden cry, Qin Bo also looked toward the road ahead.

The sound of a suona drifted over.

A group of people dressed in white burst from the white mist.

Likewise, a group dressed in red rushed out from behind them.

"The Red and White Twin Evils!"

Old Taoist Songhe uttered the four words with a grave expression.

Qin Bo's heart tightened when he heard that.

He naturally knew what they were.

The white-clad procession had faces pale as paper and hollow, icy eyes. Behind them, they carried a coffin.

They held white funeral banners, and with every step they took, a faint trail of white frost remained on the ground.

The red-clad figures, meanwhile, had bizarre red greasepaint smeared across their faces.

A large crimson bridal sedan swayed unsteadily.

The procession grinned, baring sinister teeth, while gripping red lanterns in their hands.

Ghostly green flames burned inside the lantern, radiating waves of chill.

Qin Bo hugged Little Black Charcoal tightly, circulating the blood and qi throughout his body as he prepared for battle.

Seeing Qin Bo's appearance, Du Sanniang teased him.

"Little brother, don't be nervous. Leave these things to us. If a tiger doesn't show its might, people will mistake it for a sick cat, won't they?"

After saying that, the three of them each released their full auras.

A layer of red radiance covered their entire bodies.

This was the sign of the second realm, the Blood Condensation Realm: their blood and qi could take visible form.

But Qin Bo wasn't nervous. He was excited. At last, another strange thing had come knocking on his door.

"Several seniors, why don't you take a break and watch this junior put on a show?"

Du Sanniang and Chen Feng both froze. They hadn't expected Qin Bo to say something like that.

In their eyes, Qin Bo had some talent, but he had only been cultivating for a short time.

Taking the initiative to volunteer against these troublesome Red and White Twin Evils was simply too rash.

Old Taoist Songhe, meanwhile, withdrew his blood-and-qi power.

He advised them, "That's enough. Stop wasting your energy. This boy's strength is extraordinary. You two take a rest."

"PRIVATE_PERSON?! Old Taoist Song, are you joking? The Red and White Twin Evils are evil-grade anomalies! Qin Bo hasn't even reached the Blood Condensation Realm!"

Chen Song furrowed his brows slightly.

"Relax. This boy has already slain an evil-grade anomaly. Although he had my help, he should have no problem dealing with a sinister-grade one!"

Although Du Sanniang still had doubts after hearing Old Taoist Songhe say this, she nevertheless sheathed her twin blades and stepped aside to observe.

Chen Feng also slowly stopped forming hand seals.

His eyes remained fixed on Qin Bo as he secretly wondered, Does this youth really have such ability?

Qin Bo set Black Charcoal down. Unexpectedly, Black Charcoal wasn't afraid at all, instead grumbling at the group of anomalies.

"Oh? This little fellow is interesting! It can actually face anomalies head-on. Could it have a special bloodline?"

Old Taoist Song stared at the black cat, captivated by its appearance.

Qin Bo ignored them and circulated his blood and qi.

Since his cleaver had broken earlier, he had conveniently asked Master Li for a butcher's knife.

The butcher's knife had been steeped in blood for years, and a considerable amount of killing intent clung to it.

Holding the butcher's knife, Qin Bo's blood and qi surged powerfully through him, resonating with the killing intent on the blade.

It faintly formed a unique force of intimidation.

Sensing this aura, the Red and White Twin Evils' originally overbearing momentum faltered slightly.

The leader of the anomalies in the red-clad procession was the first to react.

She let out a shriek and raised the red lantern in her hand high again. The ghostly green flames instantly surged several yards into the air.

They lunged ferociously toward Qin Bo, and wherever the flames passed,

the air crackled loudly, as if it had been set alight.