The Reason

"Brother Su, we're late!"

As soon as they met, Meng Dongge sighed heavily. Pointing at the corpses of insects strewn across the surroundings, he said, "I sensed something was wrong when I heard the commotion and came over to help immediately. I didn't expect to still be slower than the Strange Ghost. I failed to save Chen Yun's husband and younger brother. It's all my fault."

"We were the ones who discovered it too late. After all, we were closer to Chen Yun and the others."

As he spoke, Su Jie carefully observed their surroundings, secretly staying on guard.

After all, Chen Yun and the others might not have been attacked by the Strange Ghost. It was also possible that the attacker had been Meng Dongge right in front of them.

"No one wanted something like this to happen. Since it really was the work of the Strange Ghost, then all we can blame is bad luck."

After seeing the situation at the scene, Gu Weinan immediately pieced together a rough picture of what had happened.

Most likely, Chen Yun and the others had encountered a Strange Ghost at night. They had been defeated after failing to hold it off, resulting in the deaths of Chen Koudang and Xu Chaoxian.

As for Meng Dongge and the others arriving so quickly to provide support, that already counted as exceptionally loyal among the disciples of Ghost Ridge Palace.

After all, even Gu Weinan, who belonged to the same lineage of Old Daoist Qiu as Chen Yun, had hesitated for a long time over whether to come to their aid. The other disciples from separate branches, like Meng Dongge and the others, had even less reason to hurry over.

"This is too tragic."

Sun Zhihai felt his scalp prickle. It wasn't that he had never seen dead people before, but Chen Yun and the others had come with him to patrol the mountains and protect the path.

Yet they had ended up in such a state on the very first day, making him feel as if he had suffered alongside them.

"Is Chen Yun still breathing?"

Su Jie checked Chen Yun's condition, then turned and asked Meng Dongge, "Fellow Daoist Meng, why are you alone? Where are the other five people in your team?"

"They went after that vile beast. We can't let the culprit get away. I stayed behind to protect Chen Yun for a while."

Meng Dongge explained through gritted teeth, looking utterly hateful.

As they spoke, fierce shouts rang out beside their ears.

"Stop it!"

"Use the Nine Bends Net and block its escape route!"

"Everyone, attack! We're about to get it!"

Amid the successive cries, a three-meter-tall creature darted past Su Jie and the others.

Its skin was deathly pale. It hunched over on all fours, its claws as sharp as steel blades, making it terrifying to behold.

"A Strange Ghost!"

Gu Weinan cried out in fright.

The surroundings were far too eerie. Any slight rustle of wind or grass made them feel as if they were facing a great enemy. The Strange Ghost that suddenly sprang out nearly scared him into passing out.

Could I have been overthinking things?

Su Jie pondered inwardly. It really was a Strange Ghost. Had he misunderstood Meng Dongge?

"Run, run! We can't beat a Strange Ghost!"

Sun Zhihai's voice trembled as well. His remaining arm kept rubbing his chest, where a jade-green lizard poked its head out. He had even summoned his natal Gu worm.

"Look closely. This Strange Ghost is already finished."

Su Jie raised a hand to stop the two of them. Only after they focused did they notice that the Strange Ghost was covered in wounds. It had numerous corrosive and penetrating injuries, with large patches of torn muscle exposed to the air. Even its organs and intestines had spilled out. Its movements were sluggish, and even if no one bothered with it, it could not possibly survive.

After darting less than a hundred feet forward, the Strange Ghost finally collapsed beneath the weight of its grievous injuries. Its blood had nearly run dry as it pitched headfirst to the ground.

Buzz, buzz!

Immediately afterward, a great mass of Gu worms arrived one after another.

Hundreds of flying locusts, venomous snakes, poisonous scorpions, killer bees, highly venomous spiders, and various other Gu worms engulfed the Strange Ghost.

A massive amount of deadly venom poured into it, pushing the already battered Strange Ghost to the absolute end of its life. It stopped moving and struggling.

Five Ghost Ridge Palace disciples emerged from the woods the Strange Ghost had fled from. They carried fine nets, ropes, and other items. They were Meng Dongge's five teammates.

They quickly surrounded the Strange Ghost's corpse, watching Su Jie and the other two warily.

They were worried that Su Jie and the others might grow greedy and try to seize it. After all, Strange Ghost corpses had skyrocketed in price lately and were extremely valuable.

"What are you all doing? These three fellow Daoists aren't the sort of people who act recklessly. There's no need to be on guard. What kind of impression does this give?"

Meng Dongge barked at the other five, giving them a thorough tongue-lashing.

That instead left Sun Zhihai and Gu Weinan feeling rather embarrassed.

Gu Weinan coughed twice and said, "Fellow Daoist Meng, since your group hunted this Strange Ghost, you've also avenged Chen Yun. We have no improper intentions."

Sun Zhihai gave an awkward smile as well. "That's right. Fellow Daoist Meng, you're overthinking it. We still know where to draw the line."

Although they were extremely covetous of the Strange Ghost's corpse—once sold at the Black Market, it would bring in at least several hundred Blood Marrow Crystals—whether from a moral or a practical standpoint, especially the latter, seizing it was utterly impossible. That would simply be courting death.

Su Jie's eyes narrowed. What a vicious retreat-to-advance move!

Looking at Gu Weinan and Sun Zhihai's reactions, it was obvious they had both taken the bait.

Su Jie did not expose it immediately. Instead, he acted even more righteous than Sun Zhihai and Gu Weinan. "Brother Meng, it's only human nature for them to think that way. After all, our demonic cultivator lineage doesn't have the best reputation. But rest assured, I, Su Jie, have always acted with uprightness and integrity and hated evil like an enemy. If something doesn't belong to me, I certainly won't take it."

Gu Weinan looked over speechlessly. Was that really necessary? Are you actually a demonic cultivator?

Meng Dongge smiled again and said loudly, "Please don't take offense, fellow Daoists. It took us considerable effort to hunt this Strange Ghost, and we expended a great many talismans and venomous Gu worms. We have no choice but to sell it to replenish our resources. Otherwise, I would have insisted on giving you a share. Ah, I truly feel bad about this. How about this? You can deal with the dead Gu worms scattered across this battlefield. After all, they belonged to your Elder Qiu's lineage."

"Thank you, thank you."

Gu Weinan and Sun Zhihai cupped their hands together.

Many Gu worms had died in the surrounding area. Feeding them to their natal Gu worms would be highly beneficial, especially the two natal Gu worms that had belonged to Chen Koudang and Xu Chaoxian.

"Brother Meng, you're too kind."

Su Jie's hands moved so quickly they blurred. Before Gu Weinan and Sun Zhihai could even see what he had done, the corpse of the queen ant—the most valuable one on the ground—had already fallen into Su Jie's hands.

That move left even Meng Dongge at a loss. He looked at Su Jie strangely. Is this what you meant by not taking anything? So you only wanted the biggest one?

"Since that's the case, we won't remain here any longer. Fellow Daoist Chen is seriously injured. Why don't you leave her to us? I'll see if I can try to heal her."

Meng Dongge looked toward Chen Yun and kindly made the request.

Sun Zhihai and Gu Weinan were just about to agree. Chen Yun's life was uncertain, and she was nothing but a burden. Handing her over to someone else was perfect.

At that moment, Su Jie suddenly spoke. "There's no need to trouble Fellow Daoist Meng. Chen Yun belongs to our branch, and given her current condition, we also bear the responsibility of caring for her."

"We still have some healing medicines that should be quite effective for treating injuries."

Meng Dongge was taken aback, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Really, there's no need."

Su Jie shook his head and refused. Even Sun Zhihai and Gu Weinan were utterly puzzled. Could this fellow really be the upright and honorable person he claimed to be?

"Very well. I won't force the issue. I hope Fellow Daoist Chen Yun makes a speedy recovery."

Meng Dongge did not press any further. He smiled and announced his departure.

"We need to deal with the Strange Ghost's corpse as soon as possible, so we won't linger here. Take care, fellow Daoists. If you encounter a Strange Ghost, be sure to call for our aid immediately. I don't want to see what happened to Fellow Daoist Chen Yun happen to any of you."

"Take care."

"Take care."

The two groups cupped their hands to each other, after which Meng Dongge and the others carried away the Strange Ghost's corpse and left the battlefield.

Sun Zhihai and Gu Weinan, meanwhile, eagerly got to work collecting the various Gu worm corpses on the ground.

The Gu worms had only just died and were still fresh, making them perfect for feeding to their natal Gu worms.

Su Jie's gaze followed Meng Dongge and the others until they vanished into the woods. His fingers curled slightly.

Under cover of the night, a moth flapped its wings and silently followed after them.

This sort of insect-controlling method used by inner disciples was difficult to detect without specific precautions.

"Brother Su, we struck it rich today!"

After counting everything, Gu Weinan was quite excited.

They had filled a basket with the corpses of venomous insects collected from the battlefield. It was an extremely bountiful haul.

"We had a good harvest tonight."

Su Jie glanced over it. Compared to the Strange Ghost corpse Meng Dongge and the others had obtained, however, this pile of insect corpses was nothing worth mentioning.

"But do you really think you can fool everyone and get away with it?"

Su Jie licked his lips. He glanced at Chen Yun on the ground, then at Meng Dongge and the others who had vanished from sight. The corner of his mouth curved into a cold arc.