"Who?"
Chen Mo opened all Six Roots and Six Senses, fixed his gaze on the courtyard gate, and shouted.
An unfamiliar voice came from outside.
"I'm the newly appointed County Magistrate, Li Wenqing. The man beside me is Magistrate Li Yu from the County Office. Please allow us in so we can speak."
At that moment, another man's voice rang out. "Thank you, Second Young Master Chen, for sending Ma San to deliver the message earlier. That's how I learned the entire Xie Family had met with disaster."
All the details matched what he'd heard, so it was probably true. Chen Mo went to open the door. A burly man stood outside, along with an elegant, middle-aged scholar in a green official robe.
A glance at the robe was enough for Chen Mo to identify them. He cupped his hands slightly. "I'm Chen Mo. Please come in, gentlemen."
Li Yu was worried about his wife and distraught. He kept his head down as he walked, his spirits low.
Li Wenqing, on the other hand, took in his surroundings as they went. He saw that Chen Mo had gathered everyone together and built several huge bonfires, filling the courtyard with blazing light and scorching heat. He couldn't help but admire him, thinking, Second Young Master Chen is clever. He knows to gather everyone together and light fires to ward off evil.
When they entered the reception hall, Chen Yin Fu rose to greet them. "It's the middle of the night. What brings the County Magistrate to our door?"
Li Wenqing was straightforward. "I just went to inspect Xie Manor and saw what had become of the Xie Family. I heard your son visited Xie Manor this afternoon, so I came over to ask him a few questions."
Chen Yin Fu ushered Li Wenqing to the seat of honor, then asked Haitang to serve the two officials tea.
After taking a sip, Li Wenqing spotted the Red Candle on the table. He was astonished once more. The Chen Family really does have something going for them.
After a few pleasantries, Chen Mo spoke up. "What is it you've come to ask in the middle of the night, sir?"
Li Wenqing was an efficient man and had already prepared his questions. "Second Young Master Chen, please tell me the details of your conversation with Third Master Xie this afternoon. The more detailed, the better."
Chen Mo agreed and recounted his conversation with Third Master Xie from beginning to end. He left out the booklet, but told him everything else.
Li Wenqing listened carefully, then thought it over. "So the Xie Family was wiped out because Third Master Xie had an old grudge with Granny Li. What a pity that such a gifted man as Third Master Xie should meet such an end."
After a moment of lament, Li Wenqing continued, "Earlier, Second Young Master Chen sent a guard named Ma San to deliver a message to my younger brother. Is that guard here?"
At this, Li Yu, who had been sitting dejectedly, raised his head and looked at Chen Mo with expectation.
Seeing his expression, Chen Mo wondered if something had happened to Li Yu's wife.
But he didn't ask. "Ma San hasn't returned yet."
Li Yu lowered his head again, then urged Li Wenqing with his eyes to leave.
Knowing how anxious his younger brother was to find his wife, Li Wenqing stood up. He also offered a word of warning. "I suspect Li Hongxi may come to Chen Mansion. Second Young Master Chen, you must be especially careful. If anything seems amiss, light a big fire at once. I'll come to perform an Exorcism when I see it."
Hearing that Li Wenqing knew how to perform an Exorcism, Chen Mo seized the chance to ask, "May I ask what I should do if Li Hongxi enters the house?"
Li Wenqing listed the countermeasures as if reciting from a handbook. "Li Hongxi is a resentful ghost steeped in dampness. She must have lived beneath dark waters for a long time. Generally speaking, such fiends fear raging flames. Even if the flames can't harm her, they can weaken her.
"An Internal Martial Master's blazing True Qi can hurt her as well. But Internal Martial Masters are exceedingly rare. I doubt Chen Mansion has anyone like that. Other than that, consecrated black peachwood and Five Emperors Coins can also inflict severe wounds."
As he spoke, Li Wenqing unhooked the saber from his waist and introduced it with some pride. "Take this Mountain-Cleaving Saber, for example. A Daoist priest in Nanyang Prefecture forged it. It's made from consecrated black peachwood and inlaid with a large number of consecrated Five Emperors Coins. With this saber, I can kill her. Aside from that, ordinary warriors have no way to deal with her."
Chen Mo felt a little reassured. "To be frank, sir, Li Hongxi has already come to Chen Mansion. She may be lurking nearby, watching us this very moment."
At this, Li Yu immediately looked up, his expression complicated.
Li Wenqing's interest was piqued too. "Is that so?"
Chen Mo told them how Erniu Tiezhu had been hanged, then concluded, "These fiends are dangerous. I wouldn't dare trouble you by asking you to risk yourself. If you'd be willing to lend me your saber, I'd be deeply grateful."
Li Wenqing suddenly boomed, "Second Young Master Chen, you underestimate me. Though I'm not an Internal Martial Master, I learned how to perform an Exorcism from a Daoist priest in Nanyang Prefecture. When I came to Honghe County to take up my post, my mentor, the Prefect, entrusted me with the vital task of eliminating Evil Spirits and protecting the people."
With that, Li Wenqing rose, saber in hand. As everyone watched, a righteous aura radiated from him. "I've been in Honghe County for over two months, yet I haven't exorcised a single fiend or earned an inch of merit. I've failed the people below and disappointed my mentor above. But now fortune has delivered a fiend right to me. I'll use Li Hongxi's head to send my mentor a report of victory."
Seeing Li Wenqing, who had been so composed moments ago, suddenly grow so confident, Chen Mo felt uneasy. He cautioned him, "Sir, Evil Spirits are vicious. One has already wiped out the entire Xie Family. Don't underestimate it."
Li Wenqing laughed. "Second Young Master Chen, you haven't completed your martial training, nor have you learned the art of Exorcism. It's only natural that you fear Evil Spirits. I, however, do not. When the fiend comes, you should retreat far away."
As he spoke, Li Wenqing swept his eyes over those present and sternly warned them, "Remember, when the Evil Spirit appears, you common folk must not come near me, lest you cause me trouble. Just stand back and watch me cut the creature down."
Chen Mo couldn't help thinking, Master Li is probably getting ahead of himself...
If Li Wenqing were really so capable, why hadn't Third Master Xie asked him for help earlier? They were family, after all.
Just then, a knock sounded at the courtyard gate.
Knock, knock, knock.
The crisp sound left the entire hall deathly silent.
A moment later, a woman's voice came from outside.
"Husband, are you in there?"
Her voice was somewhat hoarse and low, and in the tense atmosphere it sounded all the more sinister and terrifying.
The servants warming themselves by the fires in the courtyard all shrank back, their necks tucked in.
But Li Yu, who had been sitting listlessly in the reception hall, heard it as if it were heavenly music. Without a second thought, he hurried toward the door.
"I'm here! I'm here, darling!"
Before Li Yu had taken two steps, Li Wenqing grabbed him. "Don't act rashly, little brother. This may be a trick. Let me examine her with the Exorcism Mirror first."
Li Yu was clearly displeased, but remembering that his elder brother meant well, he ultimately didn't resist. "My wife must have been terrified. She's had a hard time. You can examine her discreetly, big brother, but don't let her know. I don't want to hurt her feelings."
Li Wenqing doted on his younger brother. "I know what I'm doing."
With that, the brothers left the reception hall under everyone's watchful eyes and headed straight for the courtyard gate to greet their guest.
At that very moment, Chen Mo tightened his grip on the broad saber's hilt.
Something didn't feel right to him, but she was the Magistrate's wife, so Chen Mo naturally couldn't stop them outright.
To be safe, Chen Mo decided he should do something. He glanced around, then fixed his gaze on Chen Wu.
"Chen Wu, light the Red Candle."
Chen Wu hadn't expected his second brother to give him a chance to help at such a critical moment. Glad to be of use, he immediately picked up the Fire Starter from the table and moved to light the Red Candle.
Seeing how clueless he looked, Chen Mo shook his head helplessly. "The Fire Starter won't work. Do as I say..."
Chen Wu obediently followed his instructions. He knelt beside the long table, bowed to Goddess Hong Deng before the Red Candle, then bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the wick.
Sizzle~
The Red Candle caught fire.
A dim crimson light bloomed, flickering gently in the breeze.
In an instant, everyone's gaze was drawn to the Red Candle on the table. Watching its wavering flame, they felt a strange sense of security.
Creak!
The courtyard gate opened.
A gaunt woman with a deathly pale face stepped inside. As soon as she entered, she threw herself into Li Yu's arms and said tearfully, "Husband, A Xia ran into an Evil Spirit. I risked my life to escape and find you. I was scared half to death."
Seeing his wife with tears in her eyes, Li Yu felt his heart breaking into pieces. "I've been looking everywhere for you too. Heaven took pity on me and let me find you. It's cold outside. Come inside with me."
With that, Li Yu helped Xie Cui through the door.
Li Wenqing walked beside them, secretly taking a palm-sized copper mirror from the inner pocket of his sleeve. The mirror was inlaid with Five Emperors Coins. He shone it on Xie Cui, and when he saw nothing amiss, he put it away. Xie Cui is lucky to have escaped the disaster.
After the three entered the reception hall, Li Yu helped Xie Cui sit beside the long table and moved the brazier closer to her.
Chen Mo opened his Six Roots and Six Senses and examined Xie Cui. He saw nothing unusual, but he still used his Golden Finger. Sure enough, a frame appeared over her.
Three Black Rods.
And a line of text:
[Original Understanding Essence detected!]
Though he had no Recognition Count at the moment and couldn't identify it,
the three Black Rods and the text clearly indicated that Xie Cui was a fiend.
But she was the Magistrate's wife, and she hadn't shown any signs of being strange. Chen Mo couldn't very well attack her without warning. Besides, he wasn't completely sure of himself. It would be better to let Li Wenqing test the waters...
Chen Mo quietly moved in front of his parents. He also noticed... Xie Cui's eyes never left the Red Candle.
A moment later, Xie Cui spoke. "This is the Red Candle bestowed by Goddess Hong Deng, isn't it? Being near it really does make a person feel much more at ease. I wonder where you bought it?"
As she spoke, Xie Cui moved closer to the Red Candle, looking curious and comforted. There was nothing about her behavior that seemed out of place.
Chen Mo thought to himself, She can actually approach the Red Candle. They say the Red Candle can restrain Evil Spirits. I wonder if it works on her.
Chen Mo immediately grew twice as wary, narrowing his eyes. "I'll find Granny Li..."
Before he could finish, Xie Cui blew on the Red Candle and extinguished it.
A bone-chilling gust swept out of the bedroom, instantly snuffing out all six bonfires in the courtyard.
The entire central courtyard immediately sank into darkness.
Then Xie Cui, her hair hanging loose, suddenly let out a sinister, childish giggle. "Hee-hee, without the Red Candle to protect you, not one of you will get out alive!"
In an instant, everyone, Chen Mo included, felt their hair stand on end as a chill flooded down from their heads to their toes.
Even the slowest person there knew Xie Cui wasn't right.
Chen Mo understood that the Red Candle didn't seem to have a fatal effect on Evil Spirits possessing someone. Still, Xie Cui had blown it out before revealing her true nature, which showed she was afraid of it.
With that in mind, Chen Mo immediately raised his saber to shield his parents and told Chen Wu, "Light the Red Candle!"
Only then did Chen Wu snap out of his daze. He immediately picked up the Red Candle and tried to light it with his blood, but no matter what he did, it wouldn't catch. He was so anxious that sweat streamed down his face. "Somehow, the wick's gotten damp. It's gone out."
Chen Mo didn't hesitate. He made a decision at once. "Get behind me and protect the family!"
Though Chen Wu was frightened, he gripped his saber and shielded Xiaoyuer, Second Mother, and the others. His expression was resolute, and he showed the courage of a true man.
Just then—
Clang!
Li Wenqing abruptly drew his saber. Charging at Xie Cui, he shouted to the others, "You're all ordinary people. Don't come near me!"
Just as Li Wenqing's saber was about to strike Xie Cui, his footing suddenly slipped and he nearly fell. His blade missed. When he looked down, he saw Li Yu kneeling on the ground, clutching his thigh and begging with tears in his eyes.
"Big brother, she's your sister-in-law!"
"I thought you were lovesick, but I believed you knew what mattered and had some sense. I never expected you to be so foolish! Get away!" Li Wenqing snapped, then kicked Li Yu away with all his strength.
That single kick was enough to show Li Wenqing's extraordinary strength.
He was already a peak Blood Rush Realm expert.
His Qi and blood surged, stronger than Liu Mazi's by a good margin.
Unable to withstand the force, Li Yu flew several yards before crashing into the wall by the doorway and sliding to the ground. He seemed almost out of his mind, curled up on the floor and crying out in grief.
"Big brother, she's your sister-in-law! Please spare her! She won't hurt either of us!"
"Nonsense! You believe the words of an Evil Spirit? Don't forget we're officials of the imperial court!" Li Wenqing shouted. Then he ignored Li Yu and raised his saber to attack Xie Cui again.
The blow was powerful and swift as a streak of light. In the blink of an eye, it reached Xie Cui. She didn't even try to dodge. She simply raised a hand and caught the blade. No matter how hard Li Wenqing pushed, he couldn't force it down.
After a brief struggle, Li Wenqing was already drenched in sweat. This fiend really is powerful. This could go badly.
"Hee-hee..."
Xie Cui held the blade as the cold wind stirred her tangled hair, revealing her pale face and wide-open eyes. Her mouth curled into a smile as she let out a hoarse, sobbing, childlike voice.
"The Five Emperors Coins on this saber are decent, but the Daoist priest who consecrated them wasn't skilled enough. They might work on ordinary Wandering Fiends, but they can't hurt me."
As she spoke, Xie Cui slid her right hand along the blade to the hilt, then gripped the back of Li Wenqing's saber hard.
In an instant, a bone-deep chill swept through Li Wenqing's body. He felt as though he'd frozen solid, and his mind took a tremendous blow. He instinctively leaped backward and dropped the saber.
Xie Cui tossed the saber to the ground, then stamped on it. With a sharp crack, she crushed it into pieces.
Li Wenqing was badly shaken.
The saber was forged from refined steel and had been consecrated by a Daoist priest. Unless she was an Internal Martial Master, there was no way she could crush it with a single stomp.
Li Wenqing couldn't help regretting his overconfidence.
He pushed those thoughts aside as soon as they crossed his mind. He knew he couldn't afford to lose focus now, or the consequences would be dire. He immediately took a waterskin from his waist, unscrewed the cap, and splashed its contents at Xie Cui.
It wasn't water, but the blood of a prime black dog, which could restrain Evil Spirits to some degree.
Xie Cui was caught off guard and soaked in dog blood. But she didn't seem to care. Instead, she gave a sinister laugh and grew angry. "Using black dog blood meant for low-grade Wandering Fiends against me is so dull. You've shown me all you've got. You deserve to die."
Without any apparent movement, Xie Cui suddenly appeared in front of Li Wenqing. She grabbed his neck with one hand and lifted him up as easily as a chick.
"Kh... kh..."
Li Wenqing felt as though her thin hand held the strength of a thousand pounds. He couldn't struggle at all. Before long, his face turned red, and he began to choke. It was clear she was about to strangle him to death.
"Darling, please, let my big brother go!" Li Yu quickly crawled over to Xie Cui and clung to her leg, begging.
"Hee-hee~"
Xie Cui's expression didn't change. She laughed eerily. "Your big brother said it himself. How can you trust an Evil Spirit? You're so naive. If I hadn't used you as cover, I wouldn't have had a chance to use the dampness to blow out the Red Candle...
"Now this place is filled with the damp vapor from the old well. You won't be able to light the Red Candle, hee-hee~"
Li Yu looked at the unfamiliar Xie Cui before him, then at his dying big brother. His wife on one side, the brother bound to him by blood on the other—torn between them, his heart twisted like a knife. He even spat out a mouthful of blood and cried out in despair.
Chen Mo had no time to care about any of that. He kept his eyes fixed on Xie Cui.
He hadn't rushed to act earlier for two reasons. First, Li Wenqing had attacked before him. Second, he'd wanted to let Li Wenqing test the waters so he could observe Xie Cui's methods and traits more closely.
Thus, Chen Mo had watched every detail of their fight, especially Xie Cui's every reaction.
Now he'd made an initial assessment of Xie Cui's traits:
First, she was fast and strong. That alone was enough for her to kill a Blood Rush Realm expert in an instant.
Second, Li Hongxi could possess people.
And Li Hongxi's weakness had been exposed too: she feared the Red Candle and firelight.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have used dampness to extinguish the Red Candle and put out the bonfires before attacking.
The key was the dampness!
If True Qi could counteract her dampness, Chen Mo felt he had a seventy percent chance of hacking her to death.
With that in mind, Chen Mo immediately picked up the Red Candle from the table and secretly circulated his True Qi. Sure enough... the True Qi evaporated the dampness on the candle.
Chen Mo quietly put down the Red Candle. He knew... an Internal Martial Master could kill Li Hongxi.
There was just one risk: he had to kill her quickly, before her resentful soul escaped Xie Cui's body. Chen Mo had only seen Xie Cui fight, so he knew her traits and weaknesses. If she escaped, he had no idea what sort of methods she might unleash.
Chen Mo didn't want to take that risk.
Now that he was sure of himself, he didn't hesitate.
Clang!
Chen Mo drew his saber with a sudden flourish and charged at Xie Cui like a cannonball.
"Die!"
P.S. Readers kept saying the story dragged, so I decided to combine the chapters to make for a more satisfying read. That's all for today. Once Li Hongxi is dead, Volume One will end. All the hints from earlier chapters will be explained, and there'll be a bonus scene too.
Before you continue