Great General Black Wind (Seeking Recommendations!)

"Auntie, please don't worry!"

Wu Ming pressed the pulse and slowly channeled a stream of True Qi into her. He saw only a slight improvement and frowned.

If it were a common illness like a cold or miscellaneous ailment, his True Qi would at least invigorate her and bring her back to consciousness, if not fully restore her health.

But this was an invasion of a Malevolent Spirit, entirely different from True Qi.

"Sigh… I didn't expect the first time I'd use this would be on this woman…"

Wu Ming pulled out a yellow talisman paper, his face twitching slightly.

It was just one, and it involved the secrets of the City God. Seeing how pitiful she was, he decided to do it.

"Please fetch a bowl of water!"

Although Wu Ming looked only fifteen or sixteen years old, his gaze held a commanding presence, and his every action was decisive, leaving no room for disobedience.

The fisherwoman repeatedly agreed and immediately brought a bowl of hot water.

The bowl was a coarse ceramic one, with much of its glaze chipped away and a notch on the rim. It contained clear water.

Wu Ming saw this but said nothing. Holding the talisman between his right index and middle fingers, he made another flash.

Ssszzzt!

A ball of flame appeared, instantly igniting the talisman. The bright yellow flames consumed the paper, turning it into wisps of ash that fell into the water.

The fisherwoman beside him stared, somewhat dumbfounded.

"Give this Evil Dispelling Talisman Water to your daughter to drink! And prepare a clay pot or something…"

Wu Ming stood up, a hint of a sigh escaping him.

If a true Daoist priest were to use their Magical Power to activate the Evil Dispelling Talisman, the effect would be even better, and they wouldn't even need to dissolve the talisman into water.

However, a Martial Artist's True Qi and a Daoist's Magical Power were both forms of extraordinary power, so they naturally had commonalities. When Wu Ming selected the talismans and other items, he specifically chose ones that ordinary people could use, so it was fine.

It was just… that was the extent of it.

Truly high-level talismans, let alone high-grade magical treasures or Daoist artifacts, could not be used by those who did not cultivate the Dao. In fact, they even had requirements for a Daoist's cultivation realm, which was beyond what Wu Ming could hope for now.

"Yun'er is awake! Yun'er is awake!"

Just then, Madam Xu shouted excitedly. The young girl on the couch moved her eyelids and opened her eyes. A look of pain appeared on her face, and she suddenly leaned over the edge of the bed, vomiting.

Even the fluid she vomited was as thick and black as ink, emitting a foul stench. Within it, small worms seemed to wriggle.

The young girl continued to vomit. In the end, the black fluid she expelled filled more than half a clay pot before she finally fell into a deep sleep. Although her face was still pale, the dark bluish tint from before was gone, and her breathing was even. Her life had been saved.

"When she wakes up, stew some ginger soup or something to nourish her with Yang and warmth, and she'll be fine…"

Wu Ming flicked his sleeve. The window and door opened, and a breeze swept through, expelling the foul air. He then walked outside, gazing at the river, lost in thought.

"Benefactor! Your life-saving grace is beyond repayment. I will gladly serve as your beast of burden or tie my fate to yours to repay your immense kindness!"

Behind him, Madam Xu emerged and suddenly bowed.

"There's no need for such formalities!"

Wu Ming raised his hands to support her: "The only reason I saved this girl is that I have some questions that require your answers…"

"If Benefactor has questions, I will tell you everything I know, without reservation!"

Madam Xu said solemnly.

"Actually, this matter… is also deeply connected to your daughter. You must have realized by now that your daughter is not suffering from a sudden illness, but has been possessed by an evil spirit!"

As soon as Wu Ming spoke, Madam Xu nearly collapsed to the ground, her eyes vacant. She only mumbled, "It's true… it's true… I knew it wouldn't let us go…"

"Who is 'it'?"

Wu Ming immediately asked.

Madam Xu slowly shook her head: "Benefactor is better off not knowing. Otherwise, you would merely be inviting trouble upon yourself, and how could I rest easy?"

"It's not about inviting trouble upon myself, but rather that it has already begun… Do you know about the bounty posted in the county? I was the one who posted it!"

"It was you?!"

Madam Xu was surprised, then nodded: "Then I should indeed tell Benefactor everything!"

"Mhm, your husband, Xu Liulang… I heard he befriended the Water God and local deities. Is that true?"

Wu Ming asked directly.

"It is true…"

Madam Xu seemed to fall into thought: "Liulang has a generous and straightforward personality, and he always helps others. He also has Yin-Yang eyes, allowing him to see the netherworld. When he was fishing before, he befriended a water ghost, which is why he always returned with a full catch…"

"Later, that water ghost accumulated merit and was appointed as the Land Deity of Black Water Town. Liulang, remembering their old friendship, often went to see him, always returning after drinking heavily…"

"Several months ago, Liulang's face was filled with panic. He told me that his old friend was in great danger and needed to be saved, so he went to Black Water Town… Who knew… Who knew that his departure would be a separation of heaven and earth! Sob sob…"

The woman clearly became emotional as she recalled the sad event, and tears streamed down her face like a broken string.

"He bravely went to his death, a true man!"

Wu Ming praised and asked, "Do you know who the enemy is?"

"Although he didn't want me to know, I overheard fragments. It was Great General Black Wind, one of the eighteen cave lords under Lord of Black Mountain! It seems he's fighting with the Black Water Town land god for a divine position..."

Madam Xu wept as she spoke, while Wu Ming felt his head spinning.

"Lord of Black Mountain? Eighteen cave lords? Great General Black Wind? And a divine position?"

He immediately realized he had stumbled into something troublesome.

He also recalled that Black Water Town was at the foot of Black Mountain, like a frontline battlefield. With two powerful figures secretly vying for control behind the scenes, he couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine.

After a few more questions yielded no further information, Wu Ming left a few coins and departed resolutely.

"Lord of Black Mountain? That sounds like a noble title, but since he's named after a mountain, is he a mountain god? Or perhaps just a powerful Yao?"

Wu Ming felt a headache coming on.

After wandering for a bit, he spotted a sign for East Water Alley. The first mansion on the street was the Ye family's, sprawling and impressive, with two stately stone lions at the entrance.

"To understand the origin of Lord of Black Mountain, I must consult the county and geographical records..."

Wu Ming made up his mind and approached the Ye mansion's gate. "May I ask if Young Master Ye Xiaoyou is home? I am Wu Ming, a friend of Young Master Ye. We had an appointment previously..."

The gatekeeper, seeing Wu Ming's imposing presence and distinguished demeanor, didn't dare to neglect him and immediately went inside to announce him.

Before long, Ye Xiaoyou came out smiling, addressing him as "brother": "Brother Wu, you've certainly made little brother wait. Those two lines of poetry from that day, the more I think about them, the more profound they become. I was hoping to ask for your guidance..."

"Lord of Black Mountain?!"

In the small courtyard of the inn where Shan Lan and the others were staying, they looked incredulously at Wu Ming's retelling. "Could he be our target?"

"No!"

Wu Ming replied, "I borrowed the county records from a scholar's home and learned of this lord's mysterious origins. Rumor has it he was a general in the previous dynasty who massacred countless people. After his death, his soul became a god, the lord of the three hundred li Black Mountain. Of course, another theory is that a black tiger transformed into a Yao and proclaimed himself Lord of Black Mountain..."

"Regardless, this has become troublesome..."

Shan Lan's face turned ashen. "If he's a mountain god, he can command the spiritual energy of the three hundred li Black Mountain. He might not even need much mortal incense, possessing immense power, perhaps even surpassing that of a City God!"

Deities of such famous mountains and great rivers are supported by the spiritual energy of the mountains and waters, thus requiring little mortal faith.

In comparison, they were even more carefree than the Black Terrace City God.

Of course, their strength was also commensurate.

After all, one controlled three hundred li of mountains and rivers, while the other only had a small county town. The difference in power was clear as day.

"Furthermore... just from the records and other leaked fragments, we know this lord is powerful and tyrannical, not a benevolent god..."

Wu Ming sighed. "The situation is clear... The upheaval in Black Water Town is due to the absence of its land god... and behind it all is the shadow of Lord of Black Mountain... Of course, according to my estimation, the one we need to deal with might only be that Great General Black Wind!"

"Of course, it's only Great General Black Wind. Otherwise, even if all of us were tied together, we wouldn't be enough to withstand even a yawn from that Mountain Lord..."

Shan Lan rolled her eyes. "But the Black Terrace City God is also involved... This is no small matter, though the rewards are sure to be substantial... Perhaps there's even a divine decree!"

"A divine decree?!"

Wu Ming knew what that was. However, it was useless to the living, only to departed spirits and monsters. It was said to have many restrictions, and while it could grant longevity, it was considered inferior.

"At least it's a backup plan for after death... But... do the divine decrees in this world still work in Great Zhou?"

Wu Ming rolled his eyes and asked the question, which immediately silenced Shan Lan. "Should... probably... have some effect!?"

By the end of her sentence, she herself wasn't very confident.

"Fine... whether the wild goose is steamed or boiled, we have to catch it first before we can decide..."

Wu Ming chuckled. "The situation is clear now... The former land god of Black Water Town was sent by the Black Terrace City God, intending to establish a foothold at the foot of Black Mountain. Unexpectedly, Lord of Black Mountain retaliated fiercely, his subordinate Great General Black Wind killed the land god, perhaps usurped his divine position, and released many wronged spirits to disrupt the lives of the people..."

At this moment, he felt a sense of lingering fear.

Fortunately, he hadn't been reckless and forced his way into the depths of Black Mountain. If he had truly encountered Lord of Black Mountain, he would have perished without a burial place.

The Main God Hall clearly wouldn't have sent them to Black Water Town to fight blindly, which was why they had posted the bounty and investigation missions.

However, the next stage would be a fight to the death.

As Wu Ming's thoughts stirred, a prompt from the Main God Hall appeared:

[Side Mission: Investigate (Complete!)]

[Main Mission Activated: Uphold Justice and Aid the Weak]

[Scenario Description: With your keen perception, you have uncovered the series of covert conflicts between Lord of Black Mountain and the Black Terrace City God. Unable to bear the suffering of the common people, you have chosen to stand with the benevolent side!]

[Mission Objective: Within ten days, kill or expel Great General Black Wind and restore peace to Black Water Town!]

[Mission Rewards: Main Mission Completion, Reward: 500 Minor Merits! Killing Great General Black Wind, Reward: 1000 Minor Merits! Merit for other monsters and ghosts calculated separately!]

[Mission Difficulty: Hong!]