"Subduing demons and defending the Way is our duty as cultivators. Since there are Monsters here and we've run into them, we should naturally go take a look. Besides, we'd already planned to spend the night at the God of the Soil's temple."
Seventh Senior Brother smiled, then said to Lin Jue, "But you should know that I'm nowhere near as skilled at Spell Combat as Third Senior Brother. If we really run into a Monster, Junior Brother, you'll have to protect me."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Lin Jue bowed to Seventh Senior Brother, then turned to the group from his village. "Third Uncle Shu, since joining Mount Yi, I've learned a few spells and had a few encounters with Demonic Ghosts. As it happens, we were planning to spend the night at the God of the Soil's temple, so we'll go take a look for you."
"You? Can you handle it?"
"Is that Monster really fierce?"
"They say they're little people. Some in the city have been injured by them, and others have even been killed!"
"..." Lin Jue's gaze flickered. "Then we have all the more reason to take a look. Half a year of hard work is no small sum. Third Uncle Shu, please lead the way."
"Your masters really aren't here?"
"They're far away."
"Then... you..."
"Lead the way."
"Ah... all right..."
Third Uncle Shu changed direction and led them toward the God of the Soil's temple.
As they walked, he explained what had happened.
"Lately, every household that wasn't desperately poor has had money stolen. Only the blacksmiths making iron cash boxes have been raking it in. When you go to buy something, any decent-sized shop that takes silver is bound to have an iron cash box. That's why."
"So that's really the case," Lin