Seal the Three Paths

Master Qiao glared at Xu Yuan with eyes even more venomous than the old locust's.

The old locust loosened its forelegs, which had been clasped behind its back, and pointed at Xu Yuan. "I found him for you. I told you long ago that when it came to finding things in these mountains, nobody could beat my family."

Then it gave a sinister little smile. "But the price we agreed on before won't do anymore. You saw it yourself: that brat killed so many of my good descendants. Three heads of Blood Food just won't cut it."

Xu Yuan gritted his teeth and accused Master Qiao, "You've been consorting with the supernatural!"

During his first few days in Qihetan Town, a question had occurred to Xu Yuan: what gave Master Qiao the power to protect the town?

After all, Master Qiao was only a Nine Streams Literary Cultivator, albeit a powerful one among the Nine Streams.

Even the supernatural beings in Ghost Witch Mountain with a little strength could surpass Master Qiao.

Yet over the years, though supernatural beings had occasionally harmed people in town, things had been peaceful overall.

Qihetan Town sat at a key point along the main road. Master Qiao controlled the town and made hundreds of thousands every year!

Master Qiao gritted his teeth and asked the old locust, "How much do you want?"

"Three hundred heads."

"Impossible!" Master Qiao refused without the slightest hesitation. "Where am I supposed to find three hundred living people for you? If that many people disappeared without a trace, the authorities would investigate to the bitter end."

The old locust's antennae swayed. "It's not just for me. That Water Monster that just came down made a move too—and it doesn't come cheap! Two hundred of those three hundred heads are for it."

That was exactly why Master Qiao hated Xu Yuan so much.

The price of capturing Xu Yuan was too high; he couldn't afford it. But if he didn't pay, the old locust certainly wouldn't let him leave. He'd become Blood Food himself.

The old locust cackled. "Why don't you go negotiate with that Water Monster yourself?"

Master Qiao's bravado drained away.

That thing was vicious and deranged; there was no reasoning with it. If he went to negotiate, it might lose patience and eat him first.

There were many supernatural beings like it in Ghost Witch Mountain. Master Qiao always negotiated with them through "middlemen" like the old locust.

"I hired it to save your children and grandchildren. I shouldn't have to pay for that."

The moment Master Qiao said this, the old locust's expression darkened. "You old bastard, trying to welsh on the deal?"

All the locusts around them turned their hostile gazes on Master Qiao.

Cold sweat broke out on Master Qiao's forehead. "One hundred and fifty. That's my limit. If I give you any more, you won't have to kill me—the authorities will!"

The old locust drew circles in the air with its antennae. "Three hundred heads of Blood Food, and I'll introduce you to those people on Guanghuo Street!"

A glint flashed in Master Qiao's eyes, but he still said helplessly, "I really can't get that many..."

"I'll let you pay in two installments. One hundred and fifty heads now, then another one hundred and fifty a month from now." The old locust said, "That's my final offer!"

Master Qiao was tempted. He asked cautiously, "And about Guanghuo Street..."

"I keep my word!"

"Fine!" Master Qiao agreed through gritted teeth.

The old locust smiled happily and pointed a foreleg at Xu Yuan. "Take him away."

Master Qiao stepped up to Xu Yuan and sneered as he pulled three sheets of calligraphy paper from his sleeve. Each one bore the character "Seal," written in a different script.

Master Qiao flicked his hand. The three sheets rose into the air without a breeze, then burst into flame without fire. Three "Seal" characters stamped themselves onto Xu Yuan's body in midair.

Xu Yuan immediately found himself unable to move. Even his Inner Fire had been sealed.

Master Qiao hoisted Xu Yuan onto his shoulder and strode off, his feet moving like the wind.

Once they were out of the old locust's territory, Master Qiao roughly flung Xu Yuan onto the ground and said bitterly, "Half a month ago, Xu Linshi brought you to me. I actually thought she wanted to kick her unwanted stepson out of the house!

"Hmph! How ridiculous of me. I even thought you were Blood Food delivered right to my door, and planned to send you into the mountains after a few months!"

Over the years, young men and women working in Qihetan Town had often died inexplicably in Ghost Witch Mountain.

The townsfolk all thought supernatural beings were responsible. No one knew Master Qiao had arranged it, sending them into the mountains to be eaten.

He could fool the ignorant townsfolk with his methods, but he couldn't fool Saint Aunt.

That was why Saint Aunt had said he was dreaming if he thought he could become Headman.

Xu Yuan hit the ground, striking his forehead against a rock. Blood immediately streamed down his face, and sand and dirt scraped his cheek raw.

But Xu Yuan showed no trace of dejection. His eyes shifted, and he cast Master Qiao a cool glance.

Master Qiao caught the look at once and snorted. "Not convinced? I've sealed every ability you have."

Remembering Accountant Liu's gruesome death, Master Qiao ground his teeth. "This time, I won't let you escape, no matter what!"

"So far, you've shown two kinds of power: Pill Cultivator and Law Cultivator." Master Qiao had eyes and ears everywhere in Qihetan Town. Whatever Xu Yuan had demonstrated in public, Master Qiao had eventually learned about.

"I always prepare for the worst. I'll add this so-called Fate Cultivator to the list. Three paths of power. That's plenty, isn't it? Those three sheets of calligraphy paper corresponded to one path each!"

Master Qiao sat down on a rock opposite Xu Yuan and nudged Xu Yuan's face with the tip of his shoe. The mud-caked sole left a clear footprint on Xu Yuan's cheek.

Xu Yuan's side-lying position became a face-up sprawl, making it easier for Master Qiao to interrogate him.

"Tell me the truth, and tell it nicely: how did you meet June Bug? If you do, I might be kind enough to spare your life."

Xu Yuan's eyes moved, signaling that he couldn't speak.

Master Qiao snorted. "If you try any tricks, I'll have to break both your arms and legs. You're a clever lad. Why suffer that pain?"

Xu Yuan's eyes softened in submission. Master Qiao raised his hand, and one of the "Seal" characters loosened slightly from Xu Yuan's body.

Xu Yuan could move again.

"Go on."

Xu Yuan hesitated for a moment, seeming to accept his fate. "When I arrived, my stepmother gave me a little Bamboo Cage and some old rice. They were meant for catching June Bug."

Master Qiao frowned deeply. "A Bamboo Cage? Rice? Did you catch it?"

"I did. I ate it."

Master Qiao asked, "Where's the Bamboo Cage?"

"In my clothes." As Xu Yuan spoke, he pulled the little Bamboo Cage from his tattered garment, held it out on his palm, and said, "Look. This is it."

Master Qiao reached to take it. Just as his fingers were about to touch the cage, it suddenly sprang open and raced along his fingers, swallowing his entire hand.

The bamboo strips were like rows of fangs, and the cage was like a ravenous, gaping maw.

After swallowing Master Qiao's entire hand, it quickly devoured his whole arm.

Master Qiao cried out in shock, "Artisan Cultivator!"