Black Mountain Old Demon

The fire behind them raged ever more fiercely. The building was already a wooden structure weathered by years, and with the diesel and night wind, it quickly collapsed into ruin.

Yan Chixia sighed. "Still, it got away!"

An Yang's eyes dimmed slightly. He hadn't expected the original course of events to remain unchanged. Yan Chixia had only wounded the Thousand-Year Tree Demon's century of Taoist practice, forcing it to refrain from harming people for a hundred years. The only effect of his scheme was that Yan Chixia wasn't injured, and Nie Xiaoqian wasn't taken back by the Tree Demon.

Yan Chixia said, "But it's fine. I've wounded a hundred years of its practice. At least for a century, it won't dare come out to harm people!"

An Yang nodded, helped Nie Xiaoqian sit down, and cupped his hands to Yan Chixia. "Congratulations, Brother Yan. For a hundred years, Lanruo Temple won't be disturbed!"

"This demon has probably marked us for revenge. A hundred years from now, you'll be dead and I won't be, so it'll definitely come looking for me to settle the score!" Yan Chixia said, then turned to Nie Xiaoqian. "By the way, where are your ashes? And when is your reincarnation deadline? I'll dig up your ashes, and then you can go and be reborn."

An Yang's expression tightened instantly!

He couldn't let Nie Xiaoqian be reborn. Or rather, even if he wanted to fulfill her wish, the system wouldn't allow it. Even if he softened for a moment, failing the mission would mean starting over, just another cycle until the moment Nie Xiaoqian could never be reborn finally came.

In short, in any timeline with him, Nie Xiaoqian would never be reborn.

"This..." Nie Xiaoqian hesitated. Rebirth, becoming human again, had always been her wish. But she glanced at An Yang, then bowed to Yan Chixia:

"I appreciate the Venerable Taoist's kindness. But I've already made an agreement with Master An Yang. If he rescues me from Grandmother's grasp, I will remain a wandering ghost forever, staying by his side for all eternity, serving as a maid or slave without regret."

Yan Chixia was taken aback. "You're willing to give up the chance to be reborn as a human for him, content to be a wandering ghost?"

Nie Xiaoqian nodded. "I am willing!"

Yan Chixia said helplessly, "Even if you're willing, you're still just a wandering ghost. The paths of humans and ghosts are different. You can't be with him. And you can only come out at night—how can you stay by his side forever?"

Nie Xiaoqian hesitated and looked to An Yang for help.

An Yang thought for a moment, then put on a helpless expression. "Ask what love is in this world, that it teaches life and death to pledge. If there's blame, let it fall on the matchmaker in a past life who tied the wrong red thread."

Yan Chixia was visibly stunned!

Nie Xiaoqian was also startled, then a moved expression spread across her face.

Master An Yang truly had deep feelings and righteousness...

Yan Chixia sighed. "Fine. I didn't expect you to be even more devoted than I thought. I'll teach you a method. If you practice it occasionally, it will increase your internal energy and prevent Nie Xiaoqian from draining you dry. But with her level of practice, she can't appear in daylight—there's nothing I can do about that!"

An Yang froze, then his eyes widened. This unexpected gain was a delightful surprise!

Recovering, he quickly said to Yan Chixia, "Brother Yan's great kindness, This Humble One will never forget!"

Yan Chixia waved his hand. "Don't give me that. This secret method was passed down by my master, a Kunlun Secret Method. You must promise not to spread it!"

An Yang immediately said, "I will never spread it!"

Yan Chixia nodded, then said to Nie Xiaoqian, "Where are your ashes? Even if you're following this kid, you still need to dig them up."

Nie Xiaoqian bowed gratefully. "They're in the mass grave behind Lanruo Temple. I'll lead the way."

The three walked to the mass grave behind Lanruo Temple. Under Nie Xiaoqian's guidance, they dug up five pitch-black ash urns. Taking one, An Yang thought for a moment, then turned back and took the remaining urns as well.

These were all poor souls buried here, controlled by the Thousand-Year Tree Demon for who knows how long, forced to harm others against their will. He wasn't a saint, but since he'd come this far, he might as well do these things on a whim.

Back at Lanruo Temple, dawn was nearly breaking.

An Yang held Nie Xiaoqian's ashes, a faint light flickering in his eyes, and asked Yan Chixia, "Brother Yan, the Tree Demon betrothed Xiaoqian to the Black Mountain Old Demon of the underworld. I've read that demons in books are all immensely powerful. Could the Black Mountain Old Demon summon Xiaoqian away?"

Yan Chixia frowned. "Is that so?"

"Yes!"

"That's a bit troublesome. But as long as we don't run into the wedding altar in the underworld, it should be fine. To be safe, I'll add a seal to her ash urn!"

Yan Chixia bit his finger and used blood to draw a few crooked symbols on the urn.

"Prajnaparamita. Done!"

An Yang took the urn and recalled that in the original story, Ning Caichen and Yan Chixia had walked into an inn, which turned out to be the Black Mountain Old Demon's wedding venue, where Nie Xiaoqian was summoned away.

If what Yan Chixia said was true, as long as he didn't enter that inn, Nie Xiaoqian wouldn't be summoned. Even if the Black Mountain Old Demon had other methods, this seal should handle it. Thinking this, his heart settled.

Night soon fell.

Today was the Black Mountain Old Demon's wedding day.

Yan Chixia and An Yang waited in Lanruo Temple, with talismans carved into the surrounding walls to prevent the Black Mountain Old Demon from crossing over from the underworld to snatch Nie Xiaoqian.

Their worries proved justified!

In the middle of the night, Yan Chixia frowned. "Be careful. The demonic aura has suddenly become very heavy!"

As he spoke, a ripple appeared in the air. An Underworld Army materialized out of nowhere, followed by a procession of Wedding Ghost Escorts, and finally a massive platform bearing a tall figure.

Yan Chixia's expression shifted. "Here they come!"

Nie Xiaoqian's face grew panicked. "The Black Mountain Old Demon is a thousand-year demon, even more powerful than Grandmother!"

An Yang tightened his grip on a stack of talismans and the Diamond Sutra in his bosom. This worn-out sutra was a divine weapon capable of killing the Black Mountain Old Demon!

"Don't worry. This isn't the underworld—his power is diminished. You protect Young Master An Yang, and leave the rest to me!"

Yan Chixia flew out first, bit his index finger, and drew a Yin Yang fish pattern on his palm. Standing on Lanruo Temple's wall, he slammed it downward.

"Heaven and Earth, Limitless! Cosmos Borrow Law!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom..."

Tremendous explosions rang out, and the underworld soldiers blocked outside the wall by talismans were thrown into chaos, men and horses tumbling.

Before long, the palm he swung had lost its effect.

"Damn it, I've run out of magical power!"

Yan Chixia stared blankly at his clean hands, then slapped the sword case behind him. A golden divine sword flew out, and he continued to display his might!

Suddenly, an Underworld General riding a tall horse and wielding a broad axe came galloping, easily crossing through the wall and charging forward with his axe raised.

Yan Chixia's eyes sharpened, and he instantly hurled the Xuanyuan Divine Sword!

"Form and spirit as one with the sword!"

The Xuanyuan Divine Sword flashed past, but the Underworld General's figure vanished into thin air, reappearing behind Yan Chixia as the axe came crashing down.

"Pfft!"

A spurt of blood shot out. Yan Chixia caught the returning Xuanyuan Divine Sword and swept it fiercely in a horizontal arc, accompanied by a burst of flame, but it struck nothing.

His eyes sharpened, he rolled forward, and looking back, sure enough, he saw the Underworld General's form. He casually tossed out a talisman.

The Underworld General's figure vanished again, while the talisman still fluttered in the air. Yan Chixia took a deep breath and hurled the Xuanyuan Divine Sword once more.

"Pfft!"

The Xuanyuan Divine Sword pierced through the talisman, and naturally through the Underworld General behind it.

It was indeed the limitation of fate—evil could never triumph over good!

"Boom!"

A burst of sparks exploded in the night sky, and the Underworld General was shattered into oblivion by Yan Chixia, now empowered by the halo of justice!

The Black Mountain Old Demon finally grew enraged, rising from his high platform, his voice like muffled thunder: "Mortal Daoist, you dare kill my subordinate—I will not let you off!"

Yan Chixia paid no heed to his injuries and made a face at the Black Mountain Old Demon: "Pah, you old demon, are you saying your subordinates can take our lives, but I can't kill them in Heaven's stead?"

The Black Mountain Old Demon snorted, sweeping his robe. In the darkness, his form was barely visible, but a stone pillar shot out like lightning, striking Yan Chixia and knocking the Xuanyuan Divine Sword from his hand.

"I want your life!"

Yan Chixia remained unflustered, pulling a bow from his back, nocking two arrows, and shooting them off!

"Prajnaparamita! Old demon, go to hell!"

The Black Mountain Old Demon caught the two arrows with one hand and tossed them to the ground, saying, "Hmph, petty tricks. Since you seek death, don't blame me!"

"Boom!"

The black robe on the Black Mountain Old Demon billowed in the wind!

A tremendous suction force erupted, and An Yang and Yan Chixia were instantly lifted into the air, hurtling toward the Black Mountain Old Demon.

Two white silk ribbons shot out, wrapping around their bodies and suspending them midair, but the immense pull still sent their hair and clothes flying wildly.

Nie Xiaoqian pulled on the ribbons from behind, shouting, "Be careful—he's a thousand-year-old demon; he'll suck out your souls!"

The moment the words fell—

Rip!

The two white silk ribbons snapped instantly. Yan Chixia flew forward while grabbing hold of Lanruo Temple's wall, pulling An Yang along with him.

"This old demon's magic is terrifyingly strong!"

An Yang tightened his grip on the Diamond Sutra, knowing full well that Yan Chixia couldn't defeat the Black Mountain Old Demon. In the original story, that was the case—at the critical moment, it relied on Ning Caichen's protagonist halo. But Ning Caichen was gone now, and that halo was in his hands.

Yan Chixia gripped the Xuanyuan Divine Sword and, catching the Black Mountain Old Demon off guard, hurled it fiercely: "Form and spirit as one with the sword—go!"

The Xuanyuan Divine Sword shot out like a bolt, piercing straight through the Black Mountain Old Demon's body. But this sword, which had once been unstoppable, now barely fazed him—it only made him wince in pain, and the suction force ahead grew even stronger.

"Hm? Even the Xuanyuan Divine Sword can't kill him?"

"Whoosh..."

A flood of tentacles shot out, swift as lightning, majestic as a rainbow!

In the original story, Yan Chixia and Ning Caichen had been pierced through by these very tentacles, nearly having their souls drained!