Ge Huolang Wants to Join Zhu Hongwu

After steadying his mind, Ge Xian abruptly stepped out from the peddler's caravan. He stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou, the two county magistrate generals. Then, he spoke in a low voice:

"My lords, I have a matter of life and death to report. May I speak with you in private?"

Perhaps it was Ge Xian's near-slide tackle when dealing with the ghost jackals that had left a deep impression on the two ghosts.

Seeing him speak like this now, though slightly impatient, they still nodded.

The two ghosts had barely moved aside when the words spat out by the young peddler next moment nearly made their faces change drastically, as if they were about to transform on the spot again.

"To be frank, my lords, although I am a mortal, I awakened a talent a few days ago that allows me to sense some dangers and extraordinary auras from non-human races."

"Now, in my perception, there are dozens of water ghosts and water monsters gathering at the bottom of the river nearby. I fear they intend to harm us. If they launch a surprise attack while the villagers are gathered and the caravan is setting off..."

Ge Xian's words were not finished.

The two ghosts were both horrified. Without needing Ge Xian to continue, they exchanged a glance with the evil cultivators in the escort team.

After the cultivators surrounded them, the ghoul named Zhang Buzu quietly revealed his Suffocated Ghost Dharma form. With a loud "Gack!", he actually spat out a square bronze mirror carved with the Gu-Eating Spirit God from his abdomen.

He then cast a spell with the mirror, infusing it with ghost qi, and shone it towards the bottom of the Qiantang River.

As ripples spread, a blurry image first appeared, then became clear.

The "water monsters," numbering fifty to sixty, each appearing to possess unique powers, were immediately seen by the cultivators and Ge Xian.

Judging by their appearance and posture, they were indeed lying in ambush, full of malice, waiting to launch their attack.

The one at the forefront was the most eye-catching.

Although still in human form, it had already begun to develop into a water beast. Its appearance was ugly, naked, its entire body gray-green with a pale belly. It had gills on the sides of its neck, webbed hands and feet, and on its face, two enormous, scarlet eyes like jade, yet filled with cold bloodlust... a ferocious beast, half-human, half-frog.

One of its hands held a strange long spear. The spear tip resembled a spiraling unicorn horn, radiating a cold light, clearly a formidable weapon.

Even seeing it from afar made Ge Xian feel extremely uncomfortable.

However, the two ghosts simultaneously sneered:

"So it's that bastard Wei Dashou. This dog was originally a fisherman, hanging around the banks of the Qiantang River. Rumor has it that this guy had good luck and was unexpectedly favored by a clam spirit, who transformed into a human woman and married him. She even took out the [Clam Pearl] she had nurtured for a hundred years and had him swallow it. She also exhausted her soul and body to be with him all night, helping him overcome the rejection and successfully enter the path of cultivation."

"Who knew this bastard was heartless? After entering the path, he felt the clam spirit had no more value. He got his hands on some evil scripture from who knows where, killed the clam spirit that very night, smashed its body, and offered it to the [Dragon Palace] at the bottom of the Qiantang River, seeking to join the dragon race and cultivate great techniques."

"Looking at him now, he actually succeeded?"

"Don't worry, my friends. This guy hasn't succeeded. My family has some dealings with the Qiantang Water Tribe, and we happen to know this dog's story. His excessively treacherous and malicious nature was also disliked by the Qiantang Dragon Clan. However, because he performed the sacrifice correctly, they couldn't outright punish him. So, they bestowed upon him a drop of the tainted blood of a Fish of Cleansing, gave him a page of the Blackwater Fragment, and banished him to the riverbank to fend for himself."

"Now it seems this guy also has some talent for cultivation, having delved quite deep. He calls himself the [Green Toad Water Lord], and has gathered some water ghosts and water monsters, plundering and devouring humans everywhere."

"Heh, no wonder this guy has no trace of 'dragon aura' on him. So the Qiantang Dragon Clan was cultivating him as a monstrous beast."

"Perfect. Let's set an ambush and see if he's greedy. If he falls into our trap due to greed, then we can't be blamed for striking him down."

In just a few sentences, Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou devised a wicked plan, and the other evil cultivators naturally obeyed.

As for Ge Xian, he seemed to have earned credit from the two ghosts, deliberately placing him in a safe position. He even instructed him to call for help if he encountered danger.

Ge Huolang showed a grateful expression on his face, but inwardly he chuckled. Whether the fisherman monster called Wei Dashou would fall into the trap was still unknown, but these two ghouls had already fallen into his, Ge Xian's, trap.

Ge Xian already knew how he would deal with this somewhat talented young man after the two ghosts were dealt with.

And the subsequent developments unfolded exactly as he had predicted.

The remaining six hundred villagers of Jiudao Village spent a full half-hour packing their belongings before they began to trudge towards Qiantang County.

Under normal circumstances, the two ghosts and the other evil cultivators would have long since started shouting at them to hurry up.

But this time was different. Not only were they deliberately indulging them, but the strongest of the two ghosts, Wei Dashou, had even gone ahead to lead the way. The dozens of evil cultivators behind them had also dispersed.

With such a large "flaw" exposed, the water monsters and water ghosts in the riverbed could no longer hold back.

With a thunderous roar, huge waves surged, as if driven by some strange power, crossing the riverbank and rushing towards the villagers.

Standing atop the waves was Wei Dashou, the fisherman, who was no longer human.

Although he had transformed into a beast, he could still speak human language. He roared hoarsely:

"Who are these ghouls and evil cultivators? How dare you be so bold."

"These villagers are under my protection. If you dare to rob them, you will all perish here."

Before he could finish speaking, shadowy figures leaped out from the murky waves.

The variety of creatures was truly rich. There were spirits transformed from great fish and great turtles, strange beasts with fish heads and human bodies, and some were simply water ghosts whose true forms were swollen corpses. Each possessed unique powers and attacked in unison.

In their panic, dozens of evil cultivators rushed to meet the attack, finding themselves at a disadvantage in the first round.

Especially since they had to divide their attention to protect the villagers, the situation immediately became perilous.

It was at this moment that a sudden change occurred.

Two wild laughs came from behind them. Wei Dashou, who called himself "Green Toad Water Lord," turned his head and his eyes widened in disbelief, wanting to curse.

Unfortunately, he didn't even have time to utter the first curse.

He saw a Suffocated Ghost and a Starved Ghost on the riverbank simultaneously open their massive mouths, swallowing half of the giant waves, cutting off their retreat and their source of power.

Cutting off the roots!

What a poisonous scheme.

Water monsters and water ghosts, once away from water, can't last long.

In an instant, they visibly weakened, and the tide of battle turned in the blink of an eye.

Wei Dashou also knew he'd been tricked. He intended to leap back into the Qiantang River, but Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou wouldn't allow it. The two ghosts attacked simultaneously, intercepting him.

They didn't even bother with fairness, ganging up on him two-on-one.

It was practically a one-sided, brutal slaughter unfolding before them.

Ge Xian, who had barely "directed" this scene, watched silently while meticulously analyzing the situation in his mind, especially the top-tier combatants: Wei Dashou, who killed his wife to prove his Dao, and the two ghoul spirits who could starve or stuff themselves to death.

The notorious Wei Dashou's movements were ferocious, capable of unleashing demonic arts like Water Cannon, Poison Water Arrow, and Frog Croak, which was not surprising.

It was the two ghosts, however, that surprised him. Ge Xian had initially thought they were merely two ghoul spirits who had been lucky enough to gain Lu Hualong's favor and be granted Dharma Images.

Now, seeing them unleash bizarre martial arts with their "Evil Ghost Dharma Images," each move was already at the Grandmaster level, their power terrifying. It was likely they were already formidable experts before becoming ghosts.

After a moment, Ge Xian reached his final conclusion:

"Fighting one-on-one, as long as the 'Beat Dog' and 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' powers haven't dissipated, I'd rank at least in the top three among the cultists in the guard. As for those two ghoul spirits who each cultivated different Dharma Images, and Wei Dashou, I probably couldn't beat any of them."

"The bizarre martial art '[Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms]', with only three palms remaining, sounds impressive but isn't actually that powerful. The meager bit of dragon energy would likely only leave a white mark on their three-meter-tall evil ghost bodies. However, if I were to strike Wei Dashou, there might be some racial advantage."

"It seems that even among those in the Dao Entry Realm, there's a vast difference in combat power."

"In another dozen hours, when the two strange powers within me dissipate, leaving only one or two percent, let alone those three, any random cultist could crush me like a chick... I haven't even tried my Charm and Cultivate talent yet. Can it be used to cultivate from other cultivators?"

"I'm too weak, too weak."

These thoughts did not make Ge Xian dejected.

On the contrary, it was precisely this clear understanding of his situation that made Ge Xian abandon his previous ideas and instead formulate a more secure plan.

Because of this trip!

Ge Xian knew how terrifying the dangers outside the county were. If he couldn't gather allies or become a powerful cultivator, he would have no chance of safely escaping Qiantang alone. Even if he got lucky and escaped, it would be useless, as the entire Jiangzhe Province was under the control of Yelü Yuyan, that crazy woman's father.

From the secrets he had uncovered, Yelü Tianzheng was also no good person.

Furthermore, even if Ge Xian had the heavens' luck and escaped the Jiangzhe Province in one go, could he guarantee that other regions and provinces would be any better?

In the twilight of the dynasty, there was nowhere to hide.

"It's a pity those rebel armies haven't attacked yet. If they had, I could have joined one of them."

"The closest is Zhang Shicheng, I could barely join him. At worst, I'll find an opportunity to join Zhu Hongwu later."

"Hmm? If I were to invest in him, things would be fine for now, but I'll need to be cautious in the future..."

While Ge Xian was lost in thought, the slaughter on the other side had already concluded.

Without the support of their water source, Wei Dashou's "demon water bandits" were no match for the two ghosts and the assembled evil cultivators.

Before long, they were all dealt with.

Even Wei Dashou, known for his ruthless ferocity and well-known cultivation path, only lasted a dozen breaths longer before being unceremoniously dismembered by Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou, each ghost tearing off a limb, reducing him to a "human pig" that rolled on the ground.

The battle, thus, came to an end.

But a twist that even Ge Xian hadn't anticipated occurred the next moment:

It was unclear what heinous acts Wei Dashou had committed against "Jiudao Village." Seeing him reduced to a human pig, utterly incapable of resistance, the villagers who had been frantically hiding moments before.

Suddenly stopped in their tracks. After exchanging glances, their breathing grew rapid, and they could no longer hold back. They scrambled forward, all of them lunging at Wei Dashou.

This scene unfolded too quickly. By the time the peddler and the cultivators reacted.

Seven or eight villagers had already successfully pounced on Wei Dashou, desperately beginning to gnaw on his flesh.

As they gnawed, they wailed:

"My child! Your father has avenged you."

"My dear little girl, wait a moment longer. Mother will come to you after eating this beast's flesh."

"You fiend! I'll eat you."

"Hahaha... Wei Dashou, you too have a day like this. Weren't you also from Jiudao Village? Why, why did you come back to eat your own elders and kin?"

From these wails, it wasn't hard to piece together what Wei Dashou had done.

Killing his wife to prove his dao?

That was just the beginning.

Before he embarked on his path of cultivation, this fellow seemed to have been a loyal and honest fisherman.

After entering the path, his temperament changed drastically.

After slaughtering the "Clam Spirit," he became even more perverted. As his cultivation deepened, he developed many wicked habits. Besides his fondness for lurking in hidden reefs and water caves, he also enjoyed capsizing fishing boats on the river and catching those who fell into the water to eat. Later, he escalated to gathering Water Ghosts and Water Monsters to attack villages and eat people. As he grew more powerful, he became even more discerning, preferring to eat only the tender flesh of young children and infants.

His sins were profound, and at this moment, he was facing retribution.

While the scene unfolding now seemed reasonable, both ghosts and the assembled evil cultivators changed their expressions upon witnessing it, cursing:

"Quick, stop these fools."

"My lord's orders are not to let these humans be contaminated. Their flesh and blood must remain pure."

"Hmph, there's still time. Dig out the frog meat they swallowed."

As soon as the words were spoken, they violently burst in, flinging aside the villagers who were rushing forward one after another. They even directly seized the seven or eight villagers who had eaten Wei Dashou's flesh and blood first.

Regardless of whether they were men or women, and ignoring their struggles and wails, they ripped open their clothes and forcibly dug open their bellies, excavating the un-digested masses of "Wei Dashou's flesh and blood." Then, they crudely applied medicine, letting them heal amidst the pain.

This scene shocked everyone present, and no one dared to act rashly anymore.

Ge Xian then looked at Wei Dashou. This Green Toad Water Lord had already breathed his last, not even leaving a complete corpse.

On his face was an expression that Ge Xian found very familiar.

Unwillingness!

Regret!

Ge Xian knew that before Wei Dashou died, he probably wasn't repenting his actions. Instead, like Hong Buyi before him, he was regretting not being more ruthless, not discarding his humanity sooner, which led to his death and the dissipation of his Dao.

"Hong Buyi, from the Beggar Sect, practiced a bizarre martial art. Definitely a bottom-tier cultivator."

"Wei Dashou had a fortuitous encounter and practiced the Dragon Clan Great Law."

"Both of them were inhumane. It's unclear if it was their inherent nature or if they were influenced by the flesh and blood, or the cultivation methods?"

Ge Xian didn't ponder for long. He quietly looked to the other side. The two ghosts, along with the evil cultivators, were already clearing the battlefield and counting the spoils of this battle.

Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou, the capable subordinates of the Demon County Magistrates, were also whispering to each other:

"We originally thought our brothers were assigned a thankless and difficult task. But now it seems that's not necessarily the case. With the Young Peddler's help, we might even exceed our mission objectives. Our master will surely reward us handsomely then."

"Mm, but we mustn't let the master know about the peddler's existence. Otherwise, he might swallow and then regurgitate, becoming a Ghoul himself. Then he'd be counted among us brothers again, and a large portion of the credit would go to that brat. We need to conceal this."

"That's easy. We'll coax him a bit, give him some benefits, and I guarantee he'll be obedient."

"If he gets restless, I'll eat him first..."

The two ghosts quickly reached an agreement.

Then, Zhang Buzu spoke, calling Ge Xian over and saying, "Peddler, you played a part in this battle's success. Come over and pick something to play with."

As these words rang out, all the peddlers and traveling merchants immediately cast envious and jealous glances at Ge Xian.

Ge Xian, however, showed a look of surprise on his face, while his heart remained completely calm.

When he decided not to venture into the wilderness, he instead focused on cultivating and developing within Qiantang County, which was why he helped the two ghosts.

It was to preserve his own life, after all. If he hadn't intervened, that damned "Green Toad Water Lord Wei Dashou" might have succeeded.

At the same time, it was also to gain benefits and avoid attracting the attention of the monstrous couple, Lu Hualong and Yelü Yuyan.

It was a case of "the darkest place is under the lamp."

The subsequent developments unfolded exactly as he had predicted.