"Fellow Daoist! Quickly, help me hold off this monster!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, the severed tail snapped suddenly and shot straight toward the old man.
Shen Hui furrowed his brow. With no time to think, he opened his mouth and unleashed a streak of Sharp Gold Qi.
But the tail was as nimble as a snake. It twisted sharply in midair and barely managed to dodge.
Shen Hui was about to cast a fire spell when he saw the old man had already turned his gaze away and was no longer looking at him.
The old man's withered left hand quickly formed a seal. A Green-Gourd flew out of his sleeve, hovered in the air, and spun rapidly.
After turning several times, the gourd suddenly spat out a beam of azure light, which landed squarely over the severed tail.
The tail struggled desperately, but couldn't break free of the azure light's restraints.
It writhed and snapped, until the azure light swept it up and sucked it into the gourd.
The gourd spun several more times, then dropped back into the old man's palm.
The old man let out a long breath, and the taut expression on his face finally relaxed.
Only then did Shen Hui get a clear look at the old man.
He wore a drab gray jacket and was so emaciated he was little more than skin and bones. Deep creases lined his face, and his eyes were sunken. A White Banner hovered before him, fluttering despite the lack of wind.
Below the cliff, pink mist seemed to be drawn upward by some unseen force. Strands drifted up, one after another, and seeped into the White Banner.
Each time a strand entered, a streak of red flashed across the banner before it fell silent again.
The old man relaxed, wiped the sweat from his brow, and turned to Shen Hui with a grateful smile.
"Many thanks, young friend, for lending me a hand."
Shen Hui withdrew his spell and didn't approach. He remained at the edge of the clearing, his gaze sweeping over the bones.
"These are...?"
The old man glanced at the pile of bones, his face clouding with sorrow. He let out a long sigh. "How pitiful, how pitiful..."
He stayed seated, without getting up, one hand still controlling the White Banner as it absorbed the red mist.
"This poor Daoist is the Dark Yin Hermit, traveling the world. I heard that a monster was haunting these mountains, preying on herb gatherers, so I brought my disciple and a few hired porters to rid the area of this menace. But who could have known that fiend would be so powerful? It actually killed our whole party..."
At this, his voice choked with emotion, and his eyes reddened.
"My poor disciple followed me for more than ten years. He was obedient and sensible, filial and dutiful. Just yesterday, he was serving me tea and water. Who could have imagined that today he'd be... be..."
He couldn't go on. He raised his sleeve to cover his face and began to sob.
Shen Hui watched him without a word.
The old man continued, "And those ten or so porters were honest, simple farmers. They only wanted to earn a little hard-won money to feed their families. Who could have imagined they'd lose their lives in these remote mountains..."
Shen Hui waited until the old man's sobs had subsided a little before asking, "What kind of monster was it?"
"A Flying Serpent that had cultivated for many years. It was extremely cunning and could command miasma to kill."
Shen Hui nodded, then asked, "Where is the monster now?"
The old man raised his tearful eyes and pointed to the White Banner hovering in the air.
"I've sealed it inside this Demon-Subduing Banner. It's being refined as we speak."
Shen Hui looked at the White Banner.
The banner fluttered without a breeze, the four characters "Slay Demons and Banish Evil" twisting like claws, as if something were struggling inside.
But on closer inspection, beneath the ink-black characters, another layer of black qi writhed like a living thing, seeping out in wisps.
"Senior," Shen Hui said, pointing at the banner, "why is your Demon-Subduing Banner giving off black qi?"
The old man glanced at it and waved a hand. "It's nothing, it's nothing. That monster is savage and struggling fiercely. Once I refine it for a while, there'll be no cause for concern."
As he spoke, his emotions gradually settled, and a strained smile crossed his face. "You're so young, yet already so skilled. That white streak of qi just now pierced metal and stone with effortless precision. Truly, the younger generation is formidable. May I ask which immortal mountain you hail from?"
Shen Hui didn't answer. He only glanced again at the pile of bones.
A hatchet, a cleaver, ropes, and a carrying pole.
They were all ordinary items, clearly used by the hired porters.
Beside the bones lay a bundle, fallen open, with several hard, dry flatbreads spilling out.
He looked at the old man again.
Tears still clung to the old man's face, and his eyes were red. He really did look like someone heartbroken over the loss of his beloved disciple.
But...
Shen Hui lowered his eyes and took a step back.
"Please accept my condolences, senior. Since the monster has been captured, I won't trouble you any further."
"Young friend, wait!"
The old man hurriedly called after Shen Hui, his face earnest. "Young friend, capturing that monster just now cost this old man a great deal of vitality. At this critical stage of refining it, any disturbance would be most dangerous. Could you guard me for a while? Once it's done, I'll reward you handsomely."
Shen Hui stopped and looked back, hesitation showing on his face.
He glanced at the sky.
The sun was already sinking westward, and the shadows in the forest stretched long. In another hour or two, night would fall.
"Senior," he said with a cupped fist, "it's not that I'm unwilling, but it's getting late. If I don't return soon, I'm afraid my master will worry."
Hearing this, the old man looked even more earnest and sighed. "If your honored master is concerned, I wouldn't dare detain you. Still, may I ask whose disciple you are? If fate brings us together again, I can visit and offer my thanks in person."
Shen Hui hesitated for a moment, a trace of pride flashing across his face.
"This junior studies under Azure Sun True Person of Green City Mountain."
The old man's eyes widened slightly.
"True Person?"
The words burst from him, his tone tinged with surprise.
"A Golden Core True Person?"
Shen Hui didn't answer. He merely raised the corners of his mouth, a touch of pride showing on his face.
His expression held unmistakable self-satisfaction, yet he seemed to be trying hard to remain modest.
The old man's gaze lingered on his face for a moment.
Fuck!
A Golden Core True Person.
Green City Mountain.
Those two words weighed down on him, making his heart skip a beat.
If the kid was telling the truth, then he really was someone not to be provoked or touched. Unless he made sure to leave no trace...
He kept his expression neutral, but had already begun plotting in his mind.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew from behind him.
It came out of nowhere, soft and light, but carried a chill as it brushed the back of the old man's neck, making his scalp tingle.
At the same time, Shen Hui's gaze passed over the old man's shoulder and landed behind him. A look of delighted surprise appeared on his face.
"Master!"
The old man's heart lurched. He instinctively turned around—
A streak of white light shot toward the back of his head.
It was so fast its path was invisible.
Of all the spells Shen Hui knew, Sharp Gold Qi was the quickest to cast and the fastest attack.
He had practiced it for some time and had long since mastered it.
On top of that, he had been building up to this strike for a while, choosing the precise instant when the old man's mind was shaken and he turned to look back.
It was a sure hit.
But the strike that should have landed for certain missed.
More precisely, it only hit halfway.
At the very last moment, the old man's head suddenly sank into his chest.
The white light skimmed his scalp, shaving off a strip of flesh and sending a spray of blood into the air.
Shen Hui watched as the old man's head emerged from his chest again. The pride had completely vanished from his face, leaving only coldness.