Everyone jerked their heads up. The main beam in the middle of the hall had snapped in two, and half of it, along with a huge pile of tiles and rubble, came crashing straight down toward them.
The beam was thick enough for a person to wrap both arms around. If it hit them, many of those below would be killed or injured.
Shen Hui looked up, his gaze turning icy.
He raised his right hand, and a ten-foot-tall Fire Ghost sprang from behind him, hurtling straight toward the broken beam!
Everyone present was aghast, though it was hard to tell whether the falling beam or the Fire Ghost had frightened them more.
"Boom!"
The Fire Ghost collided with the beam, knocking it off course. It slammed into the wall on the east side of the hall, bringing half the wall down with it.
Tiles, broken bricks, and dust rained down as everyone cried out and scattered for cover.
Scholar Li was so frightened he crouched on the floor, clutching his head. Monk Faming grabbed him by the hair and dragged him backward, while the two constables stumbled toward the door.
Shen Hui didn't retreat.
He stared fixedly at the place where the beam had broken.
A mass of black qi was there, racing along the rafters.
He formed a hand seal with his left hand, joined the fingers of his right into a sword sign, and Sharp Gold Qi shot out from his middle finger.
White light struck the black qi dead on!
"Ahhh!"
A shrill, piercing scream rang out from the beam, raising goosebumps on everyone's skin.
The black qi was pierced by Sharp Gold Qi, but it didn't dissipate. Instead, it burst into several strands and fled in every direction along the rafters.
Wherever the black qi passed, the entire hall began to shake.
The rafters snapped one after another, tiles fell like rain, and dust filled the air, making it hard to keep their eyes open.
The room descended into chaos. The two constables had already reached the door, and Monk Faming was nearly outside with Scholar Li in tow.
Just then, a yellow talisman shot out from behind Shen Hui and landed squarely in the middle of the beam.
The instant the talisman touched down, the entire beam shuddered.
The strands of black qi, which had been fleeing in every direction, seemed pinned in place by some unseen force, unable to move.
Old Taoist lowered his hand and stood beside Shen Hui, his expression calm.
Seeing the black qi trapped, Monk Faming quickly let go of Scholar Li's hair and reached up to take a prayer bead from around his neck.
The bead spun in his palm, then abruptly glowed with a faint golden light.
He recited an incantation and gently pushed the bead forward. It shot toward the black qi like a shooting star.
Shen Hui caught the movement out of the corner of his eye, and his heart clenched.
Don't steal my kill! (voice cracking)
His hand seal shifted.
Dark red lines of fire immediately appeared across the column tops and rafters, darting from all directions and weaving about as swiftly as blooming streaks of light.
At almost the same instant, the lines of fire and the prayer bead reached the black qi.
Shen Hui was just a step faster.
The lines of fire wrapped around the black qi a heartbeat before the bead could reach it. With a sudden twist, they burned it to ashes.
The prayer bead missed its target, spun once in midair, then flew back into Monk Faming's hand.
The hall fell silent.
The broken beam still hung crookedly against the wall. Shattered tiles lay scattered across the floor as dust drifted slowly down.
Shen Hui stood in the middle of the hall. The lines of fire that had been darting around him detached from the rafters and beams, quickly gathering into his palm like weary birds returning to their nest.
Old Taoist looked at Shen Hui, surprise mingling with his expression. "When did you learn the Sharp Gold and Earth-Transformation arts?"
"Uh..."
Shen Hui looked at Old Daoist's rather comical expression, unsure how to answer.
He wanted to tell him he'd learned both, but worried his master would say he was too greedy.
Seeing his face, Old Daoist pointed at him in annoyance. "You know that biting off more than you can chew will only leave you choking, don't you?"
"Don't worry, Master. I understand. If it interferes with my cultivation, I won't practice so many arts."
Old Taoist snorted through his nose. He ignored the still-shaken group and turned to leave.
"Let's go," he said coolly. "The matter here is settled."
Shen Hui looked back at the skeleton still lying on the ground and said quietly to the constables, "Sorry for the trouble, Constable Xu. Please find a place to give him a proper burial."
Old Xu hurriedly nodded.
Shen Hui went out and quickly caught up with Old Taoist. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Master, we're just leaving like this?"
Old Taoist glanced at him without slowing his stride, then calmly replied, "What's the rush? We're casting a stone to find the way and beating the grass to startle the snake."
Shen Hui thought it over briefly, then nodded and said nothing more.
The matter at the residence seemed settled, but the black qi had appeared under suspicious circumstances, as if someone had used secret methods to cultivate a ghost.
Now that they had eliminated it, the person behind it might hear of what happened and be unable to sit still, making a move of their own.
When they left the alley, Chen Shou was still standing there with the two constables.
As soon as he saw them, he hurried over, his eyes sweeping across their faces. He seemed to want to ask something, but held back.
The residence had just been rocked by tremors, with flames shooting into the sky.
Now Shen Hui and his master looked perfectly composed, while the scholar's hair was disheveled and he looked thoroughly wretched. The others were all covered in dust. For a moment, Chen Shou couldn't make sense of the situation.
"So..."
"The ghost in the residence has been eliminated," Old Taoist said calmly.
Chen Shou froze for a moment, then broke into a smile that spread from the corners of his mouth to his eyes. It was as if the words had swept away all the worry that had burdened him for days.
He cupped his hands and exclaimed, "Your skills are profound, Daoist. I'm in awe!"
After a pause, he added, "The people living nearby will be overjoyed when they hear."
It wasn't flattery. His voice carried the unmistakable relief of someone who had finally let go of a heavy burden.
Old Taoist gave a noncommittal hum.
Chen Shou didn't mind. He led them toward the county yamen, saying as they walked, "I've had some food prepared at the post station. We had little time, so the fare is rather humble. I hope you won't take offense."
Shen Hui's stomach had been empty for a while, and he couldn't help quickening his pace at the mention of food.
The post station was west of the county yamen, a small courtyard with a single row of buildings. Its gray-tiled roof and blue-brick walls were kept reasonably tidy.
A round table stood in the front room, laden with a few simple dishes, a basin of hot porridge, a basket of steamed buns, and a pot of warm rice wine.
It was indeed humble, but on a freezing night in the first month of the year, a hot meal was already a rare treat.
Shen Hui glanced at his master. Old Taoist's expression was unchanged; he neither praised nor criticized the food. Shen Hui took that as permission.
After exchanging a few courtesies, he took the lead in pulling out a chair and inviting Old Taoist to sit.
Shen Hui ladled a bowl of porridge for his master, then another for himself. A few bites with the pickles warmed his stomach at last.
Monk Faming recited a prayer of offering before picking up his chopsticks. He ate neither hurriedly nor slowly.
Scholar Li sat to one side, finally setting his fan aside. He sipped his porridge in small mouthfuls, looking much better than he had at the residence, though his hands still trembled a little.
They didn't talk as they ate. Their interests simply didn't align; they were like oil and water.
Two Daoists, a monk, and a scholar.
There was no need to mention the monk. As for the scholar, perhaps he'd learned a few tricks somewhere and wanted to imitate the people of the Daoist sects by slaying demons and vanquishing evil.
The outcome was only too obvious.
A silver-plated spearhead: it shattered at the slightest touch.
Once everyone had put down their chopsticks, Chen Shou set about arranging rooms for them.
The post station wasn't large. It had only one courtyard, with three reception rooms reserved for officials.
Now there were the two masters and apprentices, Monk Faming, and Scholar Li. However they arranged it, there weren't enough rooms for all four.
Chen Shou rubbed his hands, looking embarrassed. "This... It was an oversight on my part. I hadn't considered this..."
Old Taoist waved a hand. "My apprentice and I can share a room."
Monk Faming lowered his eyes and murmured a prayer. "One room will suffice for me."
Scholar Li opened his mouth as if to say something, then swallowed his words and nodded.
Relieved, Chen Shou quickly ordered the rooms prepared.