Aftermath, Chen Mansheng's Little Thoughts

Talent ability?

Luo Bin had pondered over "Crimson" for so long before, yet this function had never popped up. Now it suddenly appeared, leaving him deeply puzzled...

He pulled up the panel and saw that the original layout hadn't changed, but above the modification value and Spirit Charm, four small black characters now read "Essence Soul."

[Essence Soul: Water Ghoul · Phantom]

"This is the first demon I've slain... That cheongsam female ghost from before could only be called a specter..."

Could it be that only demons with physical bodies drop Essence Souls, while formless, intangible specters do not?

Luo Bin suppressed his doubts, pulled the Command Blade from the Water Mountain Ghoul's body, and tossed it with a clatter in front of the Duan Gong, sending them scrambling backward, prostrating on the ground with trembling lips...

Luo Bin walked a bit closer to the edge of this tributary of the Li River, called the Fu River. The water's surface was calm, but he couldn't be sure what lurked beneath.

Still, this Water Mountain Ghoul coming ashore to kill people made some sense. Its act of playing the "Fu River God" was likely genuine, because the cold, filthy, foul aura on this creature was identical to the aura of the crushed clay idol.

Beyond that, there was a faint, clean fragrance by the riverbank, as if seeping from the water into the air...

But with so many people watching now, acting rashly wouldn't be appropriate. Besides, night had fallen—what if some "water monkey" jumped out and dragged him under? Even hauling the Maxim to the riverbank wouldn't help.

Luo Bin made up his mind: this time back in Ping City, he had to show Chen Tianren his strength and value, get more precious medicines and supplements, and quickly push his power up.

The Ying Water Ferry was in chaos. Besides the villagers who had gathered near the altar, many stall owners and vendors from all around were now closing in.

Chen Mansheng's pretty face showed a trace of worry as she called out to Luo Bin by the river: "You, you... what are you doing standing by the river? What if another demon crawls out?"

Luo Bin turned and smiled: "It's fine, I'm fast at running..."

Even so, he didn't dare be reckless. His form flickered as he arrived beside the Chen siblings, then he drew in a deep breath and let out a powerful, penetrating voice:

"Fellow villagers, this River God Festival was nothing but a fraud. Come forward and take a look—what kind of filthy, evil thing is the river god you've been worshipping!"

Over a hundred villagers and common folk had gathered, slowly moving toward the Water Mountain Ghoul's corpse. With a Maxim heavy machine gun still mounted on the distant hillock, these villagers were unusually docile.

Among them, a few teenagers around ten years old were utterly shocked and indignantly shouted at their parents: "Look at what you've been worshipping! Isn't this just a complete and utter demon?"

"Since the founding of the previous dynasty, our Ying Water Ferry has used three sacrificial animals and five grains for offerings. When did it turn into human sacrifice? Which bastard started this precedent?!"

A sturdy man with clear eyes angrily rebuked the elders around him. Some of the older, muddle-headed ones immediately lowered their heads in shame, silently retreating into the crowd.

The sturdy man was also a man of passion; the whites of his eyes were bloodshot with rage, and tears streamed down his face.

Even though the children sacrificed weren't his own, they were still children the villagers of Dagang Village had watched grow up. "Thanks to this young brother for luring out the demon and letting us see just how ugly this 'River God Festival' really is..."

"Thank you, young brother..." "Thank you, benefactor!" "If only we'd discovered this sooner, those children wouldn't have had to..."

Regret and gratitude mingled together.

Luo Bin had destroyed the Water Mountain Ghoul's "golden body" and "incense offerings." When he lured the thing out, those Duan Gong were already trembling with fear...

The old Duan Gong at the head saw the Water Mountain Ghoul killed and his ritual mercilessly exposed. He had managed to survive in this chaotic world, eating and drinking well with his disciples, all thanks to his widely known "integrity" and "sorcery."

But after this, his "integrity" was completely ruined. By the time these villagers spread the word tomorrow, forget eating and drinking well—whether he could even walk out of Ping City territory alive was uncertain...

Not to mention the many hostile eyes in the crowd now fixed on him.

Could he still walk out of Ying Water Ferry alive? He didn't know.

Jumping into the river gave him a better chance of survival, but dying so humiliatingly in the river—he couldn't accept it. It was all these city folk's fault.

The old Duan Gong glanced at Luo Bin, his fingers trembling almost imperceptibly, then locked his gaze on Chen Mansheng. A vicious resolve surged within him as he grabbed the Command Blade and charged.

Luo Bin was facing away from the Duan Gong, explaining basic demon habits to the villagers—things he had learned from Zhang Huai and Hu Junzhi, two old members retired from the Black Sheath Hall...

The villagers were all grateful to Luo Bin, especially the mother whose son had just returned to her side, her thanks unending.

Meanwhile, Zhang and Hu had vicariously taken Luo Bin's place, immersed in the self-satisfaction of "showing off before others" and "saving people from disaster," to the point that their perception had dulled in the dim environment.

Luo Bin patted the head of the boy who had woken up, noticing his somewhat listless, fearful spirit. A flicker of pity stirred in his eyes...

"This dog-shit chaotic world... ordinary people can't even fill their bellies, yet demons have round, full stomachs. What kind of logic is that!"

Chen Jing had been pushed aside by the crowd and spotted the old Duan Gong charging at Chen Mansheng with a knife. He immediately roared: "Sis, watch your back!!"

The pity and compassion in Luo Bin's eyes had just been caught by Chen Mansheng.

The Command Blade arrived in an instant, slicing into Chen Mansheng's left shoulder. Blood gushed out, soaking her white lace blouse.

"You're asking for death."

Luo Bin turned, flashed past Chen Jing, closed in from the side, and grabbed the old Duan Gong's right hand holding the blade.

The old Duan Gong only felt his right arm violently wrenched out of its socket by a fierce force.

Bang!

Then his abdomen took a heavy blow, weighty as a thousand jun. Blood from his internal organs sprayed from his mouth and nose, staining the damp earth red...

Luo Bin snatched the Command Blade and smashed a punch into the old Duan Gong's face, caving it in. The man collapsed on the spot, unconscious.

Chi—

The next second, the Command Blade plunged straight into the old Duan Gong's abdomen, standing like an exquisite tombstone.

The surrounding villagers erupted in cheers: "That swindling charlatan deserved to die long ago. Beating him to death would be too merciful, after all the harm he's done to us..."

Luo Bin hurried to Chen Mansheng's side, tore a strip of cloth from his own shirt, and bandaged the wound. Fortunately, the cut was shallow—nothing too dangerous.

"Let's head back, Brother Luo. Second Sister's wound isn't serious—just needs disinfecting at home..."

Chen Mansheng had grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth; by all rights, she should have been fussing over a situation like this. Yet now she gritted her teeth and said, "I'm fine. It's not a big injury."

Chen Jing helped Chen Mansheng along as the group climbed into the jeep and soon returned to the estate.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Ji Xuan rushed out of the western-style building, asking with concern, "How was it? Was the River God Festival lively? Did you run into any danger?"

Chen Mansheng, wearing Luo Bin's jacket, got out of the car. Hearing Ji Xuan's question, her heart tightened, and she felt at a loss.

But then she heard Luo Bin's calm, light reply: "Nothing to worry about, Aunt Ji. The River God Festival was lively, and Second Miss and Second Young Master had a great time. It's just that the night breeze by the river was a bit chilly, and Second Miss is delicate, so we came back early..."

Chen Mansheng looked at Luo Bin, her eyes brightening. Like a child who had done something wrong waiting for an elder's judgment, she found that her companion had brushed it off lightly. The joy of surviving a close call was impossible to suppress.

Ji Xuan glanced at Chen Mansheng and, sure enough, saw her wearing Luo Bin's jacket. Only then did she relax. "That's good. Head to your rooms early and rest. We'll return to the city tomorrow."

Once back in his room, Luo Bin couldn't wait to pull up his panel and begin studying the "Water Mountain Demon Spirit Essence."