Killing Through a Creepy Entity

Xu Chunliang pointed outside the courtyard. "To stay alive, I hid those eighty-eight taels of Life Silver in the stove. Just dig around the stove and you'll find it."

Before he had finished speaking, a dark figure leaped out from behind Xu Chunliang and flitted into the courtyard like a ghost.

With one chop of his palm, he split open the stove, took out a black cloth bag, and returned to hand it to Liu Xin.

Liu Xin weighed the bag of Life Silver in his hand and sensed its distinctive bloody smell. He nodded. The Life Silver showed that the story was true.

"Go on." He raised his chin at Xu Chunliang.

"I don't know what that black space was, but after that, I became very sensitive to danger. Naturally, I realized I must have gained some benefit in that dark space."

"Later, I heard someone mention that a Ruin Realm had briefly appeared in Fireworks Lane a month ago. I suppose the dark space where that steelyard was must have been the Ruin Realm..."

Liu Xin nodded silently and sank into thought. A moment later, he looked up at Liu Jiu.

"What do you think?"

Liu Jiu clenched and unclenched his hands, which were covered in red-lined blood snakes. "If he's telling the truth," he said slowly, "that wasn't a Ruin Realm. It was a creepy artifact."

"A powerful, murderous creepy artifact that has never appeared before. If you can obtain it, young master, you won't need to worry about defeating the eldest and second young masters to become the family head. The Liu family can start a whole new page in its genealogy because of you, third young master. You'll be the ancestor recorded on that page," Liu Jiu said, somewhat excited.

"Really? What kind of creepy artifact is that powerful? I'm getting more and more interested. This trip to Fan City was well worth it." Liu Xin chuckled, looking utterly calm.

Though he maintained an air of indifference, Xu Chunliang could still hear the tremor in his voice. Clearly, the prospect of starting a new page in the genealogy that Liu Jiu had mentioned was immensely tempting to him.

"Uncle Jiu, you must help me this time. You have no children of your own. If I can obtain that creepy artifact, Uncle Jiu, you'll be my godfather. Your name will be recorded in the genealogy, and I'll take care of you in your old age."

Uncle Jiu nodded excitedly, but in his heart he remained noncommittal.

If Liu Xin can start a new page in the genealogy after obtaining the creepy artifact, why can't I, Liu Jiu, start a genealogy of my own? Must I keep the humiliating name Liu Jiu? Can't I use my original surname, Mu? Can't I be called Mu Wudi?

Pass up the chance to become a true mighty figure and be a mighty figure's godfather instead? Even a fool would know what to choose.

But it was not yet time to fall out with him. He had to confirm that the creepy artifact really existed before making a move to seize it. So he showed just the right amount of excitement and said to Liu Xin, "Allow this old servant to congratulate you in advance on having your wish fulfilled, young master. Of course, we must first find Guo Family Village and that creepy artifact."

He turned to Xu Chunliang. "Young Master Xu, sorry for the trouble, but would you come with us?"

There was no moon that night. The three of them left Fan City and headed toward Guo Family Village.

"Xu Chunliang, you'd better pray you haven't lied to me. If we get to Guo Family Village and don't see that black space, you'll leave your bones there."

Xu Chunliang smiled and nodded. After telling him not to worry, he said nothing more and continued on his way with his head lowered.

In less than an hour, the three travelers had reached the old willow tree outside Guo Family Village.

Liu Jiu frowned at Guo Family Village, which lay beneath the darkness like a deformed monster crouching on the ground. He nodded and said, "Young master, this village reeks of death from top to bottom. There's obviously not a single living person here.

"It seems the boy was telling the truth."

Liu Xin nodded, patted Xu Chunliang on the shoulder, and said leisurely, "Young Master Xu, we've arrived at the mountain of treasure. Lead the way."

Expressionless, Xu Chunliang stepped forward and led the way toward Guo Family Village.

The Crimson Dawn Realm? You could kill me in an instant? So what?

I'll show you what true invincibility is.

He walked slowly onward.

Tap, tap, tap...

His footsteps rang out clearly through the darkness, carrying a long way without the slightest echo.

Soon, he led Liu Xin and Liu Jiu to the intersection where he had encountered the Guo family's old lady last time.

He looked around, but there was no one in the village.

Xu Chunliang turned and headed toward the small courtyard where he had seen the crowd in black worshipping the Scale Immortal that day.

Liu Jiu curled his fingers into claws and watched his surroundings carefully. The atmosphere in the village was truly strange. Though he could detect no sign of living people in the village, his keen ears and eyes still picked up the sounds of people moving and glimpsed figures walking in the darkness.

Those people were clearly dead, yet they still walked around like the living.

He had to be even more careful.

Liu Xin, meanwhile, cautiously retreated behind Liu Jiu, ready to use him as a shield against any danger that might appear.

As they walked, Xu Chunliang stopped. A short distance ahead of him in the darkness,

stood two familiar figures. The man on the left wore a black shirt and trousers, and his face was pale. It was Liu Yong of the Demon-Slaying Bureau, who had suddenly died and vanished in Guo Family Village that day.

The man on the right wore black brocade robes and had a thin mustache and the look of a servant. It was Guo Si, the steward who had knelt to summon a god to kill Liu Yong.

Guo Si carried an unlit white lantern. Only its vague black outline could be seen in the darkness. He stood there, staring fixedly at Xu Chunliang and the other two.

Xu Chunliang knew he was a creepy entity with a consciousness of his own, so he lowered his head, cupped his fists, and said,

"Steward Guo, I am Xu Chunliang. These two friends of mine heard that your village has long worshipped the Scale Immortal. Both of them have always wished to worship an immortal, so I hope you can make an accommodation and take them along to pay their respects to the Scale Immortal."

Hearing this, Liu Xin hurriedly bowed with his hands clasped.

"Brother Xu is right. I come from the southern lands and have long wished to seek immortality and inquire into the Dao. I heard that your village has..."

Before he could finish, Guo Si interrupted him.

"I understand. Since you've come to pay your respects to the Scale Immortal, come this way." With that, he turned and walked into the village with Liu Yong.

The unlit lantern in his hand suddenly came alight.

It cast a faint, cold glow.

Neither of the two said a word. Liu Xin and Liu Jiu exchanged a glance and cautiously followed Guo Si.

Xu Chunliang slowed his pace and followed beside the two of them, matching their steps as they headed toward the small courtyard from that day.

After walking for an unknown length of time, they finally came to a pitch-black courtyard wall.

The faint candlelight fell on the mottled, uneven black earthen wall, staining it a sickly grayish yellow, like a decayed old photograph...

As the candlelight flickered, dark shadows quivered across the mottled wall, as though something black were hidden within it, secretly watching them.

Xu Chunliang silently took two more steps back.

He could not die before Liu Xin and Liu Jiu did.