Chapter 17: Crushing the Rotten, Sweeping the Weeds

If this man joined the constabulary, he’d be a renowned head constable in his own right,

Wang Chongshan thought to himself.

Without delay, the group left Zhao Wuzhu’s residence and headed straight toward the Qingyi Temple.

Zhao Wuzhu was currently patrolling the area near the temple. In just one month, the annual Qingyi Temple Festival would take place. By then, nobles, young ladies and gentlemen, wealthy merchants, and prominent families from all over would come to pay respects to Lady Qingyi.

Wei City, with its proximity to the great river and its thriving water transport, was economically prosperous. Every year during this time, it welcomed a flood of visitors from other regions. Some of the younger nobles and heiresses would arrive in advance to enjoy the festivities during the Qingyi Temple Festival.

Zhao Wuzhu had been assigned as chief of security for the temple and its surroundings. During the day, he typically patrolled nearby.

Of course, in reality, he remained stationed at the Qingyi Temple most of the time. The patrols were usually carried out by the

yamen

officers under his command, accompanied by local militiamen in white uniforms.

***

At Qingyi Temple...

As the festival approached, the area around the temple had already begun to bustle with activity. Shops selling calligraphy, paintings, and antiques had started receiving curious out-of-town visitors eager to catch an early glimpse of the famed site.

At that moment, a group of armed officers, led by a middle-aged officer riding a tall steed, approached the temple in formation. Those with sharp eyes quickly recognized him as Wang Chongshan, one of Wei City’s two head constables.

Renowned for his martial prowess, Wang Chongshan was a well-known figure in the city. Even some of the visiting tourists had heard of or seen the famed constable of Wei City.

However, they did not recognize the young Daoist riding beside him. With crimson lips, brilliant white teeth, and refined, elegant features, shrouded in otherworldly grace. He looked every bit like a man of the Dao.

“I wonder which renowned Daoist temple this young man hails from. He looks like an immortal descended from the heavens,” a visiting nobleman exclaimed in admiration.

Several wealthy young ladies, upon catching sight of the handsome young Daoist, couldn't help but blush.

Li Yanchu had achieved success in his martial training. His tendons, bones, and skin were fully tempered, giving him an air of strength and presence. On top of that, his Daoist robes added a natural elegance and mystique, enhancing his appearance. Whatever else one might say, just his looks alone were enough to leave an impression.

Wang Chongshan rode side by side with Li Yanchu as a gesture of deep respect. To him, this young Daoist was already someone he regarded as a deeply hidden master of the Daoist path. At the very least, his martial skill alone had earned Wang Chongshan’s admiration.

The group soon arrived at the gates of Qingyi Temple, and the guards stationed there rushed over quickly.

“Head Constable Wang, Head Constable Zhao is currently cultivating inside the temple.”

This man was one of Wang Chongshan’s own men, ordered to secretly keep tabs on Zhao Wuzhu’s movements.

Hearing this, Wang Chongshan nodded. Turning to Li Yanchu, he asked, “Daoist Master Yanchu, what do you think?”

Li Yanchu’s expression remained calm as he gave a slight nod. With a wave of Wang Chongshan’s hand, the group advanced and entered Qingyi Temple.

Meanwhile, the officers stationed there all greeted Wang Chongshan respectfully. They had been ordered to guard the temple for the upcoming festival, but since Wang Chongshan was the head constable of the

yamen

, no one dared stop him.

Soon after, one of the guards led them to a room within the temple and knocked lightly on the door. “Head Constable Zhao, Head Constable Wang is here to see you.”

A moment later, the door opened to reveal a tall, burly man inside. Zhao Wuzhu clasped his hands and greeted him, “Head Constable Wang, what brings you here?”

Wang Chongshan smiled and said, “Forgive the intrusion. I had no official matters today, so I thought I’d come visit you, Head Constable Zhao.”

Zhao Wuzhu gave a small smile. “Ah, I see. Please, come in.”

But his smile was stiff, unnaturally so. It sent a chill down the spines of the armed officers behind him.

As Li Yanchu stepped forward to enter, Zhao Wuzhu suddenly asked, “And this is...?”

Wang Chongshan slapped his forehead lightly and chuckled, “Ah, how forgetful of me. I forgot to introduce him. This is Daoist Master Yanchu from Qingyun Temple.”

Hearing this, Zhao Wuzhu said nothing and simply glanced at Li Yanchu. Immediately, the officers outside felt their hearts tighten. It was as if the very air around them had gone cold.

Li Yanchu’s expression remained calm, and his gaze was clear and serene. He didn’t offer greetings or pleasantries, and instead just looked at Zhao Wuzhu with a quiet smile.

That same eerie, stiff smile returned to Zhao Wuzhu’s face.

“If you’re with Head Constable Wang, then please come in as well,” he said.

Just then, Li Yanchu nodded and strode inside confidently.

Bang

! Zhao Wuzhu shut the main door, leaving the few officers outside staring at one another, unsure of what to say. At this moment, their palms slick with cold sweat. Was it just their imagination, or did Qingyi Temple feel especially cold today?

Inside, Zhao Wuzhu walked to the table and poured two cups of tea for Wang Chongshan and Li Yanchu. “Since your visit is unannounced, let’s forgo the wine and share a few cups of tea instead.”

There was a faint yin and feminine softness in Zhao Wuzhu’s voice, which sounded unnatural and off-putting. To someone like Wang Chongshan, who had known him for years, the change was heart-wrenching.

Once, Zhao Wuzhu had been a bold and upright man, full of righteous vigor. And now, he’d fallen prey to some evil force, his body used even after death, unable to rest in peace.

Li Yanchu suddenly said coldly, “Passing off fakes as the real deal, and borrowing the yang qi of the living to conceal yourself... That’s quite the clever trick. Unfortunately, your cultivation... isn’t nearly enough!”

Zhao Wuzhu’s expression changed instantly, the smile on his face stiff and unnatural. “Daoist Master, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said with a sneer that didn’t reach his eyes.

Li Yanchu and Wang Chongshan exchanged a look. And in the next moment, Wang Chongshan drew the long sword at his waist with a sharp

clang

, thrusting it directly toward Zhao Wuzhu.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

“Vile creature! You dare murder a county head constable? Today I’ll strike you down myself!” Wang Chongshan roared in fury.

Meanwhile, Li Yanchu retrieved a yellow talisman from his robe and drew his peachwood sword from his back, beginning to chant incantations under his breath.

That eerie, rigid smile twisted on Zhao Wuzhu’s face, and his voice turned shrill and distorted. “Damn you... filthy Daoist! You’ve ruined everything! I’ll kill you!”

For some reason, he felt an intense, inexplicable hatred toward this young man in Daoist robes.

Wang Chongshan’s sword strikes were swift, but Zhao Wuzhu was even faster! Within just a few exchanges, Wang Chongshan felt himself being overwhelmed. His opponent’s speed was simply inhuman.

He had sparred with Zhao Wuzhu before. Back then, Zhao Wuzhu had practiced a bold, powerful martial style with wide movements. But now? This Zhao Wuzhu moved in strange, unnatural ways.

Bang

! Wang Chongshan was struck and thrown back, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

He had underestimated how powerful Zhao Wuzhu had become after being possessed... The increase in strength was terrifying. In just a few short breaths, he was defeated![1]

Wang Chongshan had roamed the

jianghu

of Wei City for years, and his martial prowess was anything but weak. But Zhao Wuzhu, his eyes glinting with icy malice, didn’t even spare a glance at the wounded Wang Chongshan. Instead, he charged straight toward the Daoist who was preparing talismans. In his hand, he wielded Zhao Wuzhu’s Mountain-Cleaver, bringing it down in a powerful, ruthless arc.

Normally, Daoist priests from orthodox sects had solid methods for dealing with evil spirits. But in terms of physical combat, they were often only a bit better than average folk. Some Daoists weren’t even as strong as trained martial artists.

Each had their area of expertise. That said, evil entities feared monks and Daoists the most, as their talismans could sometimes play a decisive role in banishing such beings.

A sharp

whoosh

split the air as the Mountain-Cleaver came crashing down. But Li Yanchu moved with agile ease, effortlessly dodging the powerful, brutal strike.

Then he stepped forward, his body drawing taut like a massive hornbow pulled to a full moon arc, and with unstoppable force, he charged straight at Zhao Wuzhu like a crashing tidal wave.

1. In Chinese, a "breath" (呼吸, hū xī) is a very short unit of time, roughly equivalent to 1-3 seconds. It's used to describe a very brief pause or moment. The concept is literal, meaning a single inhale and exhale. ☜