Chapter 71: The Black-Robed Elder and Chai Lie

The two moved in perfect sync, pushing open the door and rushing out. One was leading, while the other was behind. Li Yanchu’s movement technique was incredibly fast, his figure darting like a gust of wind as he sped toward the site of the explosion.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

In the deep of night, the sudden blast had instantly awakened nearly half the population of Wei City. All around, cries of panic and chaos rose into the air. Shouts, screams, and sobs were echoing in every direction.

The streets blurred past in Li Yanchu’s eyes as he streaked forward like a whirlwind. When he arrived at the site of the explosion, his expression instantly sharpened.

“The Feng residence!?” Li Yanchu paused in surprise.

The last time he had come here, it was where he encountered that long-haired female ghost. Her overwhelming cascade of black hair had left a deep impression. Back then, he had even used one of the charges from his Five-Lightning Talisman to completely eradicate that white-clothed, long-haired ghost.

And now, a full third of the once-grand Feng residence had been leveled, reduced to ruins. In particular, one corner of the residence had been blasted into a massive crater, obliterating the surrounding pavilions and towers into rubble. That was clearly the epicenter of the explosion.

At this moment, the Feng household was in utter chaos. Servants, attendants, and the women of the family were all running about like headless chickens in the debris.

“A ghost trap?” Li Yanchu’s brow furrowed.

He immediately activated his Qi Sight and saw that the Feng residence was overflowing with dense, chaotic yin energy. Under such conditions, ghost traps, which were spiritual illusions that trap people in loops, could easily form and cause people to become lost no matter which direction they tried to go.

The city’s patrolmen, local militiamen, and officers soon arrived on the scene, drawn by the commotion.

Li Yanchu’s eyes lit up as he called out to the man in front, “Captain Qi!”

The older, sword-bearing officer saw Li Yanchu and responded, “Ah, it’s Daoist Master Yanchu.”

Li Yanchu said solemnly, “Captain Qi, the vengeful qi here is sky-high. Ordinary people who enter will fall into ghost traps and end up in grave danger. Have your officers and village guards surround the area, and no one is to go in. I’ll head in and rescue the people myself.”

Surprise flickered across Captain Qi’s face. But considering Li Yanchu’s renowned reputation in Wei City for slaying demons and exorcising spirits, as well as his friendship with Captain Wang, he didn’t hesitate.

He nodded at once. “Very well. Daoist Master Yanchu, be careful.”

Then he turned and instructed the officers and guards under his command to establish a perimeter around the Feng residence.

As soon as Li Yanchu finished speaking, he charged straight into the Feng household. The moment he crossed the threshold, an icy, bone-chilling cold wrapped around him. Even though flames still burned around the area, it felt like stepping into a frozen hell. Crying and wailing echoed endlessly in his ears, as if countless souls were lamenting around him.

The Five-Lightning Talisman and Spirit-Officer Summoning Talisman on his chest began to exude the pure energy of yang and divine force, protecting his soul and spirit from the influence of the heavy yin and vengeful qi.

Moving swiftly, Li Yanchu rescued the trapped servants, maidens, and men of the Feng household who had fallen prey to the ghost trap.

“What on earth happened at the Feng residence? Why did it suddenly explode for no reason?”

He asked the rescued maids and servants, but they were dazed, terrified, and utterly incoherent. None could give a clear answer.

Time was of the essence, so Li Yanchu didn’t press further and instead focused entirely on saving lives.

Meanwhile, Bai Hongtu, whose

qinggong

was a bit lacking, had fallen behind. When he caught up, he learned from Captain Qi that Li Yanchu had entered the Feng residence alone to rescue the victims. He immediately took out a small vial from his robe, dropped two drops of clear liquid into his eyes, and charged straight in to join the rescue effort.

Li Yanchu had just rescued a richly dressed middle-aged man from within the Feng residence. After asking a few questions, he learned that this man was a direct descendant of the Feng family.

“What exactly happened here? Why has such a great disaster befallen the Feng residence?” Li Yanchu asked.

The man replied, “After the ghost incident in the Feng residence last time, during the day, the eldest young master invited a monk to guard the house and ward off evil spirits. But once night fell, an explosion happened. I’ve no idea what caused it.”

This member of the Feng family was not residing in the estate, but in a nearby county outside of Wei City, where he managed the family’s business operations.

“A monk? What’s his name?” Li Yanchu frowned.

“He claimed to be a high monk from Lingxi Temple. His Dharma[1] name is Huizhen,” the man answered.

Lingxi Temple...

Li Yanchu’s brow lifted slightly. He had never heard of such a place.

When it came to rescuing people, no one was faster than Li Yanchu. He moved with incredible speed, immune to the ghost traps, and possessed strength beyond the ordinary.

However, when it came to navigating the intricacies of the Feng residence, he needed someone familiar with the layout to guide him. He placed a Five-Lightning Talisman on the man’s body, which would shield him from the yin and resentful qi and keep his vision clear.

Then, Li Yanchu continued his search through the estate, rescuing as many as he could.

***

At the Feng residence's detached courtyard...

This was where Madam Feng resided. Her husband had died young, leaving behind a vast estate that she alone had managed as a woman.

She was thirty-five years old, with striking features and a voluptuous figure. Even without anger, she radiated an air of authority, and she gave off the impression of an awe-inspiring woman who was not easily approached.

She typically stayed in the detached courtyard, attended only by a few personal maids. Among them, her head maid Dong'er was a trained martial artist, and she was strong enough to take on seven or eight common street thugs or rogue cultivators without issue.

At this moment, two figures had entered Madam Feng’s courtyard.

One of the two was a burly man with a gruesome and menacing scar stretching from the corner of his eye all the way down to his jaw. His eyes were full of ferocity and malice. At a glance, he was clearly the type of ruthless rogue who wouldn’t blink at killing. Yet now, his demeanor was shockingly respectful.

Standing before him was a withered old man with a face like a rat spirit, who was draped in a black robe. His presence was heavy with the qi of decay.

“Master, this is Madam Feng’s courtyard,” the burly man said respectfully.

The black-robed elder looked ancient beyond measure, his face sallow and waxy. He wheezed, “I miscalculated this time. I thought it would be easy to retrieve that item from the Feng residence. But I didn’t expect they’d invite a monk from Lingxi Temple. It cost me a demonic artifact and three drops of heart’s blood just to trap him.”

Just then, the elder paused and was overtaken by a fit of coughing, and his face grew even more sallow.

“Master, your power is unfathomable. A mere monk is no match for you. Attaining the Dao and achieving immortality is just around the corner,” the burly man flattered.

The old man narrowed his eyes and glanced at the courtyard. “Chai Lie, I need young flesh and blood. Go fetch some for me.”

“As for Madam Feng, you may take her.”

Hearing this, the burly man named Chai Lie nodded. A flash of hunger appeared in his eyes, making his already fierce appearance all the more terrifying.

He had a particular obsession with powerful, high-status women. Over the years, many women had perished at his hands, and their ends had all been gruesome. This wasn’t just due to his twisted nature, but also tied to the cultivation method he practiced.

Chai Lie let out a vicious grin, revealing his beast-like, razor-sharp white teeth, and strode straight into the Feng courtyard.

“Who’s there!?” a personal maid barked sharply.

At this time, Chai Lie casually reached out and grabbed her by the neck before he effortlessly lifted her into the air before dragging her back to the black-robed elder.

Terror filled the maid’s eyes, but she was utterly unable to move. That coarse, calloused hand of his was like an iron clamp.

1. A Dharma name (法号 / 法名) is a spiritual name given to someone when they formally enter the Buddhist path, usually during ordination, taking refuge, or significant Buddhist rites. ☜