Chapter 79: Bare Body Sect

“Yanchu, you...!” Bai Hongtu was flustered.

Li Yanchu calmly reassured him, “Miss Simu here has such a gentle and pleasant voice, surely she’s a woman of fine temperament and a perfect match. What are you so dissatisfied with? Be patient.”

The bride in red said softly, “Since Daoist Master Yanchu is willing to vouch for me, then I shall tell you both everything, from start to finish.”

“...” Bai Hongtu’s mouth twitched slightly.

Good grief, Li Yanchu!

With those thick eyebrows and righteous look, who would've thought you were the type to sell out your brother without blinking?

What if beneath that red bridal veil is a face covered in blood and crawling with maggots?

Bai Hongtu could endure for the greater good, but he would not offer himself up. He belonged to every lovely courtesan in the entertainment districts, how could he marry a ghost bride of unknown origin!

Miss Simu began to speak, “The so-called Elixir of Immortality has been a legend since ancient times. Whether among cultivators or emperors, none could escape the temptation of eternal life. The Kingdom of Qian has ruled for three hundred years. Ever since the founding emperor swept through the lands and overthrew the Great Xia Dynasty, the court has quietly been searching for the Elixir of Immortality.

“A hundred years ago, rumors of the elixir resurfaced in the divine mountains of the Western Regions, triggering a bloody storm. Since then, such rumors had largely disappeared.

“Those who claim to have seen it describe it differently; some say it is a pill, already sentient. Others say it’s a spiritual herb, like a ginseng or vermilion fruit, that’s gained awareness and can avoid calamity. Still others believe it to be a divine artifact: whoever possesses it gains immortality. The versions vary widely.

“His Majesty the Qian Emperor, though young and vigorous, is determined to purge corruption. He has banned public discussions of the Elixir of Immortality and ordered all related texts to be burned.

“But to everyone’s surprise, a scholar discovered a clue to the elixir’s whereabouts, right here in Wei City. And somehow, this information leaked out. As early as a year ago, someone secretly gained control over the Five Lakes Gang’s leader and used their influence to search for the Elixir of Immortality within Wei City.

“That person... was none other than the paper effigy maker who hid in the brothels, and who was ultimately slain by you two. They must have uncovered some critical clue and believed that the Elixir of Immortality lay beneath Lady Qingyi Temple, which is why they planned to blow up the temple to retrieve it.”

The bride in red recounted the origins of the Elixir of Immortality in full detail, her explanation clear and thorough. This aligned closely with what Li Yanchu had already learned.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Li Yanchu asked, “Miss Simu, how did you discover the location where they buried the explosives?”

The red-clad bride replied gently, “I’ve been investigating this matter in secret. With my abilities, uncovering such a detail isn’t difficult.”

“Then why did you tell me about the explosives?” Li Yanchu frowned.

“Daoist Master Yanchu, you’re known for your hatred of evil and decisiveness in killing. You’re destined for great things. I simply wanted to form a good connection for the future,” she said openly.

Li Yanchu was silent for a moment. She wasn’t wrong; if it weren’t for her providing the location of the hidden explosives, he likely wouldn’t be sitting here calmly speaking with her now.

A thought struck him. “I doubt it’s just about forming a good connection for the future. You want something from me, don’t you?”

The red-dressed woman paused slightly, then smiled. “As expected of Daoist Master Yanchu... you’re remarkably perceptive. Yes, I do have a matter in which I hope to seek your help. However, now is not the right time to speak of it.”

Hearing this, Li Yanchu raised an eyebrow. This bride in red was proving to be more complex than he had anticipated.

Bai Hongtu, watching the two speak back and forth, couldn’t help interjecting. Though he had no intention of marrying this eerie red-robed woman, she had just moments ago insisted he be her groom.

So Bai Hongtu said, “Miss Simu, do you know anything about that paper effigy man and the fake City God? Where did they come from?”

“They’re likely remnants of the

Bare Body Sect

,” the red-clad bride replied softly.

Bare Body Sect!?

Li Yanchu’s brow furrowed.

This world has a Bare Body Sect

[1]

too?

Bai Hongtu asked, “Didn’t the Bare Body Sect get wiped out back in the Great Xia era? How could its remnants still be active today?”

The red-clad bride explained, “The Bare Body Sect has always emerged in troubled times to wreak havoc upon the world. Though it has been suppressed repeatedly, it never truly dies. Since the founding of the Kingdom of Qian, the government has maintained extremely strict control, so the remnants have simply grown more secretive.

“There are many strange talents and wandering cultivators among the common folk. Even those who practice skin-painting or corpse-rearing arts aren’t necessarily of the Demonic Dao. Of course, these individuals may or may not be members of the Bare Body Sect. This is merely my speculation.”

When she said

‘Demonic Dao’

, she deliberately emphasized her tone.

However, Li Yanchu didn’t dwell on her earlier remark. He simply continued, “I wonder if you know whether there are any other evil cults or heretical practitioners hiding in Wei City?”

He didn’t pay attention to the implications in the red-clad bride’s tone. After all, he never believed that practicing an unusual art automatically made someone part of the Demonic Dao.

In his view, the key to discerning the Demonic Dao lay in the heart. Even monks or Daoists from esteemed orthodox sects were no better than demonic cultivators if they killed wantonly and harmed innocents.

The red-clad bride pondered for a moment, then said, “I’m not sure about others, but aside from those three, there is one more: a monster who should have been dead long ago. He used secret techniques to obscure heavenly fate and deceive the heavens, prolonging his life. I don’t know why, but this person has also come to Wei City.”

Li Yanchu frowned. “You don’t mean the old man in black who showed up during the Feng family explosion, do you?”

The bride in red nodded. “That’s the one.”

After a moment, she added softly, “Though both his body and soul are close to decay, he is still a true master. I just didn’t expect...“

Didn’t expect the two of us to butcher him...

Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu exchanged a knowing smile.

That black-robed elder had indeed been fearsome; even in a near-decayed state, he was overwhelmingly powerful. Had Li Yanchu not used the thrice-enhanced Five-Lightning Talisman to shatter his body, he likely wouldn’t have lasted more than a few rounds in direct combat.

Besides, by the time the elder clashed with them, he had already fought a major battle with Master Huizhen of Lingxi Temple, expending much of his strength. It was chilling to imagine how powerful that man must have been at his peak.

Finally, the bride in red said, “This matter won’t be resolved so easily. If they really are remnants of the Bare Body Sect, more will surely come to Wei City. Even if not, it’s likely their allies will show up.”

Li Yanchu’s expression turned grave.

“Still,” she continued, “you needn’t worry too much. The Bare Body Sect is far from a unified force. They’ve scattered and hidden for years. Even if someone comes, it’s unlikely they’ll be experts.”

Bai Hongtu thought for a moment, then asked, “Miss Simu, earlier you mentioned Lady Qingyi. What exactly is the secret behind Wei City’s Lady Qingyi?”

Li Yanchu also turned his gaze toward her.

The bride in red slowly said, “Lady Qingyi is a legitimate god, born of incense and prayer. She’s an embodiment of Heaven’s justice, meant to protect the peace of this region. But now, something’s gone wrong.”

Lady Qingyi is a legitimate god...?

Li Yanchu frowned and asked, “What exactly went wrong?”

1. In Sima Ling’s wuxia novel

Burning Incense, Discussing Swords

(《焚香论剑篇》), there exists an evil sect called Bare Body Sect (赤身教). Alongside the "Black Hand Sect" (黑手派), it is known as one of the two major demonic sects under heaven. In addition to mastering seductive techniques that use beauty and charm to bewilder the mind, its members also possess truly formidable martial arts skills.

All members of the Bare Body Sect are women. Once they remove their clothing, not only does their natural allure gain an enhanced power to entrance and unsettle men, but their internal cultivation method—uniquely developed—requires their entire body to be exposed to the air in order to unleash its full potential. Therefore, when facing an opponent, members of Bare Body Sect must disrobe to fight at full strength. ☜