inspire-indiana Chapter 125 "I...let...you..." "Don't move!!!"
Chapter 125 "I...let...you..." "Don't move!!!"
I need to go home and get to the bottom of this right away.
Although Lu Yuan's [Slaying Demons and Eliminating Evil] system did not indicate that Qingwan was an evil god.
But that doesn't mean she's absolutely safe.
Is it possible that Qingwan was originally intended to be worshipped as an evil god by the Liu family?
Considering everything that had happened, Lu Yuan felt it was very likely!
What kind of evil curse is this? What kind of amulet money is this? And what kind of thing is this?
As for why it didn't work out in the end...
That might be because some unexpected event occurred, causing the support plan to be interrupted.
As Tan Jiji just clearly stated, the evil seed and the evil god are almost one and the same.
Once the Ghost-Controlling Liu family has chosen a target, their first step is to inoculate them with an evil seed!
Therefore, even if Qingwan isn't an evil god now, it only means that she wasn't supported by the Ghost-Controlling Liu family and ultimately didn't become an evil god. This doesn't determine what's in her mind...
Is there that damned evil seed?!
The thought of this possibility made Lu Yuan's heart clench.
If...
If Qingwan has any thoughts in her head, Lu Yuan needs to clear them out immediately.
after all……
Goodness gracious!
That's Gu Qingwan!
If the Ghost-Controlling Liu family could control Qingwan, what could they do? Like, kill this person, kill that person…
Is this some kind of death trap?!
As for how to remove it...
Let's find our founding master!
Since this patriarch can help the "Goddess of Beauty", he can naturally help Qingwan too!
Of course, we need to first determine whether Qingwan actually has it in her head.
Tan Jiji was startled by Lu Yuan's sudden shout and turned around in surprise.
Under the glow of the campfire, Lu Yuan's expression shifted constantly.
First came shock, then a sudden, urgent realization, and finally, an almost scorching gaze fixed firmly on Tan Jiji. This look made Tan Jiji's heart pound with unease, and she instinctively took a half-step back.
"Master Lu?"
"you……"
Before he could finish speaking, a figure rushed in front of him.
Lu Yuan grabbed Tan Jiji's wrist, his five fingers like iron clamps!
"Bro!!"
The force was so great that Tan Jiji's brows furrowed instantly in pain.
"I won't bother with the messy affairs of the Ghost-Controlling Liu family, which you've been keeping secret!"
"But you can at least tell me what exactly the evil seed is!!"
The campfire crackled and sparks flew.
The almost burning eagerness on Lu Yuan's face was clearly reflected.
He held Tan Jiji's wrist tightly without loosening his grip, his gaze fixed on her, brooking no escape.
Tan Jiji was taken aback by Lu Yuan's sudden interrogation.
The force on her wrist and the seriousness in Lu Yuan's eyes made Tan Jiji realize that this was no casual question.
If I hadn't spoken up today...
Tan Jiji pursed her lips, a look of struggle flashing across her face.
But looking into Lu Yuan's eyes, he finally let out a slow breath, and with a slight tightening of his wrist, signaled Lu Yuan to loosen his grip first.
Lu Yuan relaxed slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on him.
Tan Jiji rubbed her wrist, walked to the campfire, picked up a twig, poked at the fire, and a few sparks flew up.
"There's nothing that can't be said. Didn't we already say it?"
"It's the method used by the Ghost-Controlling Liu family to control evil gods."
"It is formed by combining the essence of the three Yin elements: earth Yin, water Yin, and human Yin."
"After fusion, a furnace was set up in the 'Gathering Yin Land,' and finally refined into the Evil Harmony..."
"You're not trying to ask me how to refine this evil seed, are you?"
"How could I possibly know? This kind of evil magic, the most secret evil technique of the Liu family, is something outsiders could never possibly know!"
After listening, Lu Yuan immediately said:
"That's not what I'm asking. What I want to ask is, how was this evil seed planted?"
"Furthermore, how can one distinguish whether a vengeful spirit is an evil god?"
Tan Jiji: "????"
What kind of nonsensical question is this?
Regarding this, Tan Jiji pondered for a moment and said:
"How do we plant it...?"
"I've heard my father mention this before. They use evil magic to ignite the refined evil seed."
"Once the evil seed burns out a strange red smoke, it is then combined with a ritual to forcibly 'nail' the red smoke into the target's brow and soul aperture."
"This red smoke will re-condense within the soul's aperture, reverting to its evil form!"
"It's similar to the black magic used in the south of China."
At this point, Tan Jiji immediately said:
"That one that 'Goddess of Beauty' just spat out, that's it."
For a moment, Tan Jiji couldn't help but sigh at the scene she had just witnessed:
"Your ancestor was truly a master of extraordinary abilities."
"They uprooted her completely and crushed her, so that she could break free from their control and gain her freedom."
Lu Yuan ignored that topic and immediately asked:
"What if...the evil seed is implanted into the target's soul, but ultimately...it fails to nurture into an evil god?"
"For example, what if something unexpected happened along the way, the Liu family gave up, or the target was sealed or suppressed?"
Tan Jiji shrugged and said:
"Then it's not an evil god."
Lu Yuan quickly replied:
"Of course I know it's not an evil god. What I mean is, under these circumstances, would it still be controlled by the Ghost-Controlling Liu family?"
After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Tan Jiji said decisively:
"meeting!"
"Absolutely!"
"Once the evil seed is implanted in the soul, it's like a malignant tumor growing in the soul—it can never be removed!"
"Even if it doesn't become an evil god, it will only be easier for the Ghost-Controlling Liu family to control it!"
Lu Yuan: ………
Hearing this, Lu Yuan stopped dwelling on the issue. Even if Qingwan truly had an evil seed in her head, he'd just ask the patriarch for help. Immediately, Lu Yuan asked again:
"Then how can we be sure that the target hasn't been infected with an evil seed by the Ghost-Controlling Liu family?"
Lu Yuan's question was really too strange.
Tan Jiji blinked blankly, then looked at Lu Yuan with an expression that said, "You're an idiot."
"Why don't you just split open the target's head, dig it out, and see if there's any evil seed inside?"
Lu Yuan: .…….…”
"Is this the only way?"
His voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Are there any other distinguishing features, such as appearance or aura, that can tell?"
Tan Jiji shook her head decisively.
"no."
"That thing is very well hidden. As long as the Ghost-Controlling Liu family doesn't chant incantations to activate it, no one can see it or know anything about it."
Lu Yuan was unwilling to give up. He blinked and lowered his voice even further.
"Then... what about the resentful entity itself?"
"Does it even know that an evil seed has been planted in its head?"
Tan Jiji: ..."
He was silent.
He looked Lu Yuan up and down with an extremely strange gaze.
Finally, he leaned closer, lowered his voice, and asked with a serious expression:
"Dude, tell me the truth."
"Are you... secretly keeping an evil god at home?"
Lu Yuan: ..…….…”
A few seconds later, Lu Yuan's eyes widened and he immediately said:
How dare you slander someone's innocence out of thin air!
"How is this possible?!"
"I'm a legitimate Taoist priest from a Taoist temple, how could I possibly do such a thing!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
After staring intently at Lu Yuan for a while, Tan Jiji finally said:
"You'd better be..."
Then Tan Jiji added:
"I don't know the answer to that question. You'll have to ask 'Goddess of Beauty' next time you encounter her."
"However, judging from her reaction just now, 'Goddess of Beauty' probably doesn't know."
"She only found out she had this thing in her head after your ancestor dug out the evil seed."
Hearing Tan Jiji's words, Lu Yuan couldn't help but curl his lip.
Then I absolutely have to go back for this.
However, the old man's Heavenly Venerable Ceremony cannot be delayed...
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Lu Yuan's mind, eventually converging into a resolute decision.
He turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as he swept over everyone present.
"Gentlemen, the situation is urgent, I have a suggestion."
"Let's split up!"
After saying that, Lu Yuan ignored the astonished looks of the people around him and his hand suddenly lit up.
Wow
A large pile of dazzling objects appeared out of thin air and were piled up next to the campfire, their brilliance almost extinguishing the firelight!
Jade talismans, magic swords, coins, bells... each item exudes spiritual energy and is by no means an ordinary item.
Everyone: "????"
Tan Jiji's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and her mouth was agape enough to fit a fist.
Shen Shulan was also taken aback, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.
Where did this... come from?!
Then Lu Yuan looked at the large box of treasures that Shen Shulan had brought out from home and said seriously:
"Senior Sister Shulan, shall we share your box of treasures too?"
After recovering from her shock, Shen Shulan nodded without hesitation.
Once Shen Shulan took these things out, she had no intention of taking them back.
Finally, as the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
All the magical artifacts and treasures have been distributed.
Lu Yuan and Shen Shulan, the two celestial masters, acted alone.
Tan Jiji is a professional at dealing with the Ghost-Controlling Liu family, but not at dealing with the Fiend-Raising Earth.
Moreover, Tan Jiji's own strength was not as strong as Lu Yuan's and Shen Shulan's, so Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan were sent to help her. With that, the three teams were divided.
Lu Yuan and Shen Shulan were each in charge of two, while Tan Jiji, Xu Erxiao, and Wang Chengan were each in charge of one.
After everyone finished clearing out their assigned tasks, they gathered at the last resting place for nurturing evil spirits.
Let's deal with the last evil spirit's lair together!
Five days of bloody battle felt like a lifetime ago.
It is located in the northern suburbs of Fengtian City, beside the official road.
The dilapidated teahouse, shrouded in the morning mist, resembled the skeleton of a silent wild beast.
It was not clear.
Cold dew hangs on the tips of withered grass.
Five figures sat slumped beneath the ruins, like five statues weathered by time.
No one spoke.
The only sound in the air was the heavy, rumbling breathing, like a broken bellows.
There was also a nauseating mixture of smells: blood, herbs, earthy odor, and the sour, putrid smell of sweat.
Lu Yuan leaned against a charred pillar, his eyes closed, the dark circles under his eyes as deep as two bruises.
His Taoist robe was no longer recognizable; mud, blood, and the bodily fluids of an unknown demon had congealed into a hard shell, crumbling at the slightest movement. He wasn't seriously injured, though.
But the exhaustion from being drained of both his soul and body makes it difficult for him to even lift a finger.
The others were even more disheveled.
Shen Shulan's hair was disheveled, and her beautiful face was stained with blood.
Tan Jiji's arm was wrapped with blood-stained strips of cloth.
Wang Chengan and Xu Erxiao looked as if they had been pulled out of the mud.
"Senior Sister Shulan, Brother Tan Jiji."
Farewell.
"The three of us must return to Zhenlong Temple immediately."
Lu Yuan spoke first.
Fortunately, this matter was resolved perfectly in the end.
Fortunately, everyone is alright.
In other words, Tan Jiji suffered a minor injury.
In fact, this is normal.
After all, we can't keep running into evil spirits every time, can we?
That's incredibly unlucky.
Moreover, everyone had treasures given to them by Lu Yuan, as well as items that Shen Shulan brought from home.
There's not much to say about properly cultivating a sacred site, but the time is too tight, and it's really exhausting.
After speaking, Lu Yuan looked at Shen Shulan, whose face showed no less fatigue than his own, and said with utmost seriousness:
"Sister Shulan, I, Lu Yuan, will remember this kindness."
"If there's anything you need me to do in the future, just tell me. I'll help immediately if I can, and I'll find a way to help if I can't!" After hearing Lu Yuan's words, Shen Shulan waved her hands repeatedly and said softly:
"Uncle-Master, there's no need to talk about gratitude. It's only right that I come to help you. I'm the one here to repay your kindness."
Lu Yuan didn't say anything more about what Shen Shulan said.
But Lu Yuan remembered Shen Shulan's kindness to him.
As I said before, I won't thank you for such a great favor. Let's see what Lu Yuan does next.
Then, Lu Yuan looked at Tan Jiji and bowed slightly, saying:
"Brother, I helped you with the Mangniutun matter, and you helped me with the Yangshadi matter. Today, we're even."
After saying that, Lu Yuan took out a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to Tan Jiji, saying:
"Take this money, go into the city, find a good place, take a hot bath, have a big drinking session, and sleep for three days and three nights."
"I'll treat you to something even better next time!"
Tan Jiji didn't hold back either, even though he only got one place to raise evil spirits.
The problem is, he's not a Taoist priest, he's not a professional at clearing away evil spirits from a place.
Moreover, his strength is indeed inferior to that of Lu Yuan and Shen Shulan, two orthodox celestial masters.
So, even though they only managed to take down one, it still gave Tan Jiji quite a hard time.
He has other things to do next, so he needs to rest well and do some shopping.
These all require money, so...
After Tan Jiji accepted the money, she immediately cupped her hands in greeting and said:
"My money fell into that corpse-filled water in that cursed place. Consider this a loan; I'll pay you back later!"
Lu Yuan grinned and said no more.
At that moment, a horse-drawn carriage drove in through the morning mist.
Lu Yuan bowed slightly to Shen Shulan and said:
"Then I'll trouble Senior Sister Shulan to help me take the horse back and feed it for a few days."
"We're about to hitch a ride back to Zhenlongguan."
Lu Yuan and his two companions decided not to enter Fengtian City.
Lu Yuan no longer planned to go find Crane Patrol Celestial Venerable.
Since we have to go back and find Qingwan anyway, we might as well ask the old man together.
As for the two aunts in the family...
I won't bring her back this time either, since I have important business to attend to there, and I'll postpone meeting her parents for now.
The group rode five horses, and after five days they were truly exhausted.
Even if they could run, Lu Yuan and the other two couldn't ride anymore; they hadn't slept much in the past five days.
If I were to ride back for another day and night, I'd probably fall asleep on the horse.
The next day, around 9 p.m.
The ink-black night blurred the outline of Qixia Mountain into a deep, somber hue.
At the foot of the mountain, the stone steps leading to Zhenlong Temple meandered under the dim starlight, disappearing into the endless darkness.
The fatigue of the past few days and the eagerness to get home made this last stretch of mountain road seem exceptionally long.
Lu Yuan walked in front, followed by Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan.
All three of them bore the indelible stench of blood and a chilling aura, their exhaustion penetrating to their very bones.
But the outline of Zhenlong Temple was right in front of them, and that longing made them quicken their pace involuntarily.
The lights in the temple seemed to wash away the weariness of the day.
"Go back and offer incense to the ancestral masters first, then you two can take a month's vacation and rest well."
Lu Yuan's voice was slightly hoarse.
The matter of nurturing evil spirits has finally come to an end.
Lu Yuan doesn't plan to go out and do any work for the time being, so he'll let the two of them rest at home.
Upon hearing this, Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan's faces instantly lit up with excitement.
Lu Yuan glanced at them and added:
"But you can't neglect your cultivation. I'll check on you both when I come back in a month. If there's any regression, that won't do!"
Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan nodded excitedly.
Just as the three of them rounded a familiar bend in the mountain valley, and could already see the blurry outline of the eaves of the Zhenlong Temple not far ahead...
A sudden change has occurred!
In the middle of the mountain road ahead, the shadow of a gnarled old tree suddenly "came to life".
No, it's not that the shadow came to life.
Something slowly "separated" from the "substance" of the shadow.
Like ink spreading out a human figure on rice paper, or like moonlight condensing into a physical form.
First to appear was a flowing strand of hair, gleaming with a cold, glazed sheen, followed by the flawless curve of her profile. Starry eyes suddenly lit up in the darkness, carrying a hint of languor and a touch of mockery, staring directly at Lu Yuan, who was walking at the front.
She lightly touched the ground with her bare feet, and there was no lotus flower phantom beneath her feet, but a hazy, moonlit halo naturally flowed around her.
It dispelled the darkness that surrounded her and illuminated her porcelain-patterned dress, which had become plain but still couldn't hide her unparalleled beauty.
It is indeed the "Goddess of Beauty"!
She appeared silently on the only way back to Zhenlong Temple.
Lu Yuan abruptly stopped, his pupils contracted sharply, and all the muscles in his body tensed instantly.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan gasped in shock, almost crying out in surprise.
Lu Yuan was completely bewildered. This...
Why is that woman waiting for me here?!
"Goddess of Beauty" seemed to thoroughly enjoy Lu Yuan's apprehensive expression, her red lips parted slightly, letting out a soft, cat-like laugh.
"Oh dear~"
Her ethereal voice echoed through the desolate mountains and forests, the last syllable drawn out with a hooking quality.
"Whose young Taoist priest is this? Why is he in such a disheveled state?"
As she spoke, she took cat-like steps and walked over at a leisurely pace.
My bare feet trod on the cold rocks without making a sound, as if I were a weightless phantom.
Lu Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he forced himself to calm down, his voice hoarse:
Why are you here?
She had previously said she needed to deal with "things that had to be dealt with".
Could it be that the matter she needs to handle is at Zhenlong Temple?
"I?"
The "Goddess of Beauty" had already walked up to Lu Yuan, less than three feet away.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes, which seemed to contain the entire starry sky, blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
"Of course I miss you, little one."
Before she finished speaking, she lowered her body, and her face, which could outshine the heavens and earth, suddenly came close to Lu Yuan's eyes.
The tip of her nose almost touched Lu Yuan's nose.
A cool yet rich fragrance of plum blossoms instantly engulfed Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan watched helplessly as she was about to lean in and sniff him again, just like last time, and might even... lick him.
He instinctively tried to retreat, but found his body frozen as if by invisible ice, unable to move.
A powerful aura locked onto him!
"Don't move~"
The face of the "Goddess of Beauty" was full of the mockery and cunning of a hunter seeing his prey.
However, just as she was about to touch Lu Yuan...
A barely perceptible distortion appeared in the space behind her.
A gash was forcibly torn open.
"…you……"
"...Don't move!"
The voice wasn't human speech; it sounded more like the sound of some kind of rule being forcibly distorted.
Broken and discontinuous, yet carrying an undeniable, terrifying majesty, it instantly pierced the deathly silence of the mountains and forests!
The goddess's starry pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints!
The languid, playful expression on her face, like a cat playing with a mouse, froze instantly, replaced by an almost instinctive horror at a higher level of threat! She subconsciously tried to turn her head, wanting to see clearly the existence tearing through space behind her.
but
late!
That snow-white jade hand that emerged from the void rift was faster than time itself!
Her fingers were long and slender, yet the tips gleamed with a chilling light that seemed to pierce the very soul.
Without the slightest hesitation, and without the playful elegance of a "goddess," there was only the most primal, direct violence and control!
Sizzle!
A terrifying, teeth-grinding crack, somewhere between shattering porcelain and breaking bone, suddenly exploded!
That hand, with perfect precision, gripped the "Goddess's" perfectly slender neck tightly!
An immense force surged forth, and the moonlight emanating from the "Goddess of Beauty" flickered violently, almost extinguished, like a candle flame caught in a raging storm! Her bare feet were instantly lifted off the ground, her entire body abruptly lifted by an irresistible force!
Only then was the torn space fully revealed.
It was an extremely unstable fissure, its edges flashing with blood-red and dark purple lightning.
Like a hideous wound that had been forcibly torn open.
Thick, almost tangible red blood mist surged forth from it, but it had no bloody smell; instead, it carried an extreme chill and deathly stillness.
Instantly, it dyed the surrounding area, which was several feet in size, with an ominous dark red color.
From the thickest part of the blood mist, a figure slowly "flowed" out.
Gu Qingwan.
She was wearing the moon-white dress that Lu Yuan had given her.
But at this moment, countless fine, dark red patterns seemed to flow across the dress, moving slightly as if they were alive.
Her beautiful face was expressionless, neither angry nor fierce.
But those beautiful eyes revealed an extreme, icy indifference, as if looking down upon ants.
And so, she held up the struggling "Goddess of Beauty" with one hand, her glaze flickering and her face showing pain and disbelief for the first time. The posture was like that of someone holding a disobedient toy that had just been picked up from the roadside.
Her delicate red lips parted slightly, and every word she uttered carried an absolute chill and majesty.
"I...will...divorce you..."
"Don't move!!!"