CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 98 VISITING QING’AN TEMPLE

After talking until dawn, Duan Changzai packed up the things he needed to take and left with Lu Zheng.

They left the Peach Grove along the way.

Duan Changzai frowned, "Did we forget something?"

Lu Zheng was taken aback, shook his head, "No, right? The Ghost Python and Scorpion corpses, we took them with us."

Duan Changzai nodded, "Yes, we took them; those two creatures are dead."

The two walked a bit further.

"Really nothing left?"

Lu Zheng thought for a moment, "Really nothing left."

Duan Changzai and Lu Zheng exchanged a glance.

"Daoist Yuan Jing!"

"Brother Yuan Jing!"

The two, along with Shen Ying, had killed the Scorpion Demon and Ghost Python in the middle of the night, then packed up and went to Taohua Village, having long forgotten that Yuan Jing said he would catch up later.

Did he... search the forest all night?

The two exchanged another look, turned around in tacit understanding, and hurried silently towards the city.

After hurrying back to the city and asking the governmental officials, it turned out that Yuan Jing had indeed ventured into the mountains as soon as his injuries were slightly healed and hadn’t returned since.

"Now that the case is closed, I will head back to the State Government to report. If Young Master Lu visits the Yizhou Prefecture in the future, come to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau for a drink with me."

"Last night’s magical combat went on until midnight; Lord Duan, why don’t you rest at my humble abode?"

"No need, no need," Duan Changzai waved his hand, "I’m leaving now, see you later, goodbye!"

After giving some instructions to Chief Liu, who was serving on the side, Duan Changzai took a horse from a constable, mounted it, and rode away.

Lu Zheng: ~_~

...

In the afternoon, at Lu Zheng’s house.

"So you all just forgot about me?" Yuan Jing drank a cup of tea, his expression calm.

Lu Zheng got up to refill his cup, smiling broadly, "It’s just that one thing led to another, there were so many things going on. Please understand, Brother. See, I’ve already soaked the medicine pouch of that Scorpion Demon in wine. In a few days, I’ll take it up the mountain to honor you and Master."

Yuan Jing nodded, glanced at the jar in the corner, "The Scorpion Demon’s medicine pouch is very potent; soaking it for three days is enough, and it should be able to make ten jars."

Lu Zheng praised upon hearing this, "Brother seems very familiar with this!"

Yuan Jing smiled slightly, "I have also killed... Never mind, it’s nothing..."

He originally wanted to boast, but Yuan Jing suddenly remembered that both times he appeared before Lu Zheng, he was gravely injured by demons, so he decided to let it go.

"By the way, how did you come to know Madam Shen?" Yuan Jing suddenly asked.

"I met her during an outing at Peach Blossom Plain." Lu Zheng said calmly.

Yuan Jing stroked his chin, thought for a bit, and finally said, "Forget it, just be mindful yourself."

Lu Zheng gave a dry laugh.

"Oh right, Brother, Master has taught me the ’Five Curse Techniques’ and the ’Body-Freezing Curse’, but I’ve encountered many difficulties. Now that you’re here, I must seek your guidance."

Yuan Jing was taken aback upon hearing this, "The ’Five Curse Techniques’ and ’Body-Freezing Curse’?"

"Yes!"

"The ’Five Curse Techniques’ are fine, but the ’Body-Freezing Curse’ is extremely difficult to practice; even I haven’t started learning it yet." Yuan Jing looked astonished and somewhat envious, "I guess it’s because your cultivation in the ’Five Talisman Technique’ and Transportation Technique is progressing too fast. Master has high expectations for you."

"Haha, is that so?"

Yuan Jing nodded, "Yes, even Master doesn’t know it."

Lu Zheng blinked, deciding to keep that comment to himself.

Thus, Lu Zheng sought Yuan Jing’s guidance on cultivating the ’Five Curse Techniques’. Yuan Jing also stayed at Lu Zheng’s for lunch before leaving.

...

In the afternoon, Lu Zheng traveled through modern times and gave Lin Wan an acupuncture treatment.

At night, he turned on the desk lamp and began studying the book ’White Bamboo Curse’.

The spells in ’White Bamboo Curse’, rather than being used to directly confront enemies head-on, seemed more like they were specifically designed to torment people.

The Soul-Sealing Curse seals the target’s Divine Soul Spiritual Light, leaving them in a daze every day, worse than death.

The Melting Gold Curse extracts the target’s essence and destroys their bone marrow, causing an excruciating death.

The Yang Transformation Curse neutralizes the Yang Qi within the target, turning males feminine, making them unable to procreate.

The Gathering Yin Curse attracts Yin Qi into the body at night, eventually causing the person to die as a stiff corpse.

The Nightmare Curse, an enhanced version of hypnosis, ensures the target has nightmares every night about whatever or whomever the caster desires them to.

Others include the Gourmand Curse, Soft Bone Curse, etc.

"What is this abomination... is this something that we, as righteous cultivators, would practice?"

Lu Zheng cursed out loud, then read even more intently.

For three consecutive days.

"The ’Five Curse Techniques’, enhanced!"

"The ’White Bamboo Curse’, enhanced!"

After consuming eleven strands of the Light of Fortune, the various spells were thoroughly mastered.

Not to mention the ’White Bamboo Curse’, just the ’Five Curse Techniques’ are an upgraded version of the ’Five Talisman Technique’, capable of being cast with True Qi and hand seals, convenient and quick.

The Peace Talisman sees the most significant change; its upgraded version, the Golden Light Curse, offers protection. Last night, Yuan Jing withstood the Ghost Python’s fatal attack because he had applied a Golden Light Curse to himself in advance.

The Qi-Seeking Talisman’s upgraded version, the Qi Observation Technique, sounds nice but actually still doesn’t reveal much Qi.

Additionally, the Exorcism Curse, Divine Movement Technique, and Breath Concealment Technique haven’t even had name changes.

...

At eight in the evening, Hai City, Qing’an Temple.

Lu Zheng recalled overhearing Lin Wan’s phone conversation with Huang Xiumin during the day.

Since discovering that performing a ritual at Qing’an Temple brought peace for a full five days, Liu Yifan had stayed right in the temple.

Regardless of where he goes or how he enjoys himself during the day, he would always return to the guest room in Qing’an Temple at night to sleep.

And sure enough, another consecutive five days passed, and the Ghost Infant didn’t appear once.

Thus...

Regardless of whether it was real or a facade, Qing’an Temple’s reputation soared among the wealthy, with quite a few business tycoons and executives coming to burn incense and pray these days.

"Buddha is so unfair, protecting such a scoundrel!" Huang Xiumin complained.

"What age are we living in, and you’re still relying on Buddha? Gather evidence and arrest him; see if the Buddha Bodhisattva at Qing’an Temple will stop you."

Hearing this, Huang Xiumin felt a bit embarrassed, "Liu Yifan is very clever, there’s no direct evidence leading to him."

...

Thinking of this, Lu Zheng looked up.

With ’White Bamboo Curse’ in hand, he no longer worried about Liu Yifan escaping the country, allowing him to unleash his full potential.

"I’m a law-abiding citizen. Anything specific in the criminal code, I never do."

Lu Zheng looked at the brightly lit Qing’an Temple.

"However, the criminal code doesn’t say I can’t cast spells on others, right? So I’m not committing a crime, and certainly not breaking my promise to Lin Wan."

Perfect logic, no flaws!

...

The autumn wind is bleak, leaves swirl and fly.

At dusk, ghosts roam.

Lu Zheng strolled to the outskirts of Qing’an Temple, looking up at the ancient yet recently renovated grand temple.

"Honk——"

He heard the sound of a car slowing down behind him. Lu Zheng turned to see a stretched Mercedes parked by the roadside.

The back door of the car opened, and a young man bent down to get out - it was Liu Yifan.