CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: DEMONS AND MONSTERS

The herbal apprentice spoke of someone who had summoned the raging waters of the Nu River out of thin air, drowning tens of thousands of soldiers. These words caught Qi Xiu’s attention. He twirled the medicinal herb in his fingers, pondering.

It seems this County Magistrate Li of Qingliu County is no ordinary person either.

After purchasing the necessary medicinal herbs—a large quantity—Qi Xiu had the pharmacy hire a cart to deliver them directly to his home.

Now, he didn’t need to be as cautious and troubled as before. At least with his current strength, not many in Baoho County could threaten him.

Having bought the herbs, Qi Xiu decided to stroll around the market leisurely. In the past twenty-odd days, aside from going out to buy medicinal herbs, he had hardly interacted with anyone.

Although he considered himself psychologically healthy, such a long period of solitude indeed required some excitement to offset it.

Perhaps it had been a long time since he had such a leisurely walk. Qi Xiu walked slowly, casually glancing at every corner.

Unknowingly, the sky darkened. Bright lanterns and candles were lit throughout the market.

It was the Festival of Ingenuity. This festival was similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival of his previous life. It centered on family reunions, with families hanging Ingenuity Flowers on their doorsteps to pray for the safety and health of their loved ones. Therefore, today’s market was filled with many vendors selling Ingenuity Flowers.

He picked up an Ingenuity Flower, shaped like a lotus but folded from colorful paper. Qi Xiu wondered if he should buy a few to take home. It is a festival, after all.

Just as Qi Xiu was contemplating, a handsome young scholar walked by him and accidentally bumped his shoulder.

"My apologies," the young scholar said, bowing his head slightly before turning to continue on his way.

"Wait."

Putting down the Ingenuity Flower, Qi Xiu suddenly called out to stop the young scholar.

"What is it?" The young scholar frowned and turned his head.

"Oh, it’s nothing. You may go," Qi Xiu said, giving the young scholar a once-over before waving his hand with a smile.

"Are you touched in the head or something?" the young scholar muttered to himself, turning and walking away quickly.

Qi Xiu remained where he was, watching the young scholar’s receding figure. Thoughtfully, he raised his right hand; a "Suppress" Character talisman was stuck to his palm.

The "Suppress" Character talisman showed no reaction, meaning it wasn’t demons or other malevolent entities. But if not those foul things, why does this young fellow reek so strongly of human blood?

As his Alchemy Skill continuously improved, Qi Xiu’s sense of smell had been passively enhanced. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to so easily identify the ingredients in medicinal decoctions and pills. When that young scholar passed by him earlier, he had smelled a very strong scent of human blood. He had called out to him to make sure he hadn’t been mistaken.

Matters of life and death are for the authorities to handle; there’s no need for me to meddle.

Shrugging his shoulders without dwelling too much on the incident, Qi Xiu bought some delicious pastries in the market and then headed home as night fell.

Qi Xiu, however, didn’t notice. As he finished his purchases and prepared to leave, a pair of strange eyes watched him from a dark corner. They were bloodshot and held a bizarre expression.

The recipe for Red Blood Medicine Wine is almost completely figured out. In a couple of days, I’ll go to the Ghost Market Treasure Ship to find that crooked merchant. If he hands over the Red Heart Palm Manual without a fuss, that’s fine. If not, I’ll set up a stall right next to him. I’ll sell Red Blood Medicine Wine at half price, buy one get one free. Acquaintances get an extra twenty percent off. Let’s see you hold out then!

Stuffing a piece of jujube paste cloud cake into his mouth, Qi Xiu ate, his mouth full of icing sugar.

As he was muttering about how to deal with the crooked medicinal wine seller, suddenly, a figure darted out from the alley corner. It was the same young scholar who reeked of human blood.

Surprised to see the young scholar blocking his way, Qi Xiu licked the sugar from the corner of his mouth. "What now, a robbery?"

"Hehe, indeed." With a sinister smile on his lips, the young scholar slowly nodded.

His expression turning serious, Qi Xiu quietly took two steps back. "Robbery of wealth, or... of beauty?"

"..."

"Robbery of life!"

Suddenly raising his hand, the young scholar scattered a large cloud of pale pink mist and sneered.

"Heavenly Orchid, Leaf Qing, Nine-Leaf Tri-Star Grass, Wulin Snake Poison... HISSS, and Actinolite... What on earth is this concoction? Who puts Actinolite in a stupefying mist?" Qi Xiu listed a string of herb names, frowning as he criticized the young scholar, whose face changed drastically.

Hearing the names of the herbs and seeing Qi Xiu unharmed, the young scholar’s heart skipped a beat.

This is bad!

His eyes darted around, and he turned to run.

WHOOSH—

The sound of rending air rang out, and the young scholar instantly froze, rigid as if petrified.

Immobilizing the nefarious young scholar with an Air-Piercing Point Strike, Qi Xiu walked up with a smile.

"I didn’t come looking for you, yet you came to me. Since that’s the case, let’s have a good talk."

Patting the young scholar’s shoulder amiably, Qi Xiu grabbed his collar with one hand and slowly dragged him into the depths of the murky, dark alley.

"Are you saying that in just seven days, you’ve killed seven people, one each day?"

Pale-faced, the young scholar leaned against the corner of the wall, sweating so profusely he looked as if he had just been pulled from water.

"Yes," the young scholar nodded weakly.

Looking gravely at the youth, who was younger than himself, a flash of murderous intent appeared in Qi Xiu’s eyes. He grabbed the young scholar by the neck and hauled him up.

"Come, take me to your home."

Having tasted Qi Xiu’s torturous methods, the young scholar became much more compliant.

The two walked through the dense night. They crossed half of Baohe County Town and wound through several long, narrow alleys, finally stopping before a secluded and dilapidated courtyard, its gate largely obscured by a large tree.

Casually yanking off the thumb-thick copper lock on the door, Qi Xiu’s terrifying strength made the young scholar’s scalp tingle.

BOOM—

He pushed open the heavy courtyard door.

Wind chimes jingled.

A low, oppressive chanting sound inexplicably surged into Qi Xiu’s ears.

HUMM!

The "Suppress" Character talisman in his robe flared with brilliant light—majestic and righteous—and imperiously crushed the strange power.

The courtyard was filled with tangled and twisted vegetation, and the surrounding walls were covered with cracks, overgrown with moss and vines. A thick sense of cold and malice pervaded the entire courtyard.

His gaze slowly swept over the yard, which emanated deathly silence and unease. Qi Xiu’s eyes suddenly locked onto the main hall directly opposite.

Yanking the young scholar up, Qi Xiu’s brow furrowed deeply. He demanded in a low voice, "You actually dare to worship a demon?!"

Behind the decaying door panels, in the center of the main hall, stood an altar. Upon the altar, a statue of a Fox Demon—clad in a long robe, a stiff smile on its face, one hand forming a seal—stared eerily forward. Scattered around this Fox Demon statue were seven desiccated, blackened corpses.

"What demon! That is Lord Fox Immortal! Lord Fox Immortal, save me!"

Struggling fiercely, the young scholar suddenly mustered tremendous strength and, with a sudden burst of effort, actually broke free.

"Lord Fox Immortal, Lord Fox Immortal!"

Face alight with fanaticism, the young scholar laughed madly as he dashed towards the Fox Demon statue.

WHOOSH—

A pebble, carrying a terrifying force capable of shattering gold and splitting stone, suddenly shot through the air. THWACK!—it tore through the young scholar’s kneecap.

Blood sprayed.

The young scholar collapsed to the ground with a thud, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Qi Xiu walked expressionlessly over to the young scholar, who was gritting his teeth and crawling forward. Just as Qi Xiu was about to bend down and grab him, a pale, spectral figure suddenly burst from the scholar’s body. A bone-chilling wind swirled up, aiming to bore into Qi Xiu’s orifices.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Qi Xiu’s eyes blazed like suns. The Divine Marvel of the "Suppress" Character talisman in his robe awakened, golden light seeping through his clothes. Like a giant hand, it viciously slapped the pale spectral figure across the face.

"No wonder the ’Suppress’ Character talisman didn’t react before. So it was you, a subservient ghost, possessing a living human body."

Staring at the subservient ghost, which fluttered before him like white smoke, Qi Xiu’s expression turned solemn.

Has that demon finally dared to extend its reach into Baoho County?