Evil spirit shrouds Gaotang Prefecture

After leaving Liangshan Lake, the group disguised themselves as ordinary travelers and headed north along the official road. The closer they got to the border of Gaotang Prefecture, the more different the atmosphere became.

It was early summer, a season of lush, vibrant life, but the fields along the road seemed somewhat desolate, their crops far less thriving than elsewhere. A vague, unsettling, gloomy air hung in the air, and even the birdsong seemed sparse and subdued. Most of the people I met along the way wore worried expressions, their eyes evasive, and they hurried along, as if they were avoiding something.

"Master, this place... doesn't feel right." I rode closer to Gongsun Sheng and spoke in a low voice. The invisible sense of oppression made my "Heart Purification Mantra" somewhat sluggish.

Gongsun Sheng stared ahead, his expression calm, but his eyes sharper than usual. "Yin energy is gathering, and resentment is growing. Gao Lian's 'Five Ghosts Gathering Yin Formation' has been operating for quite some time, affecting the Feng Shui energy here."

He paused and added, "Practice the Heart Purification Mantra and guard your spirit altar tightly to prevent it from being invaded by external evil."

I recited the mantra silently as instructed, and a cool feeling rose from my dantian and flowed throughout my body, and the discomfort was slightly relieved.

In the evening, we arrived outside Gaotang City.

This city was far taller and more majestic than any other provincial capital. Its walls, built of dark blue stone, shone with a cold luster in the setting sun. Banners fluttered overhead, and patrolling soldiers in sharp armor stood guard. Strangely, the flow of people entering and exiting the vast city gate was sparse, and everyone walked quickly, their heads bowed, not daring to look around. The entire city exuded a dead, oppressive atmosphere.

We found an inn not far from the city to stay in. This inn also seemed quite deserted, and the innkeeper and the waiter looked listless and preoccupied.

After settling in, Gongsun Sheng didn't rest. Instead, he took me quietly to a secluded corner in the backyard of the inn. He took out an ancient compass, pinched his fingers, and muttered something.

The needle on the compass began to tremble violently. It did not point to the fixed north and south, but spun around like a headless fly. Finally, it pointed to the west of the city center, and a hint of black air was faintly emitted from the tip of the needle.

"The center of the formation... is indeed within the provincial government office." Gongsun Sheng put away the compass and said with certainty, "And the evil aura is extremely strong. It seems that the ghost that Gao Lian is nurturing with this formation is no small matter."

"Then how do we break the formation?" I asked.

"The Five Ghosts gather their Yin energy, and they must be broken by the Five Elements' counteraction," Gongsun Sheng explained. "The center of the formation must be guarded by the Five Ghosts, created by Gao Lian using unholy methods. They must be defeated simultaneously, or their balance must be disrupted, in order to break the formation. Tomorrow, I will sneak into the city and determine the Five Elements' positions and the Five Ghosts' exact locations at close range."

He looked at me and said, "Come with me. Your music might disturb the demons and create an opportunity for me to break the formation."

My heart tightened, knowing the real test was coming. Sneaking into the state government office and facing the demonic presence head-on! This was far more dangerous than the previous skirmishes in Liangshan.

"Yes, Taoist priest." I suppressed the fear in my heart and nodded in agreement.

That night, I lay in bed, tossing and turning. Outside the window, in the direction of Gaotang Prefecture, the gloomy atmosphere seemed to grow even thicker. Faintly, I could hear eerie, almost weeping sounds, disturbing my senses. The "Purifying Heart Talisman" in my arms, emitting a subtle warmth, only allowed me to drift off to sleep.

The next day, we disguised ourselves as a father and daughter going into the city to sell mountain products and sneaked into Gaotang City.

The city was even more desolate. Most of the shops lining the streets were closed, and those that were open were deserted. Pedestrians wore panicked expressions, speaking in hushed tones, their eyes filled with fear. Occasionally, a yamen runner in official uniform, with an arrogant expression, passed by, and the people avoided him as if he had seen a ghost.

Following the compass, we headed towards the government office. The closer we got, the thicker the chilling, sinister atmosphere grew, even dimming the sunlight. The area surrounding the government office was heavily guarded. Not only were there ordinary soldiers, but also men in strange black robes with sinister eyes patrolling the area. They were clearly Gao Lian's recruits for the evil ways.

Gongsun Sheng took me not directly to the provincial government office, but to a teahouse on the street nearby. We chose a seat by the window on the second floor, from which we could observe the layout of the provincial government office from a distance.

He seemed to be sipping tea leisurely, but in fact his fingertips were calculating rapidly under the table. Occasionally, a clear light flashed in his eyes, revealing the veins of the invisible formation.

I was holding the pipa wrapped in cloth, looking out the window with seemingly curiosity, but in fact I was on full alert, with my spiritual perception raised to the extreme, feeling the disgusting evil spirit emanating from the depths of the provincial government.

"In the southeast, the Wood Ghost hides in the ancient locust tree; in the northwest, the Metal Ghost hides in the bell tower; in the southwest, the Earth Ghost hides in the cellar; in the northeast, the Water Ghost lurks in the deep well..." Gongsun Sheng's voice, as soft as a mosquito, reached my ears. "In the central hall of the provincial government, the Fire Ghost sits, the core of the formation. The five elements circulate, and the evil spirits gather..."

He is quickly analyzing the structure of the formation!

At that moment, the gates of the prefectural government suddenly opened, and a group of yamen runners escorted out a young man in a brocade robe, his face pale, with bags under his eyes, and a lewd aura. He rode his horse with a haughty air, whipping the people who blocked his way with his whip, causing them to cry out and dodge.

"That's Yin Tianxi." Gongsun Sheng whispered.

I looked at the dandy's arrogant demeanor and thought of the old servant at Chai Jin's farm who was forced to death by him, and a surge of anger welled up in my heart. If this beast is not eliminated, it will be unjust!

Yin Tianxi brought his men and paraded through the city, seemingly going out of the city to seek pleasure.

We sat in the teahouse for a while, and Gongsun Sheng seemed to have finished his calculations.

"Let's go." He put down the tea money, stood up and left.

When we returned to the inn, Gongsun Sheng immediately began to prepare the items needed to break the formation - five small flags of different colors, corresponding to the five elements; several drawn talismans to break evil; and an ancient pine-patterned sword that he rarely used.

"Tonight at midnight, the Yin energy is at its peak, and this is also the crucial time for the formation to operate." Gongsun Sheng handed me a small red flag and instructed, "Hold this flag and hide near the ancient locust tree in the southeast corner of the provincial government's outer wall. When I give the signal, point the flag at the tree and simultaneously play the pipa, focusing on the 'Zheng' note, to disturb the wood ghost. Remember, no matter what you see or hear, stay focused. Don't panic, and don't leave your position!"

Zheng Yin belongs to Fire, and Fire overcomes Wood! He wants me to use the rhythm to help restrain the Wood Ghost!

I took the small, warm crimson flag, my palms sweating. Facing a demonic presence alone? This was scarier than I'd imagined.

"Master...I..." My voice was a little dry.

Gongsun Sheng looked at me, his eyes calm and resolute, as if carrying a calming power: "Believe in yourself, and believe in me. Your music has the power to overcome evil."

His trust was like a warm current that poured into my anxious heart. I nodded vigorously: "I understand!"

It was approaching midnight, the night was as dark as ink, and dark clouds obscured the moon. Gaotang Prefecture was completely silent, except for the direction of the prefectural government office, where a sinister aura permeated the air like a physical substance, a faint black mist lingering faintly.

Gongsun Sheng and I, like two ghostly figures, slipped silently beneath the outer walls of the provincial government under the cover of darkness. According to the plan, he needed to infiltrate the interior and simultaneously deal with the other four ghosts and Gao Lian, who was in charge of the core. I, on the periphery, would be responsible for containing the wooden ghost in the southeast corner.

Before we parted, Gongsun Sheng gave me one last look. His expression was complex and difficult to understand, but it ultimately came down to two words:

"careful."

After he finished speaking, his figure flashed, and like green smoke, he passed over the wall that was more than ten feet high and disappeared into the solemn state government office.

I followed the instructions and sneaked under the huge ancient locust tree in the southeast corner, whose branches and leaves looked a little withered and yellow, and hid myself in the shadow of the tree.

The night wind rustled the branches of the ancient locust tree, a sound particularly eerie in the dead of night. A thick, gloomy aura permeated the air, a chill piercing my bones. The "Purifying Heart Talisman" in my arms gave off a stronger warmth, allowing me to maintain my composure.

I held the small red flag tightly in my hand, with my other hand pressing on the pipa strings, my heart pounding as I waited for the unknown signal.

Time passes by little by little, and every second is like torture.

Sudden!

From the depths of the state government office, a sharp shriek like a night owl suddenly emanated! Immediately following, Gongsun Sheng's clear and resounding shout was followed by a violent surge of energy and the sound of metal clashing!

The fight started!

Almost at the same time, the huge ancient locust tree in front of me moved without wind, and its withered yellow leaves swayed wildly. A thick black gas surged out from the trunk of the tree, condensing into a blurry and twisted ghostly figure that emitted a foul smell. It let out a teeth-grinding howl and was about to pounce on the provincial government!

Now is the time!

I stood up suddenly, pointed the small red flag in my hand at the ghost, and at the same time, I scratched the pipa strings with my fingers!

“Zheng——!”

It is no longer a chaotic soul sound, but a single note that condenses all the spirit, is dominated by the sound of "Zheng", and is full of masculine and evil-breaking meaning!

The sound waves were like invisible flaming arrows, shooting accurately at the wooden ghost condensed by black energy!

“Ouch!”

The wooden ghost let out a shrill scream, its movement towards the state government office suddenly froze, and the black energy around it violently churned and dissipated as if it were burned by a raging fire! It turned its head abruptly, and its empty, evil eyes stared at me intently!

I was chilled by that hateful gaze, but I knew I couldn't back down! I gritted my teeth and plucked the strings again!

"Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!"

The condensed "Zheng" sounds, like a string of flaming arrows, continuously shot towards the wooden ghost!

The wooden ghost was nailed to the spot by my music and could not support the core of the formation inside the provincial government. It could only wave its ghost claws frantically and howl in an attempt to resist the sound waves that restrained it.

I could feel my mental strength rapidly draining away, sweat dripping down my forehead, and my fingers trembling slightly from exerting so much force. Fighting this evil being was far more difficult than I'd imagined!

Just when I felt I was about to collapse, four even more shrill howls rang out from within the state government office, as if coming from the depths of the soul! Then, the sinister aura that enveloped the entire city suddenly stagnated, then quickly weakened like the receding tide!

Almost immediately, the wooden ghost before me let out a wail filled with resignation and despair. Its entire form twisted and disintegrated like smoke, eventually vanishing in a wisp of smoke. The ancient locust tree, seemingly stripped of its support, collapsed in half, revealing its hollow, rotten trunk.

Success?! The formation was broken?

I leaned exhaustedly against the remaining tree trunk, gasping for breath, my whole body drenched in cold sweat.

At this moment, an enraged roar came from inside the provincial government office: "Who is this demon who dares to break my magic circle! Stay here!"

It’s Gao Lian!

Immediately afterwards, there were sounds of even more intense fighting, thunder flashing, and flames shooting into the sky!

Gongsun Sheng is still fighting hard inside!

My heart suddenly lifted up, and regardless of my tiredness, I struggled to stand up and looked at the provincial government office where flames were shooting up into the sky, my heart filled with worry.

I know that I am just diverting the attack, and the real decisive battle is still inside.

And I can only wait here anxiously.