Chapter 4 Shan Lei Yi: "Eat her!"

This place has revered Taoism for thousands of years.

Whether in the mountains or in the city, there are Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, because strange and calamities really do happen, and among the vast population, there will really be gifted people who are blessed to embark on the path of seeking the Tao.

This dynasty has existed for over eight hundred years.

Countless crises have been averted by the Xuandujian. The Xuandujian entered the Dao through blood, but so-called talent is not entirely related to bloodline. The current emperor is someone who cannot enter the Dao and will eventually face his centenary.

The man in blue placed the umbrella he was carrying behind the entrance to the Lingguan Temple and stepped into the temple with an air of nonchalance.

The several eternal lamps enshrined in the hall suddenly flickered, casting a somber light on the visitor's face.

He looked up at the compassionate, bowed-headed statue of a god.

He wouldn't normally need to handle such a minor problem, but he had been asked to do so...

As he lowered his eyes in thought, a sudden burst of noise filled his ears—

Go to hell!

Why are you still alive?

Why use someone else's identity? Do you think we can't find you that way?

Everyone in the Su family deserves to die!

[Go to hell! Go ...

The malevolent roars and curses were incredibly intense. Perhaps because they had guessed what was about to happen, they were tormented by malice and excitement, and then inflicted this bloody pain upon him many times over.

Amidst the endless noise, the man in blue remained calm and showed no signs of anxiety.

He has been plagued by this curse since he can remember, and it has never stopped.

It was as if all the malice in the world throughout history was being poured out on him, and sometimes the thoughts of others would be whispered in his ear.

Today is just like any other day.

*

The Night Watchers, carrying some of the temple's artifacts and a few of its members, went to Mirror Lake Prison. As soon as they left, the Cloud Water Temple Master's heartstrings tightened, and a chilling malice, like a venomous snake, climbed up his mind.

The old abbot immediately realized—the Night-Shining Envoy had not taken away the correct object to which it was attached!

Without hesitation, she took her magical artifacts and rushed to the source of the calamity, the Lingguan Temple, sealing the temple gates and cutting off any escape route.

Once all the preparations for the desperate fight were complete, she took a deep breath, gripped her magic sword tightly, and, with the determination to die, prepared to cleanse the impurity alone.

It was at this moment that she discovered Cheng Jiao's brother, Cheng Xi.

He had just witnessed his sister's death and had just heard information about the suspect from the Night Watcher. He should be immersed in grief... How could he have the leisure to "stroll" here?

Noticing the surprised look in the eyes of the abbot of Yunshui Temple, Cheng Xi did not approach.

The young man bowed to the old abbot from afar in the shadow cast by the giant statue inside the hall.

He explained that he had been entrusted by someone to help Yunshui Temple resolve its difficulties and to seek justice for his younger sister, and asked the abbot not to take it to heart.

The abbot of Yunshui Temple sighed silently.

She originally wanted to get rid of the filth quickly, even if it meant dying with it, but that would implicate innocent people...

The most urgent task is to save this arrogant young man and get him out of the now-dead Lingguan Palace as soon as possible.

Without a word, the fluttering banners suddenly fell.

The howling wind that had been blowing in the hall suddenly fell silent.

A chill suddenly ran up the back of the old abbot's neck!

She was drenched in cold sweat, gripping the sword hilt tightly, her mind taut like a string about to be released.

He counted three breaths in silence, his killing intent surging!

Without hesitation, the abbot thrust his magic sword toward Cheng Xi's location!

Cheng Xi smiled gently and clapped his hands, saying, "Master's sword intent is remarkable."

The man watched from the beginning to the end without being afraid.

The abbot shook his head helplessly.

She thrust her sword at something between the two of them, something invisible to the naked eye. A hissing sound followed, and the thing that was stabbed was burning painfully by the magic sword, seemingly about to melt away.

The abbot felt a slight sense of relief, though he hadn't fully exhaled yet—

"pity."

Cheng Xi calmly uttered two words that floated down her lips.

The next instant, an overwhelming and terrifying force suddenly arose out of nowhere, slamming the old abbot to the ground. The clear, crisp sound of bones shattering was particularly jarring in the quiet hall, and the intense pain instantly overwhelmed the old abbot's consciousness!

A crisis has suddenly emerged!

The power of that invisible monster exceeded the abbot's prediction!

The old abbot struggled to get up, and the magic sword shone brightly!

The battle before him was extremely fierce, yet Cheng Xi did not move an inch, remaining beneath the giant statue. The abbot of Yunshui Temple could not see his expression, but could only hear his clear and steady voice.

He said, “I deeply agree with what the Master thinks. The word ‘talent’ is truly detestable. Many Night Watchers have spent their lives in mediocrity, with knowledge less than one or two tenths of the Master’s, yet they are given high positions based on their natural talent. This is truly unfair.”

The abbess of Yunshui Temple initially wanted the young man to stop commenting and run away! But then she realized—how did this young man know what she was thinking?

How many years ago was this idea?

From youthful arrogance to the despondency of accepting reality, and then to the profound realization brought about by the death of that senior, with her current strength, she should no longer care about these things.

Yeah?

Why is the resentment in my heart so agonizing right now, even more so than the pain of broken bones?

strangeness……

How did she come to terms with it back then?

They've endured so much injustice!

I could have avoided dying here!!

“What I admire even more is that the Abbot was able to remain detached from this,” Cheng Xi’s tone remained unchanged, as if what was before him was not a life-or-death situation, but merely a casual tea gathering. “The peace that the Abbot has finally attained… Your Excellency,” his tone suddenly turned cold, “could you please stop disturbing our peace?”

The space suddenly twisted strangely, as if it were being scorched by high temperatures, and from the core of this distortion, a woman in red gracefully walked out.

She embodied almost all of humanity's imagination of beauty. Her stunning appearance even shocked the abbot. The definition of a "beautiful ghost" seemed to have been created for her.

The woman in red smiled charmingly at Cheng Xi, about to speak.

Cheng Xi's expression remained unchanged as she said gently, "Why don't we try something different?"

The man in red's smile froze on his face.

Before long, its body became transparent, like water dissolving in water, and it turned back into a transparent object.

The transparent object seemed to be struggling to think about what form it should take next, wriggling slowly and strangely.

The next instant, it turned into... her.

A girl Cheng Xi had met not long ago, a girl who made him... intensify his killing intent.

Jiang Geyun.

If that filthy shadow had any sense, it would probably be pleased with its correct choice and use it to its advantage, but it didn't.

Seeing that the man in blue was silent, and even briefly withdrew the smile that seemed to be etched on his face, it felt that it had seized the opportunity!

The next second, it turned back into a phantom and emitted a piercing shriek.

It soared through the air, heading straight for Cheng Xi's heart!

It is not human, and it does not even have a dominant intelligence. It can only simulate human thinking based on the people it has devoured, but it is not stupid!

The person in front of it was clearly unaffected, yet exuded a dangerous aura that made it instinctively tremble.

No need to change anything!

The best course of action right now is to kill him!

The abbess of Yunshui Temple immediately sensed something was wrong. With the help of the magic sword, she regained some strength and struggled to stand up, trying to stop that thing!

She had thought the suppressed pain would last a long time.

Unexpectedly, her back suddenly felt loose, and she was able to stand up smoothly.

The old abbot staggered to his feet, and through the thick blood streaming down his forehead, obscuring his vision, he witnessed a scene that horrified him—

The boy was not killed by the filthy shadow.

It seemed that he had... devoured that terrifying being capable of crushing mountains!

The twisted storm howled like gales squeezing through the window cracks! It hurtled madly toward the boy!

However, the terrifying energy, just inches away from his body, seemed to have struck an invisible, absolute barrier, shrieking in vain, swirling and swirling... and vanishing into the "eye of the storm."

The gale subsided.

What the young man did had nothing to do with fighting between different forces; rather, it seemed more like that among their own kind, the strong should devour the weak.

What exactly is he?!

The light of the magic sword went out, signifying that the despairing filth had been removed. The incense burner beneath the giant statue in the hall shattered silently, turning into dust on the ground.

Concealing the coldness in his eyes and having decided on his next course of action, he spoke in his habitually gentle tone, "The filth has been removed. The abbot is wise. Thank you for saving me."

The abbot's expression shifted from bewilderment to shock as he slowly moved, attempting to grasp the hilt of the Seven Star Sword.

From the perspective of the abbot, he must have felt that he was just as dangerous as that filthy shadow and wanted to kill him at all costs. He didn't explain and waved his hand dismissively.

The abbot of Yunshui Temple lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.

He only wanted to handle the matter casually and not make a fuss. The abbot had exceptional insight and could not deceive her during the event, so he would let her have a more suitable memory afterward.

You single-handedly fight to defeat monsters and save others, but you get injured in the process. What do you do?

As the abbot fell into a deep sleep, his ears were quiet for a moment.

Even though the curses and howls filled with malice, filth, and despair still lingered, at least the chaotic voices of outsiders were no longer heard.

The last time I experienced this tranquility was when...

It won't be that long.

He suddenly remembered a pair of clear, glass-like eyes, and how they would suddenly become misty.

Almost the instant those eyes appeared in his memory, the curses and insults that had been constantly echoing in his mind paused for a moment.

Pure malice has transformed into greed, desire, and... seduction.

Eat her up...

Didn't you want us to quiet down?

【Great…let her become a part of us…let her blood nourish us, don’t you want that power?】

Do you know how rare this is...?

Eat her up.

Eat her. Eat her. Eat her.

Eat her! Eat her!

He had long been accustomed to this endless, chaotic babbling, letting it churn and swirl in his mind, disappearing listlessly as his memories of her faded, returning to the incessant sound of curses.

Given her current abilities, having such talent is like a child carrying gold in the market. Not to mention those three Night Watchers, don't they have such a thing?

"Don't rush."

Hearing his token words of comfort, the girl suddenly looked at him with determination and said, "After the case is resolved, I have something to say to you, my lord."

She is optimistic, though.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, those eyes are destined to lose their sparkle.

He thought indifferently, so what?

She was nothing special, and he didn't care.

Today is just like any other day.

The palace doors opened silently, revealing verdant mountains outside, with a light drizzle falling obliquely.

The man in blue picked up the old umbrella leaning against the door, opened it, and stepped into the misty rain.

*

Jiang Geyun suspected that she had heard thunder.

It wasn't a sudden clap of thunder, but a muffled rumble rolling from deep within the clouds.

Is it raining?

Given Lianzhou's geographical location, early summer is indeed rainy, but she should be more concerned about herself than the weather.

Not only in the passageway, but also in the room used for the soul-summoning ritual, lights were deliberately left off.

The only source of light was the ball of light that hovered silently and "burned" around Xie, Pei, and the other two.

Xie Jiming's light orb was the smallest, and its light was the most erratic. The combined effect of the three beams of light was just enough to illuminate the house.

Besides the four people who came in, there were other people inside the house.

They huddled silently in the shadows of the corner, showing a mixture of curiosity and fear towards the sudden arrival of the group and the unusual light emanating from them.

Even the middle-aged men who were usually quite arrogant became extremely "obedient" in front of the Night Watchers.

Among them was Su Guang's maid, Ge Sheng. When Jiang Geyun's eyes met hers, Ge Sheng silently turned her gaze away without uttering a word.

Jiang Geyun noticed that on the back of Xie, Pei, and the other two's right hands, strange patterns appeared that matched the color of their respective light clusters.

It flowed with a faint light like a living thing, flickering with each breath.

Seeing her curiosity, Pei Xueyi turned her head and explained:

"Sometimes candlelight can attract lingering spirits, and the ritual to summon spirits requires a 'clean' environment, so darkness must be maintained."

"We also use our natal fire to warn evil spirits not to approach, which is also for illumination, and then..."

Pei Xueyi gracefully swept her right hand through the air, as if drawing a clear spring from the void, and a slender sword flowing with silver light appeared in her hand!

The girl calmly replied, "We can begin now!"

"Miss Pei!" Xie Jiming hurriedly stepped forward, making a move to hold down Pei Xueyi's hand holding the sword. His face showed just the right amount of worry and shyness, and his voice was a little hesitant, "This... this kind of thing, let me do it!"

If you really want to go for it, why don't you just pull out your weapon?

Jiang Geyun watched the two arguing with a blank expression.

Pei Xuexiao, who had been watching from the sidelines with his arms crossed, said coldly, "Brother Xie, this is rather presumptuous!"

Pei Xueyi waved her hand dismissively, interrupting the argument between the two, her tone relaxed yet firm: "I took on this mission willingly, so naturally I should do it. Xiao Xie is only at the 'Sparrow' level, while my brother and I are at the 'Heron' level. What's a little bit of exertion!"

Speaking of which, the characters on the front of the jade pendants on the waists of the three people were their names, while the patterns on the back were probably the bird grade markings such as "sparrow" and "heron" that Pei Xueyi mentioned.

So it's a hierarchy... Was the Xuandujian established by birdwatchers?

etc.

"Keep the environment clean" and "Warn off evil spirits"?

That……

Jiang Geyun softly called out to the system.

It's not as I hoped.

The "evil spirit" responded: [System in standby mode, does the host need anything?]

Jiang Geyun was extremely disappointed! Xuan Dujian was utterly useless!

Jiang Geyun calmly asked, "It's nothing. I just heard some discussion about the Night Angels and I'm a little curious. I'd like to ask for more details."

The system asked suspiciously: [Does the host's question have anything to do with the strategy quest? But since the host has asked, this kind system will certainly offer its assistance!]

The Night Watchers are ranked in four levels: Sparrow, Heron, Goose, and Crane. Newcomers are usually at the "Sparrow" level, and the protagonist Xie Jiming is no exception. Of course, his hidden strength will give those who ranked him a good slap in the face.

[Just as we told the host before, the main villain will take control of the Xuandu Bureau later on...]

At this point, the system, which had been explaining in a disjointed manner, suddenly became excited:

[I see, I understand! The host wants to follow the path of becoming the Night Glower and defecting to the main villain early, right? A beautiful and loyal subordinate turning against you in the end? Not bad, not bad!]

In any case, it convinced itself.

Jiang Geyun casually dealt with the system, ending the dialogue in her mind. Before her was still the room that was in disarray, disturbed by all sorts of unnatural lights.

Let alone Jiang Geyun who came here from modern society, even the natives here would rarely see such a bizarre sight.

While she was deep in thought, the three of them had finished their tug-of-war, and it seemed that Pei Xueyi would eventually step in.

Pei Xueyi's expression suddenly changed as she stepped forward. The ease she had just felt vanished instantly, and her aura became as heavy and imposing as a mountain.

Without hesitation, she gripped the gleaming sword with her left hand and slowly, firmly, and forcefully drew it!

The sword sliced ​​through the girl's palm, coating it with a dark red hue. Under the light, it possessed a translucent, blood-red beauty.

After preparing herself, she took a deep breath and used her sword as a pen to carve on the prepared open space inside the room.

Jiang Geyun followed the others and looked down at the blood array.

Lacking the corresponding knowledge, she couldn't understand the meaning behind it, but she could clearly see the sweat gradually seeping from Pei Xueyi's forehead and her face gradually turning pale.

Clearly, the sweat had nothing to do with the already healed superficial wound on the swordsman's left hand.

Jiang Geyun slowed her breathing, her gaze fixed on the unfamiliar characters, trying to etch them into her memory.

Writing this down will definitely be useful. Don't underestimate the bond between her and nine-year compulsory education!

As the blood array neared its end, Pei Xueyi's face grew paler and paler, and the girl's figure began to sway, as if she might collapse at any moment from exhaustion.

Finally, the last stroke was made.

Pei Xueyi let out a long breath, raised her sword, and let it transform into light, disappearing into the back of her hand.

The blood array is complete.

Jiang Geyun rubbed her neck, which was a little sore from looking down and observing for too long. She looked at the people sitting in the corner of the room with some surprise. They were trying to wrap their coats tighter, making rustling sounds.

Are you cold?

She didn't feel much...

The Night Watchers didn't react much.

Jiang Geyun was somewhat puzzled, and before she could figure out the answer, a scene appeared that greatly shocked her!

It's as if a certain rule in reality, like "paper," is affected by the blood array, defeated, and can only be burned away unwillingly.

The air swirled and burst open in all directions, revealing what it had concealed—

At the center of the blood array, the curtain burned away, and Cheng Jiao's figure appeared.

"Now I can't be a materialist anymore," Jiang Geyun thought calmly.

Pei Xueyi's voice rang out, cold and composed:

Who is the one who answers the summons?

Cheng Jiao's expression was somewhat blank, clearly different from that of a living person.

She replied, "Cheng Jiao from the Cheng family of Lianzhou, whose childhood name is Su Guang."

The identity verification process is now complete.

Pei Xuexiao and Xie Jiming exchanged a glance, their tense expressions relaxing somewhat.

The two dared not disturb Pei Xueyi; the girl was completely focused, staring intently at Cheng Jiao.

"You," Pei Xueyi asked, enunciating each word clearly, "died because of whom?"

Cheng Jiao's blank face underwent a series of dramatic changes in expression, as if she were recalling a chilling nightmare, from confusion to astonishment, and finally settling into a suffocating sadness.

The figure floating in mid-air turned very slowly toward Jiang Geyun.

Jiang Geyun suddenly realized the answer to that question:

Why are you crying in a place like this?

She asked this question in an attempt to change the subject.

“Ah, ah, hahaha,” the first person she met after she arrived looked away and said, “There’s no particular reason.”

Jiang Geyun was just trying to change the subject; she wasn't going to press the issue about other people's sad stories. Upon hearing this, she was about to ask something else.

The girl in front of him seemed a little embarrassed to hide the truth. After a pause, she lowered her head and closed her eyes tightly as she answered, "Because I wouldn't be discovered here and wouldn't disturb anyone. That's what I originally thought!!!"

Jiang Geyun stared at her silently, watching as she tentatively opened one eye and looked over timidly.

Jiang Geyun smiled for the first time since she transmigrated, and she heard herself reply with a sense of realization and reassurance: "I see."

She turned around and said, "I can't see it now. Hurry up, we'll go back together in a bit, I don't know the way very well."

This time, what reached her ears was a soft laugh tinged with shyness.

This was their first meeting.

Jiang Geyun wondered at the time, why does Su Guang have to be careful even when she's sad?

How pitiful.

...

wrong.

Along with the grief came a sense of crisis.

Su Guang, the Night Messenger is asking you who you died for. Why do you turn to look at me?

A chill crept up Jiang Geyun's spine to the back of her head, as if some creature had breathed a cold breath on the back of her neck. Suddenly, many thoughts flooded Jiang Geyun's mind.

The system asserts that she will die in a wrongful conviction, proving that "Jiang Geyun" will die in Cheng Jiao's case regardless of whether she arrives or not.

Why?

So far, have her actions had absolutely no impact on the occurrence of the wrongful conviction?

Regardless of why Pei Xuexiao insisted that she was the murderer, after all, he had only convicted her in his mind and had no key evidence. It was precisely because there was no key evidence that she was only on trial and not convicted.

If there is crucial evidence, what would it be?

According to the original plot, this soul-summoning ritual will definitely be held. So, could the key evidence be found in this ritual?

Why did "Cheng Jiao" suddenly turn to face her? Was this young girl's spirit trying to express remembrance, reminisce, or...?

Identification?

Thinking of this, Jiang Geyun's breathing suddenly quickened for a moment.

However, she quickly suppressed it.

She had already figured out how to deal with it.

...

Cheng Jiao still had a numb and sorrowful expression. She looked at Jiang Geyun and slowly seemed about to speak.

Before Cheng Jiao could speak, Jiang Geyun hurriedly took a few steps forward, heading towards the blood array.

The lingering pain in her right leg made her stagger slightly.

But she still gritted her teeth and kept going.

Don't underestimate the bond between her and her life!

Before Jiang Geyun could get close to the formation, a sword similar to Pei Xueyi's thin sword, but wider, stood in front of her with an unyielding air!

"Stop!" Pei Xuexiao shouted.

To stop her advance, the sword tip was slightly raised, but unexpectedly, it grazed the side of Jiang Geyun's neck.

A look of surprise flashed in Pei Xuexiao's eyes, but this surprise was quickly replaced by her usual arrogance.

The sword remained drawn, its intent clear.

Jiang Geyun looked up in surprise, her expression one of astonishment.

I thought to myself, "They've come, just as I expected."

But why was it the neck that was scratched...?

She initially thought the height would be around the cheek, but there are arteries in the neck! It's very dangerous!!!

Jiang Geyun withdrew her gaze from the blood array and "Cheng Jiao".

As if she had just heard Pei Xuexiao's voice and snapped out of her grief, she stopped in her tracks, letting the remaining emotions fill her eyes.

However, she stopped, but the bleeding did not stop.

Just as she expected, a drop of blood fell onto the blood array.

When conducting experiments, it's always necessary to keep the environment clean, isn't it?

—The blood array has been "contaminated," can it still be used?

She was resolute in her heart, but her face showed panic as she awaited everyone's reaction.

The instant the blood bead touched the rune, a tremendous golden light exploded out!

The golden light was not a gentle ray, but rather a torrent of gold, carrying immense and unparalleled pressure and intensity, sweeping across the entire room!

Jiang Geyun narrowed her eyes.

The previously dim corners of the room were now fully illuminated, and the expressions of everyone, including the Pei siblings and the other silent people, were clearly seen through the dazzling golden light.

Pei Xueyi was stunned for a moment, her eyes widening, surprise and curiosity appearing on the girl's face.

At the same time, Pei Xuexiao was shocked to the point of being far greater than her sister, as if some incredibly firm idea had suddenly collapsed, her expression even becoming somewhat blank.

Xie Jiming was initially bewildered, but then his body suddenly stiffened, as if he had heard some incredible telepathic transmission. His expression was filled with horror, mixed with a barely perceptible hint of greed.

"My God, you...!" Pei Xueyi finally found her voice and exclaimed in disbelief, "When you were drinking tea earlier, you were clearly... no, no, wait, what is this! You..."

She paused, her bright eyes fixed intently on Jiang Geyun, as if examining a priceless treasure. Each word she uttered carried a hint of declaration:

"You actually... possess such talent!"

Jiang Geyun was truly stunned.

She said to the system: "Am I not just a useless cannon fodder?"