Going home
Ji Wang stammered, "I...I don't know...it just happened suddenly..."
His mind was a complete mess; the sudden fragments of memory and unfamiliar knowledge made him dizzy.
Just as he was rambling incoherently, a blinding blood-red light erupted from the floor of the entire hall beneath his feet.
The array patterns, which had been only faintly glowing, seemed to come alive suddenly, and a tremendous suction force emanated from the center of the array.
The twisted runes on the surrounding walls and pillars also lit up at the same time, forming a huge cage that completely sealed off this space.
"Go!" Bu Jiu's expression changed drastically, and he reacted with astonishing speed, grabbing Ji Wang's wrist.
However, this array was clearly meticulously set up against him, locking down all movable space around him the moment it was activated.
The speed at which the blood-red light spread far exceeded expectations. Like a venomous snake, it instantly coiled around Bu Jiu's feet, frantically tearing at his demonic power and soul.
Seeing that he couldn't escape with Ji Wang, Bu Jiu immediately made a decision.
He concentrated all his demonic power into his arm, not to break free, but to push forward, forcefully shoving Ji Wang toward the palace gate that was not yet completely covered by the bloody light.
"Run!" Ji Wang felt an irresistible force coming at him, and he was thrown backward over the threshold of the palace gate.
"Boom!"
Above the palace gate, a stone door covered with runes crashed down, threatening to completely seal off the exit.
Ji Wang barely managed to steady himself and charged forward again. He knew that once the door closed, the inside and outside would be cut off, and Bu Jiu would be trapped in the formation. He couldn't just watch Bu Jiu die for him.
At the critical moment, a streak of light flashed out just before the stone door was about to close completely.
"Cough..." Bu Jiu's figure staggered into view in front of Ji Wang, his face paled, and there were traces of corrosion and burning on the hem of his clothes. It was clear that he had paid a considerable price in order to force his way out before the formation was completely closed.
As if he had calculated the location beforehand, he wrapped his arm around Ji Wang, who was still rushing forward, and steadily supported him: "Where do you want to go?"
Ji Wang felt his heart pounding in his chest. He looked up at Bu Jiu, who was standing right in front of him.
Recalling the terrifying moment just now, and the thought that he might be trapped inside forever after Bu Jiu pushed him out, Ji blurted out in fear, "I thought... you were going to die in there..."
Bu Jiu tightened her grip on his arm.
He didn't explain what he had sacrificed to force his way out, nor did he complain. He simply raised his other hand and clumsily wiped the dust off Ji Wang's face. His voice was lower and hoarser than usual due to the depletion of his demonic power.
"What's the panic? When did you become so timid?"
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the heavy stone door that had completely fallen, his tone carrying his unique disdain: "I told you I brought you to see the show, and you haven't even managed to stab anyone yet, how can I die?"
Ji Wang did not answer him. So what if he was timid? It wouldn't make a difference if he was timid this time.
His gaze fell on Bu Jiu's slightly pale face: "Your injury..."
Before he finished speaking, Bu Jiu's eyes sharpened, and he suddenly looked up at the roof of the main hall.
Two figures had appeared on the rooftop, their attire clearly indicating they were from the Xuanming Temple. The older one, with a sallow complexion and sinister eyes, held a whisk in his hand that glowed with a murky gray light. Taking advantage of Bu Jiu's apparent weakness, he launched a sneak attack on his vital points.
Ji's mind went blank for a moment, and all his thoughts vanished.
He had only one thought—Bujiu was in bad shape right now, and he absolutely couldn't let him get hurt again!
Almost instinctively, without even having time to consider whether he could do it, his hand swiftly reached into his robes and touched the talismans he had been hiding like treasures.
Without even looking, he pulled out a card and held it between his fingers. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, he poured all the meager spiritual power in his body into it and swung it fiercely towards the direction of the rooftop attacker.
The scene of the talisman paper falling softly as expected did not occur.
The seemingly ordinary yellow paper, the moment it left his fingertips, burst forth with a spiritual light far exceeding his own level.
A barrier unfolded instantly. Though not particularly thick or imposing, it was ingeniously structured and possessed a pure aura. Like a shield that had suddenly been erected, it steadily blocked the attack between Bu Jiu and the gray light that had sneaked in.
"Bang!"
The gray light struck the barrier with a muffled thud.
The barrier shook violently, on the verge of shattering, but it managed to hold on, completely neutralizing the insidious sneak attack.
"What?!" the old Taoist priest exclaimed in surprise.
His attack, the culmination of years of hard work and his determination to win, was actually blocked by a seemingly inexperienced young man with a seemingly ordinary talisman.
After this attack, the spiritual power of the talisman in Ji Wang's hand was exhausted, and it spontaneously combusted without fire, instantly burning into a small clump of ashes that drifted down from his fingertips.
Ji Wang stared blankly at his fingers, then looked up at the slowly dissipating barrier. He blinked, his face full of confusion, and murmured softly, "Huh? I...I'm so amazing?"
He actually blocked it? He used such a... decent level of protection?
Bu Jiu stood behind him, looking at his slender yet upright back, his eyes filled with unreadable emotions.
He glanced at the two Xuanming Temple Taoists on the roof who were frozen in shock, and finally his gaze fell on Ji Wang's ears, which were slightly red with excitement: "Not bad, that's more like it."
The old Taoist priest on the rooftop had a livid face, staring intently at Ji Wang as if trying to see through him. His voice was shrill with anger: "Boy! What kind of evil talismanic magic do you use? Who is your master?"
Ji Wang was still immersed in the daze of "I'm so amazing" when he was asked this stern question. He shrank his neck and moved closer to Bu Jiu.
Bu Jiu took half a step forward, blocking Ji Wang behind him again. Although his breath was still fresh, his voice was completely devoid of any fluctuation: "You are not worthy to ask about his lineage."
The two Taoist priests from Xuanming Temple on the rooftop were intimidated by Bu Jiu's words, their expressions changing several times. Ultimately, they were wary of the powerful demonic energy he had just used to escape the formation and dared not make a move rashly.
The Taoists exchanged a glance, then leaped off the roof and landed in the courtyard, where they faced off against the two men.
Bu Jiu didn't even glance at the old Taoist priest. He turned his head slightly, leaned close to Ji Wang's ear, and softened his voice: "The young man next to him is called Xuan Shi."
He gestured with his gaze to the disciple standing beside the elder Taoist priest, whose expression was equally surprised and uncertain, and said in a indulgent tone: "He's yours. Go ahead and ask, go ahead and do it, I'll take care of everything."
These words instantly steadied Ji Wang's hands, which had been trembling slightly with nervousness. The anger that had been building up in his chest from being falsely accused of being a "monster," as well as the urge to personally seek justice, flared up once more.
Ji Wang took a deep breath and pulled out another Thunderfire Talisman that Bu Jiu had modified from his pocket.
He gripped the talisman tightly, took a step forward, and stared at Xuan Shi, the young disciple of Xuanming Temple.
Xuan Shi felt a chill run down his spine from the fierce look in the man's eyes. Recalling the strange defensive technique he had just used, he instinctively took a half step back and shouted sharply, "You, what do you want to do?!"
Ji Wang did not answer. Instead, following the instructions Bu Jiu had given him and the muscle memory he had developed from countless failed attempts, he poured spiritual energy into the talisman and swung it fiercely at the young disciple!
A thin bolt of lightning shot out from the talisman and struck Xuan Shi with incredible speed.
Xuan Shi hurriedly raised his peach wood sword to parry. The lightning struck the wooden sword, creating a small burst of sparks. Although it did not cause serious injury, it made his hand holding the sword numb, and his Taoist crown was knocked askew. He looked disheveled.
"I'm asking you!" Ji Wang's voice was clear and bright. "On what basis does your Xuanming Temple's Daoist Xuanfeng claim I'm a demon? If you don't give me a reason today, I..."
He waved another talisman in his hand, the threat obvious.
Xuan Shi was both shocked and furious. He looked at his uncle beside him and saw that the old Taoist priest had a livid face and his lips were moving as if he was chanting a spell. His eyes were fixed on the figure behind Ji Wang, who stood with his hands behind his back. He looked casual but was like a pillar of strength. He obviously did not dare to make a move.
Bu Jiu stood there, relaxed, as if everything before him was just a boring drama.
He even had time to raise his hand and straighten Ji Wang's hairband, which had become a little messy from his earlier movements.
However, the overwhelming pressure emanating from him made the two Xuanming Temple Taoists feel as if they were stuck in quagmire, and they dared not take a single step forward.
Under Ji Wang's intense gaze and Bu Jiu's oppressive pressure, Xuan Shi's psychological defenses finally crumbled, and he cried out in a sob, "Isn't it a demon?! I've read about it in ancient books, three...three hundred years ago—"
"Shut up!" the old Taoist priest suddenly interrupted him sharply, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.
Ji Wang was shocked: "Three hundred years ago?!"
Just as he was about to press for more information, another unexpected event occurred.
That year, a ruthless glint flashed in the elder's eyes. As if he knew that things would not end well today, he recklessly bit his tongue and spat a mouthful of blood onto his whisk.
The whisk was instantly shrouded in an ominous bloody light. With a flick of his wrist, he abandoned the pursuit of Bu Jiu and headed straight for Ji Wang, who seemed to be the "breakthrough point".
"Why is it me again?" Ji instinctively tried to dodge, but his body was gently pushed aside by a soft force.
Bu Jiu sighed softly. He remained standing in the same spot, facing the sneak attack, and merely raised his eyes to glance at the old Taoist priest.
The whisk, carrying a bloody light and whistling as it hurtled towards Bu Jiu, suddenly slowed down when it was still more than ten feet away from him, and the violent spiritual energy attached to it quickly dissipated.
The magical artifact, which had been so imposing just moments before, suddenly became dull and lifeless, limply hovering in mid-air before falling to the ground with a "thud".
The old Taoist priest was struck as if by lightning, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His face turned ashen, and he collapsed to the ground as if all his energy had been drained. His eyes were filled with extreme fear—most of his original spiritual energy had dissipated!
"You dared to make a move without even knowing who your opponent was." Bu Jiu kicked his whisk away. "It seems that Xuan Feng didn't have time to tell you who he had provoked before he died."
"Any more questions?" Bu Jiu pulled Ji Wang's thoughts back from the old Taoist priest.
Ji Wang snapped out of his daze and looked at the young disciple who was already terrified: "Ask me! Continue!"
The disciple knelt down abruptly, pointing at the languishing old Taoist priest and crying out, "Our temple's ancient books record that you look extremely similar to that person from three hundred years ago. You must be either a demon or an evil spirit, and you must be eliminated... My uncle has also read that book... I'm not making this up!"
"Who? Where is the book?" Ji Wang was completely confused by the "three hundred years" and "looks like" things, and his mind was full of doubts. He just wanted to find out the truth.
"Alright," Bu Jiu interrupted.
He glanced indifferently at the two Taoist priests on the ground who had no regard for the cripple, as if they were two unimportant pieces of trash: "Fake. They went mad from practicing their skills and ruined their brains."
He didn't give Ji Wang a chance to ask further, and instead asked, "What do you want to do with these two people? Xuanming Temple is sparsely populated, and I reckon these are the only two left."
Ji Wang's attention was indeed diverted.
He frowned, looking at the trembling Xuan Shi and the ashen-faced old Taoist priest. Remembering what Bu Jiu had just mentioned about the "soul refining" business, he formed a plan in his mind.
He first asked Xuan Shi, "Have you ever refined your soul?"
Xuan Shi shook his head vigorously, his voice trembling with tears, "No! Really no! I... I started late, I'm not qualified to deal with those things..."
Ji Wang turned his gaze to the old Taoist priest who had closed his eyes and was waiting for death: "And you?"
The old Taoist priest kept his mouth tightly shut and didn't say a word, but his stiff body and ashen face said it all.
“Then he’s been trained.” Ji Wang concluded, and he tugged at Bu Jiu’s sleeve. “Bu Jiu, this old Taoist priest hurt you and has harmed others. If you can open the formation inside the hall from the outside, throw this old man in.”
He pointed at Xuan Shi: "This little guy... since he has never refined a soul, his crime does not warrant death. Let him be punished by going to the Bu Nian Temple to take my place."
He thought of his dilapidated "master sect" and felt that this punishment was absolutely appropriate.
This not only gave the other party a way out, but also made that kid taste the bitterness of being fooled back then!
Bu Jiu raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze towards Ji Wang filled with amusement. This person certainly knows how to make arrangements.
"Alright." Bu Jiu responded, and without even making a move, the old Taoist priest who was slumped on the ground was lifted up by an invisible force. The stone door sensed the spiritual energy and slowly opened.
Bu Jiu waved his hand, and the old Taoist was thrown into the still-operating Soul Refining Array inside the hall like a rag doll.
A piercing scream rang out briefly, then abruptly stopped. Xuan Shi was already paralyzed with fear, his face ashen.
Bu Jiu glanced at him and said calmly, "Did you hear that? Go to the Bu Nian Temple. If you dare to take even half a step out, or do anything improper..."
He didn't finish speaking, but the murderous intent in his unfinished words made Xuan Shi tremble all over, and he hurriedly kowtowed in agreement.
Bu Jiu used his demonic energy to scan the area and, confirming that there was no one else there, gently nudged Ji Wangwang inside the temple: "No one is chasing you anymore. This temple has no master... so you may stay here."
Upon hearing this, Ji Wang's eyes widened in disbelief, and he blurted out, "You started this relationship and then abandoned me?"
Bu Jiu was clearly speechless at this outrageous accusation.
His eyes widened slightly as he looked at Ji Wang, as if he didn't understand how those words could be put together and used to describe himself.
"Giving you a place to stay is considered starting something and then abandoning it?" Bu Jiu laughed angrily, "Nonsense."
Seeing his reaction, Ji Wang was even more furious. Forget about being a ghost king or not, he pointed at Bu Jiu's nose and raised his voice an octave: "I'm talking nonsense? You taught me how to draw talismans, took me to live in your house, and let me sleep with my head on your tail! You even helped me tie my clothes! Now that it's all over, you want to kick me out? Isn't this starting something and then abandoning it?!"
The more he talked, the more convinced he became of his point, and he even grabbed Bujiu's sleeve and wouldn't let go.
Bu Jiu was a little stunned by his series of accusations, especially since these things were being shouted out in public, which made his ears uncontrollably burn.
He tried to remain calm: "...That's two different things. You don't belong there."
"I don't care!" Ji Wang started acting like a spoiled child, afraid that he would really abandon her. "You brought me out of that hellhole of the Monastery of No Remembrance, and now you want to throw me into another hellhole? No way! Wherever you go, I'll go!"
Bu Jiu looked into his eyes, and Huai Qing's earlier words echoed in his mind at an inopportune moment:
Even if you avoid him this time, what about next time? Karma is entangled; you can't escape it. What's the use?
He was silent for a moment, then finally sighed: "Whatever."
He still couldn't harden his heart, letting Ji Wang grab his sleeve, turn around and lead him down the mountain.
Ji Wang secretly curled the corners of his mouth in a smug smile, quickly following after him, muttering to himself, "That's more like it..."
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