Zhu Family
"Our eldest sister happens to be here today for the sect's grand ceremony! Master said that something important has been finalized, and it must be related to our eldest sister!"
"If you ask me, Master will reward Senior Sister Qi with a whole bunch of magic treasures!"
"What are you thinking? Is giving a gift all you're going to do on such an important day?"
Several outer disciples were discussing current hot topics in the cultivation world at the foot of the sect's mountain.
They were so focused that they didn't notice the three men in black observing from the shadows.
“Here, I’ll give you a chance, go up.” One of the men in black gave him a push.
The boy staggered for a moment, then rushed forward and easily knocked out several disciples. It was his first time doing something like this, so he was inevitably a little nervous.
He tried his best to imitate his companions, hurriedly changing into the robes of a Silver Bamboo Sect disciple.
The two of them went into the woods at the same time, chose a small path to go up the mountain, and the boy hurriedly followed in their footsteps and slipped into the sect.
"Do you see that, young man? Everyone here is your enemy, someone you must hate!" The demonic cultivator stood with his arms crossed in front of the sect's gate.
He looked up at the three large characters "Silver Bamboo Sect" with disdain and spat on the ground.
The young man nodded hesitantly, looked around, and stepped into the sect.
Today, the Silver Bamboo Sect is holding a grand banquet, and it's very lively.
Everything he saw was something the boy had never seen before. The dazzling array of rare treasures was reflected in his eyes, but he wasn't interested in them. He walked toward the chairman on his own, only to be distracted by the delicious food.
These foods were all exquisitely carved; if it weren't for their enticing aroma, he would never have known that food could be so beautiful.
The boy pretended to be reserved, initially only glancing at the food, but eventually couldn't resist picking up a piece to taste it. The unique flavor caught his eye.
He wolfed down his food.
"Don't just eat this, it will be too dry. Elder Jin has some cold drinks."
He looked up warily, only to see the back of a little girl.
Not bad. It is indeed very dry.
The boy listened to advice and found Elder Jin's seat, where he found the so-called cold drink.
It tastes good.
He buried himself in his food and ate voraciously. After today, he would never be able to taste such delicious food again.
"Wei Shuang was orphaned at a young age. When I was traveling, I took pity on this child and took her in. I also had the idea of taking her as my disciple, and she became my first disciple. From then on, I carefully nurtured her, and she lived up to my expectations, managing the sect in an orderly manner! Everyone has seen Wei Shuang's performance, and I am very confident in entrusting the sect to her! I hereby declare that Qi Yuan, the eldest disciple of the Silver Bamboo Sect, is the next sect leader recognized by me, Yun Xingjun!"
Thunderous applause, mixed with screams, made the boy's ears ache.
He looked up to see the source of the sound: in the center of the banquet was the person he least wanted to see—Ruan Yiyun.
Ruan Yiyun. Yun Xingjun.
He would remember it for all eternity. Seeing that face, he wanted nothing more than to rush up and tear Ruan Yiyun apart! To skin her alive!
Beside Yun Xingjun was a girl kneeling, her expression indifferent; she must be the eldest disciple, Qi Yuan.
He wondered why she didn't look proud or happy when she was clearly considered the next sect leader.
The figure on the stage looked more and more familiar. The boy clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Isn't that the girl from just now?"
Ruan Yiyun patted the girl on the shoulder and told her to get up, then chatted and laughed with the guests nearby.
She was dressed in white, very plain clothes, but the dazzling light above her head still made the boy unable to open his eyes.
Mu Qinghuai was taken aback. What would he do if he had such great power?
If he is the Demon Lord.
But that's just a hypothetical.
*
"Oh, even the scars have to be faked?" Ouyang Lanyue opened her folding fan and said sarcastically.
"There's no need for you to worry about that," Mu Qinghuai said coldly.
"You're really going all out! Mystic Techniques? You've even brought up the Mystic Techniques. You really think you're part of the Zhu family." Ouyang Lanyue couldn't help but laugh.
"Have the arrangements been made with the Zhu family?" Mu Qinghuai asked in a muffled voice.
"Of course. If you're going, hurry up! The commission is fake, but the strange things are real. Don't get too involved," Ouyang Lanyue teased.
Mu Qinghuai scoffed coldly: "How could that be? She's just a pawn in my plan."
"Ding!" [Assist System] Online: Reporting to the host! The plot has reached its first turning point, unlocking the story "The Sick Demon of the Zhu Family." Please pay close attention to the plot's development! Assisting the protagonist in completing this story will earn you 500 points, a bottle of spiritual spring water, and a life-saving pill. Good luck, host!
"Great, great, this is really simple. This subsidy is really generous!" Chun Ting was already fantasizing about the wonderful life after receiving the reward.
[Assist System] Warm reminder: Headquarters requires you to ensure the protagonist's safety. Please provide timely assistance when the protagonist's life is in danger. There will be no boss in this chapter, but there are many smaller enemies, so please be careful!
Chun Ting was shocked: "Holy crap, why does the company require us to ensure the protagonist's safety? I've worked on so many scripts, and this is the first time I've heard of such a rule. Has the protagonist's halo been eaten by a dog?"
[Assist System]: It's a setting within headquarters, there's nothing I can do about it.
Chunting: "Alright."
That night, she was unable to meditate or cultivate.
Qi Yuan spent a sleepless night, unable to calm her mind even when trying to cultivate.
And she really doesn't know how to talk.
When she checked Zhu Fu's pulse, she saw clearly that he only had a spiritual root and did not find any so-called demonic energy. However, that spiritual root... seemed a bit strange?
She communicated the current situation to Yun Xingjun through a telepathic message, but the latter didn't react much, only telling her to be careful and continue to observe Zhu Fu.
She had a difficult night.
"morning."
"Good morning, Qi Yuan." Mu Qinghuai's eyes flickered slightly as he smiled leisurely.
He opened his eyes, glanced at her, and froze.
Qi Yuan didn't wear any hairpins today; she still wore her hair in a high ponytail.
Her eyebrows and eyes were cool and aloof, with wisps of hair sticking to her face, making her skin appear even whiter. Her eyes were sharp and deep, and her thin, red lips were slightly pursed downwards.
Mu Qinghuai stared at her in a daze, then quickly glanced at her and looked away.
Ouyang Lanyue, who had just come downstairs, took in all of this.
"Is it alright to go to the Zhu family today?" Mu Qinghuai poured tea without changing his expression.
"I'm fine." Qi Yuan didn't have much of an appetite for breakfast.
After Mu Qinghuai finished eating, she stood up and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Young Master Ouyang."
Ouyang Lanyue smiled without saying a word.
The two then prepared to go to the Zhu family's house.
"We're leaving first, Ouyang," Mu Qinghuai said coldly.
The inn was not far from the Zhu family's residence. Based on his memory from his last visit, he led Qi Yuan to the Zhu family's residence.
He was very meticulous in his work, and to ensure that his identity would not be exposed, he actually came to conduct an on-site investigation.
This territory is vast, all belonging to the Zhu family. At the very front stands a stone with only the character "Zhu" carved on it. How many years ago did the once powerful Zhu family reside, with its spirited handwriting? The Zhu family of today is now a changed and unrecognizable entity.
"Is this the Zhu family's residence?" Qi Yuan found the atmosphere here strange, as it was her first time there.
The people looked at them with strange eyes.
Mu Qinghuai ignored it and was completely unaffected.
He suddenly stopped and halted in his tracks.
"What's wrong?"
“Qi Yuan, you already know the general situation here. We’ll have to figure out the specifics ourselves. Although I’m a member of the Zhu family, I’ve been traveling around as a wandering cultivator for the past few years. I only learned about this from other people.” He spread his hands with a slightly worried expression.
Qi Yuan shook her head and said helplessly, "We have no choice but to use the most desperate method. We'll have to ask them one by one."
Indeed, there was no other way.
Mu Qinghuai smiled, his eyes narrowed, and said, "Okay. I'll listen to you."
*
"have no idea!"
After hearing countless "I don't know" responses, the sun had already set, but the two were still unwilling to give up. With their last breath, they asked passersby, but still to no avail.
"Use spirit stones as bait," Mu Qinghuai said listlessly, pulling out a bag of spirit stones.
As luck would have it, a young woman stumbled over, her face streaked with tears, and she practically screamed, "Immortal! I don't want spirit stones, I just beg you to save my mother!"
Qi Yuan quickly caught the woman who was about to fall, patted her back and comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, don't worry, we're here to save her. Tell me slowly."
The woman's eyes were filled with tears as she nodded vigorously: "My name is Li Mei. I lost my father at a young age and have been living with my mother ever since. Although we live in the Zhu family, we do not practice immortality; we are just ordinary people."
Qi Yuan and the other person followed Li Mei to her house, which was a dilapidated wooden house. In the innermost room, they could faintly hear a woman's hoarse cries.
“A while ago, my mother went up the mountain to chop firewood. She happened to hear a woman crying in a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain. My mother is very kind-hearted. She thought that a woman was in trouble, so she immediately went down the mountain.”
"The moment she stepped into the courtyard, the crying stopped. Her mother felt a chill run through her body and a sense of dread, so she took a few steps back as she crossed the threshold. But just as she stepped out, the crying resumed, this time mixed with a muffled female voice. Hearing the words 'Save me,' her mother resolutely went back into the courtyard. She didn't seek help; she entered the courtyard alone a second time. As she walked deeper into the courtyard, the crying grew stronger. When she reached the very back, she saw something that terrified her, and she ran out of the courtyard. As her mother ran out of the courtyard, the sound that had accompanied the crying became a clear sentence."
Li Mei recounted everything in great detail, her voice trembling as she described it all.
"What did you say?" Qi Yuan asked nervously.
Li Mei pondered for a moment, then looked away: "I don't remember very clearly, but it seemed like she said something like 'Don't go, save me.'"
Qi Yuan frowned and asked the crucial question, carefully observing Li Mei's expression: "How did you know some of these details? As far as I know, everyone who came back has gone mad, hasn't they?"
Li Mei's expression was firm, her eyes shining: "It was my mother who told me! She was the first victim of the Zhu family! I added some details myself based on my mother's personality, but what happened in the courtyard was indeed what she told me!"
"What? Your mother was the first victim of the Zhu family? Are you sure?" Mu Qinghuai pressed on, releasing his arms from her grasp.
“It’s absolutely true! I tried to tell everyone what happened to my mother and ask them not to go into the outer courtyard, but no one believed me.” Li Mei said emotionally.
"Then your mother..."
“She really went mad. When she ran back, she frantically shook my shoulders and told me everything. My mother never said what she saw in the depths. At least she seemed like a normal person then. She only became a real madwoman after she woke up from her coma.”
After a long silence, Qi Yuan sighed.
“Your mother went in twice, but the sounds she heard each time were different.” Mu Qinghuai pulled up a chair and sat down.
"The first time there was only crying, the second time a muffled female voice appeared on top of the crying, and finally, when she ran out of the yard, her voice was clear. It's quite a pattern, going deeper and deeper." Qi Yuan carefully analyzed Li Mei's words.
Mu Qinghuai propped his head up with his hand: "Your mother was the first person to hear the crying, which is why she was able to recount so much. This means that the evil thing grew stronger at some point. Of course, this change could also have been intentional." He turned his gaze to Li Mei, "The crying stopped when she stepped into the courtyard, so it could sense people approaching and deliberately lured them into the courtyard."
“No, a normal person coming to such a gloomy place would naturally be scared away like Miss Li’s mother. Both are possible, but the second time the crying was mixed with other sounds, that’s what really attracted her,” Qi Yuan interrupted him.
She gazed at Li Mei and said, "Miss Li, I heard that the crying is especially loud on cloudy days and at dusk. Is your mother chopping firewood on a cloudy day?"
Li Mei shook her head timidly: "No, she went on a sunny day. But it is true that some brave warriors have been hiding in the mountains and heard it. There are also people who heard the crying during the day, but their frenzy is far less than that of those who heard the crying on a cloudy day or at dusk."
Qi Yuan was somewhat surprised: "Sunny day?"
"It seems that evil spirit is afraid of sunlight. But that's normal; creatures of the underworld naturally stay in the shadows," Mu Qinghuai said.
The Zhu family couldn't possibly be so foolish. Even if they didn't believe a little girl, so many people were still running towards that courtyard after one accident after another.
Qi Yuan asked tactfully, "Later, even knowing there was danger there, why were so many people still killed?"
Li Mei clenched her fists: "There was a domineering family. After their daughter-in-law was murdered, they threatened many people to go there to find out what happened and ordered them to exorcise the evil spirit. However, most of them went voluntarily. Some offered a reward for the evil spirit, and poor people or people who loved money couldn't wait to go. No one succeeded."
"That's right! Some people can't hear crying!" Li Mei suddenly exclaimed, realizing something.
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