This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 151 Huang Baiwan Seeks Help, Silent Village Bandits

With a whoosh, a flying sword shot out from behind Zhong Bai, heading straight for Yue Qiluo.

Originally, Yue Qiluo thought that Zhong Bai was just putting on an act and would never have the heart to harm her.

Therefore, Yue Qiluo remained completely unmoved.

However... when the spirit sword was less than three meters away from Yue Qiluo, its momentum remained undiminished. The composure on her face disappeared, replaced by shock.

"Paper dolls will die in place of others!"

In an instant, Yue Qiluo's figure transformed into a paper doll, standing still. She pulled off a miraculous escape, and with a loud bang, the paper doll was pierced by the spirit sword. Endless sword energy flew around, tearing the paper doll into pieces that scattered in the air and landed all over the ground.

After twirling in the air, the spirit sword charged at Yue Qiluo once more.

Yue Qiluo's eyes widened, and she threw out countless paper figures that transformed into divine weapons, surging towards the spirit sword in an attempt to intercept it. However, all of Yue Qiluo's efforts were in vain, and the spirit sword pierced past Yue Qiluo's side.

A bloodstain instantly appeared, and a streak of bloody light scatters into the void. Only then does the spirit sword return to Zhong Bai's back and float there.

“Miss Yue, please don’t take my advice to heart. This world is vast. It can accommodate me, Zhong Bai, Maoshan and Longhushan, Buddhist and Taoist sects, and people all over the world. Naturally, it can also accommodate you, Miss Yue. I don’t care who you were or what you did in the past. I will pretend it never happened. However, if you think that I really won’t touch you, then you are overthinking it.”

"My sword is as ruthless as my heart. Remember, I am Zhong Bai, the Daoist disciple of Maoshan, the next leader of Maoshan. As for you, Miss Yue, whether righteous or evil, you are not suited to associate with me."

Zhang Zhiwei watched calmly from the side. He knew that Zhong Bai would not kill Yue Qiluo on the spot, but he did not expect Zhong Bai to hurt Yue Qiluo. The next leader of Maoshan was Zhong Bai, which meant that Zhong Bai could not have too deep a relationship with people outside of Maoshan or the Three Mountains Talisman.

It's impossible for Zhong Bai and Yue Qiluo to become friends; it's best if they each go their own way.

Did Yue Qiluo not know? She was just arrogant and thought that Zhong Bai couldn't possibly be so ruthless, just like how Zhong Bai could kill the willow tree spirit when she was only seven or eight years old.

But Yue Qiluo was wrong in the end.

"Master Zhong, I understand. Thank you for sparing my life..."

Yue Qiluo felt somewhat lost; this was the first time in her hundreds of years of life that she had felt so powerless.

After Yue Qiluo left, the courtyard returned to calm. Lin Fengjiao and Aunt Zhe, who had witnessed the whole thing, did not ask Zhong Bai about Yue Qiluo's identity. There were some things they shouldn't pry into.

............................................................

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Qianhe, whether you are a fellow Daoist or I, the path of pursuing the Great Dao is bound to be lonely, especially for you, fellow Daoist, as no one can keep up with your pace..."

Zhang Zhiwei was clearly drinking tea, but he spoke as if he were drinking alcohol.

Zhong Bai smiled faintly, showing no reaction to Yue Qiluo's arrival and departure, and said with a smile, "If no one follows behind, then no one follows. The path of the strong is lonely... Loneliness is often the beginning of invincibility!"

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Qianhe's point is quite unique, and it makes some sense!"

In the courtyard, Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei had tea and then went for a walk and chat in the back garden of the mortuary, while Lin Fengjiao took care of the affairs of the mortuary.

The mortuary usually has its front hall open, where statues of the Three Pure Ones are enshrined. This is used by the people to offer incense and pray for blessings. Of course, there are also other deity tablets enshrined.

Lin Fengjiao, who was wiping the memorial tablets in the front hall, was soon pulled away by a familiar person.

"Mr. Ren, what's going on?"

Upon seeing Ren Fa, Lin Fengjiao couldn't help but wonder, wasn't his father already burned to ashes? Why would he still be at the mortuary?
Seeing the meaning in Lin Fengjiao's surprised gaze, Ren Fa gave an awkward smile and shook his head, saying, "Ninth Uncle, it's not about my father, it's about my business partner, Boss Huang. Boss Huang? This must be Ninth Uncle, come and meet him..."

Upon hearing Ren Fa's words, a middle-aged man who was about ten meters behind Ren Fa quickly approached.

He was naturally dressed in the finest silks and satins, after all, the friends of wealthy merchants were all wealthy merchants themselves.

"Hello, Uncle Jiu!"
"I am Huang Baiwan from the next town. I heard of Uncle Jiu's extraordinary abilities, so I came here. I hope Uncle Jiu will forgive me for disturbing you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fengjiao knew that the other party wanted something from her.

"As for the specific matter, Mr. Huang, please speak frankly. If it is something I can resolve, I will certainly not stand idly by."

Upon hearing Lin Fengjiao's promise, Huang Baiwan immediately perked up.

"Uncle Jiu, it's like this. My family just moved into a new house, but it's been haunted every few days. It's been keeping our family in turmoil. We had no choice but to ask around for Taoist priests to exorcise the ghosts, but it was all in vain. That's why we came to you, Uncle Jiu, for help."

Just as Lin Fengjiao was about to agree, she saw Awei, the security captain, rushing over from outside the door.

"Uncle Jiu, Uncle Jiu!"

"This is terrible, Uncle Nine!"

Ren Fa and Huang Baiwan were both a little angry at Awei's disruption, but they couldn't lash out because Lin Fengjiao was there.

"What is it?" Lin Fengjiao looked at the panting Awei. Logically speaking, the security captain shouldn't be in any big trouble.

"Silent Village...Silent Village has recently received news that a band of bandits is about to plunder the village. Those bandits are said to be incredibly strong and invulnerable to swords and spears. Even the neighboring counties and towns can't do anything about them. Uncle Jiu, Silent Village has several hundred people, and now we can only rely on you, Uncle Jiu!"

When Lin Fengjiao first heard about the bandits, she thought Awei was putting the cart before the horse. However, when she heard that he was incredibly strong and invulnerable to swords and spears, she immediately sensed that something was amiss.

"Mr. Huang, I think the matter at your residence can be postponed for a while. However, if I don't go to the Silent Village, there is a high chance that the people will be killed or injured. Therefore, I apologize to Mr. Huang. I will go to your residence after I return from the Silent Village."

What could Huang Baiwan say? In the quiet village, lives were at stake. Although his family had been through a lot, at least their lives weren't in danger.

Just as Huang Baiwan was about to agree, Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei arrived at the front hall.

Upon seeing Zhong Bai, Ren Fa, an outsider, instantly beamed with joy and jogged over to Zhong Bai, saying, "Master Zhong, who is this Master...?"

Ren Fa looked at Zhang Zhiwei, who, without needing Zhong Bai's introduction, said on his own, "Mr. Ren, I am Zhang Zhiwei, a disciple of Longhu Mountain!"

Ren Fa didn't hear anything else, but the mention of Longhu Mountain was enough for him.

"So you are the True Man of Longhu Mountain! My apologies for my lack of respect. Ren Fa pays his respects to the two True Men!"

Seeing Ren Fa's attitude, Huang Baiwan's gaze immediately fell on Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei.

Without even having time to reply to Lin Fengjiao, he quickly approached Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei and said, "Two esteemed masters, may I ask if you could do me a favor?"

Soon, Huang Baiwan repeated what he had just said. Ren Fa, who was standing next to him, frantically gave Huang Baiwan winks, but Huang Baiwan misunderstood it as a signal for him to keep up the good work. His words became more pitiful, and he was almost in tears.

Ren Fa's face turned ashen. He meant for Huang Baiwan not to come closer or speak, but the other party misunderstood him.

After listening to Huang Baiwan's story, Zhong Bai looked at Zhang Zhiwei and asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Zhiwei nodded and said, "Expelling a few little devils is too easy for the two of us."

However, though small, it has all the essential parts. If this simple task can be done well, the family can live a more peaceful life, so it's worth going.

Zhong Bai then smiled and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Zhang thinks it's worthwhile to go and take a look, then let's agree to it."

Huang Baiwan was overjoyed when he heard that his request had been granted.

At this moment, Lin Fengjiao also came to Zhong Bai's side. Seeing that her junior brother Qianhe had agreed to exorcise the ghost, Lin Fengjiao naturally could not stop him.

"So good!
Those bandits are to be left to me, and the Huang family's affairs are to be handled by my junior brother and Zhang Zhenchuan of Longhu Mountain. They will surely be able to resolve this matter.

Split into two groups, highly efficient!

Upon hearing Lin Fengjiao's words, Huang Baiwan, who had been happy, finally realized something was amiss. Even Uncle Jiu had to respectfully address her as a true disciple of Longhu Mountain, yet she agreed so easily. He looked at Ren Fa, while Ren Fa looked away to avoid Huang Baiwan's gaze.

"This Ren Fa!"

After cursing inwardly, Huang Baiwan could only turn his gaze to Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei.

"Gentlemen, when shall we depart?"

Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Immediately!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Zhiwei used his ability to shrink the distance to an inch to leave the mortuary in one step, while Zhong Bai flew away on his sword and disappeared from the spot in an instant.

Huang Baiwan was dumbfounded by this scene, while Ren Fa said in a low voice, "Boss Huang, do you even know who those two masters are? Yet you dared to invite them..."

One is a Taoist priest from Maoshan, the legendary Thousand Crane Immortal; the other is a true disciple of Longhu Mountain. Although I don't understand what this signifies, Boss Huang, you'd better treat these two immortals well!

Huang Baiwan finally understood. No wonder Ren Fa was looking at him so strangely; he had really brought back two patriarchs for him...

"Don't just stand there, my dear Mr. Huang!"
"These two immortals will be arriving at your home very soon. If you neglect them, your future may be uncertain."

Ren Fa's reminder caused sweat to roll down Huang Baiwan's forehead. He didn't even bother to say goodbye to Lin Fengjiao and Ren Fa, and dragged his somewhat obese body away from the mortuary.

Watching Huang Baiwan walk away, Ren Fa shook his head and said, "Sigh, I hope everything goes well for Mr. Huang's family. Tsk, it's all about fate..."

Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei left, and Lin Fengjiao, after packing up, also followed Awei to Silent Village.

The entire mortuary suddenly became empty. Although Aunt Zhe, Qing'er, and Wencai were still there, without Lin Fengjiao, there was no backbone.

Wanjia Town.

This is the town where Huang Baiwan's family lives, which is only twenty miles away from Renjia Town. Zhong Bai and Zhang Zhiwei arrived after only an incense stick had burned.

(End of this chapter)