Daoqi Huangcheng

Chapter 43. Within the clan, they are like cattle and horses; outsiders, they are like superior beings.

"Song Chen, hand over the 'Yellow Springs Scripture'!"

“Aunt Bai, now that I am a disciple of the Five Elements Sect and have handed over the Yellow Springs Scripture to you, how can I still contribute to the sect?”

"Heh, this is a huge mess, you can't handle it all by yourself. There are some things that are simply beyond your level! The Five Elements Sect is just trying to use you to suppress us. If you can't see the situation clearly and fail to seize the opportunity to resolve our grievances, you'll be in for a world of trouble later!"

He Bai bypassed Xiao Meng and spoke directly to Song Chen.

Song Chen was silent for a moment. He didn't believe He Bai's nonsense. If he handed over the "Yellow Springs Scripture", he would lose his value and die. He looked at Xiao Meng and said, "Senior Sister, I've rested enough. I want to continue contributing to the sect."

Xiao Meng raised her porcelain-white smiling mask, looked at He Bai, and said, "We're busy, you'd better get lost."

He Bai's blue eyes gradually turned fierce.

Xiao Meng stared at it indifferently.

The rain suddenly intensified, and when it subsided, two more crane figures descended, standing on either side of He Bai. Each of them exuded a terrifying aura that Song Chen could not fathom.

Crane White raised its wings slightly and bowed to Xiao Meng as if it were a human, then said, "Today, we are not against the Five Elements Sect, but only want to take back the treasure that belongs to our clan. We will definitely come to apologize afterwards."

As they spoke, the higher-ranking member of the three marrow-eating crane demons suddenly began to accumulate powerful water spiritual energy around his body.

They're going to rob us.

Xiao Meng slightly raised her left hand, her five fingers gripping the cold ceramic smiling mask, and then ripped it off. Instantly, her long hair flew in the air, dancing lightly.

Strands and strands, like the long, ink-wash-like hair of a fairy in a dream.

But beneath that flowing hair was a pale, rotting, ugly face, covered in black worms in many places.

Except for her hair and eyes, which were very young, everything else about her resembled a corpse; she was extremely ugly and bizarre.

Xiao Meng grinned, revealing a set of sharp, pointed teeth. Her lips twitched open, tearing all the way to her ears. She chuckled and sneered, "You already have junior brothers? Did you think you'd still be so lenient with yourselves?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she disappeared.

A few breaths later.
It rained heavily.

In the pouring rain, Xiao Meng was squatting down. Of the three marrow-eating crane demons beside her, only one was still standing, and that was Crane White.

He Bai looked at Xiao Meng in fear.

Xiao Meng is eating a crane.

She didn't pluck a single hair and wolfed it down.

While eating, she suddenly said, "When you were my partner before, didn't you ask me why some of the corpses of powerful figures suddenly disappeared, and whether there was anything unusual about it?"

He Bai asked in a trembling voice, "You ate it?"

Xiao Meng sneered, "Unlike you, I don't only eat live things. I prefer the dead."

Crane White retreated in fear.

"You...you're not human?"

Xiao Meng said, "Of course he's human. It's just that, like my junior brother, he happens to have mixed blood from another race and was given supernatural powers. Otherwise, why would I be the one to deal with the Ghost Realm?"

"What tribe?"

"You don't want to know."

Click
Another crisp cracking sound rang out as Xiao Meng chewed on the crane demon's bones, her long hair flying wildly, her pale robe adorned with blood-red peach blossom patterns, looking utterly desolate.

She enjoyed her meal very much.
While she was eating, one of the crane demons was not quite dead yet and was still struggling.

She enjoyed her meal even more.
Unable to linger any longer, the white crane turned and flapped its wings, disappearing swiftly into the distance, enveloped in rainwater.

Xiao Meng devoured the two crane demons completely, leaving not a single feather, before putting the white ceramic smiling mask back on. As if she had absorbed their flesh and blood, her chest and long legs became even more beautiful.

Suddenly, the style of the artwork changed from "horror monsters" to "mysterious women" that left much to the imagination.

Song Chen urged, "Senior Sister, let's go quickly! I want to contribute to the sect!"

In the blink of an eye, another month has passed.

Song Chen spent his days happily and fulfilled "mending and patching" this land full of corpses, like a paperhanger, hastily covering the land.

He didn't know what the Five Elements Sect was planning, but he knew he wanted to survive.

Of course, despite his best efforts, his work was still riddled with flaws. After all, the sheer number of mass graves, cemeteries, and corpses far exceeded his capabilities.

"Senior sister, let's not rest tonight. We need to work hard. I remember there are too many corpses in that large cemetery to the north. Last time, I couldn't ignite them completely with my spiritual energy. This time, I'm sure I can do it."

Song Chen's voice was full of enthusiasm.

Work makes him happy.

Xiao Meng said, "Our mission is complete. Some hidden dangers in the North have been temporarily stabilized. The status of the Crane Clan should also be lowered. Since they didn't obtain the 'Yellow Springs Scripture,' their usefulness is not so great anymore."

Song Chen said anxiously, "Senior sister, it's not finished yet. I remember there are still several places with potential dangers."

He started counting on his fingers, then said, "Senior Sister, we must resolve this immediately. We can't rest now. I, Song Chen, am a member of the Five Elements Sect. I'm a cog in the machine, I'll be there wherever I'm needed, Senior Sister. The sect needs us right now."

Xiao Meng turned her head, stared at him for a long time, and said, "You won't die."

Song Chen said, "No, it doesn't matter whether I live or die. I've spent half my life wandering and suffering, only regretting that I never encountered a powerful sect. Now that I have, I must fight with all my might!"

Xiao Meng said, "Let's go. Next time we come, we'll have help."

After saying that, she didn't wait for her junior brother to finish shouting about contributing to the sect. She waved her hand, and a burst of light enveloped her as she disappeared into the distance.

The light fell on a dilapidated mountain outside the north gate of the imperial city.

Xiao Meng said, "Come back here in seven days, before evening."

Song Chen replied, "Yes, Senior Sister."

For the past two and a half months, he had been working non-stop, but at this moment, he knew that he was safe for the time being. The capital and even the Great Yong were the territory of the Five Elements Sect, especially the capital.

He strolled into the capital and then casually walked towards the Crane Mansion.

However, when he arrived at the gate of the Crane Mansion, he was stunned.

Crane Mansion is empty!
The building was empty.

There was nothing left inside.

He looked thoughtful, but then the sound of a carriage came from not far away. The young maid who was driving the carriage was dressed in luxurious silk clothes and was obviously a maid from a wealthy family.

"Master? Master!!!"

The little maid saw Song Chen and suddenly called out from afar. Then she stopped the carriage, jumped down, and exclaimed with great joy, "Master, you're finally back!"

Song Chen recognized the little girl as Chunxiang, Madam Qianxue's personal maid.

Song Chen asked, "Where is the prefecture?"

Chunxiang said excitedly, "Master, everyone knows that you have become a core disciple of the Imperial City Temple. This mansion has already been moved back, and now, the location is even better than the previous Shenyun Mansion."

During this period, countless people have come to pay their respects and bring gifts. Our family's status has truly risen. Even many noble gentlemen from our own families have come in person.

"My lady is overjoyed, but she dares not go to the Imperial City Temple to inquire about the situation. She's been anxiously waiting at home for your return! Sir, please come with me!"

(End of this chapter)