White Bone Demon Trail

Chapter 43 New Year’s Eve
As soon as the county magistrate issued an official document, news of Zhangyang County seeking a capable person to slay the snake demon began to spread in all directions.

Many skilled individuals, upon hearing this news and learning that they could obtain hundreds of taels of silver, couldn't resist the urge to act impulsively.

One hundred taels of silver!

In times of war and chaos, silver is far more valuable than an equivalent amount of land or property.

With the year-end approaching, most truly capable people were too lazy to brave the cold wind and snow to travel far and wide to slay the demon. Some less skilled people merely wandered around the foot of the mountain. Although they didn't see any trace of the snake demon, it at least put the villagers at ease.

For a while, there were no more incidents of snake demons eating people, and things calmed down.

In Black Stone Village, Bai Wuxiang was still diligently cultivating.

Although the end of the year was approaching day by day, he was no longer an ordinary person and had no plans to celebrate the New Year or any other holidays.

Instead, they should take advantage of the strong yin energy in winter to consolidate their foundation and refine their demonic power.

On the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the sounds of gongs and drums rang out in Black Stone Village. Bai Wu, who was in the cave, seemed to have noticed something. He rarely came out of the cave, and a black crow perched on his shoulder.

"Let's go, come with me to take a look."

"Ah~"

The black crow obediently cawed.

The man and the crow then headed towards Black Stone Village.

In a somewhat old house in the village, a large group of people stood, men, women, and children all with smiles on their faces.

Only the people inside the room all looked rather unwell.

On the dilapidated, dimly lit earthen bed lay a withered old man, who closed his eyes the instant Bai Wuxiang stepped into the room.

Immediately, the house was filled with crying, and the old man's children and relatives all cried out.

Bai Wuxiang stared at the air in the room. He witnessed the old man's soul turn into specks of light and dissipate into the world.

A wisp of deathly energy was also revealed by the Black Crow and inhaled into its mouth.

A gasp rippled through the room as everyone stared in disbelief at the suddenly appearing crow, and they all bowed down.

Light streamed through the window, illuminating the old man's corpse. A black raven landed beside the old man's head, sensed that the body was devoid of spirit and death, and then flapped its wings and flew away.

Sanwen, watching this scene from the crowd, exclaimed, "If I could be guided by a spirit when I die of old age, I would be completely content."

Everyone who heard this was deeply moved.

The old man's children felt comforted as they watched the departing black crows, knowing that their deceased elder was guided by the gods and should be able to leave in peace.

Bai Wuxiang, who had not shown himself at the doorway, found this scene strange.

He only sensed the deathly aura and the final dust that dissipated into the world.

Isn't it said that a person has three souls and seven spirits? Even if one's lifespan ends, shouldn't one's soul be reborn?

He had previously assumed that the deaths of those people were due to his inability to see their souls, or that their souls had dissipated because they had not died of natural causes.

But the old man in front of us died peacefully of old age, so how could he not have a soul?

Bai Wuxiang was somewhat stunned. He remembered that the Mountain Lord had said that he was originally a ghost and should be taken away by the underworld gods. In other words, the underworld existed. If the underworld existed, why didn't people's souls enter the underworld after they died?

No one could answer the questions in his heart; only he himself could find the answers in the passage of time.

Bai Wuxiang shook his head, turned around, and left.

In this harsh winter, three elderly people from Heishizhai have already succumbed to their illness and died.

A few days later, another new grave appeared outside Skull Mountain.

Bai Wuxiang was meditating in the cave, oblivious to the joys and sorrows of the villagers.

But he saw it all.

He seemed to have truly become the god of Black Stone Village, witnessing the joys and sorrows of the villagers, the warmth, the wickedness, the selfishness, the kindness, and all sorts of thoughts within the village.

Good people are not necessarily without evil, and evil people are not necessarily without good.

Bai Wuxiang couldn't help but sigh, "Humans are just too complicated."

As the days went by, the snow in the mountains gradually melted, and the fields and fields were filled with moist soil.

Before we knew it, it was the last day of the New Year holiday.

As evening fell that day, wisps of smoke rose outside Skull Mountain, and paper money flew everywhere. A black crow landed curiously on a withered tree, watching people kneel and worship before a mound of yellow earth, some even talking to themselves.

Outside the cave, Qingyin mustered her courage and came here, kneeling and saying, "This little demon Qingyin greets Your Excellency! I only beg to be allowed to see my child."

Inside the cave, Bai Wuxiang, who was sitting cross-legged on the cold pool, couldn't help but chuckle when he heard her words. "You're a demon, why are you imitating humans? Do you want to celebrate the New Year too?"

Hearing that the adult in the cave was not stern, Qing Yin became bolder and laughed, "I'm sorry to make you laugh, sir. I come from the Great Qiu Ze Kingdom. Every year at the end of the year, our Great Qiu also celebrates like the human world."

Upon hearing this, Bai Wuxiang asked, "The Great Hill Marsh Kingdom? Is it part of the Three Mountains and Six Caves?"

"What you say is true, sir. Our Great Qiu Yun Kingdom is located in the Great Qiu Mountains, one of the Three Mountains, in the southeast of Nan Zhao." Qing Yin did not hide anything and told him frankly.

Bai Wuxiang didn't make things difficult for her. He pointed, and a small, thin white fox ran out of the cave. Upon seeing Qing Yin, it affectionately jumped into her arms.

The green fox's face lit up with joy, and it hurriedly bowed, saying, "Thank you, sir!"

"Go." A calm voice came from inside the cave.

After Qing Yinxing bowed in thanks, he left with the little white fox in his arms.

As dusk settled, the crimson sunset illuminated the sky, and the transition from the old year to the new was manifested on this day. Bai Wuxiang sensed the changing times of heaven and earth, and there were still three hours left until the end of the year.

Lanterns were hung everywhere in Black Stone Village. The village, which had been dark for more than 360 days a year, was finally lit up tonight.

More than four hundred people sat at the banquet table in a lively atmosphere. Each family sat around a long stone table, and the children laughed happily. On the high platform, three heads of households and the high priest sat at the table. Even the blind children sat excitedly to the side, their faces beaming with smiles.

The head of the gang, Li Yishan, shouted, "Everyone's here! Erzhu, light the firecrackers!"

"Alright, boss!"

He Erzhu ran to a distance where a long string of firecrackers had been laid out on the ground. He took out a tinderbox, blew on it to light the flame, and then squatted down to ignite the fuse.

Suddenly, firecrackers exploded, their crackling sounds echoing through the valley and reverberating among the distant mountains, startling all living things.

The villagers were enjoying a joyful feast, drinking and chatting, their laughter never having been as lively and boisterous as it was tonight.

As the world ages, old and new alternate; death descends and purity rises.

Bai Wuxiang arrived at the summit of Skull Mountain, where the old, dead, and decaying energy from all directions surged into his body. As the new year approached, the people below the mountain held onto their hopes and longed for happiness in the coming year.

High above the distant celestial palace, celestial chariots ride the clouds, incense burners sway in the wind, jade maidens hold bottles, celestial attendants present cinnabar pearls, golden-armored warriors wield cloud staffs, and mighty warriors hold divine pestles.

In the center of the celestial clouds, a celestial deity passed by, his procession stretching for ten miles, leaving behind clouds in the sky.

As the star lord, dressed in a fiery red divine robe, watched the demonic energy surging on the mountaintop below, he instinctively picked up the Divine Fire True Spirit Shield beside his carriage and was about to throw it down.

But when he took a closer look, his hand holding the immortal treasure stopped, and he thought to himself, "This Yunze Mountain is where that guy Jidu attained enlightenment. If I cover it up, I'm afraid half of the mountain will be gone."

That fellow will definitely not let me off the hook. Fine, since it's evil, let the underworld send people to catch it; that would be fair."

Having said that, the deity casually pointed to a celestial general and instructed him, "Take my divine decree to the underworld and deliver it to Yama, the ruler of the New Year."

"Yes! This humble god will obey the divine decree!" A divine general immediately knelt down, and a divine decree fell from the sky in front of him. He took the decree and transformed into a stream of light, flying down to the lower realm.

……

On Skull Mountain, Bai Wuxiang slowly regained his composure. The deathly aura dissipated, and a new year descended upon the world. At the turn of the hour of Zi and Chou, heaven and earth resonated, a new year began, and all things were renewed.

Faced with this energy of heaven and earth, he had no choice but to retreat to his cave. There was a faint rising fire energy in all directions. He understood that this time of year was when demons and monsters hid themselves.

So Bai Wuxiang quietly sat back on the stone platform and sensed that the demonic power within his body had become much stronger, having solidified into sixty-seven bones.

On such a perfect night for cultivation, why don't other demon spirits come out to take the opportunity to practice breathing exercises?

He was puzzled for a moment, but didn't dwell on it.

He simply sat in the cave, intending to cultivate in seclusion, but found that it was no longer possible to cultivate at this stage.

Heaven and earth have been rejuvenated, and the renewal of all things is not merely superficial, but also imbued with new spirits. The deathly aura in the earth can no longer be sensed.

Feeling bored, he sat quietly on the stone platform, resting his chin on his hand and watching the water dripping from the stone wall, falling into the pool at an extremely slow speed.

"Tick-tock~"

The crisp, melodious sound of water droplets falling into the pool also fell into his heart, bringing him peace and tranquility.

"click~"

A faint footstep came from outside the cave, startling the black crow that had fallen asleep in the tree.

"Greetings, Master Wuxiang! Happy New Year! May you attain enlightenment in the morning and receive the Dharma in the evening."

Outside the cave, You Junzi bowed deeply with a contented smile on his face.

Bai Wuxiang pointed, and the fog at the cave entrance dissipated. He said softly, "Come in."

You Junzi stepped into the cave calmly, not frightened by the eerie darkness.

He walked into the cave step by step, and faint flames rose from the stone walls on both sides, illuminating the dark cave.

Bai Wuxiang watched him approach and laughed, "The New Year is just around the corner, and you come to see this wicked and evil ghost like me. You're bound to bring misfortune upon yourself!"

"Lord Wuxiang is joking. Being near demons and ghosts brings disaster, while seeing the gods brings blessings." You Junzi smiled and brushed it off without a care. "Lord Wuxiang, you have worked hard. If it weren't for your protection this past year, how could our Black Stone Village be as comfortable as it is today?"
"Since I've come to offer New Year's greetings, I should naturally present a gift!"

As he spoke, he picked up a jade-colored brocade box with both hands, slowly opened it, and a powerful aura of a dragon rushed out, causing the dark, eerie flames on both sides of the cave to flicker wildly.

"This is... dragon's whiskers?"

Bai Wuxiang stared blankly at the three long, dark whiskers in the box, and asked in surprise, "Didn't you say that true dragons are extinct?"

"I have never seen a true dragon, but there are still dragons in the world."

These three black dragon whiskers were obtained by my ancestors when they followed an immortal to subdue a dragon.

Unfortunately, there are very few people in the family who practice cultivation, so they cannot refine or use this skill.

Therefore, it has been passed down to me, and I don't know how much of its residual power it still possesses. Now I offer it to a great man so that he may make the most of it!

Bai Wuxiang gently raised his hand and examined the long black whiskers floating in mid-air from a distance, confirming that these three whiskers were the legendary dragon whiskers, rare treasures indeed!
He asked with some surprise, "Brother You, why would you give me such a precious treasure?"

You Junzi laughed out loud: "Even the most powerful treasure cannot make me develop wisdom and embark on the path of cultivation."

Perhaps we should leave this item to Lord Wuxiang; it might come in handy.

The only thing I can't bear to part with is the few hundred people in Black Stone Village.

I only hope that the village god can protect my brothers in the village as much as possible.

"That's natural." Bai Wuxiang laughed. "If you only care about this, then you should take back this treasure."

I, Wuxiang, have always been a man of my word. Since I promised to guard the stronghold, I will naturally do so.

He smiled and shook his head.

You Junzi said, "This item is just to make up for what happened in the past. I hope you will not hold onto the past."

"Hehe, don't worry, how could I be such a demon or evil creature?" Bai Wuxiang laughed. "It's rare that you still remember me on a festival day."

"Since Brother You has given me this gift, I will not accept it for nothing. I will protect Black Stone Village for generations to come, until the day they no longer need my protection!"

"Alright, with Lord Wuxiang's words, I can finally rest assured."

You Junzi smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Lord Wuxiang, why don't you come with me into the village and see the excitement of the world?"

"Hehe, that's not necessary." Bai Wuxiang shook his head and chuckled. "During the New Year season, I'd rather stay in the cave and rest peacefully."

"In that case, I shall take my leave!"

You Junzi didn't try to persuade him further; he simply finished speaking and turned to leave.

That night in the village, after dinner, every household went from house to house, talking about the hardships of the year. Some elderly people gathered together to reminisce about the past, while young people gathered in groups to continue drinking. Some women also gathered in small groups in the main hall of the village, surrounded by children chasing and playing, with laughter and joy filling the air.

Inside the cave, Bai Wuxiang stared at the three dragon whiskers in the box, remaining silent for a moment. Had he truly accepted Black Stone Village, or had Black Stone Village become integrated into him?
But none of that matters. What matters is that some things transcend the continuation of life.

He smiled as he walked out of the cave and said softly, "Since Brother You has given me this gift, I should return the favor with one of my own."

After saying that, Bai Wuxiang raised his hand and pointed. Countless points of dark blue light gathered and rose into the sky from Skull Mountain. When these spirits of the dead encountered the opportunity for rebirth in the sky, they all turned into brilliant blue light, illuminating the night sky of Black Stone Village. They streaked across the sky like shooting stars, and like a fleeting moment, they illuminated the faces of everyone in Black Stone Village.

Under the magnificent, dark blue light, Li Yiguang, who was drinking with his old friend, was stunned. He paused, his wine glass still, as countless memories surged through his mind.

He Erzhu held his wife's hand, looking at the fireworks in the sky with joy. They were looking forward to the birth of a new life next year.

Zhao Lengxiang looked up at the sky, a smile unconsciously appearing on her lips. In the dazzling fireworks, she saw the faces of her deceased loved ones.

Yu Junzi, who was walking alone under the fireworks, also looked up. He saw the brilliant, eerie light rising from Skull Mountain and a smile appeared on his lips. Demons don't necessarily have to be enemies of humans.

(End of this chapter)