The fairy always tries to corrupt my Dao heart.

Chapter 7 Rainy Night, Sword in Hand, No Umbrella

A thousand miles south of Luohuang Mountain lies Huaishan Town.

The rain was heavy at night, and the crowd of people wearing raincoats moved about incessantly.

"Those who have packed their belongings, gather at the East Town entrance. Those who haven't packed yet, hurry up!"

With flashes of lightning every now and then, the surging crowds looked like ants, hurrying through the streets and alleys.

They are clearly preparing for a massive migration.

Most people wore expressions of reluctance to leave home, but no one complained.

Because this wasn't the first time.

The snake demons of Banzhu Mountain were the most vengeful snake demons in their knowledge. They would launch a fierce revenge if any snake demon under their control died except by accident.

Unable to defeat the cultivators who could cultivate on the mountain, they would target the towns and villages under the jurisdiction of the cultivators' forces, resorting to any means necessary.

Furthermore, since the cultivators on the mountain were unable to kill all the snake demons at once, the authorities issued a policy to relocate the people around the site of the snake demons' deaths.

They will move back after the storm has passed or after a large number of cultivators have descended the mountain to create a peaceful environment.

As the over 100-year-old mayor of Huaishan Town, Liu Ji knew in his heart that the Taoist practitioners on the mountain protected them for the sake of incense offerings, but he had no complaints about it.

Because the immortals on the mountain truly ensured that Huai Shan Town had favorable weather and abundant harvests.

For Huaishan Town, this is a very fortunate thing.

After all, not everyone is qualified to cultivate Taoism, and most people are those who have been abandoned by the times.

Ordinary people without the talent for cultivation will only meet one fate if they enter a place rich in spiritual energy: suffocation.

Having lived for over a hundred years, Liu Ji had long since come to terms with things, so he didn't ask for much. While managing Huai Shan Town well, he would occasionally send a few outstanding children to the mountain.

"I don't know if I'll be able to come back after this departure."

Liu Ji sighed to his son Liu Yu, who was standing beside him, his voice filled with deep sorrow.

He knew that once he left, he probably wouldn't have a chance to return, because he had heard that since the beginning of the year, demons had been extremely active, and many towns had been massacred.

I've also heard that the immortals in the north are fighting amongst themselves. Under these circumstances, it would be good enough if the immortals in Yunlan Valley could protect them, let alone take the initiative to attack... How is that possible?

"If it weren't for the mountain..."

"Watch your words!" Liu Ji glared at his youngest son. "There are difficulties on the mountain. We should be content with living a long and healthy life in this era."

Liu Yu sighed, "Then blame those snake demons. Wouldn't it have been better to just stay in their territory?"

Liu Ji slapped his youngest son on the back of the head: "Even the dog in the house knows to protect its pup. How could those intelligent demons possibly stay put and wait for the cultivators on the mountain to harvest them?"
Moreover, their methods of transmitting messages are faster than those of the cultivators on the mountain who haven't mastered any magical artifacts..."

"real or fake?"

"Nonsense! An ordinary tiger's roar can carry throughout the entire mountain forest, let alone a demon that has gained intelligence?"

“That’s right.” Liu Yu nodded in sudden realization, then asked in confusion, “Father, since they are so terrifying, why didn’t you let the caravan that rescued us take down Banzhu Mountain? Those people seem to be much more powerful than the mountain…”

Besides, this is a mess they caused; shouldn't they be the ones to deal with it?

Liu Ji glanced at him speechlessly, but still patiently explained, "We owe a debt of gratitude to Yunlan Valley, and this debt of gratitude has always been with Huai Shan Town, so we can't be two-faced, otherwise Yunlan Valley will blame us."

That caravan was clearly new to the area, not even knowing the nature of the snake demon of Banzhu Mountain, and they weren't willing to talk to us much. They could save us for a while, but not forever.

Besides, nothing has happened yet, so our loyalty cannot be shaken…

"I understand. When will the people from Yunlan Valley arrive?" Liu Yu hurriedly asked. "Three hours have passed since you burned that talisman, and we haven't seen a single person. Didn't you say they would send someone to settle us within an hour?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ji's expression also showed some worry, but he still looked at the road and comforted him, "Things are busy up on the mountain too, maybe something has delayed them, don't worry, don't worry..."

"Hey, isn't that... coming over here?"

Liu Ji, startled, instinctively took two steps back, staring in fear at the tall horse that flashed through the rain like lightning and instantly appeared in front of him.

That dark horse is really handsome... huh?

Aren't these the horses from that caravan before?
They are not immortals from Yunlan Valley!

Liu Ji's lips twitched. This wasn't the person he wanted to see!
If they are saved by immortals outside Yunlan Valley, they will feel grateful no matter what. As a result, the amount of offerings to Yunlan Valley will decrease. What if they anger Yunlan Valley?
Thinking of this, Liu Ji quickly bowed and said, "Immortal, have you left something here? Tell me, and I will immediately send someone to find it for you."

Li Qingan glanced at the vast crowd and frowned slightly.

He knew this area was within the sphere of influence of Yunlan Valley, and he also knew how Yunlan Valley treated the common people, but how much time had passed, and Yunlan Valley still hadn't sent anyone to relocate the town?
What, do you want to reappear during a crisis to draw a large amount of incense offerings and prayers?

Seeing the group of ordinary people who were both excited and evasive, Li Qing'an did not voice his malicious speculation. He simply said to Liu Ji, "It's not that we left anything behind, but our business has learned about the nature of the snake demon in this area."

He didn't mind attributing the credit to Luo Qi; it was in his best interest to do so.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qing'an dismounted and glanced sideways at another road.

It's better to come early than to come by coincidence.

The rain fell as if the sky were shattering. When the pale lightning tore through the sky, a giant python could be seen raising its head on the ground and underground of the mountain road, surrounded by a swarm of snakes.

It was a shape that ordinary people could not comprehend; it resembled the movement of mountains, a living shadow, and the most terrifying nightmare.

Pairs of deep, dark lights flickered in the rainy night. Under their gaze, Liu Ji and the others felt as if they were being dissected and scrutinized, their own existence seemingly meaningless.

They did not roar, they did not proclaim, yet they became the heaviest judgment on this stormy night!
The men stood frozen in place, their jaws clenched, weapons clearly in their hands, yet not a single fingertip trembled.

The women held their children tightly in their arms, their knuckles turning white from the force. Even when they covered the children's mouths and noses with their palms, it wasn't to prevent them from making a sound, but to avoid disturbing their fragile souls.

However, children's perceptions are the purest and most direct. Although they look at their mothers' faces filled with terror with incomprehension, they feel the pure evil and horror most vividly.

The cries, like a cold needle, pierced through the dull clamor of rain and thunder, becoming a symphony more despairing than any roar.

Liu Ji watched this scene with trembling hands, his past memories being stirred up, causing him to subconsciously look in the direction of Yunlan Valley.

I still didn't see the familiar uniforms.

He looked at Li Qing'an again, originally wanting to persuade him to leave so that Yunlan Valley wouldn't blame him, but the words just wouldn't come out.

He just kept moving his lips, expressing the most silent fear.

He glanced again in the direction of Yunlan Valley, then looked at Li Qing'an, his withered hands clenching tightly, finally deciding to say something: "This, this immortal, immortal..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Qing'an had already stepped out from beside the black horse.

Crimson spiritual energy surged forth from his body, the energy like leaping flames and flying beams, the sword energy like the gnarled roots of a great tree.

Li Qingan stopped, a long sword at his waist, his hand resting on the hilt.

One man, one sword, stood at the very front of Huai Shan Town.

In the eyes of the people of Huaishan Town behind him, Li Qing'an became the only light on this stormy night.

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(End of this chapter)