Lord Gutless—that was the crab demon from the Lan River.
A cold light flashed in Qin Xuan's eyes. Without deigning to answer him, he turned toward Captain Lu of Yingyang Prefecture.
"Captain Lu, this demon previously caused havoc in the upper reaches of the Yishui River and was beaten back into the water by our sect's elder. Now that he dares to enter the city so brazenly, how can you allow him to strut about right before your eyes?"
A tight, wooden smirk flickered across Captain Lu's face. Twisting the corners of his mouth, he said, "Young Master Qin, Fellow Daoist Xie Bao came carrying a token from the Yishui River God's Mansion. There might be some misunderstanding between you two."
The Yishui River God's Mansion was also a divine authority.
However, this River God did not belong to the royal temple spirits, so he fell outside the jurisdiction of Yingyang Prefecture.
Yet unlike wildland spirits, the Yishui River God had received an official conferment. His authority derived from Guangling Water Palace, which could be traced step-by-step back to the North Sea Dragon Palace—meaning he was an affiliated deity of the demon clans.
Formidable experts abounded among the demons, but they were hardly a united front.
The Clear Water Flood Dragon King of Guangling Water Palace had always maintained a neutral stance, so people did not simply clamor to slay him on sight.
"Oh?" Qin Xuan cast a sideways glance at the crab demon. "The Yishui River God took you into his mansion?"
Lord Gutless fluttered his folding fan.
"Incorrect. It was Steward Black Catfish of the Lan River. Young Master Qin, you killed demons of our Lan River Water Palace two years ago. The steward did not make trouble for you because there had been a misunderstanding back then.
"This time, Young Master Qin slew a core successor of the Xieling demonic path and displayed an exquisite sword art. The steward admires you greatly and specially dispatched me to invite you to a gathering at Lan River Water Palace, so that we may turn our weapons into jade and silk."
The crab demon peered at Qin Xuan's expression, only to see a glint of gold flash through the young man's eyes, carrying a momentary flicker of murderous intent.
"Why bother with invitations? When I have free time, I will pay a visit to the water palace on my own."
Lord Gutless's pupils contracted, his voice tinged with a faint threat: "Young Master Qin, my steward dislikes waiting above all else."
"Then tell him to wait anyway." With that, Qin Xuan brushed straight past him.
The crab demon's eyes widened, and he raised his folding fan as if to unleash demon qi. But a burly middle-aged man beside him, wafting with the scent of incense, caught his arm and sent a voice transmission:
"If you make an open move inside the city, how could Captain Lu and I simply look the other way? We would have no choice but to strike you down. The commander from the Prison City will soon arrive in Pingyuan Commandery to investigate spirits and demons; do not embarrass the various deities and ruin their face."
The burly man added, "The Xieling Sect is itching for action. Why not borrow their blades instead?"
Watching Qin Xuan walk into the distance, Lord Gutless transmitted back, "The boy most likely knows the Geng residence's secret. A rare treasure lies hidden at the bottom of the Cold Pool on Yunxiu Mountain—is the mountain god not tempted in the slightest?"
The burly man replied vaguely, "The mountain god has his own considerations."
Captain Lu had intended to leave, but seeing Qin Xuan head straight for Manor Lord Zhu's quarters, he was in no hurry and followed along.
Qin Xuan traversed corridors and courtyards until he reached Manor Lord Zhu's residence.
A wave of incense drifted out, followed by a divine entity—a middle-aged woman with a proud, voluptuous figure.
The moment she saw Qin Xuan, she greeted him: "Young Master Qin."
Even if they had never met before, she would naturally know by now that Yuansong Temple possessed such a figure.
Qin Xuan also recognized her identity. She hailed from the City God Temple; the City God had two major inspectors under his command, and she was the Day Wandering Spirit.
Manor Lord Zhu was a major patron of the City God Temple, so the Day Wandering Spirit's presence here was hardly surprising.
"Inspector Yan, how is Manor Lord Zhu's condition?"
Qin Xuan saw the middle-aged man lying on the inner room's bed, completely motionless.
"Very bad. He has been afflicted with soul-eroding poison and has lost all consciousness. Even soul-calling arts cannot rouse him. He will surely perish within seven days."
No sooner had her words fallen than a young man in his twenties swayed and slammed into the doorframe upon hearing them.
Zhu Gui and Zhu Ping hurried forward to steady him.
This youth was Zhu Jinting's son, Zhu Youqi. The moment he regained his footing, he pleaded tearfully toward the Day Wandering Spirit: "Inspector Yan, please save my father! Lord City God shares a close friendship with him, and his lordship is skilled in arts of spirits and ghosts. I beg you to perform another ritual!"
As he spoke, he was about to kowtow.
The Day Wandering Spirit helped him up.
"Young Master Zhu, you are also a Qi Refining cultivator; you ought to understand that divine power has its limits. Lord City God has already brought forth Soul-Guiding Incense and administered Soul-Calling Water to the manor lord. Even if his lordship came in person, he could not wake him.
"However..."
The Day Wandering Spirit swept her gaze across the grand manor, her tone shifting:
"We could carry Manor Lord Zhu's body into the temple. Before his soul descends to the Nine Nethers, Lord City God could petition for a conferment to see if the manor lord has the good fortune to gain a clay statue. If he can become a temple attendant, though he will lose his freedom, he will at least enjoy a century of spirit lifespan."
She looked toward Zhu Youqi, awaiting his response.
While Zhu Youqi hesitated, Zhu Gui turned his gaze toward Qin Xuan.
If even the City God could not awaken him, Qin Xuan hardly considered himself capable, especially since he knew nothing of soul-calling sorcery.
Thus, he produced the Seven-Leaf Pill given by Senior Mao Yan and handed it to Zhu Gui.
"Here is a detoxifying pill. Administer it with water."
Zhu Gui made a rough guess about the pill's origin and hurried to have someone bring warm water to feed it to Manor Lord Zhu.
Catching the medicinal aroma, the Day Wandering Spirit noted, "This is a Seven-Leaf Pill."
"Indeed. Does Inspector Yan think it can neutralize the poison?"
"Though precious, an ordinary Seven-Leaf Pill cannot neutralize this venom. Unless an exceptional soul-guiding herb is added as an adjuvant to reverse the sovereign and ministers, shifting the primary and secondary roles to upend yin and yang, there is barely a glimmer of hope."
Everyone looked at Qin Xuan, but he did not answer.
In his heart, Qin Xuan essentially judged the situation hopeless. Judging by the way Senior Mao practiced that Secret Demon Evil-Dispelling Great Method, he hardly seemed like a generous, affluent sort. Even if he possessed rare herbs, they might not happen to serve soul-guiding purposes.
Sure enough, half an hour later, Manor Lord Zhu showed no sign of waking.
Inspector Yan was already shaking her head; she knew roughly when such detoxifying pills took effect. Seeing this, Zhu Youqi prepared to order Old Zhu carried out and transported to the City God Temple. Qin Xuan had no intention of stopping them.
Just then, he suddenly heard a voice transmission.
"Hold on. This pill of mine is rather peculiar; it takes at least two hours."
Zhu Youqi had not known the details and held little confidence in Qin Xuan, but hearing this, hope flared within him once more.
"Do not wait around here. The manor lord needs quiet; everyone withdraw."
Qin Xuan exchanged glances with Zhu Gui and Zhu Ping.
The two complied at once, clearing everyone from the room. Zhu Youqi widened his eyes and pointed at himself: "Even I cannot stay?"
"You leave as well."
Qin Xuan offered no special deference. Little Zhu felt displeased, but prioritizing his father's life above all, he flicked his sleeve and walked out.
Zhu Gui cupped his fists toward Qin Xuan, fearing he might take offense.
Qin Xuan smiled faintly; why would he hold such natural human reactions against the man?
Inspector Yan looked thoughtful. Knowing Qin Xuan was bluffing to clear out the bystanders, she suspected he must possess a secret method of his own.
Since he was unwilling to reveal it in public, a secret had to be involved. She did not believe Manor Lord Zhu could wake up anyway and had no desire to pry, so she was the first to leave the courtyard.
Once the crowd dispersed, Qin Xuan stepped into the room. Gazing upon the motionless Manor Lord Zhu, he harbored no real certainty.
Right then...
The inner room's window creaked open. A nimble, delicate little red fox squeezed inside, transformed into a streak of red light, and landed upon his shoulder—a clear sign that her Nine Palaces Displacement Art had improved considerably.
"Young Master, you can save him."
Gu Mei'er still spoke through voice transmission: "This Manor Lord Zhu retains his consciousness. Do not speak aloud, Young Master, lest you leak any secrets."
Qin Xuan hastily inquired via voice transmission: "How do I save him? I am utterly helpless against that soul-eroding poison."
Mei'er said, "This is no soul-eroding poison. It is the Soul-Eroding Cold Evil from the Seventy-Two Earth Evils. This evil qi is bred upon countless corpses of demons and monsters, and it excels most at corroding spiritual qi. The manor lord inhaled too much of it, which caused his soul to become lost."
Qin Xuan suddenly recalled that night in the ruined temple on Yunxiu Mountain, where an evil bead had destroyed Monk Jinghui's magical artifact; that had indeed been Soul-Eroding Cold Evil.
In other words, it came from Hawk's Beak Mountain.
The Earth God of Peach Blossom Stream had said that yin qi was flowing from the west. Combined with Geng Zhi's information regarding the royal tomb, there was no doubt about it. It appeared an evil vein lay buried beneath Hawk's Beak Mountain!
"How did you know?"
"Mei'er inhaled this evil qi before, and it was you, Young Master, who saved me with pure qi. That is why I wanted you to explore the tomb with me. If you can counter such evil qi, we can obtain the rare medicine."
Hearing this, Qin Xuan's doubts vanished instantly. When he considered what the little fox called "pure qi," it could only be related to the ancient mirror.
Reacting swiftly, he took out a purple-green gourd, and the little fox nodded repeatedly.
Qin Xuan poured out a bowl of spirit water, let out a sigh, and spoke in a solemn, heavy tone:
"Brother Zhu, I braved great danger beneath Hawk's Beak Mountain to obtain this bowl of spirit water, intending to refine immortal dew with it. Today, to save you, I have no choice but to bring it out. Whether it works or not rests entirely on Heaven's will."
Knowing he was saying this for Old Zhu's benefit, the little fox covered her mouth, almost bursting into laughter. The young master was truly a generous man.
Qin Xuan shot the little fox a look and said, "There are several bastards lurking nearby, thoroughly wicked sorts. Be careful on your way back."
"You are the one who needs to be careful. I smelled corpse qi underground; those Xieling Sect people are tunneling closer. After losing face last time, they have come specifically for you. If you have no helpers, Young Master, you had better flee at once."
With that, the little fox vanished through the window...
Chapter 38