Volume One, Chapter 12: The First Execution of the Shore Demon!
“The jackal demon is all show and no substance, weak at heart and fond of bullying the weak!” Grandpa’s notes contained such words.
Therefore, Zhao Fusheng had deliberately set up a series of confusing traps.
Moreover, the enemy could sense the alchemical energy within him, but since their cultivation methods were similar, he could also faintly detect some aura from them.
These three jackal demons each possessed a body refinement level above the second or third tier!
Even if only one attacked, it would be difficult to withstand—let alone all three together.
And if they managed to encircle him from front and back…
Even the patrol disciples with spiritual roots and profound insight would likely be intimidated!
The strategy of wolves battling tigers has always been a tactic the demon clans excel at!
The only way was to defeat them one by one!
“You little brat, how dare you deceive us!”
“Look at your frail, skinny frame!”
“With a body like that, even if I ate you, I’d get a tooth stuck. And yet you have the nerve to try and take advantage of your uncle, the jackal demon?”
The leader of the jackal demons spoke harshly as he struggled to pull his leg out of the mud.
Hiss!
After swinging all night, his proficiency had greatly improved.
Besides, this sword bore a renowned reputation!
With a flicker of cold light in an instant, the jackal demon’s leg was forever left embedded in the muddy pit.
“Body-refining cultivators, a single misstep can be fatal!”
“Next, I will take advantage of your unstable stance to sever your head.”
Zhao Fusheng’s tone was cold and stern, his gaze equally forbidding.
The jackal demons before him were nothing more than predators preying on their own kind.
How were they any different from the villagers of Tangkou?
“Wait! Wait! I was wrong!”
“I say…”
“Master Huang is the great raccoon demon of the Burial Ditch on the west bank. The reason he sought Miss Yun is because they have a marriage arrangement!”
“I’ve said all there is to say. Big brother, could you please spare me?”
The jackal demon hurriedly pleaded.
Zhao Fusheng glanced toward the opposite bank; sunlight poured in, the morning mist slightly dispersing, revealing rows of neatly arranged graves.
He gave a grunt of acknowledgment.
Hiss!
Suddenly, a claw-shaped shadow beneath his feet stopped its subtle expansion!
The jackal demon’s reflection on the ground was split in two by a horizontal beam of light.
A round object rolled and scattered scarlet droplets onto the earth, thudding rhythmically…
“I’ll spare your life.”
Zhao Fusheng said calmly.
This jackal demon already knew the truth; if he escaped alive, he would surely inform the so-called raccoon demon!
Given Zhao Fusheng’s current strength, dealing with such a minor demon was already taxing.
Besides, he didn’t believe that such a straightforward marriage would require forcibly abducting a bride.
“The leader died here. I’ll return to inform the great demon, exaggerate the enemy encounter to avoid punishment…”
“That might buy us some temporary peace.”
Zhao Fusheng muttered to himself.
If enemy scouts saw a comrade’s corpse, his crude swordsmanship would surely be exposed.
So he dragged the jackal demon’s body to the edge of the forest boundary.
He dug a pit, preparing to bury it.
Unexpectedly, someone arrived, scolding him!
“What are you doing?”
“Burying the corpse is pointless. Are you new here?”
A stout, round-faced senior disciple riding a sword hurried over.
His clothes were disheveled, hair loosely tied, exuding a strong rustic aura!
No need to ask—he was clearly a patrol senior in the nearby mountains.
“I am indeed new.”
“May I ask, senior brother, how should this be handled?”
Zhao Fusheng stopped and asked with some confusion.
The stout senior stepped forward, pushed Zhao Fusheng aside, then squatted down and immediately probed the jackal demon’s abdomen.
He exhaled a slight sigh of relief…
“Didn’t anyone tell you? All these dead demons must be reported and sent to the peak!”
“If buried here, it would defile the spiritual source of Qingyun Mountain!”
“Just leave it to me to handle now.”
Zhao Fusheng sensed something odd.
If they truly needed to send the bodies to the peak, why would he be probing the demon’s abdomen?
He was clearly inspecting the alchemical core.
This stout senior, with his large head and ears, was different from ordinary patrol, guard, or mountain-watch disciples.
It suggested his meals were better than the others’.
But since most resource distributions were roughly equal, why would he be an exception?
Clearly, there was more to this—perhaps he had some undisclosed connections!
“No trouble, senior brother.”
“You still have to patrol the mountain. If I delay you or cause any mistakes, I cannot bear the responsibility!”
“If it’s so urgent, I’ll go ring the bell at the lookout tower myself.”
Zhao Fusheng raised his eyebrows deliberately.
The stout senior shuddered, but after a moment, his expression darkened.
“No need. That would trouble the other senior brothers who have to descend the mountain. They are busier than us.”
“It’s easier if I go…”
“You can rest assured. When I report to the higher-ups, I’ll give you all the credit!”
Zhao Fusheng smiled secretly, then bowed solemnly.
“Senior brother, you misunderstand. I only found a demon corpse. All the hard work belongs to you all!”
“The credit should be yours!”
“However, demons have been rampant lately. Guarding the post is not easy. If you can make it to the peak, could you perhaps bring me back some supplies?”
The stout senior’s gaze deepened.
He seemed to see that this young disciple was no ordinary child.
He must have suspected some unspeakable dealings behind him…
Yet, with the Crimson Snow Ancient Sword in hand, he might be connected to the mountain guards!
“Of course, it’s nothing. What do you need?”
He smiled ingratiatingly.
“Xianrong Grass.”
Zhao Fusheng smiled in return.
The stout senior grinned meaningfully: “Two hundred stalks?”
“Thank you! I’ll trouble you then!”
Zhao Fusheng stepped back.
The stout senior laughed and stepped forward to pat Zhao Fusheng on the shoulder.
“In the future, if you find anything, come to me here.”
Zhao Fusheng bowed and nodded.
The stout senior took out a green pouch, stored the demon’s corpse, then mounted his long sword.
With a flicker of the blade, he leapt upward with graceful invisibility…
Zhao Fusheng sighed.
Alas, though he was on the Immortal Mountain, he was still just a humble charcoal seller.
Returning to his quarters, Yun Yao was nowhere to be seen.
On the table lay a string of freshly roasted fish.
Juicy and plump, brushed with honey glaze, it smelled fragrant.
He had forgotten how long it had been since he last tasted meat!
Beneath the plate was a note:
“Yellow Perch from the Qingqu River, feeding on river grass, contains abundant spiritual energy—excellent for nourishing and restoring the condensed elixir.”
“This is to thank you for your help in repelling the enemy.”
“Also, I am currently out seeking the rat clan demons to bring them to meet you. I will return later. Do not worry! —Yun Yao.”
Zhao Fusheng smiled; this woman was truly a doer.
He picked up the tender, fragrant fish and began to feast.
The rich juice overflowed with endless freshness, melting in his mouth and filling him with warmth!
Just like Senior Sister Song eating that bowl of plain noodles.
Suddenly, many memories surged.
He also recalled his senior sister’s admonition.
“You still have to practice, if only for her goodwill.”
After finishing his meal, he opened the books titled The Nine Essentials of Body Refinement, Fundamentals of Meditation, and the specially placed Pine Crane Fist manual on top.
Though all were part of the Upper Yang Zhou Heaven cultivation system,
What if Senior Sister came to check on him unexpectedly?
So he carefully studied one of the books.
The more he read, the more intrigued he became.
“Breathe in, condense the spiritual inch; breathe out, follow the Governing Vessel down to the tailbone.”
“Inhale and exhale in a ratio of three slow to one fast.”
“Repeat the cycle.”
He muttered while attempting the practice.
But…
*Cough, cough, cough!*
After only a short while, tears streamed down his face.
“No good. My spiritual inch is too weak to sense anything.”
“It’s far too difficult to gather all the energies there!”
He decided to switch to another method.
Then he stood up, trying to dissipate energy using the Nine Essentials of Body Refinement.
But his soft and feeble spiritual roots could not generate any qi energy.
His heart and lungs spasmed painfully!
Practicing an external boxing form shouldn’t be so troublesome, right?
So he opened the last book again, followed the movements step by step, and tried to imitate.
Crack.
Now he had strength, but his directions were reversed, nearly dislocating his wrist!
He was somewhat frustrated.
He could only put it aside for the moment.
“I’ve done my best.”
Just then, in the mountain air, a thick, annoyed elderly voice echoed.
“Broken Ditch Forest, Third Post, Zhao Fusheng.”
“I advise you to stop practicing recklessly!”
“The Nine Essentials of Body Refinement, meditation methods, and even the Pine Crane Fist are all foundational in our sect. Do you want to practice until you go mad?”
“Study carefully, comprehend first, then cultivate!”
The voice repeated twice.
The announcement startled all the nearby patrol brothers out of their posts.
Such events were rare and hence quite lively.
“What skill! The book I gave up on in a week, and he managed to practice wrong?”
“And even drew the direct criticism of the elder in charge of transmissions. Good grief!”
“Nowadays, the sect’s disciple requirements really are getting lower…”
The adjacent patrol post was not far, and their loud discussions were clear to Zhao Fusheng.
Ha, he finally understood what Senior Sister Song meant by “don’t make mistakes” before she left.
Once the spiritual root is disturbed, one inevitably falls under the watchful eyes of the Transmission Pavilion!
He had embarrassed his senior sister!