Wild Dog Daoist followed Ghost Li, trudging through the treacherous, rain-soaked mire of the Death Marsh. The ground, already soft and unstable, had become a quagmire after the recent downpour. Yet, despite this, Ghost Li, who had just met with Qin Wuyan and Golden Bottle Girl, insisted on walking on foot rather than flying with his magical artifacts.
It seemed, much like Golden Bottle Girl, he was wary of something unseen.
In the past, Wild Dog Daoist would have cursed or at least complained incessantly, but now, strangely, he remained silent, following Ghost Li in a daze, which caught Ghost Li’s attention.
Ghost Li, noticing Wild Dog Daoist’s distant look, asked softly, “What’s wrong with him?”
The question sounded almost rhetorical, as there was no one else around except for the marshy pools and Little Ash, the monkey perched on his shoulder.
Little Ash, who had been drowsy, suddenly became animated upon hearing Ghost Li’s question. His clever eyes darted about, and he leapt off Ghost Li’s shoulder, gesticulating wildly.
This odd behavior startled even Wild Dog Daoist, who watched in disbelief.
Little Ash, clearly excited, began to make gestures, pouring water from a nearby pond onto his head, then pointing to the sky, hopping and skipping.
Wild Dog Daoist, dumbfounded, approached Ghost Li, “What’s going on? Is this monkey crazy?”
Ghost Li frowned, then whispered to Little Ash, “Rain?”
Little Ash nodded eagerly, plucking a leaf from a nearby plant, and pretended to shield himself, swaying comically, switching the leaf between his hands as if performing a play.
Wild Dog Daoist, watching the strange spectacle, felt a sudden unease. “Crazy, crazy, this monkey must be mad.”
Little Ash, throwing the leaf aside, leapt back onto Ghost Li’s shoulder, pointing to the path they had come from, chattering excitedly.
Ghost Li, pondering for a moment, turned to Wild Dog Daoist. “Did you, by any chance, lend your umbrella to that fortune-telling girl during the rain?”
“Squeak!…”
Before Wild Dog Daoist could respond, Little Ash screeched in excitement, grinning widely, nearly squinting with joy.
Wild Dog Daoist, his face flushed with embarrassment, pointed at Ghost Li, “You—how dare you! Back in the day, I slaughtered countless, at least a thousand men!”
Ghost Li glanced at him, seemingly unbothered, and continued walking, “Whether you killed a thousand or eight hundred, what does it matter to me?”
Wild Dog Daoist, flustered, tried to salvage his pride, “Killing a thousand or eight hundred, what does it have to do with lending an umbrella to that girl?”
Ghost Li paused, turning to look at Wild Dog Daoist, “Today, you surprised me again, just like when we were in the Dead Spirit Abyss.”
He resumed walking, his voice lowering, “I never thought you’d do something so heroic and chivalrous.”
Wild Dog Daoist, stunned, watched as Ghost Li and Little Ash disappeared into the mist. He suddenly erupted, “Bah, I’m a bad seed! I’ve never done anything like that. And that girl, she can’t be called beautiful…eh!”
Wild Dog Daoist scratched his head, then muttered, “Actually, she wasn’t that bad-looking…”
Realizing his slip, he shook his head, muttering under his breath, and hurried after Ghost Li, disappearing into the thickening fog.
As the night deepened, darkness enveloped everything.
※ ※ ※
On the other side of the Death Marsh, Jade Yangzi, the patriarch of the Eternal Life Hall, stood in white robes, his gaze fixed on the sky. The night breeze rustled through his clothes, making him appear ethereal, almost divine, save for the empty sleeve of his left arm, a remnant of the injury he sustained from the world-famous Sword of Immortalbane.
The cool night air carried the dampness of the recent rain. Jade Yangzi stood defiantly, his presence a beacon in the encroaching darkness. Behind him, hidden in the shadows, his disciples waited patiently for his command.
Eternal Life Hall, founded eight centuries ago, was now in its seventh generation. Despite its illustrious history, Jade Yangzi was acutely aware of the crisis it faced—no successors.
After the Battle of Qingyun ten years ago, Jade Yangzi was at the pinnacle of his power, with a cadre of skilled subordinates. But all of that was shattered by the Sword of Immortalbane. His own hand lost, his disciples decimated, and his reputation in tatters, Eternal Life Hall was left in a precarious state.
Yet, in the past month, a glimmer of hope appeared. A treasure was said to be emerging from the depths of the Death Marsh. If Jade Yangzi could secure it, it would be a game-changer. But the news had spread, and both righteous and malevolent forces converged on the marsh.
Jade Yangzi, resolute, summoned all his strength, deploying his remaining forces to find the treasure and eliminate the competition. In the past few days, dozens of intruders had been eliminated, including both righteous cultivators and other demonic sects.
Tonight, Jade Yangzi received a report that a group of righteous cultivators had set up camp near the Bottomless Pit. As the night fell, Jade Yangzi prepared to strike. With a wave of his right hand, his disciples, silent and deadly, surrounded the camp.
But the night held more surprises. As they closed in, a bright light burst forth, illuminating the dark. Swords of various colors sliced through the air, and more and more brilliant lights emerged, cutting through the darkness like celestial blades.
Jade Yangzi, seeing the scene, paled. The night was far from over, and the battle for the treasure was only beginning.
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