“This matter is not right!”
Wu Ming pressed his lips tightly: “No matter how things turn out, once it escalates, it brings misfortune to our family. The reputation of the Wu family will immediately suffer a significant blow!”
Some things can be done, but never spoken of.
Now, under the sunlight, speaking of it in minor terms concerns reputation; in major terms, it could even involve fate itself.
Just think—if such a scandal erupts, would any respectable family dare to marry their daughter into ours? Over time, our family’s fortune could even decline.
Moreover, it ultimately becomes a point of leverage. Normally, it might not matter, especially with Wu Qing around to suppress it. But in critical moments, if it’s brought up, it becomes a flaw.
“Butler Wu, go save that person!”
“Master Feng, please examine the scene again!”
Wu Ming immediately issued orders, then had the servants disperse the onlookers before summoning the village head: “A murder has occurred—has anyone reported it to the authorities?”
“No, we were just waiting for Young Master to handle it!”
The village head replied with a smile.
“Hmm, very well… There’s no complainant in this case, and it’s a family disgrace. As the saying goes, family shame should not be made public…”
As Wu Ming was speaking, a servant suddenly rushed in: “A Taoist priest has arrived at the gate, claiming to have urgent matters to discuss with you!”
“A Taoist priest?”
Wu Ming was first startled, then wary: “Bring him in!”
Moments later, a Taoist dressed in a robe, with three strands of long beard, a rosy complexion, and an air of ethereal elegance entered. His eyes seemed to emit a sharp glint: “This humble Daoist, Qing Ping, greets you, Young Master!”
“You say you have urgent business with me—what is it?”
Wu Ming seemed distracted, responding casually.
“This humble Daoist passed by this residence and noticed dark clouds pressing overhead, indicating an imminent bloodbath, which will also bring harm to you, Young Master!”
Taoist Qing Ping said solemnly.
“Oh? Harm to me as well?”
Wu Ming feigned alarm: “Please, Master Daoist, instruct me!”
“Hmph!”
Taoist Qing Ping stroked his beard: “Normally speaking, this family has long enjoyed blessings. Even if there are unworthy descendants, they wouldn’t commit such a violation of human ethics… The reason for this occurrence must be due to someone casting spells to harm you!”
“This is getting interesting!” Wu Ming thought to himself, then asked aloud: “Spells to harm us?”
“Exactly!” Taoist Qing Ping continued: “This is no spur-of-the-moment act—it’s due to blocked good fortune, and indeed, the target is your main bloodline… However, the main line’s fate is strong, so it hasn’t manifested yet, hence the retribution first striking the branch family!”
“Hmm…”
Wu Ming displayed hesitation on his face. In this world, where spirits and deities are real and countless paths exist, the concepts of feng shui and fortune are deeply ingrained: “I need to think this over carefully first and find someone to investigate…”
“There’s no time to wait!”
Taoist Qing Ping interjected: “Now that the branch family has suffered retribution, it shows the scheme is already in motion. With a sword at your throat, can you afford to be leisurely?”
He continued: “If Young Master doubts me, take me to your ancestral tombs. Within three generations, there must be some anomaly!”
“This…”
Wu Ming seemed finally convinced. Yet, noticing a flash of green light in the Taoist’s eyes, his expression changed slightly, and in a daze, he stepped outside the courtyard.
Of course, Wu Ming’s ancestors were not buried here, but the Wu family of this village did have a burial ground outside the village.
Without riding horses, they set off together, walking through the damp grass.
“Young Master, look… This place, surrounded by mountains and water, is quite favorable. However, the land’s energy is corrupted, clearly indicating some disturbance!”
As they rounded a small hill, the surroundings became suddenly serene.
Taoist Qing Ping pointed to the ground. Naturally, the graveyard outside the village was permeated with a chilling yin energy, which made Butler Wu and the others feel uneasy.
As they neared the site, Wu Ming suddenly stopped: “Actually… I think I should wait and bring my sister to check this out!”
“How can you wait?”
Seeing his prey about to escape, Taoist Qing Ping grew anxious, hastily grabbing Wu Ming’s sleeve: “Young Master’s life is in imminent danger—how can there be time to delay?”
In an instant, green light flared from his eyes, sinister and emerald, attempting to pierce into Wu Ming’s pupils.
“Well then…”
Wu Ming’s expression froze, then suddenly twisted into an eerie smile: “…Just kidding!”
In that moment, a terrifying backlash surged, causing Taoist Qing Ping’s face to change: “Not good!”
Before him, the young man’s eyes sharpened in an instant. With a single clawed swipe, he struck like a tiger descending from the mountains, fierce and imposing—clearly in full control.
Instantly realizing he had been tricked, the Taoist tried to retreat, but it was already too late to counterattack.
Hiss!
Despite his attempt to flee, Wu Ming still managed to leave deep claw marks across his chest, drawing blood.
“Amazing skills! Is this innate?”
Taoist Qing Ping leapt back several meters, sighing: “Never thought the hunter would become the hunted!”
“Master?”
Butler Wu and the others were stunned, but Feng Han quickly stepped in front of Wu Ming.
“No need to explain—this is a demonic Taoist. Kill him!”
Wu Ming sneered: “In the village, you may find it inconvenient, but so do I!”
As his words fell, Feng Han and two servants lunged forward like wolves and tigers.
“Unexpectedly, not just a spoiled noble!”
Feeling intense pain in his chest, Taoist Qing Ping’s expression darkened. He quickly performed a hand seal: “Chi!”
Boom! Boom!
The ground split open, and two iron-armored zombies, with green faces and sharp fangs, exuding a foul stench, lunged forth.
Yin ghosts fear daylight, but zombies are less affected.
“Hmph! Iron-armored zombies—be careful not to get scratched, or the corpse poison will seep into your body, and even gods won’t be able to save you!”
Feng Han, experienced and knowledgeable, recognized them immediately. Seeing this, Wu Ming’s heart chilled: “This Taoist practices corpse cultivation techniques and deliberately lured me to a yin location. There must be a plot—he must be eliminated!”
“But… which faction would specifically target me?”
As Wu Ming was about to strike, he suddenly noticed a black shadow shooting out from the cemetery at an astonishing speed—even faster than a galloping horse. His eyelid twitched once more: “A martial artist with Gang Qi?!”
“Ahh!”
At that moment, a scream rang out—Feng Han’s two servants had already been killed. Steward Wu cried out in panic and rushed to Wu Ming’s side: “Master, we must flee quickly!”
“Not yet!”
Wu Ming stepped forward calmly, scrutinizing the newcomer.
“What’s going on?”
The shadow emerged—it was Yu, the previous steward. Seeing the scene, his expression remained unchanged.
“This little brat is cunning, tricking me into a trap!”
Taoist Qing Ping said, a green glow flashing over his body, stopping the bleeding from his chest wound. His expression darkened: “But now that I’ve escaped, it doesn’t matter anymore!”
He threw two talismans, which attached themselves to the iron-armored zombies, emitting golden light.
Empowered by the talismans, the zombies became even fiercer—powerful and swift.
“Shamanic possession? Not quite!”
Feng Han’s expression grew grim.
“Deal with this old man first; you go after the brat!”
Following Taoist Qing Ping’s command, the two zombies surrounded Feng Han tightly, occasionally throwing talismans to disrupt him.
“You are Mr. Yu, a steward?”
Wu Ming looked at the tall, thin middle-aged man before him and suddenly smiled: “I can easily find out who you work for—just wait until I tell my sister, and you’ll all die miserably!”
At the mention of Wu Qing’s name, even Yu couldn’t help but twitch. He then smiled: “Rest assured, Young Master. After you die, we’ll ensure Miss Wu Qing follows you shortly!”
This attitude gave Wu Ming sudden clarity: “So it is… Not specifically targeting me, but Wu Qing. Compared to her, I was indeed a weak point. Unfortunately…”
At this thought, his eyes gleamed coldly.
“Taste my claw!”
He roared, leapt forward, and lunged with both hands.
“Inborn?” or “Congenital?”
(Note: The translation depends on the specific context. “先天” can mean “inborn,” “innate,” or “congenital” (often used in medical contexts). If you provide more context, I can refine the translation further.)
Yu was slightly startled: “Impressive talent! I never expected Young Master Ming to be such a hidden prodigy. Even in my youth, I might not have matched his cultivation level. Unfortunately…”
He suddenly stepped forward, unleashing a relentless barrage of palm strikes, each infused with indestructible Gang Qi.
At the ninth level of physical cultivation, the gap between Xiantian and Gangqi was nearly insurmountable.
Bang!
Fist met claw, and Wu Ming groaned in pain. It felt as if countless needles pierced his hand, yet he gritted his teeth and launched another claw strike aimed directly at Yu’s vital spot.
“Stubborn fool!”
Yu seized the opportunity, forming a sword with his fingers, and struck suddenly. Though it appeared to be a mutual destruction scenario, with his inner energy penetrating three inches deep, he was confident he could subdue Wu Ming before the latter could retaliate.
But he failed to notice the smile forming on Wu Ming’s lips.
Puh!
The Gang Qi pierced through, yet a white glow shimmered over Wu Ming’s body.
“A magical artifact?”
Yu was shocked, then felt a sharp pain in his chest, blood pouring from his nose and mouth as he rapidly retreated.
“Qi Shield? And you still won’t die?”
Wu Ming was somewhat surprised. A ring of dark gold on his left finger flashed, releasing a black beam that sliced straight through.
“Ahh!”
A sharp pain shot through Yu’s legs, and he cried out in agony. Looking down, both his legs had been severed at the knees, blood gushing out as he fainted.
“Hehe… There are actually two magical artifacts. It’s my lucky day to strike it rich!”
Meanwhile, Taoist Qing Ping, seeing this, was not alarmed but delighted, his eyes gleaming with greed: “Boy, come here to me!”
A black mist formed in his hand, twisting into a snake-like shape, soaring through the air with sharp fangs and a foul stench.
“Charge! Kill!”
Wu Ming bit his tongue, spitting out a mist of blood. With a loud shout, he threw another punch.
Boom!
The black snake was struck as if by lightning, scattering into wisps of smoke midair, yet it continued to writhe as if still alive.
“Feng Han, how are you holding up?”
Feng Han took the chance to retreat, standing protectively in front of Wu Ming.
“This Taoist’s sorcery is formidable—we might have to consider retreat as our best option!”
Feng Han’s face turned pale upon seeing the two additional iron-armored zombies summoned by Taoist Qing Ping, along with more copper-armored ones: “This man isn’t just some charlatan with a few tricks—he might rival an ordained Taoist priest!”
“If we fail to kill the snake, it will turn around and bite us—we cannot retreat!”
Wu Ming suddenly said: “Protect me for a moment!”
He swiftly retreated, then sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes.
“Hah! Come on then!”
Seeing this, Feng Han felt a surge of courage and stood firm beside Wu Ming.
Only a moment had passed.
Wu Ming opened his eyes and pulled out a talisman from his robe—silver in color, covered in golden tadpole-like characters: “Command!”
“Ahh… Xiao Zhutian Thunder Talisman!”
The talisman soared into the air, flashing golden and silver lightning. Accompanied by Taoist Qing Ping’s cry of alarm, it exploded with a thunderous roar!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage