Chapter Four: The Demonic Taoist

Chapter Four: The Demonic Taoist

Chapter Two: Perilous Encounters with Immortals, A Stirred Heart Meets the Crimson Enchantress (Part One)

In just a moment, the two groups—over a dozen people—were locked in combat, fists flying. Many seemed skilled in martial arts, their movements bearing some semblance of form.

Ye Hua watched as the brawl erupted and was about to call out when, suddenly, an opponent charged at him, aiming a fierce kick. Having never fought before, Ye Hua was startled and instinctively raised his arm to block. The kick landed squarely on the back of his hand; he was about to cry out in pain, but unexpectedly, the attacker was sent tumbling backward, rolling across the ground four or five yards away, landing with a thud and howling in agony.

Ye Hua was astonished, thinking, “This fellow is putting on quite the act! Still, his skill is impressive—to roll so far with a single move. Why is he rolling and crying out in pain? Ah, I see! He must be performing for his companions, hoping to avoid further confrontation and thus spare himself the suffering of blows. Clever!” Ye Hua secretly admired his ingenuity.

As he was pondering this, another opponent swung a wooden club at Ye Hua’s back. Ye Hua was terrified and dove forward, rolling across the ground to evade the blow. Just as he was about to get up, he saw the opponent hurl the club with force straight at him.

The club flew toward him in an instant, and Ye Hua had no time to dodge. It struck his arm, yet instead of the expected pain, it felt as gentle as a willow branch brushing against him—no pain at all, just a slight itch. Then, with a crack, the club snapped in two.

Ye Hua was even more bewildered, thinking, “Was this club a fake? Or perhaps rotten wood? But even then, it shouldn’t break so easily!”

From a distance, Gao Lu saw Ye Hua struck by the club and let out an angry roar. Leaping forward, he flung several shimmering darts toward Lu Hong.

Lu Hong cried out in alarm, “The Thirteen Flying Crossbows! That’s Grandmaster’s ultimate technique! How do you know it?” He retreated in disarray, snatching up a long sword from the ground, flipping over like a hawk to dodge, then whirled his sword to deflect the darts with a series of clangs. The darts dropped to the ground, revealing themselves as crossbow bolts no longer than half a foot.

Gao Lu was infuriated and raised his hand, launching three more darts.

Lu Hong dared not be careless; seeing them coming at him high, middle, and low, he listened intently and swept his sword backward without turning his head. With a clang, he knocked down the top dart, used its momentum to leap aside, and narrowly avoided the other two.

Gao Lu had not expected the darts to hit Lu Hong; the real threat lay in the nine consecutive bolts that followed. He scattered nine more shimmering darts, some fast, some slow, some high, some low, some changing speed and direction in midair, all aimed at Lu Hong.

Lu Hong’s expression was grave. According to Grandmaster Gao, the Nine Linked Crossbows were deadly; many skilled fighters had fallen to them. Though he had learned how to counter them, he dared not relax. He channeled his energy, sent his sword flying at the barrage, then quickly drew out a handful of iron lotus seeds from his sleeve and flung them at the darts in a rain of flowers.

A cacophony of clashing metal rang out; most of the darts were knocked aside, the rest veered off course—straight toward Ye Hua. Lu Hong turned to see the darts’ trajectory and was shocked to find a stranger standing in their path.

A single thought flashed in his mind: “In this fight with Gao Lu, we’re only exchanging blows—at worst, someone will get bruised. If someone dies, I’ll have committed a terrible crime! That youth is said to be Gao Lu’s cousin and knows no martial arts; he can’t dodge these darts. If he’s hit, he’ll be gravely injured, if not killed… If…” Cold sweat broke out as he dared not finish the thought.

The other young men, seeing Gao Lu and Lu Hong deploying hidden weapons, had already taken cover. The Thirteen Flying Crossbows and iron lotus seeds were passed down by Grandmaster Gao; they had witnessed their power many times and knew their deadliness. Seeing the fight escalate to a life-and-death struggle, their faces turned pale.

Gao Lu, seeing the darts racing toward Ye Hua, nearly fainted. He wanted to shout for him to dodge but found himself unable to speak. In that split second, Ye Hua, startled beyond measure, instinctively leaped aside, feeling a surge of heat in his belly and wind beneath his feet, instantly dodging seven or eight yards away.

Everyone saw Ye Hua vanish from his spot and reappear far away, the darts missing completely and embedding themselves a half foot deep in the brick wall behind him, their force astonishing.

Gao Lu, drenched in cold sweat, rushed over and grabbed Ye Hua, asking anxiously, “Are you hurt? Is anything wrong?”

Ye Hua, still in shock, muttered, “I’m fine. Luckily, I dodged in time, or else I would have been riddled with holes by your darts!” He forced a nervous laugh.

Lu Hong breathed a sigh of relief, “This… This brother dodged in time—his speed is the fastest I’ve ever seen. What lightness skill is this? Who taught you?” Lu Hong asked, both amazed and curious.

Ye Hua replied, “I’ve never learned martial arts or lightness skills. I think it was just a surge of energy from fear.”

Lu Hong nodded, calming himself, “I wondered how there could be such a swift lightness skill. Sometimes, in moments of danger, strength surges unexpectedly. I’ve seen it a few times, but this… this is truly unbelievable…”

The onlookers were equally astonished, whispering among themselves.

“All right, Ye Hua, let’s hurry home to rest. Don’t linger here any longer,” Gao Lu said, weary, leaving without a word to Lu Hong.

Lu Hong departed as well, feeling awkward over his near mistake.

When they reached home, Ye Hua smiled, “I’ll go back to my room now. You don’t need to stay with me.” Gao Lu, knowing his cousin’s stubbornness, didn’t insist.

Ye Hua returned to his room, reflecting: “Could this be the effect of the Sixfold Mysterious Heavenly Wish Technique? That sudden heat in my body—maybe it’s a trace of Dao essence causing this!” The thought filled him with joy, “So this technique really works wonders,” he mused.

Ye Hua had no idea that breaking wood and moving so swiftly were only the most superficial effects of the Sixfold Mysterious Heavenly Wish Technique. His Dao essence was still shallow, unable to unleash its true power. If cultivated thoroughly, it could shatter mountains and fill oceans, its might unimaginable. Yet achieving such mastery required talent, temperament, and luck, and few in the world could manage it.

Recalling the day’s events, Ye Hua felt less doubt and more motivation to practice the technique.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Hua had stayed at the Gao family for over a month. Ye Ren and Lady Gao had returned to Ye Village, leaving Ye Hua to study and play with Gao Lu. Often, he secretly practiced the Sixfold Mysterious Heavenly Wish Technique in quiet places. At first, the poisonous aura of the demon serpent within him dissipated quickly, but gradually it lingered, never fully vanishing, as if entwined with his vitality.

Ye Hua found this odd but didn’t dwell on it. Each day, as he circulated his internal energy, he followed the routes of the body’s meridians—twelve main pathways, fifteen connecting vessels, eight extraordinary channels, twelve divergent branches, twelve sinews, twelve skin regions, totaling three hundred sixty-one acupoints, with countless variations. Most begin with the Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin, then move to the Large Intestine Meridian, then to the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, finally converging in the Sea of Qi.

The Sixfold Mysterious Heavenly Wish Technique, however, starts with the Ren Channel, originating from the perineum, moving to the Sea of Qi, where internal energy begins its cycle. With each round, the meridians are nourished and strengthened.

Unbeknownst to Ye Hua, the demon serpent’s inner pellet hanging from his neck rested exactly over the chest acupoint. Whenever his energy flowed through it, the pellet glowed red, its aura drawn within, transformed into a strand of black energy, circulating through his body and dispersing gradually.

The demon pellet faded with each use, until one day, after finishing his practice, Ye Hua heard sharp cracking sounds. Opening his collar, he discovered the pellet had shattered into fragments, its dark red hue now almost transparent. He realized only then that its power had been drained and absorbed into his body.

Peering inward, Ye Hua found his internal energy had grown stronger—still not profound, but now with a solid foundation. The pills he had obtained were now all consumed. At first, each pill caused a surge of heat and energy, but as he took more, their effects diminished. Ye Hua understood this was because his internal reservoir had grown fuller; just as a cup overflows when full, it cannot hold more. Only if it were a river or sea could endless streams flow in without overflow.

Spring had arrived, just after the New Year. There were no flowers yet, but a heavy snow had fallen the day before. Snow still lingered on the branches, everywhere was adorned with silver blossoms and frosted boughs, creating a dazzling scene. Sometimes, passing beneath low trees, one might brush the branches and be showered with cold snow, adding a hint of chill.

Such beauty was truly breathtaking! As Ye Hua admired it, he suddenly saw a Daoist approaching hurriedly, his robes disheveled, muttering curses. Upon spotting Ye Hua from afar, he seemed surprised and was about to speak.

Suddenly, the Daoist’s expression changed. With a gesture, a green, glowing short sword appeared, its radiance subdued. Without any incantation, he merged with the sword, transformed into a streak of emerald light, and vanished.

Ye Hua was startled, thinking, “Which immortal cultivator is this?” Before he could finish the thought, four beams of white light sped toward the horizon, chasing after the green light with angry snorts, not pausing for an instant.

Ye Hua was amazed, “I wonder which immortals are fighting?” Not daring to linger, he hurried home.

Two days later, Ye Hua and Gao Lu went walking by the river. Suddenly, a mass of gray clouds swept toward them, moving swiftly. Before Ye Hua could cry out, the black cloud engulfed them, a foul wind striking his face, causing dizziness. He felt himself lifted by the wind, terrified.

When the black wind passed, Gao Lu lay unconscious on the ground. He had no idea when he awoke, but remembered seeing a black cloud approaching. He had tried to warn Ye Hua, saw him lifted by the wind, tried to grab him, but then everything went dark. The memory left him shaken, and he rushed home to report.

Ye Hua, swept up by the wind, felt dizzy and sick as he was carried aloft. Around him, clouds pressed close, heavy mist obscured everything, ghostly voices wailed, and fierce winds howled. He tried to struggle, but felt an iron band binding him, unable to move.

He vaguely heard a cackling voice in the gray cloud, “Ha ha! Who would have thought, in this remote place, I’d find a treasure brimming with spirit essence. Once I drain him dry, it will be the perfect medicine for my Huya Death Technique. Ha ha!”

Ye Hua had practiced the Sixfold Mysterious Heavenly Wish Technique for some time, and his foundation was solid. As his Dao essence flowed within, though his mind was initially clouded, his spiritual root remained clear. As his energy circulated, his mind gradually cleared.

Though Ye Hua was anxious, he did not panic. He silently planned: “What manner of demonic Taoist is this? He intends to drain my spirit essence for his evil cultivation—how vicious!” He pondered, but found no way out, resolving to wait for an opportunity.

Calming himself, he opened his eyes slightly to observe. Around him, gray mist swirled, figures flickered. Looking down, he gasped.

Below, mountains and rivers sprawled in all directions, visible at a glance. Cities and fields lay beneath his feet, tiny as ant colonies. White clouds curled around his ankles, revealing he was soaring high above the world. He had never seen such a spectacle.

The figure in the mist seemed to hear Ye Hua’s gasp and realized he was not unconscious. He murmured in surprise, “This mist usually knocks mortals out; how does this youth remain awake? Perhaps his spirit essence is unusually strong—if so, even better!” He laughed gleefully, speeding up his flight.

They traveled for several hours, covering hundreds of miles, crossing countless mountains and cities. As dusk approached, Ye Hua felt the gray mist descend upon a mountain. The mist dispersed, revealing a Daoist in a yellow cap and coarse robes, straw sandals and plain socks, his features twisted and ugly—the very Daoist Ye Hua had encountered days before.

Ye Hua glanced at the mountain: it was ringed by water, its valleys deep and mysterious, covered in plum trees. At the foot of a cliff stood a faintly visible temple.

The Daoist grabbed Ye Hua, laughing, “Boy, to fall into my hands is your good fortune! Ha ha…” The Daoist was immensely strong, carrying Ye Hua effortlessly toward the temple.

“Don’t bother pretending to be unconscious,” he sneered. “Your tricks are useless before me.”

Ye Hua saw the Daoist knew he was awake and stopped pretending, asking angrily, “Why did you capture me?”

The Daoist replied, “I went to the Fire Cloud Cave on Mount Li recently, and on my way back, I ran into some enemies. But luck favored me, and I spotted you, boy. Your vigor is impressive; your spirit essence must be deep, a perfect tonic for my cultivation!”

Ye Hua asked, “Are those four opponents powerful?” The Daoist was startled, stopping and glaring, “How do you know? They’re no match for me!”

Ye Hua only smirked, saying nothing. The Daoist, embarrassed, grew furious, muttering, “Relying on their sect's treasures to show off! When I master the Huya Death Technique, I’ll slaughter every last one of those monks from Biyang Temple on Leaf Peak, North Terrace of Mount Wutai! Dare to oppose me—they’ll all be drained dry!”

He cursed under his breath, dragging Ye Hua rapidly to the temple gate.

Ye Hua guessed, “Those four beams must have been monks from Biyang Temple on Leaf Peak, Mount Wutai.”

As he pondered, the Daoist glared at the temple doors, recited a spell, and pointed at the entrance. A layer of white light blossomed, forming a bubble-like shield over the temple. Carrying Ye Hua, he stepped through the shimmering barrier. With a command, black mist rose outside, enveloping the temple.

The Daoist carried Ye Hua into the courtyard, past a giant willow tree with stone tables and chairs beneath it. Ahead stood a shrine with dragon-backed tiles, red walls, carved eaves, and doors embedded with beasts and birds. Incense smoke drifted, and flanking it were several small rooms.

The Daoist did not stop, carrying Ye Hua into a small room and tossing him to the floor. “You’ll stay here tonight—don’t think of escaping!” He slammed the door and left, glancing back with a fierce look and muttering, “Once my Dao essence recovers, I’ll drain your spirit essence tomorrow. You’re lucky today! Never thought those monks would be so strong, injuring me and destroying one of my precious treasures…”

He soon walked to the main hall, sat cross-legged on a cushion, and began meditating.

Ye Hua was bruised from the fall. As he pushed himself up, his hand hurt—he had landed on something. The room was pitch dark, but as he groped about, he found a long rod, oddly light, glowing faintly. Upon closer inspection, Ye Hua’s heart trembled—it was a long bone.

By its glow, he saw many bones on the ground. Nearby lay several skulls, farther off, heaps of bones piled together, the stench of decay wafting up, nauseating.

Ye Hua was horrified, “These aren’t animal bones—they must be human. Where did so many come from?” Suddenly, he realized, “That demonic Taoist drains spirit essence for his evil arts. These bones must belong to others like me, snatched away and killed. There must be dozens, hundreds—no doubt at all!”

He grew anxious. After a moment’s thought, he remembered something and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box containing two crystal-clear beads—the Release Pearls given by Ye Cheng and Master Lingxu. In emergencies, reciting the formula would unleash their power. He hid them in his sleeve for safety.

He silently recited the secret formula for the mysterious bead, ensuring he remembered it. In the darkness, he pondered how to escape and how to delay the Taoist if he tried to drain his energy in the morning, hoping for a chance to act. Lost in thought, he did not notice dawn’s arrival.

The Taoist, sensing birdsong outside, finished his meditation and stood up. His Dao energy had recovered halfway. Looking toward Ye Hua’s room, he frowned, thinking, “I hoped to recover most of my power, but the injury was worse than expected. If I want to regain my strength, it’ll depend on you. I’ll keep you alive a few more days, nurture your spirit essence to its peak, then consume you for full recovery—perhaps even advance my technique!” The thought pleased him.

He walked to Ye Hua’s room, waved his hands, and a gust opened the doors. He smiled, “Young friend, I must apologize for yesterday. I was injured and may have been discourteous. Please forgive me!” He bowed.

Ye Hua stepped out, wary and unsure what the Taoist intended by his politeness.

He masked his emotions, watching for an opening. “Daoist, what are your intentions? If you mean to drain my spirit essence, do it now—no need for pretense!” He spoke with pride, eyes narrowed, ready for the Taoist to lose his temper and attack.

The Taoist’s expression changed. “If I didn’t need you alive, I’d have already cut you down and drained you dry! But for now, I must tolerate you,” he thought.

He quickly smiled, “You jest, young friend. I wouldn’t do such a thing—yesterday I only meant to frighten you, forgive me! Come, let us share a vegetarian meal. You must be hungry.”

Ye Hua thought it best not to provoke him yet; now was not the time for direct confrontation. He nodded, “Indeed, I am hungry. Let’s enjoy your refined cuisine.” He walked to the hall, where several dishes and a jug of wine awaited.