So it turns out I'm the demon!

Inside the Zhao residence.

After confirming that the Buddha Mother had truly left, Jiang Mu finally lowered her guard.

He turned to look at the still somewhat shaken and bewildered Hua Niang and asked, "Now that your great revenge has been achieved, the resentment in your heart should have dissipated. What are your plans now? Where are you going?"

Hua Niang looked at the corpses of Zhao's father and son on the ground, remained silent for a while, and then said softly, "I want to go to Stone City."

"Stone City? What kind of place is that?"

Jiang Mu had never heard of this place name before.

The flower girl explained:

"It's the hometown that the stone demon once mentioned to me. I want to go there and see it."

It once told me about some of its past obsessions. There were some unfulfilled words and wishes, and I want to try to help it complete them.

Consider it repayment for its protection of me over the years.

Jiang Mu nodded, offering no further words of comfort, and simply instructed, "The journey is long and arduous. Although your cultivation has improved, you are still a Yin spirit. Please be careful along the way."

As he spoke, he gave the other party several talismans.

Hua Niang held the talisman blankly, then suddenly knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Jiang Mu, her voice sincere and choked with emotion:

"I will never forget your kindness in saving me. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have been able to get out of that water, let alone take revenge. I would have been a wronged soul in the underworld forever."

"As long as Hua Niang's remnant soul remains in this world, if my benefactor ever needs her in the future, Hua Niang will surely go through fire and water, even at the cost of her life!" Jiang Mu smiled and said, unconcerned.

"I helped you out of the goodness of my heart, and I don't need you to repay me. Just don't drag innocent people into this mess in the future, and take good care of yourself." With that, he turned and left the Zhao residence.

The mess at the Zhao family's house will be cleaned up by the government tomorrow morning; he's too lazy to bother.

Hua Niang wiped away her tears, stood up, turned around and took a deep look at Zhao Haiqian's corpse, then spat on the ground.

Then she swayed and turned into a wisp of green smoke, drifting out of the window.

This feud has come to an end.

After the two left, the room returned to silence.

Only a faint moonlight shone through the doors and windows, illuminating the pool of blood on the ground, making it appear somewhat eerie and terrifying.

"Squeak"

After an unknown amount of time, a slight scraping sound was heard from the door.

But then a slender figure emerged from the shadows and nimbly slipped into the blood-soaked morgue, like a kitten.

It was the same alluring concubine who had helped Zhao Haiqian into the house earlier.

She looked around, then lifted her skirt and quickly walked to Zhao Haiqian's body.

The concubine showed no fear in the face of the gruesome corpse.

She crouched down and examined the man's corpse closely, her eyes filled with gloom.

She then reached into the corpse's clothes and rummaged around for a while, pulling out a black worm about the size of a thumb.

The insect resembles a silkworm pupa, but has a strange pattern that looks just like a human face.

The concubine tucked the insect into her bosom and muttered to herself:

"What a pity... The game was so well set up, and it looked like it was about to be won, but I never expected such a twist to happen. Not only did it ruin one of my good moves, but it almost cost me my life too."

She got up and walked to the window.

Under the moonlight, the woman's alluring face appeared somewhat distorted, her eyes gleaming with resentment and hatred.

"Jiang Mu, if it weren't for the Buddha Mother appearing and disrupting the formation just now, I would have gladly given up this furnace and torn you to pieces on the spot!"

You just wait.

One day, I will surely tear you apart, leaving you wishing for death!

Just as she was uttering those harsh words, the concubine's expression suddenly changed, and she turned her head away:

"Who?!"

A beam of Buddha's light descended from the sky.

The Buddha Mother's Dharma Body, which had just left, has unexpectedly returned.

The Buddha Mother held one hand in front of her chest, her body exuding a faint sandalwood fragrance, like a saintly figure in a painting, looking at the alluring concubine before her with great interest.

The room was completely silent.

After a long pause, the Buddha Mother slowly spoke:

"If it weren't for the fact that I had the honor of sitting opposite the island master of Beitang on Liuli Island back then and playing a game of chess, and that I am somewhat familiar with the island master's aura... I'm afraid I really wouldn't be able to see through the disguise today."

"I never imagined that the once mighty Beitang Batian would have fallen to such a state."

That's right.

The concubine's true identity is none other than the former tyrant Beitang Batian!

Back in the Han family of Huzhou City, Jiang Mu tricked him with a cheat code, and he almost lost his soul.

Then they disappeared without a trace.

Upon hearing the Buddha Mother reveal her true identity, the concubine no longer pretended.

She raised her hand and felt around her face twice, then removed two silver needles.

Then, the bones and flesh of her face began to writhe and change, and in the blink of an eye, she transformed back into the main body she currently used most often. The appearance of Madam Han.

Looking at the dignified and solemn Buddha Mother, Beitang was filled with emotion:

"Back in the day, when I was discussing the Dao with you, this old nun, on Liuli Island, you were just a junior who had just entered the eleventh realm. How the tables have turned!"

The Buddha Mother's hands were clasped together, her face still compassionate and serene.

"Amitabha. The path of the Dao is like the tides of the ocean; rises and falls are the norm. Those who are at the bottom of the valley today may rise to the top of the mountain tomorrow. The Master of Beitang Island has seen the scenery above the sea of ​​clouds. This insight and experience surpasses the pursuit of countless cultivators throughout their lives. Temporary ups and downs are but a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of the Dao."

Beitang Batian smiled faintly, stood with his hands behind his back by the window, and said:

"It is precisely because they have seen the scenery of the mountains that they want to be greedy for more, and in the end they end up losing everything."

But Mother Buddha, aren't you just like me?

Since you haven't exposed my disguise to outsiders, and you've deliberately stayed to show yourself, it can't be just to reminisce with this homeless dog, can it? Clearly, you're planning to get something from me.

"It's a pity that my foundation is now completely destroyed, and I have neither magical treasures nor elixirs on me. Even if you kill me, you won't find anything." The Buddha Mother smiled and shook her head.

"This humble monk will not kill you. Killing a former thirteenth-realm cultivator would be too karmic, and the Heavenly Dao would turn against me without any benefit. Besides, you and I are old acquaintances."

"This humble monk will not reveal your whereabouts to anyone. I have come here tonight only hoping that the Lord of Beitang Island can lend me something." "What is it?"

Beitang Batian narrowed his eyes.

"Liuli Island".

The Buddha Mother parted her lips slightly and uttered three words.

Beitang Batian was taken aback at first, then laughed in fury, his eyes filled with sinister intent:

"Are you trying to make fun of me? Liuli Island is right there in the East China Sea, and there's no way to escape it. Now that I'm no longer protecting it, that place is just a piece of unclaimed meat, and anyone with the ability can go and snatch it away."

"With your current power, Mother Buddha, if you set your sights on something, you can simply lead your people to take it. Why bother asking me for it?"

The Buddha Mother said indifferently:

"The master of Beitang Island is a wise man, and he naturally knows that the island I want is not that island."

Beitang Batian remained silent.

Damn it!

That bald donkey was indeed up to no good; it came after that thing!

Back when they were playing chess on Liuli Island, this old nun was always a respectful junior. Now, she's all grown up and is trying to control him, demanding his most valuable possessions right off the bat.

But given his current situation, there's really no room for negotiation.

After a long silence, he sighed softly:

"All you want is to seize the divine artifact hidden on the island. I can give you the 'Island Shadow.' As for whether you can unravel its mysteries and find the artifact, that depends on your own fate."

As he spoke, a burst of spiritual light flowed through Beitang Batian's palm.

A miniature island projection model materialized from his palm.

If Jiang Mu were here, he would definitely recognize this projection model as the same one that he forcibly extracted from Beitang Batian's remnant soul using demonic energy when he was in the Han family!

In other words, during the fierce battle at the Han residence, Jiang Mu did not directly seize Beitang Batian's magic weapon.

Instead, the moment the demonic energy invaded the opponent's body, the Demonic Gauge activated its properties on its own, creating a copy of the Island Shadow Imprint.

The island's shadow flew to the Buddha Mother's side.

The Buddha Mother did not rush to reach out and take it; two golden lights shone deep in her eyes as she carefully observed the island's shadow.

Only after confirming that the island's shadow was real did she put it into her sleeve.

"You could simply ask me where that divine object is hidden. Just ask, and maybe I'll tell you if I'm in a good mood. Why go through all this trouble to find it yourself?"

Beitang Batian mocked.

The Buddha Mother simply smiled and remained silent.

She doesn't need to answer this kind of question.

After all, who knows if the address they ask for is real or fake?

With the methods of this Beitang Island Master, he could easily fabricate a fake treasure location and lay down several layers of killing formations, mixing the real with the fake. Wouldn't she be courting death if she rashly rushed in?

Only the orientation you discern from the island's shadow is truly secure.

Moreover, she was not worried that Beitang Batian would dare to tamper with the island's shadow.

Because the origins of the Liuli Zen Heart Sect are the same as those of Liuli Island, she could tell the authenticity of the island's shadow at a glance.

"Amitabha, thank you for your kindness, Island Master. This humble monk takes his leave. I wish you a speedy return to your former glory."

Having achieved her goal, the Buddha Mother was too lazy to stay any longer. With a flash of golden light, her figure disappeared into the room.

Standing in the empty room, Beitang Batian said sadly, "The Great Dao is in cycles, the tides rise and fall."

But then, a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Old nun, do you think you can find that divine object just by having the island's shadow?"

"If you really find that divine object, that place will be your burial ground."

Thinking of this, his mood suddenly improved a lot. He glanced at the corpse on the ground again, and a trace of resentment appeared in his eyes.

To be honest, I've gotten used to being a woman these days.

Although Zhao Haiqian was a good-for-nothing, he served her quite well in some ways.

Enough is enough; out with the old, in with the new.

Let's go back and find a strong young man to use as bait.

The woman swayed her slender waist, gracefully stepping over the bloodstains on the ground, and disappeared into the night.

Back in her own yard, Jiang Mu changed into a clean and refreshing set of clothes.

Chu Lingzhu was still fast asleep on the bed.

A long, slender, jade-white leg stretched out from under the covers and draped over the edge of the bed, her sleeping posture still sprawled out and unkempt.

Last night's sparring match really exceeded her limits.

It's only because Chu Lingzhu eats all sorts of elixirs like candy that her physique is far superior to that of ordinary people. If it were an ordinary mortal woman, she probably would have died last night.

I reckon he won't be able to get out of bed and run around like a baby for at least seven or eight days.

Lan Rou'er, on the other hand, had already regained her energy and was tidying up medicinal herbs for Chu Lingzhu in the courtyard.

After all, her true form is a seven-aperture ginseng fruit, a naturally born spiritual body.

Although she was gentle and weak and not resistant to hardship, and Jiang Mu was unwilling to torture her to death, she had already recovered seven or eight tenths of her spirit thanks to this special spiritual fruit constitution.

"Brother Jiang."

Upon seeing Jiang Mu appear before her, Lan Rou'er blushed and weakly greeted him, her voice barely audible.

Jiang Mu coughed lightly and asked in a low voice:

"How's Bai Xiang today? Did you have a long face, looking gloomy, like you owe eight hundred dollars and haven't paid it back?"

Lan Rou'er tilted her head, thought about it seriously, and then gently shook her head:

"No, Sister Bai Xiang is perfectly normal."

normal?

If it's normal, then something's not right.

The commotion yesterday must have really stirred up a lot of jealousy.

Jiang Mu immediately abandoned the idea of ​​going to the opposite courtyard to find Bai Xiang and asking for trouble.

Wait until the other person is in a better mood before being playful and cheerful.

Looking at Lan Rou'er, who was so soft and supple that she seemed to be able to be squeezed for water, his frustration subsided considerably. He embraced her slender waist and pulled the soft little girl into his arms.

Through the thin fabric, you could feel the cool touch of the girl's skin, and a faint scent of herbs and trees wafted into your nostrils.

"Rou'er, be good. Lingzhu probably won't be able to get out of bed for the next few days, so come to my room tonight and sleep with me."

Don't worry, Brother Jiang guarantees tonight will be completely different from yesterday.

Jiang Mu gently coaxed him.

Although he verbally made promises, when the time came and he saw the girl's delicate and frail appearance, he would probably still want to see her cry. He couldn't help it; his perverse sense of humor was too strong.

Lan Rou'er instinctively pressed her small fist against his chest, her body seemingly going limp. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she dared not look into Jiang Mu's eyes, only letting out a soft "Mmm".

Just then, Lan Rou'er suddenly remembered something, looked up at Jiang Mu with her little face and said:

"Oh, right, Brother Jiang, there's something I forgot to tell you. Lingzhu and I went to help out at the pharmacy two days ago, and on our way back, I... I think I accidentally saw my aunt."

"Your aunt?"

Jiang Mu frowned slightly. "Mrs. Han?"

Lan Rou'er nodded her little head, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty:

"Yes. She was sitting in a sedan chair at the time, and I only saw her profile. Because it had been a long time since I'd seen her, I'm not sure if I was seeing things... but she really did look a bit like her."

Jiang Mu felt a chill run down her spine.

He had almost forgotten about this person.

Back in Huzhou City, the Han family unexpectedly brought the powerful Beitang Batian into the picture.

They were only able to repel the opponent thanks to the help of the demonic energy cheat.

The old monster failed to possess him and instead possessed Madam Han before fleeing.

If Lan Rou'er wasn't mistaken, then it means that Beitang Batian had very likely also come to Fazhou City.

Although this former thirteenth-level cultivator was crippled, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse; who knows what kind of scheme he's plotting in secret? It seems Aunt Shui will have to use the Demon Slayer Bureau's intelligence network to investigate.