I'm Ximen Qing, living in a ghost story!

The Blood Demon of the Nether Spring? The White-Browed Immortal!

Do you have the Three Heroes and Two Clouds?

How come there's something to do with the Legend of the Swordsmen of Shushan?

Ximen Qing glanced at the serious expressions of Yuantong and Guyunzi beside him and knew that Nie Yunhai was not joking.

My heart sank.

Oh no! Are Liaozhai and Shushan the same thing?

If Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is a beginner's village, then the worldview of Mount Shu is a hellish difficulty level.

It should be noted that both the White-Browed Immortal and the Netherworld Blood Demon were theoretically immortals who had become ancestors, true gods and immortals.

How can his small frame withstand this kind of world?

Ximen Qing, who was inwardly cursing, was restless and unable to sit still.

However, this did not stop Nie Yunhai from getting into the swing of things—which scholar or poet has not had the idea of ​​seeking immortality and attaining enlightenment, but in the end they all gave up because of their lack of aptitude.

However, when talking about these matters outside the secular world, Nie Yunhai became excited, recounting them as if they were his own treasures.

"In that great war, the world was devastated, and countless people were taken by the underworld, their souls harvested and used as food for the demons. Therefore, since then, the imperial court and various masters have established judges in the provinces, who are all kinds of powerful swordsmen, to monitor the world and prevent the underworld from invading."

Nie Yunhai gave a bitter laugh as he finished speaking.

That bitter smile was for himself.

There were also assessments for becoming an official, and officials in power avoided this judge from all provinces like the plague.

The arrival of judges from various provinces means that demons and monsters have appeared in your jurisdiction. That must be due to your dereliction of duty, otherwise how could such ghosts appear!

Therefore, don't even think about passing the evaluation; in serious cases, the imperial court might strip you of your official position.

Snapped!

"I remember now! The tree demon's spirit has left its body and separated from its clone; its true form must be not far outside the city!"

Just after Nie Yunhai finished speaking, Gu Yunzi suddenly slapped the table.

Ximen Qing also suddenly became serious and subconsciously looked at Yuantong, who had not spoken.

Holy crap, the tree spirit moved into Lanruo Temple so early? Doesn't that mean that this monk...

"Amitabha! It is indeed possible. This old monk is willing to send monks to search the surrounding area. Of course, if the county magistrate and fellow Daoist Gu Yunzi are worried, they can also go to Lanruo Temple to investigate first. Since this demon can produce Yin spirits, it must have already reached the Innate level, and it will probably be difficult to deal with! Before Judge Yan arrives, we need to watch over and help each other!"

Yuantong said without fear.

Gu Yunzi gave him a deep look and said, "This humble Taoist knows how."

"Innate? Yin spirit?" Ximen Qing greedily absorbed the knowledge.

Looking at his future "son-in-law" whom he knew nothing about, Nie Yunhai couldn't bear to look at him and whispered, "After the Day After Tomorrow comes the Innate Realm, from which one can manifest a Yin Spirit, truly able to travel to the North Sea in the morning and the Cangwu Mountain in the evening."

"Your Excellency, how do you know all this?" Ximen Qing was shocked; even Qingsong, Gu Yunzi's disciple, didn't know this.

"That's natural, our county was like that back then too... cough cough."

Nie Yunhai coughed lightly and patted Ximen Qing on the head: "Let's get down to business!"

The two people are whispering to each other here.

Suddenly, Yuantong mentioned something that made Ximen Qing's heart tighten instantly.

"Speaking of which, this humble monk recalls something. Just as I left the temple, a streak of light headed east. There's another place outside the city that's most likely where they're hiding!"

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it?" This time, Gu Yunzi looked at Yuantong. The Taoist priests were deeply rooted in the county town, while these monks were scattered throughout the countryside.

"Fifty li east of the city, in the foothills of the Guandong Mountains, there is a mountain called Iron City Mountain. There is a branch altar of the Naked Cult there, whose members are mostly mountain folk and bandits, numbering in the hundreds! This kind of evil sect often communicates with the spirit world, manipulates witchcraft, and acts with impunity. Perhaps this tree demon is about to fall upon them!"

Yuantong spoke with a determined look in his eyes.

Yan Chixia cannot come!

Because Yan Chixia is a true innate Yin God swordsman, capable of detecting movements, once he arrives, it can no longer be concealed, and one cannot defeat him.

The lid must be put on first!

Create an opponent and eliminate the "mastermind" behind the scenes.

Then—once the situation stabilizes, everyone will be sent to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!

As Yuantong thought to himself, his smile grew even more benevolent.

Sure enough, the words had barely left his mouth when...

Nie Yunhai clapped his hands loudly and said with great certainty, "How could this county forget this sect? They were involved in the last disturbance in the city! It must be them! It must be because Ximen Qing harmed their followers that they incurred this revenge!"

The logic is complete!

Ximen Qing's eyes widened. He knew that this tree demon did not come from the Naked Cult—if it did, his father, Ximen Da, would definitely recognize it, but he didn't know how to refute it.

Moreover, he clearly remembered that in the original story, the Tree Demon Granny had absolutely no background with the Naked Cult.

However, even Gu Yunzi thought this guess was correct.

It could very well be those guys from the Naked Cult.

As a result, the topic gradually veered off course towards eradicating the Naked Cult.

Looking at the calm and composed Monk Yuantong, Ximen Qing felt a sudden alarm bell ring in his mind.

If he was merely on guard just now, he is now extremely likely certain that Yuantong is far more complex than it appears on the surface.

"That's settled then. Tomorrow, the county will send Constable Xu to lead the constables out of the city to search for demons. Daoist and Abbot, please put in your best efforts to see how to eliminate the branch altar of the Naked Cult. If it is indeed the Naked Cult causing trouble and summoning demons from the underworld, then we can just wipe them out. There's no need to trouble Judge Yan."

"That's how it should be!" Yuantong said loudly, clasping his hands together.

"Um!"

Gu Yunzi picked up the tree demon's trunk from the table, nodded without saying anything more.

"It's getting late, everyone should get some rest!"

Nie Yunhai waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave.

Ximen Qing nodded to Gu Yunzi and Yuantong, then went to the outer room.

Looking up at the sky in the distance, which was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, I sighed.

It was almost dawn again. He had only been in this world for a few days and hadn't had a proper rest.

This time, it's like a storm brewing.

Guobei County is such a lousy place!

The urge to run away was more intense than ever before.

As he sat in Laiwang's carriage, Ximen Qing rubbed his temples.

However, at that moment, there was a knock on the car window. Ximen Qing opened the wooden car window, and a crooked, floating paper crane rushed in and landed on his lap.

Ximen Qing lifted the curtain; the street was deserted, except for his carriage.

Upon opening it, there was only one line of text:

"After noon, one can see green pines in the temple."

Stab it!

Ximen Qing tore the paper crane to shreds, staring out the carriage window in a daze for a long time: "Damn it, my life as the great Ximen Qing shouldn't be like this! What happened to the promised romance simulation eroge? How did it turn into a Mission: Impossible action anime? This shouldn't be happening!"

I've decided. I'll go back and have a good talk with Chunmei to relax.

Sigh, I'm really having a tough time.

Amidst the neighing of carriages and horses, the morning light ripples on the distant horizon.

The long night is finally over, but for some, the real trouble is just beginning.