Chapter 71
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Woof woof…
The black dog strained against its thick rope, barking furiously in the direction of a small, shadowy figure near the wall.
Woof woof woof…
The long shadow cast by the moonlight paused. The Toad Daoist turned slightly, raising a finger.
“Shh! Don’t scare them.”
At the sound of his words, the black dog let out a couple of pitiful whimpers, tucked its tail between its legs, and retreated to its kennel. It glanced nervously at the toad as he rounded the corner of the house, its head lifted as though it wanted to bark but didn’t dare to.
Rustle rustle…
The branches swayed, their dense leaves brushing against the eaves. The Toad Daoist ran a webbed hand along the bricks of the wall, his gaze lifting to the patches of moonlight shimmering through the leaves as he walked slowly.
“Before I could take human form, I once fell for a human woman. She was kind and beautiful. Compared to her, everyone else seemed disgusting and ugly…”
The croaking voice echoed faintly as he turned a corner and arrived at the donkey shed behind the house.
“…But after I took human form, I discovered a certain fondness for food. Be it demon or human, when cooked properly, the taste is exquisite and savory.”
“After suffering a great tribulation, I gained some insight into my state of mind…”
Stopping at the entrance of the shed, the Toad Daoist spoke as if in a monologue. He reached behind him, unstrapped the gourd from his back, and placed it gently on the ground.
“…Perhaps humans, being the spirits of all living things, are naturally intelligent. Eating them too often breeds a violent nature within oneself… And that’s likely why I’ve ended up in this state.”
The old, ragged donkey in the shed let out a hoarse bray, its bald tail swishing as it twisted its neck to look toward the toad. In the murky depths of its eyes, the reflection of the Toad Daoist appeared, surrounded by a faint purple aura.
Behind him, the air rippled and coalesced into the image of a massive, primordial purple toad.
The Toad Daoist’s eyes glowed a deep red as his gaze shifted to a pile of dry hay beside the shed. Smacking his lips, he let out a faint tsk-tsk sound. Saliva dripped from his mouth, trailing down in long strands.
“…But eating demons doesn’t count. It’s been three years and seven months since I last ate meat. I must say I do miss it.”
Slurp.
The Toad Daoist sucked the saliva back into his mouth, swatted aside the swishing tail of the old donkey, and walked to the haystack, spreading his webbed hands wide.
“You two little demons hiding in front of me is utterly laughable.”
With a swing of his frog-like hand, he bellowed:
“Come out!”
The haystack scattered to the side in tufts, revealing two foxes curled up within, one red and one white. The red fox’s tail was bloodied, and she raised her elongated snout, trembling as she saw the Toad Daoist radiating malevolent energy.
The white fox, also injured, lifted her head and spoke hesitantly: “Senior…”
“Hmph.”
The Toad Daoist strode forward, his wide frog mouth curling into a grin, revealing rows of tiny, sharp teeth. Drool dripped incessantly from his mouth, trailing in sticky strands as he sucked it back in with an audible gulp.
“Among demons, there is no senior or junior—only eater and the eaten… Let me think, how best to cook fox meat? One steamed, the other minced and braised with some herbs to mask the gamey taste. What do you two think of my plan?”
The sound of him swallowing was disturbingly clear, and the two foxes trembled even more violently. The red fox, having lost her tail, was barely able to maintain her demonic energy. Only the white fox could still speak.
“…Senior… my sister… my sister… can her life be exchanged?”
Hearing this, the Toad Daoist’s wide mouth stretched into an even broader grin.
“I’m not particularly craving your bodies… however.”
The final word made the red and white foxes grow even more uneasy. Their furry ears perked up nervously as they stared intently at the toad. They knew better than to underestimate him due to his small frame—cultivation had nothing to do with size or appearance.
“But what…” The white fox asked, her anxiety slipping through in her trembling voice.
The Toad Daoist’s eyes narrowed into slits as he slowly extended a webbed hand.
“Hand over your demon cores, and you may live.”
At the same time, a thick purple mist unfurled from his body, spreading like a carpet over the dry hay. The moment it touched the straw, it sizzled and dissolved into ash.
Chirp…
The red fox let out a terrified screech, struggling to stand and attempting to flee. Nearby, the white fox, still retaining some of her demonic energy, abruptly opened her elongated snout and bit down hard on her sister’s back.
As the red fox’s anguished cry echoed through the courtyard, she was shoved forcefully toward the Toad Daoist. Rolling and tumbling across the dirt, she landed in front of him. Taking advantage of the distraction, the white fox summoned a gust of yin wind and darted toward the courtyard wall. Without hesitation, she leaped over it and disappeared onto the long street, not daring to look back.
The Toad Daoist seemed entirely unsurprised by this turn of events.
“Hiss… wu…”
The red fox, covered in dirt and grass, writhed in pain on the ground. Realizing that her sister had abandoned her, she shakily bent her forelimbs in a human-like motion, bowing toward the toad in desperation.
“You see? Among demons, there is no such thing as affection. Your sister just left you behind. Do you hate her for it?”
The Toad Daoist patted the fox on the head twice and said softly: “Your demon core. Give it to me,”
For a demon, the loss of a demon core was tantamount to death. Without it, they became little more than intelligent animals. Their lifespan would drastically shorten, and they would be vulnerable to attacks from wild beasts and predators.
Yet, with no means of escape, the red fox had no choice. Shaking uncontrollably, she opened her mouth, and a small, round bead floated out.
The moment the core emerged, the Toad Daoist snatched it up with his webbed hand. Feeling the surge of demonic energy within, he closed his bulbous eyes in satisfaction, letting out a contented sigh. “Ah…”
After a brief pause, he waved a hand dismissively. “You may leave.”
The red fox lingered for a moment, her gaze fixed longingly on her demon core. Her long ears drooped as she limped away, dragging her half-severed tail behind her. She glanced back occasionally, reluctant to part with what had been taken from her, before disappearing into the estate’s garden.
As the demonic aura dissipated, the Toad Daoist carefully exhaled. His terrifying sharp teeth were nowhere to be seen, replaced by his usual harmless appearance.
“My illusory aura isn’t any worse than that fool of a disciple’s. Those two ignorant little demons actually fell for it.”
Spreading its webbed feet, its long tongue hanging excitedly from its mouth, it ran off clutching the demon core, darting back to the house and rummaging through boxes and cabinets, trying to find a place to hide the demon core.
Finally satisfied, the Toad Daoist leaned against a secret compartment in the bookshelf where he’d stashed the core. His white belly heaved up and down as he glanced around nervously, suddenly recalling the scene in the courtyard earlier that day.
“No, this won’t do… I need to leave before Liangsheng and the others return.”
Resolute, he retrieved the demon core, strapped his gourd to his back, and hastily packed a couple of fine outfits from his small wardrobe. With everything bundled up, he slipped out of his room. Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the bustling servants and guards in the courtyard, he dashed toward the front gate without drawing attention.
……..
The night was deep, and the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed down the street, growing closer with each passing moment.
At the open courtyard gate, several servants carried out shattered flower pots and broken wooden railings. Hearing the approaching hoofbeats, they turned their heads toward the far end of the street. A mounted figure appeared, riding swiftly toward the manor.
It was none other than Zuo Zhengyang, returning from his pursuit of the demons.
He watched as a few Zhou Manor servants placed the damaged items along the street before heading back inside. Hastily dismounting, Zuo Zhengyang ascended the stone steps, his boots clicking against the hard surface.
Just as the servants were about to close the gate, he reached out, pressing a hand firmly against the door to stop it from shutting.
“Leave this troublesome place for now. Once I’ve absorbed this demon core and restored my injuries, I’ll return and resume my dignified role as a master.”
Amidst the hurried footsteps of the servants, the Toad Daoist crept cautiously along the base of a wall. Clutching the demon core, his gourd strapped to his back and his small bundle slung over one arm, he moved with great care. The servants entering the courtyard were chatting as they worked.
“Everything’s been thrown out, right?”
“Yeah, let’s close the gate and get some rest. What a chaotic night! We still have to get up early tomorrow…”
“Enough talk—close the gate quickly.”
As the courtyard gate groaned on its hinges, slowly beginning to close, the Toad Daoist’s heart skipped a beat. In a panic, he leapt onto the stone steps and dashed forward, slipping past the servants’ legs to the narrowing gap.
Oh no…
He glanced up at the gate, realizing that once it shut, he’d have no way out… Sighing in resignation, he muttered to himself, I have no choice.
The Toad Daoist sighed deeply, raising the demon core in his webbed hand. He prepared to channel its power to incapacitate the servants when, suddenly, a voice called out from beyond the gate.
“Wait!”
Zuo Zhengyang strode forward with long, purposeful steps, placing a firm hand on the closing gate. With a resounding boom, his extraordinary strength forced the heavy doors open again. The servants, unable to resist such power, stumbled back in shock. The Toad Daoist hurriedly retracted his energy and leaned against the wall, his heart pounding. As the gate swung wide open, the massive wooden panel loomed in his vision, its sudden movement amplified as it filled his view.
“…Oh no…”
Bang!
The courtyard gate swung fully open, bumping lightly against the wall before coming to a halt. The servants at the gate didn’t notice anything unusual. Their attention was on the figure standing outside. Recognizing him, one of them quickly stepped forward and bowed.
“Greetings, Daren.”
“Hmm.” Zuo Zhengyang nodded curtly. Glancing at the scattered debris being moved out of the courtyard, he had a good idea of what had transpired earlier. Without preamble, he asked: “Is Lu Liangsheng still in the manor?”
The three servants exchanged glances before shaking their heads.
“Reporting to the Chief Constable, Young Master Lu and Daoist Sun went to the Zhang household. Our master is still at home. Would you like to come in, Daren?”
Zuo Zhengyang paused briefly in thought, then waved dismissively.
“No need. I’ll take my leave!”
With that, he turned and descended the stone steps, mounting his horse in one smooth motion. The four long swords strapped to his back clanged softly as he urged his steed forward, galloping away toward the Zhang residence.
“Finally, that’s done. Let’s close the gate and get some rest!”
Watching his silhouette disappear into the darkness, the three servants yawned repeatedly, hastily shutting the gate. They moved quickly, as if fearing someone else might show up. Sliding the heavy wooden beam into place, they secured it further with a copper lock before sighing in relief and heading back inside.
They didn’t notice that against the wall opposite the door, a toad sat on the ground, its legs twitching slightly, one webbed hand clutching its round, bulging belly.
Its glazed, dazed eyes stared blankly as its other empty webbed hand hung in the air, and the corner of its mouth twitched.
“Damn it… I swallowed the demon core…”
Gurgle~~
The Toad Daoist’s belly rumbled fiercely. With a sudden jolt, he scrambled to his feet and bolted into the garden, darting wildly through the bushes.
Meanwhile, in the Zhang household, the maids and servants had all risen from their quarters, gathering nervously under the long corridor and eaves. Their gazes were fixed on a courtyard where murmurs spread in hushed tones.
“That was… the fox demon, wasn’t it? And she brought in a scholar and a Daoist?”
“I’m not sure. I didn’t see much, but the master and madam went in after them.”
“None of you know a thing! I heard from the steward that those two are renowned experts from the Zhou Manor. As for the woman… I don’t know who she is. Even the steward didn’t recognize her.”
“Hmph. That woman is so stunningly beautiful—she doesn’t look like someone from a proper family.”
In the courtyard under discussion, the glow of lanterns illuminated figures passing behind the window screens.
Inside, Zhang Dongming gripped his wife’s hand tightly. Standing by their son’s bedside, he anxiously glanced toward the scholar and Daoist inspecting Zhang Liancheng. Several times, he opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words each time.
His wife, however, couldn’t take her eyes off the woman standing at the foot of the bed. Her gaze was filled with both doubt and curiosity.
“Are fox spirits truly this beautiful?”
She muttered under her breath. Almost instinctively, her eyes drifted toward her. Before she could dwell further, Lu Liangsheng’s voice broke the silence.
“The chaotic energy in his body—is that Yang Essence?”
Sun Yingxian let go of Zhang Liancheng’s hand, withdrawing his gaze from the young man’s pale face. He turned toward the fox demon standing silently at the foot of the bed, his voice somber.
“Such a large amount of Yang Essence—how many men have you harmed to amass this?”
Zhang Dongming and his wife, not understanding the meaning of the conversation, hurried closer. Bowing respectfully, they looked at the scholar and Daoist with pleading eyes. “Esteemed gentlemen, how is my son? What is this Yang Essence you speak of?”
“Yes, we are just an old couple who don’t understand such things. Please, tell us…”
Before Mrs.Zhang could finish, Yan Zhi once again fell to her knees before the old couple.
“Yan Zhi has never harmed anyone else. I beg you, Daoist and Young Master, to look into this carefully. The Yang Essence was stolen by me from my eldest and second sisters. I don’t know how many people they’ve harmed to collect it… I only know it is the essence of human vitality. I thought that, given his condition, giving it to him might cure him…”
Zhang Dongming, listening to her words, finally grasped the situation. If it weren’t for his wife holding him back, he would have already charged forward.
“You claim you haven’t harmed anyone else, but you decided to ruin my son instead!!”
His fury blinded him to the fact that the woman kneeling before him was a fox demon.
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