Chapter 26
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 26: Title
"Qiao Zhu, don’t wander so far. Return."
Ye Qingshang halted Qiao Zhu’s advance.
Having surveyed Xingzhou City from above, they’d chosen to land here. The unrest wasn’t citywide but concentrated in areas like Quan Village—likely Yin Huai’s lair.
Mu Huaiyun infused a stone with spiritual power and hurled it afar. It created ripples before falling silently onto the main road. A gust blew weeds off a roadside tablet, revealing a large character: Quan.
"Strange," he murmured. "While sword-flying, Quan Village radiated intense demonic aura. Yet at the border, it vanished." His spiritual probe detected no demonic barriers.
Ye Qingshang cautioned, "Yin Huai excels at disguise and concealment besides cultivation. This aura fading reeks of deliberate manipulation. Stay vigilant against ambushes."
"Young Master," Qiao Zhu offered, "I have calming pills. Let everyone take them before entering." Though not battle-strong, as Medicine Hall’s chief disciple, she carried ample pills.
"Agreed."
The village was quieter than Mu Huaiyun expected—neither lively nor deathly still.
Faint voices echoed from the entrance, too distant to decipher. Sparse pedestrians and vendors scattered upon seeing their group, abandoning stalls in panic.
Qiao Zhu caught a passerby. "Miss, we’re cultivators from Yunshan Sect here for demon-slaying. What happened here?"
"You’re… not with the demon? Truly here to save us?" The woman shrank back fearfully.
"See? Our cultivator token." Qiao Zhu produced a jade token.
After examining it, the woman stammered, "Days ago… a beautiful girl came seeking her husband. Villagers took pity… housed her… That night, the hosting family died."
"We learned she was a demon seeking vengeance. Too late—she kills nightly, demanding our lives. Terrified villagers hid until today. Immortal Lord, save us!"
Qiao Zhu urged, "Please, try to remember—where’s the demon?"
"West… an inn—"
A piercing shriek cut through the village.
"Monster! Coming!" The woman screamed, wrenching free from Qiao Zhu’s protection and fleeing.
"Don’t run! It’s dangerous!" Qiao Zhu called out.
Screams erupted as hidden villagers scrambled wildly, plunging the street into chaos.
"Save me!"
"Run!"
“Ah!”
Ye Qingshang winced; the loud noise gave her a headache, and the wicked wind made it hard to open her eyes.
If she remembered correctly, at this time…
Mu Huaiyun used Moon’s Shadow to set up a barrier ahead, blocking the fierce wind and letting the group move forward.
“Strange, why can’t I sense any spiritual energy from the monsters?” Mu Huaiyun said, confused.
If the monster’s magic was active but no spiritual energy was sensed, it meant either the wicked wind was a coincidence and not magic, or the spellcaster was so powerful that even their whole group couldn’t detect a trace.
Sadly, it was the latter. Ye Qingshang felt helpless but knew saying this would be as unbelievable as claiming she was reborn, so she just said, “Let’s move on a bit. Maybe we’re too far from the source to sense the spiritual energy.”
As soon as she spoke, the wicked wind stopped as if in response.
“Wuwuwu…”
The group gathered their spiritual power. “What’s that sound?”
Moving forward, the sound grew clearer, like a child crying.
“Daddy…”
“Wuwuwu… Daddy… don’t leave me…”
“Daddy… Yin’er is scared…”
Not far away, a child in simple clothes sat on the ground. He looked about three or four years old, with a delicate face, a bit dirty, as if something had touched him.
The child cried pitifully and sat there without defense, making it hard to feel hostile.
“Young Master, this child…” Qiao Zhu glanced at Mu Huaiyun. Clearly, the child’s appearance was too coincidental; it felt eerie.
Mu Huaiyun signaled the group to stay put while he walked over, holding Moon’s Shadow.
“Little friend,” he said.
Seeing a stranger, the child grew more scared, stuttering and breaking into loud cries, “Daddy… I want Daddy…”
“Don’t cry, little friend. I’ll help you find your daddy.”
“Really…?”
“Really. I have toys too. Want to try?”
Mu Huaiyun offered Moon’s Shadow. This famous spiritual weapon was good at spotting monsters; if the child was one, he wouldn’t dare touch it.
Moon’s Shadow flickered with spiritual power. Seeing the strange object, the child’s attention shifted, stopping his cries. He tilted his head, seeming shy but fascinated; he couldn’t look away.
Finally, that small hand reached out and grabbed Moon’s Shadow.
He bent the whip into a circle, playing happily, forgetting his situation. “Wow, what’s this? So fun! Big brother, you’re really nice.”
Seeing Moon’s Shadow showed no attack, the group sighed in relief.
Qiao Zhu said, “Young Master, it seems this child isn’t a monster; he must have been left behind by a villager fleeing in a hurry. What now? Should we take him with us?”
Mu Huaiyun shook his head, “It’s too dangerous for him to follow us. Let’s take him home first.”
He asked gently, “Little friend, do you remember where your daddy is? I’ll take you there.”
The child lifted his head innocently and pointed, “Daddy is over there.”
His naive face was full of innocence. His gaze met the darkening sky, as if imagining the moment he would reunite with his family, and he giggled.
Ye Qingshang followed the direction he pointed and frowned.
It pointed west.