Chapter 59

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Chapter 59: The Taoist Temple

They, once shrouded in darkness, were now illuminated by the radiant sword energy, like a beacon in the night.

The energy’s presence allowed Yi Qianmo to regain control of his limbs. Wasting no time, he set Yu Xiu down from his back, tucking him under one arm. With his other hand, he grabbed Zhou Lanting, hoisting her under his opposite arm. Summoning the last of his strength, he sprinted up the mountain.

His breaths came in ragged gasps, exhaustion clawing at him with every step. Somewhere deep inside, he hoped for a miracle—perhaps a high-level spirit beast might appear and offer a chance for survival. But the mountain was eerily silent.

No spirit beasts. No ants. Nothing.

It was as though all life had fled.

The wind howled around him as Yi Qianmo ran for miles without pause. Finally, he dared to glance back—and his blood froze.

The fuzzy creature was only a few dozen yards behind him. Trailing it, a horde of red-haired monsters thundered forward, running on all fours like wild beasts.

For the first time, Yi Qianmo got a clear view of them.

Their red fur bristled under the moonlight, their bulging veins pulsating visibly. Their glowing green eyes burned with an unnatural intensity, sending chills down his spine.

The Sword Pill’s energy shielded him from being overwhelmed by their oppressive aura. Yet, he couldn’t escape the terrifying pressure they exuded.

Oddly, the stench of decay he had smelled earlier was gone, replaced by a refreshing, almost pleasant fragrance.

“Can you move?” Yi Qianmo asked, his voice tense.

Zhou Lanting trembled. “I can’t… I can’t move,” she stammered. She didn’t even question why Yi Qianmo was unaffected by the creatures’ presence.

For a fleeting moment, Yi Qianmo considered leaving them behind. Alone, he might outrun the monsters.

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

The red-haired creatures, along with the fluffy entity, were far too fast. Sacrificing the others would only buy him a few seconds at best.

“Put me down… put me down!”

A weak voice broke through his thoughts. Yi Qianmo glanced down to see Yu Xiu stirring under his arm. The young man’s eyes widened as he spotted the creatures trailing them.

“Are you crazy?” Yi Qianmo barked. “Do you want to die?”

“No,” Yu Xiu replied firmly. “I can drive them away.”

Yi Qianmo hesitated, stunned. “Drive them away? Do you even know what these things are?”

“They’re living corpses,” Yu Xiu said, his tone steady despite the chaos around them. “Corpses with awakened minds—vengeful spirits, the most dangerous kind. I don’t know why they’re here, but I can stop them.”

After a moment’s deliberation, Yi Qianmo stopped running. He set both Yu Xiu and Zhou Lanting down.

Yu Xiu immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, clasped his hands together, and began chanting an ancient Buddhist scripture.

The sound of chanting filled the air.

A radiant golden light began to glow around Yu Xiu, pulsing with divine energy.

“The light of Buddha shines everywhere,” Zhou Lanting whispered, swallowing hard. She quickly suppressed the fierce energy within her, retreating a step.

The red-haired monsters faltered. At the sound of the chanting, they clawed at their heads, letting out guttural, agonized wails. Their bodies twisted unnaturally, bulging as though something within was trying to escape.

Yu Xiu’s face dripped with sweat, his golden aura intensifying as his body lifted slightly off the ground. He floated like an ancient Buddha, radiating power.

The monsters froze, incapacitated by the chanting.

But the fluffy creature remained unaffected.

It rolled down the mountain, bouncing like a ball, before launching itself toward their location.

Yi Qianmo’s instincts screamed danger. He shoved Zhou Lanting aside and dodged out of the creature’s path.

But to his horror, the fluffy ball changed direction mid-air, hurtling straight toward him.

“It’s over,” Yi Qianmo thought grimly.

Resigned to his fate, he braced for impact, closing his eyes. He expected annihilation—ashes, blood, or death.

Instead, something soft collided with his chest.

There was no crushing weight, no searing pain. Just a warm, fluffy bundle pressed against him.

Startled, Yi Qianmo opened his eyes. The fluffy creature clung to his chest. Tentatively, he lifted it into his palm.

It looked like cotton candy, soft and pure white.

Before he could process this, a pair of deep blue eyes blinked open within the fluff, gazing at him lazily.

“Chirp chirp,” it squeaked softly.

The absurdity of the moment struck him. He gently pinched the fluff. The creature’s white fur blushed red in response, letting out a high-pitched protest.

“Is this what destroyed the red-haired monsters?” Zhou Lanting muttered as she approached cautiously.

Yu Xiu, now pale and drained, sat slumped on the ground. He, too, stared at the creature in wonder.

The fluffy being squirmed, retreating into Yi Qianmo’s shirt. It nestled against his chest, refusing to come out.

Zhou Lanting burst into laughter, pointing at the lump protruding from his clothing. “If you walk out like this, people will die laughing!”

“Do you believe I’ll throw it at you right now?” Yi Qianmo snapped.

Her laughter ceased, and all three turned their attention to the red-haired monsters. Though they didn’t approach, their eyes remained fixed on the creature hidden in Yi Qianmo’s shirt.

“Run!” Yi Qianmo shouted.

The trio raced up the mountain. The red-haired monsters followed but stayed at a ten-step distance, as if reluctant to approach the fluffy creature.

“They’re scared of it,” Zhou Lanting noted. “What is that thing?”

The fluff peeked out from Yi Qianmo’s shirt, blinking its blue eyes at her.

“Cheep cheep,” it chirped in defiance.

“Oh, you little rascal!” Zhou Lanting growled, brandishing her knife.

The fluff squeaked in alarm, burrowing deeper into Yi Qianmo’s shirt.

But Zhou Lanting’s outburst agitated the monsters.

They roared and charged, forcing the trio to sprint again.

At last, they reached the mountain’s peak—and the red-haired monsters froze. They didn’t dare take another step.

Before them stood a majestic temple, its weathered facade radiating a serene, ancient power.