Chapter 180 — The Joyful Lu Family Village

The door was left slightly ajar. The Toad Daoist waddled in, swaying left and right, glanced at his disciple rummaging through the cabinet, and crawled straight onto the bed.

“Your teacher is exhausted…”

Seeing the scholar give no response, he sprawled carelessly across the bed, tilted his head toward him, and asked, “Liangsheng, what are you doing?”

Over there, Lu Liangsheng had just taken out some medicinal salves for bruises and injuries from a low cabinet. They were all things he had bought in the past; he had used them a few times, then never had much chance to again. Hearing his master’s question, he answered with a smile:

“For those three outside.”

From the painting on the wall, Honglian poked her head out, glanced at the crack in the door, let out a soft hum, then drifted over to the bed. Picking up a silk handkerchief, she gently dabbed at the scorched patch on the Toad Daoist’s back.

The Toad Daoist waved away the female ghost’s handkerchief, sat up, and as the burning pain made his mouth twitch, he hurried to shift positions. Propping his cheek with one hand, he lay on his side and looked at his disciple.

“Them? Your teacher is still hurting from being burned, and you don’t even say you’ll treat me first…”

As he spoke, the burn ointment was brought over. Lu Liangsheng sat down beside him, poured out a bit of medicinal liquid from a small porcelain vial, soaked it into a piece of plain cloth, and gently applied it to the Toad Daoist’s back. Smiling, he said, “Of course I’ll tend to Master’s wounds as well.”

Looking at his disciple before him, feeling the coolness spreading through his body from the scorched wound, he couldn’t help letting out two satisfied hums. Stretching out all four limbs, he flopped down in a great sprawl, even his round webbed fingers stiffening straight out.

“Comfortable!”

The sight made Honglian cover her mouth and let out a light laugh. She reached out and took the burn medicine from Lu Liangsheng’s hands. “Young Master, you had better go take a look at those three outside.”

“No more sourness?”

Hearing this, Honglian shyly tapped him with her hand, her embroidered shoes stamping lightly on the floor as she hurriedly urged the scholar out.

“All right, all right—then I’ll leave Master in your care.”

Lu Liangsheng took up the box of bruise salve, said a few words with a smile, then finally opened the door and stepped out.

The two guards were standing helplessly under the eaves, protecting their young lady, and also blocking Sun Yingxian — who did not look like any sort of decent person — from approaching her.

“This Daoist, forget it. My lady is only unconscious.” “Yes, Young Master Lu might bring medicine out any moment.”

When they saw the door open, one of the guards quickly called out: “Young Master Lu!”

The Daoist turned his head and saw the scholar stepping out beneath the eaves. He curled his lip, shuffled aside, and leaned against the pillar, muttering under his breath:

“Hey, hey… don’t blame this Daoist for not warning you. If your young lady should one day start running around in a fit, or wake screaming from nightmares, don’t come blaming anyone. Truly, people these days don’t recognize good intentions.”

The two guards looked at each other, at a loss. They had already seen monsters, witnessed immortal arts and Daoist spells, and even seen a toad walk upright and speak. This was far beyond what martial wanderers like them could influence.

Lu Liangsheng came over and set the injury salve down by the well.

“Don’t listen to that Daoist’s nonsense. She’ll be fine.”

He then crouched down and placed two fingers on Min Yuerou’s wrist to check her pulse. Several places on the long sleeves of the young lady’s robe were torn open, revealing pale skin marked with bloodstains and purpling bruises — likely from knocks and scrapes while being pursued.

“She’s only exhausted from the journey and fainted from fright. You needn’t worry.”

Lu Liangsheng rose, took up the salve, and gently applied it to her wounds before bandaging her. But when he saw the injuries on her thigh and waist, he found himself in a dilemma — he certainly couldn’t ask Honglian to handle those, could he?

If by any chance…

As he thought this, voices drifted in from beyond the fenced courtyard — Li Jinhua scolding her husband.

“You’re so generous! Such a huge centipede — bringing it back to soak in wine would’ve been perfect! You can’t even buy those outside!”

“Aiyo… can’t you say a few words less?”

The two guards instinctively grabbed their sword hilts, but their hands suddenly snapped back as if flicked by something invisible. Startled, they stared wide-eyed as Lu Liangsheng stood up and waved his hand: “That’s my parents.”

Outside the courtyard wall, Li Jinhua continued chattering as she walked over. When she saw the people inside — and the unconscious woman on the ground — she hurriedly stopped mid-complaint and let out a startled, “Oh my!” before rushing into the yard.

“What’s all this? I saw you all come in fine just a moment ago — how did someone end up collapsed here?”

Seeing the medicine and bandages in her son’s hands, she quickly understood. Snatching them from him, she glared.

“Don’t just stand there — help carry her into my house!”

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it!”

The Daoist hurried over with his hands held obediently before him, smiling fawningly, only to be shot a fierce glare by Li Jinhua from afar. He shrank back and squatted under the eaves, mumbling, “You’re the one who called me, but you won’t let me help…”

On the other side, the woman shot her son a very obvious wink.

“Liangsheng, what are you standing there for? Such a good girl — hurry up!”

Ahem…

Inside the house came the sound of a woman’s coughing. Forcing a smile, Li Jinhua let out two dry laughs. “What I mean is, the sky’s about to go dark. A young lady lying out in the courtyard isn’t proper. Hurry and carry her inside.”

She secretly tugged at her son’s robe.

Lu Liangsheng cast a glance toward the house. With no choice but to go along with his mother, he lifted the unconscious Min Yuerou into his arms and carried her into the woman’s room, placing her on the bed. Lu Laoshi wanted to take a look, but Li Jinhua, who had followed them in, glared him back out; he could only retreat in dejection to the mule shed, sit on a low stool, and resume weaving baskets.

---

A burning pain spread through her body. As Min Yuerou’s consciousness slowly gathered back, she could smell the sharp scent of injury salve in the air.

Her eyelashes quivered. She awoke, opening her eyes slowly, and saw a middle-aged woman sitting at the bedside, wringing out a towel over a wooden basin.

“Auntie…” She called softly.

“You’re awake?!” Li Jinhua twisted the towel dry, turned, and leaned over to wipe beneath the girl’s clothing. Since both were women, there was no awkwardness. After wiping, she straightened the girl’s clothes before speaking: “The medicine’s been applied. You’re fine now. Whatever you need to say, just tell Liangsheng.”

With that, she packed up the towel, picked up the basin, and rose. At the doorway, she called out, “Liangsheng, come in.”

Squeak—

The door pushed open. The evening light spilled in from outside. Lu Liangsheng stepped into the room. As the woman passed him, she murmured under her breath:

“Your mother can only help this much.”

The scholar gave a helpless smile. Once his mother had left, he closed the door and sat on a low stool beside the bed. The girl had already sat up against the headboard, sweeping her loose hair behind her ear. Thinking of her father’s situation, she spoke quickly:

“Young Master Lu, my father is likely still in danger. He said the Protector of the Nation, Venerable Master, in the capital is a demon— he attacked the civil and military officials. Now my father has drawn away part of the pursuers and sent me here to ask you for help.”

Lu Liangsheng nodded. “I already know.”

“No time to lose.” Min Yuerou lifted the quilt and reached for the short jacket hanging at the side. Her injuries were only superficial; though the applied salve still stung, she was far from bedridden.

“Young Master Lu, come with me to find my father quickly. I fear he won’t be able to hold out much longer.”

Enduring the pain in her arm, she pushed her arm through the sleeve — but at that moment, Lu Liangsheng pressed her shoulder down and eased her back onto the bed. The scholar shook his head.

“I can’t leave right now — at least not for a day or two. Moreover, do you know where your father is? Or whether he’s already been captured?”

She was still young, after all, accustomed to the inner circle of nobles and unaccustomed to such peril. Hearing Lu Liangsheng’s words, her heart tightened with sudden panic. Following the edge of the bed, she abruptly dropped to her knees.

“Young Master Lu, my father… he is already of advanced age…”

As she dropped to her knees, Lu Liangsheng lifted a hand, supporting her with his cultivation power before she could kneel fully. He steadied her back onto the bedside and let her sit. After thinking for a moment, he said:

“Minister Min will be fine. You needn’t be overly anxious. Even if he has been captured, they will take him back to the capital. In that case, there is still room for a turnaround.”

At this, Lu Liangsheng gave a small smile.

“I know Minister Min’s character well. He is a formidable man. Otherwise, he would not have split the group, letting you bring only a few people and flee…”

Hearing the scholar’s gentle voice, even though she understood he was trying to comfort her, Min Yuerou nevertheless felt her heart ease a little. Thinking of her father’s life — a lifetime of storms, always acting with a stiff neck and iron will — she couldn’t help curling her lips into a faint smile.

After a moment, she remembered something else.

“Right — Young Master Lu, what about the other two demons?”

“They can’t escape.”

Lu Liangsheng gave a reassuring answer. Yet there was a trace of complexity beneath the smile in his eyes. He himself was worried about Min Changwen. His gaze shifted toward the window lattice, falling on the last red leaves upon the old tree in the courtyard.

He repeated softly:

“They can’t escape.”

The setting sun swept over the mountain ridge like a rising tide. Hidden within the contours of the hills, three paintings connected to form a triangular formation; spiritual energy flowed between them, encircling the entire Lu Family Village.

The transparent figure, originally rushing outward, slammed into an invisible barrier as though colliding with a wall, and recoiled. Looking up, it saw strands of azure spiritual light linking heaven and earth, shimmering with the glow of a formation. faintly, the sounds of battle, killing, monstrous roars, and eerie cries drifted through.

Retreating two steps, the transparent figure slipped toward the mountain’s foot. Grass rustled under swift movement, and bushes in its way were pressed down. Suddenly, it halted — a series of jingling ding-ding-ding bells rang nearby.

Hm?

Pushing aside the hanging branches, its gaze fell forward. An old donkey stood there, swishing its tail, its hooves leisurely stepping as it chewed grass. The maid in the purple-black kasaya licked her lips. Having traveled south for so long, she too was hungry, and hurried closer without hesitation.

Hiss~~

A sound like the buzz of insects came from her slightly opened mouth. Yet the closer she drew, the more irritated and uneasy she felt — as if the mangy old donkey before her was extremely dangerous.

Just a sip of its blood-qi…

As she entertained this simple thought, the old donkey twitched its ears and lifted its head. Meeting its gaze at last, the purple-black-robed maid finally understood why she had felt uneasy moments before.

Turning around, she immediately fled.

The next instant, crackling sounds burst forth as a streak of lightning exploded within the forest. Flocks of startled birds shot out of the trees in all directions. Not far away on the mountain path, eight men were approaching while carrying an old man whose face was smeared with blood, and one of them was hauling a giant centipede. Hearing the chaotic flapping ahead, they raised their heads—an old donkey leapt down from the mountain, a huge centipede clamped in its mouth. Its neck bells jingled as it tossed its head, trotting happily toward the distant village.

“That looks like Liangsheng’s donkey.” “What’s that in its mouth?”

“Looks like the same kind of centipede as this one.” “Tsk tsk… Seems the donkeys around here are about to become spirits too…”

“Uh… A few days ago, I even thought about buying it off Old Shi and eating donkey meat…”

Lu Pan tilted his head, glanced at the giant centipede Lu Qing was carrying on his back, and the thought that the old donkey could catch one all by itself made him shiver involuntarily.

He hurriedly shook off the thought.

“Come on, come on, quit talking. Let’s get back to the village and fry this centipede. The whole village can have some.”

“Um… sorry, but… can I interrupt for a moment?”

Wang Banxia, pulled along by the belt of the man in front of him, called out weakly, “Could one of you kind souls… send me back to Fushui County?”

But no one paid him any attention.

He could only follow along toward the village ahead. Before long, night fell.

Still worrying that the demons might escape, Min Yuerou stood there with her mouth slightly open, watching a few broad-shouldered village women wield thick-backed cleavers as they peeled the shells off two giant centipedes, chopped them into pieces, and tossed them into several big cauldrons over the fire. The oil sizzled and crackled loudly.

The entire village was as lively as if celebrating a festival.

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Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: Hi everyone, I’m taking a small vacation from posting this novel. I’ll see you all next year, so I wish you a merry holiday and a happy new year! If you liked the chapter feel free to donate 🙂 and if you find any errors in the translation please mention them in the comments here or in discord