After Daoist Shuangjiang departed, the Plague God was already at their doorstep. Wu Zhen stepped forward, flicking her hand to reveal a scarlet whip. She declared loudly, “This land is guarded by nine dragons. Evil, be gone!”
The long scarlet whip seemed alive, constantly extending and elongating. It twisted in the air, forming a chaotic tangle of light arcs, mercilessly lashing at the black mist that was creeping toward Chang’an. However, though the black mist was dispersed where the whip struck, it quickly reformed, continuing to extend its misty tentacles towards the city gate.
“As expected of the ‘Plague God,’ truly troublesome,” Wu Zhen smirked, delivering another fierce lash with her whip.
By now, the curfew drums had sounded, and all city and ward gates were closed. Ordinary people were unaware of the Plague God knocking at the city gates. Some only noticed the flashes of lightning on the horizon, remarking curiously that today’s dark clouds were unusually gloomy, and the lightning seemed different from usual, appearing red.
However, in the eyes of non-human entities and those with cultivation, they could sense the imminent threat, like a storm about to break. They could guess that something was trying to invade Chang’an. The explosions from the sky outside the city were not thunder, but the sounds of intense battle.
Mei Zhuyu stood by the window with his hands behind his back, frowning as he gazed towards the city gate, his fingers twitching slightly. He had been restless all day, and when he tried to divine the situation, he found he couldn’t discern anything. Although divination wasn’t his specialty, he had never failed at simple predictions before. If he couldn’t divine anything, it could mean either the matter was too serious, or it was closely related to him personally.
He naturally didn’t think this matter would have much to do with him, so he could only guess that the situation must be truly grave.
Tonight, Chang’an would likely not be peaceful. There might be a danger, and Mei Zhuyu was somewhat worried about Wu Zhen. She had gone out and hadn’t returned before the curfew drums, which meant she probably wouldn’t be resting here tonight. If she were here, no matter what happened, he could naturally protect her well. But now, he didn’t know where she had gone…
Mei Zhuyu hesitated, wondering if he should go find Wu Zhen. Even if he didn’t reveal himself, he could protect her from the shadows. With such a commotion outside the city today, it was very likely to affect the city’s interior, and he was uneasy.
As he was pondering, Mei Zhuyu suddenly saw a paper bird folded from a talisman fly in through the window. A point of spiritual light on the bird’s wings guided it to Mei Zhuyu.
Reaching out to catch the paper bird, Mei Zhuyu was somewhat surprised. Had a disciple from the temple come to Chang’an? This paper bird talisman technique was a minor spell used by Chang Xi Temple disciples to find people. However, it was generally only used to locate other Chang Xi Temple disciples because their spiritual power came from the same source, allowing the faintly glowing paper birds to find them.
Just moments after Mei Zhuyu caught the paper bird, a white figure leaped over the wall. It was Daoist Shuangjiang.
The previously cold and arrogant Daoist Shuangjiang now appeared very docile, his face full of humility and respect. He patted the dust off his clothes, walked a few steps to Mei Zhuyu, and said in a low voice, “Junior Uncle Guyu.”
In reality, Shuangjiang was only a year younger than Mei Zhuyu, but he had entered the sect several years later. They were of different generations, and Daoist sects placed great importance on such matters. Not just him, but all the junior and senior disciples, even those older than their Junior Uncle, held him in high esteem.
Of course, it wasn’t just because of generational differences. It was also because their Junior Uncle’s cultivation talent was considered monstrous, surpassing not only his peers but even their master. If not for matters of status, their Ancestral Master might have skipped over the previous disciples and directly made Junior Uncle the next temple master. When Junior Uncle left the mountain, the Ancestral Master couldn’t sleep for three days, occasionally sighing and saying what a pity it was.
Additionally, Shuangjiang and several other young disciples had grown up under this Junior Uncle’s guidance. When they were still a group of snotty-nosed kids, Junior Uncle was already sternly taking them to practice on mountain peaks. Disobedience meant a beating, crying meant a beating, and not focusing on cultivation meant another beating. Daoist Shuangjiang had been beaten by Junior Uncle from childhood to adulthood, and his reverence for him had become a habit.
Who would dare to be disrespectful in front of a strict teacher who often spanked them as children? Daoist Shuangjiang didn’t dare. To be honest, if it weren’t for Cat Lord being in real danger this time, Shuangjiang would never have actively sought out this Junior Uncle.
“Shuangjiang.”
“Yes, Junior Uncle.”
“Are you here in Chang’an for training?”
“No, it’s about some matters.” Shuangjiang quickly explained the situation with the Plague God to Mei Zhuyu, keeping his words concise to save time. Finally, he lowered his head and said, “Please help us, Junior Uncle.”
Mei Zhuyu didn’t immediately agree. He frowned and said, “Chang’an has a demon market, with two guardians. This area is under their jurisdiction. We are different from them, and it’s somewhat inappropriate for us to intervene so casually.”
Shuangjiang stole a glance at Junior Uncle. He had once overheard his master and the Ancestral Master discussing Junior Uncle’s family matters and knew about Junior Uncle’s connection to the demon market. He wasn’t surprised that Junior Uncle hadn’t immediately agreed, so he continued to persuade, “Junior Uncle, this time Cat Lord personally invited us. Snake Lord isn’t in Chang’an right now, and Cat Lord alone might not be able to stop the formidable Plague God. Even if he can, he’s likely to suffer greatly.”
Seeing Junior Uncle still unmoved, Shuangjiang added, “There are so many innocent civilians in Chang’an. If Snake Lord can’t return in time and Cat Lord can’t hold off the Plague God, allowing it to enter Chang’an, who knows how many ordinary people will be affected.”
This time, Mei Zhuyu finally reacted. He let go of his hand and went back into the room. Shuangjiang, standing outside, peeked in and saw Junior Uncle take out his peach wood sword. Finally relieved, he pulled back his head and continued to wait obediently in place.
“Shuangjiang, are you coming with me or waiting here?”
“I’ll go with you, Junior Uncle!”
Shuangjiang followed Mei Zhuyu. He had climbed over the wall to get in earlier, but now he was following Mei Zhuyu out through the main gate. An old servant was guarding the gate. Mei Zhuyu was about to open the door when he remembered something and said to the old servant, “If Madam returns, tell her I was invited by a friend and will be back soon.”
The old servant smiled and said, “Understood, young master.”
Shuangjiang: … Madam? Madam?!!!!
He followed Mei Zhuyu out the door in a daze, finally coming to his senses. He exclaimed in shock, “Junior Uncle! Did you say, Madam? You have… have a wife?”
He asked in disbelief but saw his usually expressionless Junior Uncle reveal a gentle look, as if thinking of someone, and say, “Yes, we married not long ago. She’s a wonderful woman. You should meet her later.”
Even in this critical moment, Shuangjiang couldn’t help but be stunned. Junior Uncle, their terrifying Junior Uncle who hit so hard, was married? What kind of woman could tame Junior Uncle? It must be a lie, impossible!
The utterly confused Daoist Shuangjiang pinched his arm hard and took a deep breath, barely regaining his composure.
Stay calm, how could a Daoist of Chang Xi Temple lose their equanimity so easily? It’s just marriage, Junior Uncle is different from them, he was always able to marry, especially now that he had left the temple. This is normal, nothing to be surprised about.
After Mei Zhuyu glanced at him, Shuangjiang felt a chill run down his spine and tried harder to calm down. If he overreacted and lost his composure now, he would be beaten. Junior Uncle had always been ruthless and didn’t care how old they were.
The two leaped across rooftops, using talismans to conceal themselves, completely unnoticed by the soldiers patrolling the streets below. As they got closer to the city gate and the tall city walls, Daoist Shuangjiang regained his focus and began to worry about the situation there. It didn’t look good at all; the Plague God was even larger than when he had last seen it and extremely aggressive.
Although the red lightning was fast, the Plague God extended countless tentacles to cling to the city walls, seemingly about to breach the defenses.
Suddenly, hundreds of red lightning bolts exploded, blasting away all the black clouds that had invaded. Then, a fierce beast-like shadow reared up, swallowing the scattered black clouds. In an instant, half of the black clouds in the sky disappeared, creating a strange semicircle at the city gate. Moonlight shone down through that opening, illuminating a falling figure.
“Not good!” Shuangjiang thought, realizing Cat Lord must have been severely injured.
Mei Zhuyu also saw this scene and quickened his pace. He stared at the falling figure in the sky, feeling somehow familiar. As they got closer and he could see more clearly, his usually calm heart began to churn.
That seemed to be—
Shuangjiang noticed his Junior Uncle suddenly pause and then disappear. Looking up, he saw Junior Uncle had already appeared beside Cat Lord, catching him and landing on top of the city tower.
As expected of Junior Uncle, so fast. Shuangjiang hurried over, but before he could say anything, he noticed something strange between his Junior Uncle and Cat Lord.
Wu Zhen had used all her strength to disperse half of that damned Plague God, but she was also severely injured. She had intended to land and dissipate the force, but someone caught her in mid-air. The person appeared so quickly that she hadn’t sensed them at all. When they landed on top of the city tower and she saw the person’s face clearly, Wu Zhen exclaimed in shock, “My lord?”
Had she been injured so badly that she was seeing things? Otherwise, why would she see her fragile scholar-husband appearing here at such a time? Wasn’t he just an ordinary person?
Seeing her pale face, Mei Zhuyu’s hand moved faster than his mind, reaching out to touch her. He wanted to say something, but just as Wu Zhen uttered “My lord,” she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering it all over Mei Zhuyu’s hand. The bright red blood on Mei Zhuyu’s left hand made it tremble involuntarily, and then clench tightly.
The remaining half of the Plague God gathered again. Huzhu, who had suffered minor injuries, looked over and temporarily moved forward to block it.
Mei Zhuyu, half-supporting Wu Zhen, saw the dire situation. He lowered his blood-covered hand and said to Shuangjiang, “Come and protect her.”
Shuangjiang instinctively ran over, while Mei Zhuyu was about to turn away after setting Wu Zhen down. Wu Zhen grabbed him, “Wait, you…” His expression was somewhat unpleasant. The situation was too chaotic, and Wu Zhen had grabbed him instinctively but didn’t know what to say.
After this moment of hesitation, Mei Zhuyu turned back and grasped her cold hand, “It’s alright, don’t worry now. We’ll talk after this is over.”
Wu Zhen let go, gritting her teeth and swallowing another mouthful of blood that had risen to her throat. Mei Zhuyu noticed this, his face darkening as he drew out the heavy peach wood sword, switching it from his right hand to his left.
Shuangjiang, standing dumbfounded to the side, gasped when he saw this.
Junior Uncle was using his left hand, indicating he was extremely angry. It had been several years since he last used his left hand to wield a sword. They all thought Junior Uncle would never use his left hand to wield a sword again in this lifetime, but today… Shuangjiang couldn’t help but look at Cat Lord. Did Junior Uncle know Cat Lord? He had just seen it—there was something strange between Cat Lord and Junior Uncle, with the face-touching and hand-holding.
But earlier when he mentioned Cat Lord, Junior Uncle didn’t seem to have any reaction.