Suddenly, Lin Chengyou called out: “Stop.”

The Household Manager trembled as she asked, “Does the Young Master have any further instructions?”

“How many injured people are in the room?”

“F-four… no, including the male servant from General Teng’s household, there are five in total.”

“Four women and one man?”

“Y-yes.”

“And they all lost consciousness?”

A glimmer of hope flickered in the Household Manager’s heart as she stammered, “Those four have likely awakened now. Only our Second Miss remains unhealed. The medicine Young Master gave wasn’t enough to go around – the last pill was taken by Young Miss Teng to feed her family’s manservant. If Young Master has any medicine left, could you spare one pill for our Second Miss? If not, with Young Master’s profound dao arts, could you at least examine Second Miss’s condition?”

As she spoke, those strange flower stems burst from the ground again, twice as many as before, suddenly raising a sea of flowers several feet high.

The Household Manager dared not linger any longer, scrambling and rolling her way back into the room.

Lin Chengyou removed the quiver from his waist and shot an arrow into the sky.

The golden arrowhead exploded in mid-air, transforming into countless arrows that rained down in all directions.

These arrows seemed to possess consciousness – upon touching any evil entity, they would spark and race like fire dragons, swift as lightning. The flower stems couldn’t escape and were soon burned while letting out shrill screams.

The smile on Madam An Guo’s face began to stiffen. Lin Chengyou drew another arrow from his quiver and said with a smile, “My apologies for harming your descendants.”

Despite his words, his actions were ruthless. One arrow shot forth, burning away most of the remaining flower vines.

Madam An Guo, bound by iron chains and unable to move, watched as Lin Chengyou prepared to eliminate everything. Suddenly making up her mind, she bit down hard on her tongue.

Being extremely sensitive to pain, the moment she bit down her elegant brows furrowed, she whimpered through her nose, and her body trembled slightly.

Lin Chengyou clicked his tongue: “First time I’ve seen such a theatrical demon.”

He shot a third arrow skyward and leaped onto a nearby pillar.

Madam An Guo lowered her eyes and began murmuring incantations, black blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, gradually soaking through the talisman paper on her lips.

Though the talisman was firmly attached, it couldn’t withstand the repeated erosion of the blood. In an instant, dark clouds gathered thickly, stars vanished, and thunder rumbled ominously.

Lin Chengyou pretended not to notice, circling the courtyard in flight. Only after driving all the rivets into their formation positions did he return to the ground, slapping a talisman onto Madam An Guo’s forehead.

The strike scattered Madam An Guo’s soul, causing a pained groan to escape through her teeth. The ground ceased its strange movements, and the roiling star-clouds returned to their original positions.

Lin Chengyou tore off the blood-stained useless talisman and tossed it aside: “You’re deliberately trying to waste time, aren’t you?”

Madam An Guo’s eyes snapped open, her gaze like poison-tipped arrows.

Lin Chengyou paced around her twice: “The talisman I used bears the Yellow Deity’s Transcendent Command and employs the Jade Emperor’s Heart Technique. When ordinary demons encounter this talisman, they’re forced out of their host’s body even if they don’t reveal their true form. Yet you not only seem unaffected but can even summon wind and lightning within my formation.”

Madam An Guo gave a cold laugh, still radiating murderous energy.

“Despite possessing heaven-defying abilities, you repeatedly make a fool of yourself, either summoning minor troops like shrimp soldiers and crab generals or using low-level magic.” Lin Chengyou stopped walking and studied the demon with interest. “What are you waiting for?”

Madam An Guo’s eyes flickered, her angry expression faltering.

Lin Chengyou’s smile faded as he clapped his hands.

A large group of servants rushed in from outside, all well-trained. Though startled at the sight of the demon, they quickly regained their composure.

“Young Master.”

“Have Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi been found?”

The guards brought forward two children: “Yes, the two young Daoist masters were watching the Hu people perform pole climbing by the river.”

They were a pair of chubby twins dressed in identical Daoist robes and hemp sandals, about ten years old, round as barrels. One went by the Daoist name “Jue Sheng,” and the other “Qi Zhi” (Note 1).

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi each held several skewers of grilled shrimp, their legs kicking in the air: “Put us down! We need to find Senior Brother!”

Suddenly catching sight of Madam An Guo, they rubbed their eyes in surprise: “This… this is?”

“Have you eaten your fill?” Lin Chengyou asked with a smile.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi hurriedly hid the grilled shrimp behind their backs, grinning sheepishly: “Senior Brother.”

Their master had gone traveling, leaving the temple empty these past few days. With the Double Third Festival approaching, they couldn’t resist sneaking out, planning to return before midnight. They hadn’t expected to be discovered by Senior Brother’s people.

“Would you like more meat dishes?”

“No, no, no, that won’t be necessary.” The two shook their heads like rattles – the kinder Senior Brother’s attitude, the worse things would be.

“You’re full after just a few skewers of shrimp?”

The two nodded repeatedly: “Full, really full.”

Lin Chengyou tossed the iron chains to Jue Sheng, saying pleasantly: “If you’re full, then it’s time to work.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi froze – would the matter be settled so easily?

“This demon’s powers are formidable; the Formation Pillar will only hold for half an hour at most. One of you guards the Kan Palace and Qian Palace, and the other guards the Gen Palace and Zhen Palace. Don’t get distracted or leave your posts.”

The two were on the verge of tears – they knew there couldn’t be anything good coming. Senior Brother was setting up the Five Viscera Formation.

Humans have five viscera, each with its governing spirit. When possessed by evil spirits, the soul is immediately shocked out of the body.

For ordinary evil spirits, a single talisman would suffice to drive them from the host’s body. The Five Viscera Formation was only used for extraordinary demons.

This formation demanded extremely high cultivation from its master. Though they were merely formation-guarding acolytes, they would absorb the demon’s foul qi from the formation and be forbidden from eating meat for an entire year.

A year…

The two watched Lin Chengyou’s retreating figure with tears in their eyes. Senior Brother was so cruel – not content with just punishing them this once, he’d completely cut off their future opportunities to sneak meat.

Lin Chengyou drew another arrow and sighed: “Feeling wronged? Or scared? Do you think Senior Brother isn’t treating you well enough?”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi quickly puffed out their chests: “Neither wronged nor scared! Senior Brother treats us the best! Senior Brother is heaven-blessed with talent – as long as Senior Brother is here, no demon can’t be subdued!”

They wiped their mouths and scurried to their positions in the formation.

Only then did Lin Chengyou return to his serious demeanor, turning to ask the guard: “Have An Guo Manor’s people been found?”

“Though Duke An Guo received the invitation days ago, he declined due to illness. There was no prior word of any women from his household attending the banquet. We don’t know where this ‘Madam An Guo’ came from. We’ve already sent someone on horseback to notify An Guo Manor.”

Just as expected. Lin Chengyou asked further: “Is Royal Uncle outside?”

“Prince Chun’an is still presiding out front. The guests are all eager to leave, fortunately, the Prince is maintaining order. But people from Marquis Zhenguo’s household have arrived.”

“Marquis Zhenguo’s household?”

“Young General Duan from Marquis Zhenguo’s household has been betrothed to General Teng’s daughter since childhood. The Duan family happened to be at Purple Cloud Tower tonight. When they heard something had happened to the Teng family, Young General Duan came with Marchioness Yong’an to help.”

It took Lin Chengyou a moment to recall who General Teng’s daughter was. He casually glanced toward the west corridor, just in time to see Teng Yuyi and Eunuch Wen working together to drag the male servant into the inner room. The so-called last pill had probably already made its way into this servant’s stomach.

No wonder the Household Manager had wailed at him so dramatically.

“Move them all elsewhere and seal off Lanxia Pavilion. Don’t let anyone approach.”

The servants were slightly taken aback – the Young Master found those people a hindrance, but this place was already more dangerous than fortunate, so such arrangements were appropriate.

“Yes, this humble one will see to it immediately.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi took their positions at the four palaces, bit their fingertips, and smeared blood on their Formation Pillars: “Senior Brother, what exactly is this demon’s background? How many people were injured tonight?”

Lin Chengyou took out a talisman and lit it at the tip, the flames dancing, making his dark eyes shine like jewels.

“It ambushed four women and one man by the river, perfectly matching the Purple Star number. I suspect the host’s original spirit in its body is about to dissipate, and it urgently needs to absorb new souls to nourish its five viscera.”

Qi Zhi was puzzled: “Senior Brother, if the original host isn’t working anymore, couldn’t it just switch to a new host? Why go to such trouble to find five new spirit essences?”

Lin Chengyou stared at the talisman without responding, as if lost in thought.

Qi Zhi and Jue Sheng exchanged glances, wondering if Senior Brother had noticed something amiss.

Lin Chengyou buried talismans in the arrowheads without a word, aimed the iron horse beneath the courtyard eaves, then drew his bowstring fully and shot four arrows in succession toward the east, west, south, and north – hitting every target.

Jue Sheng slapped his forehead: “I know! Master always said demons can be vain too. This Madam is so beautiful, surely the demon is reluctant to give up such a good vessel. Senior Brother, am I right?”

Lin Chengyou nocked a fifth arrow, still not responding. The golden arrow flew straight for Madam An Guo’s brow.

Watching the arrow approach, Madam An Guo’s expression gradually shifted from mockery to allure. Before the arrow reached her, she suddenly yanked on the chains and rose from the ground: “What a waste of your handsome face – you’re completely heartless. Looking at a face like this, can you bring yourself to strike?”

Caught off guard, Jue Sheng was pulled to the ground by this force. He immediately tried to regain control of the chain, but his strength was no match – he was dragged out of position.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi cried out in alarm: “Senior Brother! Wasn’t the demon bound by the soul-locking worm? How did it break the formation so easily?”

Madam An Guo soared upward, her body spinning like a whirlwind as she ascended, the chains jingling as they wrapped around her from bottom to top.

“You think this noodle-like little worm could contain me?”

She grabbed the chain formed by the transformed worm, applied slight pressure, and the chain began emitting squealing insect sounds. Then she shook her headdress – the soft, snow-white silk seemed to transform into silver snakes, shooting out like meteors to entangle Jue Sheng.

“Your Senior Brother should find more little children like you – plump and white, perfect for a snack.”

The demon moved faster than the wind. Caught completely off guard, Jue Sheng was lifted into the air. In his panic, he wildly swung the Formation Pillar, but to no effect. Seeing Madam An Guo open her blood-red lips toward him, he waved his chubby arms and screamed like a stuck pig: “Senior Brother!”

Suddenly, golden light blazed overhead. The light stabbed at Madam An Guo’s eyes, causing her grip to loosen slightly. Jue Sheng seized the opportunity to cut through the headdress with his small sword and fell straight to the ground.

He rolled and crawled back to his formation position, crying.

Too late to grab another person, Madam An Guo looked up to see that Lin Chengyou’s four arrows had linked together to form a golden net, descending like a curtain.

She inwardly snorted and soared upward against the wind, but the net contained some unknown enchantment – the closer she got, the more it burned.

In an instant, a small patch of her black hair was singed.

She realized the danger – the noble woman’s skin she was wearing was delicate and couldn’t withstand any damage. If she forced her way through the net, she would surely be burned and torn apart.

This youth was craftier than she’d thought, surely having anticipated this point when making his arrangements.

Madam An Guo seethed internally. Just as her shoulders dropped, preparing to return to the ground, she suddenly felt a hot wind brush past her neck – Lin Chengyou had somehow appeared behind her.

With magical weapons above and pursuit behind, Madam An Guo couldn’t dodge in time. Her fingernails suddenly grew several inches and quickly slashed her palm.

Blood pearls seeped between her fingers, instantly dyeing the soul-locking worm red.

She chanted an incantation and flung the iron chain toward Lin Chengyou.

The soul-locking worm had always lacked spiritual roots, taking a thousand years to cultivate into a low-level spirit creature. Though it could bind the souls of most evil spirits, when facing demons of profound magical power, it could be bewitched. Lin Chengyou knew this creature’s nature well, which was why he had never dared to release the chain.

The “iron chain,” forced to consume demon blood, became completely bewildered. Unable to distinguish who the young lord behind it was, it mindlessly coiled around him.

Lin Chengyou narrowed his eyes, firmly gripped the soul-locking worm, and cursed: “Beast, look clearly who I am!”

He had seized its vital point. The soul-locking worm instantly reverted to its original form, too ashamed to show its face. It transformed into a small golden snake and slithered sheepishly into Lin Chengyou’s front collar.

Madam An Guo laughed coquettishly, seizing this opportunity to veer left, brushing past Lin Chengyou’s side and flying toward the corridor.

Unexpectedly, Lin Chengyou could split his attention. His palm force arrived suddenly, striking fiercely toward her shoulder: “Trying to leave already? I haven’t had enough fun yet.”

Madam An Guo was greatly shocked. With the golden net above and no more worm to borrow strength from, she had nowhere to dodge and had to take the palm strike head-on.

She harbored contempt in her heart – Lin Chengyou was young and from a wealthy background, what Daoist cultivation could he possibly have? He only knew how to show off with superior magical tools.

She had fallen into Lin Chengyou’s trap earlier due to carelessness. After pretending to rest and recover in the formation, her power had restored five or six-tenths. Even taking his palm strike should cause no harm.

“Such petty tricks, what can they do to me?” She waved her headdress, her form fluid as water, waiting for Lin Chengyou to waste his useless talismans so she could pull him close. But unexpectedly, that palm force contained pure yang power, splitting waves with fierce momentum, striking directly into her true form’s heart meridian.

Her eyes widened as the true qi within her body churned like surging hot waves. Her internal force seemed to be drained away by half, her five viscera and six bowels about to shift position.

She tried desperately to maintain her primordial spirit, but it was too late. Her whole body shuddered as more than half her primordial spirit was forced out.

“Though they may be petty tricks, they’re enough to deal with you.” Lin Chengyou sneered.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi looked up at the demon. They saw a black shadow forced out of the woman’s body – white-haired, small in stature, actually an elderly crone near seventy years old.

“So this is… this is its true form.”

“So old, even older than Master.”

The black shadow was furious with shame, raising an arm to cover its face. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi froze, only then discovering that the demon’s true form was missing its right claw.

They had heard earlier that the guards found a severed claw in the forest – surely it belonged to this demon. A powerful expert had been present then, otherwise, how could this demon have suffered such a great loss?

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi had no time for surprise, hurriedly activating their Formation Pillars. With part of the true form already forced out, this was the perfect opportunity to reclaim the host body.

The demon was desperate to return to its host’s body. Enduring the pain of torn flesh, it forced out a ring of black mist from within.

The mist rose like smoke, protecting the demon’s body in the blink of an eye. Not only that, it rapidly spread toward Lin Chengyou behind it.

“It’s killing qi!” Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi cried out together with their master, “Senior Brother, be careful!”

This killing qi, released by an old demon with over a hundred years of cultivation, would greatly damage one’s vital energy upon contact.

The demon seized this opportunity to try to reclaim Madam An Guo’s body, but at that moment, Lin Chengyou lit a paper talisman at his fingertip, moving first to seal her Fengchi acupoint.

With the host’s spirit root sealed, unable to find a way to return, having lost such a beautiful human vessel, the demon was furious to death. After a moment’s pause, it turned its head and snarled: “Arrogant child, I’ll take your life right now!”

Lin Chengyou laughed loudly: “You think you can?” He flipped backward, grabbed Madam An Guo, and darted outside the courtyard.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were greatly encouraged – Senior Brother was indeed extraordinarily skilled, having reclaimed the host’s body. Everything would be much easier now.

The guards at the gate had just led in a group of palace servants carrying sedan chairs. Lin Chengyou tossed over the unconscious Madam An Guo: “This demon is extremely difficult to deal with. Quickly move all the injured to one place.”

The demon glared with its narrow, dark green eyes, nearly mad with hatred. Though missing one claw, its other claw could extend and contract at will. It let out a strange, heaven-shaking screech from its beak, and before Lin Chengyou could turn around, viciously clawed at his back.

“Senior Brother, watch out!”

The golden arrows in Lin Chengyou’s quiver were all spent. Sensing the wind rushing behind him, he didn’t dodge but lightly swept his sleeve, producing a curved blade.

Estimating the demon had drawn near, he fell backward toward the sky, spreading his arms to ride the night wind, gracefully gliding back into the courtyard.

The black mist around the demon completely dispersed, revealing its true appearance.

Its cultivation was not low, having already cultivated a human form. At first glance, it appeared no different from an ordinary old woman, except for the brownish bark covering its neck and arms. Its mouth corners and forehead were covered in wrinkles as if weathered by a hundred years of frost and wind.

As it pounced toward Lin Chengyou, its sparse silver hair rose and fell in the evening wind. A few strands fell beside its ears, making its sunken cheeks appear even more hollow.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi said: “To think we guessed it was a flower demon like a peony or peach blossom – it’s a tree demon. Must be unable to cultivate a good appearance, that’s why it needs to borrow beautiful women’s vessels.”

Lin Chengyou raised his blade to parry, privately feeling something was amiss. The heavens showed strange signs, the sky overhead growing increasingly deep and dark. If it truly was a case of four women and one man losing consciousness, his judgment shouldn’t have been wrong.

But somehow, something felt inappropriate. Catching Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi’s distraction from the corner of his eye, he suddenly said: “Not guarding the formation properly? Waiting to become demon food?”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi dared not look anymore. When Master taught them this formation, he put the “Three Abstentions” first – “Don’t Listen, Don’t Ask, Don’t Fear.”

In Master’s words, they were Three Pure Ones’ altar boys born with the golden seal. As long as they maintained the Five Viscera Formation properly, no demon, no matter how capable, could break through the barrier.

Moreover, Senior Brother had already set up the Encompassing Golden Net in the courtyard air. This thing was most effective at suppressing evil qi. Unless that demon had cultivated into a fiend, it couldn’t possibly summon reinforcements within the net anymore.

The demon leaped halfway, suddenly twisted its body, avoiding direct confrontation with Lin Chengyou, and instead clawed toward Qi Zhi, who was closest.

Qi Zhi felt the foul qi hit his face and couldn’t help but panic, but then remembered Senior Brother was guarding the formation and steadied himself again.

Sure enough, before the demon could get close, Lin Chengyou had already pursued and arrived. He never stuck to conventions when dealing with evil, immediately slashing at the demon’s neck.

The demon tilted its head to dodge, turning its shoulder to deliver a claw strike: “Lin Chengyou, you’re so cold-blooded, how are you anything like a Daoist?”

“Ridiculous. The Dao is in my heart, and evil is before my eyes. Showing mercy to demons like you would be showing no mercy to all living beings under heaven.”

“Such a great ‘calamity,’ why speak such noble-sounding words? We’re different genders – I originally had no use for your vessel, but seeing how handsome you are, today I’d like to try being a young man. Let me give you fair warning before I strike, so you’ll know why you die.”

Lin Chengyou laughed loudly: “As expected of the old locust tree demon from Mount Liquan, you’ve spent years cultivating thick skin, haven’t you? I have many saddles, but I’ve never seen one made of thousand-year-old tree bark. Since your skin is so thick, shall I peel it off to make a saddle for fun?”

The demon’s eyes flickered – not only had Lin Chengyou spoken wildly, he had so quickly discovered its true identity.

Even as Lin Chengyou bantered, he brought his blade edge forward, its white gleam as cold as his eyes.

The demon dared not underestimate these moves anymore. Its giant claw retracted, and it fell awkwardly onto the Li Palace position within the formation.

The Li Palace was one of the four yin palaces, different from the four yang palaces guarded by the two young Daoists – it was a cage specially designed to drain demon magic.

The demon had only stood there briefly but already felt dizzy and confused, knowing that if trapped there long, all its cultivation would dissolve like ice.

Calculating that the time was about right, it sat cross-legged, raised its arm in the night, and severed one of its fingers. Blood sprayed onto the ground like blooming ten thousand-petaled red plum blossoms.

Enduring the intense pain, it planted the severed finger in the courtyard.

Lin Chengyou flew through the air to above its head, but before he could strike, the demon suddenly emanated dark halos of light around its body, like invisible ice blades chopping through the air at his chest, immediately blasting him far away.

Lin Chengyou was greatly shocked, feeling blood and qi churning in his chest. He turned a somersault but still couldn’t dispel that strange force. He hurriedly planted his blade on the ground, barely stabilizing himself.

It felt as if ice shards had been injected into his blood, every pore extremely cold. Just as he tried to straighten up, a mouthful of fresh blood suddenly surged up his throat.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi couldn’t help opening their eyes: “Senior Brother!”

Over there, the guards were escorting the injured from the inner room, not daring to look much because they knew the demon was in the courtyard.

Teng Yuyi, busy tending to her cousin’s sedan chair, had fallen behind the group.

Suddenly hearing children’s cries, she turned in surprise. Through the crisscrossing shadows of people, she finally saw Lin Chengyou kneeling on one knee, coughing incessantly, clearly wounded.

Author’s Note: “Jue Sheng Qi Zhi” comes from the Dao De Jing, meaning to abandon cleverness and wisdom, returning to simplicity and truth.

Yesterday’s first published version was missing a small section at the end, so some readers saw an incomplete version. If you feel you missed some plot, you can go back to check the previous chapter.