Chapter 1031: Chapter 1030: Gathering of Huo Mountain Daoist and Buddhist Paths
Lu Zheng blinked, looking bewildered.
Liu Qingyan and her sister both looked at Ruyi, a bit nervous.
Only Shen Ying reacted the fastest, wrapping her hand around Lu Zheng’s arm with a giggle, "I said this Daoist just glanced at Qing Quan several times, turns out he noticed Qing Quan’s true form, suspecting our connection to the local Ghost Qi."
Liu Qingyan curiously asked, "Daoist, have you long noticed the Ghost Qi here? That’s impressive. You know, I didn’t notice it until the Ghost Qi thickened just now, and only then did I sense it."
Ruyi: ???
Although it was praise, there was just something that felt off.
Ruyi squinted his eyes, asking deeply, "So you really are the Nine-tailed Fox of Tushan?"
Lu Zheng smiled faintly, "So what if I am?"
Ruyi frowned, about to speak, but saw Lu Zheng turn his head towards the door.
"Amitabha Buddha!"
The sound of a Buddha chant echoed as two monks in gray robes walked in slowly, one old and one young.
"Zen Master Chi Huan?"
"Fellow Daoist Lu?"
The leading older monk was indeed Zen Master Chi Huan from Dharma King Temple of Huo Mountain Dao, who had met Lu Zheng before.
"Uncle Chi Huan? Junior Brother Pu Jing?"
"Ruyi? You’re here too?" Zen Master Chi Huan saw Ruyi, sensed with Divine Thought, and was quite surprised, "Are you here alone?"
With those words, he gave Lu Zheng another look, and then understood, saying, "Indeed, the Mystic Sect worldwide is one; as Fellow Daoist Lu is here, there naturally will be no issue."
"Hmm?" Ruyi was a bit confused, "Master recognizes Young Master Lu?"
Zen Master Chi Huan was also puzzled, "You don’t know Young Master Lu?"
Ruyi: ???
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed, but he laughed, "Ruyi Daoist is Master Miaoyi’s disciple?"
In Huo Mountain Dao, the only Daoist he knew was Master Miaoyi from Yuan Mountain Temple, and Zen Master Chi Huan happened to be present there as well.
"Indeed, Miaoyi’s beloved disciple," laughed Zen Master Chi Huan.
Liu Qingyan, who also knew Zen Master Chi Huan, stood up and moved seats, "Master, please sit!"
"Amitabha Buddha, thank you Miss Liu."
Zen Master Chi Huan expressed gratitude and sat down together with the young monk named Pu Jing, while Shen Ying was about to call the waiter for vegetarian dishes, but saw the monks unceremoniously grab lamb buns to eat.
Lu Zheng first greeted Zen Master Chi Huan and then turned to Daoist Ruyi, bowing, "Lu Zheng of the White Cloud Temple, greetings to Daoist."
"White Cloud Temple?" Ruyi was surprised, "You are a disciple of the White Cloud Temple?"
"True through and through," Lu Zheng laughed.
"And she..." Ruyi turned towards the Liu Qingyan sisters.
"Indeed, the Nine-tailed Fox of Tushan, also Lu Mou’s wife," Lu Zheng nodded, pulling Liu Qingyan’s delicate hand. Seeing Ruyi is still a bit perplexed, he added, "Lu Mou is an Outer Disciple of the White Cloud Temple."
Ruyi blinked, then couldn’t help but laugh, bowing in return, "Ruyi of Yuan Mountain Temple, greetings to Fellow Daoist!"
...
Everyone finally knew each other’s identity and greeted one another.
Unexpectedly, such a small mountain town gathered experts from both Huo Mountain Daoist and Buddhist Paths, so Lu Zheng curiously asked Zen Master Chi Huan, "Master, are you also here for the local Ghost Qi?"
Zen Master Chi Huan shook his head, "The poor monk is taking the young disciple on a training journey and passed by here, seeing the Ghost Qi rising in town, came in to take a look."
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, turning to Ruyi, "Daoist Brother, you seem to have known this town has something strange?"
Ruyi nodded, "I passed here half a month ago and noticed the Ghost Qi, investigated daily around, but did not find the source."
Speaking of which, Ruyi felt a bit embarrassed, "Today happened to see you all, suspecting this young lady’s true form, a bit of doubt, and thus offended."
"No harm, no harm, Huo Mountain Dao being on the border, is understandable." Liu Qingyan waved with a smile, recalling Master Miaoyi and Zen Master Chi Huan’s attitude facing Yue Yifeng at the beginning of the year.
Being at a strategic border, Great Jing and Northern Domain are sensitive, yet diving in deep, knowing the other side can do nothing, they would instead put down their guard.
"Still haven’t found the source of Ghost Qi after half a month?" Monk Pu Jing curiously asked, "Has anyone in the town encountered harm?"
Ruyi shook his head, "The Ghost Qi only erodes the townsfolk’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit each night, no one has been harmed yet, but if this trend continues, it’s only a matter of a night where the entire town’s people will perish, turning into a Ghost Realm overnight."
"Hiss—" Everyone inhaled collectively.
Zen Master Chi Huan looked back at the distant innkeeper and the waiter, who could only see them talking but not hear what was being said, as a soundproof barrier was set by Lu Zheng early.
"Such vicious ghost, there are thousands in this town!" Pu Jing was startled.
"Exactly, I was thinking if I still couldn’t find it, I’d return to the sect to seek master’s aid," Ruyi said.
"Brother, you’ve been searching all alone; aren’t you worried you might not defeat this ghost?" Pu Jing asked in surprise.
Ruyi’s eyes flashed with divine light, patting the broad sword on the table, saying calmly, "How would I know without trying?"
Lu Zheng raised his thumb, "Daoist Brother is mighty!"
"I see." Zen Master Chi Huan nodded, understanding the situation, "If so, then let’s see what ability this ghost has tonight."
With that, they exchanged a glance, their eyes slightly filled with seriousness, for they could feel the surrounding Ghost Qi was growing thicker.
The innkeeper yawned, watching them finish the meal, forced himself despite fatigue, to clean the table with the waiter then bade farewell and went upstairs to rest.
Outside, the sky has completely darkened, and even Liu Qingquan felt a bit of chill, with the eerie Ghost Qi arriving at night also revealing its presence, palpable to Monk Pu Jing and Liu Qingquan.
Liu Qingyan pulled Liu Qingquan closer, holding her subtly to protect.
Lu Zheng, Zen Master Chi Huan, Shen Ying, and Ruyi extended their Divine Thought, sensing the Ghost Qi, trying to trace the source of Ghost Qi enveloping the town.
Then...
They found nothing!
The Ghost Qi was not specifically targeting the four, but they couldn’t sense where it was coming from as if it appeared suddenly with the nightfall out of nowhere.
"Array?" Pu Jing looked at his master
Zen Master Chi Huan shook his head, "No trace of Array Spell Seal."
"Magical Treasure?" Liu Qingyan looked at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng nodded, "It’s possible."
"Could it really be due to the terrain?" Shen Ying didn’t sense any human traces, casually pointed to the ground, "Perhaps underground there’s a place unintentionally connected with the Netherworld, with Nether Ghost Qi seeping through, during the day it’s fine, but at night with Yin Qi growing heavier, the Ghost Qi appears?"
Next moment, Ruyi pointed at his own brow, a hint of gold light flashed momentarily, then he concentrated on the underground location Shen Ying indicated.
