Chapter 15: The Blue-Robed Daoist’s Return

“Blessings from the Infinite Heavenly Lord.” A Daoist in a blue robe and nine-ridge headcloth saluted the young girl and the caravan leader who had just arrived.

The young girl nodded, while the caravan leader bowed with folded hands in return.

The Jinzhou Assistant Magistrate introduced them.

That Daoist was a wandering Daoist who had heard about the events at Tianqiao Village and had intentionally traveled there a few days ago.

However, he had not been able to prevent the incidents.

While they were still exchanging introductions, the young girl went to examine the bodies placed in the government office. Seeing the corpses again, she still felt a sense of discomfort.

The bodies of the middle-aged man and Ning Su surfaced in her mind, like maggots clinging to bone, hard to shake off.

It took her a while to regain her composure.

She briefly examined the male corpse before her. There were no external fatal wounds, only old scars from daily labor.

It was said that his family, not seeing him appear in the morning, went to call him and found he had been dead for some time.

Several such cases had occurred in Tianqiao Village, and people naturally associated them with divine punishment.

“Lay believer, what do you think?” The blue-robed Daoist asked for the young girl’s opinion.

The Jinzhou Assistant Magistrate had addressed her as ‘Immortal Master’, a formidable title with many implications. How could this young girl bear such a title?

The middle-aged blue-robed Daoist intended to test her.

She slightly nodded. She had indeed noticed something: a faint black aura on the corpse, almost completely dissipated.

With her naked eye, she did not see the corpse’s soul; it was nowhere to be found.

“Is it… something unclean causing trouble?” the caravan leader asked her.

The young girl nodded again.

“How does the lay believer know?” The blue-robed Daoist asked, half out of curiosity, half as a test.

The young girl pointed at the corpse, as if to say, “The corpse is emitting black smoke. Isn’t it obvious?”

Of course, others could not see it.

The blue-robed Daoist kept staring at her, highly vigilant.

He would not casually call her a fake, nor would he casually believe she was an immortal master.

Her strange white hair and golden pupils alone were not enough to prove her identity, after all, demons could have such an appearance.

The Daoist felt more wariness than respect for her.

After the simple test, the Daoist fell silent.

The Jinzhou Assistant Magistrate was relieved that they hadn’t clashed. He had feared the Daoist would pick a fight, or that the young girl would look down on him.

Upon learning that the young girl was going to Tianqiao Village, the blue-robed Daoist took his leave, saying he needed to prepare ritual tools.

As soon as he left, the Jinzhou Assistant Magistrate quickly spoke well of him: “That Daoist means well. He’s been wandering for years and can’t stand demons and evils. He also wants to help. The villagers of Tianqiao suffered right under his nose, and he’s now very remorseful.”

The young girl nodded, as if agreeing.

Why? Because she noticed the Daoist’s shoes were quite worn. How many miles must he have walked to wear them out so? How frugal must he be to not replace them?

After leaving the government office, the young girl left the city, returned to the inn to drop off her belongings, and then set off.

Seeing her leave in such a hurry, the caravan leader, worried, followed.

In truth, he also wanted to broaden his horizons and verify his suspicion: was this young girl truly a member of the mystical sect?

“Are we… leaving just like that? Not bringing anything?” Seeing her take nothing, the caravan leader panicked a bit.

The young girl raised the axe in her hand.

Huh? That’s it?

Even the caravan leader felt a bit like backing out.

The two rode horses, not hitched to a cart.

The caravan leader briefly taught her how to ride. It wasn’t difficult. The horses were well-trained and responsive to the reins. With a specific flick of the reins, the horse would turn left or right.

Since the young girl was not yet familiar with riding, they could only travel at a slow pace, not gallop.

Just before it got completely dark, they arrived at Tianqiao Village.

A fire was lit at the village entrance, guiding people like a lighthouse.

Several people stood at the entrance: the village head was waiting for someone.

Upon seeing the young girl and the caravan leader, the village head was terrified and ran into his house. The others also fled.

They were like frightened birds. Seeing her white hair and golden pupils, they dared not gamble whether the newcomer was good or evil, human or ghost.

Regrettably, the villagers’ only means of survival was to hide in their homes, clutching sticks or knives.

That was it.

The caravan leader asked the young girl, “Is there anything unclean nearby?”

The young girl scanned the area. It was pitch black all around; she could see nothing.

She shook her head.

Logically, demons and ghosts liked to come out at night, but they hadn’t encountered any yet. Perhaps it was still too early.

The caravan leader led the young girl to the villagers’ doors and called out, but no one would open.

The young girl noticed that every household had placed a piece of copper, or perhaps a copper mirror? It looked small and crude.

In front of each house, there was a similar pattern drawn in blood, probably animal blood, not human.

They knocked on several doors, but no one opened. The two followed the direction the village head had fled and found his house. He also dared not open the door, no matter what the caravan leader said. He remained cowering inside.

Muffled murmurs came from inside, like chanting prayers.

This continued for another incense stick’s time. The two returned to the bonfire at the village entrance. Someone had arrived.

Snow began to fall, quickly turning from sesame-sized flakes to large goose-feather snow.

The man dismounted, brushed off the snow, and warmed himself by the fire. He was nearly frozen.

It was the blue-robed Daoist, who had prepared in the city and then galloped over.

The three sat by the fire in silence, as if old friends.

The caravan leader spoke first, half-jokingly: “Daoist, from your attitude at the government office today, were you doubting our identities?”

The blue-robed Daoist fixed a sharp gaze on the white-haired, golden-eyed young girl opposite.

“She is not a ghost, nor does she seem human. In my opinion, she is likely a demon.” The Daoist tightened his grip on his peachwood sword, ready to strike.

The caravan leader smiled instead and asked back, “If she is a demon, then what am I?”

Blue-robed Daoist: “You are a bewitched human.”

The caravan leader continued: “If she is a demon capable of bewitching humans, and I am already bewitched, then do you have the ability to deal with both of us?”

The blue-robed Daoist loosened his grip on the sword, easing the tension.

He knew he was no match.

The caravan leader asked curiously, “Daoist, you seem to be a man of passion. Since you know you cannot defeat us, why do you still dare to return here?”

The blue-robed Daoist sighed and said, “If even I do not come, there will be no one to save these villagers.”

It was as if he was threatening the two suspected demons by claiming he had the ability to deal with them, or as if he was pleading, hoping they would spare him out of shared suffering.

In the blue-robed Daoist’s view, if he did not return, these helpless villagers would face both a powerful demon and an enraged evil god that had been worshiped for years.

Even though he knew he might not be able to do anything, he still came back.

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