Chapter 135: Demons in Company
Chapter 135: Demons in Company
“Had you packed everything?”
“Two carriages full!”
“Did you bring enough silver notes?”
“Three chests!”
“How come it’s only three chests?”
“…”
“And the people… why are there so few? Heard the Shoushan Sect is deep in the mountains. What if you lack care there?”
“Honestly! I’m going to the mountains for cultivation, not a brawl. Why would I bring so many people?”
“Let Old Steward Huang go with you. He’s experienced and trustworthy…”
“Do not need!”
“Then take the four maids Chunhua, Qiuyue, Dongxue, and Xiahe. They’re ready to attend to you…”
“Do not need!”
“She’s still a child herself. We’d be thankful if she didn’t need care, let alone looking after you…”
“Bring these manor guards then. The roads aren’t safe…”
“…Really, no need for this!”
“You child! Leaving everything behind here! Not considering how you’ll manage out there?”
“…”
“…”
In the few days before departure, the Fang family residence was raised like cocks and dogs in chaos. Madam Fang and Elder Fang seemed driven to bundle the entire Fang Manor onto Fang Cun. Even though Fang Cun repeatedly explained he was going to cultivate quietly, bringing no steward, no retinue of servants, and definitely none of those four pretty and delicate maids…
The old couple persisted tirelessly in arranging things for Fang Cun. And he, in turn, had to patiently explain over and over.
Finally, after much pleading, they managed to fill two large carriages.
As for the servants and guards Master Fang insisted on sending along, Fang Cun still declined. He only took Xiao Qingliu and Little Fox. Xiao Qingliu, used to working alongside him, was essential. Little Fox simply couldn’t stay back home; born a spirit-creature, she couldn’t await a normal girl’s fate of marrying. The path of cultivation was her only choice.
As dawn broke, the carriage trotted—clip-clop—driving out of Willow Lake City.
“Second Young Master Fang is leaving to cultivate in Qingjiang?”
“Best wishes for Second Young Master Fang! Return accomplished and a high official!”
He thought he’d leave quietly, but the neighbors knew. Many gathered on the streets early. As the carriage appeared, loud cheers erupted well-wishers followed alongside. Some offered eggs for his journey, a local custom. Others set off firecrackers and beat drums.
These fireworks weren’t celebrating the departure of a troublesome scourge. They were pure goodwill – loud snaps to scare off evil spirits, wishing Second Young Master Fang a smooth, peaceful journey, free of ill-intentioned foes.
Amid the lively goodbyes, Fang Cun had to stop and give his farewells no less than three full times.
Though the mood was mostly joyous, a few stood apart. The beancurd-selling girl cried the whole morning. The widow from Ancient Well Alley sighed and shut her door. The butcher by the meat stall…
…Cough!
…
The neighbors warmly escorted Fang Cun beyond the city gates, chatting cheerfully… until the atmosphere suddenly dipped. Following their gazes, Fang Cun saw a single rider waiting ahead on the road. Yu Qingli sat atop a bony horse, a plain dark-gray robe on his back, a bundle behind him. Though his expression tried to convey warmth, the underlying gloom made the neighbors uneasy; their high spirits vanished.
“What are you foolishly grinning at? Get over here and help drive the carriage!” Seeing him from afar, Fang Cun felt exasperated and snapped out the words.
Yu Qingli, who was painstakingly crafting a dignified yet gentle smile… froze.
“From here on, we’re no longer classmates!” Fang Cun continued. “You are the disciple. I am the Master. Driving for your Master—isn’t that your duty?”
Yu Qingli looked utterly resigned “…Fine…”
He dismounted wordlessly, tied his bony horse to the carriage, climbed onto the baggage wagon, and dismissed the servant temporarily driving the second carriage back to Fang Manor. Taking the whip, he gave it a practiced flick through the air.
Farewells said, the two carriages, one after the other, rolled onto the main road, leaving Willow Lake City further behind.
The gathered townsfolk murmured their thoughts: “What kind of companion is that Second Young Master Fang found?”
“Suddenly think Second Young Master Fang should have brought some guards…”
“That one man seems worth ten guards. Seeing him smile like that… I actually forgot to ask for my farewell tip…”
“…”
“…”
Even Fang Cun, glancing at Yu Qingli dutifully driving the wagon, felt a twinge of helplessness. The man’s features were simply too striking. If he wasn’t smiling, he looked like he’d already cut a deal with bandits and was about to ambush them. Yet when he did smile, it felt like a malevolent smirk, plotting murder and robbery. Even neutral expression made you feel like in the next instant, he’d pull a knife and charge…
“Should I really have gotten some bodyguards?” Fang Cun pondered quietly.
Just then, they saw a row of figures kneeling neatly by the side of the desolate road. Leading them was Lin Jiyi. With him were Green-robed Gu-Master Guai Li, Lady Hongtao, and Ghost Scholar.
“So?”
Fang Cun pulled open the carriage curtain, smiling as he surveyed the group.
Lin Jiyi approached, speaking lowly: “Since Young Master travels to assume duties as an Elder at the County Sect, naturally you’d require assistance. Though unspoken, I made arrangements. This time, the four of us shall accompany you to the Shoushan Sect. We won’t travel openly beside you, lest others see us and harm your reputation. Should you require anything, merely send word. We shall appear immediately to serve.”
“Quite clever,” Fang Cun thought. “I was just wondering if leaving him here in Willow Lake City might breed moths of trouble…” Yet he asked aloud: “I assigned you to oversee Willow Lake City affairs. Yet you accompany me to Qingjiang Prefecture. Who then oversees matters here? If troubles arise, whom do I hold accountable? You? Or another?”
Lin Jiyi, prepared, replied: “I’ve arranged rotations: the three with us, plus Lao Gutou, Chen Laoguai, and Lu Ying. They will each spend three months supporting Young Master and three months managing Willow Lake City. I myself shall remain constantly by your side, tending duties and mundane tasks. Naturally, Young Master, if this arrangement displeases, please instruct directly…”
These demons knew Fang Cun felt uneasy letting them remain his absence. Their deliberate approach ensured he could forever keep a eye fixed upon them… Observing Lin Jiyi, Fang Cun found this increasingly amusing. The strength of a will to survive is truly boundless…
The names Lin Jiyi mentioned were also those of the rogue cultivators Fang Cun had previously subdued, capable enough. Among them, Chen Laoguai, Lao Gutou, Ghost Scholar, and Gu-Master Guai Li were Foundation Establishment Realm. Lin Jiyi and Lady Hongtao, though merely Breath Refining Realm, held sway as Lin Jiyi managed everything for Fang Cun.
Such apparent obedience – anticipating Fang Cun’s thoughts unattended, volunteering without command, even scheduling rotations… stemmed less from devotion than despair. Fang Cun understood: three months of grappling with the Life-Death Sigil had shattered their hopes; now, they feared perhaps more even than Fang Cun himself what might become of them should Fang Cun perish.
“Very well, proceed according to your plan.”
Fang Cun refrained this time seeking fault in Lin Jiyi, his command delivered casually.
Lin Jiyi bowed. “Understood! We’ll scout the road ahead.” He beckoned, and the companions prepared to depart.
Fang Cun gave a small nod. “If danger arises, signal a warning!”
Lin Jiyi and the others nodded agreement. Gu-Master Guai Li added: “I possess a golden cicada capable transmitting sound over ten miles. It will serve to alert you, Young Master.”
Fang Cun smiled and consented. The group swiftly bowed lower and vanished into the desert wilderness.
Fang Cun glanced back at Yu Qingli rigidly driving their carriage. His aspect remained grim—clearly projecting greater intimidation towards those rogue cultivators.
Fang Cun smiled his way: “Aren’t you curious?”
Yu Qingli demurred flatly: “Being an apprentice disciple, how would one dare question an Elder’s doings?”
Fang Cun massaged his temple with distressed exasperation. Was this grudge-bearing?
Shaking his head, he focused upon traveling.
Society was hardly peaceful now; highwaymen and thugs were less thick as yak hair yet scourged the roads. With mere trio—a frail servant, a slender young man in scholarly robe, and a diminutive fox—they remained magnets for unwise raider gangs. Fortunately, those demons now scouting off-road — one worry abated.
“Carriage rolling along… demons moving secretly in company… it holds distinct appeal! Alas, demons now tethered are few… Kitten-sized handfuls mostly…” Fang Cun mused. “Who knows if someday greatness attained? Scripture-chariots lumbering—Ten thousand demons march attenant! Heaven-Earth itself winces shifting hue; ten thousand beasts draw back dreading my approach… Heh, though prospects presently distant… So now? Benefit of two concealed in Foundation Establishment Realm and two cultivating Breath Refining scope for danger…”
The thought cut off abruptly.
A distant sharp cicada’s SHRIEK! pierced the air!
“What?”
Fang Cun snapped alert toward the sound direction. Agreements just forged moments prior: that signal meant emminent danger, something beyond the grasp of those four ‘cat demons.’ Could conflict unfold already thus early since departing? And coming toward the assigned route that fast?
…
…
Realizing instantly, Fang Cun, Xiao Qingliu, and Yu Qingli simultaneously fixed gazes toward the desolate horizon westwards. Land lay barren, quiet save for sole chilling wind swirling over dying grass…
Cicada shriek reported west; danger approach from that direction. Shriek intensification shriek denoted dangerous proximity rapidly closing the interval separating groups.
Yu Qingli suddenly proposed: “Second Young Master, withdraw inside carriage. Permit me scout position further ahead!”
“Unnecessary.” Fang Cun calmly gestured forward. “It approaches already visible—doesn’t it?”
GRUMBLE! GRUMBLE!
Before them lay empty ground… yet overhead suddenly dark churning clouds amassed incredibly fast. Within moments, from their direct forward, sailed immense grotesque dark shapes outlined midst chaotic churning warpy vapors resembling ship imposing like small hills pressing onwards — demonic blue scripture ship maneuvering aerial ‘waters’, ‘wake’ roiling disrupting clouds and reality warped from flow energies trailing.
“So that is a… ‘Dharma Ship’?”
Fang Cun stared skywards at the craft amidst billowing skies, unmistakable awe tinging his reflections.
“Second Young Master, caution…” Yu Qingli called low, twin gleaming silver stilettos slipping quietly into each hand as bared sleeves revealed weapon grips sheathed across forearms worn beneath scholar attire. A Dharma Ship wasn’t impossible rarity; but such mode travel implied sophisticated Qi Refiner operating mechanisms beyond simple enthusiasts… Furthermore, its trajectory and speed indicated deliberate intercept course vector accurate from Qingjiang Prefecture down to few miles deviations — unmistakably designed directly targeting Fang Cun’s location.
“Could responses start this quickly?”
Fang Cun reflexively tightened grip over ancient familiar Old Umbrella resting beside within arm’s constant reach. He sighed internally: barely ninety li separating them from Willow Lake City gates departed that morning…
Before thoughts could reflex fully, the Dharma Ship alighted above. Winds abruptly gathered strength in suppression radiation surge downward flattening everything undersky. From swirling sails formed upon decks stood dimly discernable single figure — slender, female clearly even robed midst obscurity projecting mask depicting ancient Bronze Mask covering upper face, twin only discernable features – fierce blazing orbs visible through holes designed eye-level.
Then these twin laser eyes scanned utterly frantically downward. Unmediated intense hatred instantly focused precisely Fang Cun.
Then…
They…
“WAAAAAAAH!!!!”
Violent scream rent deafening silent sky!
The instant scream erupted, she abruptly weakened — limbs failing seemingly — plunging downward towards barren sand field below while adding desperate cries: “Fi… Fight back now! Help… lift GU curse-wound NOW… help now…!”
…