Chapter 352: A Familiar Shadow
Chapter 352: A Familiar Shadow
For a moment, all was silent, not even the sound of heavy breathing could be heard.
When the sound of slaughter fell and the headless divine statue fell from the sky, it seemed as if the entire Mingzhou had suddenly become quiet.
Zhang Aogu looked towards her altar, where the Five Sorrows Demon had been slain, and saw a few pieces of black bones lying on the ground. She was puzzled for a moment, then suddenly realized what had happened and hurriedly bowed towards the fading shadow of the Exorcism Bureau.
The golden-armored warrior had already returned to the Exorcism Bureau, and the shadow was quickly fading and disappearing, but the black token that had been thrown using her hand a moment ago had not been retrieved.
As the shadow of the Exorcism Bureau vanished, Zhang Aogu vaguely saw through the narrow gap of the bureau's opening, a figure standing within the shadow, looking towards her. She couldn't see the person's features clearly, but she felt a strong sense of familiarity.
Beside her, Seventh Aunt, who had become smart this time, also hurriedly followed suit and bowed. Her small eyes rolled as she looked at the black bones, seemingly doubting herself as she muttered,
"It looks so fierce, but it's not that powerful. It just killed it..."
"..."
Ever since Seventh Aunt became the head of their family, the only person she had seen with her own eyes and feared was this Five Sorrows Demon. But she never expected that such a fierce being would lose its head so easily.
Seventh Aunt seemed to suddenly understand something, but she didn't know what impact it would have on her in the future.
"Is it over?"
At this moment, the Mountain Lord of Yellow Dog Village also smiled faintly and lifted his palm slightly. The green tent vines that crisscrossed the village quickly retracted and returned to Xiao Hong Tang's arm, once again forming a butterfly knot.
He seemed satisfied with the result and muttered to himself, "If you don't taste the sweetness once, you'll never be convinced. After borrowing this time, they'll probably come to get it soon."
As he spoke, his figure gradually disappeared, turning into a fragrant breeze and heading towards Old Yin Mountain.
On the Red Lantern Society's side, when the Five Sorrows Demon's head fell to the ground, Red Lantern Lady slipped out from Erguotou's clothes and her shadow materialized as she knelt on the ground.
In the dim light of the lantern, her face was pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably, "Another one killed, another one..."
"That noble from Mingzhou Prefecture doesn't like dealing with people, but loves killing..."
"..."
Outside of Green Stone Town, the group of people who had hurriedly rushed out from Mingzhou Prefecture saw the Five Sorrows Demon being slain, and their bodies trembled. They didn't dare to mount their horses, but the rolling dark energy seemed to meet a cold and dissatisfied gaze.
In front of the majestic and solemn mansion, a figure stood with his hands behind his back. They couldn't see the person's face, but they could see him turning to look at them, and he coldly laughed,
"I don't think you're doing a good job as a hall master..."
"..."
Old Mr. Mei hurriedly knelt on the ground, shivering, feeling as if the sky had fallen. He didn't dare to say a word.
"Madam, get up. That noble has already left. Seeing how much you helped this time, he might bestow more blessings in the future..."
The Right Defender of the Red Lantern Society helped Red Lantern Lady to her feet, as she had been kneeling so hard that she couldn't be pulled up. Her eyes flickered as she looked towards the headless divine statue in the distant battlefield, and she sighed in her heart,
"The Wandering Ghost Sect will probably become lively from now on..."
"It's a pity. I was thinking of stealing something, but now it's all ruined. Since the descendants have taken action, it seems we can't be so careful in the future. We've missed our chance..."
"If I had acted earlier, I might have obtained it by now..."
"..."
"..."
"Little Young Master, what was that sound just now?"
In the Yujian Village at the edge of Old Yin Mountain, the young master of Grass Heart Hall had recently brought the Life Fate Sect's doctor and disciples to treat the evil energy, and they were staying in the mountains, avoiding the chaos outside.
But they were unaware of the battle between the bandits and the village defenders on Green Stone Town. They felt the shout and saw the huge headless divine statue falling from the sky, smashing the ground and dissipating the evil energy.
Even the Five Ghost Manager was startled by this commotion and hurriedly came to ask the young master.
"The Exorcism Bureau is open, and a hall master has been killed."
The young master spoke calmly, and there seemed to be no expression on her face. The white cat she raised was crouching on her knee, its fur standing on end at the nape of its neck, and its pupils were narrowed like a needle.
"Ah?"
The young master spoke casually, as if describing a minor matter, but the Five Ghost Manager's scalp went numb as he listened, "The Exorcism Bureau that exterminates evil spirits and demons by imperial decree?"
"No, hasn't it been closed for twenty years?"
"..."
"If it hadn't been closed for twenty years, how could things have gotten so chaotic now?"
The young master gave a cold smile and said, "Of course, since it's been reopened, this world will probably become even more chaotic."
The Five Ghost Manager was truly startled by this news and didn't know how to respond. Discussing this issue was already a bit difficult for him, but just then, the young master's face suddenly changed, and the Five Ghost Manager also seemed to hear something.
They hurriedly looked outside, and a fragrant breeze gently blew through the courtyard. A faint, ethereal melody seemed to fill the air, and a sense of majestic solemnity descended from above.
"Set up the incense table and prepare the three offerings."
Little Boss suddenly remembered something and quickly instructed the Five Ghost Manager, "There's a master from the mountains who is about to return to the mountains and is passing by our place..."
The Five Ghost Manager hurriedly prepared the necessary items, and soon, an incense table was set up, and offerings were presented. Little Boss led the way to the incense table and respectfully offered incense, worshipping the air above.
"Eh?"
Usually, during such worship, the spirits would receive blessings without any tangible signs.
But this time, perhaps because they were too close to the deity, they distinctly heard a gentle voice, "The outside is in chaos, yet you still think of eliminating evil and bringing blessings. Such sincerity is rare. Considering the hardships of your cultivation, I shall bestow upon you this path of fate and law!"
The Five Ghost Manager and the others dared not raise their heads, unsure of what had happened. They could only sense Little Boss's body trembling slightly, seemingly overwhelmed with excitement.
White Wine Lady made the boldest move since her reincarnation, perhaps having already fulfilled her heart's desire.
However, at that very moment, far away from Old Yin Mountain and Greenstone Town, someone felt the beheading of the Five Sins Demon and was so scared that he felt like his body was turning to dust.
He was originally an incense burner for the Five Ghost Lord and was responsible for the Evil Transport Altar.
But because he had been holding onto a treasure, he had a premonition and suddenly sensed that the situation was amiss. He made the biggest decision of his life, using the excuse of being pursued to avoid going to Greenstone Town. Instead, he fled far away and hid in a chicken coop in a farmer's house, not daring to show his face.
When the headless divine statue fell from the sky, he was so terrified that his mind went blank. At the same time, he deeply felt that he had narrowly escaped a disaster by holding onto the treasure. He decided that when he returned, he would properly worship and nurture the treasure to improve his fate.
Just as he was experiencing a mix of joy and fear, he suddenly heard an "Eh," and quickly turned around. A beautiful little head poked into the chicken coop, staring at him with wide eyes.
"Oh my..."
The Evil Transport Messenger was startled, and the little head quickly retreated. Limping, the person's face was filled with joy and surprise, "I finally found you..."
"It's not in vain that I chased you for hundreds of miles with a limp leg..."
"Give me back my treasure!"
"..."
"..."
"It's finally resolved..."
Hu Ma, near Greenstone Town, witnessed the Five Sins Demon's head falling to the ground, and his heart relaxed slightly.
He saw the two golden-armored warriors carrying the chest, silent and solemn. They lifted the heavy mace, placed it back in the chest, and the lock on the chest automatically sealed itself. Then, they turned and headed back towards Old Yin Mountain, their figures gradually fading as they walked.
Hu Ma dared not stop them from taking the chest; he could only bow deeply behind them, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
"It's mine sooner or later, and it's time to take it back."
He could only console himself with these thoughts. Hu Ma took out a Blood Nourishment Pill, turned his back, tore it in half, and then kneaded it. He turned back around and handed it to Xiao Hong Tang as a reward for her hard work that night. Then, he led her back to where Zhang Aogu had set up the altar.
"Aogu, are you at ease now?"
Zhang Aogu was still at the altar, perhaps still in shock. She hadn't yet disassembled it.
As soon as Xiao Hong Tang arrived, she spotted several pieces of black bones scattered in the altar and immediately picked them up, placing them in her basket.
Seventh Aunt, who was nearby, had also noticed and wanted to pick them up, but she hesitated. After all, she was a respected elder; it wouldn't be appropriate to compete with a young girl.
Hu Ma didn't stop Xiao Hong Tang either. He glanced at her and then turned to look at Zhang Aogu. To his surprise, she was crying, and she nodded vigorously. Suddenly, she turned and knelt before Seventh Aunt.
Seventh Aunt, who had been smiling, turned her head and was about to scold Zhang Aogu for kneeling again. She felt embarrassed, "Eh, eh, why are you kneeling again?"
"I don't have any reward money on me..."
"..."
"I do, I do."
Hu Ma quickly took out the copper coins he had earned from helping others with wandering ghosts and gave them to Seventh Aunt, asking her to reward Zhang Aogu for her kowtow.
Zhang Aogu, not understanding the situation, accepted a few copper coins that still held Hu Ma's faint body temperature. As she held them, she looked up and saw Hu Ma standing next to Seventh Aunt, smiling at her. Suddenly, her heart stirred, as if remembering something.
Faintly, she recalled the words the young manager had once said to her, "Don't be afraid, Aogu. In our path, there will always be someone to take care of things."
(End of Chapter)
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