Chapter 77: Demon Turmoil

Chapter 77: Demon Turmoil

Not long after, Jiang Tang also returned from her plum blossom search.

"Where's your grandfather?" Meng Yuan asked.

"Gou Accountant is marrying off his granddaughter and invited Grandpa to the wedding feast," Jiang Tang replied.

"Then let's go eat outside too," Meng Yuan said, patting the little maid's head. "Tie Niu is also there."

Meng Yuan planned to visit Zhuo Yuelou again.

It had been seven days since he parted ways with Li Wei Zhen, but Meng Yuan hadn't seen a trace of Teacher Nie.

The past two days, he had even made a special trip to the garrison, but didn't see Zhang Gui Nian, nor Zhang Ling Feng and Gong Zi Hua.

Unable to find any acquaintances, Meng Yuan spent some silver to inquire and learned that Zhang Gui Nian was on official business, taking two or three dozen people with him.

As for where they went, that was the garrison's secret, and Meng Yuan didn't pry further.

"Are we going to Zhuo Yuelou?" Jiang Tang asked.

"Yes, Tie Niu is going too!" Meng Yuan smiled.

"Good!" Jiang Tang readily agreed. "Wait for me a moment, I'll change my clothes and be right there!"

As they watched her rush into the house, Meng Yuan and Tie Niu left through the main gate.

But after waiting for two quarters of an hour, Meng Yuan had already spent half the time explaining the key points of the Gale Sword Technique to Tie Niu, when Jiang Tang finally came out.

She had changed into new clothes and shoes, and her expression was quite solemn.

Ever since Meng Yuan took Hu Qian and Tie Niu to Zhuo Yuelou, this maid had been mentioning it from time to time, indicating that she had already connected with Hu Qian.

After leaving the house, the three of them headed towards Zhuo Yuelou.

Along the way, they saw a vendor selling candied hawthorns, and Jiang Tang bought a skewer for Tie Niu.

"Why didn't you buy one for yourself?" Tie Niu held the candied hawthorn, but noticed that neither Meng Yuan nor Jiang Tang had one.

Jiang Tang touched the hairpin in her hair and smiled, "I'm an adult now."

"You're still not as old as me!" Tie Niu said.

Meng Yuan smiled but didn't say anything.

Upon arriving at Zhuo Yuelou, Nie Qingqing immediately spotted Jiang Tang. After a quick assessment, she smiled and approached.

Jiang Tang acted as if she had known Nie Qingqing for a long time, recognizing her at a glance.

Without needing an introduction from Meng Yuan, they held hands and started calling each other sister.

The four of them went upstairs and sat down in a corner. They continued chatting non-stop, leaving Meng Yuan unable to join the conversation or even think of something to say. He simply nibbled on some preserved fruit.

After sitting for a while, lanterns and candles were gradually lit in various places. Looking down at the river below, they saw a gondola passing by, occasionally hearing someone speaking in a low voice.

Meng Yuan's keen ears picked up the sound of footsteps below, and he immediately stood up.

At the staircase, he indeed saw Teacher Nie and Zhang Gui Nian walking side by side, followed by Zhang Ling Feng, Gong Zi Hua, and two young men.

After not seeing them for several days, Meng Yuan felt that Teacher Nie and the others seemed more seasoned, with a sense of vitality about them, indicating they had accomplished something significant during their time away.

Nie Yanian spotted Meng Yuan but didn't say a word. He looked around and saw Nie Qingqing and Jiang Tang chatting happily. Next to them sat Tie Niu, quietly eating fruit.

"Even when she used to eat or chat with others, she would keep an eye on the six roads. It seems your maid has some ability. Now that I'm here, she doesn't even have time to look at me," Nie Yanian said, grabbing Meng Yuan's shoulder. "Are you letting her be the main disciple or the junior disciple?"

"Teacher Nie, the little maid and I have gone through hardships together," Meng Yuan said softly.

Nie Yanian didn't let go of Meng Yuan's shoulder; he only extended his finger and tapped Meng Yuan's nose.

"Alright, alright!" Zhang Gui Nian was getting impatient. "If he loses sight of that little girl, you won't approve of her either! Qingqing has already killed three, and even the castrate master's tough luck won't hold up!"

Hearing the commotion, Nie Qingqing quickly came forward, "Father, Xiao Meng has been waiting for you. Why are you only returning now?"

"..." Nie Yanian paused, then poked Nie Qingqing's forehead with his finger. "How did you turn out like this? I didn't see you come up to check on me first!"

Nie Qingqing seemed accustomed to this and only smiled, bowing to Zhang Gui Nian and the others.

"Alright, let's get some food and drinks ready!" Nie Yanian hummed a couple of times.

The group entered a private room, and Nie Yanian sat down with a thud, remaining silent.

Zhang Gui Nian also appeared a bit weary and didn't utter a word.

Only Gong Zi Hua, the epitome of a gentleman, smiled and introduced his two colleagues to Meng Yuan, despite the weariness on his face.

Once the wine and dishes were served, the group ate their warm meal. Nie Yanian noticed Meng Yuan's attentive pouring of wine and asked, "What brings you to seek me, Scholar Meng?"

"It's the demons and monsters again." Meng Yuan took out Li Wei Zhen's letter.

Nie Yanian took the letter, opened it, and gave a cold laugh. "So, he's off to do great things!" He looked at Zhang Gui Nian, passed him the letter, and pointed at Meng Yuan, saying, "This kid is something else. Not only does he flirt at home, but he also keeps a little weasel outside! Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

Upon hearing this, Gong Zi Hua and the others turned to examine Meng Yuan, their faces filled with curiosity.

"You might as well keep a vixen! Young people these days have no experience!" Zhang Gui Nian took the letter, his face initially smiling, but after reading it two or three times, his expression grew increasingly grave.

Gong Zi Hua and the others, seeing this, knew that the letter must contain something important, so they waited for Zhang Gui Nian to speak.

"Tell me, what sutras are they reciting, and what abilities do Ox Vajra and Deer Vajra possess?" Zhang Gui Nian looked at Meng Yuan with seriousness.

Meng Yuan naturally didn't conceal anything and described the scene of the demons hastily reciting the sutras.

"How can sutras be recited like that? If they keep at it, they'll be coming down the mountain to kill people!" Zhang Gui Nian crumpled the letter, his fingers lightly tapping the table. "Old Taoist said that Qingzi might be the one behind this, but who is this Qingzi? I've never heard of him."

"He must be a master. Send a message up there and have them look into it." Nie Yanian, unburdened by official duties and merely an assistant, felt lighthearted.

Zhang Gui Nian nodded, put away the letter, and didn't ask further.

Meng Yuan, seeing that they were done discussing, quietly asked, "Where did you go, Teacher Nie? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I was going to take you with me," Nie Yanian said irritably. "But when I looked for you, I found out you had gone to Mu Zhuang! I knew right then that you were going to secretly meet the weasel. I was right!"

He turned to Gong Zi Hua and asked, "Little Gong, you're a scholar too. Do all scholars have this taste?"

"At least I don't, Senior Nie," Gong Zi Hua replied, never one to speak ill of others.

Nie Yanian smiled but remained silent.

"It's the demon turmoil. We're here to eliminate demons," Zhang Gui Nian continued the conversation, smiling. "Those demons are nothing like your little sweetheart. They have fangs and want to eat people!"

Meng Yuan, eager to test if he could refine demons with his Essence Fire, was naturally very interested. He quickly responded to Zhang Gui Nian, "Uncle Zhang, Teacher Nie taught me martial arts. I owe him a great debt of gratitude. Since he's gone, I can't just sleep at home."

"Old Taoist said you exhausted the Seventh-Rank Ox Vajra. Tell me how you did it." Zhang Gui Nian didn't answer but asked about something else.

Upon hearing this, Gong Zi Hua and the others turned to Meng Yuan, their previous laughter at the mention of the weasel gone.

Meng Yuan then described in detail the scene of him fighting and fleeing, not hiding anything.

After Meng Yuan finished, Nie Yanian's previous expression vanished, and he nodded in satisfaction.

Just as Zhang Gui Nian was about to speak, Nie Yanian held him back by his shoulder.

"This kid, I just casually taught him a bit, and he's already breathing heavily, daring to fight a Seventh-Rank Ox Demon!" Nie Yanian tapped his wine bowl and looked at Zhang Gui Nian. "Next time, you help me teach him. By the way, at your age, how many demons did you slay when you advanced your cultivation?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end