Chapter 80: The Old Mother Dog Ancestor

Chapter 80: The Old Mother Dog Ancestor

As summer approached, the morning sun was partially hidden, and the distant horizon seemed to brew a late spring rain.

On the dog demon's body, a small flame slowly ignited, first burning the fur, then the flesh and bones, until it was all reduced to ashes.

This dog demon was merely an intelligent spirit beast that had not yet reached a rank. Its Essence Fire had only grown slightly, with limited effectiveness.

However, even so, Meng Yuan confirmed that feeding the Essence Fire with demon flesh was indeed a viable method.

The difference lay in the fact that the higher the rank of the demon, the better the effect of feeding the Essence Fire.

Previously, Teacher Nie had mentioned that while humans could eat demons and spirit beasts, demons were similar to humans to some extent, and consuming too much could lead to mental issues.

But now, Meng Yuan was using the Essence Fire to burn demons, a great service to the people by eliminating harm. Moreover, he hadn't personally tasted the demons, and his mental state was unaffected, so there was no need to worry about this problem.

The Essence Fire retracted back into his fingertips and then disappeared from sight.

Meng Yuan stood up and looked towards Gong Zi Hua, who was questioning a severely injured dog demon several dozen steps away.

As he approached, Gong Zi Hua glanced at Meng Yuan and saw that the dog demon's body had already turned to ashes. He curiously asked, "Have you opened the two energy points of your heart?"

"Indeed," replied Meng Yuan, who had already prepared for this. "My Essence Fire can only burn away flesh, but it can't burn other things. That's why we can't use the method of burning the body with firewood."

When the body was completely burned, the firewood would still be left people puzzled, as it would attract unwanted attention.

Since they had to burn the bodies frequently, it was better to change the approach to avoid suspicion.

Opening the Heavenly Insight Divine Ability was like a blind man touching an elephant, but by borrowing the energy of the five elements from the energy points of the five organs, it was a relatively stable method.

The kidney bladder was associated with water, and the heart and intestines were associated with fire. By stimulating these two energy points, one could infuse fire into the sword.

Of course, this method consumed a significant amount of true energy. Unless one had reached the eighth stage of perfection or entered the seventh stage, it was impossible to use this technique.

Meng Yuan had consumed the Fire Bodhi Fruit, and Gong Zi Hua and the others knew that his energy core was much larger than ordinary people, which made this method feasible.

Indeed, upon hearing this, Gong Zi Hua nodded and said, "Teacher Nie, your insight is truly remarkable."

He always felt that Meng Yuan carried a killing intent beneath his gentle demeanor. In a low voice, he advised, "We are stopping killing with killing. Brother Meng, don't lose your original intention."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Gong," Meng Yuan replied with a smile and a bow.

The two didn't waste time on idle chatter. They carried the severely injured dog demon and began questioning it.

Upon questioning, they learned that this dog demon had another leader, known as the Mother Dog Ancestor.

The Mother Dog Ancestor also followed the path of martial arts, but she was only at the eighth stage and had always ruled over the mountain.

"The Mother Dog Ancestor wants to take a wife. She has ordered us to prepare a grand wedding feast!" exclaimed the dog demon.

"Wait!" Meng Yuan kicked the dog's head and asked, "Mother Dog Ancestor, you want to take a wife?"

"The Mother Dog Ancestor calls herself the Mother Dog Ancestor, but she's not a real mother dog!" The dog demon defended himself vigorously.

After further questioning, they learned that the Mother Dog Ancestor was in the village at the foot of the mountain ahead. She was about to marry at noon, and the wedding preparations were already underway.

"Why choose noon instead of the customary afternoon?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"The Mother Dog Ancestor said that if you go out and cause trouble, you'll eventually face consequences. So, we can only hold the grand event at noon!" explained the dog demon.

"..." Meng Yuan was speechless.

"You'll get used to it," Gong Zi Hua said, patting Meng Yuan's shoulder. "There aren't many normal people here; they're all crooked and twisted."

Meng Yuan saw a few people peeking from a distance, clearly the villagers who had been chased by the dog demons earlier. He waved at them.

The villagers hesitated for a while, and only an old man and a young man hurried over, while the rest ran away, showing their fear of demons as if they were afraid of soldiers.

The old man kept kowtowing, tears streaming down his face, pleading, "Please, sirs, save my granddaughter!"

"Don't worry, take your time," Gong Zi Hua said gently.

The old man continued kowtowing, and although he shed many tears, he couldn't explain clearly.

When the young man spoke, they finally understood the situation.

It turned out that in the nearby Huangshi Village, over a dozen dog demons had gathered, causing the villagers to flee. The Mother Dog Ancestor was marrying the young man's wife, who was also the old man's granddaughter.

They had sought help from the county government office, but no one came to their aid.

Seeing that the young man's words matched those of the dog demon, Gong Zi Hua discussed the matter with Meng Yuan. The Mother Dog Ancestor was only at the eighth stage and didn't pose much danger, so they could capture her directly.

After reaching an agreement, they killed the severely injured dog demon and hurried forward on horseback. The old man and the young man, eager to save their loved ones, followed unsteadily.

After traveling for two miles, they saw a small village. At the village entrance, there was a brick and tile courtyard.

Several tables were set up outside the courtyard, with a human arm on top of one of them.

A few people were playing suona and beating drums, but their eyes had lost their vitality, like walking corpses.

Soon, a tall dog demon walked out of the courtyard, wearing a cloth flower on his head and a bright red robe.

This must be the Mother Dog Ancestor.

The Mother Dog Ancestor opened her blood basin-like mouth in a joyous laugh, holding a human arm in her hand, which she bit into before speaking, "Sixty years ago, I went down the mountain to travel. I heard that when you encounter wealth, you should seize it, and when you encounter danger, you should avoid it! I took the name Mother Dog, and indeed, everything has gone smoothly! I first learned skills under the High Mountain Lord and later established my own sect. My descendants are countless, and today I marry another beautiful wife!"

"Old Mother Dog! True longevity!"

"Old Mother Dog! True longevity!"

"The Mother Dog Ancestor comes to the wedding hall, and every day she sleeps, true longevity!"

The crowd of dog demons shouted in unison, which was quite eerie.

Meng Yuan and Gong Zi Hua exchanged a glance, understanding the origin of the name "Mother Dog." The original saying should have been "When you encounter wealth, seize it, and when you encounter danger, avoid it."

Apparently, the Mother Dog Ancestor either met a half-baked scholar or misunderstood what she heard.

In any case, her knowledge fell short compared to Xiang Ling.

"Hey?" The Mother Dog Ancestor's nose twitched as she looked at Gong Zi Hua.

"Take action!" Gong Zi Hua no longer hid, and with a strike, the Mother Dog Ancestor, being highly alert, dodged immediately.

Meng Yuan, an eighth-rank warrior, unsheathed his sword and unleashed the Flying Cotton Technique, rushing towards the Mother Dog Ancestor. Just then, they heard the sound of galloping horses from outside the village. Eight riders approached, led by the second son of the Governor, Jie Shen. All eight riders had weathered faces, and Jie Shen no longer carried himself like an aristocrat, indicating they had endured a rough journey.

Their clothes were free of blood, suggesting they hadn't encountered any troublesome demons.

"Kill!" Jie Shen roared as he charged.

Meng Yuan ignored the newcomers and focused solely on the Mother Dog Ancestor.

The Mother Dog Ancestor drew a long sword from her saddle and prepared to engage. Meng Yuan's footwork was exceptionally swift, and as he passed, several minor demons had their heads sliced off. Reinforcements arrived, but the Mother Dog Ancestor, sensing the danger, quickly retreated, abandoning the bride and fleeing.

Meng Yuan wouldn't let the Mother Dog Ancestor escape, and he pursued her, disregarding the minor demons.

After a hundred steps, the Mother Dog Ancestor realized she couldn't outrun Meng Yuan, so she stopped and bared her canine teeth, shouting, "Come on, let the Mother Dog Grandpa fight!"

The Mother Dog Ancestor performed a sword dance, and as she danced faster, she shouted, "Watch my Flying Cotton Seven-Strike Sword!"

Meng Yuan approached, leaped, and with sheer momentum, delivered a powerful downward strike.

Meng Yuan's third strike was incredibly powerful, and his physical prowess far surpassed that of his rank.

A loud bang sounded, and the Mother Dog Ancestor's sword shattered. Her left shoulder was sliced off, exposing her internal organs.

The Mother Dog Ancestor's Flying Cotton Seven-Strike Sword, despite its flashy appearance, was no match for Meng Yuan's overwhelming strength. She hesitated, then rushed back to pursue the remaining dog demons.

"They outnumber us, and we should let them go for now." Gong Zi Hua stepped forward and patted Meng Yuan's shoulder, shaking his head slightly.

"We can't say anything, nor do we have the chance to fight."

After a moment, Jie Shen's attendants had finished off the dog demons, and those who fled were pursued.

The Mother Dog Ancestor's remains were brought back, along with several captured minor demons.

Meng Yuan noticed that five of the attendants were ninth-rank, and two were eighth-rank.

As for Jie Shen, he was also an eighth-rank warrior with considerable skill.

The sky grew darker, and the wind carried a dampness, signaling an impending rain.

Just then, the old man and the youth they had encountered earlier arrived, stumbling forward. They saw the remains on the ground and the unharmed bride, and the three of them hugged each other, weeping.

The villagers who had been beating drums and gongs remained bewildered, kneeling on the ground in silence.

"Why are you crying?" Jie Shen struck the old man's face with a whip, annoyed, "Go start a fire and cook! I haven't had a hot meal in days!"

The old man dared not complain, banging his head on the ground in submission. He quickly pulled his granddaughter and grandson-in-law to start a fire in the iron pot at the entrance.

"Are you related to Zhang Gui Nian?" Jie Shen asked after the matter was settled.

Gong Zi Hua knew the newcomers were not friendly, but he maintained his composure and introduced himself, "I am Gong Zi Hua, a minor official under the Hundred Households Office."

"So you're just a minor official?" Jie Shen smirked, "Where are the others?"

"We came to scout ahead." Gong Zi Hua replied.

Jie Shen didn't ask further. His attendants brought a long bench, intending to interrogate the captured demons. Just as they were about to start, the rain began to fall.

They moved inside, and Jie Shen questioned each demon one by one, while Gong Zi Hua and Meng Yuan listened.

But after questioning them all, the minor demons only knew that Cangshan Jun was a pangolin, but they didn't know where he lived or his abilities.

"Kill them all! Cook them!" Jie Shen impatiently waved his hand.

The rain was heavy, and Meng Yuan and Gong Zi Hua couldn't travel, so they waited for the rain to stop.

Soon, the aroma of meat filled the air, and the old man and the youth brought in a clay pot, "Thank you, sirs, the dog demon meat is ready."

Jie Shen sat down to eat, using his chopsticks without any manners. He found a dog egg and gulped it down, showing no aristocratic etiquette.

Meng Yuan and Gong Zi Hua weren't invited, but they didn't crave the meat, so they took out their dry rations to eat.

After they were full, Jie Shen stretched lazily, ready for a nap.

"I thought there was a bride?" Jie Shen pointed outside, "Bring her in, I want to see."

The attendants laughed, and soon, the bride was brought in.

The bride was average in appearance but young.

"Let me see her!" Jie Shen laughed, pulling the bride into his embrace.

The bride was terrified and cried for mercy.

"Spare my granddaughter, sirs!" The old man and the youth rushed in, kneeling and begging for mercy.

Jie Shen kicked them away and took the bride inside.

"You let us go back to our fields and forced us to borrow at high-interest rates!" The youth stood up, his face turning red, then lowering his head to bang it on the ground in frustration.

"I helped you kill the demons, so what if I sleep with her?" Jie Shen laughed disdainfully, drawing his sword to point at the youth's chest.

The youth was stunned, then charged forward.

Jie Shen smiled contemptuously, deflecting the youth's attack with his sword.

The demon problem was about killing, but the human problem was about eating.

As the youth rushed forward, Jie Shen's sword suddenly descended, pressing against his chest. Then, with a swift movement, Jie Shen's sword pushed the youth back.

"Flowers bloom again, but youth doesn't return."

Meng Yuan's sword remained sheathed, and he bowed, saying, "The young couple's love is deep, and they've reunited. Why ruin their happiness? Jie Shen, our mission is to vanquish demons and protect the people. Your actions go against your father's good intentions."

The attendants all grabbed their sword hilts.

Jie Shen looked Meng Yuan up and down, then held the bride tighter, laughing, "What if I don't listen to you?"

Meng Yuan stepped forward, and Gong Zi Hua tried to stop him, but Meng Yuan had already spoken, "Old Mother Dog, you're truly long-lasting."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end