“Tomorrow, it will spit out that pair of crickets,” Shu Wuxi replied to him calmly.
“Oh…” Lu Xiaochan exhaled.
At that moment, Lu Xiaochan heard someone shouting “Help!” outside the window.
Lu Xiaochan, upon hearing this, immediately sat up from the couch. He hadn’t taken off his shoes, so he ran directly to the window.
It was a night watchman. He was stumbling and rolling, his speech so unclear he was stuttering.
The lights that had been extinguished on both sides lit up again, and several households propped open their windows.
“Hey! What’s wrong! What happened!”
Although there were no fierce demons chasing the night watchman, he was so frightened that his face was pale white, and he fell flat on the ground.
“Xiao Erge has no breath left! He looks exactly the same as when Young Master Chen died! Hurry and take a look!”
“Huh? What?”
“Xiao Erge is dead? And he looks exactly like Young Master Chen?”
“Quick! Quick, let Old Liu go and check!”
Old Liu was the barefoot doctor in the town. He could handle minor ailments like headaches and fevers, but when it came to any difficult and complicated illnesses, he was at a loss.
“Ah! How unlucky our Lushu Town has been recently! First, a charlatan came to swindle food and drink, and chopped down our hundred-year-old locust tree!”
“Then some evil spirit came and swallowed Hutu alive! Although that Hutu got what he deserved!”
“Yes, yes! Young Master Chen was fooling around at home before the seventh day of mourning for the old master had passed, and died of a stroke! I heard that when Old Liu went in to examine his body, his clothes were disheveled, his cheeks were sunken, and he was as thin as a pole!”
“Let’s go! Let’s go and see!”
Lu Xiaochan swallowed and turned towards Shu Wuxi, looking at him with pleading eyes.
“Didn’t we agree not to watch the commotion?” Shu Wuxi said unhurriedly.
“This isn’t watching the commotion! Xiao Erge is in trouble!” Lu Xiaochan was really anxious this time. “Without Xiao Erge, I, a blind beggar, would have starved to death long ago!”
“He’s already dead now.”
“He just has no breath! What if pinching his philtrum or something brings him back?”
Lu Xiaochan was desperate. He felt for the bamboo branch Shu Wuxi had placed on the table and haphazardly tapped the ground with it, nearly tripping over a chair.
Shu Wuxi lifted Lu Xiaochan’s bamboo branch, gently sliding it and grasping the other end.
“Whether he’s alive or dead, this is your last night in Lushu Town.”
Shu Wuxi’s voice was lower than usual. This time he was serious and wouldn’t let Lu Xiaochan have his way anymore.
“I’ll listen to you! I really will listen to you!”
Shu Wuxi stood up and led Lu Xiaochan out.
Quite a few people had already gathered at Xiao Erge’s doorstep. At first, there were several older women, but as soon as they saw Xiao Erge lying there spread-eagle and naked, they quickly ran out shouting things like “shameless!”
Old Liu pressed Xiao Erge’s philtrum and put a small piece of ginseng in his mouth. Only then did Xiao Erge breathe out.
Lu Xiaochan and Shu Wuxi were listening outside Xiao Erge’s door.
“He’s not dead. We can go now,” Shu Wuxi said.
Inside the room, it wasn’t just Old Liu, but also Jiang Wuchao.
Jiang Wuchao frowned, carrying a long sword, carefully examining Xiao Erge.
“Old man, are you sure Young Master Chen looked like this when he died?”
“Immortal Lord! I’m sure! I’m sure! Although this old man’s medical skills aren’t great, this person has no vital energy left, no yang essence… Isn’t it just from excessive indulgence?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaochan’s brows furrowed.
When Wang Dayong was possessed by “Chongyuan” and caused trouble at the Wusi Tavern, Xiao Erge was fine, even agile enough to escape by climbing over the wall. How could he have indulged to the point of such weakness in less than three days, unable to even catch his breath?
Moreover… Lushu Town was so small, with only so many women. Who was Xiao Erge’s lover?
Not only Lu Xiaochan, but Jiang Wuchao also thought of this question.
“This is impossible. Who is Xiao Erge’s lover? How could his yang essence be depleted in just a few days?”
Shu Wuxi tugged on the bamboo branch.
“Jiang Wuchao can resolve this matter. We can go now.”
“For Jiang Wuchao to resolve… Could it be that Xiao Erge is possessed by an evil spirit? Like… like the butcher Wang Dayong?”
Was it because the old locust tree was cut down, breaking that Tailing Qingyuan curse, allowing evil spirits and lust demons to come to Lushu Town for food and drink?
“Yes and no. It’s not Xiao Erge who’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
“Then who is it?”
Shu Wuxi had already turned and taken two steps away.
“If you’re unwilling to go back, then just stay here and keep watching the commotion.”
Seeing that Shu Wuxi was about to let go of the bamboo branch, Lu Xiaochan quickly spoke up. “Brother Wuxi, don’t be angry! I… I won’t watch the commotion anymore…”
Lu Xiaochan had witnessed Jiang Wuchao’s abilities that day.
If it really was an evil spirit at work, once Jiang Wuchao’s Minglan sword came out, Lu Xiaochan’s ears wouldn’t be able to bear it, and he’d end up vomiting all over again.
Xiao Erge’s life was saved, and since Lu Xiaochan couldn’t exorcise demons or subdue evil spirits, there was no use in staying here.
It was better to obediently follow Shu Wuxi back. If Shu Wuxi really got annoyed at him for not keeping his word and left him behind, Lu Xiaochan would lose out big time.
Lu Xiaochan obediently followed Shu Wuxi out of the alley where Xiao Erge lived, but then heard a voice from above saying, “You two, please wait.”
Jiang Wuchao had somehow caught up with them, silently standing on the roof at the entrance of the alley.
He lightly jumped down, landing in front of Shu Wuxi.
“The other day, a senior with extremely high cultivation sent a message from a thousand miles away, informing me that evil spirits were at work in Lushu Town. That’s why I rushed here to exorcise demons and subdue evil spirits. Otherwise, Lushu Town would surely have been slaughtered by the evil spirit ‘Chongyuan’. May I ask if you are that senior, young master?”
What a good question, what a wonderful question, what an excellent question.
Lu Xiaochan also really wanted to know Shu Wuxi’s identity.
Which immortal sect was he from? How many years of cultivation did he have? Did he have an immortal title?
But Shu Wuxi’s lips were tightly sealed. Getting him to speak was harder than ascending to heaven.
“You’re blocking my way,” Shu Wuxi answered him with just a short sentence, then pulled Lu Xiaochan to walk past Jiang Wuchao.
Lu Xiaochan was immediately disappointed.
Although Shu Wuxi was a man of few words, Lu Xiaochan knew he disdained lying.
Since he didn’t deny it, it was most likely him who sent the message from a thousand miles away.
Jiang Wuchao gripped his Minglan sword, blocking Shu Wuxi’s path.
“May I ask if you know the background of this evil spirit that has taken two lives?”
The two lives referred to Young Master Chen and Xiao Erge.
“If you, with three hundred years of cultivation, can’t see through this evil spirit’s background, it only shows that Ling Nianwu’s disciples are getting worse with each generation.”
Jiang Wuchao was stunned.
That day when Shu Wuxi sat on the roof with Lu Xiaochan, Jiang Wuchao had glanced at him and found no trace of spiritual energy around Shu Wuxi, and his appearance was ordinary. But upon second thought, he realized he couldn’t remember Shu Wuxi’s appearance, indicating that Shu Wuxi had used the “Blocking One’s View with a Leaf” technique to conceal his appearance.
If he were just an ordinary cultivator, there would be no need to hide himself. Only those who had reached a certain level of cultivation, whose appearance had become unforgettable due to their cultivation but didn’t want to attract attention, would use the “Blocking One’s View with a Leaf” technique.
Now, Shu Wuxi directly called Ling Nianwu by name. There was only one possibility: even Ling Nianwu was a “junior” before Shu Wuxi.
But those with cultivation higher than Ling Nianwu could be counted on one hand.
Jiang Wuchao couldn’t associate Shu Wuxi with any of them, because these few were all recluses who had long since withdrawn from the world, unless the ancient evil spirit Chaos caused trouble again.
Jiang Wuchao immediately withdrew his sword and bowed to Shu Wuxi.
“This junior has been rude and offensive. I hope senior can forgive me.”
Shu Wuxi looked straight ahead, not even giving him an “hmm,” and just pulled Lu Xiaochan away.
When they returned to the inn, it was already past midnight.
Although Lu Xiaochan had countless questions, he didn’t dare ask a single one. He could only hug the medicine pot, feeling the turtle on it to relieve his boredom.
At this moment, the sound of a woman’s teasing laughter came from the room next door.
It was gentle and alluring, making one’s heart race and bones go soft.
Then came a man’s entranced voice. “Don’t go— Don’t go— Where do you think you’re going!”
Lu Xiaochan’s hearing was already sharp. The sound of clothes being completely removed, the bed shaking, the woman’s laughter as she pulled at the bed curtains, it was like thousands of hands tickling Lu Xiaochan’s heart.
His whole body felt unbearably hot. He unconsciously turned his face, his burning ear brushing against his shoulder.
“Shu Wuxi… did you hear… hear any noise?”
Lu Xiaochan’s mouth was dry, only Shu Wuxi’s voice could alleviate his discomfort.
“No.”
Shu Wuxi’s voice rang out, the cool night suddenly enveloping the scorching desert.
How could he not hear?
Such a big commotion?
Or was Shu Wuxi’s heart as still as water, the seductive sounds passing over him without a trace?
Lu Xiaochan exhaled, unhappily punching the wall.
“Keep it down! Are you going to let people sleep or not!”
The woman’s teasing laughter became even more unrestrained, like waves crashing one after another. Lu Xiaochan took out the small medicine pot, removed the lid, and took a big gulp.
The cool liquor passed through his throat, but it felt like it was on fire.
Lu Xiaochan couldn’t bear it anymore. He pitifully asked Shu Wuxi, who was sitting there without even changing his breathing. “Can you go next door and tell them to keep it down a bit?”
The creaking sound of wood shaking on the other side of the wall was enough to split one’s head open.
Lu Xiaochan didn’t expect Shu Wuxi to make them stop, but if Shu Wuxi left even for a short while, Lu Xiaochan could at least comfort himself.
Shu Wuxi stood up, but instead of going out, he sat down beside Lu Xiaochan.
“Xiaochan, focus your mind.”
Lu Xiaochan was about to cry. His fair face had long since turned red, a few strands of hair were stuck to his cheeks with sweat, his hands tightly gripping the medicine pot, and his legs drawn up.
