Inner Demons

Compared to the entire Weicheng, Wusu and Lili were also like two specks of dust.

The former Weicheng would lose its light and sound after the 11 PM to 1 AM. The officials and aristocrats who enjoyed nightly feasts should have rested by then. The city of hundreds of thousands lay dormant on the Wei River Plain, harboring countless breaths and life force.

But everything changed after the Taoist priests arrived.

Weicheng was no longer dark. During the day, people could only see the sun. But as the sun set and night gradually descended, a cluster of characters above Weicheng slowly lit up. No one could understand that cluster of characters, not even the most learned scholars in the city. Because it was the True Name Talisman Script written by a Daoist Orthodoxy cultivator, representing the most fundamental meaning of "light" in this world.

Therefore, this character cluster became the sun of the night—it floated at an unknown height, emitting a brilliant glow.

This light made darkness disappear, made thieves have nowhere to hide, and also made everyone in Weicheng truly experience the power of those Immortals… They could make the weather and time obey them.

The Yu Family experienced this power earlier than anyone else.

When the Taoist priests arrived, they first appeared in the Yu Family courtyard. Yu Qi, the Yu Family patriarch, rushed out to greet them in a panic. Wusu and Lili still remembered the look on their master’s face at the time, and some of the things he said. When he learned the news, he was first taken aback, and then showed a deep, reserved joy. Master Yu knew that the Yu Family was the most powerful in Weicheng at the moment, had the most connections, and had the most comprehensive information.

Therefore, he also knew that the Daoist Orthodoxy must need them to do things that the lofty Immortals were not suitable to do. This meant that he would eventually become the actual controller of Weicheng… no, the actual and nominal controller.

Wusu and Lili also remembered that it was evening when Yu Qi walked out. The sun had not yet set, and there was a brilliant sunset glow on the horizon. This meant that the next day might be a bright, sunny day.

In the sky, serving as a backdrop, someone was writing the character that would later illuminate the entire Weicheng—that person was a tiny black dot above the warm-colored sky, and the sky was like a vast wall.

Yu Qi strode out solemnly—his heart was so eager that he forgot to ask his son, Yu Meng, to join him in receiving the guests. This oversight saved Yu Meng’s life.

He saw the thirty-six Taoist priests by the rock garden outside the central courtyard. At the time, they were standing together talking to each other, as if they were in their own garden. Yu Qi stopped a dozen steps away from the Taoist priests, and waited quietly for a while. However, a full quarter of an hour passed, and no one exchanged pleasantries with him—as if he did not exist.

The Yu Family patriarch believed this was a test from the Immortals. He knew that these people who had descended from the sky were not comparable to the "Immortals" who had been stationed in Weicheng before—they could even write words in the sky. And before this, most of the time, the Taoist priests who appeared in the mortal world tried to avoid being sensational.

Therefore, he suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and continued to wait quietly for another quarter of an hour.

Still, no one paid him any attention.

And the Yu Family people gradually gathered, watching this awkward scene from among the trees, outside the walls, and through door cracks.

Yu Qi finally couldn't help but cough and said, “Venerable Immortal Masters. I am Yu Qi. Venerable Immortal Masters have come to my humble abode…”

One of the Taoist priests turned his head to look at him, while the others continued to talk—they seemed to be discussing an unresolved issue.

Yu Qi thought that it might be related to him. For example, what role should the Yu Family play in the future? How much power would they receive?

While this thought was still revolving in his mind, he heard the Taoist priest say calmly, “Oh, it’s you.”

The Taoist priest said this, without stopping, and went straight to the point.

“The demon Li Yunxin previously caused trouble in the city, and your family colluded with him, collectively harming the city’s populace. Your crime is monstrous, and you have fallen into the demonic path. Today, I am here to eradicate the demon.”

Yu Qi was greatly alarmed—things were completely different from what he had imagined! Several thoughts flashed through his mind, thinking about how he should respond and defend himself to appear sincere without being looked down upon by the other party. As he thought this, he saw the Taoist priest raising his finger and pointing at him—

Yu Qi felt the other party's contempt for him. Accusations or harsh words, after all, were just words, and there was room for maneuver. But what was this, pointing a finger at his nose like a vulgar ruffian?

Thus, he frowned and said, “This one—”

But he misunderstood the Taoist priest’s meaning. The Taoist priest was not pointing at his nose to reprimand him. A transparent aura burst forth from the Taoist priest’s fingertip, striking Yu Qi’s forehead. In that instant, his entire body suddenly became transparent, and then lost its color. His body turned gray-black—becoming a mass of ash that maintained the outline of his living form.

Some people couldn't help but cry out. Some screamed and fled, while others stood frozen in place.

But the Taoist priest ignored them, turning his head to continue the discussion, as if the person he had just killed was not the most powerful man in Weicheng, but an insignificant commoner.

Wusu and Lili witnessed all of this.

They immediately turned and walked toward the back house where Yu Meng resided. It took two quarters of an hour to walk from the central courtyard to the back house. During this time, the two girls shed some frightened and sorrowful tears, spoke some words of mutual comfort, and thought up a few strategies, finally calming themselves down completely.

The Yu Manor was huge. By the time they entered the moon gate to the back house, the noise of the front courtyard had completely disappeared. The sky darkened, and the moon rose. Against the backdrop of the fairy-tale night, a Taoist priest continued to write that character in the sky. The low sound of insects chirping rose from the bushes in the back garden, and there were no lights lit in the rooms.

Since the "divine person" who possessed him disappeared, Yu Meng had become fond of sleeping. He would start a long nap during the quietest part of the midday, only waking up when the moon rose, drinking some cold congee, sitting in a daze for a while, and then regaining his vitality.

Wusu and Lili entered the door. Wusu pursed her lips and walked toward the small stove in the side room. Lili, however, walked straight to Yu Meng’s bedroom. She gently pushed the door open, glanced through the crack, and saw by the moonlight—Yu Meng was still sound asleep, letting out a low snore. But the sound was intermittent, and based on past experience, she knew he was about to wake up.

So she closed the door and quietly retreated from the room.

When Lili came to the side room with two cloth bundles, Wusu had already lit a fire under the stove and poured the lotus seed congee that the two girls were originally going to eat for lunch into the pot. She added water and began to boil the congee.

They didn't speak. Wusu took the bundle handed to her by Lili, took off the cool undergarments she was wearing, and changed into the thick, tough, dark short clothes from the bundle. She also removed all the ornaments from her hair bun and put them in the bundle, tying her hair into a ponytail.

Then she took a small sword and went out, leaped onto a tree beside the courtyard wall, and hid herself in the dense canopy, looking down at everything nearby.

Lili took over, boiling the congee and serving it out. After the congee had slightly cooled, she took a paper packet from her bosom and poured all the white powder inside into the congee. After a moment's thought, she added another packet. Then she stirred it thoroughly with silver chopsticks, tasted a little, and silently frowned.

The powder was claimed to be colorless and odorless, but too much of it always had a strange smell and formed small clumps. She sighed, immersed the bowl of congee in cold water drawn from the well, and fanned it with a fan.

Another quarter of an hour passed, and they heard the sound of someone turning over in the room, and three short bird calls from the tree.

Lili carried the damp bowl of congee into the inner chamber.

Yu Meng was awake, staring at the ceiling of the bed in a daze. Hearing Lili open the door and come in, he said in a lazy, low voice, “Don’t light the lamp, it hurts my eyes.”

Lili did not light the lamp. She carried the bowl to Yu Meng’s side and sat on the low stool, scooped a mouthful, blew on it, and said softly, “Eat some congee to refresh yourself. It will be time for dinner soon.”

Yu Meng mumbled a few words, saying he didn't want dinner either. Then he arched his body, moved his head to the side of the bed, rested it on Lili’s lap, and opened his mouth.

Lili smiled and fed him a mouthful.

Yu Meng ate it and smacked his lips: “It’s bitter.”

Lili still smiled and snorted: “Your inner heat is too high, and your mouth is bitter, it’s not the congee that’s bitter. Wusu and I have been sweating over the stove for you all afternoon, and you say it’s bitter. Our good intentions are wasted. Since it’s bitter, then don’t eat it—I’ll pour it out or spill it, whatever is fine.”

She said this and made to leave. Yu Meng quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and begged for forgiveness: “Good Lili, don't be angry. It must be my inner heat, and my mouth is bitter—feed me again, I’ll eat it all!”

Lili was still slightly angry. She shoved the small bowl of congee into his hand, stood up, and put her hands on her hips: “Eat it yourself. After you eat it all, I'll decide whether to stay angry or not.”

Yu Meng hurriedly sat up, not speaking. He tilted his head back and poured all the congee in the bowl down his throat, then looked at Lili and smiled: “Look, I…”

He only managed three words before collapsing onto the bed with a thud.

Three more urgent bird calls came from outside the window.

Lili rushed out of the room and changed into the short clothes from her bundle in the side room as well. Then she found a single-wheeled pushcart from behind the room.

A quarter of an hour later, Yu Meng was loaded onto the pushcart and covered with a straw mat.

By this time, over half an hour had passed since Yu Qi was killed by a single finger from a Taoist priest of the Daoist Orthodoxy. They later learned that during this half an hour, many prominent figures in the city had come to the Yu Manor. Some were notified by the Taoist priests, and others, who had grudges against the Yu Family, came to see if they could profit from the amazing news.

The Yu Family was a behemoth. But once Yu Qi was killed by a Taoist priest of the Daoist Orthodoxy… this behemoth became a piece of fresh meat.

—No one could save them if they opposed the Daoist Orthodoxy.

Thus, countless fierce beasts came sniffing the blood, beginning to tear at and devour this behemoth.

The people Wusu had seen in the tree finally arrived at the moon gate.

They didn't look like Yu Family members, but rather like local hooligans and Wandering Heroes from nearby streets. They carried sticks, and even two short knives, aggressively attempting to rush in, believing that the Yu Family Young Master's residence must hold a large number of treasures.

As one of them stepped one foot through the moon gate, a flash of lightning darted out from the shadow beside it. The electric light struck the person's throat. This person fell down without a sound, clutching their throat and wide-eyed.

The sudden turn of events left the dozen people behind him dumbfounded. They then saw a girl in short clothes, holding a short sword, flash out from behind the door. She looked at them coldly and said, “My sister and I got here first. You all need to respect the rule of first come, first served. If you want to get rich, go somewhere else. If you insist on rushing in, this girl will send you to see the Yama King.”

The newcomers were originally part of the motley crowd of opportunists at the Yu Manor at that moment, and some were not previously acquainted. Now, one person was lost immediately upon meeting, and they realized that this young girl was skilled and ruthless—none of them among the dozen people had a life on their hands yet.

They were here for money after all, and upon encountering a hard nut to crack, they began to retreat. They uttered a few of the usual threats and intended to leave.

But just as they finished speaking, a muffled groan came from behind them—they quickly turned back, startled like rabbits…

They found that another girl, dressed identically, had appeared behind them at some point, and the blade of her small sword was dripping with blood.

One of their people was lying on the ground.

“This girl has changed her mind,” this girl, who was actually Lili, stared at them and said. “Since you’ve come, don’t leave. There are many treasures in this courtyard, and this girl can’t carry them all. You few come and help carry them. After you escort my sister and me out of the Yu Manor, the treasures you pick up will be yours, and your lives will also be yours. However, if anyone gets a dirty paw while walking, their throat will be sealed instantly. Now, get inside!”

A quarter of an hour later, these dozen hooligans and Wandering Heroes meekly escorted the two ruthless young girls through the huge Yu Manor and out the back door.

By then, the manor was completely chaotic. People from all walks of life had rushed in, and there were no officials to manage the situation. Normally, the Yu Family had armed guards, but… the Daoist Orthodoxy had killed people.

It was like the Emperor of Jinghua had ordered the execution of the entire family. Who with a family and a home would dare to be a loyal servant at such a critical moment? They encountered a few groups of people, some of whom were already seeing red from killing. But the group escorting the small pushcart and carrying large bundles also numbered over a dozen, and they certainly looked like people who mixed in the marketplace, so after exchanging fierce glares, they went their separate ways.

They walked a long distance.

The sky suddenly became bright.

Although it was a full moon night, the moonlight was limited. Wusu and Lili had planned to leave the city overnight.

But in this instant, it was as if a night-time sun had appeared above Weicheng—all shadows and darkness were dispelled, and soft, bright light shone, making everyone have nowhere to hide. People instinctively looked up at the sky, and what they saw was not the dazzling sun that could not be looked at directly during the day.

But a mystical character radiating soft light.

The Taoist priest in the sky had finished writing that character.

The hooligans and Wandering Heroes had never seen such a sight. And none of them were very brave. Taking advantage of the moment when Wusu and Lili were also slightly stunned, those people scattered, carrying their bundles and running off in all directions.

But the two girls were not concerned about their bundles.

But about Yu Meng on the pushcart.

The two girls pushed the pushcart and walked for a while longer on the streets filled with panicked people, and saw the city gate in the distance—

They found that people who looked like Taoist priests were guarding the entrance. They did not know if they were those "Immortals" or secular Taoist priests, but they dared not risk it. So they turned back.

After two hours of rushing around in this bright darkness, they finally rested in an abandoned garden.

Too much medicine was used, so they couldn't estimate when he would wake up.

In a room in the abandoned garden, they used the cloth bundles to make a bed and moved Yu Meng onto it, letting him continue to sleep. Then Wusu and Lili checked how much silver and jewelry they had brought with them, using the alarming white light from outside the window. Which items could be used directly, which needed to be melted down to remove the Yu Manor's mark, which jewelry could be converted into cash, and which were easily identifiable.

After another half an hour of this, they heard the bed creak and groan, and Yu Meng let out a painful moan. He slowly opened his eyes.

Wusu and Lili exchanged glances, put down the things in their hands, and slowly knelt down by Yu Meng’s window.

Yu Meng was still groggy, but the light in the room was sufficient for him to clearly see the two girls.

He was slightly surprised, and then heard Wusu say, “The Daoist Orthodoxy people came home this afternoon and killed the master. They were true Daoist Orthodoxy people, not those from the local station. Lili and I were afraid that Young Master would go for revenge, so we drugged you and brought you out. Now the Yu Family is gone, and the people in the manor have scattered.”

“We have placed Young Master in a state of unrighteousness and disloyalty, and we deserve to die. If Young Master wishes to take revenge, please kill us first, and then go.”

Yu Meng listened to them blankly, his eyes wide, and remained silent for a long time.

Only then did he speak.

“Huh?”

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