Chapter 76 - 70: The Death of Huang Dalang
In the courtyard, Bai Xiang tidied the vegetable garden and spotted Jiang Mu’s discarded clothes hanging on a bamboo rack.
She walked over, gathered the clothes, and went to the wooden basin by the well.
"Sister Xiang, let me wash them!"
Seeing this, Yuan Ahqing, who had just finished a round of her Pile Skill training, quickly wiped the sweat from her brow and ran over, reaching for the wooden basin.
Bai Xiang shook her head, her slender fingers forming a sign in the air:
You go train. I’ll wash these.
Yuan Ahqing paused, finding it a little strange.
Usually, although Sister Xiang handled all the cooking and cleaning, she never touched the Master’s clothes.
’Why the sudden change of heart today?’
But she was always obedient. Seeing Bai Xiang’s insistence, she didn’t overthink it and dutifully returned to the sandpit to continue her stance training.
Bai Xiang rolled up her sleeves, drew some clear, cool water from the well, and poured it into the basin.
Just as she was about to reach in and start scrubbing, her gaze suddenly sharpened. She sighed softly.
"A fly is buzzing in, after all."
"How disgusting."
The woman flicked a finger gently.
A single, crystal-clear drop of water leaped from her fingertip, tracing a profound arc through the air.
It curved past the corner of the eaves and slipped through a gap in the leaves.
Like moonlight through the eye of a needle, it silently pierced the thick courtyard wall.
It precisely entered the body of a Weasel Demon that was about to sneak in through a hole.
The little demon’s body suddenly stiffened. Before it could even comprehend what had happened, its physical form exploded.
The instant the bloody mist erupted, it strangely recoiled and condensed.
It coalesced into a crimson blood sword the size of a thumb.
"SWOOSH—"
The sword trembled slightly, pulling an invisible thread of causality behind it as it shot through the air, streaking toward a location in the south of the city.
...
「South of the city. A small courtyard.」
Huang Dalang was lounging lazily in a grandmaster chair.
Dressed in crimson gauze, Huang Dalang was draped over the chair, one long leg thrown wantonly over an armrest, her foot swinging gently. Her posture was both languid and audacious.
There was another person in the room.
It was none other than the young master of the Divine Sword Sect, He Shuangying.
Ever since Jiang Mu had threatened to lead a raid on the Divine Sword Sect, He Shuangying had been a nervous wreck.
He had scrambled back to report to his father, and they had urgently sealed the demon-rearing catacombs.
They swept the place clean, inside and out, and waited on high alert.
They cleaned the place from top to bottom, not missing a single nook or cranny.
But after all that waiting, forget a squad from the Demon-slaying Bureau—they didn’t see a single hair of Jiang Mu.
Only then did He Shuangying finally realize.
He’d been played!
His father had chewed him out and then kicked him out to meet with a demon, retrieve a shipment of goods that could accelerate the incubation of a demon nest, and atone for his blunder.
And that demon contact was Huang Dalang.
However, the original meeting point was set for Yan City, but it had now been changed to Hu State, much to He Shuangying’s displeasure.
"I told you to transport the goods to Yan City, but it’s always ’too windy’ or ’too rainy.’ Are you messing with me?"
He Shuangying said coldly.
To avoid being recognized, he had followed his father’s orders and worn a disguise mask.
Even so, Young Master He, who always cared about his appearance, had still chosen a handsome face. Paired with the aristocratic air he’d cultivated since childhood, he had caught Huang Dalang’s eye the moment he entered the room, causing her to shift her legs several times.
"Oh, now, why so angry, Young Master He?~"
Huang Dalang cooed in a soft, sweet voice.
"We originally set the meeting in Yan City because it was chaotic enough. But now that the Court has successfully quashed the rebellion, things are tense. Hu State, on the other hand, is the safest place—it’s always darkest right under the lamp."
She leaned forward, the gauze of her dress slipping off one shoulder.
"I’ve turned quite a few people in Yan City, and they’re all willing to die for me. They’ve already stashed the goods in a secure location where no one will ever find them."
He Shuangying snorted. "So where are the goods?"
"Don’t be in such a rush."
Huang Dalang slithered closer like a snake, her breath fragrant.
"I’ve long heard of Young Master He’s magnificent bearing. Seeing you today has made my little heart tremble... If the Young Master isn’t busy, perhaps we could..."
He Shuangying’s expression didn’t change.
"I am devoted to cultivating my Path. I have no interest in carnal pleasures."
Despite his words, his hand was already around the banshee’s slender waist, giving it a squeeze.
He couldn’t help it. The vixen was just too damn seductive.
Ever since that "very, very bad" little fish demon was minced by Jiang Mu’s blade, he’d been pent up.
Combined with the frustration of being played by Jiang Mu and scolded by his father, he desperately needed an outlet.
"The Path?"
Hearing this, Huang Dalang let out a throaty, wanton laugh.
"Since Young Master He is a seeker of the Path, wouldn’t you like to comprehend the true mysteries I have to offer right here?"
A sneer tugged at the corner of He Shuangying’s mouth.
"Your ’Great Path,’ I’m afraid, has been sought by thousands and crossed by tens of thousands."
"Young Master He, you’re mistaken."
Huang Dalang’s eyes were silky with seduction as she leaned close to his ear, her breath fragrant. "A Great Path is like a fine aged wine. The more who taste it, the richer its flavor becomes."
He Shuangying suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Business first. I hear you want to raise the price. How so?"
"Raise the price?~"
Huang Dalang took the opportunity to nestle into his embrace. "If the Young Master is willing to entertain me for a while... I might not even charge a single coin. What do you say?"
He Shuangying smiled but said nothing.
Huang Dalang’s seductive expression vanished, replaced by a serious one. "Actually, I just want to ask the Young Master for a small favor."
"Speak."
"I want you to break a man’s legs."
"Who?"
"The Hall Master of the Demon-slaying Bureau’s Eighth Hall—Jiang Chen."
He Shuangying’s pupils contracted.
Huang Dalang let out a long, helpless sigh.
"That brat killed my most beloved younger brother. I was going to kill him myself, but my father sent an urgent message ordering me to return immediately after the transaction and not to cause any trouble.
I don’t dare make a move myself right now. I’m afraid of exposing my location and ruining my father’s grand plan. But I can’t bear to leave just like this, so I want to find someone to teach that brat a lesson first.
The next time I return, I’ll finish him off with my own hands."
He Shuangying fell silent.
’Take care of Jiang Mu?’
Of course he wanted to!
But wanting to was one thing. The man was an official of the Demon-slaying Bureau.
If it wasn’t a clean job, the Divine Sword Sect would be in deep trouble.
However...
A flash of arrogance appeared in He Shuangying’s eyes.
’If it really came down to killing him, I’m completely confident I could do it.’
He had already investigated thoroughly. The Star Position Jiang Mu cultivated was from a pseudo Star Official Seal of the Earth Concealing Star!
His sense of superiority surged.
This meant that as long as he stood before Jiang Mu, with a single thought, he could activate the pressure from his authentic Star Position and completely suppress him.
The man wouldn’t even have the right to draw his sword in his presence.
He would have no choice but to kneel!
The suppression of a pseudo version by an authentic one was just that absolute.
He Shuangying even maliciously speculated that the guy might have chosen the Earth Concealing Star specifically to come after him and steal his Star Position.
But the probability of that was zero.
’You want to steal my Star Position? You need Star Power. But to have a Star Position, you must first claim one.’
’However, once you claim a pseudo Star Position, you’ll forever be a tier below me.’
’It’s a catch-22.’
’Unless... that kid has Star Power, but no Star Position.’
’But, is that even possible?’
Seeing He Shuangying remain silent for a long moment, Huang Dalang knew she was asking for something difficult. She put her seductive smile back on.
"Never mind, never mind. Discussing the Path with the Young Master is more important for now."
She rose gracefully, her slender fingers undoing the sash of her gauze dress. "All this talk of killing and fighting... it ruins the mood."
He Shuangying’s breathing grew heavier.
He couldn’t be bothered to play games any longer. He ripped off his outer robe and grinned. "I am new to seeking this Path. I hope Madam... will not be stingy with her guidance."
However, just at that critical moment.
A flash of crimson light burst through the window and instantly sank into Huang Dalang’s body.
"POOF—!!"
A bloody mist exploded outwards.
The lower half of Huang Dalang’s body instantly disintegrated, splattering all over He Shuangying.
The man was dumbfounded.
’What’s the meaning of this?’
’The Path blows up on my first visit?’