Under the tearful pleas of the small town residents, Fang Zheng and his companions learned about the events that had occurred here.
This place was originally just an ordinary small town, where everyone lived in peace and happiness. However, two or three years ago, many strange things suddenly began happening here. The hunters who went up the mountain found fewer and fewer ga, and even the well water decreased significantly. At that ti, everyone thought it was just a temporary hardship and didn’t take it to heart.
But unexpectedly, after a while, the situation beca even worse. Not only was there no ga to be found on the mountain, but even the well had dried up. This made everyone anxious. Without water, life would be impossible!
To make matters worse, while the town’s people were still worrying about how to find water, the town began to be haunted! Female ghosts started appearing in the town at night unpredictably, and each ti they appeared, soone would die. This made the townspeople both angry and scared, but they had no solution, so they could only try to obtain so talisman statues and such to place at ho.
But these were of no help, and the situation continued to deteriorate. Now, those female ghosts even appeared in broad daylight to attack people!
"Didn’t you try to find soone to get rid of the yokai?"
Upon hearing the townspeople’s chaotic explanation, Lin Yueru frowned curiously and asked. Hearing her question, the town’s mayor seated in front of her slapped his thigh in agitation.
"Of course we did. We’ve pooled money several tis to hire those high monks and priests. We did bring in a few people, but they never ca down once they went up the mountain! On the contrary, those yokai have beco more rampant. Now, there’s no money left in our town, and we can’t afford to hire any experts!"
"Do you know what’s on the mountain?"
At this, Zhao Ling’er also asked, but the townspeople exchanged glances before an elderly man spoke up.
"I’ve heard that there’s a temple on the mountain called Lanruo Temple, rumored to be a dwelling place for ghosts, but ordinary people wouldn’t go up the mountain idly."
Okay, Lanruo Temple...
Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng was already calm. Considering that even "The Legend of the White Snake" had intermingled with the World of the Immortal Sword, there wasn’t anything too strange about "Ghost of a Beautiful Girl" showing up, too. They might as well have "Strange Tales of Liaozhai" and "Journey to the West" here... although "Journey to the West" seems unlikely.
Clearly, this Lanruo Temple was not on the sa level as the one Fang Zheng knew from "Ghost of a Beautiful Girl." At least, according to the mayor, several experts they hired all failed. Fang Zheng couldn’t be bothered to ask if Yan Chixia was here or not. In any case, no matter how chaotic this instance gets, it wouldn’t be able to stump him.
There’s no need to say more. This drought is most likely the handiwork of that Great Demon possessing the Water Spirit Pearl, and Zhao Ling’er also believed so. After all, the Water Spirit Pearl controls water, and creating a drought wouldn’t be too difficult...
Isn’t this the style of the Miao Territory?
Never mind, just consider it a rehearsal before heading to the Miao Territory. They have to solve the drought issue there, too. Letting Zhao Ling’er practice here before retrieving the Water Spirit Pearl is a good idea.
Having determined the target’s location, they naturally set off for the mountain. But before leaving, they had to deal with the issue of food. Due to "airsickness," Lin Yueru hadn’t eaten anything on the journey, and by now her stomach was growling with hunger.
Of course, Fang Zheng wouldn’t make his young subordinates work for nothing, so he readily took out instant noodles with sausages as their lunch.
Zhao Ling’er, having traveled with Fang Zheng these past few days, had eaten these things before, but Lin Yueru was experiencing it for the first ti. She imdiately picked up her bowl of instant noodles, eating with such delight that it could have been a scene from "The Adventures of Kobayashi the Instant Noodle-Loving Girl Warrior."
Fang Zheng even thought about filming this scene and posting it online as "Legend of the Immortal Sword’s new shoot: Lin Yueru’s actress photos released"... It would definitely get plenty of views.
After finishing their al, they rested for a while and then headed straight up the mountain. Naturally, before leaving, the town residents couldn’t help but express their gratitude, thanking Fang Zheng and his companions for their righteous hearts and courage in fighting the evil yokai... After all, they had no money on hand, and Fang Zheng’s group demonstrated far greater strength than any of the "experts" they had previously hired. It wouldn’t be right not to express their gratitude, right?
After all, speaking nice words doesn’t cost money.
The mountain seed even more eerie than the town below, filled with dark forests. Although there were no clouds in the sky, the sunlight was quite dim, almost obscured. The group followed the mountain path, walking and stopping, without taking too long to reach the gate of Lanruo Temple.
Given the passage of ti, Fang Zheng had long forgotten the details of Lanruo Temple from "Ghost of a Beautiful Girl," but this Lanruo Temple matched the novel’s impression quite well. The entire temple was dilapidated and old. Cobwebs clung to the plaque above the entrance, and dust covered the steps—a clear sign that no one had visited in ages.
"Master, I can sense a heavy demon aura."
Zhao Ling’er gazed intently at Lanruo Temple in front of her, solemnly inquiring.
"What should we do next?"
"What to do?"
Fang Zheng smiled slightly at Zhao Ling’er’s question, but before he could respond, Lin Yueru had already picked up her Longsword and charged ahead.
"Do we even need to ask? These yokai wreak havoc on the village, naturally leading to only one outco—death.’
Having said that, Lin Yueru rushed to the temple gate, kicking it open with a single kick.
"Audacious fiends, co out and et your death!"
"Aaargh!!"
However, before Lin Yueru could finish her words, a scream rang out. They then saw a young man in scholar attire, with a bamboo basket on his back, stand up in surprise, staring at them with wide eyes.
"Who, who are you? What do you want? I don’t have money to give you!"
"......Who are you?"
Seeing this scholar, Lin Yueru was also taken aback. However, she did not relax her vigilance and instead tightened her grip on the Longsword, feigning thrusts towards the scholar before sternly asking. Seeing the gleaming blade, the scholar hurriedly replied in fright.
"I, I am Ning Caichen, sent here to collect a debt... you, you guys, you have hands and feet, can’t you do sothing other than being bandits and robbers?"
"Who says we’re bandits and robbers."
Hearing this, Lin Yueru was imdiately infuriated. In front of Fang Zheng, she may have no arrogance, but she wouldn’t show any courtesy to other n.
"We’re here to exterminate the yokai and subdue demons! Tell , are you a yokai!?"
"Aaaaah, spare , miss, I’m just a re scholar..."
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