Night, outskirts of Lu City.

The bright moon hangs alone, its gentle light covering the ground.

The ground seems to be covered in a layer of silver frost, shrouded in a faint mist, while occasional owl calls come from the dense, dark forest nearby.

In an open space, Zhang Kui holds a small bone flute the size of a palm and gently blows into it.

The sound is small yet sharp and piercing, like the cry of some animal, floating in the air and spreading farther and farther...

After a while, something seems to flash beneath the moonlit night, and soon, a small head pops out from the treetops.

It turns out to be a yellow weasel with shiny fur, wearing a little vest sewn from coarse cloth, its eyes rolling around as it looks down.

This little thing seems to hesitate for a moment, then darts from the tree to the open ground like lightning, bowing repeatedly to Zhang Kui like a human.

Zhang Kui puts away the bone flute, his eyes slightly focused.

This is the token given to him by Old Huang, capable of commanding the yellow weasels within Qingzhou to help deliver messages and guide him.

The Little Demon before him wears clothing, seemingly cared for by someone, its aura impure yet without the scent of blood, looking well off.

"I am Huang Silang, paying respects to the True Man."

This little yellow weasel has already refined its transverse bone and is speaking human language, its voice sharp, appearing somewhat nervous.

"No need to fear, just want to ask you something."

Zhang Kui smiles slightly, "That River King in the reed river here, what exactly is its deal?"

Huang Silang rubs his small hands,

"Reporting to the True Man, that River King is actually two demons."

"Originally, there was a Piggy Dragon in the reed river with profound Tao Cultivation, an Old Demon in the Grain Avoidance Realm, occupying a Water Mansion in the reed river, claiming to be the River King."

"However, this demon is naturally sleepy, spending most of its time in slumber, only occasionally waking to have the Water Ghost lure solitary fishermen into the water, thus its reputation is not well known."

"Later, the 'Stone Man Tomb' issued a bounty, and the Piggy Dragon disappeared without a trace for unknown reasons. Eventually, another River Demon arrived, occupying the Water Mansion, stirring waves, forcing people to build the River King Temple while secretly searching for the Reincarnated."

So that's how it is...

Zhang Kui pondered; the Piggy Dragon should have been refined into a Cultivation Partner by a well-informed Old Demon, with another demon entrenched here, seeing the demon formation about to be launched but not daring to provoke the true master, leaking the news.

"What's the River King's current form?"

"Reporting to the True Man, the Little Demon dare not approach the reed river. Only a month ago did this 'River King' show its face, rolling with yellow smoke, full of mud and blood, should possess Grain Avoidance realm Tao Cultivation."

"Thanks, you may leave."

After the little yellow weasel left, Zhang Kui rubbed his chin, deciding to first explore this "River King" to avoid it causing trouble when dealing with adversaries.

With this thought, Zhang Kui clenched a spell, his form twisting and disappearing on the spot, heading straight towards the River King Temple using Invisibility Skill...

...

The reed river is not far from Lu City.

The night wind blows, the reeds sway with the wind, under the moonlight, the river surface is filled with dense water fog, its edges impossible to see, wisps of Yin Qi constantly churn.

Zhang Kui withdrew his gaze, looking towards a small temple on the shore.

The small temple is not large, hastily built and not very exquisite, but the demon simply uses it to find people, obviously unconcerned with it.

Zhang Kui lightens his steps, his toes barely touch the ground, landing lightly in the courtyard like a breeze, then squints slightly.

Only to see the main hall inside, lit by dim candlelight, a wretched, scoundrel-faced old man leisurely drinking wine and eating meat.

A person?

Zhang Kui wasn't surprised; along the way, people helping demons were not few, long since blurring the lines between humans and demons.

Nothing unusual within the small temple, even that Divine Statue is of a benevolent-looking Daoist, likely not resembling the "River King."

Just as he was about to leave, his eyes moved slightly, and he stopped.

In the courtyard, a water well started to spread ominous fog, a handful of wet hair creeping out of the well like living things, in an instant, a ghostly figure drenched in water, with a ghastly white face, appeared in the yard.

The old man inside the hall is merely a common person, yet shows no fear at all, instead, flattered, running out with clasped hands, smilingly asking, "I wonder what Lord River King wishes to instruct?"

"These days… no… trouble…"

The Water Ghost's voice was dry and cold, "Whatever happens in the city… do not… interfere."

"Yes, yes, understood, understood."

The old man quickly nodded and bowed.

After a gust of sinister wind, the Water Ghost retreated into the well, and the courtyard instantly returned to tranquility.

The old man immediately changed his expression, muttering with a pursed mouth, "If you're afraid to provoke it, then don't provoke it. He himself sent the message saying not to stir trouble. This Old Demon probably wants to take advantage again. It's not easy to take advantage of that old zombie; it seems it's best not to linger here..."

Zombie?

Zhang Kui had a realization but didn't bother with the returning old man inside the hall. Instead, he looked at the well in the courtyard.

Could the entrance to the Water Mansion be in the well?

Zhang Kui thought about it, then gently floated into the well entrance.

Cave Abyss Skill, Invisibility Skill, and Forbidden Water Skill were all once activated and needed no further attention; Zhang Kui then used the Qi Prohibition Skill to seal his scent, stealthily moving underwater without detection.

Indeed, there was another water path below the well, evidently dug casually, and was rugged and deep with exposed plant roots drifting about in the water.

The direction seemed to lead towards the Reed River.

Zhang Kui proceeded slowly and suddenly stopped a few meters ahead.

A baby's skeleton emerged from the silt, already eaten by fish and shrimp, leaving only bones.

A flash of evil intent appeared in Zhang Kui's eyes, and he took a deep breath, continuing forward.

After diving through the water cave for about a thousand meters, it suddenly opened up, reaching the bottom of the Reed River.

Zhang Kui immediately halted, his gaze focusing.

In the silt below, dozens of giant crabs as large as millstones crawled chaotically, their pincers gleaming coldly, Yin Qi spilling out; there were also old mussels with sharp teeth continuously opening and closing, slowly writhing, clearly turned into demons.

And under the river surface, a dozen Water Ghosts flickered uncertainly, floating up and down like corpses.

That River King Old Demon actually gathered so many evil spirits, each with a bloodthirsty aura, clearly causing much harm to humans.

Zhang Kui suppressed his urge to kill and scanned the surroundings.

These Little Demons were not worth worrying about; they could be swept away later. The key was the "River King"...

Suddenly, his gaze tightened.

Amongst water plants and giant rocks in the distance, there was unexpectedly a portal, ancient and weathered stone, faintly carved with some ancient patterns with vitality, next to which stood two statues of evil beasts covered in green algae.

Could there truly be a Water Mansion?

Zhang Kui was somewhat stunned; it was his first time seeing a demon's dwelling. But this portal looked ancient, presumably the "River King" occupied it like a cuckoo in a magpie's nest.

Without alarming the River Demons and Water Ghosts, Zhang Kui silently approached the stone gate of the Water Mansion.

The stone gate was seven or eight meters high, the door wide open, inside dark and deep, the bluestone floor smooth as new, clearly frequently passed by demon creatures, sticky to the touch full of slime.

Zhang Kui frowned, slowly entered the Water Mansion...

Meanwhile, dozens of miles outside Lu City.

Suddenly, cold crows were startled into flight among the mountain forests, a thick black smoke spread from afar, wherever it passed, green trees and grasses withered and iced.

Upon reaching a hilltop, the billowing black smoke halted, first revealing a pair of blood-red eyes, then the smoke dispersed, revealing a tall figure.

Corpse Qi spread out, scale armor layer upon layer.

This was clearly the Blood Corpse King that scholar Qin Yi had seen before, a Corpse Demon not weaker than the Nine-Child Ghost Witch.

Under the moonlight, this Corpse Demon's ferocious face neared beast-like, a jet of pale Corpse Qi spurted from its nostrils, sniffing the air, turning towards the Reed River direction.

Roar——!

An angry howl reverberated, echoing through the mountains, insects and birds fell silent, tigers and wolves hid in their lairs trembling.

Then, the Blood Corpse King lunged forward, instantly transforming into billowing black smoke heading towards the Reed River...

Inside the Water Mansion, Zhang Kui felt an inexplicable chill rise from his back, steadied himself, looking ahead.

He was now utterly convinced that this Water Mansion was an ancient demon relic, the cave still retained some stone tables and benches, but their shape was bizarre and clearly not for humans to sit.

In the visible depths of the cave, there were two five-to-six-meter-long carp swimming slowly.

Their eyes were vacant, as if sleepwalking, swimming into a dirt-yellow haze filled with muddy stench.

In that shrouding stench abruptly appeared a large mouth, swallowing the two fish whole.

Huge chewing sounds echoed,

two rows of lantern-like red eyes flickered unpredictably...

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