It is often said: With every autumn rain, the chill deepens.

On a mountain path southwest of Qingzhou, the cold moon hung high, frost blanketed the ground, a layer of mist lingered, shrouded in a vague, desolate chill.

Ha~

A handsome scholar in patched plain clothes walked along the road, covering his mouth as he breathed into his lantern, feeling even colder after the fleeting warmth, he couldn't help but frown, tightening his grip on his wicker bookcase as he continued his journey.

His name was Cui Yebai, a poor scholar from Dianzhou.

Though the capital city exams in Qian Dynasty took place during the blooming spring, by attending the Lantern Festival, one could make a name for oneself with poetry, so scholars from various places often arrived half a year early.

Cui Yebai couldn't afford the expensive canal boat fare, so he entered Qingzhou from Dianzhou, taking mountain paths for shortcuts, but got delayed by rain along the way.

The mountain paths were rugged, the night wind bone-chilling, and Cui Yebai couldn't help feeling regretful. It wasn't the hardship he feared, but the encounter with the spirits of the mountains.

Suddenly, his body stiffened.

A chill crept up his back, accompanied by rustling sounds, as if someone was calling his name.

Cui Yebai was terrified, just as his fears had come true, without a word, he took off running.

Don't look back when walking at night.

Qian Dynasty scholars did not shy away from tales of evil spirits, recalling those eerie and terrifying events from his hometown, the scholar quickened his pace, covered by his coat.

Unknowingly, he entered a forest road, surrounded by darkness as black as ink, paths indistinct and hard to discern, the lantern in his hand swayed unevenly, as if something brushed over the grass, rustling ever closer.

Cui Yebai felt despair taking hold in his heart.

Suddenly, the forest road vanished, and at a bend ahead appeared a dilapidated ancient temple, with flames faintly flickering within.

Someone's here!

Cui Yebai's eyes immediately lit up with delight.

He bit his teeth and quickened his pace, rushing through the temple gate, bending over and bracing his knees, he panted heavily as he looked up.

Only to see the deity statue covered in cobwebs, the dusty tapestries, with a campfire burning in the center of the floor, beside which sat a fierce, burly Daoist and a refined swordsman, both turning towards him simultaneously.

It was Zhang Kui and Zhu Sheng.

Zhu Sheng smiled slightly, "Didn't expect to encounter a night traveler here, friend, come by and warm yourself."

"Thank you both."

Seeing the shadows behind both, Cui Yebai immediately felt relieved, stumbling as he sat by the fire.

Feeling the warmth of the fire, the chill in his heart retreated.

"Where does the scholar hail from?"

Zhu Sheng smiled and asked.

Cui Yebai quickly clasped his hands, "I'm a scholar from Dianzhou, traveling through Qingzhou to take the exam in the capital city."

"Dianzhou?"

Zhang Kui and Zhu Sheng exchanged a glance.

"Is there... something amiss?"

Seeing their expressions, Cui Yebai felt a shock in his heart, hoping they weren't bandits or the like...

"Nothing really."

Zhang Kui chuckled, "Fortunate you are, indeed."

Cui Yebai smiled awkwardly, thinking: I'm a poor soul, without even someone to bury me if I died, what fortune is there to speak of.

Yet, seeing Zhang Kui's fierce appearance, he dared not utter a word more.

Zhang Kui smiled slightly, saying nothing, sipping from his wine gourd.

And at this time, outside the temple gate, it's unknown when a wisp of black smoke had already pervaded the ground.

The black smoke dissipated, revealing a black figure, humanoid yet moving on all fours, it let out a low growl, crawling toward the temple gate.

The ghostly figure was annoyed, having encountered a scholar, yet the other was unexpectedly alert.

However, there was nowhere to escape now.

Eek, gently pushing open the wooden door.

Whoosh~, a breath of Yin Qi blew in, the firelight flickered.

The ghost felt smug, familiar with the temple, every time using this trick, it could see faces filled with panic.

The three by the fire turned their heads.

The scholar's face was full of terror.

The ghost was even more terrified.

The swordsman had Sword Qi radiating from all over, while the Daoist was exuding deadly energy, a mere glance nearly unsettled its Divine Soul.

Danger!

The ghost's mind went blank, turning to flee.

"Haha, where do you think you're going!"

Zhang Kui laughed heartily, extending his right hand, the Qi Prohibition Skill activated, and the ghost suddenly stiffened, dragged into the air.

Under the firelight, the ghost's form became clear.

Its lower half was human, emaciated, dressed in ragged clothes with a hunched posture, the head was covered in yellow hair, almost beastlike, sharp claws, and a mouth full of fangs.

"De... demon..."

Cui Yebai was already scared half to death, his face pale, stammering and unable to speak.

"It's not a demon, it's a Chang Ghost."

Zhu Sheng smiled and explained, "This is exactly what we were waiting for."

It turned out the two had entered the southwestern forest, acting on intelligence from the Astronomical Bureau, as travelers often went missing there, and they decided to eradicate the evil along the way.

Zhang Kui blew the Bone Flute, but there was no response from Old Huang's disciples here, so they had to pose as travelers to fish.

"Chang Ghost..."

Zhang Kui rubbed his chin,

"Could there be a Tiger Demon causing trouble here?"

He looked at Zhu Sheng, found him shaking his head slightly, immediately understood, and withdrew the Qi Prohibition Skill.

The Chang Ghost suddenly felt the restraint over its body disappear, thinking the magic had failed, its eyes rolled, and it suddenly transformed into a yin wind and shot out the door.

Zhang Kui chuckled, his figure disappearing suddenly.

"The Chang Ghost... ran away, and the Daoist is gone too..."

The scholar Cui Yebai was frightfully sweating at this series of events, pointing at the temple door as he spoke to Zhu Sheng.

"Don't panic, scholar."

Zhu Sheng smiled slightly, "The Chang Ghost was being manipulated by a Tiger Demon, and wouldn't dare to betray it even if it meant soul scattering. So it was deliberately let go to find the Demon Nest."

Cui Yebai gradually calmed down, realizing these two were extraordinary and stopped panicking.

"Aren't you going to help the Daoist?"

"Don't worry, just wait."

Zhu Sheng gave a carefree smile, added more firewood, "The demons in the southwest of Qingzhou run rampant, it's rare you've passed through safely. Leave early tomorrow, follow the main road, and you'll be safe once you reach Qu City."

Cui Yebai quickly cupped his hands,

"Thank you, great hero, for the advice."

After about a quarter of an hour, suddenly there were continuous tiger roars in the mountain forest outside the temple, sounding somewhat pitiful, and soon getting closer.

Cui Yebai looked outside, heart pounding.

At this moment, the dark clouds dispersed, moonlight covered the ground, and with a thunderous sound, a five-meter-long giant tiger with hanging eyes was thrown down while howling miserably.

Then Zhang Kui descended from the sky, stomping a foot on the tiger's head, uncorked a wine gourd, and gulped down a mouthful.

"You sure are tough. Tell me, what's the situation with the Demon Alliance now?"

The Tiger Demon roared, black smoke rising from all over, its massive claws desperately digging at the ground, dust flying everywhere.

"You Daoist are courting death, if you have the nerve..."

Bam!

Without a word, Zhang Kui punched down, the Tiger Demon's eyes immediately filled with stars, letting out another miserable cry.

"Haha, I, Old Zhang, love tough guys the most."

Zhang Kui felt exhilarated.

After leaving the Celestial Water Palace, knowing he was about to enter a dangerous place, he used the remaining two skill points to activate two passive skills for self-enhancement.

Great Strength Skill (Level 1): Passive Skill

Skill Description: Increases strength, the stronger the physique, the greater the augmentation; can learn Mountain Carrying Skill in the future.

Swallowing Knife Skill (Level 1): Passive Skill

Skill Description: Enhances internal organs, can swallow metal and iron toxins without injury.

Being passive self-enhancement skills, they would be learned sooner or later, and given that he mainly relied on melee combat right now, gaining more strength was always better.

Zhang Kui didn't think much of it initially, but didn't expect the strength increase to be so dramatic, having the power to subdue dragon and suppress tiger.

But on second thought, it made sense.

After Sun Wukong learned the Mountain Carrying Skill, even when Silver Horned Monarch moved Sumeru Mountain, it only made Sun's steps difficult.

The Silver Horned Monarch even moved Mount Emei and Mount Tai over, barely stopping Sun Wukong in his tracks.

Pressing down on this Tiger Demon was certainly a piece of cake.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

After a few punches, the Tiger Demon was immediately bruised and bleeding from its nose and mouth, but still growled low:

"I, Fatty Tiger, would die before betraying the Great King..."

The scholar Cui Yebai now no longer afraid, peeked from the temple door, hearing this, he couldn't help but sigh:

"Who would have thought these demons also value loyalty."

"Enough..."

Zhang Kui's hand suddenly ignited with black light,

"I guess you Little Demon don't know anything, better start your journey early!"

Seeing that heart-stopping black light, the Tiger Demon was immediately terrified, its fur standing on end, "Wait, wait, I'll talk."

"Oh..."

Zhang Kui raised an eyebrow, "Go ahead, tell me."

Looking at the Demon-slaying Skill's Evil Light, the Tiger Demon swallowed hard, "I, Fatty Tiger, am loyal, but this skill is so cruel. If I tell you where my Great King's lair is, will you let me go..."

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