"The wine flags flutter in the wind, and travelers forget their homes..."

Xinghua Square in Haojing is somewhat like a gourmet pedestrian street, bustling with people year-round. Even after days of heavy snow, it remains lively.

The ground is covered with compacted snow, and the sudden outbreak of the insect tide spreads like a drop of ink on a white cloth, bringing with it a stench and ominous aura, spreading suddenly.

The crowd immediately fell into chaos.

Those who couldn't dodge were instantly swarmed by the insects, and screams were heard incessantly. Someone was carelessly bitten, and the wound immediately swelled into pustules, oozing white discharge.

"What is this?"

Fatty Tiger was startled and quickly grabbed Dong'Er's clothes, leaping onto the beam and cautiously peering down.

These insects were extremely bizarre, resembling cockroaches, entirely pitch black, with fleshy tumors on their backs, buzzing as they opened their wings and flew chaotically.

Even more terrifying was their reproductive ability. The people swarmed by the insects revealed their bodies covered densely with small holes, with larvae poking their heads out and wriggling continuously.

Looking at the chaotic street, Fatty Tiger was a bit irked, "Truly spoils the mood!"

As he spoke, he opened his mouth wide, and a gush of blue demon fire was sprayed out, instantly incinerating a large group of insects.

Crackling sounds followed as the insect corpses exploded, and the green stench-filled smoke quickly dispersed and faded.

Meanwhile, two figures dashed out from the opposite building, one being the girl riding the white tiger, the other being Helian Wei.

Seeing the tragic state of the street, their expressions changed drastically.

"What kind of evil creature dares to disturb the Capital!"

Helian Wei shouted angrily, strapping hands to her waist and pulling out several rune arrows, which were shot forth with a whistle.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of fireballs erupted in the insect tide.

On the other side, the white tiger beneath the girl also spewed out hot red smoke, causing insects to spontaneously combust wherever it reached.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared on the rooftop to the left.

It was a beautiful woman dressed in a purple palace gown, with features like a painting, a voluptuous figure, and an air of elegance and grandeur. Peculiarly, her eyes were born with double pupils.

The double-pupil beauty had a stern expression. She raised a pitch-black bamboo flute, lightly blowing her red lips, and a haunting and mysterious tune arose at once.

"National Guardian True Man Huo Yu!"

The girl riding the white tiger exclaimed in surprise, her face showing delight.

Beside her, Helian Wei also sighed in relief.

As the tune of the palace-gowned beauty's flute began, visible ripples in the air started spreading.

The insect tide abruptly paused, then instantly exploded into green smoke, which began to fade quickly.

At the same time, the ground shook, and orderly footsteps sounded as the City Defense Army and the Astronomical Bureau guards began to seal off the area.

Rescuing the injured, searching for the suspects, Xinghua Square soon settled down.

However, the face of the purple-robed palace-gowned beauty showed no smile, instead she stared at the quickly vanishing green smoke with a hint of doubt in her double pupils...

...

The bright moon rose high, the snow gleaming white.

"Lang ge le, li ge lang, drunkenness dispels a thousand sorrows... How many cycles of seasons have passed under the heavens, the universe will not rest in tranquility..."

In the silent, deserted mountain forest, Zhang Kui treaded the snow, letting the cold wind hit his face, reveling in his intoxication, humming a Daoist tune learned from wandering the Jianghu, his footsteps crunching the thick snow, leaving behind a long trail of footprints.

After visiting Jade Flower Temple, he and Elder Huayan had a delightful conversation, drinking as he sought advice, and ended up finishing over half of that cart of "Heroic Blood."

Though "Heroic Blood" was strong liquor, True Qi could expel it from the system, however, Zhang Kui didn't want to be like Duan Yu, spoiling the mood. He sang drunkenly as he walked, finding it immensely satisfying.

Before long, the manor was in sight.

"Yo, the lights are still on so late..."

Zhang Kui chuckled, striding into the manor.

A servant saw him and hurriedly approached,

"Master Kui, there are guests, it's someone from the Astronomical Bureau."

"Oh..."

Zhang Kui didn't mind, proceeding to the main hall room.

He saw Liu Mao'Er drinking tea and chatting with Helian Wei, Li Dong'Er sitting beside playing with the hem of her clothes, Fatty Tiger crouching on the ground. Upon seeing Zhang Kui, he shrank his head back.

"Yo, Miss Helian, a rare guest indeed."

"Taoist Zhang, I hope you're well."

Zhang Kui was a bit puzzled. Though he knew this noble lady, they weren't close; why visit so late at night?

Seeing Zhang Kui's expression, Helian Wei smiled and recounted the day's events.

"The Astronomical Bureau is searching for suspects, Fatty Tiger was detained for questioning. Luckily, I was present, but it got dragged on until now. Fearing Taoist Zhang might be concerned, I made sure to escort him back."

Zhang Kui furrowed his brows, cursing under his breath:

"You fool, so greedy you'd risk your life, this Capital City is full of danger, aren't you afraid of being skinned alive..."

Fatty Tiger lowered his head, not daring to speak, inwardly feeling unfortunate. How could he have known something like this would happen?

"There's nothing more to it."

Helian Wei quickly tried to console, "Taoist Zhang has a name with the Astronomical Bureau, now knowing it's your mount, it won't be hindered in future visits. Moreover, Fatty Tiger did point out the culprit."

"Oh, who is the culprit?"

Zhang Kui was curious, as the Capital City housed seven State Preceptors and ten National Guardian True Men, along with a National Guardian Divine Artifact, even the "Four Caves" and "Five Water Mansions" couldn't easily invade.

Who dared to be so bold?

Helian Wei hesitated for a moment, "I won't hide it from Taoist Zhang, the culprit is a merchant from the Ghost Rong Kingdom."

Zhang Kui laughed, "They can't take care of themselves, what trouble are they stirring in the Qian Dynasty?"

As far as he knew, the Ghost Rong Kingdom was vast but sparsely populated, extremely cold, though their grassland cavalry were fierce, the Shaman National Religion flourishing, but the wilderness was filled with even more brutal and terrifying evil spirits.

This was why border conflicts were rare unless it was during chaotic times like the dark turmoil of the Great Zhou's Square Immortal Road, or the Demon Ghost Regency of the Great Yu Dynasty, did the alien races dare to make incursions into the Central State.

"That's unknown for now..."

Helian Wei shook her head, "The Court has already sealed the Ghost Rong Kingdom's courier station, but their envoy is protesting their innocence, further investigations are underway."

"I'm returning to Changyun City tomorrow, the Capital might be chaotic for a while, Taoist Zhang, it's best to stay away unless necessary."

Zhang Kui nodded, "Thank you for the warning, Miss Helian."

After some instructions, Helian Wei immediately took her leave, leading a few subordinates on horseback toward the pier.

After Helian Wei left, Old Liu immediately scolded Li Dong'Er, while Zhang Kui glared at the shivering, pathetically pretending Fatty Tiger.

"Just this once, dare to sneak about and cause trouble again, and I'll cut your tiger whip and make wine with it!"

Fatty Tiger was so frightened that he clamped down hard on his tail.

Zhang Kui was somewhat frustrated, as his conversation with Elder Huayan revealed that there was a market in Longqing Square, Haojing City, accessible only to cultivators, trading in celestial treasures and rare materials.

Though most of the good stuff was in the Court's Inner Treasury, to control the nation's cultivators, a significant amount still flowed into the market.

He originally planned to visit it tomorrow, but now he had to forgo it.

After a commotion, they only went to sleep past 1 a.m., and at dawn, Zhang Kui was awakened by an anxious Liu Mao'Er.

"Master Kui, come quickly, Dong'Er is sick!"

"What's going on!"

Zhang Kui frowned, hurriedly got up, and followed Liu Mao'Er to another small courtyard bedroom, where he saw Li Dong'Er, her body green and burning, teeth clenched tight, trembling, already unconscious.

"Thankfully, Dong'Er got up for some water and accidentally broke a glass, catching Nanny Liu's attention..."

Liu Mao'Er stood by, looking worried. Though he and Li Dong'Er were nominally master and disciple, he had raised her since young, considering her his daughter.

"Don't panic!"

Zhang Kui's face was stern. He reached for a Disease-removal Talisman, which ignited without wind and dissolved in water, which he fed to Dong'Er.

The fever subsided a bit, but she remained green all over, unconscious and trembling.

Zhang Kui frowned, extending his right hand.

"Qi Prohibition!"

To speak of it, he had three methods of curing: aside from Talisman Skill and Medical Skill, there was also the Qi Prohibition Skill, which could inhibit the Qi Mechanism of all things.

Li Dong'Er stopped trembling, and using Cave Abyss Skill, Zhang Kui immediately sensed something amiss. Quickly turning Dong'Er over, he tore open the clothing on her back.

On the smooth skin of the girl's back, a transparent blister had appeared, and inside, something was slowly squirming...

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