Zhang Kui laughed heartily and left, walking away with swagger.

Inside the hall, it was deathly silent, with everyone's expressions varying.

Things developed too quickly; some people lowered their eyes and remained silent, pretending they hadn't seen anything, while others, upon reacting, looked at Xiahou Jie with a trace of disgust in their eyes.

In the chaotic demon infestation of Great Yu, the land was in turmoil, with warlords and bandits springing up like mushrooms, demons running rampant, and the world shrouded in darkness.

Emperor Qianyuan, Li Wuji, rose from obscurity, vanquished bandits and demons, and expended his life's energy to establish the Qian dynasty, allowing humanity to restore order and have a place to breathe.

But after a thousand years of the Qian's establishment, some things inevitably changed, and certain rules were inevitably broken.

Demon Charms excelled in beguiling, and with the recruitment of cultivators, it's no longer any secret that high-ranking officials secretly kept them, with even "fox maids" in the palace.

But someone like Xiahou Jie, who fancies a mortal woman and uses demons to occupy her body for pleasure, boldly bringing her out in public, has indeed gone too far.

The Eldest Prince, Li Shuo's face also didn't look well, turning a perfectly good banquet into such a mess, and Zhang Kui even took the "Pure Treasure Pearl" when he left, making his intentions painfully clear.

Was he saying I'm not worthy?

"Hmph!"

Thinking of this, the Eldest Prince, Li Shuo, couldn't help but let out a cold humph despite his usual restraint.

Wu Jinglian silently lamented below—had he known, he wouldn't have agreed to the Eldest Prince's suggestion in the first place. How would he explain this to his clan uncle, Wu Siyuan?

Below the hall, Xiahou Jie touched his aching abdomen, turned with a dark expression, and cupped his hands, "Your Highness, I have things to attend to, so I'll take my leave first!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

On the hall, the Eldest Prince frowned, sensing something amiss. If these two were to clash and draw out the National Guardian True Man, his father, the Emperor, would place the blame squarely on him.

Thinking of this, he gave Wu Jinglian a meaningful look, "Jinglian, go find Taoist Zhang and say that I haven't been a good host, and will personally invite him for another feast next time."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Wu Jinglian bowed and quickly departed.

Just then, the scholarly elder who had been drinking silently at the chief seat below slowly raised his head and said with a composed expression:

"Your Highness, one is rebellious and vicious, not to be deeply associated with; another doesn't know to respect authority, not capable of achieving greatness."

The Eldest Prince immediately bowed with cupped hands, "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Situ. I understand now."

Situ Yan, a renowned Great Scholar of his time and head of Qiongshan Academy, had guided Li Shuo since childhood and was highly respected by him.

Upon hearing Situ Yan's judgment, the Eldest Prince immediately made a mental note.

Xiahou Jie's conduct was overly arrogant, and even though his father, Xiahou Ba, controlled the Blood Wolf Army, he should not get too close and ruin his reputation, as he portrayed himself as benevolent and kind.

As for Zhang Kui, lacking regulation and acting on impulse, at best he was just a reckless ranger and not worth further attention.

Besides, whether he could stay alive was another matter.

With that thought, the Eldest Prince, Li Shuo, once again wore a simple, honest smile, "Come, everyone, let us drink this cup to the fullest..."

Shortly after, the sounds of singing, dancing, and laughter resumed...

......

Now speaking of Zhang Kui, carrying Ling Yanchen out the door, instantly left the guards on both sides dumbfounded.

Zhang Kui let out a humph, ignoring them, and got into a carriage, instructing the driver to leave immediately.

The carriage swayed as it moved. Ling Yanchen's delicate body and stunningly beautiful face were void of all spirit in her eyes.

Zhang Kui remained silent, uncorking a wine gourd and taking a sip, gazing at the bustling crowd outside the carriage.

"Wait, wait!"

The carriage suddenly stopped, and Wu Jinglian climbed in with a wry smile and cupped his hands, "Taoist Zhang, I truly didn't expect this to happen."

Zhang Kui coldly raised his eyes, "What do you want?"

Seeing Zhang Kui's expression, Wu Jinglian's scalp tingled, but he forced himself to speak, "Taoist, even the Eldest Prince didn't anticipate Xiahou Jie behaving like this, but the court is in turmoil, and Xiahou Jie's father guards the Northern Border, we have to consider the greater picture..."

"Heh heh..."

Zhang Kui's expression was indifferent as he uncorked the wine jug and took a sip, "I'm just a mere swineherd named Zhang, I don't understand what considering the greater picture means, you can go."

Wu Jinglian looked pained and didn't press further, cupped his hands again, and disembarked from the carriage.

As the carriage just exited Haojing City, Zhang Kui dismissed the driver, holding Ling Yanchen as he walked through the snow, arriving atop a nearby desolate mountain.

"Soul Capture Skill!"

With a low shout, a graceful figure suddenly appeared in the air, bowing deeply to Zhang Kui, "Thank you, Taoist, for rescuing me from my plight."

Zhang Kui slightly shook his head, "You only have a remnant soul left, plus being a mortal, I'm afraid you can't even reincarnate. If you hold a grudge, I'll kill Xiahou Jie tonight for your revenge."

Ling Yanchen's face remained cold, and she gently shook her head,

"My family's decline led me to fall into a life of dancing and singing to pass my remaining days. Beauty and misfortune are inseparable; even without Xiahou Jie, there would have been others. I only ask the Taoist to burn my remnants, so I can leave cleanly..."

"It can be done."

Zhang Kui nodded, uncorked the wine gourd, poured it over her, and his True Qi surged, igniting Ling Yanchen's body fiercely.

Seeing her own body gradually turning black, her face showed a hint of tranquility, smiling as she turned and said:

"Taoist, please watch my last dance..."

As she spoke, she began to swirl her white sleeves and sang softly, "Life is fleeting, just a play of dreams, autumn leaves drift, winter snow falls..."

On the desolate mountain, snow fluttered down, the maiden ghost danced, and the Daoist toasted and applauded joyfully.

A cold wind swept down, scattering plum blossom petals, leaving no trace of the beautiful dancer...

......

Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered.

"Zhang Kui, originally a butcher from Yutang County, Qingjiang State. It's unknown where he learned exotic skills, but after the 'General's Tomb' massacre in the county, he narrowly escaped, wandering Jianghu exorcising demons, later entering Qingzhou, slaying several demons of the Grain Avoidance Realm, earning the acclaim of True Man Yuhua..."

Snap!

The booklet suddenly closed, and a scarred middle-aged man with only his right eye, the left scar cutting through it, said indifferently:

"Young Master, this person cannot be touched!"

In the hall, Xiahou Jie looked sullen,

"Why can't he be touched? Isn't the Blood Wolf Guard always bragging about how formidable they are? Are they afraid?"

The one-eyed middle-aged man's expression was as icy as a glacier, devoid of emotion, "Young Master, the General only ordered us to protect your safety, not to cause trouble with you."

With that, he cupped his hands and turned to leave.

"Damn it!"

Xiahou Jie was instantly furious, grabbing a vase next to him and throwing it.

Unfortunately, the vase shattered one meter away from the middle-aged man, who walked out without turning back.

"Damn, they're all useless!"

Xiahou Jie drew his Treasure Sword, hacking wildly at the tables and chairs in the hall, before angrily gasping for breath.

His face grew darker, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes, as he turned and headed for the inner chamber.

Once in the room, Xiahou Jie locked it tightly, carefully pulling out a horned infant skull from under the bed.

The skull was clearly human, yet had demon ghost horns, as if the pitiful cries of a child were constantly echoing in his mind.

Staring at this eerie skull, Xiahou Jie's expression flickered, then he bit his fingertip, smearing his blood on it.

Suddenly, a cold breeze blew through the room, and the skull's eyes ignited with flickering green flames.

Xiahou Jie gritted his teeth, "I want someone dead, he's called Zhang Kui, located at Iron Blood Manor on the Capital's outskirts..."

After he finished speaking, the skull's green flames flickered continuously, Xiahou Jie seemed to be listening attentively, hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, I'll go now..."

......

On the outskirts of the Capital, a snowy night chilling to the bone.

From the barren ground rose black smoke, and an old man in a tattered cotton robe suddenly appeared, with a broken gong strapped to his back, dressed like a night watchman.

The old night watchman bent over to pound his back, raising his dim yellow eyes to look ahead.

In the distance, Iron Blood Manor was pitch black.

"Enlightenment Slash of Avoiding Grain?"

The old man let out a hum and shook his head slightly, "Utterly ignorant, even making this old man suffer..."

With that, he took out a broken gong from his waist.

Clang—clang—clang!

"The air is dry, be careful of fire!"

Instantly, a gale roared, fierce ghosts wailed, numerous shadows suddenly appeared clad in ancient garb, all with ghastly pale faces and dark hollow eyes...

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