While Gu Mo pondered, the two people walking one behind the other had already seen the outline of the village from afar.

In the farmland in front of the village, many villagers were busying themselves, sweating profusely but not stopping.

There was also a group of children running back and forth between the fields, but they weren't playing. Instead, they were holding herbs in their arms, with most carrying bamboo woven baskets on their backs filled with these items... Kikyo's arrival had changed many things, she taught the children how to identify herbs and learn medicine.

The adults in the village were happy about this too, because these kids were too young, and even if they helped with farming in the fields, it wouldn't lighten the workload much. It was better for them to follow the witch and learn, as collecting herbs was much easier and also a resource urgently needed by the village.

"Sister Kikyo..."

From afar, Xiao Ye immediately saw the two returning figures and sprinted over, the witch showing a gentle smile.

Xiao Ye excitedly held up a big bunch of plants in her arms, seeking praise from the witch and simultaneously showing off to the older brother behind. Receiving compliments from the two, even if it was just a few light words, uplifted her mood greatly, while she curiously gazed at the two in front of her.

Just like the village chief said, sister and brother would stay in the village always, right? If that's the case, it would truly be wonderful!

"Xiao Ye, don't pick this herb now. I told you the day before yesterday, only its flowers can be used, but it's not the flowering season yet. You'll have to wait two more months..."

The witch spoke softly and gently, teaching right on the spot with no trace of her earlier aloofness.

The little girl listened earnestly, nodding her head repeatedly, while other little friends gathered around, listening intently. Gu Mo couldn't help but curl his lips; this was preferential treatment, surely this was preferential treatment.

"Hmm?"

Noticing the gaze from a distance, he looked up to find two traveling monks standing in the field at the village entrance, speaking to the villagers working in the fields. After receiving a response, they too turned to look this way.

One was an older monk who looked over with a face full of doubt and suspicion, while the younger monk beside him appeared a bit bewildered, still unaware of what was happening.

They came, and today no less...

Blinking, Gu Mo suddenly remembered who the old monk was. A master whose spiritual power was quite formidable, capable of seeing Kikyo's problem, but unfortunately, he overestimated his own power and underestimated the witch's mana, being easily repelled by the greater spiritual power when forcefully trying to consecrate Kikyo...

However, the old monk didn't give up even at his last moment. It might have been his final words that caused some change in Kikyo's heart.

Afterwards, the witch was alone again, embarking on a journey, not without credit to this old monk.

Though in essence not a bad person, Gu Mo thought it best to find a way to get the old monk out of the village. Lest he overextends himself again, only to perish by his own spell in the end.

Anyhow, Kikyo certainly didn't want to provoke incidents, and he could use this opportunity to see if he could alter the storyline while reaping some benefits.

"Xiao Ye, let's talk after we get back to the village."

At this moment, Kikyo also noticed the two traveling monks in the village; she subtly raised her exquisite brow and then calmly spoke.

"Okay..." The little girl and a group of young children nodded repeatedly and followed the witch toward the village.

Gu Mo joined them nonchalantly, though he knew the matter wouldn't be so easily avoided. Kikyo didn't want needless conflict, but the master might not abandon his thoughts. Though he didn't turn back, he could hear the hurried footsteps catching up from behind.

"Please wait, you two in front..."

A slightly hoarse and aged voice came from behind.

Okay, now it seems I have my share...

Gu Mo stopped, seeing Kikyo also pause and turn around, both looking at the elderly monk catching up, surrounded by a group of puzzled children watching the scene.

"Is there anything, bal... cough, master?" Gu Mo asked first, deliberately sounding very impolite.

"Hehe, mainly because my disciple and I are traveling, just passing by here, and we noticed evil qi gathered here, so we'd like to ask you two... have any strange or evil things occurred lately?"

The old monk smiled kindly, but observed the young man and woman sharply, having formed a rough idea in his mind.

The youth's demon qi was unstable and seemed to be a half-demon, and the demon qi felt somewhat familiar, having dealt with many similar types before — likely a fox demon.

Spirit monsters like foxes aren't very combative; their demonic power is often weak. Plus, since it's a half-demon, it's not much of a concern... but the witch puzzled the old monk — the only certainty was that she didn't belong to this world.

Kikyo remained calm, though inwardly sighed at the master's aggressive stance, seemingly targeting the two of them. Patting a child's head, she was about to answer the old monk's query when a voice interrupted from the side.

"How could it be, master? You must be advanced in age, your eyesight failing! Our village has beautiful scenery, outstanding people, simple folk, warm hospitality, renowned throughout the surrounding areas!"

Gu Mo shook his head repeatedly, very much disagreeing with the old monk's words. He stepped forward and began to point and jab, confidently pointing out that it was the master's own problem, and rudely blurted out nonsense—

"Look, our village is surrounded by mountains, to the left is the golden basin offering auspicious omens, to the right the water shooting at the main hall, ahead is the grand courtyard with crane-like structures, behind are the emerald peaks of Jing Mountain, it's a perfect place with vibrant feng shui... how could there be any evil spirit here? You can't even see that, who are you calling a master, surely you must be a fraud trying to hustle people?"

"..."

"..."

The old monk across finally reacted after a long while, he immediately widened his eyes and instinctively started to argue, "Benevolent one, aren't those words of yours utter nonsense? I can't see any of the things you mentioned, and wherever you look there's just mountains..."

Wait a minute, this storyline isn't right! Normally shouldn't he deliver sharp rhetoric and press on relentlessly, causing the demon across to become fearful and eventually reveal their true form?

Why is it that the other side is arguing more loudly than he is?

"What else is there to say? Clearly, your skills are lacking. At such an age, don't come out to deceive people. Go back, I feel embarrassed for you, doing this at your age..." Gu Mo interrupted impatiently, trying to shoo the old monk away.

"You, you... I have studied under a master for over forty years, diligently every single day, I have never once misjudged such matters. For you to say this, it's really..."

The old monk stammered, not knowing how to respond but still instinctively argued back. After all, to doubt this area was to doubt his own mentor! If he didn't explain clearly, clear it up, wouldn't it bring dishonor to his sect?

The situation seemed to become inexplicably strange all of a sudden.

Even Kikyo beside them couldn't help but shake her head helplessly, but her lips slightly curved up, and her mood seemed to unconsciously improve a bit.

"Benevolent one... it was I who spoke recklessly, please forgive me..."

Ultimately rich in experience, the old monk suppressed the anger in his heart and quickly calmed down. He couldn't argue with this demon on such matters, or else he would be led astray by the opponent. He just needed to know what he had to do, and use that to expose the opponent.

Calming himself down, the old monk took a few steps forward and bowed in apology.

But as he bent over, a scroll accidentally or deliberately fell out of his sleeve and rolled across the floor, stopping right in front of the other side.

The scroll unfurled on the ground, revealing densely packed spell texts written inside.

"I apologize... but can you help pick it up?" the old monk said seriously, his eyes like a hawk's, staring intently at the two across from him. "This is something very important, it contains a spell for breaking demonic barriers. Once a demon touches it, they will immediately reveal their form!"

"...!!"

The witch's gaze slightly focused, and without hesitation, she stepped forward.

Gu Mo wasn't suitable to touch this scripture because the spell against demons was quite strong, so she should handle it herself.

But just as Kikyo took two steps forward, Gu Mo reached out to stop her, casually saying, "Alright, alright, one should keep their belongings safe! Xiao Ye, return the scroll to the master... let's head back to the village."

"Oh, oh... okay!"

The little girl beside him nodded like a pecking chick, quickly bent over to pick up the scripture, and ran back to the stunned old monk, holding it out with both hands and flashing a bright, innocent smile: "Grandpa, here you go."

"..."

"..."

"...Thank, thank you." The old monk's face was not looking good, but faced with the little girl's pure smile, he could only squeeze out words of thanks from between his teeth.

Gu Mo gave the witch a thumbs up, but the latter said nothing, just oddly looked at him, then took Xiao Ye's little hand and turned back towards the village: "Let's go, we need to return now..."

"Mhm."

Watching the group walk further away, the old monk felt really unwilling, grit his teeth, quickly caught up, and shouted:

"Witch girl!"

Kikyo stopped, slightly turned her head back.

"Though I don't know what makes you reluctant to leave, this isn't where you belong, it's best if you return to where you belong!" tightly clutching the prayer beads in the other hand, the old monk loudly said, hoping his words would be as powerful as a grand bell, allowing her to come to her senses!

As for that half-demon, it's not easy to say, he also knows the plight of the half-demon can be tragic.

But this witch truly doesn't belong to the human world; she cannot be allowed to stay!

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