Chapter 316: Silent Night, Arrivals from All Directions
Click-clack—
The cold wind howled, and snow fluttered down.
A faint footstep echoed in the night, gradually fading into silence.
A small figure was wrapped in a cloak and wore a bamboo hat with a black veil, obscuring their face.
But what was most striking was the strange and massive sword strapped to their back, its blade and hilt wrapped in black cloth, like a door panel, looking oddly disproportionate to their petite frame.
Since entering Fengtai County, this figure had attracted the attention of many residents, curious about this strange person.
Although they seemed to be the height of a child, the profound aura they emanated made people wary of approaching.
Upon entering the restaurant, the figure quietly found a corner seat and sat upright, hands resting on their knees, silent and still.
Until a waiter approached with a forced smile and said: “What would you like to order, guest?”
“A small dish and a bowl of rice.”
A slightly hoarse and low female voice came from beneath the veil.
Although the voice was clearly melodious, it made the waiter tremble, a chilling sensation running down his spine. He nodded nervously: “C-Coming right up, please wait a moment, guest.”
“…”
The veiled woman remained silent.
The waiter hurried away as if fleeing, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, murmuring about the strange guest.
However, there had been so many strange people coming to the county recently that he wasn’t particularly alarmed and continued his work as a waiter.
But just then, a beautifully dressed woman with a frosty demeanor appeared out of nowhere and gracefully sat down in front of the veiled woman, pouring tea for both of them.
“—Who are you?”
The veiled woman’s voice was low, as if she were suppressing something.
“Just an ordinary woman you can find anywhere. I came to remind you that in Fengtai County at night, your aura as a living person is exceptionally conspicuous.”
The beautifully dressed woman brushed the hair falling over her ample bosom, raised her alluring eyes slightly, and spoke in a cold and indifferent voice: “Do you know what kind of place you’ve entered?”
“A county.”
The veiled woman exhaled: “A true… ghost town.”
The beautifully dressed woman nodded slightly, her expression unchanged: “Indeed.”
Just as they said, although this Fengtai County still seemed lively and brightly lit, it was actually quite eerie and unsettling.
Because if one looked at the city from outside, they would find that—
The entire Fengtai County had fallen silent, all the lights extinguished, only a few watchmen patrolling the streets with torches. Every household had turned off their lights and gone to bed, the city shrouded in darkness.
Let alone patrons and pedestrians wandering the streets, even all the restaurants and inns in the county had already closed.
But if one were to enter the city, they would find it bustling with activity…
Because every patron in the restaurants, even the waiters and innkeepers, were all ghosts in disguise.
“This Fengtai County has a secret connection with the legendary ancient realm. It’s said that every year, for half a month after New Year’s Day, the ancient realm and Fengtai County overlap, and after nightfall, it transforms into a true ghost town. Because the ancient realm was well-managed in the past, this secret was kept hidden, and the people of the ancient realm and the local residents got along well, maintaining a tacit understanding.”
The beautifully dressed woman raised her teacup, took a sip, and said indifferently: “But this peace has been broken.”
The veiled woman said in a deep voice: “The secret… was leaked.”
“Just look at the watchful gazes of the patrons around us.” The beautifully dressed woman looked at her coldly: “There are many idle demons and ghosts in this restaurant, as well as practitioners and spies from various factions. You’re alone, it wouldn’t be wise to stay here.”
“What… are you trying to say?”
“Come with me, I can protect you for now.”
The veiled woman hesitated: “What do you mean?”
“…I didn’t want to get involved.”
A helpless look appeared on the beautifully dressed woman’s face, and she sighed softly: “Whether I’m being threatened or manipulated, I can’t just watch a child—”
Hearing the word “child,” the veiled woman practically jumped up, her hand instinctively moving to the massive sword on her back. A surprisingly powerful aura erupted from her petite body, attracting the attention of the demons, ghosts, and practitioners in the restaurant, their eyes widening in surprise.
The beautifully dressed woman seemed to have anticipated this, she pursed her lips slightly, seemingly unfazed by the aura, and continued: “I can’t just watch a child be bullied and dragged into this chaotic conflict. With my reputation, I don’t think anyone would dare to act recklessly. I can protect you for now.”
“…”
After she finished speaking, the oppressive aura around the veiled woman gradually subsided, and she sat back down, whispering: “What benefit do you gain from this, as a ghost practitioner?”
“If I were after benefits, I wouldn’t be here.”
A bitter smile appeared on the beautifully dressed woman’s face, but it quickly vanished, and she said indifferently: “The news of the eight clans’ secret realm came suddenly, and various factions are flocking here. I’m not expecting any great benefits, just some information would be enough.
As for protecting you… it’s just a matter of convenience, there’s no need to suspect me of having ulterior motives.”
The veiled woman asked hoarsely: “Which faction are you from?”
“Zhaoxiao Court.”
The beautifully dressed woman parted her lips slightly, her gaze coldly sweeping over the restaurant: “At least, it’s enough to deter some of the insignificant ones.”
The practitioners and demons and ghosts who had been secretly observing them felt a chill run down their spines and quickly looked away, relieved.
They hadn’t expected this seductive and mature beauty to be a practitioner from the Zhaoxiao Court, thankfully, they hadn’t acted rashly and tried to test her.
Snap!
The beautifully dressed woman snapped her fingers, activating an invisible technique, concealing their voices and auras within a one-zhang radius. Their figures seemed to completely disappear from everyone’s perception.
“Now you don’t have to worry about anyone overhearing us.”
The veiled woman was silent for a moment, then murmured: “After hearing the legend of the eight clans’ secret realm, hasn’t your Zhaoxiao Court considered competing for it?”
The beautifully dressed woman’s eyes flickered, and she lowered her gaze, saying indifferently:
“If it were me half a month ago, perhaps I would have made some plans, gathered some subordinates and experts from other factions to cooperate, and tried to get a share of the pie in this chaotic struggle.
But now, I’ve lost interest.”
“Why?”
“A scholar surnamed Lin… Never mind, I just went through some unpleasant experiences, you don’t need to know the details.”
The beautifully dressed woman chuckled self-deprecatingly: “To use your mortal words, it’s called ‘seeing the light’ and ‘turning over a new leaf,’ isn’t it?”
“…Strange person.”
“If I’m strange, then you’re even stranger in the eyes of others.” The beautifully dressed woman’s eyes flickered: “Why did you come to Fengtai County? From your words just now, it seems you already knew about the eight clans’ secret realm. And you’re carrying a giant sword, your aura unfathomable, you don’t seem like an ordinary girl—”
“I don’t need to explain everything to you.”
The veiled woman said this and then fell silent.
She sat there like a withered tree, not saying a word. But after mentioning the scholar surnamed Lin, the cold and unapproachable aura around her dissipated slightly.
The beautifully dressed woman took a sip of tea and didn’t press the matter further.
Clearly, this strange, veiled girl had some unimaginable experiences and was unwilling to talk about them. If she pushed too hard, she might become angry.
As for her identity, it was indeed as that person had said—
“If you have something you can’t talk about, I won’t ask.”
The beautifully dressed woman said indifferently: “But if you want to leave this city safely, it’s best not to act rashly, just stay by my side quietly.
Or are you here to fight demons and ghosts to the death?”
But before the veiled woman could respond, arrogant laughter suddenly echoed from outside the restaurant, like a resounding bell.
“I didn’t expect so many colleagues to have gathered in Fengtai County, truly interesting!”
The powerful voice made many people’s wine cups tremble, spilling their drinks, and they frowned, looking towards the restaurant entrance.
But after seeing the newcomer’s face clearly, those who were well-informed couldn’t help but change their expressions.
“Someone from the Due’e Sect… Judging by his towering and sturdy figure and dark complexion, could it be the notorious Fifth Sect Master?”
“Even such a ruthless person has come all this way to get involved, just how many factions will be participating in this fight for the secret realm?”
“Probably quite a few!”
“Hahaha!”
The burly man, known as the Fifth Sect Master of the Due’e Sect, laughed loudly, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the restaurant, and he clicked his tongue in wonder: “Spies from the Lingluo Valley, the Ji Red Workshop, and the Chiyu Sect are all here. It seems I arrived just in time, the show hasn’t started yet.”
Hearing this, the expressions of several men and women, disguised as ordinary patrons, turned cold.
“Although he seems crude and barbaric, this person’s cultivation is powerful, and his senses are incredibly sharp, we can’t underestimate him!”
“Heh! I’ve found a good target!”
The burly man suddenly looked up at the highest floor of the restaurant—
The closed door of the private room, the most luxurious and prestigious area in the building.
The next moment, his eyes glinted, and his figure turned into black smoke, soaring upwards, quickly passing through the floors, and landing in front of the private room door. He placed his hand on the door frame: “Heh! In this small Fengtai County, I’ve actually encountered our Due’e Sect’s rivals!”
Boom!
As soon as he finished speaking, the door, along with the barrier outside, was forcibly shattered by his palm force. The gauze curtains fluttered, and graceful figures flickered within the private room, about a dozen women in white robes.
But before the burly man could speak, he felt an incredible impact, sending him flying backward.
“Ugh!”
He quickly steadied himself, but his momentum was unstoppable, crashing through the railings and stairs behind him.
The burly man groaned, his arm muscles bulging, forcibly blocking and dispelling the invisible Yin energy that had struck his chest.
And the door that had just been opened closed automatically, a cold and sinister voice echoing from within.
“You still dare to come here, villain? Are you courting death?”
“Hahaha! The renowned Young Master of the Ci Hang Sect, truly impressive!” The burly man patted his chest casually and grinned ferociously: “You can kill my Due’e Sect disciples, but I can’t come and twist your little heads off?”
“To wantonly insult and defile mortal women, committing endless evil deeds, without any morals or dignity, like hyenas or pigs, what does it matter if you’re killed?”
The cold voice echoed again: “There’s no place for disgusting brutes like you in this world!”
“No place for us?!”
The burly man’s eyes were bloodshot, and his dark and rugged face twisted into an inhuman, almost demonic grin: “We, the Due’e Sect, roam freely in this world, and you, the Ci Hang Sect, dare to obstruct us? Today, I will crush you all, tear you limb from limb!”
Clang——!
A pure white sword light suddenly erupted, aiming straight for the burly man’s face!
“Good!”
The burly man roared, grinning as he clapped his hands, catching the rapidly approaching sword light between his palms. But his body was still pushed back by the force, crashing through the wooden floor of the restaurant, tumbling through the air in the shocked gazes of the demons, ghosts, and practitioners below, crashing through several floors, sending wood chips and dust flying everywhere.
“Such a weak attack, it barely tickles!”
With a mocking sneer, the burly man grinned and clenched his fingers, crushing the sword light.
He stood up from the rubble as if unharmed, twisting his neck and shaking his arms, the smile on his dark face turning cruel: “None of you from the Ci Hang Sect will leave here alive today!”
“Hmph!”
The door of the private room suddenly opened, and a dozen young women in white robes floated out, their faces hidden behind veils.
In an instant, they landed lightly on the railings and stairs, drawing their swords, staring coldly at the ferocious burly man below.
Surrounded by these women, a graceful woman in white robes slowly walked out of the private room, her hand resting on her sword, her gaze condescending: “A mad dog, just kill him.”
“Let’s see about that!”
As the tension escalated, the entire restaurant seemed to hold its breath, as if blinking would make them miss the fleeting clash.
Until a low and cold voice suddenly echoed.
“You, the Ci Hang Sect and the Due’e Sect, are truly audacious, causing trouble on the ancient realm’s territory. Are you tired of living and seeking death?”
In the center of the main hall, a middle-aged man heavily placed his porcelain cup on the table. This single bang seemed to echo in everyone’s hearts, making them feel suffocated and their expressions turning to shock.
The burly man frowned, the arrogant smile disappearing from his face. His eyes flickered as if he had realized something, and he hesitated: “You are…”
“So it’s the Vice-Master of the Stargazing Cang Palace.”
The woman in white robes’ expression softened slightly, and she descended the stairs with her companions: “I’ve often heard of your name, Senior, I didn’t expect to meet you here. It seems the news of the eight clans’ secret realm is truly significant, even the reclusive Stargazing Cang Palace has sent people.”
“Little girl, too much arrogance can easily lead to your downfall. Be careful of encountering a true madman who will make you suffer.”
The middle-aged man glanced at her coldly, but his gaze wasn’t overly sharp, more like an elder’s guidance.
“Thank you for your reminder, Senior.”
The woman in white bowed slightly and sighed softly: “But there’s no need to worry, Senior, I’ve already learned that lesson, a memorable experience. As for punishing this villain, it’s just a matter of convenience, it won’t cause much trouble in Fengtai County.”
“But this conflict should end here.”
The middle-aged man looked coldly at the burly man: “If you don’t want to die, leave now.”
But the burly man grinned, seemingly unfazed, and said: “If I don’t leave, will the Vice-Master of the Cang Palace forcibly drive me out? Besides, there are other experts in this restaurant, since when did the Stargazing Cang Palace have the authority to act alone?”
Saying this, he suddenly raised his head and shouted towards the second floor: “Why don’t the experts upstairs show yourselves? Why hide and watch the Stargazing Cang Palace and the Ci Hang Sect show off their power?”
After a moment of silence, a low voice suddenly echoed:
“Disturbing the peace is truly unpleasant.”
The calm and indifferent words spread like a whisper, making the burly man and the others change their expressions. They quickly looked away from the second floor and towards a corner of the main hall.
The previously calm and composed Vice-Master of the Stargazing Cang Palace’s expression darkened, a wary look appearing on his face.
And the woman in white, who had been calm and collected just moments ago, also narrowed her eyes, as if facing a formidable enemy.
“I didn’t expect to catch such a big fish.” The burly man grinned, a twisted smile on his face: “Incense Master of the Zhaoxiao Court, Tang Qianmen.”
Tang Qianmen waved her sleeve, stopping the veiled woman in front of her who was about to draw her sword, and said indifferently: “If you have any personal grudges, feel free to settle them. But please keep the noise down, it’s quite disturbing.”
The Cang Palace Vice-Master’s gaze turned serious, and he said in a deep voice:
“It’s rumored that you, Incense Master Tang, are always elusive. There were even rumors that you were ambushed and severely injured, even severing your ties with the Zhaoxiao Court… I didn’t expect you to be here.”
But Tang Qianmen seemed to ignore him completely, looking calmly at the veiled woman before her: “This place is too noisy, let’s leave and find a quieter place to rest.”
“…Alright.” The veiled woman nodded subtly.
Seeing the two women about to leave as if they hadn’t heard him, a strange glint flickered in the burly man’s eyes. He grinned and watched them leave the restaurant.
“Strange people.”
The woman in white clicked her tongue, withdrawing her gaze. She was about to attack the suicidal Fifth Sect Master of the Due’e Sect, but he took the opportunity to escape, leaving behind only a faint and confusing illusion.
“He actually got away—”
“The Due’e Sect is not only notorious, but their Yin techniques are also sinister, vicious, strange, and unpredictable, quite different from their crude appearance.”
The Cang Palace Vice-Master said in a deep voice: “If you had attacked him rashly just now, you would have suffered a great loss.”
The woman in white didn’t argue or retort, instead asking: “Senior, what you said just now about Tang Qianmen of the Zhaoxiao Court…”
“Although it’s just a rumor, it’s quite widespread.”
The Cang Palace Vice-Master frowned and mused: “I haven’t been to Xima Prefecture myself, I only know that Tang Qianmen seems to have been suppressed by a strange scholar and was seriously injured, even her personality has changed drastically.”
“Cough!”
Seeing the woman in white suddenly cough, the Cang Palace Vice-Master asked suspiciously: “Do you have something to say?”
“N-Nothing!”
The woman in white quickly waved her hand, her strange expression disappearing.
But her heart was filled with shock and surprise.
Although Tang Qianmen’s reputation wasn’t widespread in the demon and ghost world, and she rarely appeared in public, many large factions knew that she was one of the pillars of the Zhaoxiao Court, her cultivation earth-shattering and unfathomable. Even her own Ci Hang Sect had only a few ancestors who could match her.
Even the Luo Xing, perhaps only their high-ranking Soultakers could compete with her.
But as for which scholar in this world could possibly injure Tang Qianmen…
Lin Tianlu, only that hateful and terrifying man!
