118. The Time Has Not Yet Come

"You are filled with malevolent energy and resentment; it seems you have committed many wicked deeds."

Although Li Xintian's righteous energy struck Zhao Longjie, it also exposed the latter’s dark side.

"Young master, I beg you to spare my senior brother," Zhou You said, stepping in front of Li Xintian and performing a Daoist salute, unable to watch Zhao Longjie die before his eyes.

"You old bald donkey, I don't need your hypocritical pity! Get lost! This little scratch isn't enough to take my life." Zhao Longjie suppressed his injuries, his aura still imposing, though his face was twisted with ferocity.

"It is not impossible to spare him, but he must take one palm strike from the Flying Tiger King. If he survives, he may leave." Li Xintian stepped down from the back of the Flying Tiger King, stroking its fur and smiling, revealing his white teeth. The Flying Tiger King, acting like a giant cat, purred in enjoyment.

"Senior brother, this is a ten-thousand-year-old demon. You are already injured; I fear you cannot withstand it. Let me assist you," Zhou You said, having realized that the Flying Tiger King’s cultivation was higher than his own. He doubted Zhao Longjie could survive.

"I don't need your feigned kindness. I can handle it." Zhao Longjie pushed Zhou You aside, stood before the Flying Tiger King, and said, "Come then, let me see what a ten-thousand-year demon is made of."

"Go ahead, but remember to leave him alive," Li Xintian whispered into the Flying Tiger King's ear.

The Flying Tiger King let out a roar and lunged at Zhao Longjie. Zhao Longjie channeled his magic to manifest a protective barrier. The moment the tiger’s claws touched the barrier, it shattered like glass. Unable to hold up, Zhao Longjie was struck in the chest and sent sliding back several meters. His disciple, Heiyue, caught him, and the ferocity on his face faded.

"Senior brother, take this medicine. It will help your injuries recover quickly," Zhou You said, handing him a vial of pills.

"Heiyue, let's go!" Zhao Longjie didn't even glance at Zhou You. Clutching his chest, he walked away under his own power, refusing even to let Heiyue support him.

"Thank you for showing mercy, young master," Zhou You said, performing a salute once Zhao Longjie had disappeared from sight.

"I see his aura of malice and resentment; I fear it will invite disaster. Is the Daoist prepared for that?" Li Xintian asked, returning the salute.

"This... I am well aware," Zhou You replied, recalling the words of his master, the former head of the Xuanxu Temple.

"Daoist, my name is Li Xintian. May I ask how to address you?" Li Xintian asked.

"I am Zhou You, the head of the Xuanxu Temple. That was my senior brother, Zhao Longjie, and those two are my disciples, Bian Yiyuan and Bian Yihe," Zhou You replied with a salute.

"Does Daoist Zhou know any way to destroy the Mountain God?" Li Xintian asked, having had his own reasons for sparing Zhao Longjie.

"This..." Zhou You broke into a cold sweat at the mention of destroying the Mountain God, stammering in response.

"What is wrong? Is there a need to take on a master?" Li Xintian asked, observing his hesitation.

"No, the one you would need to apprentice to is not me. However, I could act as your guide and introduce you," Zhou You shook his head. He dared not be Li Xintian’s master; it would surely cost him his life.

***

"How would one go about this introduction? Who is the master?" Li Xintian was intrigued, now that he had found a path to destroying the Mountain God.

"There is no hurry; it requires fate. Let us leave this place first," Zhou You said, having performed a quick calculation and realized the time was not yet right.

"Very well. This place is a boundary between life and death; I shall make this realm disappear so that no more foolish people lose their lives here." Li Xintian released his inherent righteous energy, which swept through the entire boundary. In an instant, the realm shattered like glass and vanished. The road returned to normal, though the desolate, gloomy graveyard remained.

Zhou You’s troupe of corpse-walking puppets shivered uncontrollably. Zhou You channeled his magic to calm them. His eyes narrowed; he began to wonder if Li Xintian was the one who could resolve the inevitable catastrophe, though he kept the thought to himself. Bian Yiyuan and Bian Yihe were stunned; Li Xintian was merely a scholar who had never studied Daoist arts, yet he had destroyed the entire boundary in an instant.

"Are you alright?" Li Xintian asked, turning to check on Hu Qiuyan once he had retracted his righteous energy.

"I am fine. It is fortunate I am with you; with your righteous energy, I am safe from harm," Hu Qiuyan replied.

"That is good. I must go and report that we are safe. We must keep moving; this is no place to rest," Li Xintian said. He turned to the others and announced, "Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle, everyone, we cannot rest tonight. We must keep traveling; this place is not safe. Please bear with it."

"Xintian, it is pitch black out here. How can we navigate out of this graveyard?" Chen Yuanwen pulled Li Xintian aside and whispered, "Cousin, your fiancée’s identity was nearly exposed earlier. I think that Daoist Zhou noticed; we must be careful."

"It is fine. Daoist Zhou is an upright and benevolent man. If he were going to say anything, he would have done so already," Li Xintian said, shaking his head.

"I have a suggestion," Zhou You said, seeing they had no destination in the darkness. "You may follow me to the nearby Chen Family Village, and decide on your next steps from there."

"This... I am afraid that will not work. You are transporting corpses, and we are living people. It is quite ominous," Chen Linqing replied.

"I have my own methods to ensure no ill fortune touches you. You may walk in front, and my disciples will follow behind with the corpses. I will lead the way," Zhou You promised.

"Very well, then please lead the way, Daoist Zhou." Li Xintian had no fear of ill omens—his righteous energy acted as a shield. Seeing this, Chen Linqing and Huo Wanping agreed.

"Please, follow me," Zhou You said, his heart secretly pleased that Li Xintian had agreed, though his expression remained calm. "Yiyuan, Yihe, you stay in the back."

"Yes, Master," the two disciples replied. They fell into line behind Li Xintian’s group. Zhou You walked alongside Li Xintian, chatting the whole way.

"Junior brother," Bian Yiyuan whispered while scattering spirit money, "do you think Master will take Li Xintian as our junior brother?"

"He is so powerful," Bian Yihe replied while shaking his bell. "If Master takes him in, what could he possibly teach him? You saw that tiger; it acts like his personal mount!"

"Master says he won't take him in, but you know how he is—he’ll probably end up doing it anyway," Bian Yiyuan muttered.

As they spoke, they were unaware that the rotting corpses in the graveyard were stirring, crawling out in droves. A small, decomposed corpse began to follow behind the walking puppets.

"Daoist Zhou, have you encountered any other Daoists on your travels?" Li Xintian asked, sensing that a chaotic era was approaching and that many reclusive, powerful figures would soon emerge.

"I have not. Many practitioners of high cultivation avoid the troubles of the world and live in seclusion. They only descend from the mountains when their own fate calls for it," Zhou You explained.

"I see. Have you encountered any demons or ghosts?"

"Demons have become quite numerous lately, and I have been busy subduing them. As for ghosts, that boundary was the only one I’ve encountered," Zhou You replied.

Soon, the group arrived at Chen Family Village.

"We have finally arrived. It is very late, however; I fear the only place available is the local mortuary," Zhou You said, looking apologetic.

"That is fine. We will make do for one night. Please lead the way," Li Xintian said.

Zhou You led them to the Chen Family Mortuary. Li Xintian arranged for everyone to rest, and no one dared to complain.

"Young Master Li, my master requests your presence," Bian Yihe said, having finished tending to the corpses.

"Very well," Li Xintian nodded, wondering what Zhou You wanted.

"Young Master Li, you have come. I am about to perform a rite to liberate wandering spirits, and I wanted you to see the refinement of our Daoist arts," Zhou You said, standing by a large incense burner. He ordered Bian Yiyuan to bury soul-orbs into the burner.

"Master, they are all buried," Bian Yiyuan said, dusting off his hands.

Zhou You nodded, took three sticks of incense from his bag, and channeled his magic. The incense ignited without a flame. He bowed three times toward the sky and placed the incense into the burner.

"Bright Yin and Yang emerge from the East, the mortal world is filled with cause and effect. Sins of this life are repaid in the next, the path of reincarnation is crowded with souls seeking rebirth!"

Zhou You formed a talisman with his sword fingers, pressed it into the burner, and began to chant the Rebirth Mantra. The talisman in the burner burst into flames, burning higher than the incense. Li Xintian watched with envy, wishing he could perform such a feat. The soul-orbs in the burner began to glow, transforming into wisps of smoke that drifted toward the sky.

Meanwhile, the small, rotten corpse that had followed them from the graveyard crept silently toward the area where the walking puppets were being kept.