In fact, when the other party appeared at the Golden Wind Tower, Zhang Kui had already noticed.
Although this banshee used a skill to conceal her form, she couldn't escape Zhang Kui's Tongyou Skill and Yin Yang Eye, and he saw through her true form.
A delicate lotus flower, as jade-like as fine porcelain.
Being identified by Zhang Kui, the woman was not alarmed. She calmly looked toward the distant river.
There, the moon's reflection hung upside down, the waves shimmering.
"What does it matter if one is human or demon?"
The woman asked indifferently:
"Are you going to cut me down?"
Zhang Kui laughed heartily:
"Not at all."
"Pretty banshees are rare, and banshees without a trace of bloodthirsty aura are even rarer. I'm not one to spoil the scenery."
The woman frowned slightly, "Then why are you following me?"
Zhang Kui stroked his chin,
"I'm investigating a demon's evil skill harming people, who transforms into a black-robed scholar."
The woman shook her head, "I practice alone and don't like dealing with others."
Zhang Kui's smile gradually faded,
"What if this demon uses mud as its clone?"
The woman's expression remained calm,
"I've never seen it."
Zhang Kui stared at her for a while,
"Very well, farewell."
After speaking, he turned and walked away.
The woman watched Zhang Kui's back thoughtfully, then seemed to recall something, her expression changed slightly, and she transformed into a white shadow and swiftly departed.
At this moment, Zhang Kui was already wandering in the night market, occasionally buying a couple of skewers that looked good, drinking and eating as he strolled.
The reason for letting her go was simple.
He wasn't some Defender protecting the human race; he couldn't bring himself to kill a charming, well-mannered beauty who hadn't done anything, especially since he might not even be able to defeat her.
A fully transformed banshee might even surpass Hu Meiniang in Tao Cultivation.
Forget it, let's investigate slowly.
As he leisurely wandered, suddenly a white firework shot up into the sky from afar.
That was Liu Mao'Er's signal.
Something happened at the Golden Wind Tower?
Zhang Kui frowned, and amidst the exclamations of the nearby commoners, he swiftly jumped onto the rooftop and rushed over.
"What happened?"
Just as he leaped down from the rooftop, Zhang Kui saw Chen Wushuang anxiously waiting at the door.
"Taoist, Miss Ling has also been possessed."
"Take me to see."
Led by Chen Wushuang, the two headed towards the elegant room in the backyard, and upon entering, they saw broken porcelain scattered all over, with Ling Yanchen tied to a chair with ribbons.
This courtesan had completely lost her usual cool demeanor, her eyes red, face twisted, and constantly cursing,
"You will all die horribly, beasts, one day I'll kill you all!"
Zhang Kui squinted, seeing the same black shadow entrenched around her heart, vaguely manifesting Ling Yanchen's hideous face.
Zhang Kui had figured something out; this thing seemed capable of clouding one's mind, amplifying wicked thoughts infinitely.
Ling Yanchen hadn't been possessed for long, less severe than Yu Wenchang. After drinking a bowl of talismanic water, she immediately regained her senses.
Her eyes reddened slightly, "Thanks to the Taoist for rescuing me."
Zhang Kui nodded, "Did you ever see the demon?"
Ling Yanchen looked puzzled and shook her head.
"This is strange..."
Zhang Kui frowned and stroked his chin, "Yu Wenchang and you, one a local scholar, the other a Capital City courtesan, unrelated. Why were you both targeted by this demon, and what is the purpose of this demon skill?"
As he pondered, a faint voice suddenly reached his ears.
"This is called the 'Infinite Heart Observation Skill,' Taoist, please follow me."
Zhang Kui's gaze shifted, and after giving instructions to a few people, he leapt out the window.
Sure enough, the woman from earlier was on the rooftop, seemingly lost in thought while gazing at the moon.
Zhang Kui chuckled,
"What, you've recognized it again?"
The woman's eyes were complex, "Follow me and you'll know."
After speaking, she transformed into a white silhouette and drifted into the distance, with Zhang Kui closely following her.
Even for a demon, unless they've reached a certain level of cultivation, flying is impossible. However, this woman's body seemed weightless, gliding several meters with occasional thrusts, frequently pausing to wait.
Zhang Kui felt a bit stifled and decided to enable his Rock Jumping Skill next time to avoid being at a disadvantage.
The two proceeded one after the other, exiting the city and traveling for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, eventually reaching a bamboo forest on a nearby hilltop.
The bamboo forest was enchanted with an Array Formation, known as the Ghost Wall. At that moment, with Zhang Kui's Tongyou Skill activated, he could see the space constantly blur and clear as if separated by frosted glass.
The woman waved her hand, revealing a leaf-strewn path through the forest, and walked straight in.
Zhang Kui's eyes focused as he followed behind.
About twenty meters later, their surroundings suddenly opened up to reveal an ancient-style small temple with just three rooms, and a pond covered with lotus leaves in the courtyard.
The woman stopped, a touch of reminiscence in her eyes, "I am called Lian, and this is where I took form."
"Seven hundred years ago, my master cultivated here. I listened to the teachings and basked in the light daily, developing a trace of Spiritual Wisdom. Later, I joined my master's sect. The 'Infinite Heart Observation Skill' was created by my master."
Zhang Kui glanced at the lotus-covered pond,
"And that demon too?"
Lian looked at a lush green lotus pod in the center of the pond.
"This pond is the spiritual eye of this mountain. After my master's passing, I left the mountain for two hundred years and returned to find that a single lotus pod had become a spiritual object. Its seeds were of no use to me, but could extend a mortal's life, so I bestowed them, leading to today's 'Jade Flower Society.'"
"I love music, and so I let it be. Every year during the jade flower season, I return to harvest them. Hearing your words, I suddenly came back to check, and found the pond's Spiritual Qi completely depleted."
So that's how it is…
Zhang Kui pondered, "What exactly does the 'Infinite Heart Observation Skill' do?"
Lian replied: "For oneself, it encourages self-reflection to clear away heart demons. For others, it can cultivate heart demons—the more resolute and intelligent the person, the higher the quality of heart demons."
No wonder they targeted Yu Wenchang and Ling Yanchen…
Zhang Kui shook his head; one was an outstanding scholar, the other excelled in music, both were exceptional individuals.
"My master disliked killing, especially with a skill he created. I shall assist you, my friend, in capturing this demon…"
As Lian spoke, she removed the thin veil from her face.
Pure and graceful, yet not provocative…
Zhang Kui's eyes flashed with astonishment, his mind inexplicably recalling this phrase, then he laughed and cupped his fists, "I am Zhang Kui, actually just a fake Daoist, thirty-eight years old, and still unmarried."
Lian furrowed her pretty brows, "What do you mean, friend?"
Zhang Kui smiled, "Would you be willing to form a Daoist partnership?"
Lian's face showed clear bewilderment, her cheeks slightly red, eyes flaring with anger, "Friend, do not joke. I am committed to cultivation, and have no such intention. Capturing demons is paramount."
With that, she drifted away.
Zhang Kui laughed heartily and followed after her.
He's always been straightforward, in his past life and even more so now.
Lian's aloof and detached demeanor only compelled him to flirt playfully.
Lian picked up speed, and as Zhang Kui caught up, he complained:
"If you're not willing, then so be it. Why are you running? How do we find that fellow?"
Lian's face briefly showed a flash of anger, as she pulled out the lotus pod from before, "Last time I came, the pond was still full of Spiritual Qi, meaning the demon must have interacted with it. I have something that can track a hundred miles."
Saying this, a stick of sandalwood appeared in her hand.
With a gentle blow from her vermillion lips, the sandalwood instantly ignited. The smoke gathered without dispersing, circled around the lotus pod, then drifted away into the distance.
The two followed closely behind.
"What a treasure!" Zhang Kui couldn't help but exclaim.
If he had such a thing, wouldn't capturing demons be a piece of cake in the future?
Unfortunately, Lian remained silent and cold-faced, leading the way down the mountain.
Upon passing a field, the smoke suddenly veered, circling a small mound of a grave.
Zhang Kui frowned, "What does this mean?"
Lian fell silent for a moment, "Once a heart demon is cultivated, the host's energy, essence, and soul will depart with it."
The duo continued onward, discovering more and more victims. Some were already buried, some had turned into skeletons exposed in the wild, and others were barely clinging to life.
The number was so great that even Zhang Kui was a bit shocked.
No wonder, this kind of evil skill is very hidden. Ordinary people might think it's madness. If not for Yu Gaishan's devoted love for his son urging deeper investigation, perhaps no one would have ever known.
Lian's face now looked as cold as ice.
Finally, the two arrived at an abandoned manor on the outskirts, where the smoke finally stopped.
The buildings here were old, the courtyard overgrown with weeds. In the moonlight, it was silent, without a single insect's chirp. It gave the feeling of something lurking in the darkness.
Zhang Kui stared intently at the main house, letting out a cold laugh, and drew the Greatsword from behind.
"Hey, we're already here, why not show yourself?"
An elderly sigh echoed,
and a black-robed scholar slowly emerged from the darkness, his pale face melting like mud, revealing the semblance of an old monk.
Lian looked as if struck by lightning, "Master…"