The night was deep and the cold moon hung lonely in the sky.
Lanterns and candle flames dotted the streets, Black Water City was silent, with only the occasional sound of the watchman's gong echoing from the street corners.
Dong—Dong! Dong! Dong!
"It's the fourth watch, keep your doors and windows shut tight!"
Above the drum tower, Zhang Kui stood at the highest point, gazing afar, the night breeze gently caressing, slightly fluttering his blue Taoist robe.
Tonight, he was out as the Night Wanderer as usual.
Black Water City was like a plump piece of meat; the Faceless Ghost King was dead, and the demons within the city had been cleared away, which should attract quite a few evil spirits.
Even if they were minor ghosts, just taking down one or two more could earn him a skill point.
But unexpectedly, it was already past the fourth watch (1 AM), and he hadn't detected any anomalies.
Could it be that these things react too slowly?
Just as he shook his head, ready to go back to rest, a surge of ghostly aura suddenly rose from the northern city. Zhang Kui smiled grimly and shot out swiftly...
It was an abandoned house, probably left by some fallen wealthy merchant's family, unmanaged and overgrown with weeds, webs covering everywhere.
However, in the garden pavilion, light veils swayed with the wind, and amidst the dim candlelight, three beautiful women were playing music and singing mournfully:
"A beauty of fifteen plays the zither and flute, under the moon she yearns painfully tonight. Playing music, drinking wine, unaware of sorrow, in West City's willow moon tree tops..."
The sound of the wind slightly moved, Zhang Kui's wide sleeves fluttered as he landed in the courtyard, smiling slightly, walking boldly towards the pavilion.
The three women, seeing him, were not afraid; rather, they lightly bit their lips, their charming eyes sending messages, and as they entangled each other, the sheer clothes slipped off, revealing their lovely bodies.
Zhang Kui laughed heartily,
"Coming this way, I've encountered only those who drink blood and eat flesh; it's the first time seeing such affectionate female ghosts, a rare sight..."
The three female ghosts said nothing, but looked at him seductively, raising their wine jugs high, as the liquid dripped down their lips...
"Alas, what a pity..."
Zhang Kui suddenly sighed.
One female ghost's eyes flowed, "What is the young master pitying?"
Zhang Kui shook his head and slowly drew his Lu Li sword,
"A pity that I was born with sharp eyes; all the ladies here have vicious faces, blood qi towering, quite a pity for this beautiful moonlit night!"
Hoo, a gust of ominous wind blew past, extinguishing the lights, decaying the veils, accompanied by sharp screams, the three female ghosts lunged forward, transforming mid-air into fierce ghosts with green faces and ghastly fangs, grey hands, and red claws.
Swoosh!
Blue-black Gang Evil entwined, Zhang Kui swung his greatsword, the Gang Evil spread out fan-shaped with the sword qi, instantly freezing and shattering all the weeds along the path.
The three female ghosts didn't have time to scream before turning into ice sculptures and shattering, the Yin Qi scattered.
However, Zhang Kui frowned slightly.
The experience points hadn't increased at all, and the Yin Qi promptly gathered and shot toward another abandoned house nearby.
Zhang Kui slowly turned his head.
From the darkness emerged a scholar, gently shaking a paper fan, shaking his head and sighing, "Brother, you truly lack appreciation for romance."
Then, he cupped his hands,
"I am Qin Yi, may I ask this brother's esteemed name, and which family's guest minister you belong to?"
Zhang Kui narrowed his eyes slightly,
"It's simple, my surname is Zhang and my name is Kui, a mere loose practitioner."
Scholar Qin Yi's face gradually turned cold,
"Since you're a loose practitioner, do you not know whose turf this is, wandering around late at night, what is your purpose?"
Zhang Kui laughed menacingly,
"It's none of your business!"
The scholar's eyes flashed fiercely,
"Courting death!"
Before his words fell, he had already shot straight out, the paper fan waving, instantly stirring a whirlwind and sending stones flying.
"What good skills!"
Zhang Kui smiled grimly, flipping the Lu Li sword to swing while sword qi wrapped in Cold Evil charged forward.
Boom!
The burst of energy scattered, cold winds swept, and the courtyard instantly covered in ice crystals, under the night moon, it seemed like the first descent of snow.
Meanwhile, the forms of both had already disappeared simultaneously, the ground constantly cracked, figures flickered in the air, sparks bursting constantly, they had already exchanged blows several times in a blink.
No wonder this scholar is so arrogant.
When it comes to martial arts, Eunuch Yin was the most skilled Zhang Kui had seen, but this Qin Yi was not only just as good, he also fused his Taoist skill into it, creating an eerie scene with ghostly wails.
The iron fan in his hand was no ordinary item, comparable to the Lu Li sword, which made Zhang Kui frustrated, as his own swordsmanship paled in comparison.
Honestly speaking, in terms of punches and kicks, he was not inferior to others, although he had trained with weapons, he was far behind these seasoned Jianghu people, previously always relying on brute force.
Zhang Kui was initially indifferent, once Demon-slaying Skill reached level five, he would be able to learn Flying Sword Skill, by then merging sword, qi, and evil as one, every move would be filled with terrifying sword qi, to even kill from thousands of miles away, who would still engage in close combat?
But now it seemed, he needed to find a sword manual to practice...
Luckily, scholar Qin Yi was also quite frustrated, Zhang Kui's Cold Yin Gang Evil was extraordinarily powerful, completely restraining his skill, fighting him was like fighting a hedgehog, holding back and hesitant.
Boom!
With another explosion of energy, dust flew up from the ground, scholar Qin Yi retreated quickly, while Zhang Kui also paused to catch his breath.
Scholar Qin Yi's eyes flickered with fear and uncertainty, then he changed to a flattering expression, holding the iron fan and cupping his hands while smiling:
"Taoist Friend Zhang's skills are amazing; I was too rash. Would the master be interested in joining the Astronomical Bureau?"
Zhang Kui was stunned for a moment, then laughed,
"Can't beat me, so you recruit? You're quite straightforward."
Qin Yi opened his fan and laughed,
"You and I have no personal vendetta, why fight to the death? The situation in Qingzhou, Brother Zhang must also be aware."
"Eunuch Liu has already promised that whoever obtains the Stone Man Tomb's cultivation skills will share them with all guest ministers; why not join forces?"
Zhang Kui chuckled,
"That old eunuch is willing to pay dearly, but the skill may be good, serving the old eunuch is unbearably annoying, not going!"
Qin Yi frowned,
"Still holding onto good and evil? Brother Zhang doesn't look like a fool."
Zhang Kui gently caressed the Lu Li sword,
"I may not be a top-notch smart person, but I do know that this world falls into decay because too many people consider themselves smart."
Qin Yi's eyes narrowed slightly, but then he smiled broadly,
"So be it, I will take my leave now."
With that, his figure quickly retreated, tapping the ground twice with his toes before leaping onto the rooftop and disappearing from sight.
Watching the disappearing figure, Zhang Kui snorted coldly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
This scholar's words were composed, surely hiding substantial means, able to bend and stretch, quite insidious.
However, since our paths diverge, he was a mere commoner in his previous life and deeply detests those evil cultivators who casually harm ordinary people.
Better to further enhance his strength,
Next time we meet, I'll directly kill him!
Thinking of this, Zhang Kui also turned and leaped into the night sky, disappearing from view.
Meanwhile, scholar Qin Yi had already returned to the inner hall of the Astronomical Bureau, casually raising a cup of hot tea to gently blow.
Captain Zhou, who had waited all night, asked softly beside him:
"Mr. Qin, what path does the other party follow?"
Qin Yi said contemptuously with a cold smile,
"Said to be a loose practitioner, but doesn't rule out being someone from the Court, though his skill is pretty good, during these troubled times, I don't want to entangle with him."
Captain Zhou felt somewhat unwilling, "So... let this person roam freely above our heads every night?"
Qin Yi laughed,
"Eunuch Liu has already sent word, the Nine-Child Ghost Witch from Dianzhou is coming to join, she's an elder demon of the Grain Avoidance Realm, by then whoever this person is will have a nasty death!"
"Grain Avoidance Realm?"
Captain Zhou's eyes lit up, immediately bursting into joy.
...
Eunuch Liu's forces were waiting for powerful reinforcements, Wu Siyuan had also sent a letter, two National Guardian True Men were bringing skilled hands from the Capital City.
Neither side wanted unexpected incidents, thus Black Water City temporarily fell into an eerie silence.
Ordinary people still rose at dawn and rested at dusk, completely unaware of the storm clouds gathering.
Zhang Kui, however, was overjoyed.
The disappearance of the Faceless Ghost King had already spread far and wide, waves of demons began to converge on Black Water City...