Chased Down

"Daoist Priest, that’s going too far! You were the one who asked us to stay just now!"

Wu Xin refused to leave and planned to stay right there, just to see what Chuchenzi could do to them. In reality, he had nowhere else to go. If he didn’t hide at Qingyun Temple, where else could he run?

"This has nothing to do with me being heartless. You were the ones who started acting despicably! You threatened me with something that doesn’t even exist. Do you really think I have no temper, or that I’m made of clay?"

Chuchenzi was determined to get rid of these three nuisances, so of course he couldn’t take Wu Xin’s words to heart.

"Master! Master!"

A young Daoist disciple ran in and pointed toward the Scripture Depository of Qingyun Temple. "Master, a strange wind just blew through, and all the scriptures in our temple were swept away. It seemed a female benefactor said something. She told us to inform you that our temple’s scriptures would be borrowed by Grand Martial Uncle for a while."

"What~?"

Chuchenzi released the collars of Gu Xuanwu and slumped to the ground. "Misfortune has befallen the sect! Misfortune has befallen the sect! Grand Martial Uncle is snatching things from her own grand-disciple. That old woman really went and did it."

"Master, she really is Grand Martial Uncle—the senior of our Qingyun Temple."

The young Daoist was filled with curiosity, his face full of admiration.

"What kind of Grand Martial Uncle is she? What sort of elder behaves like that?"

Chuchenzi cursed, then said to the young Daoist, "She’s your master’s Grand Martial Uncle. You should call her Great Grand Martial Uncle.

"Who knows when that old woman will feel like returning them? She’s older than even my master. My master is dead, yet she’s still alive and well. She’ll probably still be around after I die. With her keeping the scriptures all this time, I’ve failed our ancestors!"

"Daoist Priest, my condolences."

Wu Xin stood to the side and awkwardly rubbed his nose. After all, this mess had only happened because the three of them had lured Yue Qiluo here. Otherwise, Qingyun Temple might still have been perfectly fine.

"Don’t pretend to be sympathetic, you bringer of bad luck! Did you come here specifically to ruin me?"

How could Chuchenzi possibly show Wu Xin any kindness? He slapped away Wu Xin’s outstretched hand.

"Master~ Master~ Master~"

Another urgent cry rang out, and another young Daoist ran inside.

"What are you wailing about? I can hear you! What is it now?"

Chuchenzi was unable to vent the gloom in his heart, so he was somewhat irritable even with his disciples.

"Outside! A group of people has arrived outside. They said they’re here to find several benefactors!"

The young Daoist was startled, but he still managed to organize his words and explain what was happening outside. Sure enough, just as Yue Qiluo had said, Shirakawa Rin’s group had already arrived.

"What~?"

Chuchenzi stood up at once and paced back and forth helplessly. He knew his own capabilities well. He could handle minor demons and monsters, but against a great Onmyoji from Japan, he had virtually no chance of winning.

"What should we do?"

Chuchenzi grew as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He turned and pointed at Wu Xin and the others, berating them in a rapid-fire tirade. "It’s all your fault! You’re going to get me killed this time! Why couldn’t you leave sooner~?"

"Wait~"

Gu Xuanwu suddenly spoke. "Yue Qiluo just reminded us that Zhang Xianzong can use Wu Xin’s blood to make something else capable of dealing with Shirakawa Rin. Guns and bullets—bullets soaked in blood.

"Shirakawa Rin doesn’t know we can make those things. Wu Xin, you can make a batch right now and shoot the bastard."

"But haven’t we already used up all our guns and bullets on the road?"

Wu Xin answered helplessly. To evade their pursuers along the way, they had abandoned quite a few things.

"Damn~ Damn~~"

Gu Xuanwu stamped his foot and roared again. They had just seen a glimmer of hope, only for it to turn out like this. Naturally, he couldn’t be happy about it.

"If you need guns and bullets, I have some here. But once you’ve dealt with these people, leave as soon as possible!"

As he spoke, Chuchenzi went into the depths of the meditation room and dragged out a heavy leather trunk. When he opened it, it was filled with all kinds of pistols and bullets. They were all high-quality goods that ordinary people couldn’t even buy.

"Travelers, by order of our temple master, Qingyun Temple is not receiving outsiders today. Please turn back."

Outside Qingyun Temple, an old Daoist with an otherworldly bearing bowed slightly to Shirakawa Rin and the others. Then he flicked his whisk toward the outside, signaling that they could leave.

"Move aside! We’re not here for you. We’re acting under orders from Brigadier Zhang of Wen County to arrest the rebel Gu Xuanwu. Gu Xuanwu used to be a warlord, and countless people died at his hands. Don’t bring trouble upon yourselves!"

The Reincarnator shouting at them was fairly crafty. He knew how to invoke Zhang Xianzong’s authority, using threats and inducements to intimidate the old Daoist.

"Our temple has had no outsiders visit today, and we have never seen any Gu Xuanwu. Please turn back."

The old Daoist’s attitude was quite firm, and he appeared rather imposing. In reality, he had no choice. He had to obey Chuchenzi’s orders, though his legs were already trembling.

"Didn’t Yue Qiluo say that Zhang Xianzong wasn’t planning to arrest you?"

Wu Xin and the others watched from a concealed high position. Li Yueya couldn’t help feeling puzzled when she heard the man’s words.

"That little Japanese guy is borrowing authority to throw his weight around!"

Gu Xuanwu didn’t care. "If Zhang Xianzong really wanted to deal with me, he wouldn’t have sent so few people. At the very least, he’d seal off the mountain with an army. He’s a cautious man and wouldn’t give his opponent any chance to turn things around."

"Chirp, chirp~~"

At that moment, a black-mist ghost bird suddenly began shrieking and circled above Wu Xin and the others.

"They’re here~"

A mass of black mist suddenly appeared beside Wu Xin and the others. It gathered into a humanoid outline, drifting like a shadow. At that moment, it shouted toward Shirakawa Rin.

"Not good~ Open fire~"

Gu Xuanwu reacted with extraordinary speed. He raised his two pistols, pointing one at the sky and the other at the humanoid outline.

"Bang~ Bang~"

Two shots rang out in succession. After the strange bird in the sky was hit, it shrieked several times before plummeting. It looked as though it was about to die. Yet the humanoid outline before them turned into a shadow the instant the bullets flew toward it, dodged them, and then gathered together again.

"Gu-Huo Bird~"

Seeing that the strange bird was about to die, Shirakawa Rin hurriedly used the Bronze Mirror to release a beam of white light and retrieve it from midair. Then he charged toward Wu Xin, followed by several of Ling Wei’s subordinates.

The ordinary Daoists of Qingyun Temple couldn’t stop them at all. Those who had received Chuchenzi’s instructions fled immediately, leaving only several Daoists who had cultivated magical power behind to help.

"Bang~ Bang~ Bang~"

Wu Xin, Chuchenzi, and Li Yueya all opened fire in succession, but the monster on the other side remained completely unharmed, dispersing and gathering again at will.