Back in my humble hut, soaked with night dew and with a heart still pounding from the shock, Hu Xiaoyue was still with me. She seemed to have no intention of leaving anytime soon; perhaps her injuries hadn't fully healed, or perhaps she felt safer with me, her "benefactor," than recovering alone in the mountains, and could also repay my debt of gratitude.
The oil lamp flickered, casting our shadows, which swayed and somewhat ambiguous, across the earthen wall. She had changed back into her old-fashioned dress (which she had repaired with her demonic powers), her fiery red tail draped lazily over the stool, occasionally swaying gently. The air was filled with her unique, alluring fragrance.
I recounted everything I had seen and heard that evening at the abandoned factory casino, growing angrier with each word, my fists clenching so tightly they cracked.
"...That old bastard Chen Fugui, running a casino, practicing sorcery, and killing people! That old man with the rat-like whiskers is definitely the mastermind! Li Xiulian is just a gofer! Liu Yan, Xiao Fen, and the missing Zhou Xiaohong—they're all their doing!" I gritted my teeth.
Hu Xiaoyue listened quietly, waiting for me to finish venting before speaking slowly, her voice clear and cold as a spring: "My benefactor, please calm down. Anger is useless; it will only throw you off balance. The most urgent thing is to clarify the situation and devise a countermeasure."
She extended her slender finger, dipped it in the water in the bowl, and drew several circles on the worn wooden table: "In my opinion, this matter can be divided into three layers. The outermost layer consists of mortal henchmen like Li Xiulian, who are lured or coerced, spreading evil and collecting 'materials.' The middle layer is that rat-whisker sorcerer, who uses evil magic to concoct yin objects or directly harm people. And the core..."
Her fingertip touched the center of the largest circle: "I'm afraid it's Chen Fugui. He provides the venue and cover, and may ultimately be the one who seizes the benefits and issues some of the instructions. Of course, it's also possible that the sorcerer is the real driving force, and Chen Fugui is merely a collaborator."
I nodded; Hu Xiaoyue's analysis was much clearer than mine. "So where should we begin? Should we target Chen Fugui directly? Or take care of that sorcerer first?"
"To catch the thief, first catch the kingpin, or perhaps clip his wings; it depends on the situation," Hu Xiaoyue pondered. "Chen Fugui is a local strongman, protected by his official status. Taking action against him could easily alert him and cause trouble for the authorities. That sorcerer, though wicked, is lurking in the shadows. If we can set a trap to lure him out, or find his weakness, it might be easier to succeed. Once we eliminate him, Chen Fugui will be crippled, and his wicked methods will be largely ineffective."
"That makes sense," I thought. "The sorcerer's weakness… he needs Li Xiulian to collect 'materials,' indicating his evil magic requires specific 'nourishment.' What if we could cut off the source of these 'materials,' or… send him some 'special' 'materials'?"
A bold plan gradually took shape in my mind.
Hu Xiaoyue's eyes lit up: "My benefactor means... to use a counter-strategy? To lure the snake out with fake 'materials,' or to tamper with it?"
"Yes!" I exclaimed excitedly, "Doesn't Li Xiulian regularly 'deliver goods'? Next time she goes, we'll find a way to replace what she has, or add something to it! As long as we can get close to that sorcerer, or interfere with his evil magic, we'll have a chance!"
"This plan is feasible, but it needs careful planning," Hu Xiaoyue nodded. "First, we need to know the time and place of Li Xiulian's next 'delivery,' and what she'll be bringing. Second, the replacement must be made realistically, so as not to be noticed. Finally, how do we ensure that the 'added ingredient' will effectively affect the sorcerer without harming innocents or alerting him?"
This was indeed a problem. We had limited knowledge of the sorcerer's specific methods and the "materials" he needed. Was it a woman's hair? Blood? Undergarments? Or something even more ethereal like "essence" or "soul threads"?
"Regarding the 'materials'…" Hu Xiaoyue pondered, "That sorcerer used evil magic to aid gambling and also harmed people with insidious methods. What he sought was nothing more than 'yin energy,' 'resentment,' 'filth,' and 'lewd energy.' Li Xiulian harmed young women left behind in rural areas. These women, alone in their rooms, are prone to resentment, fear, and even… lustful thoughts. These emotional energies might be what he sought."
I thought of the sticky parasitic evil spirit on Liu Yan's body, the water ghost mark on Xiao Fen's wrist, and the resentment in that hairball… indeed, they were all filled with negative emotions and filth.
"Then can we fake similar energies?" I asked, "For example, simulate them with talismans? Or… collect some similar natural energies?" I looked at Hu Xiaoyue; she herself was a demon, and should be more sensitive to these kinds of energies.
Hu Xiaoyue smiled slightly: "Simulating high-level, specific strands of resentful souls is difficult, but creating some chaotic, disruptive negative energy is not hard. I can use demonic power to mix the miasma in the mountains and forests, the yin soil of the cemetery, and even... some mind-altering pollen to refine a few 'Turbid Energy Pills.' These pills have a turbid and chaotic aura; if that sorcerer absorbs them as 'materials' or uses them in his spells, at best it will interfere with his mental spells, and at worst it could cause a backlash."
"Great!" I exclaimed happily, "Then let's do it this way! First, we'll figure out Li Xiulian's delivery pattern, and then find an opportunity to replace her!"
For the next two days, Hu Xiaoyue and I divided the work. Through Aunt Wang and Zhang Cai'e from the "Mutual Aid Association," I closely monitored Li Xiulian's every move, paying particular attention to whether she was heading towards the back mountain or the town again. Hu Xiaoyue, concealing herself during the day, collected materials needed to refine the "Turbid Qi Pill" in the nearby mountains and mass graves, and secretly refined it at night in my backyard (where an isolation array was set up).
I wasn't idle either, diligently studying the methods in Grandpa's notes about breaking evil spells, tracking auras, and some simple illusion and disguise techniques. These might be needed to replace Li Xiulian's things undetected.
Aunt Wang quickly brought news: Li Xiulian went to town again yesterday afternoon, returning with a black plastic bag, acting suspiciously. Zhang Cai'e pretended to visit her house and smelled that familiar, sweet, fishy smell even stronger; she guessed Li Xiulian was preparing "goods" again.
Based on previous observations and fragmented information occasionally revealed by Wu Jinfeng, Li Xiulian's "deliveries" seemed to have a fixed cycle, about once every ten days to two weeks, most likely at the abandoned factory casino, or somewhere nearby. The next delivery was estimated to be in the next few days.
Hu Xiaoyue's "Turbid Qi Pill" was also successfully refined. Three small, longan-sized, jet-black pills covered in eerie spiral patterns were contained in a small jade bottle. She warned me that these things had a very strong aura; ordinary people would feel dizzy and nauseous from inhaling too much, and the "odor" was even more pronounced for those practicing evil magic. Their aura had to be sealed with special talismans, and they had to be careful when using them.
Everything was ready, except for the final touch.
On the evening of the third day, Aunt Wang rushed in and whispered, "Li Xiulian just went out! She was carrying a cloth bag and headed towards the path behind the mountain! She doesn't seem to be going to town!"
The path behind the mountain? Wasn't that the direction to the abandoned factory? Had she changed the delivery location?
I immediately called Hu Xiaoyue, who was resting in the back room, and the two of us quickly went out and followed Li Xiulian from a distance.
Li Xiulian walked very fast, deliberately choosing secluded and deserted paths, occasionally glancing back warily. Using Hu Xiaoyue's sorcery and knowledge of the terrain, we followed at a distance without being detected.
She didn't go to the town, nor to the previous river bend, but instead circled around the back mountain, heading towards a deeper, more secluded valley. It was a place rarely visited, with only a narrow path almost completely overgrown with weeds.
Darkness gradually fell. The valley was eerily quiet, save for the sounds of the wind and insects. Li Xiulian, familiar with the place, reached its depths, where a small, relatively flat clearing stood. In the center of the clearing was a simple altar made of stones! Several faded flags were planted on the altar, along with a few dark, worn-out pottery bowls.
Beside the altar stood a gaunt figure—the rat-whiskered sorcerer! He stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly waiting.
They'd indeed changed locations! This place was more secluded, more suitable for conducting sinister transactions or rituals!
Hu Xiaoyue and I hid behind a large rock in the distance, holding our breath and observing intently.
Li Xiulian approached the sorcerer, knelt respectfully, and presented the cloth bag with both hands, muttering something under her breath, seemingly reporting something.
The sorcerer took the bag, opened it, and looked inside. It appeared to contain several small packets wrapped in red cloth and a few small bottles. He sniffed them, nodded, and a satisfied look appeared on his face. Then, he took a small cloth bag from his robes and tossed it to Li Xiulian.
Li Xiulian caught the bag, weighed it in her hand, a greedy smile spreading across her face. She quickly kowtowed, carefully put the bag away, then rose, head bowed, and hurriedly left the valley along the same path, not daring to linger for even a second.
The sorcerer, carrying the bag Li Xiulian had given him, went to the altar. He placed the small red cloth packets and bottles on the altar, then lit several strangely colored incense sticks and placed them in the incense burner. Smoke rose, carrying a cloyingly sweet fragrance.
He sat cross-legged before the altar, his hands forming hand seals, chanting incantations as he began his ritual.
As he chanted, the small red cloth pouches and bottles on the altar trembled slightly, releasing wisps of barely visible, grayish-black light tinged with dark red. The sorcerer guided these wisps, drawing them into his nostrils or into a black earthenware jar inscribed with strange runes before him.
He was absorbing and refining those "materials"! It infuriated me; those were filthy things obtained through harming others!
"Now!" I whispered to Hu Xiaoyue, "While he's focused on his spell, let's replace his 'materials'!"
Hu Xiaoyue nodded, a sly glint in her eyes: "Okay. I'll distract him for a moment, you go and replace him, my benefactor. Be quick, I can't hold out much longer."
With that, she vanished, disappearing into the night, silently disappearing into the forest on the other side of the altar.
A few seconds later, a rustling sound suddenly came from the woods beside the altar. Immediately afterward, a few eerie green phosphorescent lights flickered and danced, accompanied by a faint, mournful cry of a woman.
The sorcerer, at the crucial moment of his spell, was startled by this sudden disturbance. His brow furrowed, and he stopped chanting. He looked warily in the direction from which the phosphorescent lights and the crying came, his eyes filled with a sinister glint.
"What wandering ghost dares to disturb my altar?" he roared, standing up and drawing a small, black sword, seemingly made of bone, from his sleeve. He walked towards the source of the noise to investigate.
A perfect opportunity!
I immediately darted from my hiding place, stealthily creeping to the altar like a cat. On the altar were three red cloth bundles and two small porcelain bottles. I quickly opened one of the red cloth bundles. Inside was a small clump of greasy, tangled black hair and a small piece of cloth that looked like a sliver cut from clothing, emanating a strong, resentful, and fishy stench.
That's it!
I swiftly emptied the "real ingredients" from the three red cloth bundles, wrapped them in the oiled paper I'd brought, and stuffed them into my pocket. Then, I rewrapped the three "Turbid Qi Pills" that Hu Xiaoyue had concocted, each wrapped in the original red cloth from the altar (which had been tainted with the aura), and placed them back in their original positions. I dared not touch the two small porcelain bottles, fearing they contained liquid or something more sensitive. I simply quickly uncorked each bottle and dripped a drop of the "Yin-Breaking Dew" Hu Xiaoyue had given me—a special decoction to neutralize the effects of yin-type medicine—into each.
All of this took only a dozen seconds. I immediately retreated behind the rocks where I was hiding, my heart pounding wildly.
Just then, the sorcerer returned, cursing, "Damn it, just a weak phosphorescent spirit, disturbing our peace!" He seemed oblivious to the anomaly and returned to the altar, sitting down once more.
He glanced at the "materials" laid out on the altar, unaware that they had been switched, and continued the interrupted ritual, beginning to absorb and refine them.
Hu Xiaoyue and I watched nervously from a distance.
The sorcerer made hand seals, guiding the energy. This time, what emanated from the three red cloth bags was no longer a grayish-black, reddish aura, but a murky, chaotic, and pungent foul odor!
"Hmm?" The sorcerer frowned, clearly sensing something was wrong. This energy… was too mixed and chaotic! It was completely different from the pure, malevolent energy he desired!
He stopped absorbing, picked up one of the red cloth bags with a puzzled look, and opened it. Inside, a jet-black "turbid energy pill" came into view!
"What...what is this?!" His face changed drastically, and he hurriedly opened the other two—they were exactly the same!
He abruptly pulled out the stoppers of the two small porcelain bottles, brought them close to his nose, and his face turned ashen! The medicinal aroma inside had become chaotic and mixed, losing its original malevolent properties!
"Damn it! That bitch Li Xiulian! How dare she try to fool me with counterfeit goods?!" The sorcerer flew into a rage, smashing the "Turbid Qi Pill" and the porcelain bottle to the ground!
The "Turbid Qi Pill" shattered, and the chaotic, foul energy sealed within instantly erupted, filling the area around the altar! The sorcerer, being closest, was caught off guard and inhaled several mouthfuls, immediately coughing violently. His face turned an unnatural bluish-black, and his eyes became unfocused and violent!
"Aaaaah! I'm furious!" the sorcerer roared repeatedly, clearly his mind disturbed by the foul energy, suffering a backlash from the evil magic, and feeling extremely unwell. He staggered a few steps, barely managing to steady himself, but his breathing was erratic, and a trickle of black blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Hu Xiaoyue and I exchanged a glance, secretly delighted. We succeeded! Although we hadn't directly crippled him, we had disrupted his cultivation, ruined his "harvest," and even created suspicion and conflict between him and Li Xiulian!
"Let's go!" Hu Xiaoyue whispered. Our objective achieved; it wasn't wise to linger.
While the sorcerer was still enraged and recovering, we quietly retraced our steps and quickly retreated from the valley.
Back home, I was still somewhat excited. Our first proactive attack, though only a minor disruption, proved our plan was feasible!
"Miss Hu, your 'Turbid Qi Pill' is truly powerful! That old guy almost vomited blood from anger!" I laughed.
Hu Xiaoyue remained calm: "It's just a petty trick, it can only bother him temporarily. After this incident, he will definitely be more vigilant and investigate Li Xiulian more thoroughly. We need to be prepared; Li Xiulian will likely be in trouble."
I nodded, calming down. Yes, we'd alerted her. Li Xiulian would definitely face the wrath of the sorcerer and Chen Fugui when she returned. What would she reveal? Or would she be silenced?
"Should we... secretly protect Li Xiulian? Or, try to pry something out of her?" I pondered.
Hu Xiaoyue glanced at me, a half-smile on her face: "Our benefactor knows how to cherish a beautiful woman. However, Li Xiulian aided and abetted evil, causing immense harm; whatever fate befalls her, she has only herself to blame. We should just observe. If she truly repents or wants to save herself, she might come to us. If she remains obstinate... then that is her fate."
I paused, knowing Hu Xiaoyue was right. Sympathy shouldn't be misused with someone like Li Xiulian.
"So what do we do next?" I asked.
"Wait," Hu Xiaoyue said. "Wait for them to make a move. After this disturbance, Chen Fugui and that sorcerer will definitely take action. Perhaps they'll investigate an internal traitor, perhaps they'll accelerate a certain plan, or perhaps… they'll resort to desperate measures. We'll remain calm and wait for their move to come. Meanwhile, my benefactor, you need to accelerate your cultivation, and I need to recover from my injuries as soon as possible. The real battle is probably yet to come."
I wholeheartedly agreed. Tonight's small victory was just the prelude. Chen Fugui and that sorcerer's foundations remained unshaken, especially Chen Fugui, whose apparent power remained formidable.
Looking at the deep night outside the window, I knew the real contest had only just begun. And Hu Xiaoyue, who was both a demon and a friend, would be one of my most important allies in this contest.
However,Looking at her stunning profile and her languidly swaying fiery red tail, a strange feeling stirred within me again. Fighting alongside a fox spirit—this was an experience even my grandfather could never have imagined back then, right?