Inner Demons

Chapter 122: Taoist Priest Li

Bailu Town had over a hundred households and about five hundred people. In one night, more than forty were lost.

They were all connected by family ties, so by daytime, the entire town was in mourning.

Normally, this would absolutely be a major case that would alarm the prefectural government. But at this juncture... who would have the mind to care?

Prefect Zhao was planning to head north, and his three Prefectural Governors were busy dealing with the disaster in Weicheng. Even after all this, they wouldn't get any credit—after all, such a major incident had occurred in your jurisdiction, and the future looked bleak.

Therefore, on the third day, only a Head Constable came from Weicheng with three bailiffs. He first questioned the clan elders and the local ward leaders. After the questioning, he simply declared it a natural disaster, a capsized boat, and ordered them "not to cause any more trouble." Otherwise, if the officials in the city were further annoyed, it was not out of the question that they would "arrest you all and charge you with murder for profit."

With this threat...

There was truly nowhere to turn for justice.

It was then that people remembered the supernatural events Du Zi'e had spoken of.

Thus, the three words "Lord of Dongting" became the most frequently heard phrase in Bailu Town.

This was exactly the result Li Yunxin wanted.If there really was a "Lord of Dongting," and he was a powerful, low-key, hibernating great demon, then someone in Bailuzhou (White Egret Continent) must know of him. Perhaps not by the name "Lord of Dongting," but... someone must have heard of him, or had direct or indirect contact with him.

Now that such an incident had occurred, people were beginning to talk about him... many old stories might be unearthed.

Li Yunxin was very, very sure of this point.

Because he was also looking for Young Master Nine's "traveling palace."

He had learned a little about these traveling palaces. He knew that when Young Master Nine took Liu Ling's Luoshu Ancient Scroll and Feathered Cloak that night, he had actually stored them in his own "traveling palace." But he might not carry the "traveling palace" with him; it should be somewhere...

Li Yunxin had Young Master Nine's former reverse scale and had once followed its aura to the place where the traveling palace "should have been"—

It was gone.

Someone had taken the traveling palace before him. He had no clues before, but now he realized the most likely culprit was that Lord of Dongting.

The Luoshu and the Feathered Cloak were one thing. But there was also that Lucid Jade Slip.

Someone actually wanted to take advantage of him—this was simply outrageous!

Therefore, after successfully raising this topic, Li Yunxin spent the next few days walking around the town, listening to people talk about the Lord of Dongting.

Right now, he was sitting in a teahouse, savoring a cup of tea.

It was the afternoon. The sun was brilliant. The weather was neither cold nor hot, and the warm breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and grass. He sat at a table by the window, looking out at the green stone slab street sprinkled with mottled tree shadows and sunlight. Looking further west, he could see a vast expanse of white light on the horizon—that was Dongting Lake under the sun.

The folding fan with its tear-bamboo ribs lay on the table, and steam curled up from the half-empty teacup. He heard a few people at a neighboring table in the teahouse talking about the Lord of Dongting.

But one listen and he knew it was nonsense. Many things lacked logic and common sense, completely trying to fathom demons with a human mindset.

Many people swore they had heard of the Lord of Dongting, or that people around them had. However, upon closer questioning, it turned out that their "friend" or "relative" was completely fictitious.

Li Yunxin grew a bit tired of listening and was about to get up to eat something.

In fact, his eating now was purely due to "gluttony." His body was a Spiritual Soul. It could grow stronger by receiving faith power. Although it could be touched, with a single thought, it could also pass through walls like a ghost. But that feeling was not pleasant.

However, there was no Wood South Residence in this town, and the food did not suit his taste. So after standing up, he hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to use his divine ability to find a restaurant in Weicheng—in ancient times, a certain Mr. Liang traveled to Europe to feed pigeons; today, Dragon King Li could magically travel to Weicheng for a meal, which would also be a fine story.

But just as he hesitated, his sharp ears caught a voice from another corner of the teahouse.

"...With this incident, it's probably not appropriate to go to Taoist Priest Li's banquet. After all, there are still family matters to attend to."

"...It's hard to say... I heard he has taken a new beautiful concubine... It's hard to refuse. I'm afraid he..."

These words were not unusual in themselves, but the voices were lowered.

It was this detail that made Li Yunxin subconsciously turn his head and glance at the speakers.

Just one glance, and he realized he had a lead.

The three men talking were all in their forties or fifties and looked well-off. Considering the town's population and economic situation, they should all be heads of their households or have their own businesses. In common terms, they were the town's middle class, the elite. It was not unusual for three such old men to gather to boast or discuss matters...

But many details told Li Yunxin that they were a little nervous.

It wasn't that the surrounding environment was pressuring them, but the matter they were discussing. The fine lines at the corners of their eyes, their mouths, and their Adam's apples all collectively told Li Yunxin one conclusion—

What they were talking about was something that made them feel expectant and excited, yet also ashamed and uneasy.

And they mentioned the words "Taoist Priest Li."

Li Yunxin sat down again, quietly picked up the half-empty teacup, and pricked up his ears to listen.

Half an hour later, the three men left the teahouse.

Li Yunxin stood up tall. He also left, tapping his folding fan.

The people on the street all wore expressions of grief. The three men also walked hastily out the door. They walked down the long street for a distance, heading straight west. Li Yunxin knew more and more that he was following the right people—they were heading in the direction of Du Sheng's house.

About forty people had died there. Everyone said the baleful energy was heavy and avoided it. But the three men didn't care.

He figured they were going to the ferry dock over there.

From that dock, a half-hour boat ride on the water...

Would take them to Junshan.

Following the three men as they turned from the long street onto a small one, Li Yunxin found a moment when no one was around and, with a shake, transformed himself into a middle-aged scholar with a long five-stranded beard. His face was handsome, and he wore a moon-white satin robe.

After a few steps, one of the three men turned his head and saw him.

So he stopped walking. He waited for Li Yunxin to slowly walk over before stopping him and asking politely, "This friend looks unfamiliar. Where are you from, and where are you going?"

The speaker seemed to be the leader of the three—Li Yunxin had confirmed this in the teahouse. He was a slightly plump middle-aged man who ran an inn and was called Manager Ding.

Li Yunxin blinked, a look of surprise on his face. "Ah... I have come from the Great Tang of the East, and I am heading to Junshan in the west. Are you gentlemen... is it that one cannot go there?"

Manager Ding exchanged a glance with the other two and said, "The Great Tang of the East? I have not heard of this place."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "Friend, what are you going to Junshan for?"

"For sightseeing," Li Yunxin said. "I travel the world's mountains and waters, just to collect strange stories from all over to write a book of marvels. I've heard that the thousand-li Dongting is a grand sight of the southeast, and I've also heard that Junshan is one of the eight scenic spots of Dongting..."

At this point, Manager Ding eagerly interrupted him, "Your Excellency truly has many strange stories?!"

Li Yunxin's eyes widened in confusion. "Uh... naturally."

Manager Ding was overjoyed, clapping his hands and laughing loudly. "Good, good, good! Since you've come to Junshan for sightseeing, we can be considered half-hosts—how about I introduce you to a first-class man of culture?"

Li Yunxin laughed inwardly. "Oh? If it's a man of culture, then I must meet him—how could I dare refuse?"

Seeing his "forthright" manner, the three men were even more delighted. They immediately took his hand enthusiastically and led him all the way to the ferry dock.

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