Chapter 41: A Coffin Shopkeeper?
When she finally reached her front door, it took more than a dozen tries before she finally managed to fit the key into the lock. Relief flashed across her face as she pushed the door open and hurried inside.
Once all the lamps inside the house had been lit, the young woman collapsed fully onto the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the bedding, desperate for warmth and a sense of safety.
The events of the night left her still trembling. All along the way, she had constantly heard the footsteps of a man behind her, but every time she turned to look, there was no one there. She worked as an embroiderer in a wealthy household, and she was skilled in needlework.
The strange, pacing footsteps she'd heard tonight had sent chills crawling across her scalp, her hands and feet ice-cold. Only now that she was home did she feel the slightest sense of relief.
Suddenly, a man’s footsteps shattered the silence. Echoing from the direction of the front hall, the footsteps struck like a hammer against her chest.
Tap... tap...
The footsteps approached the door to her bedroom…
Creeeak...
The door let out a soft groan as it slowly opened a narrow, blackened crack. The light in the room flickered out all at once, plunging everything into pitch-black darkness.
The young woman’s body froze. Her eyes filled with despair as she stared toward the front hall in sheer terror. She wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but her fear choked off her voice entirely.
Why me?!
Why me?!
The terror was like a freezing lake, rising over her and drowning her whole.
Just then…
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Is anyone home?!” A young, unfamiliar voice called from outside. It sounded gentle and calm.
But it was already close to curfew. Who would be knocking at this hour? Still, to the terrified young woman, this voice was like a lifeline.
Her eyes widened in fear as she stared toward the door, she desperately called out, “H-Help me...”
But at that moment, it was as if she were caught in a nightmare's grip, completely paralyzed. Her mind was sharp and awake, yet no matter how hard she tried to scream, not a single word would come out.
BOOM! A thunderous explosion shook the air.
The courtyard door blew inward, and the force of the blast even caused the surrounding walls to tremble violently.
“Got you.”
A cold, meaningful sneer accompanied the words, then a young man appeared in the doorway.
Crash!
With a single brutal elbow strike, he shattered the bedroom door, sending splinters flying in all directions. Behind him followed another tall young man, sword strapped to his back.
Bai Hongtu’s mouth twitched slightly. Is this guy even human anymore...? Even wild beasts in the mountains aren’t this aggressive.
Just then, Li Yanchu charged straight into the bedroom. And in the next instant, another deafening boom rang out. The house shuddered violently, and a section of the bedroom wall suddenly exploded, leaving a massive hole.
A young woman was flung out mercilessly, but Bai Hongtu, quick as lightning, caught her gently in his arms.
“Yanchu, you really have no sense of romance, do you?” Bai Hongtu called out.
How could you bear to throw such a delicate girl like that to the ground?
Li Yanchu’s mouth twitched slightly, but he ignored Bai Hongtu, focusing all his attention on the paper effigy still in the room.
Inside, a grotesque male paper effigy with heavy rouge smeared on its cheeks and radiating eerie yin qi, was locked in battle with Li Yanchu.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Li Yanchu’s punches were fierce and unstoppable, and his blows carried a momentum like a raging torrent, so much so that the paper effigy stood no chance. After all, Li Yanchu now stood as a second-rate martial expert in the jianghu, and he was fully qualified to establish his own sect.
“Bai Hongtu, are you just going to stand there watching the show?” Li Yanchu frowned.
Ever since he’d started fighting, Bai Hongtu, seeing how decisive and brutal Li Yanchu’s attacks were, had clearly taken a step back and focused entirely on comforting the frightened young woman in his arms. Looking suave and composed, Bai Hongtu gently reassured the trembling girl. When he heard Li Yanchu’s annoyed protest, he merely smiled faintly.
“Yanchu, it’s just a paper effigy. You’re more than capable of handling it alone. There’s no need for both of us to act.”
He looked every bit the picture of calm command.
The girl in his arms, previously trembling with fear, suddenly felt much calmer. Bai Hongtu’s confidence was truly contagious.
Seeing this, Li Yanchu froze for a second, then rolled his eyes in exasperation.
This guy just can’t pass up a chance to show off…
Speechless at Bai Hongtu’s perfectly rational tone, Li Yanchu redirected his frustration toward the paper effigy.
“Was the last one I killed your father or your grandfather? Can’t speak? You paper effigies really love to seek death!”
BOOM!
Divine Astral Hands! Overlord Lifts the Cauldron![1]. A tremendous force exploded forth, blasting apart the entire bedroom wall.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bricks and debris rained down in a massive collapse, and the room was instantly filled with a thick cloud of dust. For a moment, nothing could be seen clearly, and only the continuous sound of violent impacts echoed from within.
Bai Hongtu, still holding the young woman, had retreated to safety long ago.
Around ten minutes later, a patrol of local militiamen arrived, along with a few armed officers. When they saw a field of total destruction, they couldn’t help but gasp.
“Did a mad bear break loose from the mountains?!” one wide-eyed officer muttered in disbelief.
Bai Hongtu stood tall with his sword on his back, gazing calmly over the ruins with the bearing of a true martial expert. Li Yanchu, meanwhile, focused intently on the scraps of paper in his hand, activating his Art of Pursuit.
This time, there were two paper fragments, both fluttering through the air under the guidance of invisible spirit qi.
Bai Hongtu, now a rising star among Wei City’s young elites, had slain the mountain demon outside the city. And together with Li Yanchu, he eradicated multiple paper effigies.
With his respectable family background and strong connections in Jinchuan Prefecture, even Magistrate Xu recognized the Bai family’s deeply rooted power and held Bai Hongtu in high regard and full trust.
Bai Hongtu explained to the authorities how the paper effigies had been causing disturbances in the city, leading to the disappearance of several women. This helped avoid any misunderstandings that might have arisen from the sudden destruction and chaos.
That night, guided by his Art of Pursuit, Li Yanchu went on to slay four more paper effigies in succession. One of them, while fleeing, even possessed a young swordsman, nearly killing an innocent civilian. In the end, Li Yanchu forced the paper effigy out with a single powerful punch.
By now, Head Constable Wang had returned to Wei City. He had a strong friendship with Li Yanchu, and upon hearing that Li Yanchu was hunting down hidden paper effigies, he immediately mobilized his men to assist.
“Head Constable Wang, I want to conduct an overnight search of all incense shops and paper effigy stores in Wei City!” he said.
That same night, a squad of armed officers and local militiamen swept through the entire city, raiding every shop that sold paper effigies and funeral candles.
“Open up!”
“Open up! We’re government officials searching for fugitives!”
Like wolves descending on prey, the officers combed through every incense shop, paper effigy vendor, and spirit goods store in the city. They carried special talismans that could detect evil qi, as well as herbal brews designed to reveal those who practiced dark arts. The shopkeepers were forced to drink the concoction, and if any of them practiced demonic arts, there would definitely be a reaction.
Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu also personally interrogated and examined shopkeepers and clerks, ensuring no evil monk or rogue Daoist could slip through the cracks.
However, by the time dawn broke, they had made no further discoveries. Li Yanchu’s Art of Pursuit could locate the paper effigies themselves, but it couldn’t trace the person or force behind them.
Still, he did come across a familiar face: the young corpse-bearer, Song Sanlang, who had previously come to the yamen to report a case.
“Why are you still in Wei City, and how did you end up running a coffin shop?” Li Yanchu asked.
1. This refers to the story of Xiang Yu’s legendary feat of lifting a massive cauldron, showcasing superhuman strength. During the Qin Dynasty's collapse, 24-year-old Xiang Yu rose in rebellion with his uncle. To gain allies, he was sent to persuade Huan Chu to join them. Huan Chu challenged him to lift a massive 1,000-jin cauldron. After four strong men failed, Xiang Yu lifted it alone, impressing Huan Chu and winning his support. ☜
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