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Chapter 518: A Series of Setbacks
The two little foxes stood up abruptly, their hearts filled with panic, and thus they stood motionless on the broken wall.

But in Luo Bei's eyes, these were two evil spirits staring intently at him, appearing "fearless"!
Luo Bei became suspicious: What do they have to rely on?
Luo Bei wanted to ask Cha Tou She, but Cha Tou She repeatedly told him the same two words: "Liar!"

She refused to communicate with him anymore.

"What could make the forked snake so terrified..." Luo Bei's eyes darted around in the shadows, but he ultimately decided not to provoke the pair of little foxes.

Another reason Luo Bei did this was that his plan was to "remain hidden behind the scenes."

Throughout the process, try not to take action yourself.

Because making a move leaves a trace, increasing the likelihood that Xu Yuan will notice it.

Luo Bei snorted coldly, and the huge, bat-like black shadow pounced to the ground, as if it had sunk into the earth, but in reality it had disappeared into the shadows.

Walk briskly close to the ground.

Looking for the next target.

Luobei's work plan is meticulous.

Besides the forked snake, there are, of course, alternative targets.

He hid in the darkness and quietly turned around: the two little foxes were no longer on the wall.

They didn't follow, and Luo Bei breathed a sigh of relief.

Two alleys away from this puddle, there is another family surnamed Yao, whose family is considered to be relatively well-off in the bitter water cellar.

The male homeowner was a truck driver who transported goods.

He keeps a black donkey at home.

Every day they were bridled and whipped mercilessly, enduring hardship and toil.

The Yao family's fortunes have improved in recent years because the male head of the household has exploited the black donkey so ruthlessly.

The black donkey was naturally full of resentment.

Before it was bought by the Yao family, its previous owner cherished the animal's strength and dared not exploit the black donkey too harshly.

Excessive labor will shorten the lifespan of livestock, which would be a loss.

The Yao family was raising such large livestock for the first time and knew nothing about it.

When he first whipped the black donkey hard, and the black donkey began to harbor resentment, it had already begun to change its ways.

However, the degree of the strange change was very slight.

It was precisely because it became an evil spirit that the black donkey was able to survive; otherwise, it would have been exhausted to death by the Yao family long ago.

The black donkey is also very good at hiding itself—it was raised by humans from a young age.

It felt it wasn't capable enough to withstand the Purification Bureau's pursuit and escape from Champa before it would "take revenge"!
Its enemies are naturally the Yao family.

Every time the whip lashed its body, it roared and howled in its heart, vowing that one day it would devour this family!

Especially the youngest son, whom the male head of the household dotes on the most, must be eaten first, and eaten in front of the male head of the household!

It caused the male homeowner unbearable pain!

In the darkness, the black donkey unleashed a strange tongue that was seven feet long.

Its tongue is forked, and it moves as nimbly as a human hand.

He easily untied the reins that bound him, then tiptoed out and strolled around the yard.

As I walked to the door of the room where the Yao family slept, the aroma of fresh human flesh wafting from inside made my mouth water.

Just be patient a little longer, it'll be quick!

The black donkey is different from ordinary evil spirits. It has always been raised by humans and has learned their cunning and treachery, and is able to suppress its inner madness.

Every night, after people are asleep, it comes out for a stroll—but it never even leaves the yard.

It understood that it was different from the "minor" evil spirits in the city.

My body size is too big.

Going out too often would easily expose them and attract the attention of the Exorcism Bureau.

The black donkey had just walked to the door of the master's youngest son's house, its nostrils flared out, as big as cowbells!

Greedily inhaling the milky, sweet smell emanating from the room.

Suddenly, the black donkey turned around abruptly.

A dark figure appeared, skimming over the courtyard wall like a bed sheet as it climbed in.

The black donkey was somewhat puzzled: Evil spirit?
But there are door gods pasted on the gate, how can it get in?

It immediately became alert: It wasn't an evil spirit!

Those are human cultivators!
Its forehooves pawed the ground, and two thick plumes of poisonous smoke spewed from its huge nostrils!
The tongue deftly curls up from the side to pick up the chaff cutter!

A voice suddenly rang in its ear: "I know your pain!"

"We are all creatures born of this earth, so why are humans allowed to enslave you?"

"Why are they the masters of this world?"

"They should pay the price for all the oppression they have inflicted on you!"

The black donkey was taken aback, and immediately felt that these words made a lot of sense and hit the nail on the head!

It almost wanted to jump up and yell a few times.

Then they go on a rampage and eat someone to add to the fun!

But it still had some rationality and suppressed its impulse.

If you actually do that, then it will be impossible to hide anymore.

But the voice continued, "I can help you; you no longer need to suppress your true nature!"

The dark figure stood up in front of it.

A pitch-black hand emerges from the shadows!

It was like a sinful hand reaching out from the abyss!
A wriggling shadow floats in the palm of my hand!

The black donkey stared intently at the dark shadow, as if it could sense the power contained within it.

As long as I eat this stuff, I will gain the power to turn the entire city of Champa upside down!

Even the Exorcism Bureau can't do anything to me!

The black donkey's long tongue released the guillotine.

It curled upwards, almost touching that dark mass.

"Jiji——"

Suddenly, several clever fox calls came from outside the yard.

As soon as the black donkey looked up, it saw two little foxes standing on a big tree outside the courtyard wall.

The fox sisters aren't very good at climbing trees.

It was really difficult to get up here—what kind of well-bred girl would climb a tree in the middle of the night?
Naturally, he cursed that villain in his heart once again.

The black donkey shuddered!
Its enormous body visibly shrank in size.

The strange, forked tongue was sucked back into its mouth with a whoosh.

The black smoke outside the nostrils dissipated with a "poof".

The cowbell-sized nostrils have returned to normal.

Then it obediently walked back to the shed, fell down with a thud, and pretended to be asleep!
Although the black donkey didn't interact much with the evil spirits in the city, the infamous reputation of the "Three Tyrants of the City" was still widely known!
The black donkey has been patient for so long, it can be patient for even longer; it has no intention of taking any risks.

Luo Bei's hand, holding up that clump of "life of the plague insects," remained awkwardly suspended in mid-air.

Luo Bei suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed on the pair of little foxes outside in the darkness!
Are you going to challenge me?!

The huge black shadow instantly leaped over the courtyard wall and appeared under the big tree.

The fox sisters were so frightened that they stood there dumbfounded on the tree branch.

Beneath the tree, the ground was pitch black, and it rippled violently like the surface of water.

Then it slowly rose, gradually engulfing the tree trunk, until it was about to submerge the branch where the two little foxes were standing.

But the two little foxes remained motionless and refused to back down!
This made Luo Bei uneasy again.

So brazen and fearless?

Luo Bei wanted to test the waters again. The dark tide rose all the way to the feet of the two little foxes, but they still didn't retreat an inch!

The fox sisters felt icy cold all over, as if they were frozen stiff.

I wanted to run away, but my body wouldn't obey me!
Luo Bei suddenly sank down, swirling into darkness as he fled far away, skimming along the ground.

Such composure must indicate that there is something to rely on; we must not act rashly.

Tomorrow I'll try to find out what kind of evil spirits lurk in this city.

Luo Bei believed that the two little foxes' backer must be a great evil spirit from the turbid world.

Although a city of Champa's size is unlikely to have evil spirits stronger than himself in the mortal realm, Luo Bei did not want to act rashly. His target was Xu Yuan, so he still wanted to be cautious.

Both the forked snake and the black donkey refused, leaving Luo Bei with no third option. Feeling dejected, he returned to the inn.

There are many limitations to his ability to use this "deadly technique".

This method was born out of a sense of "injustice".

If you want to put your ideas into action, then the target must also harbor a sense of injustice.

There may be other evil spirits in this bitter water cellar that meet the requirements, but Luo Bei did not find any.

A bat-shaped black shadow slipped through the crack in the inn's window.

Wei Jinyuan, who was sitting next door, suddenly opened his eyes and couldn't help but smile.

Then she turned over and happily went back to sleep.

A little yellow bird landed on the roof ridge, then tucked its neck in, folded its wings, and dozed off drowsily.

Suddenly, a white-boned eagle with a human face swooped down from the night sky!

Its sharp claws snatched at the yellow-bodied warbler—then it crashed heavily against the roof ridge.

The skeletal eagle with a human face was dazed from the impact, slid off the roof, and then took flight again, looking down from its vantage point.

That's right, there's a delicious-looking little yellow bird standing right there.

……

When Xu Yuan woke up, he heard a series of clanging and banging sounds coming from outside the door.

Upon opening the door, sure enough, "Dreams Come True" was swaying back and forth, bumping against the door.

"Dream Come True" came to Xu Yuan with a smug look on his face, eager to show off his success.

Xu Yuan then learned what had happened last night.

"Good job!"

Xu Yuan wiped the car door.

"Dreams Come True" trembled slightly, looking as if it was thoroughly enjoying this "reward".

It's like... rubbing a dog's head?

After sending away "Dream Come True", Xu Yuan hesitated for a moment. What should he do with the forked snake and the black donkey?

Mainly black donkeys.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Yuan called Zhou Leizi and told him to keep a close eye on the black donkey in the meantime, but not to take any action.

Dealing with the black donkey would likely startle Luobei.

After Zhou Leizi left, Xu Yuan stroked his chin and thought for a moment: "We can't let Luo Bei continue to cause such trouble in the city..."

After Xu Yuan finished washing up, he went out, turned the corner, and entered Da Fu's courtyard.

"Dafu, Dafu——"

After calling a few times, Dafu finally poked its head out of its nest, its eyes still glazed over.

I spent the whole day following the yellow warbler, only to have it all for nothing.

After playing with the waterbird sisters all night, Dafu was really tired.

Early in the morning, the geese circled and flew over the courtyard, emitting mournful cries as if they were widowed.

This caused Dafu a great deal of trouble and endless worries.

Xu Yuan beckoned: "Dafu, come here."

Dafu dragged his tired body over.

Tilt its head back and look at the rice ditch: What's up?

"That's a good thing," Xu Yuan said. "I've seen how hard you've been living lately. If others won't help you, how could I not?"

Dafu immediately became alert.

What dangerous job do you want me to do?
Xu Yuan waved his hand: "You're a goose, don't be so suspicious. I'm really doing this for your own good. Your current predicament is that your family is not at peace."

The goose's head drooped.

Fan Zhezi is right.

“I’ve thought about it. If you let them all live together, you’ll never have peace,” Xu Yuan said, pointing to the geese in the sky and the water birds in the pond. “We have to separate them.”

How about I find another place for the geese to live?
From now on, you can stay on the goose side on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and on the waterbird side on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, how about that?

It's uncertain whether Dafu is good or bad.

Xu Yuan then said, "Which official in my Ming Dynasty doesn't have three wives and four concubines?"
How did they arrange it? This is how it was done.

"Once the date is set, you must go to whose room today. Only by ensuring this fairness can peace be maintained and the inner quarters kept quiet."

After hearing this explanation, Dafu felt that Fanzhezi was truly looking out for him this time, so he nodded repeatedly.

Xu Yuan finally revealed his true intentions: "I found a place near the Bitter Water Cellar, which is just right. But since I've helped you so much, you have to help me out in return."

Dafu stared at the rice ditch with a quiet gaze.

I knew it!

But it was indeed getting a little too much of a nuisance from the geese and waterbirds.

"Ang ang ang..." Dafu called out a few times, "Tell me, what is it?"

Xu Yuan said that Da Fu glared at him and said, "What did you say? You want me to cooperate with that bitch?"

This is absolutely impossible!
Dafu turned and left, his attitude unusually resolute.

Xu Yuan grabbed Da Fu by the neck.

"Don't rush, think about it carefully again, how much longer can you endure this kind of life..."

In the yard, the geese and the waterbirds started arguing again...

Dafu looked utterly dejected: Fine...

……

At the inn, Wei Jinyuan got up very early, while Luo Beibai, having been busy all night, got up late.

He came downstairs to have breakfast and saw Wei Jinyuan sitting in the lobby of the inn, leisurely drinking a pot of tea.

Luo Bei's mind raced, and he walked over, smiling, "Good morning, Brother Wei."

"You got up late."

Luo Bei ordered breakfast from the shopkeeper and casually asked while eating, "Brother Wei has a close relationship with Lord Xu. Do you know what Lord Xu's preferences are?"

Wei Jinyuan said with certainty, "Silver!"
No official in my Ming Dynasty dislikes silver.

Lord Xu was no exception.

Wei Jinyuan knows this all too well—he was thoroughly ripped off by Xu Yuan.

Luo Bei nodded.

Then, after having breakfast and dinner, I went out by myself.

Finding out Xu Yuan's hobbies is just one option.

Luo Bei felt he wouldn't likely need it.

My plan is sure to succeed.

last night……

It was just an accident!
This city of Champa is so vast, it's full of oppressed little evil spirits.

There's no way this young master can't find a suitable partner.

In Luobei, the first choice is still Kushuijiao.

The reason is simple: the "cause and effect" here is the least significant.

The people living here are all poor; if they die, they die and no one will avenge them.

If it were elsewhere, what if the deceased had some powerful relatives who could eventually uncover their involvement...?

Luo Bei wandered aimlessly through the Bitter Water Cellar, searching for a target while pondering how to contact the great evil spirit of the turbid realm and find out about the two little foxes.

Luo Bei quickly came up with a solution: "Old Ji!"

Every town has an old market.

But where is the old market town of Champa... The one who knows best is definitely the Exorcism Bureau.

But the Department of Purification is Xu Yuan's territory.

"Go ask the Mountain and River Bureau." Luo Bei made his decision. The three departments of the Imperial Ming Dynasty were all enemies.

If he went to the Mountain and River Bureau to inquire, they would never tell Xu Yuan.

Just as I was thinking about it, I suddenly heard a long cry of a wild goose from the sky.

Luo Bei reacted somewhat to the shock and immediately raised his hand to shield his head.

Then he looked up.

After circling once, several geese landed somewhere not far away.

Luo Bei snorted coldly and headed in that direction.

When he first entered the city, he was covered in geese.

I secretly vowed then and there to catch those geese, roast them, and eat them!

But afterwards he was busy "befriending" Lord Xu and didn't pay attention to these hairy beasts.

Now that we've run into this situation, we should just let bygones be bygones!
The geese landed in a desolate forest.

Luo Bei walked all the way here before realizing that this place was actually outside of the Bitter Water Cellar, but it was right next to the Bitter Water Cellar.

So I didn't come this way yesterday.

He reached the edge of the woods, but suddenly listened intently.

From the desolate forest came a series of chirping sounds.

There are countless birds inside.

And it sounds like birds are fighting.

Luo Bei quietly entered, and after walking a short distance, he saw a clearing in the woods where a flock of geese was attacking a small yellow bird.

The poor bird was only the size of a palm.

The geese are strong and healthy.

They also have a large and powerful force!
The little yellow bird was pecked by the geese, its feathers flying everywhere. It was powerless to fight back and could only let out pitiful cries.

There was a bird's nest lying on the ground.

It was clearly the flock of geese who were bullying the little yellow bird; they even destroyed its nest.

The geese chased the little yellow bird away, driving it out of the woods.

Then a goose, and very despicably so, snatched the little yellow bird's nest and threw it out of the woods!

Luo Bei's eyes lit up!
The little yellow bird's mournful cries were utterly heartbreaking!
It tried hard to pick up its nest.

But it's not a wild goose; it's small and weak, and can't pick it up at all.

Looking at the nest it had painstakingly built, its cries grew even more mournful.

The geese guarded the woods, preventing the little yellow bird from entering.

As soon as it gets close, several geese will rush out and beat it up.

In the end, the little yellow bird could only fly sadly and land outside the forest, in the grass on a dirt slope.

It continued to wail, as if protesting the injustice to the heavens!

Luo Bei smiled with satisfaction, remembering the location of the little yellow bird; it would be his first choice for tonight.

Then Luo Bei walked away with his hands behind his back.

After circling the bitter water cellar a few more times, they found two more alternatives.

However, after comparing them, Luo Bei still felt that the little yellow bird was the most suitable.

It had just been severely bullied during the day, so its resentment was at its strongest.

Luo Bei checked the time; he realized he wouldn't have time to go to the Mountain and River Bureau today.

Moreover, to inquire about "Laoji" from Shanhesi, one would need to find someone to introduce them.

If everything goes smoothly tonight and the two little foxes don't reappear, then there's no need to inquire about anything further.

Everything was very similar to the process last night.

Around 9 PM, Luo Bei donned the Yin General's robes, blended into the darkness, and slipped out through a crack in the window.

He had a clear purpose and headed straight for the Bitter Water Cellar.

He passed through the bitter water cellar, pausing deliberately: strange noises from evil spirits echoed from all around, but the two mischievous little foxes were nowhere to be seen.

Luo Bei smiled with satisfaction and headed straight for the desolate forest.

As he walked through the woods, he looked up and saw the geese sleeping peacefully in the tree branches.

He sneered, "Soon you will suffer terrible punishment!"
He went to the patch of grass where he had broken through and quickly found the little yellow bird.

The little yellow bird had many feathers pecked off.

It huddled pitifully in the grass.

Even when asleep, it would tremble from time to time.

This goal is perfect!

Luo Bei enveloped the little yellow bird with his shadow, and using the power of the Yin General, sent a thought into the little yellow bird's soul:

"Those geese deserve to die!"

"They're all birds, so why do they occupy the forest and drive you out?"

"That's so unfair to you!"

The little yellow bird woke up in a daze, turned its head and looked around before noticing the dark shadow in front of it.

The little yellow bird's feathers stood on end; it was terrified.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here to help you."

"I can give you the power to break all this injustice!"

"Think about what happened to you today. Don't you want revenge?"

The hatred in the little yellow bird's eyes gradually intensified, and finally it nodded forcefully!

Luo Bei smiled: It's done!
From the shadows, a pitch-black hand reached out.

A dark shadow was floating on his palm, constantly wriggling!

Luo Bei turned around again as if in a stress response.

Then he secretly breathed a sigh of relief: the two little foxes weren't behind him.

The little yellow bird had an unwavering gaze and struggled to fly towards Luo Bei's palm.

Then it opened its tiny beak, as if trying to devour the shadow.

Luo Bei laughed; there was no need for such trouble.

As long as one is willing to accept and touch the life of this swarm of plague insects, the method will be successful!
The little yellow bird swooped down, and the shadow enveloped it.

Luo Bei withdrew his hand.

Then he quietly began to appreciate it: he had seen similar scenes many times before.

But I never get tired of watching it, and I always watch it with great interest.

The "life of the plague insect" was completely integrated into the little yellow bird's body—wait, something's not right.

It doesn't feel like merging in, but rather like... passing right through it?
It's not accurate to say that it went through the past; it should be said that it went into the past.

The life force of the plague insects re-coalesced within the little yellow bird's body.

Luo Bei immediately realized something was wrong: Why could I see the inside of the little yellow bird?
The little yellow bird, carrying the "life of the plague insects," flapped its wings and took flight, letting out a cheerful chirp in the night sky before disappearing in a flash!

Luo Bei is a divine cultivator, and divine cultivators can see in the dark.

However, the field of vision is also limited.

The little yellow bird flew far away, and he couldn't see it at all!
Luo Bei's expression changed. Although he didn't know what had happened, his own "law" could naturally sense it.

Following his intuition about the "life of the plague insects," he stirred up a gust of cold wind and quickly gave chase.

"What the hell is this?!" Luo Bei roared inwardly.

He was fast, but the little yellow bird was not slow either.

The connection between him and the plague insects was always separated by a distance of over a hundred feet.

Luo Bei gritted his teeth, and flames surged from behind him, propelling him even faster.

The distance between the two sides quickly decreased by twenty zhang—Luo Bei was confident that he could catch up with that damned bird within ten breaths!
"I gave you a chance to defy fate, and you actually scheme against me?!"

"Wait until I catch you..."

"Eh?!"

Luo Bei suddenly realized that the connection between himself and the "Destiny of the Plague Insects" had disappeared!
Without stopping for a moment, Luo Bei rushed to the last location he sensed as the "life of the plague insect".

This is a wide street.

The streets were empty and deserted.

There wasn't even a small evil spirit.

"What about my life, this plague-ridden insect?"

"Where did all those plague-infested insects go?!"

Luo Bei looked completely bewildered.

"Dreams Come True," swaying precariously, carrying the fates of the little yellow bird and the plague insect, had already entered the Exorcism Office through the back door.

(End of this chapter)