Thirteenth month of death

Chapter 252 Qingxi Town
Qingxi Town is located in the southeast corner of the mountain and sea boundary, backed by lush mountains and facing a winding stream. It is an inconspicuous town.

The houses in the town are mostly built of bluestone, with dark gray tiles on the roofs. Every morning, they are shrouded in a thin mist, like a traditional Chinese ink painting.

A stream flows through the center of the town, with several stone bridges spanning it.

At the far east end, there is an inconspicuous inn with a faded signboard bearing the three mottled characters "Zui Xian Ju".

There are two secluded rooms in the backyard of the inn. The doors and windows are closed at the moment, but the candlelight can be faintly seen coming from inside.

Li Daosheng pushed open the carved wooden window, letting the morning breeze, carrying the scent of the stream, flow into the room.

He glanced back at Su Moshi, who was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, and asked softly, "How are you feeling today?"

Su Moshi slowly opened his eyes, his once bright and clear eyes now covered with a faint gray haze.

She tried to sit up, but her fingers trembled involuntarily, and she eventually leaned against the headboard.

"It's better than yesterday." Her voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the peaceful morning light. "The evil energy has been suppressed, but it will take some time for my magic power to recover."

Li Daosheng nodded, took out a small celadon bottle from his bosom, and placed it on the low table beside the bed: "I went to the town's pharmacy and bought some Qi-Nourishing Pills. Although they are not as good as the immortal medicines, they should be of some help to your recovery."

Su Moshi's gaze fell on the porcelain bottle, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "Thank you."

For the past two months, they have been living in seclusion in this unassuming small town.

The tragedy of the Supreme Heaven of Separation, the evil eye's strangeness, and the pursuit of the Ju Kong seem as if they happened just yesterday.

Li Daosheng claimed to the outside world that they were siblings who had been attacked by bandits, and that Su Moshi needed to rest due to excessive fright. The people in the town were simple and kind and never doubted their identities.

"I'll go brew your medicine." Li Daosheng picked up the medicine packet on the table, turned around, and walked towards the door.

"Wait a minute." Su Moshi suddenly called out to him, "The long mark between your eyebrows seems to be more noticeable today than usual."

Li Daosheng touched his forehead, where there was indeed a faint mark. This was the mark left to him by Wudao, and the source of his ability to sense Wudao.

Previously, this long mark could be concealed, but this time it was strangely impossible to disappear, and it remained faintly visible between his eyebrows.

"It's nothing," he smiled. "You should get some rest."

After leaving his room, Li Daosheng walked through the path in the backyard of the inn and arrived at the kitchen.

The innkeeper, surnamed Zhao, was a kind old man in his fifties. When he saw Li Daosheng come in, he immediately gave up his spot at the stove.

"Young Master Li, are you brewing medicine for your sister again?" Boss Zhao handed over a palm-leaf fan. "Is your sister feeling any better?"

"Thank you for your concern. My sister is much better now, but she is still weak and needs to recuperate for a while." Li Daosheng skillfully started a fire and poured the medicinal herbs into the earthenware jar.

Mr. Zhao sighed, "You and your sister are pitiful too. By the way, there's a lantern festival in town tonight. If your sister is feeling better, why not take her out for a walk to clear her head?"

Li Daosheng thanked him, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

For the past two months, he had been secretly planning the task entrusted to him by Wudao—to retrieve the magical treasures scattered among the various sects.

Whenever the night was quiet, he would study the map in his mind and think of ways to retrieve those magical treasures.

The most troublesome thing is that most of these lights are located in the core areas of major sects, and some are even forbidden areas.

With his current strength, going there rashly would be tantamount to suicide.

unless……

The aroma of medicine gradually filled the air, pulling Li Daosheng's thoughts back to reality.

He carefully filtered the medicine into a bowl and was about to take it back to his room when he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the front yard.

"Father! Something terrible has happened!"

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen rushed into the backyard in a panic. It was Xiaohe, the daughter of Boss Zhao. "The Blood Fiend Sect has kidnapped Brother Aniu!"

Boss Zhao's expression changed drastically: "What happened? Didn't A-Niu go up the mountain to gather herbs?"

Xiaohe was so anxious that tears streamed down her face: "Brother Aniu found a hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum on Qingya Mountain. Just as he was about to pick it, people from the Blood Fiend Sect suddenly appeared and said that the mountain was their territory and everything on it belonged to them. Brother Aniu argued for a few words, and they said he had offended the immortal sect and arrested him!"

Li Daosheng listened carefully. The Blood Fiend Sect was a notorious demonic sect in the area. Although it couldn't compare to the Five Great Immortal Sects, it was still a force to be reckoned with in this region. It was rumored that they cultivated the Blood Fiend Demonic Art, which required them to regularly absorb the life essence of living people, and ordinary people avoided them like the plague.

Li Daosheng did ask Su Moshi about this matter, and the answer he received was that it was a rumor.

Mortals' essence and blood are mottled and lack any spirituality, so how can they cultivate?

It seems that the common people were so afraid of the Blood Fiend Sect that they made up some stories about the demonic sect that fit their imagination.

"What are we going to do!" Boss Zhao paced anxiously. "That boy, Ah Niu, is stubborn. If he's taken to the Blood Fiend Sect, someone will definitely die..."

Li Daosheng took the medicine bowl away without making a sound.

He didn't say anything, but he had already made up his mind.

If I remember correctly, the Blood Fiend Sect also possesses a Daoless magic weapon.

The map Wudao gave us showed the exact location of the Blood Fiend Sect, which was in Blood Maple Valley behind Qingya Mountain.

The valley was filled with blood-red maple leaves, a breathtaking sight, brimming with spiritual energy, unlike any other demonic territory.

Holding the medicine, Li Daosheng pushed open the door and immediately met Su Moshi's eyes.

She sat cross-legged on the bed, her face still somewhat pale, but her eyes had regained their usual clarity.

"Are you going to the Blood Fiend Sect?" she asked directly.

Li Daosheng was not surprised that she knew—even with her magic power greatly diminished, Su Moshi's spiritual sense far surpassed that of ordinary people, and the commotion in the front yard of the inn naturally did not escape her perception.

“Since we’re going anyway, we might as well go together,” Li Daosheng said frankly.

Su Moshi was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached into his sleeve and took out a bronze mirror the size of a coin, handing it to him: "Wear this."

Li Daosheng looked at the bronze mirror, Su Moshi's natal magic weapon, and suddenly smiled.

“I’m not taking it. This thing can only unleash its full power when it’s in your hands. What would I do with it?” Li Daosheng said matter-of-factly.

"It's too dangerous for you to go to the Blood Fiend Sect alone. With it protecting you, you won't get hurt."

This is the source of confidence for the five great immortal sects. Even without a master to wield it, its power is greatly reduced, but this bronze mirror is still a rare protective item.

"Have you misunderstood something?" Li Daosheng looked at Su Moshi with surprise.

Su Moshi looked at him in surprise, her eyes filled with "What's wrong?"

Li Daosheng laughed and said, "Who said I was going alone? In your current state, it's better to take you with me to challenge the Blood Fiend Sect than to leave you alone at the inn. That would put my mind at ease."

"You're sitting on the bed, get down quickly, let's go together!"

Su Moshi looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Good for you, Li Daosheng."

Li Daosheng smiled slightly: "Don't worry, with the bronze mirror protecting you, you can't be hurt."

Su Moshi lowered his head, looking at his slightly trembling hands.

Her magical powers have been invaded by evil spirits, and it will take a long time to recover.

But his injuries had already healed almost completely.

Only... the crack in his Dao heart could not be healed for a long time.

"Thank you."

"what?"

Li Daosheng turned his head, only to find that Su Moshi had already gracefully walked past him, as if he hadn't said a word.

(End of this chapter)