Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 87 The Sect of the Beautiful Maidens

After thinking about it carefully, Lu Xingzhou understood the reason.

The Heavenly Sword Sect's forces that came to attack the mountain were all elite experts from the former Incense Burning Pavilion. No matter who made the arrangements, they would not be left here to oversee the follow-up work, as that would be tantamount to self-inflicted division.

Therefore, Shen Tang took them back for a meeting and arranged for others to be stationed there. During this short gap of one or two days, the mountain was temporarily unguarded.

Meanwhile, the county's Demon Suppression Division and the army were already overwhelmed with the demon case, leaving this place temporarily unattended.

There are leftover resources and useful corpses of cultivators here. The Yin Corpse Sect caught a whiff of this and came. They just wanted to grab everything and leave without anyone knowing.

As a result, a large number of ordinary cultivators from the surrounding area came to scavenge, which led to the conflict.

Lu Xingzhou frowned, somewhat hesitant. If there hadn't been this conflict and massacre, he certainly wouldn't have intervened. But in reality, this conflict wasn't his business anyway, and he wouldn't have interfered in the past either; there was no need to get into conflict because of outsiders and fellow practitioners.

But I don't know why, but now I feel a bit like I want to get involved.

I don't know if it's because I now realize I no longer belong to the demonic path, or because someone's gentle eyes have melted my heart, but at this moment I can't bear to see these things.

Besides, if we just sit idly by and watch this happen, what about the hardships we endured in our childhood? Shouldn't we at least let others experience it too?
He hesitated for only a second before flying out in his wheelchair.

Dugu Qingli behind him opened her eyes, a slight smile in them: "Master is right. Whether someone has demonic intentions or not cannot be determined by their background."

Amidst the ruins, a disciple of the Yin Corpse Sect chased after a cultivator from Dongjiang County, grinning maliciously as he prepared to kill him. Suddenly, he felt a numbness all over his body, and a powerful force surged forth, pulling him back from afar.

Turning his head, he saw a man in a wheelchair pull him to his side, and then his voice rang out: "Stop!"

The members of the Yin Corpse Sect were taken aback for a moment, then quickly surrounded them. A man who seemed to be their leader stepped forward and sneered, "Setting up a show? Who are you?"

Lu Xingzhou said calmly, "Lu Xingzhou of the Heavenly Path Sword Sect. This is my Heavenly Path Sword Sect's territory. Have you overstepped your bounds?"

The Heavenly Sword Sect has gained some prestige, and the leader of the Corpse Sect is somewhat wary of them. Their Corpse Sect is only a second-grade sect, but the Heavenly Sword Sect was able to wipe out the third-grade sect, Incense Tower, so they are not to be trifled with.

However, the demonic path is still the demonic path. If it were really just a matter of one person and one sentence causing it to leave in disgrace, how could it possibly survive in the future?

The man quickly sneered, "Since it's the Yin Corpse Sect's business, you'd better stay out of the way. We'll leave you alone since you're the master of this place. The others have nothing to do with you, so don't cause trouble."

"You're asking me to stay away from doing things on my turf?" Lu Xingzhou chuckled. "How about this... the Demonic Path has its own rules. It's very simple: you and I will have a fight. If you lose, you and your men will leave, and that will be the end of it."

The rules of the demonic path are simple: might makes right. In the event of a conflict, the stronger side wins. In particular, sectarian conflicts are even rarer between two demonic paths. Everyone knows they are like rats in the gutter, barely able to cope with the encirclement and suppression by the righteous path, let alone fight to the death among fellow practitioners. One-on-one duels are the most common occurrence.

The man looked at Lu Xingzhou with some surprise: "You're so young, yet you've had dealings with the demonic path?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly but did not answer.

The man sneered, "What if you lose?"

Lu Xingzhou said nonchalantly, "If I lose, this place is naturally at your disposal."

The man glanced at Lu Xingzhou, then burst into laughter: "Then get lost!"

Before he finished speaking, a wave of yin energy swept towards Lu Xingzhou.

Although he was just a minor leader, he was still a fifth-rank official, while this guy was only a sixth-rank and lame, yet he dared to propose a one-on-one fight. It was laughable...

Before he could even finish thinking, Lu Xingzhou had already grabbed the ball of yin energy in his hand, kneaded it into a ball, and then it suddenly dissipated.

The man was stunned.

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "My turn?"

A white banner was raised, and the man's soul was shattered: "The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls! Are you a demonic cultivator or am I?!"

The degree to which people hate or fear the actions of evil sects varies. The Yin Corpse Sect, which plays with corpses, is hated by gods and ghosts, while the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, which plays with souls, is even more disgusting than playing with corpses. It truly makes people unable to be reborn after death, and they will be imprisoned and tortured eternally even after death.

The vengeful spirit howled, and the man scrambled away.

However, Lu Xingzhou's vengeful spirit was not targeting him at all. With a wailing and howling sound, it rushed towards a slender figure that looked like a small fry to the side.

The henchman's face was obscured by his cloak, but he had already secretly prepared a spell to launch a sneak attack. Seeing that Lu Xingzhou seemed to be prepared, he couldn't help but let out a soft "Eh!" and chuckled.

With a light wave of his right hand, the condensed magic suddenly erupted, easily scattering the vengeful spirits: "Interesting... Judge before the Yama's Palace, indeed interesting."

Her voice was alluring and seductive, as if it scratched into one's heart.

The members of the Yin Corpse Sect were dumbfounded: "Who taught you that you can launch a sneak attack during a decisive battle in the demonic path? Once this gets out, how can my Yin Corpse Sect stand up to our fellow practitioners... Wait, who are you? Where did I get a woman from?

"That's because you're stupid." The henchman chuckled. "He's all alone. If he dies here, who knows what happened... Don't you think so, Judge Lu?"

As the words were spoken, a strange, decadent aura spread, causing everyone present to feel dazed and their bodies to feel somewhat hot.

"Damn it! The Enchanting Maidens' Union Sect!" The leader of the Corpse Sect was utterly furious. "Let's go!"

In the blink of an eye, the members of the Yin Corpse Sect were frightened away by a mere woman whose face was completely hidden by a cloak; their legs ran faster than wheels. If manipulating corpses is abhorrent to gods and ghosts, and manipulating souls inspires fear and hatred, then the Charming Maidens' Joyful Union Sect evokes both love and hate.

To control living people and turn them into their dogs is hatred; to drain people dry and suck them to death is hatred... But how can you know the joy of being human? How many people would willingly kneel on the ground and lick their feet, to be their dogs?
In any case, the Yin Corpse Sect, which deals with corpses, has absolutely no interest in this; they'd rather go home and keep the corpses company.

"Your Honor, they're afraid of me." The figure chuckled lightly. "And you?"

Lu Xingzhou remained silent, only driving the Soul Banner.

That woman was definitely trying to ambush me. Who spoke to her politely? Dealing with demonic cultivators is most annoying when it comes to two-faced people who cause trouble behind people's backs. They're not even as straightforward as the people from the Corpse Sect; they're just plain evil. This woman is not only evil, but she also wants to make the Corpse Sect take the blame.

The black flames attacked silently. The woman initially didn't take it seriously and casually waved her hand. However, she immediately realized something was wrong as soon as she made contact. With a "boom," she retreated in a sorry state, her cloak burning away.

She revealed a face that was breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly alluring.

"When did the Joyful Union Sect produce such a powerful direct descendant?" Lu Xingzhou remained unmoved as if he hadn't seen it, and continued to drive the soul banner.

"The judge is really clueless about romance..." The woman flashed and was already behind the wheelchair, her slender hand brushing against the back of his head.

If touched, one may suffer from mild dementia or, in severe cases, have their consciousness invaded and become a puppet.

Just then, a burst of sword light appeared behind her, and Dugu Qingli, as one with her sword, shot towards her back like lightning.

"You've fallen for my trap, Saintess Tianyao... I've been waiting for you..." The woman chuckled, flicking her slender hand behind her, and pink mist instantly spread. "I never imagined that someone as stoic as a frozen river would actually take the initiative to attack because a man is in danger... Ha..."

The sword light mingled with the mist, instantly pulverizing it. But Dugu Qingli's heart skipped a beat, and she knew something was wrong.

This woman had been hiding her strength, and she looked like she was only at the fifth or sixth rank. It was only after this exchange that we realized she was actually at the fourth rank!

She was definitely doing it to herself!
Since it was deliberately settling on her, this miasma must be targeted... Dugu Qingli instantly closed all the pores on her body, but a little had already seeped in.

In an instant, he felt a surge of heat throughout his body, and his azure eyes became slightly misty.

This situation seems a bit familiar... Is the secret technique of the Charming Maidens' Union Sect actually similar to Lu Xingzhou's wheelchair-swaying?
"Frosty sky and frozen moon, all stained with dust... Once this glacier melts, I wonder if spring waters will flood... Hehe..." The woman pointed her slender hand and directly touched Dugu Qingli's brow.

She intends to completely cripple this direct descendant of the Tianyao Holy Land! Even if she can't kill her, she'll at least taint her cultivation techniques, preventing her from making any further progress.

Dugu Qingli's seemingly misty blue eyes suddenly changed.

The azure seemed to spread outwards, even the whites of his eyes glowed blue, making him look like ancient ice, devoid of any human presence.

"Whoosh!" The Frost Sky Sword was drawn, and blood splattered.

The woman clearly hadn't expected that Dugu Qingli, who had seemingly already been hit, hadn't weakened but had instead become three times stronger. She couldn't dodge the sword strike, and a smear of blood appeared on her shoulder.

She clutched her shoulder and took a small step back, as if she had just realized something: "Ah, sealing off the spiritual platform, like reflecting a cold river... This state of yours cannot last. How many more breaths can you hold on?"

She spun around and grabbed Lu Xingzhou by the throat: "If you want him dead, then continue."

In the blink of an eye, the entire battle had unfolded. Lu Xingzhou had barely turned his wheelchair around when a slender hand touched his throat.

Without saying a word, he pushed out with both palms, striking the opponent's lower abdomen.

Even if someone is strangled to death, this attack can still shatter their dantian.

The woman pressed down with her left hand, blocking Lu Xingzhou's palms, and they collided with a bang.

Her left shoulder was injured, and she was not strong enough at the moment. Unexpectedly, Lu Xingzhou's Yin-Yang Rotation and spiraling, tricky energy were able to hold its own against her.

No matter how many prerequisites there are, this is still a sixth-rank enemy fighting a fourth-rank enemy! An incredulous look of surprise flashed in the woman's eyes, and Dugu Qingli's sword behind her was already attacking again.

Just as the woman was about to dodge, Lu Xingzhou's seemingly useless leg, which had been sitting in his wheelchair, suddenly kicked up from below, striking her between the legs without any force.

The woman's eyes bulged, and her body arched instinctively. Lu Xingzhou's hands, which were pressing against her lower abdomen, seemed to touch something and trembled.

Before she could react, Dugu Qingli's sword pierced her heart from behind.

The woman only had time to dodge her vitals, and with some unknown technique, she vanished in an instant, leaving a trail of blood in the air that bloomed like a flower amidst the swirling snow.

"Lu Xingzhou... I'll remember you... Sooner or later, I'll make you wish you were dead..." The coughing gradually faded away, its whereabouts unknown.

Dugu Qingli suddenly went limp and collapsed. Lu Xingzhou quickly caught her, and just as he was about to speak, the voice of the Yin Corpse Sect came from afar again: "Haha... the bitch is gone, now it's our turn to pick up the scraps, isn't it?"

Lu Xingzhou swallowed back what he wanted to say, picked up Dugu Qingli, and launched himself back into the Xuan Magnetic Earth Vein, sealing the cave entrance once again.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: 10,000 words completed. Requesting monthly votes!
That's all for tonight.

(End of this chapter)