White Bone Demon Trail

Chapter 28 Summer is Approaching
And then there's that fox named Qingyin, whose illusion magic wasn't learned, but rather seemed to be something he was born with, making him seem different from ordinary fox demons.

Bai Wuxiang raised his right palm. Although the wound had healed, a very shallow scar remained. The glass bottle, having been in the Buddhist temple for a long time, had absorbed some Buddhist teachings, thus possessing the power to ward off evil spirits and malevolent influences.

However, this Buddhist teaching is not very effective against demons; it is only naturally effective against spirits and inanimate objects.

Bai Wuxiang silently memorized the name Yuanjue Temple. It was best to avoid places with eminent monks. Whether he could defeat them or not, it would always invite trouble.

After thinking for a while, he closed his eyes and fell into a long period of darkness.

He absorbed the yin energy from all directions, making the White Bone Cave even colder than Skull Mountain. Wisps of white mist floated up from the pool, covering the entire cave floor with a hazy white mist, making it resemble a celestial cave.

……

"Boom~"

After the Dragon Boat Festival, the rain started falling again. In the morning, the sky was filled with clouds and mist, and the distant mountain peaks looked like fairy mountains in the clouds.

But the villagers of Black Stone Village were all filled with worry.

Because the summer harvest is approaching, the rice in the fields is ripening, and at this time of year, there can't be a continuous stream of rainy days.

Otherwise, the wind and rain will blow down the mature rice ears, causing them to bend over.

The three leaders of the village and several experienced farmers were discussing the matter.

Li Yiguang frowned as he watched the group talking about trivial matters. He couldn't help but interrupt, saying, "I think we should harvest them early in the rain. At least we can store them back in the village for peace of mind."

“Doing that will damage the sickle!” a thin, dark-skinned old man hurriedly stopped him. “Moreover, the harvest will be much less. This year, there are more than thirty new people in the village, and the amount of food they need to eat each day is not a small amount.”

"How about we wait another half month?" a slightly hunched old man sighed. "In previous years, the summer rains should have stopped by now. But for some reason, this year there has been more rain than usual."

Hearing this, Zhao Lengxiang's eyes flashed, "That's right, I'm sure my eldest brother and second brother have also noticed."

I practiced throwing knives mostly in the rain, so I've paid close attention to the rainy season in the mountains these past few years.

It seems that the rainy season this year has become more frequent since Lord Wuxiang arrived.

Upon hearing this, the men's expressions changed slightly, and none of them dared to respond.

Only You Junzi reacted, "You mean, Lord Wuxiang has the power to manipulate rain? How can that be..."

He stopped himself halfway through his sentence, after all, the villagers didn't know that Wuxiang was just a demon. If it were a demon capable of changing the weather, it would definitely be considered a great demon.

“But, I can’t think of any other possibility.” Zhao Lengxiang did not avoid the topic, but continued, “Second brother, you are the most skilled in feng shui.”

Our Black Stone Village is located on the southern slope of Yunze Mountain, where the weather and seasons are much more stable than on the northern slope. That must be the only explanation.

"What do you want to say?" You Junzi sighed and sat down in the chair.

Zhao Lengxiang waved for the old men to leave, leaving only the three people in the room.

She suddenly knelt down in front of You Junzi, stunning both of them.

"Third Sister, what are you doing?" Li Yiguang exclaimed in surprise.

“Second Brother, the people in our village are all unfortunate. Since so much time has passed since what happened back then, let’s let go of what we should let go of.” Zhao Lengxiang said sincerely, “I know that Second Brother comes from an extraordinary background and must have his own insights.”

But the two or three hundred people in this mountain stronghold have already served the imperial court and the country. Let them live out the rest of their lives.

The main hall was eerily quiet. Li Yiguang didn't make a sound; he was also hesitating.

You Junzi remained silent for a long time. He knew that his second sister wanted him to go and beg Wuxiang to worship a demon as a real god, so that the villagers could have good weather and a peaceful life.

But he was not an ignorant mountain dweller. He had personally witnessed demons running rampant before his eyes, and even more than thirty of his ancestors had died at the hands of evil spirits.

On his shoulders rested the expectations of Prince Yi, and even more so, the entire world.

But kneeling before him was his sworn sister, with whom he had spent half his life. Even though they were not related by blood, she was already closer than family.

You Junzi was also in great distress. He sighed and helped his third sister up. "Third sister, it's not that I'm heartless, it's not that I can't let go of the glory of the demon hunter family, but there are more important things. Even if Lord Wuxiang is really a benevolent demon, a mountain god, how can I, the last Dragon Envoy, worship a mountain god or a wild demon?"

Zhao Lengxiang was silent for a moment, then raised her eyes to meet his gaze and asked in a solemn tone, "Is it more important than life?"
Is it more important than the lives of the three hundred or so of us?

Is it more important than the only loved ones our comrades who died back then cared about?

Have you forgotten how we promised them their last wishes before they died?

Upon hearing this, You Junzi's eyes turned bloodshot. He took a deep breath and lowered his voice.

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll listen to my second brother." Zhao Lengxiang didn't ask any further questions, her eyes were calm, and she turned and left.

Standing there, Li Yiguang opened his mouth several times, but ultimately couldn't say anything. Finally, he could only pat him on the shoulder and say:

"Second brother, although I am a rough man, I also know that one should not advise others to be kind if one has not experienced their suffering."

Look at Third Sister, even though she's so angry, she still believes in you. Eldest Brother believes in you too. No matter what you do, everyone in our village believes in you.

Anyone who doesn't believe me isn't a member of Black Stone Village!

Upon hearing this, You Junzi chuckled, "Don't worry, brother."

……

As evening fell, the rain continued to drizzle, and the villagers who had gone out returned home wearing raincoats.

Zhao Dawu's parents have been by his bedside for three days. Their eyelids are red and swollen, their eyes are dull, and their hearts are breaking as they watch their child's body grow colder and colder on the bed.

His mother asked, stunned, "What if A-Wu really doesn't wake up?"

"Pah, pah, pah, don't say such discouraging things." His father immediately scolded, "A-Wu will definitely wake up!"

It was because I hadn't disciplined him properly that he ran off and got into trouble. Once A-Wu wakes up, I'll make him do more farm work in the fields to prevent him from causing trouble like this again.

"Fluttering~"

A black crow flew in from the rain and landed at the window, letting out a soft cry. Then, a hazy figure appeared in the rain, standing at the doorway and gently blowing air into the room.

A weak soul drifted into the room and landed in the body lying on the bed. Zhao Dawu's body shuddered violently, and he sat bolt upright with a start, shouting in terror, "Ghost! Ghost! Human skin! Human skin!"

His parents were startled for a moment, but then they were overjoyed and comforted him, saying, "Awu, Awu, don't be afraid, your father and mother are here!"

When Zhao Dawu saw the familiar houses in front of him, he slowly came to his senses and his expression calmed down.

His mother hugged Zhao Dawu tightly, crying, "You little rascal, you've finally woken up!"

Zhao Dawu said with a wave of guilt, "Father, Mother, I..."

"Goo~"

He was about to say something when he heard something. He looked up and saw a figure walking into the rain at his door. The figure and clothes looked exactly like the human skin that he and Erniu had seen that day, as well as the crow on its shoulder.

The crow happened to turn around, and its whitish eyes met his. The warning look in those eyes, as sharp as a human's, made him tremble. He quickly closed his eyes, knelt down, and said, "I won't dare! I won't dare again! I won't dare again!"

……

In the rain, Bai Wuxiang traversed the water and returned the souls of the two children to their bodies.

He did not manifest himself like a legendary deity, nor did he appear before people to spread his faith.

To unsuspecting outsiders, the two children simply appeared to have fallen ill and recovered after lying in bed for three to five days.

But only the two children who experienced it firsthand understood what they had encountered.

……

Under the dark clouds, everything in the mountains is like ink on a painting, the mountains are painted with ink, and the flowers are vibrant and lively in the wind. Summer will reach its peak in the next month or so, which the ancients called midsummer.

Bai Wuxiang returned to the cave and began to cultivate slowly.

As the Yin energy on Skull Mountain recovered and continued to grow, turning into mist, Bai Wuxiang could cultivate even during the day, but not when the sun was up.

The sweltering heat of summer is especially pronounced during the rainy season, with occasional rumbling thunder rumbling from the clouds. In these mountains, countless flying insects and mosquitoes thrive and spread throughout the forests.

Originally, many mosquitoes like these flew out of Skull Mountain, but as Bai Wuxiang cultivated and absorbed the Yin energy of the earth, the cold Yin energy would force these mosquitoes to scatter.

Only at noon each day, mosquitoes, greedy for the bones of Skull Mountain, fly to the mountainside and lie prone among the piles of white bones.

Bai Wuxiang was somewhat helpless about these mosquitoes. After all, he couldn't possibly find them one by one and kill them all; he didn't have the time or inclination.

Fortunately, there was a cold pool of water in the White Bone Cave, and coupled with the yin and death energy around him, no living being dared to approach the White Bone Cave.

Of course, during a time like the Dragon Boat Festival, nothing can bring good luck or death.

That night, the jade bells hanging in the cave tinkled, sending forth joyful rhythms.
Bai Wuxiang curiously released his divine sense, a smile playing on his lips. Although he had never used this bell before, that didn't mean it wasn't powerful. Perhaps it was a magical artifact passed down for many years, possessing a kind of sentience. Sensing the aura of its former owner made all the difference.

He slowly stood up, walked out of the cave, and did not want any more humans to enter his cave of bones.

In the locust grove, the wind and clouds shifted, tigers roared and eagles cried, blocking You Junzi's path.

The wind gradually subsided, the tiger retreated to its bones, the eagle fell to its feathers, and Bai Wuxiang appeared before him.

"Lord Wuxiang! I am taking the liberty of requesting an audience!" You Junzi bowed deeply and said.

"Oh? This is the first time you've come to see me in person at the back mountain, isn't it?" Bai Wuxiang looked him over with interest. "Is there something you need?"

"May I ask, is the heavy rain in the mountains caused by you, sir?" You Junzi asked.

"What does the rain in the mountains have to do with me?" Bai Wuxiang laughed. "If I had the power to change the weather, why would I be living in this secluded place?"

"Do you take my words to heart, sir?"

Why would I deceive you for this? Are you afraid that you will kill this demon?

"Lord Wuxiang, you jest! I have absolutely no such intention, nor do I possess such strength!"

"Whether it is or not, you know the answer in your heart." Bai Wuxiang gave him a meaningful look. "Just like when you asked me whether the rain in these mountains was due to my doing, only I know the answer in my heart."

"Please enlighten me, sir!" You Junzi immediately bowed and said sincerely.

"Hehe, this cannot be easily passed on!" Bai Wuxiang turned his back to him and said, "You humans have a saying that is very true: money makes the world go round."

"What does Your Excellency desire?" You Junzi asked with difficulty. "I am but a commoner, and I am afraid there is nothing that can tempt Your Excellency."

"Hehe, Brother You, don't underestimate yourself." Bai Wufan retorted, "Your air of officialdom is so strong that if you were to enter a temple, it would be comparable to the worship of hundreds of ordinary people."

Seeing that he remained silent, Bai Wuxiang continued, "If you have any treasures that can help me cultivate, they can also compensate for it."

"Your Excellency, as the village god, how can you bear to watch the villagers die of starvation?" You Junzi sighed. "I beg Your Excellency for guidance."

“Brother You, our contract is now in effect. On that day, you only said that you invited me to the village to build a temple, and I would protect the villagers from demons.”

"But do you think demons would do such a compassionate thing as saving lives?" Bai Wuxiang smiled and walked past his ear. "The world is bustling with activity, all for profit."

"I am willing to offer up a Soul-Sealing Pearl passed down in my family, hoping that you, sir, will lend a helping hand and guide me through this predicament." After a moment's thought, You Junzi took out a very small wooden box from his sleeve and presented it to himself with both hands.

Bai Wuxiang turned around in surprise, raised his hand and pointed, and the wooden box lid rose on its own without any wind, revealing a dark pearl lying inside.

With just a glance, he could clearly sense that the bead contained many yin spirits and death energy.

The Soul-Sealing Pearl fell into Bai Wuxiang's hands, and he said with a smile, "Not bad, I didn't expect Brother You to actually have such a good thing."

The frequent rain in these mountains is indeed somewhat related to me.

Because between heaven and earth, mountains are yang, and great rivers are yin. The yang within the mountains gives rise to countless yin. And my Skull Mountain, with its accumulation of tens of thousands of skeletons, is enough to alter the earth's veins within a radius of dozens of miles. With the yin and yang veins clashing, the winds and rains naturally change frequently.

But this is only the change in wind and rain over a mere twenty or thirty miles, and even that power is only achieved with the help of the earth's yin energy.

You Junzi realized that the other party's background was probably that of a ghost or an inanimate object, like a skeleton that had become a spirit!
He probed and discovered the secret, but only kept it in his mind. Then he continued, "Then may I ask Lord Wuxiang to take action and prevent this rice field from suffering from the summer rains in late June?"

"Well, it will take me a lot of effort, and even delay my own cultivation, to be able to disrupt the wind and rain in one place."

"But considering you offered this pearl, I will help you have a good harvest." Bai Wuxiang replied with a smile, holding the Soul-Sealing Pearl in his hand, as if he were easily persuaded.

(End of this chapter)