The Ferocious God in the Celestial Master's Mansion

Longhu Mountain, a quiet room deep within the Celestial Master's Mansion.

The fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, creating a serene atmosphere. Zhang Zhiwei sat cross-legged on a futon. This centenarian Celestial Master, his usual carefree demeanor gone, gazed at Zhang Yulei, who was also sitting cross-legged opposite him, with his cloudy yet insightful eyes fixed on him. After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly: "Are you really going down the mountain?"

Zhang Yulei, dressed in a plain Taoist robe, appeared to be only in his forties despite his near-hundred years of age. His constant internal energy flowed due to years of cultivation, though the deep-seated vicissitudes between his brows were unlike those of an ordinary middle-aged man. He nodded slightly, his tone calm and unwavering: "Yes, Senior Brother. I've been in seclusion for almost seventy years. Life in the mountains is peaceful, but also quite stifling. I want to go down the mountain and see how the world has changed."

He spoke so casually, as if he truly just wanted to go down the mountain for a stroll. But who was Zhang Zhiwei? The two were from the same school, having walked together for nearly a century. How could Zhang Yulei's thoughts escape his notice? The old Celestial Master stroked his white beard, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Looking at the world? I think you haven't let go of that lingering thought in your heart yet."

Zhang Yulei lowered his eyelids slightly and did not reply, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Silence fell again in the quiet room, broken only by the faint sound of burning sandalwood. After a long while, Zhang Zhiwei sighed, "Alright, you've always been like this since you were young. Once you've made up your mind, nothing can change it. If you want to go down the mountain, then go down the mountain. But the world of supernatural beings is much more chaotic than it was back then. You should be careful in everything you do."

"I understand." Zhang Yulei raised his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them. "With the eldest brother in charge here at the Celestial Master's Mansion, I'm at ease."

Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand: "You don't need to worry about things in the manor. But you, after you go down the mountain, don't be too flamboyant, especially... don't be like you were decades ago, killing people at the drop of a hat." His words carried a hint of warning, but more of concern. "Back then, for the sake of Junior Brother Jinzhong, you turned the Qingyun Sect upside down, and the Quanxing Sect was also slaughtered. Although they deserved it, try to bring less of that viciousness down the mountain."

When the name "Tian Jinzhong" was mentioned, Zhang Yulei's eyes dimmed slightly, and his fingertips tightened slightly.

That was a thorn that had pierced his heart for nearly a century.

Decades ago, when he had just descended the mountain to gain experience, he was young and impetuous. He stumbled upon the hypocritical Qingyun Sect members colluding with the Quanxing sect's evil followers, engaging in heinous acts. Enraged, he couldn't restrain himself and killed several ringleaders on the spot. He thought that would be the end of it, but unexpectedly, the Qingyun Sect and Quanxing sects held Tian Jinzhong accountable for his search for his third senior brother, Zhang Huaiyi.

When he and his senior brother Zhang Zhiwei found Tian Jinzhong, this usually gentle and refined second senior brother had already had his hands and feet chopped off, his Qi meridians destroyed, and was thrown into a mass grave like a rag doll, barely clinging to life.

At that moment, the murderous intent in Zhang Yulei's heart almost burned away his reason. He followed Zhang Zhiwei, his eyes red, and rushed back to Qingyun Sect. He didn't care about sect rules and ethics, or the rules of the martial world. Everyone involved was killed. Qingyun Sect Master Wei Wuji was crippled and left to die in the mountain gate square. The Qingyun Sect's high-ranking members who participated in the revenge were wiped out by him and Zhang Zhiwei. The once-great sect became a laughing stock almost overnight.

As for those Quanxing demons who made the move, he killed them all without leaving a single one alive.

Even so, Tian Jinzhong's limbs and Qi channels could not be restored. For so many years, Tian Jinzhong could only sit in a wheelchair, relying on his fellow disciples for care, his former glory completely gone. Every time Zhang Yulei saw him, he felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He always felt that he had dragged his second senior brother down with him.

"I know my limits," Zhang Yulei's voice was a little hoarse. "This trip down the mountain is just for a casual look around."

Zhang Zhiwei gave him a deep look, knowing that further persuasion would be useless, so he took out a token engraved with the three characters "Celestial Master's Mansion" from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Yulei: "Take this. If you encounter any trouble after going down the mountain, show this token, and ordinary supernatural beings will give the Celestial Master's Mansion some face. Also..." He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "Don't provoke those people from the All-Knowing Tong. They are now the 'rules' of the supernatural world. There's no need to confront them head-on."

"Hmm." Zhang Yulei took the token, put it in his pocket, stood up and said, "Then I'll take my leave now. Take care, Senior Brother."

Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand: "Go ahead. Be careful and come back soon."

Zhang Yulei paused, turned back to look at Zhang Zhiwei, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes, then turned around, pushed open the door and went out.

Stepping out of the meditation room, the sunlight outside was somewhat dazzling. Zhang Yulei squinted, taking a deep breath of the fresh mountain air. The air still carried the faint, lingering scent of blood left by the Quanxing demon from a few days ago. He didn't turn back, walking straight towards the outside of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

As he passed the training ground, many disciples were practicing. Upon seeing Zhang Yulei, they all stopped and respectfully bowed, saying, "Grandmaster Uncle."

Zhang Yulei nodded slightly, his steps unwavering. The young disciples looked at him with awe, curiosity, and perhaps something else entirely. He could sense that after the massacre a few days prior, his reputation within the Celestial Master's Mansion was probably no different from that of a "God of Slaughter."

But he doesn't care.

There was only one thing he cared about.

Stepping out of the Longhu Mountain gate and gazing at the winding road at the foot of the mountain, Zhang Yulei felt somewhat dazed. The last time he stood here was decades ago. Back then, the road wasn't this wide, and there weren't so many metal boxes (cars) running around; the world was a completely different place.

He stood by the roadside and flagged down a long-distance bus heading to the city. There weren't many people on the bus, so he chose a window seat and sat down. As he watched the scenery rushing past outside, his thoughts drifted back to decades ago.

The image of Tian Jinzhong lying in the mass grave, Wei Wuji's resentful face, the Quanxing demon's dying wails... and the forlorn expression on the Second Senior Brother's face as he sat in his wheelchair, stroking the chess pieces with his only remaining arm.

All of this was etched into his mind like a brand.

He didn't come down the mountain this time to see how the world had changed; he came for Qu Tong.

The founder of the Yaoxing Society, the woman who was said to have mastered one of the Eight Extraordinary Skills, "Dual-Handed Technique".

Decades of seclusion have blurred his memory of many things, and he can't recall many details of the plot of "Under One Person". However, he clearly remembers that the Dual-Hand Technique is a divine skill that can modify the Qi channels of the human body and even reshape the physical body.

Tian Jinzhong's lost hands and feet, and his destroyed Qi meridians, perhaps... only the Double-Handed Cure can heal them.

Qu Tong was his only hope.

However, Qu Tong's whereabouts are elusive, and the Yaoxing Society is not a respectable organization, making it extremely difficult to find her.

However, Zhang Yulei remembered that this Qu Tong seemed to have a close relationship with Ma Xianhong, the village chief of Biyou Village. Some people even said that she was Ma Xianhong's "older sister." Although Ma Xianhong was also a troublesome character, at least he had a clear goal compared to Qu Tong—he stayed in Biyou Village.

Finding Ma Xianhong might lead to the discovery of Qu Tong.

But how to get into Biyou Village was another problem. He remembered that Zhang Chulan and the girl named Feng Baobao went to Biyou Village because of a girl named Chen Duo, and they even got into a fight with Ma Xianhong. He couldn't remember the specifics, but he vaguely remembered that Zhang Chulan and the others had helped a little guy named Wang Ye before they went to Biyou Village.

Wang Ye... that young Taoist priest who used the Feng Hou Qi Men technique at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, stunning everyone.

Zhang Yulei had some impression of him, not only because of Feng Hou Qi Men, but also because of the boy's lazy and unambitious attitude, which was very much like his own when he was young, but with a bit more insight.

He remembered that Wang Ye seemed to have been "sent" down the mountain by his master, Zhou Meng, who told him to go home and protect his family. After all, possessing the Eight Extraordinary Skills, he was bound to attract the attention of many. Later, Wang Ye's family did indeed encounter trouble, and they had to seek help from Na Du Tong. Na Du Tong sent Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao to resolve the matter.

After that, Wang received an invitation from Ma Xianhong and went to Biyou Village.

Isn't this a ready-made opportunity?

Zhang Yulei's lips curled into a cold smile. He could first go to Wang Ye's house and wait for Ma Xianhong to send someone to invite Wang Ye, then sneak in himself.

As for whether Ma Xianhong would cooperate... Zhang Yulei clenched his fist, his knuckles making a soft "crackling" sound.

If they cooperate, great; if they don't... then beat them until they do.

He's lived for almost a hundred years, what storms hasn't he weathered? Although Ma Xianhong is also a genius, possessing one of the Eight Extraordinary Skills, Divine Strategist's Hundred Transformations, and having many strange and unusual items, are those things useful in the face of absolute power?

The long-distance bus swayed and rattled into the city. Zhang Yulei got off and looked at the bustling traffic and towering buildings before him, feeling a little disoriented. Having not left the mountain for decades, the changes in the world were indeed far greater than he had imagined.

He found a secluded corner, took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, inside were some gold bars he had left behind before going into seclusion. Years ago, when he went down the mountain to gain experience, he killed many rich and unscrupulous people and "took" some things along the way. He never expected that they would come in handy decades later.

After exchanging some cash and buying a set of ordinary clothes to change into, and putting away his Taoist robe and token, Zhang Yulei instantly transformed from a Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly wisdom into an ordinary old man who looked somewhat weathered.

He hailed a taxi and gave an address—a city where Wang Ye's family lived, which he vaguely remembered.

"Master, to Zhonghai City."

The taxi driver was a chatterbox. As he started the car, he sized up Zhang Yulei: "Sir, is this your first time around here? Zhonghai City is a big city, much more prosperous than our little place. What brings you to Zhonghai? Visiting relatives or sightseeing?"

Zhang Yulei leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, and said calmly, "Looking for someone."

"Oh, looking for someone?" The driver didn't seem to mind his coldness and continued, "Zhonghai City is huge, finding someone isn't easy. If you can't find them, remember to call 110, or you can try calling NexTong (a local telecommunications company). I heard they're very capable; they can find people, or... well, anything."

It connects to everywhere?

Zhang Yulei's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He had no desire to deal with those people right now.

They drove in silence until they got on the highway and sped off towards Zhonghai City.

Although Zhang Yulei's eyes were closed, he could clearly perceive everything around him. The hustle and bustle of the city, the roar of cars, the presence of passersby... all of this was completely different from the tranquility of Longhu Mountain, full of vitality, but also full of chaos.

He could sense the presence of many supernatural beings circulating in the city, some faint, others carrying a hint of ill intent. It seemed his senior brother was right; the world of supernatural beings was indeed in chaos.

But none of this concerns him.

His only target now is Wang Ye.

Once he finds Wang Ye, he can go to Biyou Village with Ma Xianhong's men, find Ma Xianhong, then find Qu Tong... and then heal his second senior brother.

This thought, like a thread, tightly gripped his mind, allowing him to maintain absolute focus in this chaotic world.

After an unknown amount of time, the taxi entered the urban area of ​​Zhonghai City. Skyscrapers stood side by side, and the streets were bustling with traffic, making it even more prosperous than the city they had just passed through.

"Brother, we've arrived in Zhonghai. Which place exactly do you want to go?" the driver asked.

Zhang Yulei opened his eyes and gave a vague address—it was roughly the location of Wang Ye's house in his memory.

The driver paused for a moment: "That's an upscale area, security's really tight. The person you're looking for lives there?"

"Um."

The driver didn't ask any more questions, skillfully turned the car around, and drove towards the upscale villa area.

The car was stopped at the entrance of the villa area, and a security guard politely came over to inquire. Zhang Yulei didn't get out of the car, but simply told the driver to say that he was visiting a friend, but he couldn't give a specific house number or name.

The security guard politely refused: "I'm sorry, sir, without an appointment, we cannot let you in."

Zhang Yulei didn't make things difficult for him. He told the driver to pull over to a secluded corner nearby, paid the fare, and got out of the car.

He looked up at the villa area surrounded by high walls and electric fences, and a smile curved his lips.

Can't get in?

What might be a problem for others is a piece of cake for him.

As night deepened and no one paid attention, Zhang Yulei moved swiftly, slipping into the nearby green belt like a ghost. With a few leaps, he easily scaled the several-meter-high wall, avoiding surveillance cameras and patrolling security guards, and silently entered the villa area.

The environment here is completely different from outside; the trees are lush and green, birds are singing and flowers are blooming, and the air is much fresher. The detached villas are scattered in a well-organized manner, each with its own courtyard, exuding an understated luxury.

Zhang Yulei released his Qi sense, cautiously probing. Soon, he sensed a familiar aura—it was the unique Qi of Wang Ye, bearing the Feng Hou Qi Men mark.

He followed the trail and stopped in front of a villa that didn't look particularly remarkable.

It is here.

He could sense that Wang Ye wasn't the only one in the villa; there were several unfamiliar presences. One of them had a roguish air about it, and another... was very faint and pure, like a blank sheet of paper, yet it concealed an indescribable power.

Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao?

Zhang Yulei raised an eyebrow. It seemed he had arrived just in time; they were indeed already here.

That's good, it saves him the trouble of searching.

Instead of approaching the villa, he chose a secluded rooftop, sat cross-legged, and waited quietly, like a stone blending into its surroundings.

They were waiting for Ma Xianhong's men to come to their door.

As the night deepened, the villa area fell silent, save for the occasional chirping of insects.

Zhang Yulei closed his eyes, seemingly meditating, but actually sensing everything happening in the villa. He could hear Zhang Chulan and Wang Ye talking in hushed tones in the living room, as if discussing something; he could hear Feng Baobao sitting on the sofa, crunching on an apple; and he could hear the presence of several hidden figures around the villa—presumably temporary workers sent by Na Du Tong to protect Wang Ye's family.

It seems that the fact that Wang Ye's family has been targeted by supernatural beings has indeed happened.