Zombie Life Begins in Hongxi Village

The dark clouds slowly dispersed, and the faint light of the waning moon once again shone on the dilapidated temple.

Qiu Sheng saw this scene clearly.

He did not expect that the Taoist priest would casually throw a sword and kill the Yaksha demon who had been fighting him for a long time on the spot.

The awe-inspiring and vast power to slay evil emanated from that precious sword made even His demonic soul tremble slightly, and an involuntary sense of deep dread arose in his heart.

He had just fought a battle and was quite exhausted; He didn't want to risk taking action again tonight.

So he gathered up the tree roots and branches and retreated to the backyard. Only a strange voice, sometimes male and sometimes female, came from underground: "Taoist, you can stay here, but you'd better not meddle in other people's business. Otherwise, you'll be sorry."

The voice echoed back and forth in the courtyard of the deserted temple, carrying the intimidation of a great demon, yet also revealing a hint of cowardice beneath its fierce exterior.

Inside the pottery jar buried under the tree roots, Nie Xiaoqian and Dong Xiaoqing's souls were still trembling, not daring to even breathe.

Lin Yi found it somewhat amusing.

He leaned against the window and shouted in a rough voice, "As long as you harm innocent good people, I won't bother with you."

But if you do anything heinous, hmph! My sword will not spare you!

"You stinking Taoist priest—"

Qiu Sheng was furious upon hearing this. A cold wind suddenly swept through the courtyard, and a thick tree root emerged from the ground, its stiff face appearing on the root nodule.

He stared fiercely at Lin Yi, his mouth opening and closing as if he was about to explode.

But the other party was not afraid at all, and even drew Zhong Kui's sword, which made Qiu Sheng hesitate.

After a long pause, he suppressed his anger and chuckled coldly, "What a righteous and awe-inspiring Taoist priest! Then let me ask you—"

If those people themselves are greedy for beauty and money, and become so blinded by greed that they walk down a deadly path and lose their lives, what will you do then?

Lin Yi said calmly, "Then everyone has their own destiny, and everyone should accept their fate. I will not save those who seek their own death."

Qiu Sheng stared at him for a long time, then finally gave a sinister smile: "Fine, fine, everyone has their own destiny. Taoist priest, remember what you said today, don't go back on your word."

After saying that, the tree root burrowed into the ground, the eerie wind gradually dissipated, and Lanruo Temple returned to its deathly silence.

Lin Yi glanced at the now silent backyard, scoffed, and ignored it.

He took out a clean bed from his spatial storage and lay down fully clothed.

The waning moon hangs low outside the window, the shadows of trees sway in the night breeze, and the occasional cry of a wild fox echoes from the distant graves.

There is a saying that goes, "Don't ask about ghosts when you walk at night, and don't sleep alone in the desolate mountains." But Lin Yi slept very soundly in this ancient temple where demons dwell.

That night, he did not receive the reward from the "A Chinese Ghost Story" storyline.

……

The arrival of someone the next morning made him realize that things were far from over.

He was a burly middle-aged man, wearing a wolf-skin cloak, with a long sword hanging at his waist and a curved wooden staff in his hand.

A small gray bird perches atop the wooden staff, its eyes sparkling with intelligence, appearing remarkably perceptive.

This man walks with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, and there is a heroic air about him between his brows.

Lin Yi recognized him at a glance.

This attire and this demeanor are exactly like Yan Chixia from the old version of "A Chinese Ghost Story".

Lin Yi carefully sensed the power of the sword at Yan Chixia's waist, discovering that it was no less powerful than Zhong Kui's sword, and that it possessed a spiritual quality that Zhong Kui's sword lacked.

"A sword cultivator?" Lin Yi saw through his true nature at a glance.

Those who practice the way of the sword conceal all their sharpness within the metal of their lungs.

The lungs belong to the metal element, govern qi, and store the soul; they are the lifeblood of sword cultivators.

Having been in this world for so long, this was the first time he had ever seen a real sword cultivator.

This person's three souls are condensed, and his seven spirits are concealed. With every breath, there is a flow of sword energy.

Yan Chixia never expected that there would be other people in this desolate mountain temple.

He came here specifically because demons had been born in this place.

The man before him carried a sword on his back and had a bold and unrestrained demeanor. He even bore a resemblance to him, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness to him.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I didn't expect to find you here, fellow Daoist. I apologize for my abrupt intrusion. My name is Yan Chixia. May I ask your esteemed name?"

Lin Yi naturally could no longer say that her name was Yan Chixia.

If the person in question has already arrived, then giving the same name again is just deliberately making fun of them.

He quickly changed his mind, clasped his hands in return, and laughed loudly, "It's just a remote temple in the mountains, what's there to disturb? I am Xiahou Jian."

"So it's Brother Xiahou, I've heard so much about you."

Yan Chixia cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his gaze lingering for a moment on the sword behind Lin Yi, before saying, "With Brother Xiahou here to oversee things, the demons and monsters will surely be unable to cause any trouble. I will take my leave now."

Lin Yi couldn't let him leave like that.

He stepped forward, grabbed Yan Chixia's arm, and laughed, "Haha, Brother Yan, you seem like a chivalrous man. We're destined to be together. How about we become friends?"

Yan Chixia was a forthright person by nature, and upon hearing this, he smiled and said, "That is exactly what I wish to do! I have always loved making friends."

"Come on, I have good wine and food, let's have a few drinks." Lin Yi pulled Yan Chixia and walked towards the West Zen Room.

Once inside, he made no attempt to hide anything, and with a casual wave of his hand, several jars of fine wine and several plates of delicious-looking dishes appeared out of thin air on the table.

The dishes were still steaming hot, as if they had just been taken out of the kitchen.

"A mustard seed containing Mount Sumeru!" Yan Chixia's pupils shrank, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Xiahou is truly a master! This is the first time I've ever seen such a legendary immortal technique in person."

His curiosity and respect for Lin Yi deepened even further.

"It's nothing to mention." Lin Yi smiled, lifted the wine jar, and poured a large bowl for each of them. "Come on, let's drink. This is aged daughter's red wine, and these dishes were all made by a master chef."

Yan Chixia picked up the wine bowl, took a sip, and his eyes immediately lit up: "Good wine! It must have been aged for at least twenty years."

He picked up another piece of fish and put it in his mouth. After chewing for a while, his eyes reddened slightly and his voice trembled a little: "Delicious! I have traveled for half my life and have never eaten anything so delicious."

This fish reminds me of the braised fish with fermented soybean paste my mother used to make for me when I was a child.

Although my mother's cooking was nowhere near as delicious, the feeling of happiness was exactly the same. I wonder what the name of this culinary master is?

"His name is Liu Angxing, and he's my family's personal chef." Lin Yi took a sip of wine and said meaningfully, "If Brother Yan has any free time in the future, come to my house as a guest, and I'll introduce you two."

"I will definitely go." Yan Chixia nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Brother Xiahou, for letting me taste such exquisite food that is almost divine. I toast you with a bowl."

Lin Yi clinked bowls with him: "Brother Yan, you are a man of integrity, I also toast you."

After a few rounds of drinks, Yan Chixia started talking.

He then recounted his origins.

He used to be the chief constable of Jinhua Prefecture, but after witnessing the darkness of officialdom, he became disheartened and resigned to return to his hometown of Xichuan.

Later, by chance, he obtained a scroll of sword cultivation inheritance in a secluded mountain cave, and from then on he embarked on the path of cultivation.

After his mother passed away, he wandered the world, doing good deeds and helping others wherever he went.

When he encountered injustice, he would intervene; when he encountered evil demons and monsters, he would draw his sword and slay them.

He originally intended to return to his old home in Jinhua, but on the way, his psychic magpie discovered that a demon had been born there, so he rushed over.

At this point, his gaze fell on the Zhong Kui sword on the table, and he asked, "Could it be that Brother Xiahou is also a sword cultivator?"

Lin Yi shook his head and casually tossed the Zhong Kui sword over: "I'm not a sword cultivator. I picked this sword up."

"Uh—" Yan Chixia hurriedly caught the sword, momentarily stunned.

Such a valuable item, just thrown over like that?

He drew his sword from its sheath, and saw that the blade was gleaming with cold light, and runes were faintly visible on the edge. It was indeed a rare divine weapon.

However, although this sword is incomparably sharp, it lacks the spirituality that resonates with his Azure Nether Sword.

The sword of a swordsman emphasizes the unity of man and sword; the sword is me, and I am the sword.

Although this Zhong Kui sword is powerful, it is still just a "dead sword," not a "spiritual sword" for sword cultivators.

"What a fine sword!" Yan Chixia exclaimed, sheathing the sword and preparing to hand it back to Lin Yi.

"If you like it, I'll give it to you."

Lin Yi waved his hand, his tone as casual as if he were tossing away a cigarette.

"How could I accept this?" Yan Chixia quickly declined. "I cannot accept such a generous gift without having done anything in return. Brother Xiahou, you have only just met me, and you are already giving me such a valuable present. I absolutely cannot accept it."

"Brother Yan, we hit it off immediately. I'm not a sword cultivator, so this Zhong Kui sword would be like a pearl gathering dust in my hands. You should accept this precious sword as a gift to a hero."

Lin Yi looked sincere. He said this, but in his heart he was thinking: Anyway, you'll be mine sooner or later, so consider this sword as an early greeting gift.

Yan Chixia declined repeatedly, but Lin Yi was adamant, as if refusing to accept the gift meant disrespecting him.

Yan Chixia was straightforward by nature, and seeing this, he no longer hesitated and had no choice but to accept it.

He gently stroked the sword, growing more and more fond of it, and couldn't help but say, "So this sword is named Zhong Kui. Indeed, the sword lives up to its name, exuding righteousness."

Lin Yi smiled with satisfaction: "That's more like it."