Back To When The Demon Lord Was A Beggar - Chapter 30

Chu Nanzhen rested his chin on his hands, deep in thought. After a long silence, he finally voiced his suspicion, “Since a formation node has appeared within a cultivation sect, there’s no way it’s the only one. If I were the mastermind behind this, and the actions of these sects benefited my plans, I would certainly target the major prominent sects. It’s highly likely that other great sects are hiding the remaining nodes, but with so many of them out there, finding them all will be a real challenge.”

To him, anyone who used human lives as leverage for such a despicable scheme could no longer be considered “human.” The culprit behind this was nothing short of a bloodthirsty, world-destroying demon!

Zhi Shiyi thought it over and found his reasoning sound. “If you want to investigate, I’ll go with you.”

Chu Nanzhen was momentarily stunned.

Truthfully, without any cultivation, no one would want to wade into such dangerous waters. He didn’t deny being a bit clever, but cleverness could often lead to one’s own undoing. Yet, on second thought, if they didn’t at least try, what would happen if more innocent lives were caught in the crossfire? When that time came, forget others, even his own life wouldn’t be safe. He had only recently started enjoying a wealthy lifestyle, and he had no intention of kicking the bucket so soon!

Zhi Shiyi joked, “Who knows? After this is over, Little Chu might even earn the title of the world’s savior.”

“Maybe I really am the savior of this world!” Chu Nanzhen laughed along with the remark.

To live in this world, one had to be brave enough to take risks!

Chu Nanzhen continued, “Then we shall investigate this together. Even if my guess isn’t entirely right, it’s better than searching blindly.”

“Hey, hey, hey! Count me in too!” Lin Fengye huffed softly. “I’m not doing this for others, I’m doing it for myself! It’s not set in stone who that ‘savior’ title will fall to yet!”

Wuxiang let out a dismissive “tch” and muttered, “Show-off.”

Lin Fengye felt a sudden, strong urge to report him to the authorities.

When “major cultivation sects” were mentioned, the first place Shen Shangli thought of was the Qianshan Sect. During his years there, although no major catastrophe had occurred, a growing sense of unease had been festering in his heart.

Chu Nanzhen straightened up and asked while thinking, “Does Sect Leader Yun know the specific locations or the general direction of these nodes?”

Since she knew the nodes were within the sects, she surely knew their exact locations. If they could destroy the formation, they might be able to lift the restriction on Sect Leader Yun without sacrificing anyone else. The mastermind would then be forced into the open, they could find the other nodes, and this whole ordeal would finally come to an end.

Hearing this, Sect Leader Yun’s eyes filled with apology as she slowly shook her head. Seeing this, Chu Nanzhen sighed in disappointment. “In that case, why don’t we go examine the bodies first? We might learn something from them.”

The group agreed.

Just as they stood up, Sect Leader Yun, sitting at the head of the hall, suddenly coughed up a violent spray of blood. Her face turned pale instantly, and she clutched her chest, her body swaying as if she were about to collapse.

Yun Guitu was terrified and rushed to her side, catching her just before she hit the ground. He gently patted her back to help her breathe, his face etched with anxiety. “Master, what’s wrong!”

The group stood frozen in shock at the sight.

Suddenly, massive peals of thunder erupted outside the hall. Looking up, they saw thick, dark clouds gathering, with countless bolts of lightning flashing as if they intended to shatter the Yunshan Sect to pieces.

The group reacted quickly, drawing their swords and gathering together, warily scanning their surroundings for any immediate threat. A powerful gale followed, howling into the Yunshan Hall and whipping up dried grass, dead leaves, and dust. The debris blinded them, forcing them to raise their arms for cover.

Wooden tables and dishes were knocked over, crashing with a cacophony of breaking porcelain. Chu Nanzhen struggled to keep his footing, shouting, “This wind feels like it’s going to tear the roof off!”

“The thunder and wind came too suddenly, someone must be doing this on purpose!” Zhi Shiyi shouted back.

Sect Leader Yun’s eyes showed a clear flicker of panic, but it quickly vanished. She told the group, “Do not worry! It’s just that he sensed the words we spoke earlier!”

The group understood, it was a warning.

After an unknown amount of time, the wind finally died down, and the thunder outside grew faint. Aside from the dead leaves scattered on their heads, there were no traces left behind, as if the storm had never happened.

Zhi Shiyi gazed out of the hall with a heavy expression, his clenched fists tightening at his sides.

Sect Leader Yun’s breathing was shallow and ragged. Worried, Yun Guitu immediately tried to check her pulse. She forced a faint smile and said, “There is no need to worry, I will be fine after a short rest…”

Yun Guitu refused to listen. His Master had raised him like her own son and was the kindest person in the world. How could he not be worried after such an incident?

His spiritual energy flowed through her pulse, searching her body. Even though she looked to be in terrible condition, the results showed nothing was wrong.

Yun Guitu lowered his eyes and whispered, “Your disciple’s medical skills are lacking…”

Sect Leader Yun smiled to comfort him. “You are the most skilled physician the Yunshan Sect has seen since its founding. How can you say your skills are lacking? It is simply because there is nothing physically wrong with me, which is why you can’t find anything.”

She gently pulled her hand away and looked out toward the hall entrance, her eyes filled with resentment. Then, as if remembering something, she sighed and said with a face full of sorrow, “Guitu, go down the mountain. Do not return until the true culprit is brought to justice. When everything is over, come back and bury our bones in Yunshan. The souls of the other disciples and I will coexist with the mountain, guarding the new Yunshan Sect.”

With trembling hands, she untied the Sect Leader’s medallion from her waist. After stroking it for a long time, she handed it to Yun Guitu. “From this day forth, you are the next Sect Leader of the Yunshan Sect, not just a acting master. Everyone in Yunshan and I will wait here for you to return, rebuild the sect, and reunite with us.”

In cultivation sects, an acting master usually had to pass a trial set by the current Sect Leader. Although Sect Leader Yun was passing the title directly, she did not forget the traditions. The words she spoke today were her final trial for Yun Guitu.

Yun Guitu felt the cold jade in his hand and began to cry. He sniffled and said with a trembling voice, “Can’t I… can’t I just stay with you? I don’t want to be alone…”

Sect Leader Yun shook her head with a smile and pointed toward the group standing in the middle of the hall. “You are a youth, just like them. You are still young, and the road ahead is waiting for you. If you make a wrong choice, you can still turn back. You are not like me. I have no path left to choose, and I cannot turn back. I can only continue this cycle of mistakes, involving countless innocent lives. This is my retribution.”

“Moreover, may all lovers find their way to each other. There is a young lady waiting for you. If you leave this world, who will avenge us? And who will the girl you love marry?” Sect Leader Yun patted his hand gently.

The group stood in the hall, watching every movement but not daring to speak. There was nothing they could say, and there was nothing they should say. At this moment, letting the two of them speak was for the best.

It was, perhaps, preparation for an eternal farewell.

Sect Leader Yun turned to the group and said, “I must trouble you all to look after Guitu in the future. If he goes astray, please correct him and do not let him wander onto the wrong path.”

The group bowed in unison and replied, “Rest assured, Sect Leader Yun.”

“Go now…” Sect Leader Yun turned her head away and waved them off.

Knowing this was for his own good, Yun Guitu sniffled, nodded, and stood up. Along with the others, he walked out of the gates of the Yunshan Sect, heading into the sparse sunlight that remained after the storm.

Not far from Yunshan was a forest where withered trees leaned haphazardly and weeds grew in tangles. A few crows circled overhead, letting out faint cries as a cold breeze occasionally brushed against their necks. Graves were scattered everywhere, and one had to be careful not to step on them. Following behind Yun Guitu, the group walked cautiously toward a cluster of mounds. He stared at the graves for a long time before sighing. “These are all junior brothers from the sect. If you want to investigate the culprit through their bodies, then dig them up…”

The group looked at one another, truthfully a bit hesitant to start. It wasn’t that they were cowardly, but digging up someone who had already been laid to rest felt like a sign of disrespect.

Yun Guitu sensed their hesitation and said, “My junior brothers were good people. They won’t blame you for this. If we can truly find the culprit through them, we will bring the killer’s head back to them as an explanation. It will be the only way they can truly rest in peace.”

With those words, the group stopped hesitating and began to work. This was Chu Nanzhen’s first time doing something like this, and he couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear. He had expected the bodies to be in coffins, but they were simply buried in the mounds. Having to dig them up himself, he could only hope the deceased wouldn’t hold a grudge.

Since they were buried shallowly, it didn’t take long to uncover the body of a young disciple. He had delicate features and looked to be only about eleven or twelve years old. Had it not been for this tragedy, he would have grown into a handsome young man.

Chu Nanzhen stepped forward and gently turned the young boy’s head. He saw that the back of the skull had been hollowed out, leaving nothing but an empty bone shell. The boy looked as though he were merely sleeping, indifferent to their movements. Perhaps because some time had passed, a foul stench of decay began to waft from the body, and several spots had started to rot.

Yun Guitu said, “Fortunately, there are no wild beasts around Yunshan, otherwise their bodies would have been dragged away long ago.”

It was true. At night, wild animals would follow the scent, dig up the graves, and carry off the corpses. If that had happened, they wouldn’t have been able to find them even if they wanted to.

Wuxiang reached out and brushed his hand over the body. Looking up, a phantom vision appeared in the air above. Yun Guitu recognized it instantly, it was from the time shortly after the trouble first started at the foot of the mountain.

In the vision, during the day, the young disciple had followed the people of Yunshan to the mountain’s base to worship the Mountain God. At night, likely feeling hungry, he went to the banks of the Qing River. Just as he rolled up his sleeves to go into the water, he heard a “giggle-giggle” laughter coming from behind him.

The young boy was timid, and his body visibly shuddered. He turned his head stiffly and saw a figure with an extremely bizarre shape standing not far away. The group squinted to get a better look and immediately recognized it as the Mountain God statue from the temple!

The statue approached the boy in a distorted, unnatural posture. Its piercing laughter sounded particularly jarring in the silence of the Yunshan Sect. Terrified, the boy turned and ran! The statue paused for a split second, and then, in the next moment, its stone head transformed into a sharp, long spike that lunged straight for the boy’s head!

The boy’s face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with helplessness and despair. The spike plunged in and out several times as blood sprayed continuously. At the moment the boy collapsed to his knees, the spike actually hooked out the contents of his brain, and the statue’s head transformed into a giant maw, crudely swallowing the contents whole!

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