After checking his gains, Chen Ning lit a torch, intending to burn down the Sword Manor that had been reduced to a ghost town.
Just then, Xiao Jiu suddenly returned to his feet.
She shook her head, her mouth surprisingly holding a wooden plaque engraved with the three words “Yu Ding Sect.”
“Why would a token from the Yu Ding Sect be here?”
Chen Ning frowned slightly.
If he remembered correctly, the Yu Ding Sect was a Daoist sect within Wu’an City. The Daoists who had acted as accomplices to Squire Zhang last time seemed to be members of the Yu Ding Sect as well.
Xiao Jiu tossed the token onto a nearby Painted Skin corpse, then flicked her snake tongue at the skin with constant vigilance.
It seemed she was trying to convey something to Chen Ning.
“Are you trying to tell me there’s a connection between the Painted Skins in this Sword Manor and the Yu Ding Sect?”
As the words left his mouth, Xiao Jiu immediately wagged her tail in joy.
She could devour all sorts of auras and was therefore extremely sensitive to them.
“I see!”
After a moment of contemplation, Chen Ning suddenly realized the truth.
He had thought the trail would end after slaughtering the Sword Manor, but he hadn’t expected to hook an even bigger fish!
The Painted Skin Ghost had likely calculated everything, but she could never have predicted that someone would slaughter the Sword Manor single-handedly with a sword—and that he would have a little snake in his arms capable of sniffing out the stench on her.
“Daring to target my maid… it seems it’s time to send you on your way!”
Chen Ning gave a faint smile and crushed the Buddhist bead that Jingkong had given him before they parted.
...
That night, when Chen Ning returned home, he was surprised to find Qing Yan actually reading a book by candlelight.
One had to know that Qing Yan usually got sleepy the moment she saw a book; two more glances and she might even fall asleep standing up.
This scene was truly rare.
“Young Master, you’re back!”
Suddenly noticing Chen Ning’s figure, Qing Yan hurriedly closed the book.
“That wasn’t easy. How is it that you’re actually reading for once?”
Chen Ning said, feeling gratified.
Qing Yan broke into a smile, revealing two delicate little canine teeth.
“Young Master, isn’t there only half a month left before you leave Ning’an Village to head to the Imperial Capital for the examinations?
“I want to learn as much as possible before then to become a knowledgeable and talented maid, so I can bring honor to the Young Master!”
“The Imperial Capital for the examinations…”
A single sentence woke the dreamer.
Chen Ning had been so busy recently with reading and slaying demons that he had almost forgotten that the planned time for his departure to the Imperial Capital was, without him realizing it, less than half a month away!
Qing Yan was instantly astonished. “How could the Young Master forget such an important matter!”
Chen Ning coughed twice in slight embarrassment.
“Ahem, I accidentally overlooked the timing.
“But don’t worry. Your Young Master has studied bitterly for two years; a mere Imperial Examination will naturally be a breeze.”
Chen Ning had full confidence in his examination skills.
Besides, the poem he had written should have already reached the Water Cloud Academy by now. It wouldn’t be long before it caused a stir among the Grand Confucians.
With the assistance of the Grand Confucians from the Water Cloud Academy when the time came, it would probably be hard for him to fail even if he wanted to.
However, it was just as Qing Yan said.
Seeing that there was less than half a month left, after slaying the Painted Skin Ghost this time, it would indeed be time to prepare for the trip to the Imperial Capital for the examinations.
...
Half a shichen later, Jingkong hurriedly arrived at Ning’an Village with his men and asked anxiously:
“Brother Chen, why did you crush the Buddhist bead? Could it be that Painted Skin Slaves have appeared in the village?”
Chen Ning took out the wooden plaque from his robe and said:
“Rest assured, all the Painted Skin Slaves in the village have been slain by me.
“However, I found this on one of the Painted Skin Slaves.”
“This is… a token from the Yu Ding Sect?
“How could a Painted Skin Slave have this!”
Upon seeing the wooden plaque, Jingkong was instantly struck with shock and turned pale.
“Let’s talk while we walk. This matter is of great importance. This time, I may need to borrow some of the strength of your Mingji Temple.”
Chen Ning said solemnly.
...
In the dark of night, the group rushed toward Wu’an City.
After arriving at Mingji Temple, Jingkong hurriedly knocked on the temple gates and reported the matter.
Once he explained Chen Ning’s intent, even the old monk Hui Jian, who was originally in closed-door cultivation, was awakened.
“Is Fellow Daoist Chen saying that Painted Skin Slaves might be lurking within the Yu Ding Sect?”
Chen Ning shook his head.
“It’s not just a few individual Painted Skin Slaves lurking. I suspect the entire Yu Ding Sect might be just like the Li Family Sword Manor—completely turned into Painted Skin Slaves.”
Hui Jian’s expression immediately turned heavy.
“How is that possible? The Yu Ding Sect is a Daoist sect with centuries of heritage. This is not a joke you can make lightly.
“Do you have any evidence for what you’re saying?”
“Does intuition count?”
Chen Ning gave a slight smile.
“If not, we can also make a random guess.
“The Painted Skin Ghost was also a human before she died; her way of thinking isn’t much different from a human’s.
“Taking the Li Family Sword Manor as an example, her method of spreading Painted Skins is actually very simple.
“It’s nothing more than first assimilating an entire large organization, then using that organization as a cover to hide those ghosts that have long since become human skins, while waiting for an opportunity.
“For the various villages, the Li Family Sword Manor, which has become a ghost manor, is such an existence.
“And for the vast Wu’an City, aside from your Mingji Temple, the only one with similar status is the Yu Ding Sect.
“If it isn’t your Mingji Temple, think about it—who else could it be?”
Chen Ning’s words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving the old monk Hui Jian greatly shocked.
Although no evidence could be found to prove Chen Ning’s viewpoint, similarly, it was impossible to offer any rebuttal.
If the guess was wrong, that would be fine.
But if Chen Ning was right, it meant that the entire Wu’an City could be at risk of becoming a ghost city overnight!
When facing ancient ghosts like the Painted Skin Ghost, it was better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let a single one escape.
Even when Hui Jian was a young monk, he had heard his master say these words personally.
“I understand. In that case, Mingji Temple is willing to lend Fellow Daoist Chen a hand.”
After a moment of thought, the old monk Hui Jian finally nodded in agreement.
He was willing to believe Chen Ning, but his expression still appeared somewhat solemn.
“However, even if Mingji Temple gives its all, I cannot be certain we can successfully eliminate the Painted Skin Ghost.
“After all, the Yu Ding Sect has a long heritage, and their strength cannot be underestimated; one could even say they are a notch above us.
“If we add the combat power of that Painted Skin Ghost, I’m afraid they will be very difficult to deal with…”
Chen Ning laughed.
“There’s no need to worry about that. Before sunrise, the Painted Skin Ghost will naturally have her soul scattered.”
Hui Jian was instantly taken aback.
“Why does Fellow Daoist Chen say that? Could it be that you have another brilliant plan?”
“No.”
Chen Ning gave a faint smile.
“Because any demon targeted by me has only one path: death.”
Hui Jian: “...”
Jingkong: “...”
This sentence clearly sounded like a massive boast, but for some reason, they were powerless to refute it.
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