Volume 5: The River Breathes of Former Lives, Chapter 129

"I have a few questions for you, and you must answer them truthfully."

Jin Li was initially puzzled by his behavior but soon gestured for him to rise. She needed to clarify when this demonic entity would appear, what circumstances triggered its emergence, and what its cultivation level was.

The minor deity hesitated for a moment before replying, "This creature appears whenever fresh spiritual energy is detected, though it always manifests at the stroke of midnight. As for its cultivation, I believe it is inferior to yours, My Lady."

Nonsense. That might have been true in the past, but in her current state... it was hard to say.

She flicked her sleeves and clasped her hands behind her back, smoothing the awkwardness from her face before asking with grave seriousness, "And compared to you?"

The deity looked apprehensive, and Jin Li noticed his expression darken. She expected him to be too embarrassed to answer, but to her surprise, he remained somber. "I could only hold my own against him for about five rounds."

That was manageable. With her own five rounds added to the mix, there might just be a glimmer of hope. After giving the deity a few instructions, she took her leave.

Once the sun had fully risen, she returned to the town. News that the youths had successfully retrieved water the day before had spread through every street and alley overnight. Realizing this could not continue, Jin Li used a disguise bead to alter her appearance, taking on the form of a man.

Moving through the crowd, she observed the gaunt, frail state of the people. They were not yet gray-haired, yet they appeared withered and at death's door. It seemed the demon was not merely consuming spiritual energy, but draining their very life force. At this rate, the longest any of these people would live was perhaps until they reached their twenties.

It had to be dealt with, and quickly.

Taking advantage of the daylight, she inspected many of the locations where the demon frequently appeared; those places were all faintly entangled with the aura of demonic spirits. The earth deity followed cautiously behind her.

Jin Li examined a stone tablet before them, finding the runes etched upon it strangely familiar. She felt as though she had seen them somewhere before, yet looking closely now, she could not decipher them at all. She turned to the earth deity. "What is this? What do these runes mean?"

The deity glanced at the stone, then bowed his head and replied, "With respect, My Lady, these are the runes of the Western Wasteland’s River of Oblivion. They tell the story of a woman who loved in vain and eventually perished in the river."

Why would such a story be placed here? What was the significance?

The earth deity seemed to sense her confusion and continued, "This tablet was brought here five years ago by the head of the Gu family in this town. It was rumored to bring good fortune, so it has been kept here ever since."

Good fortune?

Jin Li chuckled, crossing her arms with a playful glint in her eyes. "Ha, good fortune? If it were truly good fortune, how could this place have ended up like this?" Perhaps she should meet this family head who had brought such a 'blessing.'

"Where is the Gu residence?"

The earth deity pointed the way. Jin Li first appraised the facade of the Gu manor—vermilion gates and gold-inlaid characters; it looked utterly out of place amidst the poverty of the town. The townspeople had surrounded the estate, but the heavy doors remained shut, exuding an air of heartlessness.

"What are they doing?"

"This happens every day. The master of the house opens the doors at noon to offer water. He is a great benefactor to this town."

"And he... is of advanced years?"

The earth deity smiled. "My Lady, you jest. The master of the Gu house is a young man in the prime of his life. He moved his entire family here ten years ago."

Jin Li’s suspicions deepened. This Gu family head was definitely hiding something—and so blatantly that it was as if he feared no one would notice.

The midday sun grew increasingly scorching. Though Jin Li was protected by immortal arts, the earth deity could not endure it and had departed early. She stood outside the crowd, carefully observing the vermilion gates that were about to open.

*Creak—*

The doors opened. The people outside erupted in a frenzy, surging forward. Jin Li watched quietly as they quickly formed a line, holding wooden buckets with eager anticipation. Even she felt a flicker of curiosity about the legendary, vibrant young master of the Gu household.

Once the doors were fully open, the crowd chanted in unison, "Greetings to Master Gu!"

Jin Li looked up and caught sight of a youth dressed in fine silk robes. His skin was a light tan, and his large eyes were cold; though a smile played on his lips, there was not a hint of warmth in his gaze.

He emerged from a group of servants and bowed to the commoners at the gate.

Jin Li was stunned, then, as she stared, her mind struggled to process the sight.

Why was A-Mo here?!