"Junior Brother Xuanxiao~"
Li Xuanxiao shuddered, feeling a pressure comparable to the Tribulation Transcension stage.
He timidly turned around, looking at Senior Sister Su Wan with fear and apprehension in his eyes.
To be honest, if there was anyone who could be called Li Xuanxiao's nightmare...
The old emperor? That omnipresent shadow? Or perhaps Liu Qiushui from back then?
She had appeared in Li Xuanxiao's nightmares more than once.
Now, Su Wan's younger sister Su Mu had been killed by him.
And he was even the teacher of Xiao Ran, the man Su Wan had broken off her engagement with...
If Su Wan ever learned the truth one day,
Li Xuanxiao couldn't even imagine how spectacular the fallout would be.
"Junior Brother Xuanxiao, what mission did you accept?"
Li Xuanxiao: ...........
"Junior Brother Xuanxiao, don't be shy. You can tell me anything. Are you going on another mission?"
Su Wan's gaze fell on the mission jade slip in Li Xuanxiao's hand.
Two sword-riding figures landed one after another.
Li Xuanxiao controlled his flying sword's speed, unwilling to overtake Su Wan.
Truth be told, it had been a while since he last saw Su Wan.
After learning that Lin Wanqing had reached the Deity Transformation stage, Su Wan had become increasingly diligent in her cultivation, vowing to surpass Lin Wanqing.
This had given Li Xuanxiao some peace and quiet for a time.
"Ah! Immortal masters, you've finally arrived!"
The village chief of Shunping came to greet them.
Shunping was already a remote and impoverished place - so much so that not even outsiders or demons wanted to come near.
But recently, many villagers had mysteriously disappeared.
Even in broad daylight, Zhang the Butcher's eight-months-pregnant wife had been snatched away by a dark shadow while they were out shopping.
At that time, it wasn't even that late.
Some witnesses clearly saw the shadow - it was unmistakably a birdman.
With a man-eating monster in the village, they quickly reported it to the authorities.
The government did send demon-hunting constables, but all three disappeared without a trace.
After searching the mountains for a day, they vanished completely, with no bodies to be found.
Enraged, the authorities organized a larger search party.
Upon closer investigation, they discovered that Honggu Village deep in the mountains - all two hundred plus villagers - had been slaughtered.
Without exception, they had been decapitated, with their hearts ripped out and bellies sliced open.
Since Honggu Village was surrounded by mountains and even more remote than Shunping, with only one exit path,
the coroner estimated they had been dead for at least three months.
After exterminating Honggu Village, the demon bird had moved on to Shunping.
The matter was too serious for the county magistrate to ignore.
He immediately dispatched more personnel, but this time the demon disappeared without a trace.
After three months of this, the mission was finally passed to Mount Shushan.
Hearing they were Mount Shushan disciples, the village chief's face lit up with joy.
"Wonderful! We're saved!"
"Immortal masters, the villagers have prepared a feast in your honor. Please do us the pleasure."
Facing the invitation, Su Wan refused without hesitation.
"No, we Mount Shushan disciples have rules when descending the mountain to eliminate demons.
Article 126: We cannot casually eat, drink, or accept gifts from others. Afterwards, we must report to Mount Shushan and explain the specific circumstances to prevent corruption and bribery."
Li Xuanxiao nodded thoughtfully.
Senior Sister Su Wan really knew her regulations well.
The village chief smiled awkwardly as Su Wan continued,
"When we arrived earlier, we noticed this area is completely surrounded by mountains. It's indeed difficult to track the demon bird's movements."
"Yes, we organized over a thousand people to search the mountains but found nothing."
"Immortals, immortals, please save my child!"
A woman behind the village chief suddenly knelt down, kowtowing to Li Xuanxiao and Su Wan.
Her son had just been taken by the demon bird yesterday.
Su Wan changed her tone: "This demon must have cultivated some concealment technique, but... mere child's play."
She gripped her sword.
With a metallic ring, a cold light flashed.
Holding her sword, Su Wan lightly tapped her toes and rose into the air.
The village chief and others stared dumbfounded.
The chief was only at the Qi Refining stage - he couldn't even control objects to fly, let alone ride the wind.
Su Wan formed hand seals while chanting.
Using her finger as a brush, she swiftly drew talismans in the air.
Golden light intertwined and coiled as she moved.
With a soft shout, Su Wan pointed her right index finger at the ethereal talisman.
The golden talisman instantly transformed into a streak of light merging into her sword.
Suddenly, the sword seemed to come alive.
Humming and vibrating slightly, as if responding to Su Wan's command.
"Slay demons and vanquish evil, go!!"
The sword shot forth like an arrow from a bow, heading straight for the demonic aura in the mountains.
Having killed so many, the demon bird must be saturated with blood energy.
This thick demonic aura was as conspicuous to Su Wan's sword as a lantern in the night.
In a dark, damp, muddy cave.
No trace of sunlight reached here - only endless darkness and chill.
The cave entrance was so low one could only crawl inside, like some beast's lair.
A seven or eight-year-old child was tightly bound, completely immobilized.
Terror filled the child's face, yet no sound came from his throat.
An indescribable stench permeated the cave -
a nauseating mix of countless rotting, decaying, moldy corpses, plants, and even food...
So thick it was nearly suffocating, seeming to penetrate one's nostrils and reach the soul.
A sharp, large hand pressed against the child's head.
Razor-like nails rested against the child's skin, ready to pierce at any moment.
The monster opened its massive maw.
First, a sliver of light pierced through the cave.
Then the sound of sharp metal penetrating flesh.
Followed by an uncontrollable scream.