Chapter 22: Demonic Curse Power (Seeking Recommendations)
Chapter 22: Demonic Curse Power (Seeking Recommendations)
Several hours later.
Fang Xi returned to the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall.
"Junior Brother, how was it?"
Liu Tao Tao and Tang Xuan immediately gathered around him.
They were among the inner disciples who had firmly stayed behind during the martial arts hall's earlier commotion.
Fang Xi shook his head: "Taking advantage of those strange folk returning to their lairs, I went to check the city gates. . . The area outside the city is already enveloped in a layer of black mist. Anyone trying to pass through it will be obstructed by a strange force. I'm afraid Black Stone City is truly cut off, both inside and out."
Tang Xuan immediately fell into deep despair.
Fang Xi, however, gazed at the towering tree canopy in the city's center, lost in thought: "I suggest. . . we first relocate to the edge of Black Stone City, closer to the city wall, and establish a stronghold there. . ."
It was Mu Piao Miao who asked. After settling her father in his room to rest, she had remained silent until now, finally speaking.
"Because that demonic tree is still growing taller and taller. . ."
Fang Xi explained: "Any living beings covered by that tree's canopy will surely be harassed by its dangling aerial roots, making it extremely dangerous. . ."
In his heart, there was another conjecture he hadn't voiced.
That was, the demonic tree would continue to grow taller.
If this continued, one day it would pierce the clouds, and then its canopy would replace the sky, engulfing the entire Black Stone City!
That would be the doomsday for the entire Black Stone City!
'Of course, it's not impossible that this demonic tree possesses sentience and is actively raising a portion of humanity for its regular consumption. . . '
'Demons. . . truly fascinating creatures! According to Mu Cang Long, this method of sealing off the city, is it a "demonic domain"? It certainly has the rudimentary feel of a formation. '
"Cough, cough!"
Mu Cang Long had emerged at some unknown point. After a few coughs, he said: "Fang Xi is right, let's do as he says. . . Also, when the martial arts hall relocates, we can abandon everything else. We only need grain and fresh water. . ."
"Father, your body? " Mu Piao Miao looked at her father with worry.
Fang Xi could also see that the tadpole-shaped black patterns on Mu Cang Long's body had spread further, now creeping up to his chin.
"It's useless. This is poison, and it's also a 'curse'!"
Mu Cang Long replied with a bitter smile.
"May I ask, Master, what exactly is a 'curse'? " Fang Xi, however, grew interested.
"So-called demons, the 'yaoguai' (monsters) are just a bit grotesque in appearance, somewhat stronger, or possess some peculiar abilities. . . " Mu Cang Long waved his hand: "But 'mo' (true demons) are completely different, especially the 'curse'! This is a unique power of demons—curse power! Its horror far exceeds our martial artists' blood-qi power, or even true force and true vigor. . . Therefore, once infected, it's like a maggot in the bone, a certain death. . ."
"I see. " Fang Xi nodded, cupping his fists. "Master, I still need to go home to handle some affairs. I can only rejoin you later."
At this moment, the monsters outside were all hanging from the tree canopy, which made it unexpectedly safe.
Many of the remaining disciples had already secretly fled.
Fang Xi, however, formally bid his farewell, for he was a man of principles.
"Um. . . Master, I also want to go home for a bit," Liu Tao Tao timidly added.
"Mm. " Mu Cang Long nodded, not stopping them: "Remember, we'll gather at the East City Gate later. Fang Xi's earlier deduction was correct; the further we are from the demonic tree's main body, the better. . . Also, be careful of those demonic servants. Although they've only been infected by the demonic curse power, they're still not easy to deal with."
......
"They said this was supposed to be a world of leisure, so how did it suddenly turn into a demon apocalypse survival game?"
Fang Xi walked down the street, gazing at the ruined shops, the shattered corpses on the ground, and the occasional wary glance cast from behind windows. He couldn't help but feel speechless: 'And it's even the "PUBG" version, the kind where the poison circle keeps expanding from the inside out. . . '
Fortunately.
He could feel that if he wished, he could still return to the South Barrens Cultivation World.
With that as his trump card, Fang Xi wasn't actually in much of a hurry.
He traveled, stopping and going, until he reached his mansion.
The main gate was shattered, lying to one side.
The bodies of several guards lay scattered around, some still frozen in a posture of furious roar.
"As expected. . ."
Fang Xi had long anticipated this. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he stepped into the inner compound.
Several maidservants lay in pools of blood, their hands still clutching jade leaves, pearls, golden jewelry, and other valuables. . .
'Damn it, the moment danger struck, they thought of stealing the master's valuables and fleeing. . . '
He observed as he walked, mostly confirming that his home had also been attacked by monsters, and his servants had suffered heavy casualties.
Those who survived had mostly fled, taking quite a few valuables with them.
'Forget it, consider it severance pay. '
Fang Xi was quite open-minded about it; after all, they were merely external possessions.
He arrived at his own bedroom, when suddenly his gaze sharpened, and he pushed open the door.
The bedroom was also a mess.
It proved that in the face of doomsday, the master's prohibitions were about as effective as a fart.
Fang Xi didn't care about these things. He approached a carved dragon-and-phoenix rosewood cabinet and knocked on its door.
"Ahhh!"
Amidst a scream, a petite figure rushed out, a pair of scissors in hand, thrusting swiftly.
Smack!
Fang Xi was speechless. He casually swatted the scissors away and, with the same motion, delivered a slap: "Bai He, snap out of it, it's me!"
Hiding inside the cabinet was none other than the maidservant Bai He.
A vivid red handprint quickly appeared on her cheek, starkly contrasting with her fair, delicate skin. But she seemed to finally come to her senses, sobbing uncontrollably and crying out in choked whispers: "There. . . there were monsters. . . Sister Narcissus, Sister Magnolia. . . they. . . they all died. . ."
"Where's Yue Gui?"
Fang Xi asked.
Bai He shook her head: "I didn't see her. . ."
Fang Xi recalled his path here; not seeing Yue Gui's body was good news.
He stroked Bai He's beautiful hair, feeling as if he were petting a cat: "Black Stone City is finished now. I'll give you two choices: the first is to come with me, and the second is for me to give you a hundred taels of gold, return your deed of indenture, and you go your own way. Pick one!"
Fang Xi glanced around the bedroom; there was nothing he needed to take.
Gold and silver, in the current Black Stone City, were likely as worthless as bricks and rubble. He might as well go to the kitchen and carry a few more sacks of rice!
'Wait, I can just buy mortal rice in the cultivation world. No need to carry it. . . '
"I. . . " A faint spark of life barely returned to Bai He's eyes: "I'll go with Young Master. . ."
"Excellent!"
Fang Xi nodded. This was a smart little girl: "In that case, quickly get up and pack. Grab a sack of rice from the kitchen, and come with me. . ."
......
East City Gate.
A residential house built along the city wall.
The White Cloud Martial Arts Hall chose to settle here, as it was already the outermost area of Black Stone City.
And within the small courtyard, it was already packed with martial arts hall apprentices and their relatives.
Besides Fang Xi, who brought one maidservant, Liu Tao Tao and Tang Xuan had also brought their parents over.
Even Second Senior Brother Wu Ji, at some unknown time, had brought a beautiful woman—reportedly his wife—and brazenly occupied a room.
Near the courtyard, there were also many other city factions, mostly martial arts hall masters, who had driven out the original homeowners with their apprentices and seized the best plots of land in this area.
With the city's order now collapsed, the fist was the ultimate authority!
It was precisely for this reason that Mu Cang Long had to drag his ailing body to feign civility with those martial arts hall masters.
Late at night.
Mu Cang Long gathered his inner-chamber disciples to discuss the day's observations.
"Cough, cough. . . According to the information I gathered, that demonic tree can parasitize human and beast bodies. It initially descended upon the prefectural yamen, and the city's magistrate and almost all high-ranking officials are now without burial grounds. . ."
A single lamp glowed dimly, illuminating the faces of horror and fear among the crowd. Mu Cang Long's voice held a note of helplessness: "Now. . . the East City Gate vicinity is home to many martial arts hall factions, the South City Gate has been occupied by Yuan He Mountain, the situation at the North City Gate is unknown, but likely a death trap, and the West City Gate occasionally has scattered news, where large numbers of refugees are gathering. . ."
"As for the monsters driven by the demonic tree, they lurk by day and emerge by night. Their numbers aren't large, so as long as we act cautiously, we should be able to hold out for a while. . ."
Mu Piao Miao's expression was worried: "Father. . . our reserves of food and water can only barely last for a month."
"A month, you say? " Mu Cang Long's mood inexplicably turned somber.
In truth, too many people had died within Black Stone City. As long as one wasn't afraid of danger and avoided the core area covered by the tree canopy and the monsters, searching for supplies in residential houses and grain shops wasn't difficult.
The real difficulty was confidence!
'In reality, all the high-ranking figures should be aware that they will absolutely be abandoned by the Da Liang imperial court. . . '
'Huddling together for warmth now is merely prolonging their pathetic existence. '
Fang Xi crossed his arms, leaning against a pillar, having understood everything: 'Their current persistence is just a minuscule hope, a hope that this demon will leave on its own after gorging itself. . . '
'But no one at first would have imagined that this demon was actually a tree! Chances are, it might not leave at all. Even if it does, it might only be after its canopy has spread across the entire sky, using its aerial roots to kill everyone. . . '
'Of course, judging by its rate of expansion, this process will take several months to about a year. . . So the danger at first, is actually. . . everyone else! '
Just as Fang Xi was pondering, Mu Cang Long's expression suddenly changed. He violently coughed up a mouthful of black blood and collapsed, unconscious.
"Father!"
Mu Piao Miao cried out in alarm and rushed over to support him.
Ignoring the frantic crowd, Fang Xi walked out of the room and looked up at the gloomy sky.
Now that the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall's strongest combat power was crippled, it likely wouldn't escape the notice of those with ulterior motives. Danger was imminent!
Comments