Chapter 288: Rescue Troops

Li Huowang leaned against a tree trunk, deep in thought, seemingly pondering something. "Senior Chen, could you please describe in detail what happened when you first arrived here? After all, I'm new here, and I need to understand the situation before making any plans. As you know, our Aojing methods come at a significant cost each time they're used."

Blind Chen nodded in agreement, poking the muddy ground with his stick. He slowly began, "Well, I took a job here; I was told there was trouble and asked to come investigate. So, I disguised myself as a fortune-teller and came to Ganyuan Village. For the first few days, I read many faces. Then, on the third day, something from inside the walls actually came out and asked me for a bone-reading! They thought because I, Blind Chen, am blind, I wouldn't see anything, so they tried to fool me. Ha! My eyes might be blind, but my ears are far sharper than anyone else's. That night, I was clearly alone in my room, but in just a moment, I heard three different voices! And surprisingly, there were no footsteps. Where could they have come from? It was clear they'd burrowed out of the mud. These evil spirits even pretended to be human and asked me for a bone-reading. I did the reading. It was my first time doing a bone-reading for an evil spirit. And you know what? The bones were just like human bones, but guess what? All three faces showed signs of a violent death! I immediately grabbed my stick and thrust it at them. I killed one and wounded another on the spot. Afterward, I, Blind Chen, thought to myself, since I helped the people of Ganyuan Village by getting rid of the evil spirits, they should at least offer me a meal, right? But guess what? Not only did they not, they actually chased me out with hoes and carrying poles! It took me a while to recover, but then I realized: the villagers' minds have been deluded by these evil spirits. Until these spirits are purged, the villagers won't get better. That's why every night, after everyone is asleep, I come to the village to act on behalf of heaven. And as you've seen, they're as slippery as loaches. Sometimes, they even tried to ambush me, Blind Chen, but I always saw through it."

After talking for a long time, Blind Chen's throat was dry. He squatted down and scooped water from a small mud puddle made by a cow's hoof, drinking it with his hand. Feeling his throat slightly relieved, he turned his head towards Li Huowang. "Boy, I've said all this, are you even listening? Hurry up and think of a plan!"

Soon, Li Huowang's voice reached his ears from the other side. "I'm listening, Senior, don't worry. I'm just considering which method would be best to force them out."

"Hmm, hurry up. Next time I take a job, I'll have to find one closer. This journey is too troublesome."

Blind Chen sat back down on the moss-covered stone. He turned and took an octagonal mirror from the bamboo basket on his back, carefully wiped it with a cloth, and then put it back.

"Senior, I've thought of a way. Where do these 'mud devils' usually spend most of their time?"

"The Clay Bodhisattva Temple. I don't know why, but they love going there the most."

"Then let's go to that Clay Bodhisattva Temple first."

"We need to be quick. If dawn breaks, those foolish villagers will come again to cause trouble. What then? Killing them isn't right, but not killing them isn't right either."

After speaking, Blind Chen repeatedly tapped the ground with his stick, following Li Huowang's footsteps as they walked back towards the village. A moment ago, the village had been empty, and now, deeper into the night, it was still deserted. Along the narrow paths between houses, only scattered fireflies illuminated their way.

Suddenly, Blind Chen's expression became solemn. He propped his hands on the ground and immediately prostrated himself to listen. "Listen, boy, be careful! Someone's coming. These voices are strange; I haven't heard them in the village before. There are four people in total: two men and two women. One of the men is very large; judging by his weight, he must be wearing armor!"

Li Huowang glanced left and right, his expression serious. "Four strangers suddenly showing up in the middle of the night—they definitely mean trouble. I'll go meet them." Before Blind Chen could speak, Li Huowang charged forward.

Blind Chen did not get up; he remained prostrate on the ground, listening intently to the sounds. Gradually, he heard the four people turn and leave the village.

"Senior, I'm back. I used an illusion on those people and lured them away from Ganyuan Village," Li Huowang said to the blind old man upon his return.

"Let's go," the old man urged, "let's finish quickly and leave. More people always mean more trouble." Li Huowang nodded and quickly followed.

By the second watch of the night, the two had arrived in front of the Clay Bodhisattva Temple. Though "in front" was used, it wasn't very close; there was still an alley separating them. "This is as close as we can get. Any further, and you'll alert them. That's why they targeted you when you went inside before."

Li Huowang gauged the distance, then nodded. He pulled a Taoist bell from his robe. "Senior, please bear with me. It might get a bit noisy soon." With that, Li Huowang immediately shook the bell, its piercing clang exploding through Ganyuan Village like a clap of thunder. As Li Huowang vigorously shook his head, the roaming masters before him swiftly multiplied into eight. Li Huowang reached down, dug out a piece of mud from the ground, and put it into his mouth. He then spoke to the eight roaming masters, "Jing Tian Hun! Zhi Ran Xie Tao Dan!!" The roaming masters, depicted by various lines, swiftly nodded in unison and dove beneath the ground.

What happened next, Blind Chen couldn't hear at all, as the ear-splitting noise completely enveloped him. "Listen, boy, your method isn't working! You've woken up everyone in the village!" he yelled in the direction of the bell.

"Don't worry, Senior Chen! Although it's noisy, it will force them out quickly!" Li Huowang shook the Taoist bell even more vigorously.

Blind Chen stumbled towards Li Huowang. Just as he reached behind Li Huowang, he seemed to feel his stick hit something on the ground and quickly bent down to pick it up. The moment he bent down, a cold glint flashed, and he raised the bamboo pole in his hand, thrusting it towards Li Huowang's waist. This move was extremely treacherous, and under the cover of the Taoist bell's noise, it made almost no sound. But just as the extremely slender tip of the pole was about to pierce him, Li Huowang's body inexplicably twisted, and the hilt of the sword on his back shifted, blocking the pole's tip. Although it was blocked, the force was immense, sending Li Huowang flying back several meters.

At the same time, the roaming masters, who had been lying in wait underground, slowly surfaced, completely encircling Blind Chen. Li Huowang, eyes wide with fury, had just stood up and was about to speak, enraged, when his opponent unexpectedly spoke first.

"Hmph! Sitting-Forget Dao! You fraudsters!! Did you really think I, Blind Chen, would believe your nonsense? I never called for help; where did you, this so-called 'savior,' even come from!"