Chapter 352: Inner Person

A magnificent, large carriage, pulled by four sturdy horses, galloped swiftly down the road.

However, the coachman remained unsatisfied, frantically cracking his whip against the horses' flanks.

Li Huowang rested his arm on the carriage window, gazing at the verdant sea of trees outside.

"This place isn't far from Ox-Heart Mountain. I wonder how they're doing. But with Bai Lingmiao's secondary gods and Gao Zhijian there, ordinary bandits shouldn't be able to harm them."

Suddenly, Li Huowang felt a gaze from the forest. When he turned to look, he found nothing.

"Ahem... we're almost there. So, I'll explain the rules for this mission clearly." Jixiang's voice made Li Huowang's thoughts snap back. He looked at the old eunuch sitting there, holding a decaying ruyi scepter as if it were a scrawny cat.

"Ahem, since I've called you here, there's definitely something important. I know many of you have probably guessed it: yes, this time we're apprehending a Heart-Defiler. Dead or alive."

No one spoke, continuing to listen to Jixiang.

"As for the abilities of a Heart-Defiler, I don't know if you've heard about them before, but since we have some time, I'll explain them again now." At this point, Jixiang deliberately glanced in Li Huowang's direction.

"A so-called Heart-Defiler, like a Heart-Pure or Heart-Ensnarer, is a living person burdened with karmic obstacles in their heart. The character 'Zhuo' (浊), as the name implies, actually means the defilement or turbidity of the human heart."

"Not only is a Heart-Defiler's own heart impure, but they can also use their karmic obstacles to defile everything around them."

Jixiang was immediately interrupted mid-sentence, a feeling that greatly annoyed Li Huowang. As expected, the speaker was still the same divine medium.

"Feng Erniu, there's no need to elaborate on things everyone already knows. Just tell us how to deal with them once we find them."

"And let me be clear, regardless of what happens next, after this matter, the favor I owe you will be repaid."

Hearing his full name, Jixiang huffed displeasedly. Yet, he seemed hesitant to provoke the man, so he suppressed his anger and said, "Shentu Gang, give us some face. There's no rush. We're just passing the time anyway. Let me finish first; if you don't want to listen, you can rest for a bit."

Seeing the divine medium, arms crossed, slowly close his eyes, Jixiang cleared his throat and continued: "Then I'll make it short. A Heart-Defiler is the exact opposite of a Heart-Pure. If a Heart-Pure is like a bright spot in the night, visible from a distance, then a Heart-Defiler is like a black cloth in the night. For ordinary people, finding one is harder than reaching the heavens."

Hearing this, Li Huowang felt a pang of bitterness. If he were a Heart-Defiler instead of a Heart-Pure, perhaps he wouldn't have so much trouble.

At this moment, Jixiang continued: "Moreover, a Heart-Defiler can use their karmic obstacles not only to hide themselves but also to conceal other things, whether living or inanimate."

"Let's put it this way: when fighting a Heart-Defiler, you might be mid-fight and suddenly forget where your weapon went, then continue fighting only to realize the Heart-Defiler has vanished."

Li Huowang silently took note of these points. Connecting them to his own experiences, a question arose in his mind: "It sounds incredibly powerful, but can a Heart-Defiler truly control their abilities at will?"

"Be careful!" Jixiang's voice suddenly grew more serious.

"Don't ever think a Heart-Defiler only has that much power. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gathered all of you here, making such a big fuss. In terms of power, among all the great scourges of the Heart-Arts, they and the Heart-Pures are the most difficult to deal with."

"Never stare too long into a Heart-Defiler's eyes. If their karmic obstacles defile your three ethereal and seven corporeal souls, you'll be directly hidden by them."

"And remember, when I say 'hidden,' I mean hidden in a way no one can find, the kind from which you can never return, for your entire life!"

"Also, many well-developed Heart-Defilers have different variations. You'll need to adapt to the situation if you encounter them, but generally, a Heart-Defiler still uses their inner karmic obstacles, so any changes they make will still be within that scope."

Watching the solemn expressions of the others, Li Huowang sighed slightly in his heart. If even normal eye contact was forbidden, then surely this Heart-Defiler must have hidden many of their own relatives? He couldn't help but feel a touch of pity for this unseen Heart-Defiler once more.

In terms of their predicament, a Heart-Defiler and a Heart-Pure were probably not so different.

"Clip-clop, clip-clop." Hearing the rapid hooves outside gradually slow, Jixiang's words also quickened.

"Once we reach the area, Little Liuzi and Danqing will surround the place to prevent the Heart-Defiler from escaping. Then Shentu Gang and I will force her out. As for Erjiu, your group will be responsible for killing the Heart-Defiler. Since the Aojing Cult doesn't use weapons for killing, the Heart-Defiler's karmic obstacles won't be effective against you. That's how it'll be. Get out!"

The carriage curtains were abruptly thrown open, and the six people quickly stood by the roadside. A remarkably peculiar village appeared before everyone.

It was unlike any other village Li Huowang had seen on his journey. There were no visible tiles or walls; everything—from the roof tiles to the walls and even the ground—was covered by a layer of emerald green climbing ivy.

"Little Liuzi, go. Remember, this matter concerns my very head. You absolutely cannot be careless in the slightest."

Liu Zongyuan, wearing a wooden mask, nodded. Pushing off the ground with his feet, he leaped into the bushes behind them like a monkey.

Soon after, a thin mist began to rise, enveloping the vicinity. The White Impermanence, with its long red tongue, appeared faintly in the fog.

Before Jixiang could speak, the divine medium named Shentu Gang walked straight in ahead of him. Jixiang sighed helplessly and quickly followed, carrying his golden abacus.

Walking on a patch of emerald green grass, Li Huowang vigilantly observed his surroundings.

The place was utterly silent. There was no sound apart from the clacking of the golden abacus, not even birdsong or the chirping of insects.

As they reached the village entrance, a flower patch unfolded before them. It was clear the flowers had been meticulously pruned, with not a single weed in sight.

"Who's there! Come out!" A startled shout made Li Huowang's long sword instantly unsheathe three inches, its entire length enveloped in soaring murderous aura.

Everyone drew their weapons, pointing towards a low wall.

When he saw a pair of embroidered shoes step out from behind it, Li Huowang immediately recalled Jixiang's warning and quickly lowered his head to avoid eye contact.

But as the pair of boots fully appeared before him, Li Huowang's heart tightened. These feet were strangely familiar.

"No! These are Miaomiao's feet!" Li Huowang abruptly looked up and indeed saw a familiar red bridal veil. At that moment, Hong Da's rusty, massive blade was thrown towards her.