Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1534 - 950: A Sword Immortal Arrives (2)

Within the dense forest, a large assembly of village women, initially gathered to witness the unfolding drama, now stood in silent observation.

An eerie quiet pervaded the surroundings. The forest, bathed in the increasingly potent sunlight, held an atmosphere thick with suspense.

Shu Ci gently detached herself from Baili An's embrace. Her gaze calmly swept over the charred remnants of the old Taoist, who had been reduced to ash, before she indifferently averted her eyes.

Or perhaps, it was not indifference, but a fundamental detachment from the concept of life itself.

The raging inferno that had moments ago surged towards the heavens had now consumed the old Taoist, leaving only ashes.

In the lingering silence, Baili An slowly turned, a faint smile gracing his lips. "It seems I had misunderstood Taoist Huang. It turns out he was indeed an ancient Immortal, and this trial by fire has summoned such a celestial spectacle, revealing his aspect of transcending into immortality. Truly, my heartfelt congratulations are in order."

Was this truly a cause for celebration?

The man had been reduced to cinders!

A chill traced its way down everyone's spine. However, witnessing Baili An's disarmingly sincere smile, one might have expected him to clasp his hands in prayer and chant 'Amitabha', had he not been holding someone.

"Young... Young master, regardless of the old Taoist's transgressions, he did not deserve such a fate. This..."

Some villagers felt the execution was excessively brutal.

It was evident to everyone present that the old Taoist was merely an ordinary individual.

Baili An retorted, "So, according to all of you, Immortal Huang summoning flames to end my wife's life is perfectly acceptable? And you would even applaud and spectate?"

"That is not our intention. We were initially unaware of Madam Shu's true identity and were momentarily deceived, leading to our confusion."

Baili An's gaze lifted. "A clear mind perceives truth, while a malevolent heart harbors a lurking demon. Whether one is a beast or a specter is determined by their innermost being. You accuse my wife of consorting with malevolent spirits to take lives, yet you possess no concrete proof.

The old Taoist harbored ill intentions, an admission he himself made.

You deem the accused unfit to live, yet find the perpetrators' actions justifiable and not deserving of death?"

The crowd fell into silence, rendered speechless.

"The distinction lies in the perspective of the judge: one is the revered Immortal Taoist you acknowledge. The other is a wanderer of unknown origin, practicing obscure arts."

Baili An offered a subtle smile and, without dwelling on the rights and wrongs, gently instructed Shu Ci, who was held in his arms, "Kindly retrieve five golden leaves from the Qiankun Bag for me."

Shu Ci remained unresponsive. "We do not take orders from anyone."

Her primary reason was the palpable murderous aura emanating from Baili An, accompanied by a profound karmic barrier that enveloped him.

She, in turn, was bathed in a sense of exquisite comfort, so profound that the stinging pain on her face noticeably subsided, making her disinclined to move.

Her nose pressed firmly against Baili An's neck, she surreptitiously inhaled his scent.

Despite having just navigated a perilously close encounter with death, Baili An couldn't help but feel a flicker of annoyance at her continued indulgence.

Exasperated and impatient, he stated coldly, "Persist in your defiance, and I shall cast you aside."

Shu Ci, unwilling to relinquish the intoxicating fragrance from his person, reluctantly complied.

Baili An calmly approached Aunt Wu. "Aunt Wu, for your five instances of speaking with integrity, please accept these five leaves as a token of your sincere heart's protection."

Aunt Wu had never beheld such a profusion of golden leaves in her entire life; each one was substantial enough to cover her palm.

However, the intrinsic worth of these leaves surpassed their mere material value; the intricate carvings adorning them were rendered with such lifelike detail that they possessed remarkable artistic merit.

Such rare treasures were virtually unheard of in this impoverished rural locale.

Aunt Wu surmised that if she were to take them to the city and pawn them, she could ensure a comfortable life for the remainder of her days.

Aunt Wu's eyes widened, her hands gesturing rapidly. "I cannot accept! I absolutely cannot accept! One must not succumb to greed! Do not be greedy!"

Baili An silently raised an eyebrow, and Shu Ci, understanding his unspoken request, placed the golden leaves into Aunt Wu's trouser pocket, which had "accidentally" opened.

Baili An offered a gentle smile. "You may accept."

After Baili An departed.

All eyes fixed enviously upon Aunt Wu's now radiant demeanor.

Aunt Wu appeared truly blessed with fortune; who could fathom the origin of such prosperity? Merely by uttering a few supportive words for someone, she had acquired such a bounty of golden leaves.

As Baili An withdrew from the scene, a villager remarked with undisguised jealousy, "Aunt Wu, that young master from the Baili family is clearly traversing a dubious path. Ordinary individuals cannot command flames with such mastery, and with such striking features, who knows if he isn't some fox spirit conjured from the mountains.

The ancient texts invariably speak of how fox demons excel at manipulating 'fox fire,' possessing the ability to weave potent illusions. You would be wise to be cautious; these gleaming golden leaves might transmute into mere desiccated foliage by the time you reach your home."

A voice from the crowd interjected, "Indeed, if he were truly someone of great importance, why would he linger in such a desolate locale? Given his fragile appearance, one might wonder which Immortal Sect's Taoist inflicted his injuries. Otherwise, with such considerable wealth, why not seek recovery in the opulent Capital City? Perhaps there are too many Taoist Immortals there, and he fears being captured and transformed into an elixir. Aunt Wu, exercise caution; these golden leaves may appear to be a remarkable bargain, but be wary of hidden curse techniques designed to siphon Qi."

Aunt Wu instinctively clutched her purse, bewildered by the villagers' words, and stammered, "That Baili family's young lord seemed kind-hearted; surely he holds no grudges against me and wouldn't intend me harm?"

"Won't harm anyone? Did you not witness the tragic demise of Taoist Huang? He arrived with great fanfare, only to vanish into mere residue. Who can say if these golden leaves might not reduce you to ashes by nightfall?"

The pronouncements of the crowd sowed seeds of fear, and Aunt Wu, being a simple woman from the countryside, became persuaded, her expression turning to one of confusion and apprehension.

Suddenly, a refreshing breeze rustled through the forest.

Several individuals, clad in white robes and the attire of Taoists, descended from the sky using Sword Control, landing gracefully amidst the trees.

"Has anyone here seen a sickly young man pass by?"

Another young woman, proficient in Sword Control, gestured towards the remnants of a burnt fire pile and softly remarked, "Ah, Senior Sister Su Jing, that is our Taixuan Sect's fire control technique."

The assembled villagers observed this group of individuals, each possessing an extraordinary aura. Their eyes gleamed with brilliance, their skin exuded a spiritual glow, and their brows, gentle as the spring breeze, conveyed a distinct elegance.

As mere villagers, they had never before beheld such impeccable youthful beauty.

The tall, slender woman leading them, particularly, dressed in white with raven-black hair, appeared even more aloof and refined under the soft morning light.

Though she projected an air of being exceedingly unapproachable, her presence was undeniably captivating, making it almost unbelievable that a human could possess such beauty.

The leading woman's gaze was fixed upon the heap of ashes on the ground, lost in thought, while her younger companion gently called her name several times, "Senior Sister Su Jing."

She slowly shifted her attention away from the ashes and replied in a neutral tone, "Yes, it was him."

The female disciple, holding her Senior Sister in high regard, spoke with a subdued voice, a hint of nervousness in her demeanor.

"I initially dismissed it as mere gossip within the sect, yet it appears to be true. I never imagined Senior Sister Wen Jiu would accept a direct disciple, let alone in such an unceremonious manner. It is quite unlike her usual conduct."

Su Jing turned her head slightly, remarking, "As the proprietor of the Nine Classics, is it your place to offer commentary?"

The female disciple promptly averted her gaze, refraining from further speech.

"Um... esteemed Immortals, is the young man you are inquiring about one of your companions?"

Having overheard this exchange, the crowd began to stir with a growing sense of unease.