My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 54 - 41: Are You Willing to Be My Taoist Companion?

Chapter 54: Chapter 41: Are You Willing to Be My Taoist Companion?

The ancestral hall of Huaisui Village came into view. The deep brown wooden doors bore strange black marks resembling dried blood. Weeds grew thickly on either side of the entrance, seemingly unattended. Footprints could be seen on the steps, while the rest of the area was covered in a thick layer of dust, evidence that people seldom came here to pay respects to the gods. After all, this was an ancestral hall, the place for offering tribute to the ancestors’ tablets—no matter what, it shouldn’t be treated with such negligence.

A faint, acrid scent of blood wafted from within the hall, along with the elusive sound of crying.

Chen Yi furrowed his brows. It sounded like the cries of a child.

Just as the two were about to push open the door and enter, an elderly man leaning on a cane called out to stop them.

The man appeared to be the village chief, rushing out from a large wooden building. Chen Yi noticed several heads peeking out from the windows, curiously observing the two officials in their embroidered uniforms.

"Chen Yi, Thousand Households of the West Factory, here to investigate the case by imperial decree."

Chen Yi revealed his identification plaque.

The old man could only muster a strained smile despite the troubled expression on his face.

"What kind of case are you here to investigate, two honorable sirs?"

"Investigating what’s causing these spiritual disturbances."

The old man’s face dropped instantly, and in alarm, he gestured frantically with his hands:

"There’s no such thing! No such thing! Our village is honest and upright; we don’t fear shadows when our stance is true. There’s no such nonsense about spirits and ghosts!"

"Then open the door and let us take a look."

Chen Yi said directly.

"Sir, outsiders aren’t allowed in the ancestral hall."

"We have the emperor’s decree."

The old man froze at that, his expression stiffening as he scowled:

"Mark my words—if that door is opened, you won’t be able to bear responsibility for what’s inside! None of you will! Only Lin the Immortal can handle this; without him, it’s absolutely impossible!"

In his panic, the old man no longer bothered to address them respectfully as ’officials,’ his voice rising sharply. Though his face was thin and sallow, his outburst carried a surprisingly ferocious tone.

Chen Yi lowered his gaze and replied indifferently: ƒreewebɳovel.com

"Do you dare defy the imperial decree?"

Thud!

Suddenly, the old man dropped to his knees with a loud crash, his elderly and wrinkled face twisted in desperation as he wailed:

"Sirs, please go back! I beg of you, don’t doom us—don’t doom the entire village!"

"If you enter, even though you may survive, what about the rest of us who have to live here? No one wants their family to lose lives for no reason! Sirs, please leave. Spare us. We will gather rice and silver as an offering—whatever it takes to honor you!"

While kneeling, the farmer’s dust-blackened forehead repeatedly banged against the ground until it cracked and bled, leaving a smear of blood on the earth.

Min Ning frowned deeply. What kind of creature could instill such fear that the entire village would dare to defy an imperial edict?

At that moment, a group of Daoists approached, led by a villager, chatting and laughing as they strolled forward.

Their cheerful and casual demeanor was worlds apart from the ominous, chilling atmosphere surrounding them.

The Daoists were neatly dressed, each carrying a peach wood sword or gold coin charms at their waist. Compared to the surrounding straw-thatched wooden huts, they seemed like a group of immortals reveling in the mortal world.

Upon seeing the village chief, the leading villager called out loudly:

"Village Chief, I’ve brought a team of immortals!"

The old chief, still kneeling, froze in place, his expression completely rigid.

The group of Daoists emerged from the crowd. At the forefront was a youthful Taoist whose hair was bound with the crown of the Ancient Sage. His appearance carried an aura of an immortal outcast. Among the group, Chen Yi’s sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar face.

Yin Weiyin.

Today, she was dressed in a blue-and-white Taoist robe, standing near a female crown enthusiastically discussing Taoist skills. Yin Weiyin would occasionally nod or smile slightly. Her poised yet distant demeanor was indeed captivating.

The villager hurriedly helped the chief to his feet, but the latter promptly knelt down again, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"You dog—are you trying to kill us all?!"

The frantic yelling startled the group of Daoists, while the villagers clustered in the nearby large wooden building began chattering loudly amongst themselves.

"Chief, these are immortals from the Shangqing Sect!"

The villager exclaimed urgently.

When he heard the words "Shangqing Sect," the old man’s expression shifted slightly. Everyone in and out of the capital had heard of the Shangqing Sect’s reputation. Maybe, just maybe, they could finally rid the ancestral hall of its plague this time.

A glimmer of hope appeared on the chief’s face, and the villagers in the building stepped closer to watch. The group grew rowdy, curiously examining the eye-catching Daoists and muttering "Immortals! They’re really immortals!"

The old chief immediately took hurried steps forward, bowing and apologizing cautiously to the leading Taoist:

"Forgive me, immortal; this old man’s failing eyesight must have offended. Please pardon my transgression..."

"No need, no need. I am Xuan Zhen, just a humble Taoist who’s practiced for no more than thirty years—not quite worthy of being called an immortal. My master sent us here upon sensing the overwhelming sinister energy in this ancestral hall. We aim to vanquish demons and cleanse the place."

The young Taoist, Xuan Zhen, replied humbly.

The old chief and the gathered villagers bombarded the arriving Taoists with questions, offering them food and wine shortly thereafter in an overly enthusiastic display. Meanwhile, the earlier-arriving Chen Yi and Min Ning were left ignored.

Watching the villagers’ behavior, Min Ning frowned but saw that Chen Yi remained unperturbed.

"You’re not upset?"

"Why should I be? It’s understandable."

Chen Yi responded casually.

Among the Taoists, Yin Weiyin was the first to notice Chen Yi and Min Ning. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed as she inwardly lamented her misfortune, planning to turn away immediately.

Unexpectedly, the insufferable Chen Yi winked at her with a slight smile.

Yin Weiyin calmed her Heart Lake, scanning her surroundings before fixing her gaze on Chen Yi. A plan formed as she deliberately asked:

"Village Chief, who are these two...?"

The old chief, taken aback for a moment, turned hurriedly and explained with an ingratiating smile:

"Court-appointed officials, here under imperial orders to investigate the demons in the ancestral hall."

The Taoists of the Shangqing Sect initially looked puzzled, but as the leader, Xuan Zhen, seemed to realize something, a faint smile appeared.

Xuan Zhen addressed Chen Yi and Min Ning sincerely:

"Sirs, please return. This place is saturated with powerful sinister energy. Though you excel in martial arts, confronting demons and spirits is not your expertise. Forgive my bluntness—you might prove to be a burden if you stay."

While Xuan Zhen spoke genuinely, a few Daoists behind him chuckled secretly. Sending martial artists to handle demon-cleansing? It was utterly laughable.

Chen Yi was about to reply, but Yin Weiyin interjected first:

"Xuan Zhen, you jest. I believe these two officials have their own plans and strengths. Particularly the taller one—he might excel not just in martial arts, but also in dealing with demons."

Her words instantly shifted the atmosphere into something delicate.

Chen Yi narrowed his eyes.

Others might not recognize it, but he could tell Yin Weiyin was deliberately elevating him. As the Taixu Jade Girl, her praise would undoubtedly sway belief among her peers. However, her intention was transparent—to raise him up high, then crush him completely.

What a hassle. If it were anyone else, they might say... he was courting his own doom.

But... he had always avoided targeting women unfairly in such situations...

Listening to Yin Weiyin’s remarks, the first to react with displeasure was not Chen Yi but Min Ning.

She said coldly:

"Immortal Yin, unnecessary words won’t help."

The atmosphere grew colder instantly.

The old chief, accustomed to diffusing tension, quickly intervened:

"Let’s take a look inside, shall we? Sirs and Taoists alike, please enter!"

With that, the chief turned and pushed open the heavy door of the ancestral hall.

The Taoists stepped forward.

As Yin Weiyin passed by Chen Yi, she tilted her head toward him and chuckled softly:

"Chen Qianhu, I divined your destiny—you don’t possess the Heavenly Vision."

Her words fell, and she unabashedly scrutinized his reaction, expecting to see shock and disappointment.

But the man turned to look at her directly, his eyes unwavering, and uttered something that made her blush and sent chills down her spine.

With a playful smile, he spoke:

"Yin Weiyin, would you care to be my Dao companion? As for those offensive words... I won’t hold them against you..."

Yin Weiyin’s cheeks burned, goosebumps rising along her snow-white neck. A shiver ran through her as unease gripped her heart.

That was precisely the phrase she’d uttered to him one night, and yet he had dared to return it almost verbatim...

As fate would have it, several Taoists from the Shangqing Sect overheard his words, curiosity and astonishment sparking in their expressions as they turned their heads to look.