Huang Jiu groggily got up from the ground, looking pitiful.
If it were any other time, I might have said something to comfort him, especially since Huang Xian'er's actions were a bit excessive, particularly in front of me, an outsider. But in the current situation, I decided that saying less was probably the best course of action.
Huang Xian'er exhaled a puff of smoke, lowered her cigarette, and with a flirtatious tone said, "Li Yang, little brother, I need to borrow some of your yang blood."
I almost heard "one blood," and a shiver ran down my spine. The way she said it… If she weren't still half a yellow furred creature, I might've thought I was facing a seductive fox spirit.
I pinched my finger, feeling the sharp pain as I bit it, letting a drop of blood spill out.
Huang Xian'er noticed, and leaned in with a smile. "Li Yang, little brother, please drop a bit of blood on my forehead."
To be honest, I felt a little awkward, especially with Huang Jiu standing right there.
I raised my hand, carefully pressing a drop of blood onto her forehead. The crimson drop stood out against her smaller face, giving her an almost ethereal appearance.
The moment the blood touched her, her expression turned sharp, and a fierce glint appeared in her eyes, which startled me enough to take a few steps back.
"Damn that old bull-nose, today I'll make sure he never returns!" she hissed through gritted teeth.
Her words reassured me, but I couldn't help wondering how a single drop of blood could give her such confidence and power.
Without a word, Huang Xian'er turned and walked out.
Huang Jiu nudged me. "Little brother, let's go take a look outside."
I was concerned that Huang Xian'er might not be able to handle the old bull-nose, especially since she was only half-transformed. The limitations on her powers were clear. It was similar to how Huang Jiu couldn't stand against me earlier—not because it wasn't capable, but simply because it wasn't human.
At the entrance of the tomb, Huang Jiu jumped onto my shoulder, pressing a round bump on the door, and a rumbling sound followed. The heavy stone door fell into place. They had clearly worked hard to restore the ancient mechanisms.
The stone door was thick and nearly impossible to open with bare hands, providing an extra layer of protection.
Stepping outside and past the overgrown tomb entrance, I noticed the entire forest surrounding the tomb was covered in thick fog. It wasn't a typical occurrence, especially in this dry season. This must have been Huang Xian'er's doing.
Huang Jiu pointed the way, and after walking a few meters, we saw Huang Xian'er sitting lazily on a collapsed tombstone, smoking her cigarette with her legs crossed.
I was about to walk over when I noticed four colorful paper figures standing near her. A chill ran down my spine, and I stopped a few steps away.
Minutes passed, and the fog began to dissipate. Soon, we heard the sounds of footsteps crackling in the forest ahead. An old Taoist and a younger one came rushing out from the woods, directly entering the clearing where the tombs were located.
The two groups had directly run into each other.
The younger Taoist immediately pointed at me with rage, saying, "Master, this little brat knocked me out and stole my stuff!"
Unlike the younger Taoist's anger, the older one was calm and careful. His eyes immediately turned to Huang Xian'er, and his pupils narrowed when he saw the head she carried.
The younger Taoist, seeing his master silent, drew a black short knife, glaring at me and preparing to charge.
I quickly grabbed a withered branch from the ground, my heart racing. I cursed myself for not thinking ahead; when dealing with people, a cleaver would be the most useful.
Luckily, the older Taoist grabbed the younger one's arm, quietly warning him not to act recklessly.
The younger Taoist still glared at me, his eyes full of fury.
Facing the half-transformed Huang Xian'er, the older Taoist was cautious. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "This humble Taoist is Liu Changxuan from Mount Laoshan. May I ask what I should call you, immortal?"
Since ancient times, the righteous and the evil had always been at odds. The older Taoist, instead of acting hastily, introduced himself, which was already a form of respect.
Huang Xian'er puffed out smoke, unfazed, and asked in a cool tone, "What are you, a Taoist, doing in my territory?"
Liu Changxuan, though still composed, glanced at me and replied, "I need to speak with that young friend."
Huang Xian'er exhaled another puff of smoke. "He's my guest today. If you have something to say, do it another day. I don't welcome Taoists here."
Liu Changxuan smiled and straightened his back, his tone becoming more forceful. "I have a few words to say to this young friend alone."
The way he kept calling me a "little friend" irked me. Before Huang Xian'er could speak, I impatiently interrupted, "If you have something to say, say it here. No need for privacy!"
Liu Changxuan smiled faintly, then stretched out his hand, signaling for the younger Taoist to step back. He then unbuckled his belt and flicked it, revealing a long black whip over a meter long.
Upon seeing the whip, Huang Jiu nervously warned Huang Xian'er, "Wife, that's a whip made from black dog fur. Be careful."
Huang Xian'er didn't respond verbally but took a long drag of her cigarette. As she exhaled, the smoke split into four streams, each entering one of the paper figures' nostrils.
The paper figures immediately glowed with a green light, and their stiff limbs became agile. They split into four directions and charged at the Taoist.
Both Huang Xian'er's power and the paper figures' movement showed a stark contrast to Huang Jiu's method of controlling them. Huang Xian'er used nothing but her breath, and the difference in skill was clear.
However, Liu Changxuan wasn't to be underestimated. With a snap of his whip, he created a deafening crack, and the gust of wind sent the surrounding fog flying.
I couldn't help but suck in a breath. I instinctively backed away with Huang Jiu on my shoulder.
The paper figures were getting closer. Liu Changxuan lifted his robe and moved with strange steps to meet them. With a single crack of his whip, he struck the first paper figure in the chest.
The force was enough to shatter the paper figure, but it only stumbled slightly before continuing its attack.
As I watched in horror, my chest suddenly seared with pain. It felt as if Liu Changxuan's whip had landed on me.