NHWSG chapter 24

The taxi swayed back and forth, and Sheng Zhao was drowsy from the afternoon sun, eventually falling asleep in the taxi.

He was awakened by Xing Yingzhu, who had already paid the fare by scanning the QR code and was impatiently waiting outside the passenger seat. Sheng Zhao snapped out of his daze, hastily opened the door, and got out of the car.

After a brief rest, he felt like an old tractor without oil, his bones and joints creaking as if he were a low-level zombie emerging from the end of the world.

Amusingly, he thought to himself, others probably see me no different from Zhang Kaisheng now.

What irritated him the most was that Xing Yingzhu, who had been coughing up blood by the water’s edge, was now perfectly fine, strolling leisurely as if he had just gone to buy instant noodles from the neighborhood convenience store. Only he was exhausted, moving slowly step by step behind Xing Yingzhu.

If not for the terrifying influence of Xing Yingzhu, Sheng Zhao would have wanted to cling to him and let him carry him home.

But it’s okay, it’s okay, Sheng Zhao brainwashed himself: the end of the long march is in sight, just a few steps left, and I’ll be able to sleep well once I get back.

With this belief in mind, Sheng Zhao, one step at a time, pushed himself forward, back to the entrance of the apartment building—however, fate had other plans. Standing not far from the entrance of the apartment building was a man who looked like a contemporary bandit, blocking the entrance as if he had been waiting for Xing Yingzhu.

The reason Sheng Zhao could make such a judgment wasn’t because he had acquired some premonition ability from Xing Yingzhu, but because of the man in front of him— he was carrying a very conspicuous sword on his back.

Sheng Zhao had lived for so long that his understanding of such weapons usually existed with the old men and women practicing Tai Chi swords in the park. But those old folks were wielding ordinary practice swords, nothing compared to the guy in front of him who seemed like the real deal.

The sword on the man in front of him was very strange. It wasn’t a complete sharp blade but a series of seven palm-sized copper coins strung together. The coins were connected by red strings and extremely thin golden chains. The edges of the coins were sharpened, and judging by the blade, it would probably have no trouble killing someone.

—”This doesn’t look good,” was Sheng Zhao’s first reaction.

As he and Xing Yingzhu approached, the man had his back to the street, seemingly in a standoff with something inside the building.

Sheng Zhao strained to use the last ounce of his strength to stretch his neck and look inside, only to see several people crowded in the lobby just one door away.

Xiong Xiangsong, Lu Xing, and Hu Huanyang were pressed against the glass door, facing off with the unfamiliar man.

Sheng Zhao: “…”

What’s wrong with these people??

Sheng Zhao was filled with question marks, but before he could scrutinize their bizarre appearance, Xiong Xiangsong spotted him through the glass.

Xiong Xiangsong’s eyes lit up—Sheng Zhao wasn’t exaggerating when he said that in that moment, he almost felt like he wasn’t the property manager returning to work but a volunteer coming to aid in a disaster.

However, Xiong Xiangsong’s reaction didn’t escape the man outside the door. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly turned around as if facing a formidable enemy, his gaze meeting Xing Yingzhu’s head-on.

The man trembled slightly, and his eyes instantly sharpened.

When he turned around, Sheng Zhao also got a clear view of his face. The man looked quite young, perhaps a little younger than him, appearing to be around eighteen or nineteen years old at most. He was wearing a dark blue casual jacket with the zipper undone. With a casual glance, Sheng Zhao noticed a bulging object in his inner pocket.

In addition, he had a small transparent glass bottle hanging around his neck, containing two-thirds of an unknown red powder. His wrist was adorned with a string of miniature copper coins, and his whole person exuded an aura of mysticism. From Sheng Zhao’s perspective, he seemed like someone who would eagerly stick the words “Exorcist” on his forehead.

Sheng Zhao: “…”

Walking down the street like this, won’t people mistake him for a cosplay enthusiast and ask for photos? Sheng Zhao wondered in confusion.

However, his sarcastic thoughts seemed to have triggered something. The guy in front of him was apparently not just putting on a show. He seemed genuinely intent on upholding the words “Exorcist” to the fullest. He glanced at Xing Yingzhu, then suddenly made a move, pulling out a bright yellow talisman from his inner pocket and swiftly flicking it with his index finger and thumb.

Sheng Zhao, with keen eyes, saw a red mark suddenly appear on the talisman with intricate patterns. Then, it abruptly ignited in a manner that defied scientific explanation, burning with a force that seemed to defy gravity. It flew out of the boy’s fingers at lightning speed, heading straight for Xing Yingzhu’s face.

“Oh shit!”

Sheng Zhao cursed instinctively. Before he could comprehend the mystic situation in front of him, he stepped forward and stood in front of Xing Yingzhu.

—This is a joke, Sheng Zhao thought. The guy in front of him didn’t look like a mere showoff. What if this really worked against demons?

The fire looked ominous. He was a solid person, so taking a hit wouldn’t be a big deal, but Xing Yingzhu was a monster. Who knows what might happen if he got hit by this?

His reaction was almost instinctive, and the guy in front was also momentarily stunned, failing to withdraw his hand in time. The ball of fire collided with Sheng Zhao at a speed that seemed to defy gravity, then disappeared into his chest.

A chorus of gasps immediately erupted from the lobby on the first floor.

Sheng Zhao didn’t have the time to look at the expressions of the onlookers. He subconsciously covered his chest, trying to pat off any sparks, only to suddenly realize that his clothes were intact at his chest. Not a single burn mark, not even a speck of ash.

“Why are you blocking him!” The boy stepped forward, angrily accusing, “He’s not human!”

“I know!” Sheng Zhao replied firmly, sounding even more resolute than the boy.

The boy was stunned by his response, speechless for a good two seconds.

Sheng Zhao couldn’t be bothered to deal with him. He looked at his own chest in horror, still not understanding what had just happened beyond his comprehension.

“Oh my god, boss, what was that?” Sheng Zhao grabbed Xing Yingzhu’s hand, urging him to look at his chest, and said in panic, “I won’t have any aftereffects, will I!”

Xing Yingzhu had no intention of being a hero, responding coldly, “No.”

The boy finally came to his senses, seeing Sheng Zhao so close to Xing Yingzhu. He stomped his foot with frustration, gritted his teeth, and said, “He’s a monster!”

“Even so, you can’t just attack!” Sheng Zhao retorted.

“I want to ask him something!” the young man said.

Sheng Zhao acted like a protective mother hen, refusing to budge, saying stubbornly, “Can’t you just ask him like this!”

Their argument escalated, with each trying to outshout the other, like chickens fighting at the village entrance, as if they might start fighting at any moment.

“I, I…” The boy was probably not used to dealing with such “stubborn” humans. He heaved with anger, trembling as he pointed at Xing Yingzhu from a distance, saying, “His cultivation is so high, I couldn’t restrain him to ask questions!”

“What are you afraid of!” Sheng Zhao blurted out, “If he touches you, he’ll be struck by lightning!”

Xing Yingzhu: “…”

Unable to bear it any longer, Xing Yingzhu took a deep breath and decided not to let Sheng Zhao continue to disgrace him like this. So, he grabbed Sheng Zhao’s shoulder and pulled him back like a chick.

“That’s enough, my face is worth something,” Xing Yingzhu gritted his teeth.

Sheng Zhao was pulled back unsteadily, turning into a docile kitten in an instant, retracting his claws and smiling mischievously at him, making a gesture of zipping his lips.

Xing Yingzhu pushed this embarrassing matter behind him and looked at the boy in front of him.

“Who are you?” Xing Yingzhu asked.

The boy subconsciously straightened his chest, evidently proud of his identity.

“I am Zhang Jian, the 66th generation descendant of Mount Longhu.”

Sheng Zhao: “…”

Am I supposed to see all the things I haven’t seen in the first twenty years of my life in these few days? Sheng Zhao wondered in confusion, or perhaps the heavens think his worldview isn’t shattered enough, so they want to crush the last remnants of it.

It was bad enough that Xing Yingzhu, a non-human, could create mystical scenes, but now it seemed that the man in front of him was just like him, a solid human from head to toe—how did he conjure fire out of thin air? Sheng Zhao couldn’t fathom it.

Of course, with Xing Yingzhu still present, Sheng Zhao didn’t dare to ask, afraid that any word might embarrass him and make him unhappy.

Xing Yingzhu remained calm, not seeing anything special about this title, and simply asked, “Tianshi?”

There was a momentary subtle change in Zhang Jian’s expression. He proudly straightened his chest, coughed, and said, “Assistant Tianshi.”

Oh, Sheng Zhao thought, an intern.

“Then I won’t talk to you,” Xing Yingzhu said, grabbing Sheng Zhao’s collar and pulling him inside, seemingly unbothered by Zhang Jian’s peculiar “equipment.”

“If you want to know about me, ask your master when you go back,” Xing Yingzhu said.

Zhang Jian felt somewhat embarrassed by his almost dismissive attitude, instinctively taking a step back under Xing Yingzhu’s pressure, and sternly rebuked, “You…you arrogant!”

Xing Yingzhu impatiently stopped in his tracks, giving him a glance.

He never liked dealing with these people, especially not with this greenhorn who clearly didn’t understand anything.

But this greenhorn seemed to be highly regarded on the mountain, and he might be the next Tianshi. There might be occasions when he would have to deal with him in the future.

Xing Yingzhu frowned, feeling rather irritable, so he decided to make it short and send him away quickly.

So he stood still and straightforwardly asked, “Are you here to investigate the matter of the sacrifice?”

• 1
  “Tianshi” (天师) is a Chinese term that translates to “Celestial Master” or “Heavenly Master.” In Chinese Taoist tradition, it refers to a spiritual leader or Daoist priest who has attained a high level of mastery in Taoist practices and rituals. The Celestial Masters are believed to have special powers and abilities, often serving as mediators between the human world and the celestial realm, as well as providing spiritual guidance and assistance to their followers.