Chapter Sixty: Spinning Tales

The two guards bustled in and out, carrying in every seatable item from the courtyard. At Shangguan Chuanyun’s signal, they placed the stools and chairs densely together. When it seemed about right, Shangguan Chuanyun spoke.

“Master Hu, you wish to explain some matters to me. If we talk standing, it would seem I lack courtesy. Let us all be seated, please.”

Hu Jiuming considered this and then sat down in a grand armchair. Shangguan Chuanyun then addressed the rest of those who had come with Hu.

“Everyone, please sit down. There’s no need to stand.”

The group all looked to Hu Jiuming, as did Shangguan Chuanyun and his companions. Feeling uneasy under so many gazes, Hu said to his followers, “Sit, all of you.”

Only after everyone was seated did Hu Jiuming begin to speak.

“I am but an old spirit of the mountain, charged with overseeing all matters within these hills, guiding the flow of the peaks.”

Shangguan Chuanyun immediately knew Hu Jiuming was spinning tales. Still, to deal with him required the right opportunity, so he listened as Hu continued to bluff.

“I’ve always managed the affairs of the mountain personally, never daring to slack for a moment, and have shown leniency and magnanimity to all living things here.”

Hu paused, expecting Shangguan Chuanyun to interject, but when no response came after a long wait, he awkwardly coughed and went on.

“Three years ago, my kin sent word of disaster in the clan. Thus, I abandoned the temple here to rescue them. Upon my return, to my dismay, I found this place seized by a wolf demon, who claimed it as his own. Only today, with the help of my clan, did we seize the opportunity to capture that wolf demon.”

Shangguan Chuanyun thought, “What a fabricator.” He asked, “Is this wolf demon the one we just brought in bound?”

Hu Jiuming replied gravely, “That is the very wolf.”

Shangguan Chuanyun finally understood: Hu Jiuming was here to reap the benefits. Unable to deal with the wolf demon himself, he’d been eyeing the temple for some time. He happened to see the wolf demon lead his pack away, only a few returning, and saw his chance to take back the temple. But finding Shangguan Chuanyun’s group occupying the place, he seized a wounded stray gray wolf and staged this scene to demand the temple.

So be it, Shangguan Chuanyun thought, but what an unnecessary hassle. Still, Hu Jiuming’s talent for escape was first-rate. Several times Shangguan Chuanyun had sensed something amiss but had not been able to catch sight of him.

Regardless, from the moment he killed the dog, things could not end peacefully. Lou Jin’s dog spirit would not forgive him, and Shangguan Chuanyun was Lou Jin’s master. The dog spirit belonged to him, and even if Hu had acted righteously, for the greater good, Shangguan Chuanyun would not let him go. Righteousness aside, he cared only for his own side.

So, as Hu Jiuming rambled on, Shangguan Chuanyun responded absently, mostly considering how to deal with him.

“I must thank you, young master, for safeguarding the temple, preventing its destruction by the wolf demon,” Hu said.

“Oh, you’re too kind. Now, can you tend to them?” Shangguan Chuanyun sidestepped the issue. Words alone wouldn’t win him the temple—he wasn’t the mountain god. The mountain god’s seal was in his own possession. He wanted to see how far Hu would go.

Hu Jiuming silently cursed. He’d made his intentions plain, yet this young man refused to play along. Normally, at this point, anyone would concede, “So you are the rightful owner; we will withdraw,” and Hu could then act the generous one and say, “No matter, stay another day,” earning their gratitude.

But this youth refused to be led, unmoved by appeals to gratitude or story. Still, Hu dared not act rashly, suspecting a dog spirit might be lurking nearby.

Judging from the group’s deference to the young master, if he could seize him...

Having made up his mind, Hu rose and approached Commander Wu and the scout, saying, “Please wait, young master, I will now lift the seal on these two.”

Shangguan Chuanyun watched as Hu Jiuming tapped and pressed various points on the two men, sensing the energy. It matched the aura in Commander Wu’s Baihui acupoint. He thought, “Just as I suspected.”

After hearing Hu’s explanation, the gist was clear: Hu claimed to be the mountain spirit, who had lost his power after wolf demons took over. Now, having found the wolf demon unguarded, he’d rallied his kin to purge them, incidentally dealing with several dog spirits.

Shangguan Chuanyun knew Hu had only come because the wolf demon was gone, eyeing the temple and fearing Shangguan’s group would not leave. Thus, he used his tricks, hoping to reclaim the place and eliminate any threats. If Shangguan Chuanyun agreed, Hu could resolve his worries; if not, he’d use the manipulations he’d left in Wu and the scout to possess them and strike.

If Shangguan Chuanyun let his guard down, he’d fall right into Hu’s trap.

Hu tried to draw him in with stories, but Shangguan Chuanyun remained steadfast, unmoved by rhetoric, sticking to his own principles. Thus, Hu’s schemes were useless.

After tapping on the two men for a while, Hu stood and announced, “It’s done. With a short rest, they’ll recover, but...”

Seeing Hu hesitate, Shangguan Chuanyun simply watched him, refusing to speak.

Hu dragged out his “but...” for some time, but when no reply came, he pointed at Commander Wu. “This guard’s case is more complicated.”

Sensing that Hu was about to make his move, Shangguan Chuanyun asked, “What complication?”

Feigning deep thought, Hu replied, “Upon observation, although I have lifted the Qi seal at his Baihui, a hidden gate remains—a method left behind, allowing a spirit to possess this commander at any moment. I can deduce the dog spirit could possess him at will.”

The guards and stewards all looked nervously to Shangguan Chuanyun.

He signaled them to play along. Seeing their master calm, they trusted his abilities and suppressed their fears, closing ranks around Shangguan Chuanyun, warily watching Commander Wu.

After a moment, Shangguan Chuanyun said, “No matter. I don’t believe in these tales of spirits and possession. There may be another explanation.”

He looked Hu Jiuming in the eye, speaking slowly, “I have plenty of time. I will remain here and summon a physician from home to treat him. Even if it takes a year or more, so be it.”

Hu Jiuming’s face darkened. After all his efforts, this was all he achieved. Possession was his forte, and though he had cultivated a demon core, against mere mortals he was more than a match. A faint demonic aura leaked into the temple.

Shangguan Chuanyun thought, “So you’re anxious at last. You want possession? I’ll give you the chance.” He abruptly stood and declared loudly, “I do not believe in this talk of possession. I want to see exactly how such a thing works.”

He strode toward Commander Wu. His companions hurried to stop him.

“You mustn’t, young master! If you’re possessed, you might harm us!” one guard warned.

Jia Cheng added, “That’s right, young master. Better safe than sorry. Let’s be cautious.”

Hu Jiuming, seeing Shangguan Chuanyun so eager, became excited as well and paused his spell, silently urging him to come closer—once he did, he’d let him taste his own specialty, the possession technique.

Shangguan Chuanyun, annoyed by his companions’ interference, said, “It’s fine. Just stay on guard. Besides, the dog spirit is nowhere to be seen. I have my own plan.”

They hesitated, but Jia Cheng gritted his teeth and said, “Yes, young master. If anything strange happens, we’ll step in at once.”

“Good,” Shangguan Chuanyun replied, and with his entourage in tow, approached Commander Wu.

Hu Jiuming was thrilled. This was perfect—once he possessed Commander Wu, these few people would not be able to stop him. As long as he seized the young master...

If not for his unmatched possession technique, he would be the weakest among those with demon cores in other respects.

He watched as the young master, surrounded by his followers, approached the commander. “What a golden opportunity,” he thought.

Hu Jiuming struck his own forehead, sending his spirit out of his body, flying toward Commander Wu.

As Hu Jiuming began his magic, Shangguan Chuanyun’s sword twitched restlessly, but he kept it calm. Though he seemed to fix his attention on Commander Wu, he was actually watching Hu Jiuming closely.

Seeing Hu’s spirit drift toward Commander Wu, even looking back at him, Shangguan Chuanyun lowered his head to study the floor, avoiding eye contact lest he betray anything—for those untrained, spirits would be invisible.

Hu Jiuming’s spirit approached Commander Wu’s Baihui, and Shangguan Chuanyun quietly shifted, allowing Commander Wu to face Hu’s followers.

Hu Jiuming’s spirit calculated his angle, then slipped into Commander Wu’s Baihui.

Yet as his spirit entered, a strange sense overcame him. This was not what he was used to—it was a world of sword energy everywhere. Cautiously, he decided to retreat.

The moment that thought arose, sword energy from all sides annihilated him, too swiftly for even a cry.

As soon as Hu Jiuming entered Commander Wu, the commander replaced his aura with a cluster of sword energy. Once Hu entered, the sword energy was triggered, eradicating him at once.

At that instant, Shangguan Chuanyun tossed a Thunderclap Bomb into the midst of Hu Jiuming’s followers.

With a single stroke, Shangguan Chuanyun severed Hu Jiuming in two, then swiftly recited an incantation with his core energy:

“Heaven and earth’s primal sect, the root of all energies,
My body is covered in golden light, which shields me from harm.
Golden Light Protection, by my command, manifest!”

As the protective spell activated, a massive golden bell formed over his group.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion erupted among Hu Jiuming’s followers. Those nearest, caught off guard, were blown to pieces.