C4 The Evil Spirit Came

Suddenly, Jiang Dao was struck by a wave of intense hunger, as if he hadn't eaten in three days and nights.

"I'm starving."

His eyes reddened as he gazed at the bowl of lotus seed porridge prepared earlier on the table. He snatched up the bowl and gulped down the porridge in one go. Still ravenous, he immediately stepped out of the room and instructed the servant to prepare dinner.

An hour later, Jiang Dao was seated at the table, devouring his meal like a reincarnated hungry ghost.

He polished off the freshly roasted chicken in just a few bites.

The enormous pig's elbow disappeared in three.

He lifted a large basin of meat soup to his lips and drained it in a single gulp.

The sight of Jiang Dao's ravenous eating left Biyu, his attendant, in shock. She nearly believed he was under the influence of an evil spirit.

At last, Jiang Dao let out a satisfied belch and set down his plate, his stomach's hunger finally subsiding.

"Biyu, clear the table," he said, dabbing his mouth with a silk handkerchief.

Biyu hurried to tidy up.

"Will I always be this famished after advancing in my martial arts? If so, I must say, it's quite an unseemly sight," Jiang Dao mused as he stepped out of the room, frowning.

Despite his hunger, the formidable power coursing through his body was undeniable.

Clad in a long robe, his muscular physique was concealed. But stripped of his garment, the rippling muscles on his back, arms, and thighs were a testament to his immense strength.

In the courtyard, he casually picked up a stick. With a flick, a gust of wind roared past, and he swung the stick with ferocity at a stone bench.

The bench shattered as if struck by a colossal hammer, stone fragments scattering in all directions.

Jiang Dao was immensely pleased with himself.

This single, effortless strike had already outmatched Pang Lin's strike at full force.

And it was merely a flick of his wrist.

Combined with his ultimate technique, the devastation would be unimaginable!

Suddenly, his ears perked up at the sound of distant voices.

Jiang Dao set down the stick and left the courtyard, making his way to the nearby gallery. He looked out to see several young, beautiful maids wiping away tears and sobbing quietly, reluctantly being led by a middle-aged woman toward Daoist Priest Changbai.

Jiang Dao's expression darkened in an instant.

Once again, Taoist Priest Changbai was up to no good with a woman!

What recourse did the Jiang family have?

They were merely accomplices, powerless to stop Taoist Priest Changbai's whims.

Jiang Dao inhaled deeply, forcing himself to look away from the disturbing scene. Anger filled his heart as he turned and walked away.

Time had slipped by; it was time to light the lanterns.

Biyu approached to assist Jiang Dao with undressing and preparing him for bed.

Lying in bed, Jiang Dao was lost in thought, wondering if he would be plagued by the same dream tonight.

The dim light flickered as time marched on.

The night in Hengzhou City was unusually silent.

Jiang Dao quickly succumbed to sleep.

The night passed without incident.

Come morning, Jiang Dao's eyes snapped open, and he sat bolt upright in bed, his brow furrowed in surprise.

"Am I alright?"

The nightmares had ceased?

"Is it the result of my martial arts training? My strength is on par with sixty years of practice, filling me with such vitality that even the specters in my dreams dare not come near?"

A surge of joy filled Jiang Dao, bringing with it a glimmer of hope for his future.

But the moment was short-lived. Sounds of commotion from the front courtyard reached his ears, and he frowned, climbing out of bed.

"Biyu, what's going on?" he called out as he dressed.

The door swung open with a gentle creak, and Biyu entered, her face etched with alarm. "Young Master, Evil Spirits attacked the Jiang family last night. Many of our maids are dead."

"What?" Jiang Dao exclaimed, his shock hastening his movements as he got dressed.

Soon after, he made his way to the front courtyard.

There, he found a group of more than ten guards with somber faces.

All the servants were present, their discussions tinged with panic.

Jiang Dalong stood among them, his expression stern. He was dressed in a hat and a black short jacket, clutching two large walnuts, his gaze fixed on the bodies strewn across the courtyard.

Taoist Priest Changbai was meticulously examining the corpses.

Each maid had met a gruesome end, their bodies shriveled as though drained of their very essence.

"Father, Master Pang," Jiang Dao called out as he approached.

"Young Master," Pang Lin whispered in greeting.

Jiang Dalong gave him a slight nod before turning his attention back to Taoist Priest Changbai, his voice low and serious, "Taoist Priest, where is the Evil Spirit now? Is it still within the Jiang family?"

The face of Taoist Priest Changbai darkened. He had swiftly completed his examination of the bodies and now stood up, exhaling a heavy sigh, "Old Master Jiang, we should discuss this matter in private."

"You wish to speak privately about this?" Jiang Dalong was taken aback.

Could the situation truly be that grave?

He clearly grasped Taoist Priest Changbai's implication. The priest's desire for a private conversation suggested that he didn't want others to overhear and potentially panic. It also hinted that this Evil Spirit might be beyond even Taoist Priest Changbai's ability to confront.

"Very well, Taoist Priest, follow me," Jiang Dalong said gravely, leading the way to his study.

Jiang Dao, with a look of deep concern, quickly followed.

Before long, they reached Jiang Dalong's study. Taoist Priest Changbai seated himself while Jiang Dalong instructed Jiang Dao to shut the door firmly behind them, allowing no one else to enter.

"Taoist Priest, please speak candidly," Jiang Dalong urged, bowing respectfully.

With a somber look in his eyes, Taoist Priest Changbai began, "The Jiang family faces grave peril this time. The Evil Spirit you've encountered may be beyond even my capabilities to handle!"

"What sort of Evil Spirit is it?" Jiang Dalong pressed, his concern mounting.

Taoist Priest Changbai's voice was heavy with concern as he explained, "I refer to it as the Spirit Child. This entity is profoundly enigmatic, always heralding disaster wherever it manifests. It has been known to claim the lives of nearly a thousand souls in its wake. What's more, the Spirit Child does not act alone; it appears in swarms, and even more fearsome Evil Spirits are manipulating them."

"I have traveled extensively throughout the Ye Dynasty, and I've only come across the Spirit Child on two occasions. Yet, each time, it left nearly a thousand dead in its wake. The Spirit Child has obliterated a sect with three centuries of history in just two days and decimated nearly half the population of an ancient city!"

"What?" Jiang Dalong's face registered shock as he exclaimed, "Does this mean the Jiang family is doomed to destruction? Taoist Priest, I implore you to save us."

He bowed deeply in earnest plea. Swiftly, he pulled a stack of banknotes from his sleeve and pressed them into Taoist Priest Changbai's hands. "Taoist Priest, if the Jiang family can weather this storm, I am prepared to offer you half of my fortune."

Jiang Dao watched, his mind racing with suspicion. He was uncertain whether Taoist Priest Changbai was merely trying to frighten them or if the situation was truly dire.

He stood to the side, momentarily too apprehensive to speak.

"Dealing with a Spirit Child isn't the hard part; it's the person behind them that's the challenge. There's even a chance that a terrorist organization is pulling the strings," Taoist Priest Changbai explained.

His hand involuntarily clutched the proffered banknotes. Gauging the thickness, he could tell the sum was substantial. With composure, he slid the money into his sleeve.

"Old Master Jiang, our acquaintance seems to be a twist of fate. I will do all within my power to shield you for as long as possible. But if I fail, please don't hold it against me."

"Taoist Priest, your best effort is all I ask for!"

Jiang Dalong continued to bow respectfully.

"Taoist Priest, did you just mention a terrorist organization controlling the Spirit Child?"

Jiang Dao interjected with sudden urgency.

"Indeed," Taoist Priest Changbai affirmed with a nod. "Otherwise, how could the Spirit Child appear and vanish without a trace? And after each incident, they leave no evidence behind."

"What organization could they be part of?"

"That, I do not know."

Taoist Priest Changbai shook his head, adding, "Moreover, Evil Spirits have a particular trait—they conceal themselves during the day, making them undetectable. Only at night do they emerge. So, as it stands, even if I wanted to locate the Spirit Child, it's impossible!"