Over a hundred Imperial Guards and sixteen members of the Zhao family, along with the expert Zhao Yanliang at the Golden Core Stage, chased after Chen Shi, Li Tianqing, and Heiguo, but couldn't catch them. The two men and the dog managed to escape.
Chen Shi was very familiar with the geography of Heavenly Yang Mountain, while the pursuers from the provincial capital knew nothing about the area.
The mountain terrain was ever-changing, with many caves, streams, and dense forests, making it easy for them to hide.
After searching for a long time without finding them, the group was instead attacked by evil spirits, resulting in over ten deaths. Shocked and angry, they hurried back to their camp.
They couldn't tell if it was day or night anymore; the sky was a pale red, with some light but not very bright.
In such weather, it was hard to see far, and going out recklessly could mean getting lost or even dying outside.
Back at the camp, Zhao Yanlong, who had turned into a porcelain doll, sat dazed at the edge of a table, refusing to move despite others' persuasion.
Now that he was porcelain, a fall from the table could shatter him to pieces.
He was too heartbroken to let go for the moment.
"No need to persuade him," Zhao Yanliang told the others. "My brother is, after all, the head of Dark Jade Manor. Though he's sad, he has a strong spirit and will come through."
Seeing this, everyone sighed, lamenting that good people don't live long.
Zhao Yanlong, the head of Dark Jade Manor, still sat at the table's edge, lost in thought.
Zhao Ziyu was his eldest son. He had many children, nineteen in total, not counting those who died young.
Zhao Ziyu wasn't the most outstanding or the most beloved, but during this crisis, his performance comforted his father, making him feel proud.
Even as a porcelain doll, Zhao Ziyu managed the camp well, while others who went hunting either died or got injured.
Many Imperial Guards and Zhao family members never returned after going out, likely dead, either fed to exotic beasts or evil spirits, or killed by other cultivators.
Only Zhao Ziyu returned with success every time, even taking maids with him and always coming back full-handed.
His excellence made Zhao Yanlong proud.
Zhao Yanlong even thought of letting Zhao Ziyu manage Dark Jade Manor when he got older, enjoying a peaceful life.
However, this outstanding son was killed by some young man with a short sword.
Right in front of him, in front of everyone at the camp, he was stabbed to death!
Zhao Yanlong's hands trembled. If he had a heart, it would be bleeding.
That young man, that rascal from the poor mountains, what grudge did he have to be so ruthless?
He couldn't understand, really couldn't!
The mighty Zhao family, the local rulers of New Township Province, loved their people like children. How could Heavenly Yang Mountain produce such a rebel who killed his son?
How dare he kill his son?
What made him angrier was that the young man didn't use any magic or talismans, just his fists and a short sword to kill his son in front of everyone!
Why didn't Ziyu fight back?
Why didn't Ziyu use his Golden Core?
Why didn't Ziyu use his magic?
Why didn't Ziyu use all his talismans?
If Ziyu had fought back, used his Golden Core, used his magic, used all his talismans, he wouldn't have died.
He was heartbroken, tears rolling down from his porcelain eyes.
Such pain.
Like being cut by a knife.
At this moment, Zhao Minrou suddenly said, "Dad, the person who killed big brother just now seemed to be Chen Shi."
"Who?" Zhao Yanlong's eyes moved, not hearing clearly.
"The one who tricked me into the kiln, Little Honest."
Zhao Minrou hesitated, gritting her teeth, "I recognize him. I'd recognize him even if he turned to ash! It's him! When I first met him, he seemed so honest and innocent. I foolishly believed him, and look what happened! He's taller now, but it's definitely him!"
Zhao Yanlong was confused.
Chen Shi.
Chen Yin's grandson.
The one who killed his third son Zhao Yue, daughter Zhao Xue'e, sixth son Zhao Yan, twelfth son Zhao Rui, and other Zhao family members and many Imperial Guards.
He also killed Iron Brush Elder and the steward of Dark Jade Manor!
What grudge, what hatred?
So vicious, so targeted at him, at Dark Jade Manor, at the Zhao family!
Didn't Uncle Zhao Cunyi go to kill him?
How is he still alive?
What was Uncle Zhao Cunyi doing?
He wanted to return to Dark Jade Manor and scold his uncle for being useless, causing his son's death!
Harmed two daughters, killed four sons, Chen Shi, if I don't tear you to pieces, scatter your bones and ashes, and destroy your nine clans, I swear I am not human!
On the northern slope of Heavenly Yang Mountain, at the top, a giant serpent coiled, protecting the people.
The head of the great serpent, Mysterious Mountain, was enormous, raised high like a cloud fixed in the sky.
As it breathed out, clouds and mist in the valley turned into sweet dew.
As it breathed in, mountain winds rose, making the porcelain leaves on the mountain ring like bells.
In the shadow under the serpent's head, Chen Yin and a young man in black no longer played chess, the outcome unknown. "Your grandson is quite something. Even after being dead for so long and coming back, he's more promising than you were," said Mysterious Mountain.
Chen Yin smiled slightly, "He's very clever, learns everything quickly, and is sensible. I joined the sect and was busy outside, neglecting home, only returning once a year. But Little Shi always remembered me. Every time I came home, he'd run to me from afar, calling me grandpa, asking to be held. He was only three or four then."
Mysterious Mountain thought for a moment, not understanding human emotions, said, "Even after coming back, he's still outstanding. Compared to him, other humans seem dull. So, are you willing to let him go?"
Chen Yin shook his head, hands behind his back, looking at the distant mountains, softly said, "Let go of family? I can never let go."
Mysterious Mountain stood behind him, said, "Sometimes, you have to let go."
Chen Shi and Li Tianqing returned to the valley where Mr. Ye and the students were killed, buried their bodies to prevent wild animals from dragging them away.
Chen Shi used grass as incense, placed it in front of their stone pile graves, bowed, and softly said, "I hope when you reach the underworld, you can still study well with Mr. Ye and become ghost scholars."
He turned and followed Li Tianqing, the two leaving Heavenly Yang Mountain.
This time they came out from the north, not the original path, but they were used to it.
Heavenly Yang Mountain was vast, even the most experienced hunters often got lost. But as long as they could get out of the mountain, they were safe.
The mountain path led to Shady Mountain Village. The sky was neither dark nor bright, and a woman in a long dress stood by the road, holding a baby, looking sad, softly calling towards the village, "Is anyone there? Save the child!"
"Save the child, please."
The woman cried, choking, "Someone kind, please take him. I can't raise him."
"Kind person!"
A rough voice came from the forest behind the woman, like thunder. The evil creature saw no one in Shady Mountain Village responded, stood up, waving dozens of snake-like necks, each ending with a baby-like head, all shouting, "Save the child!"
Hundred Infant Demon eyed Shady Mountain Village, wanting to feast, but the village's godmother made it hesitate. After a moment, it turned away.
Chen Shi and Li Tianqing waited until it left to come out.
Li Tianqing, still shaken, said, "Luckily, the people of Shady Mountain Village were smart and weren't fooled by this evil. Otherwise, anyone who came out would have died."
Chen Shi said, "Those who dare to come out now are naturally cultivators. Ordinary people outside have long turned to porcelain. This evil thought it could trick people out to eat, not knowing it was being laughed at."
The two hurried back along the mountain path. Not far out, they felt the ground slightly shake.
"Could it be the Hundred Infant Demon again?" Li Tianqing wondered.
"Sounds different, let's hide," Chen Shi whispered.
They and Heiguo slipped into the forest, lying low to watch.
The ground's slight shaking grew stronger. The two men and the dog held their breath, not daring to make a sound. The shaking even made Chen Shi's heart feel uneasy.
"The coming evil must be huge!"
Just then, a blue and white porcelain pillar appeared in his view.
He realized it wasn't a pillar, but a leg.
A blue and white porcelain leg!
The leg was so thick, like a pillar!
Then, with the ground shaking, an Eight-Armed Bodhisattva Statue appeared in their sight.
It was over ten feet tall, like a moving porcelain hill, with eight thick arms. The porcelain surface had some cracked pieces, but overall it was very intact.
Its blue and white color was bright and striking. The craftsmen of the True King era must have been famous painters, decorating it with beautiful patterns and a vivid blue dragon coiled on its clothes.
As it moved, the porcelain joints rubbed, making a harsh "squeak, squeak" sound.
Evil Bodhisattva!
The two men and the dog's hearts raced, but they forced themselves to stay calm. The Evil Bodhisattva had left the kiln and was now on the mountain path right in front of them!
At this moment, the Evil Bodhisattva seemed to sense something, bending down, its huge face appearing in front of the forest where Chen Shi and the others were hiding.
Its face blocked most of Chen Shi's view. The eyeball was a large sphere, the size of a table, with pupils and whites, and complex symbols drawn within.
Chen Shi dared not look closely, couldn't see the talisman's details.
Because right then, a porcelain kiln worker crawled out of the Evil Bodhisattva's eye socket, repairing the cracked part of its eye.
The kiln worker was over ten feet tall, thin and tall, with long limbs, the very kiln worker from the factory, somehow inside the Evil Bodhisattva.
"Squeak, squeak!"
The harsh rubbing sound came from the joint of the Evil Bodhisattva's head and neck as it turned its head, another face looking at the forest.
It also had large porcelain eyes, with complex symbols. Chen Shi glanced and recognized the talisman's structure.
"Heavenly Eye! Oh no!"
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The second face of the Evil Bodhisattva had a Heavenly Eye Talisman in its pupil, more complex than the one Chen Shi learned from his grandfather, but indeed a Heavenly Eye Talisman structure, with other things added by the True King's craftsmen.
The Heavenly Eye could see spirits and ghosts. If the talisman on the Evil Bodhisattva's face activated, their hiding would be pointless!
Chen Shi was about to pull Li Tianqing to escape when the Evil Bodhisattva seemed distracted by a sound, straightened up, and looked towards Shady Mountain Village.
"Boom!"
It stepped towards the village.
Chen Shi and Li Tianqing, still shaken, saw everything the Evil Bodhisattva passed turned to porcelain. Even the village's godmother quickly turned into a porcelain tree.
The Evil Bodhisattva checked the village, then remembered the slight noise by the road, stepped back to Chen Shi and the others' hiding place, activated the Heavenly Eye, scanned the forest, found nothing unusual, and finally left with a rumble.
In the distance, Chen Shi, Li Tianqing, and Heiguo stopped, still shaken.
This Evil Bodhisattva was searching for survivors!
Hiding in the village was no longer safe!
"It wants to turn all living things to porcelain!"
Next chapter update at 11 PM tonight! The new book just launched, seeking votes to climb the ranks!
Thanks to Xiao Shulan for the support!