First Entry into the Ethereal Void 111: Beset by Crisis

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Li Hao and Feng Jiezheng forced him to the ground. Before he could leap up again, they immediately launched a fierce assault.

Though the gluttonous monk Luo Mingyuan was indeed fearsome like a demon or ghost, he was tightly entangled and unable to escape even if he wished. With a roar like a mountain torrent, he declared, “If I must die, then so be it! I fear no demon or ghost. I, the gluttonous monk, have lived over a hundred years, indulging in fine wine, exquisite food, and beautiful women—I have experienced more than my due. I will fight to the death with you two yin-yang specters!” Brandishing his golden staff, he launched a relentless offensive, each swing, strike, sweep, and jab striking with overwhelming force.

Li Hao could not counter the monk’s fierce onslaught and could only dodge. His movements were low and nimble, elusive as a ghostly shadow.

Luo Mingyuan unleashed a move called “Golden Bell Strike,” his golden staff darting like a golden serpent, striking swiftly toward Li Hao’s chest with unbelievable speed.

Li Hao shrank his figure, his tall body instantly condensing into a three-inch spike. A gust of wind swept overhead.

Taking advantage of his contracted posture, Li Hao struck with a move called “Swift Wind Grasps Grass,” targeting the monk’s legs with a powerful palm strike.

The gluttonous monk leapt upward five or six feet with his massive frame, responding with a “Golden Bell Top” strike, hammering down fiercely with his staff.

Li Hao rolled swiftly on the ground, flicking his brush to spray poison from the pen barrel. Spinning urgently, he raised his body and unleashed a burst of flame toward the monk.

Luo Mingyuan’s golden staff pressed against the ground, one hand gripping the tip while the other delivered a fierce palm strike, forcing back the close-range poison spray. He gathered strength in his arm holding the staff’s tip, bending and extending it to flick the weapon aside. With his giant frame, he soared into the air and landed several yards away, attempting to flee. Inwardly he thought: These two are undoubtedly demon spirits. If they were humans in disguise, their agility wouldn’t be so light and nimble. Never before had I truly encountered demon ghosts. Now that I have, I’d better retreat quickly. With this ghostly aura lingering, peace will be far from mine.

Li Hao and Feng Jiezheng would not let their enemy escape. Without holding back, they launched two successive leaps and attacked with weapons from both sides.

Luo Mingyuan could not shake off their entanglement. Angry, he shouted, “Hey! Hey! Hey! What grudge do I have with you two demon ghosts that you won’t let me go?”

Li Hao bit his lip. Feng Jiezheng was initially angry and wanted to curse him, but she was extremely clever. She thought: “He sees us as ghosts, which weighs heavily on his mind. If we can’t fully unleash his superb martial arts, once I speak, he will realize I’m a human in disguise. The shadows and fears in his heart will vanish, and he will attack us with full force using his superior skills. Neither my third brother nor I can withstand that.”

Luo Mingyuan saw they didn’t answer and kept attacking silently. Frustrated, angry, and fearful, he could not fully exert his power, only defending himself without overcoming them.

Li Hao and Feng Jiezheng relied on the same two weapons, which could not harm him. Their fists, palms, and kicks required close contact to be effective, but Luo Mingyuan’s golden staff was a long weapon with refined and powerful techniques, preventing them from closing in, leaving them helpless for the moment.

Feng Jiezheng thought: This demon is tall and powerful, with formidable martial skills and a mighty golden staff. We can’t get close, so we must attack his legs. With this in mind, she immediately lay back on the ground and rolled toward Luo Mingyuan.

Luo Mingyuan had just swung his staff to fend off Li Hao’s close assault when he felt flames erupting from below, catching his robe on fire. He rolled on the ground, hastening his movement, and aimed to roll over Feng Jiezheng.

Seeing the massive figure rolling toward her, Feng Jiezheng suddenly executed a muddy leap, raising both legs and arching her back like an eel, leaping over a yard into the air.

Luo Mingyuan shouted, “The monk fights live ghosts now!” His golden staff flashed like lightning, striking fiercely toward the airborne Feng Jiezheng.

Feng Jiezheng, young and inexperienced in battle, thought: It’s over! I’ll die with regrets.

Just as Luo Mingyuan’s staff was about to strike Feng Jiezheng, a sharp “clang” echoed—a stone whizzed sharply and forcefully, striking the golden staff exactly and deflecting it.

Luo Mingyuan’s fingers tingled slightly. He thought, “A stone-thrower with considerable strength!” Standing tall, he scanned the area and was surprised to see another slender female ghost. He wondered: Is this a ghost lair? Otherwise, how could so many specters appear?

The masked figure who suddenly appeared to assist Feng Jiezheng was Meng Biyu, who had temporarily covered her face. Gao Yunxiang saw the gluttonous monk’s movements and guessed he was restrained by fear of ghosts, so he told Meng Biyu, “Big sister, third brother and fourth sister can’t handle the villain alone. We’re ready to join the fight.”

Meng Biyu said, “I’ll go out first.”

Gao Yunxiang warned, “Not yet—cover your face first so the demon can’t tell if you’re human or ghost. It’ll give us an edge.”

Meng Biyu quickly wrapped her face. Gao Yunxiang added, “One more thing—don’t speak. Communicate by gestures. If you talk about pretending to be ghosts, we’ll be exposed.”

Meng Biyu nodded, “Understood.”

Gao Yunxiang said, “Don’t fear the villain’s skill. I’ll disguise myself and appear to attack the gluttonous monk.”

Luo Mingyuan was shadowed by the specter’s presence. At first, he had tried to select only the spirits to fight, but could only muster about sixty percent of his power, so he couldn’t harm Li Hao and Feng Jiezheng.

Luo Mingyuan ordered his men to pile firewood and set the house ablaze. When the fire broke out, the inn’s staff smelled smoke and rushed to extinguish it, but the watching villains warned them off, forcing them to abandon their efforts and focus on preventing the fire from spreading to the front yard.

The guest room was a solitary, simple building, which soon burned completely and collapsed, leaving only the beams still smoldering.

Luo Mingyuan looked up at the sky and cursed, “Ghosts and demons vanish by dawn. Dawn is near, so for now, they can do nothing to me.”

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Meng Biyu wielded a treasured sword—especially an exquisite one that gleamed with dazzling cold light. Upon appearing, she launched the sect’s Nine Palaces Phantom Sword Technique, blending reality and illusion as she aggressively attacked Luo Mingyuan.

The gluttonous monk first dodged, carefully observing her swordplay to discern her sect or school. After several moves, he could not identify her origin. He thought: This is the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique—is she truly a female ghost? But she wields a fine genuine sword—do ghosts even use real swords?

Li Hao and Feng Jiezheng immediately joined the sword assault, flanking Luo Mingyuan from both sides in perfect coordination with their senior sister.

Luo Mingyuan, driven to anger, roared, “No matter if you’re human or ghost, I’ll show you the might of Luo Mingyuan!”

He was versed in all seventy-two martial arts of Famen Temple, mastering every one. His unleashed fury was like a mountain flood—terrifying and overwhelming.

In moments, Meng Biyu, her younger brother, and younger sister were all driven back step by step by Luo Mingyuan’s elusive golden staff.

Meng Biyu thought bitterly, “With only the three of us, we truly can’t handle this demon. Where is my second brother?”

Gao Yunxiang intimidated the disguised maid, “Do you want to die or live?”

The maid opened her striking black-and-white eyes and looked at Gao Yunxiang. On her alluring pale face was a calm, death-defying expression. Coldly she said, “Death? My heart is uneasy. Life? I have no strong desire for it.”

Gao Yunxiang blinked and asked, “Miss, do you bear an unfinished mission?”

The maid glanced at him, “You’re not stupid!”

Gao Yunxiang smiled faintly, “You have a wish unfulfilled but lack the ability to achieve it, don’t you?”

The maid replied coldly, “I said you’re not stupid.”

Gao Yunxiang said, “If not stupid, then intelligent, right?”

The maid replied indifferently, “Who said you’re smart? Don’t be arrogant.”

Gao Yunxiang said, “If I weren’t clever, I’d have long been a victim of your poison.”

The maid said, “Everyone must die—sooner or later makes no difference.”

Gao Yunxiang asked, “Among the four of us, who bears a grudge against you?”

She answered, “None.”

Gao Yunxiang, puzzled, said, “If no grudge, why poison us secretly?”

She coldly replied, “When a martial artist must die, a few unlucky souls must share the burden.”

Gao Yunxiang asked, “Who is the martial artist you say must die?”

She said, “You are not worthy to ask me.”

Gao Yunxiang said, “I won’t ask. Since you’re in my hands, I don’t wish to trouble you.”

The maid, icy as frost, said first, “Before dawn, you will all see the King of Hell. What is there to negotiate?”

Gao Yunxiang smiled, “Not necessarily.”

She said, “Can you talk your way out of the clutches of a martial arts demon?”

Gao Yunxiang asked, “Are you speaking of your sect leader?”

She answered, “Ming is my sect leader.”

Gao Yunxiang asked, “Then who is the dark one?”

She said, “My father’s murderer.”

Gao Yunxiang said, “I’m talking to you about dealing with your enemy.”

She said, “Though I treat you coldly, I distinguish clearly between friend and foe. When the house caught fire, you risked your life to save me. I cannot bear to see you die in the demon’s hands.”

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Gao Yunxiang said, “Martial skill is the way of nature; strategy is the path to victory.”

The maid agreed, “Indeed.”

Gao Yunxiang continued, “To gain, one must take risks.”

She pondered briefly, then said, “I’m willing to listen to your wise plan.”

Gao Yunxiang studied her and said, “Your speech is refined—you come from no ordinary family.”

She asked, “And your background?”

Gao Yunxiang smiled, “I belong to a scholarly family.”

She said, “My family background adds two more words to yours.”

Gao Yunxiang guessed, “A family of scholar-officials?”

She said, “Deservedly so.”

Gao Yunxiang asked, “How did you come to feud with my martial demon?”

Her beautiful eyes raised, “You shouldn’t ask now. Just tell me your plan. Delay any longer and you’ll make a grave mistake.”

Gao Yunxiang laughed, “So you agree to cooperate?”

She asked coldly, “Do you trust the words of a captive assassin?”

Gao Yunxiang said, “I willingly become the scapegoat.”

She curled her red lips disdainfully, “You undervalue your own life.”

Gao Yunxiang smiled, “My life is in your hands; life or death depends on you. I only ask that you tell me your name—that is my wish.”

She thought a moment, then said, “Yang Yifei.”

“Good, I’ll remember that.” Gao Yunxiang took a white cloth and wrapped her delicate body completely, then made holes for eyes, nose, and mouth. He also covered his own face, then tied Yang Yifei to his back like a mother carrying her child. When everything was ready, he said, “When fighting the demon, never speak.”

Yang Yifei replied calmly, “I’ll listen to you.”

Gao Yunxiang added, “When I engage him, you use hidden weapons. Do you have any?”

Yang Yifei answered, “I have mastered two: the embroidered clock ‘Heavenly Rain Scattering Flowers’ and the poisoned iron sand ‘Flying Rain All Around.’”

Gao Yunxiang asked, “Do you carry these hidden weapons now?”

Yang Yifei said, “They’re hidden in my left and right sleeves—unfound by that girl.”

Gao Yunxiang nodded, “Good. Luo Mingyuan, the gluttonous monk, is undeniably powerful. But if the two of us fight as one, with four limbs striking, he won’t be able to defend effectively.”

Yang Yifei playfully retorted, “Who said we’re one? Don’t beat around the bush. If you anger me, beware of a fierce palm strike to your crown.”

Gao Yunxiang said, “Alright, I misspoke. In a life-or-death fight, no tantrums allowed.”

Yang Yifei said, “I’m a noble lady’s maid—there’s a saying: ‘A tiger’s nature is hard to change.’ I can’t promise I won’t throw tantrums.”

Gao Yunxiang said calmly, “We share life and death. You decide if you accept that.”

Yang Yifei pressed her right index finger to Gao Yunxiang’s vital point and teased, “Who said we share life and death? If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll jab your head with this finger.”