Guarding the Prison for 100 Years, I Emerge to Overwhelm the Demon Venerable

Had these recent, massive disturbances resulted in any casualties, they wouldn’t have had the heart to come out at all.

Cui Yanliang and Jin Yunfeng flanked Qin Wuliang, strolling down the long street.

The two of them watched as Qin Wuliang ate his way from one end of the street to the other. They watched him haggle with merchants and vendors. They watched as, like some old mystic, he sized people and things up, debating with them until he was red in the face.

From the looks of it, he was just like any common city-dweller.

Scene after scene shattered the austere impression they had of him.

After all, they knew the Old Mansion Master’s character and reputation.

It was said that the Old Mansion Master was unflinchingly firm and domineering in his actions.

He would not answer a single follower who prayed for wealth. He would ignore anyone who was unfilial or wicked. Whether they were high-ranking officials of the Dayu Immortal Dynasty or powerful dignitaries, he treated them all the same.

No matter how much Incense they burned or how much money they offered, he paid them no mind.

Because of his example, most Daoists throughout the land who held a Yin Department Divine Position acted in a similar fashion.

While this was partly due to the strictures of the Yin Department Divine System, many were also simply following his lead.

"Ghosts and gods can eat, you know. It’s just that after consuming so much mortal Incense, everything loses its flavor."

"When the Venerable Lord was alive, there were many chefs in the Yin Department who could prepare some truly delicious meals."

"The Venerable Lord, First Brother, Second Brother... that tavern we loved to visit... we haven’t been back in a very, very long time..."

At one point, Qin Wuliang put down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and remarked with a sigh:

"This food may seem ordinary to you, but I haven’t eaten anything like it in thirty-six thousand, six hundred eighty years, four months, and thirteen days..."

Over thirty-six thousand years...

Cui Yanliang and Jin Yunfeng fell silent upon hearing this.

In their current state, they could neither comprehend such a vast expanse of time nor understand how he could have kept track of it down to the very day.

"Shopkeeper, the bill."

Qin Wuliang called out, slapping down a silver ingot—a rare occasion where he didn’t haggle.

Cui Yanliang and Jin Yunfeng obediently followed behind him.

But they soon realized he wasn’t heading toward the Gui Chen Sect Headquarters. Instead, it seemed he intended to leave the city.

"Old Mansion Master, where are you going?"

As they drew ever closer to the city gate, Cui Yanliang couldn’t help but ask:

"Weren’t you going to see my teacher?"

"I will have to see your teacher eventually..."

Qin Wuliang said faintly.

"But before that, there is someone else I wish to see..."

"Huh?"

Cui Yanliang faltered for a moment. Seeing that Qin Wuliang had already passed through the city gate, he could only hurry to catch up.

The great upheaval in the Capital City had not yet reached the gates. The soldiers stationed there held their sharp weapons and guarded their posts as they always did.

By now, the sky was growing dark and the gates were about to close. The soldiers paid the three of them no mind as they walked out.

Once outside the city gates, Qin Wuliang maintained his unhurried pace. With every step, he seemed to carefully examine every object he passed.

This caused Jin Yunfeng’s Heart Spirit to grow increasingly heavy.

The trio’s pace wasn’t particularly fast, but compared to an ordinary person, it was already extremely quick.

After a long while, with the full moon high in the sky, Cui Yanliang trudged through the snow and peered ahead into the cold wind.

He saw Qin Wuliang standing before a dilapidated temple on a desolate mountain.

Beneath the starry sky, the mountains were blanketed in snow. This desolate peak, located in the North Suburb outside the Capital City, was particularly bleak.

This was because the area was home to numerous mass graves.

In the distance, one could even see a lit funeral home.

Few people ever came here, so naturally, the temple received no Incense.

In fact, the temple was mostly destroyed; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a ruin.

All that remained inside was half a wall and half of a divine statue.

"This is..."

Jin Yunfeng had a guess.

Qin Wuliang stood before the ruined temple with his hands clasped behind his back. Starlight shrouded his body, and a nostalgic look appeared on his face.

"This is my temple. The one from before I became Feathered. It has been here for tens of thousands of years. If I hadn’t protected it with my True Qi Magical Power, perhaps not even these crumbling walls would still exist..."

"This is your temple?"

Cui Yanliang was astonished.

"Back then, this land was overrun with Demon Fiends and plagued by evil spirits. Various factions fought and killed one another, and the common people lived in misery. Even after the Venerable Lord burst onto the scene and eliminated countless monstrosities, there were times when men proved more terrifying than ghosts..."

"Marauders, mounted bandits, robbers, Evil Cultivators, Demon Cultivators... they all committed heinous acts and slaughtered with abandon. Wars erupted constantly, and countless people were left homeless and destitute..."

"I rose from humble beginnings back then. Relying on my meager Martial Arts skills, I managed to make a bit of a name for myself. I suppose you could say I served the local people well."

"After I died, the villagers from several towns and settlements built this temple for me..."

Qin Wuliang spoke slowly, lost in deep recollection.

"For protecting this land, I had accumulated some merit. The Venerable Lord took notice, led me to the Netherworld, and bestowed upon me a Yin Department Divine Position. This allowed me to be reborn and live a second life."

"However, being a Yin Spirit is no easy task, and people are forgetful. As the world gradually became peaceful, I was slowly forgotten..."

"I was lucky back then. I met the Venerable Lord, and thanks to his guidance, I followed him for many years as a mere Little Ghost..."

Cui Yanliang saw it clearly—as Qin Wuliang spoke that last sentence, an intense light suddenly blazed in his eyes.