Chapter 26: Astonishing Speed
“Senior Brother Xiao, greetings. I am Vajra of the Great Strength Sect. It is truly an honour to join forces with a disciple from such a renowned lineage to eliminate demons.”
Vajra stood before Xiao Yu, his eyes brimming with admiration.
“Greetings,” Xiao Yu replied with a polite smile as a faint glow lit his eyes.
With the aid of the Spirit Vision Technique, he scrutinised Vajra’s cultivation level. It beca imdiately apparent that Vajra was rely at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishnt. However, judging by his robust physique, it seed he had also trained in external techniques, which likely augnted his actual combat prowess.
“Senior Brother Xiao, I am Zhang Fanchén of the Zhuxian Sect. It’s a pleasure to et you.”
Zhang Fanchén approached and introduced himself as well.
“The pleasure is mine.”
Xiao Yu smiled and nodded, his gaze naturally falling on the fire-poker Zhang clutched. Unable to resist, he remarked, “Junior Brother Zhang’s treasure is indeed unique. Its power must be formidable.”
“Senior Brother Xiao, you jest.”
Zhang Fanchén flushed with embarrassnt and quickly stowed the fire-poker in his robes, as though hiding it might save him from disgrace. The cool sensation of the rod against his body spread a soothing comfort through him.
Before long, evening descended, and a waxing crescent moon rose into the night sky.
Led by the village chief, Xiao Yu and the others arrived at the ho of a local gentleman to dine and discuss their strategy. The al itself was secondary to the planning.
“Senior Brother Xiao, the food here is excellent. Won’t you have so?” Vajra asked as he filled a massive bowl for himself.
“No, thank you.”
Xiao Yu shook his head lightly.
Having reached the Golden Core stage, he had long since transcended the need for ordinary sustenance, relying instead on spiritual stones and elixirs to replenish his energy and maintain his tabolism.
“I’m full,” Zhang Fanchén declared, setting down his chopsticks.
At his early Foundation Establishnt stage, he still required food for nourishnt.
“Well, if you’re both done, I’ll just finish the rest.”
Vajra unabashedly seized the serving bowl, wielding the ladle like chopsticks, and devoured the contents with astonishing gusto.
Practitioners of external martial arts often relied on copious amounts of food to sustain their energy, and Vajra’s appetite was nothing short of monstrous.
“That’s incredible!”
Zhang Fanchén clicked his tongue as Vajra emptied the massive bowl. The village chief and the gentleman, standing by the wall, were equally dumbfounded by his ravenous display.
Bang!
Vajra set the now-empty bowl on the table with such force that it wobbled precariously.
“Senior Brother Xiao, Junior Brother Zhang, what’s the plan for tonight’s demon hunt?”
Zhang Fanchén, looking utterly clueless, shook his head.
Back on the Bamboo Peak, his duties had been limited to lighting fires and cooking. While his culinary skills were unparalleled, his experience in slaying demons and monsters was non-existent.
“The chief ntioned that the demon cos to the town every night,” Xiao Yu began, his voice resonant across the dining hall. “We might as well lie in wait here and ambush it when it appears.”
“That’s a solid plan!” Vajra imdiately agreed.
“I think it could work,” Zhang Fanchén chid in, nodding.
With that, Xiao Yu assigned roles: Zhang Fanchén would guard the town’s eastern entrance, Vajra the western, while he himself would watch over the northern and southern boundaries.
The tasks quickly decided, the trio ard themselves with their respective artefacts and moved to their positions.
Xiao Yu soared on his flying sword, concealing himself among the clouds. His star-like eyes surveyed the town below, patiently awaiting the demon’s arrival.
Ti crawled by, and soon it was the latter half of the night—the hour when most would be at their drowsiest.
A figure, dressed in flowing white garnts, drifted into the town with the wind. It was a bewitching fox spirit, who stealthily entered a farr’s cowshed. Monts later, she transford into a black whirlwind, sweeping up a yellow ox and ascending rapidly toward the northwestern skies.
[Fox Spirit (狐妖, Húyāo): A common creature in Chinese folklore, often depicted as a seductive and cunning being capable of magical transformations.]
Zhang Fanchén, stationed at the eastern gate, imdiately noticed the theft of the livestock. He mounted his fire-poker and gave chase.
“Demon! Stop right there!”
However, Zhang Fanchén’s rudintary command of flying sword techniques left him trailing pitifully behind. His slow speed made it impossible to catch the fox spirit.
Yet, his resolve was unshakable. Refusing to give up, he pursued relentlessly, soon leaving the town behind.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a streak of cyan light zipped past him like lightning, cutting through the darkness with terrifying speed. The accompanying gust stung his face like needles.
“So fast!”
Zhang Fanchén was taken aback, barely able to discern Xiao Yu’s silhouette in the dazzling light.
As expected of Tianyong City’s senior disciple, his mastery of techniques far surpassed Zhang Fanchén’s.
“Junior Brother Zhang, I’m here!”
A booming voice suddenly rang out from behind.
It could only be Vajra, who had undoubtedly noticed the fox spirit as well. Ard with his massive spiked mace, he charged forward to provide reinforcents.
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