Scripture of Days Past

”Brother Chu!” Hao Xiangtong called out.

Chu Qiguang turned around to face her, having already put on a fake smile.

This body of Chu Qiguang’s was actually younger than Hao Xiangtong, but his strength and leadership qualities made her instinctively feel as if he were older.

This brief stint of cultivation in the Daoist temple seemed to have done wonders for Hao Xiangtong, and her complexion was radiant.

She was dressed in a loose-fitting Daoist robe, with her hair pulled up into a bun. Her delicate features drew lingering glances even from the nearby Daoist attendants.

If she hadn’t been staying in the Daoist temple, Chu Qiguang was confident that she would have a lot of suitors pursuing her in Shu Province within a few months. However, he was far more interested in her potential than her beauty.

”How’ve things been going for you in the temple?” Chu Qiguang asked.

”Great,” Hao Xiangtong replied. ”Abbot Zhang has been really good to me. She taught me the Heavenly Master Religion’s meditation techniques, and I’m already close to reaching the third state in Dao arts.”

In stark contrast to the sheltered and withdrawn Lin Lan, Hao Xiangtong was confident, energetic, and outgoing. Even though she had only been at the temple for a short time, she had already made quite a few friends.

Furthermore, her personality greatly appealed to Zhang Fengyun. That, coupled with her outstanding aptitude, quickly earned her Zhang Fengyun’s approval.

”This is for you,” Chu Qiguang said as he handed Hao Xiangtong a basket of fruit.

He had asked one of the Daoist attendants for a basket.

Hao Xiangtong’s eyes instantly lit up at the sight of the gift.

”Did you go out to buy these for me?”

”I did,” Chu Qiguang replied with a nod.

Hao Xiangtong was deeply touched.

”You really shouldn’t have. It’s so dangerous outside right now. You shouldn’t put yourself at risk just to buy some fruit for me.”

”It’s worth it as long as you like it.”

Hao Xiangtong blushed slightly upon hearing this. She lowered her head to hide her flushed complexion, then said, ”I heard from the abbot that things are really dangerous in Shu Province right now, so I think we should devote more of our time and effort to cultivation.”

I don’t need you to tell me that, Chu Qiguang scoffed inwardly. Why would I come all the way to Shu Province if not to try to reach the Dao Comprehension state?

”Of course,” he replied. ”We need to be prepared for danger at all times.”

All of a sudden, a vibrant smile appeared on Hao Xiangtong’s face, and she asked, ”Can you tell me a story, Brother Chu?”

Chu Qiguang didn’t have anything better to do. He had already killed the Greed Demon, and he wouldn’t be able to make any further significant progress in the Sumeru King Scripture until he obtained the Vajra Laws.

With that in mind, he agreed to her request and began telling a story.

***

While Chu Qiguang was busy investing in his relationship stocks with Hao Xiangtong, news that the Greed Demon had been nailed to the entrance of the Ba Manor Daoist Temple began spreading like wildfire.

As one of the five scourges, the Greed Demon had terrorized Shu Province for many years, and news of his death quickly caused a massive stir.

In the eyes of many, the unceremonious act of nailing his body to the entrance of the Daoist temple was a blatant provocation against the Tribulation Religion.

That night, the Tribulation Religion took over a dilapidated courtyard in the south of the Ba Manor City.

The family who lived there had already been burned to ashes, their remains haphazardly scattered across the flowerbed.

The Rage Demon stood in the courtyard, accompanied by a rotund man seated on a chair and a handsome scholar.

The two men were the Ignorance Demon and the Desire Demon, respectively. At this moment, the three of them were gathered in a grim silence. Shortly afterward, a black-robed figure vaulted over the wall and landed in the courtyard, instantly drawing the attention of the three scourges.

”What the hell happened, Ning Chigong?” the Desire Demon asked coldly. ”Is the Greed Demon really dead?”

Ning Chigong didn’t bother lowering his hood, so his facial features remained concealed as he replied, ”The Greed Demon fell prey to an ambush from the Demon Vanquishing Department. After he was killed, he was nailed to the entrance of the Heavenly Master Religion’s Daoist temple.”

”How did the Greed Demon fall prey to an ambush out of the blue? You didn’t have anything to do with it, did you?” the Rage Demon asked.

”How could this have anything to do with me?” Ning Chigong snapped. ”If I had betrayed him, wouldn’t he have exposed me to the Demon Vanquishing Department before he died?”

The Rage Demon reluctantly accepted his explanation, then said, ”We still haven’t recovered the demon that resided in the Hatred Demon’s body, and now, the Greed Demon is dead as well. If we fail to recover both demons, all of us will be punished.”

The Ignorance Demon and the Desire Demon collectively shuddered at the thought of being punished by Li Yaofeng.

”At the very least, we must recover the demon in the Greed Demon’s body!”