I Grind to Martial Saint

”On the night Luo Bing was married... he died a violent death...”

”Madam Luo and the new bride, who had just entered the family, didn’t survive either.”

”And from that night on... the torrential rain has never stopped, just like it is now.”

Zhang Cang slowly let out a cloudy breath.

After listening, Huang Xian’Er sneered. ”Needless to say, this Wu Lian was murdered by Luo Bing and Madam Luo. Then, Wu Lian transformed into an Evil Spirit to come back for revenge.”

As a Demon Exterminator, she had handled similar cases.

Besides, Zhang Cang’s story was so complete that she figured it out immediately.

”More or less...” Zhang Cang nodded.

”Then what’s the connection between Wu Lian and the torrential rain?” Han Yuan couldn’t help but ask.

Zhang Cang took a deep breath. ”That’s what happened next.”

”After Wu Lian wiped out the Luo Family, the torrential rain never stopped, falling for more than half a month.”

”Back then, Cangshui County Town was just like it is now, on the brink of a devastating flood that would destroy countless lives.”

”But at that time, a great master sensed that this rain was no ordinary storm.”

”This master’s name was Master Xuanye, a recluse living in the Wind and Thunder Temple out in the wilds.”

”After some investigation, Daoist Xuanlei found his way to the Luo Family home. He immediately felt that Wu Lian’s resentment was unusually profound.”

”Following the remnants of Wu Lian’s resentment, he traced it all the way to the Cangjiang River.”

”He guessed that after Luo Bing murdered Wu Lian, he must have sunk her body into the river.”

”Wu Lian had already died full of hatred, murdered by her own loved one. Sunk into the river, never to be reincarnated, her resentment was truly monstrous.”

”But Daoist Xuanlei felt that there might be something else beneath the river’s surface... something that caused Wu Lian to become so terrifying that she could even influence the weather.”

”For the sake of all living beings, after making his preparations, he dove into the river, intending to vanquish Wu Lian’s Resentful Soul.”

”But Daoist Xuanlei still underestimated the power of Wu Lian’s resentment... Even with his superb Cultivation, in the end, he could only seal her away. He himself was gravely injured, and after returning to the Wind and Thunder Temple, his wounds never healed, and he passed from this world.”

After hearing the story, Huang Xian’Er and Han Yuan were silent for a long time.

They had never imagined that this storm was caused by an event from a century ago.

Han Yuan took a deep breath. ”So, you’re saying this torrential rain is because Wu Lian’s Resentful Soul is acting up again?”

Zhang Cang nodded. ”That’s right. Daoist Xuanlei only sealed Wu Lian’s Resentful Soul; he didn’t destroy it completely. The seal must be weakening now, which is causing the ceaseless rain.”

Han Yuan looked at Zhang Cang and asked seriously, ”And you? How do you know all this...? Does it have something to do with that nightmare?”

”Yes... It must have been a lingering trace of Daoist Xuanlei’s will that sent me a dream.”

”Inside the Wind and Thunder Temple, I also received his legacy and some of his memories, which is how I learned the full story.”

Zhang Cang said in a low voice.

”There are so many people in Cangshui County Town. Why did it choose you, of all people?”

Huang Xian’Er was a little puzzled.

”That, I don’t know.”

Zhang Cang couldn’t explain it either.

”Let’s not worry about that for now.”

”The most important thing right now is to confirm whether this story about Wu Lian is true.”

”You know, we don’t have much time left.”

Han Yuan’s expression was grave.

According to Wen Zhiyuan’s earlier estimate, the dikes would only hold for another three days.

And now, a day had already passed.

That meant they only had two days left.

”Han Yuan... you really believe him?” Huang Xian’Er hesitated for a moment before speaking.

”Why not?”

Han Yuan smiled, then looked at Zhang Cang. ”Let’s go to the Observatory first and find someone.”

”Alright!” Zhang Cang nodded.

The two of them left Lingcang Medical Hall again, braving the torrential rain.

”Can’t we rest for a bit?”

Huang Xian’Er grumbled, but followed them out anyway.

The person Han Yuan wanted to find was, in fact, Old Yan.

The case was so strange, it was only natural to bring one of the Abnormal People along to have a look.

After returning to the Observatory, Han Yuan had a Black Death Guard lead the way, and they soon arrived in front of Old Yan’s room.

POUND POUND POUND~~

Han Yuan, naturally, didn’t stand on ceremony and pounded directly on the door.

”Who is it...”

”Waking an old man up in the middle of the night! You’ll be struck by lightning for this!”

An annoyed voice came from inside the room.

”It’s me.”

Han Yuan said coolly.

CREAK!

The next second, the wooden door opened.

Old Yan was all smiles. ”So it’s Director Han! To what do I owe this late-night visit? Forgive me for not giving you a proper welcome.”

”I need you for something. Come with me.”

Han Yuan said softly.

Old Yan hesitated. ”Director Han, it’s raining so hard, and it’s still so dark. Why don’t we wait until the weather’s a bit better?”

Han Yuan couldn’t be bothered to waste words on the old slicker. He wrapped his right arm directly around Old Yan’s neck. ”No need. Come with me first. I’ll explain the details on the way.”

”Well, I should at least bring my gear,” Old Yan said hurriedly.

Seeing how determined Han Yuan was, he knew he couldn’t get out of it tonight.

”Hurry up,” Han Yuan said with a wave of his hand.

Old Yan nodded, went back into his room to grab his Dharma Artifacts and some Spirit Talismans, then left with Han Yuan and the others.

On the way, Zhang Cang recounted the story of Wu Lian.

After listening, Old Yan sucked in a cold breath.

”Fellow Daoist Zhang, what was this Senior Master Xuanye’s Cultivation?”

Zhang Cang thought for a moment. ”According to the inherited memories I just received... Daoist Xuanlei was probably a Seven Spirits Realm Abnormal Person.”

”An Evil Spirit that even a Seven Spirits Realm Abnormal Person couldn’t handle!”

”That must be a Blood Soul Evil!”

”Director Han, we shouldn’t be going there! We should be running away!”

Old Yan said frantically.

”What’s there to be afraid of? I’m here.”

”It’s been sealed for so many years. Its power has probably dwindled.”

”Come with me and take a look first.”

Han Yuan was unmoved.

Clearly, he was determined to go check out the Cangjiang River.

”Fine... Who am I to argue with the Director?”

”But let’s get this straight: if things go south, this old man is running first.”

Old Yan said.

”We’ll see.”

Han Yuan said flatly.

Old Yan sighed helplessly.

The four of them headed out of the city, braving the heavy rain.

Following Master Xuanye’s memory, Zhang Cang led them to the bank of the Cangshui River, several miles from Sanshui Village.

The river was exceptionally turbulent, surging powerfully, like a thousand warhorses stampeding.

”If the dikes really break... I’m afraid the entire Cangshui County Town will be destroyed.”

Old Yan couldn’t help but sigh at the sight.

”It’ll be fine once we take care of Wu Lian.”

”Old Yan, you check first. See if it’s really an Evil Spirit influencing the weather.”

Han Yuan said gravely.

”Mm.”

Old Yan nodded.

He took out a yellow Spirit Talisman, channeled a bit of power into it, and threw it into the Cangjiang River.

POP~

The Spirit Talisman suddenly turned into a ball of fire and exploded.

”What’s going on?”

Han Yuan asked with a frown.

”I don’t know either...”

Even Old Yan had never encountered a situation like this.

’This is my Spirit-Searching Talisman. If there’s resentment energy, Yin Qi, or Death Qi, it’s supposed to turn red. But it’s never just exploded before.’