Chapter 47: The Forbidden Path?

Yunhua was not keen on dealing with strangers, especially uninvited ones in such a remote and desolate mountain area. Suppressing the urge to leave immediately, she offered a polite bow and said, “Blessings to the Supreme Heavenly Lord,” but refrained from revealing her identity, clearly reluctant to engage with the two men before her. A vague premonition told her that these two Taoist priests might bring trouble. She stowed away her golden coin sword and talismans, preparing to depart.

The young Taoist standing beside the elder priest stared unwaveringly into Yunhua’s eyes. Perhaps she was not the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, but she possessed the most ethereal, fairy-like aura. No matter how exquisite other beauties might be, beside Yunhua, they were mere mortals tainted by worldly dust. None could compare to this heavenly maiden before him.

The young disciple’s fixed gaze was not lost on the elder Taoist. However, without knowing Yunhua’s background, it would be reckless to offend her. Though the girl’s attire was plain, the golden coin sword she wielded had clearly been consecrated by a master, its white radiance faint but undeniable, capable of overshadowing the elder’s own sword, which was no more than a common weapon. The talismans she produced were evidently beyond the skill of ordinary people. Even the fox perched upon her shoulder was no mere animal; faint Taoist energy emanated from the creature, yet the girl cradled it like a pet. Fox Spirit’s innocence aside, it was clear this girl was extraordinary and apparently highly regarded by her sect. It was not a matter to be handled lightly. It might be better to befriend her and uncover the truth gradually. Although her Taoist skills seemed to be guided by a master, her worldly experience could not be replaced by her teacher. Was there any real fear of being outmatched by a mere girl?

“Young Taoist, please wait!” The elder priest blocked Yunhua’s path.

Her expression darkened. What business did these two have with her? Why block her way? Were their intentions sinister? With a wave of her right hand, the golden coin sword materialized in her grasp. Taking a step back, she crossed the sword before her chest and asked, “What matter do you have with me, fellow Taoists?”

Yunhua’s display startled the two priests. As disciples of the orthodox Maoshan sect, they could immediately discern the difference between folk tricks and true Taoist arts. They might be adept at exorcisms or drawing talismans, and perhaps knew some simple illusions, but conjuring a sword from thin air as Yunhua did was beyond their reach. To be frank, the Five Thunder technique she had used earlier relied on the power of talismans and was mainly for intimidation; if the old ghosts hadn’t been caught off guard fleeing for their lives, the two Maoshan men would not have dispersed them so easily. As for their own Taoist skills, it was uncertain how much they truly possessed. Perhaps the Maoshan sect indeed had genuine Taoist teachings, but mastery was not universal, no matter how prestigious their lineage or status.

The elder Taoist shook his head, discreetly nudging his disciple before speaking, “Fellow Taoists throughout the world are kin. I see your cultivation is considerable, young Taoist. May I ask which sect you hail from? I myself have some modest achievements in talisman arts and would be honored to see yours.”

Yunhua trusted them only superficially, but it was unwise to offend them outright. Regardless of whether she had been suspected of stealing their prey, on the surface they had helped her. She nodded, “My master cultivates on Mount Qingcheng. As for talismans, I do possess some, but all are drawn by my master. Without permission, I dare not share them.” After speaking, she turned to leave.

At that moment, the young Taoist suddenly came to his senses and, ignoring all decorum, grabbed at Yunhua’s sleeve. Yunhua’s face darkened drastically, and even the elder priest looked displeased. He had always known his disciple to be a reckless playboy who couldn’t resist a beautiful woman, but such blatant disrespect was a disgrace to Maoshan’s Supreme Sect. Embarrassed, the elder swiftly pulled his disciple’s hand away, preparing to apologize to Yunhua.

Unexpectedly, Yunhua’s expression suddenly shifted with fierce anger. “How outrageous!” she exclaimed, then surged upward into the air, paying no heed to the two Maoshan priests. In the blink of an eye, she vanished without a trace, leaving the two men dumbfounded, hardly believing their eyes. The elder’s eyes shone brightly. “A celestial destiny, a celestial destiny!” he exclaimed, deeply moved.

He recalled his own lifelong dedication to the Tao, decades of arduous cultivation with hopes of eventual transcendence. Only after joining his sect did he realize how rare true immortals were nowadays. Despite years in the mountains and exposure to countless talismans and Maoshan magic, he had never witnessed anyone truly capable of flight. The cold extinguishing of his hope left him resigned to relying on worldly skills to seek wealth and status. Otherwise, why would he have accepted such a noble yet wayward disciple and traveled so far with him?

Yunhua’s fury stemmed from sensing that the mark she had left on the joss paper had been erased. That seal bore her master’s sacred imprint, not something ordinary could destroy. Coupled with the encounter with the old ghosts earlier, the situation became clear: the two mischievous siblings must be in grave trouble. Fuming, she disregarded her incomplete cultivation, forcefully summoned spiritual energy, and employed her flying technique. In moments, she arrived at the scene of the incident.

No ghostly figure was in sight. Just as she was about to leave, a faint voice emerged from the grass, “Is that you, Big Sister?”

Following the sound, Yunhua saw a timid young female ghost crawling out of the earth. Perhaps sensing Yunhua’s aura, she hesitated upon seeing her plain attire but, desperate, pushed aside caution. “Big Sister, can you help rescue my brother? He... he was captured by an evil Taoist.”

Yunhua, having endured many trials, could not bear to see a young girl bullied. Seeing the ghost’s pitiful state ignited a fierce resolve within her. She quickly sealed the little ghost inside her wooden doll companion and followed the direction indicated, pursuing swiftly. Finally, dozens of miles away in a small, remote town, she detected the boy ghost’s presence.

It was a humble, secluded courtyard with no sign of living people nearby. Yet many lingering spirits hovered about. Who was the Taoist residing here, collecting so many souls and imprisoning a young ghost? Yunhua felt uneasy. Her master had warned that orthodox Taoism was in decline, allowing dark arts to flourish. Perhaps the captor was an evil sorcerer.

Cautious, Yunhua concealed herself with a spiritual talisman and crept closer to observe.

Entering the dilapidated courtyard, she was immediately overwhelmed by oppressive yin energy. How could anyone live here, immune to the draining effects of sunlight and the corrosive power of darkness? The yard was small and rundown, with layers of fallen leaves, scattered broken bricks, and rampant weeds. The nearest human dwellings were dozens of meters away. The palpable ghostly aura deterred local villagers from approaching. This was a cursed place.

In the center stood a gnarled white poplar tree, known among spirits as the “Ghost Clapper.” No living person would call this home.

Gently calming her restless wooden doll, signaling it to remain still, Yunhua cautiously entered the main hall of the courtyard.