Volume Two: A Season of Turmoil Chapter 103: The Sole Concern, Finally Released

“No, please don’t kill my sister. We have never harmed good people. Those men—they deserved their fate.” Yang Chengzi’s expression was cold. “Who decides who deserves to die? Even if you didn’t kill anyone, your sister is a seductive demon, and I am a Taoist priest of Maoshan. Today, her soul is bound to be scattered to the winds.”

“No, I beg you! My sister’s life has been full of suffering. Becoming a demon was her last resort. If anyone must die, let it be me. I am willing to trade my life for hers. Please, spare her!”

“You are human; she is a demon. Humans and demons walk separate paths. Demons are evil and will surely wreak havoc in the future. Get away.” With that, he raised his foot and kicked the madam who clung to his leg, sending her crashing into the wall.

The madam desperately clutched the jar in her hands. Without support, she fell heavily to the ground, unable to rise.

Just as Yang Chengzi leaned forward to snatch the jar from her grasp—

“Boom!” A surge of pure demonic energy burst forth from the jar, striking his third eye. The blood seal on his brow vanished instantly; his spirit was swiftly corrupted by the demonic aura, plunging him into a hallucinatory trance.

“Clang!” The Supreme Clarity Sword slipped from Yang Chengzi’s hand and fell to the floor. He collapsed onto his knees, head bowed before the madam as if struck unconscious.

“Kill them with the sword! No man is good,” the demon’s soul appeared beside the madam again. She hesitated. “But…”

“If you don’t kill them, your sister’s soul will be scattered. Do you know what that means?”

Seeing the madam’s terrified, frantic gaze, the demon continued, “Soul scattering means no chance for reincarnation. Is that what you wish to see?”

“No, sister, I don’t want you to be lost forever. Father and mother left us early; you are my only bond. I cannot lose you too. I will kill—I will kill.”

The madam frantically picked up the Supreme Clarity Sword from the ground, glancing at Yang Chengzi and Chen San lying there. Her voice trembled with tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to kill you, but you are killing my sister. If there is another life, I will serve you for three lifetimes to repay your two lives.” With that, she stabbed the sword downward into Yang Chengzi’s back.

A sudden wave of panic swept through Chen San. He drew a deep breath and instantly regained clarity. A dazzling flash crossed his eyes. The Supreme Clarity Sword was raised high and thrust toward Yang Chengzi, accompanied by a swift kick.

“Clang!”

The sword’s tip grazed Yang Chengzi’s back and flew out. Chen San’s kick struck the madam’s hand. Though a frail woman, she was knocked against the wall, collapsing into a seated position.

Without hesitation, Chen San grabbed the black jar the madam had set aside and raised his hand to smash it.

The madam lunged, clutching Chen San’s leg. “No, no, please don’t—”

Nearby, the demon gathered its aura to trap Chen San in illusion again. But at the moment their eyes met, the demonic energy dissipated instantly, the demon’s spirit dimming with fear.

“Smash!” The black jar shattered into fragments. A heart, oozing black viscous liquid, throbbed on the floor as if freshly ripped from a living body. Not only the madam, but the demon was thrown into panic.

“No, no, please don’t.” The desperate pleas echoed with a longing for the mortal world.

Chen San picked up the Supreme Clarity Sword and without turning, plunged it into the pulsating heart.

Though the sword had grown cold, the moment it pierced the heart, the Great Dipper incantation engraved on the blade flared with searing light. Before the madam could pull out the sword, only a pool of black slime remained on the floor.

The demon offered no resistance, seeming to find relief. Its form faded, smiling faintly at Tao Ye.

“No, no, sister, don’t go! Don’t leave!” Tao Ye, frantic, reached for the dissipating soul crystal of the demon, but only met endless despair and sorrow.

The soul crystal vanished; Tao Hua’s evil spell was broken, her soul scattered. All that remained was that faint smile.

“No, no.” The two agonized cries tore through the heart, yet even those sounds could not express Tao Ye’s pain—the pain of losing the only bond she had in this world.

Her sobs echoed through the room. Her trembling hands tried to gather the shattered pieces of the jar but could not bring herself to.

Her jet-black hair instantly turned white.

“Plop.” Like Yang Chengzi, Chen San collapsed onto the ground, unconscious and motionless.

Heartbroken, Tao Ye gripped a shard of the jar tightly.

“I have no more attachments in this world. May my sister and I never again suffer the torment of being reborn as mortals.”

She removed the hairpin from her head. By now, the demon’s aura had completely vanished. Yang Chengzi’s spirit had cleared; his consciousness gradually returned. Looking up, he saw Tao Ye raise the hairpin and stab into her chest.

“No!” Yang Chengzi reached to stop her, but it was too late. Before he could rise, Tao Ye, her hair fully white, collapsed.

He lifted her into his arms. “Why do this? Your sister wouldn’t want to see you like this.”

“I… I miss my sister…” Her voice faded.

Though her eyes closed, Tao Ye smiled softly, as if freed from suffering.

Yang Chengzi shook his head, gazing at the shattered jar and the blood-stained Supreme Clarity Sword. Though he did not fully understand what had transpired, the demonic aura was gone, the seductive demon’s soul scattered. But Tao Ye was dead.

In that moment, Yang Chengzi wondered if he had been wrong to come here.

His thoughts swirled. Looking at Tao Ye’s white hair in his arms, he stood in silence, powerless to help her. All he could do was perform a proper rite to send her spirit on, hoping that in the next life they might meet again and continue their bond.

Before dawn, the officials arrived—not because they had discovered anything, but because with the demon’s aura dissipated, the women trapped in illusions at Tianxiang Courtesan House and Turtle Elder had awakened.

Upon waking, Turtle Elder immediately sought the latrine. But upon stepping outside, he was stunned by the broken door and windows. Inside, bodies lay scattered in disarray. Terrified, he fled without using the latrine and reported to the authorities.

Because it was still early, the officials were nearly beaten by the townsfolk. After a long wait, the chief constable finally arrived with several officers at Tianxiang Courtesan House.

At that time, Yang Chengzi was still performing rites for Tao Ye and the madam. His body glowed faintly golden; his long hair flowed. He wore the thin silk gown of a courtesan, back turned to the officials. Turtle Elder and the constables were too frightened to approach.

They wondered if they had seen a ghost in the night. But Yang Chengzi remained still. Thinking that ghosts fear the dawn, they waited until morning, nearly falling asleep.

At first light, Yang Chengzi stood.

Turtle Elder, seeing him move, hurriedly nudged the drowsy constables awake. They swallowed hard, eyes fixed on Yang Chengzi.

When he turned, Turtle Elder’s eyes widened. “Chun’er? Is that you? What are you doing here, Chun’er?”

Yang Chengzi stepped outside and addressed them. “I am a Taoist priest of Maoshan, disguised here as a courtesan to hunt a seductive demon. She appeared last night and we slew her.”

A man’s voice emerged from Chun’er’s mouth. Turtle Elder trembled with fear. How could it be a man? Chun’er and Dong’er were delicate women—he had enjoyed their company himself. How could this be possible?

“You—you’re clearly a woman. How can you be a man? Constable, this is a courtesan from Tianxiang House. This—this must be possession by a ghost!”

The constables backed away, frightened by the mention of possession. Yang Chengzi said nothing, watching them tremble and ready to flee.

When they regained composure, he explained, “It’s merely an illusion, nothing to be alarmed about. However, why don’t you tell the constables about forcing innocent women into prostitution at Tianxiang House?”

“Forcing women into prostitution? Is that true?” The lead constable looked at Turtle Elder.

Turtle Elder, already frightened, knelt down at the constable’s stern glare. “I—I was confused, just a moment of foolishness!”

The constable was puzzled. “Are you human or ghost? If human, come with us to the magistrate’s office. Are the others dead?”

“The madam is dead, the others alive. I will come with you, but my friend must come too.”

“Which friend?”

“The one on the ground in the floral dress. He’s a man too, but passed out during the fight with the demon. He may awaken at the office.”

“Of course you’ll come. Even if you hadn’t said, we’d have brought him along. If there’s nothing else, follow us. You claim to be a Maoshan priest; true or not, we won’t chain you. But you…” The constable glared fiercely at Turtle Elder. “Forcing women into prostitution? Are you tired of living and seeking death? Shackles!”

Turtle Elder, terrified, collapsed weakly. Two constables hauled him up and shackled his hands and feet. He went silent, as if dead.