Chapter Fourteen: The Demon Revealed

(The protagonist has entered the top three; the masters are truly formidable! Will there be further progress next week?)

A sharp, sudden ringing split the air, the grating sound drumming painfully against the eardrums. Not only did Peach Blossom fall silent, but even the frenzied Wang Fu was instantly subdued, as if struck by a thunderous command. His bloodshot eyes widened, staring at the calm and stern Chen Jianchen as though seeing him for the first time, a nameless panic and dread stirring within his heart.

What was happening? What on earth had just occurred?

His heart pounded wildly, as if it might leap from his chest.

“Brother Futai, take a good look at your Peach Blossom—see how beautiful and virtuous she appears!” Chen Jianchen’s voice was steady and resolute. In this critical moment, the young man was remarkably clear-headed and composed, showing not the slightest sign of panic.

Obediently, Wang Fu looked over and beheld a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life—

Peach Blossom stood some thirty feet away, hesitating to approach. Her wide, apricot-shaped eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Chen Jianchen, her expression shifting uncertainly, clearly not normal, a complex mix of shock, fear, and resentment playing across her features.

Several times she seemed about to pounce, only to stop short. After a moment, she suddenly ground out through clenched teeth, “This bell has betrayed me; with no master present, what do I have to fear? I shall feast on the hearts of you both before I go!”

With that, Peach Blossom extended her ten fingers, and in an instant, razor-sharp black nails burst forth from her fingertips. She raised her hand and, with a swift motion, slashed down from her brow, the sound of tearing flesh sharp in the air. With a brutal tug, she peeled away a layer of human skin that draped her body. Letting out a monstrous roar, she revealed her true form—a demon ape with a bluish face and tusks, eyes glowing like lanterns, jagged fangs protruding half a foot beyond her lips.

“Ah!” Wang Fu was scared out of his wits, a jolt running through his groin as the stench of fear filled the air—he had wet himself in terror.

Chen Jianchen released him, and Wang Fu instantly collapsed to the ground, limp as a puddle of mud, his whole body convulsing, unable even to move a finger, froth spilling from his mouth—though he had not quite fainted.

Roar!

The demon ape, consumed with rage, lunged forward.

At that moment, Chen Jianchen was in fact deeply tense, cold sweat breaking out along his back, unable to react in time. The bell, which had been tucked in his robes, spun into the air of its own accord, suspended midair as faint golden light shot from its surface like watchful eyes, piercing toward the demon.

Sizzle!

The golden light struck flesh like blades.

Wounded, the demon ape’s body oozed green blood, but it was ferocious still, refusing to retreat. It hurled itself forward, determined to tear Chen Jianchen to pieces.

“Wang Fu has doomed me!” As the demon’s murderous wind swept closer, Chen Jianchen cursed inwardly. At this moment of life and death, his body tensed, and he leapt nimbly backward, barely dodging the attack. Thankfully, times had changed; with his old, frail body, he would surely have been paralyzed with fear, a helpless victim beneath the demon’s claws.

Buzz!

The demon’s fury was unmatched, the bell spinning ever faster. Suddenly, its golden light flared, arcane symbols surfacing and flowing across its surface like rippling water. In a flash, the bell became a shooting star, crashing straight into the demon.

Boom!

A thunderous crash resounded. The demon shrieked in agony as half its massive body was shattered into fragments, flesh and blood scattering everywhere. Yet it did not die—its feet pounded the earth, and with a twitch, its mutilated form burrowed underground. In the blink of an eye, a trail of churning soil snaked northward, vanishing swiftly from sight.

Earth-escape!

With a dull thud, the bell’s golden light faded. It dropped to the ground, dull and lifeless.

Chen Jianchen exhaled deeply, hurried to retrieve the bell, and discovered several cracks marring its surface—a large swath was fractured. The artifact showed unmistakable signs of being ruined.

Impossible…

Chen Jianchen was deeply unsettled. Only now did the fear truly strike him—if the bell had failed to restrain the demon, would he not have lost his life on the spot?

His original plan had been to avoid danger as much as possible, since friend and foe were still unclear; caution was essential. But Wang Fu had unexpectedly brought Peach Blossom back, triggering a sudden crisis and throwing all plans into chaos—well beyond Chen Jianchen’s control.

He carefully collected the shed human skin left by the demon and, glancing toward the direction of its escape, then back at the seemingly petrified Wang Fu, said with a leisurely air, “A night as husband and wife, a hundred days of kindness. Brother Futai, I imagine Peach Blossom will surely return for you.”

“Liuxian, Liuxian, save me!” Wang Fu, finally regaining his senses, crawled over in a panic and clung to Chen Jianchen’s left leg.

Chen Jianchen smiled wryly. “Brother Futai, weren’t you just about to sever ties with me?”

Wang Fu’s face was ashen, tears, snot, and saliva streaming down. “Liuxian, I was blind and foolish…”

Seeing his pitiful state, Chen Jianchen felt both exasperated and amused. “So, are you saying you’ll do exactly as I say from now on?”

“I will, I absolutely will!” Having witnessed the demon’s true form, Wang Fu was utterly terrified—had his nerves been weaker, he might already have fainted. Now, he clung to Chen Jianchen as his sole lifeline, worshiping him as a savior. If Chen Jianchen told him to eat dirt, he’d believe it was for his own good.

“A teachable child, indeed,” Chen Jianchen remarked, helping Wang Fu to his feet. Once the latter had calmed somewhat, he instructed him not to breathe a word of this to anyone. He was to return home, lock himself in, devote himself to study, and await further orders—not setting foot outside his room.

Wang Fu nodded vigorously, agreeing to everything, clutching Chen Jianchen’s hand with tear-filled eyes. “Liuxian, you are a good man.”

Chen Jianchen pulled free with a shiver. Inwardly, he thought, I try to do good and nearly lost my life for it—truly, it’s hard to be a good person in this world…

After a brief rest, the two returned to the Wang household. Unable to refuse their hospitality, Chen Jianchen stayed for lunch. Thankfully, propriety kept him from having to share a table with the Wang family’s eldest daughter.

After the meal, Chen Jianchen borrowed Wang Fu’s brush and ink, wrote a calligraphic “Blessing” character to present to the Wang patriarch, and then took his leave. At the gate, Wang Fu secretly pressed two silver ingots into his hand.

Chen Jianchen accepted them with a smile and no false modesty.

Now, however, he felt somewhat uneasy. What should his next step be? Ideally, Daoist Qingyun would arrive soon and resolve the matter himself.

The demon was wounded but had escaped—no one knew if it might return for revenge. Leaving it at large was a lingering threat.

After Chen Jianchen departed, Wang Fu immediately announced at home, “I must begin preparing for the provincial exams ahead of schedule! From this day forward, I will eat bitterness and study diligently; to show my resolve, I will conduct all matters in my study and not take a single step outside.”

This unprecedented declaration stunned and delighted the Wang patriarch. Perhaps, he thought, it was Chen Jianchen’s influence that had turned his son from his wayward path?

If so, what an excellent son-in-law he would make…

The patriarch’s eyes lit up. This matter must be settled quickly—he couldn’t let anyone else snatch up such a prospect. With a dowry of ten thousand taels, he was sure the Chen family would be tempted. Yes, he thought smugly, let’s see them refuse!