Chapter Thirty-Six: The Onslaught of Spirits and Monsters

"Subordinates of the Pacification Bureau, clad in black robes and wearing bamboo hats, moving in strange and secretive ways..." An Huayuan murmured to himself.

A moment later, his eyes flashed as he said, "You must be talking about the people from the 'Suspended Eye Bureau,' aren't you?"

"Suspended Eye Bureau?" This was the first time Chen Jiu had heard the name.

An Huayuan nodded, then, after a moment’s thought, said, "Well, the 'Suspended Eye Bureau' is not really some great secret. Revealing a bit won’t matter."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiu's expression changed. He clasped his fists and said, "I am all ears."

An Huayuan spoke in a low, solemn tone, "Those called 'Suspended Eye' are born in darkness and die in darkness. Like a strange vertical eye hanging in the hearts of their enemies in the dark of night, they come and go without a trace, and their sole purpose is assassination."

"As for the 'Suspended Eye Bureau,' it is the most mysterious of the two bureaus under the Pacification Bureau. Its members are unparalleled assassins, masters of all kinds of killing arts, and their cultivation is not low. Even if cultivators of the same rank encounter them, they rarely escape with their lives."

"As for how you say their movements are hard to trace, it is because of a treasure called the 'Mirage Garment.' This clothing is as illusory and ephemeral as a mirage on the horizon. However, since it is refined from 'mirage worms,' it is extremely sensitive to things like wine. If it comes into contact with even a drop of alcohol, its magic fails and the wearer is revealed. This is a great taboo among their kind."

An Huayuan narrated unhurriedly, and Chen Jiu listened to every word.

Only now did Chen Jiu come to a sudden realization.

So, that night, the Divine Jingyang Wine he had accidentally sprayed had, quite by chance, broken the black-robed man's concealment.

No wonder both of them had been so shocked at the time. Taking advantage of the moment, Chen Jiu had found a sliver of hope and managed to survive.

He hadn't expected that those pursuing him were such formidable figures...

A wave of frustration welled in Chen Jiu’s heart.

Did the master of the Ascendant Tower in Xinyang County really think so highly of him? To dispatch two 'Suspended Eye' assassins at once, both of whom seemed to be at the 'Lesser Elixir Embryo' stage?

They clearly meant to leave him no way out.

Seeing Chen Jiu’s face grow darker, An Huayuan deliberately asked, "What is it? Have you caught the attention of the 'Suspended Eye'?"

Chen Jiu laughed it off. "When shall we return to the manor? It’s already late, and by the time we get back, it’ll likely be evening."

Realizing Chen Jiu meant to change the subject, An Huayuan gave him a meaningful look, then said, "Very well, let’s go."

Just in case, Chen Jiu asked another question: "Lord Deputy, did you truly return without a single guard?"

The Deputy of the Pacification Bureau was a position just below the Chief, and An Huayuan had no cultivation. How could he possibly travel unguarded?

After all, the monsters lurking in the deep mountains bore a deep hatred for the Pacification Bureau. If they learned a Deputy dared to walk the world so openly, they would be beside themselves with glee.

An Huayuan gathered the jade robe around himself, joined his hands, and said, "This time, I sneaked out. After the autumn harvest comes the ancestral rites at my manor. I could hardly let official duties delay private affairs."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiu thought to himself that An Huayuan was truly a man of feeling.

So the two of them casually hailed a carriage by the roadside and hurried back to the An estate.

The road was rough and the carriage shook violently.

An Huayuan looked at the methodical Chen Jiu across from him and suddenly smiled. "You are a Daoist priest."

Chen Jiu’s eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know, Lord Deputy?"

An Huayuan pointed to his own prominent nose. "I could smell it. You carry a lingering scent of incense."

Chen Jiu’s expression changed. He quickly sniffed his sleeve, but caught nothing.

Just then, the "Breath-Hiding Talisman" pressed to his body began to flicker. Its power was almost spent. This was already his second; he had just one left.

As the sun slowly sank into the western horizon, their carriage came to a steady halt.

"Gentlemen, we’ve arrived at the An estate," the coachman called quietly, lifting the curtain.

An Huayuan and Chen Jiu stepped out, one after the other.

"Let’s go straight to the threshing yard," An Huayuan said.

Chen Jiu thought it over and nodded his agreement.

Whether or not any specters appeared tonight, he would not leave the Deputy’s side.

He trailed behind An Huayuan, moving at a measured pace.

This talk of An Huayuan returning without any attendants... Who could believe it? Would a Deputy really go so unprotected?

So even if two 'Suspended Eye' assassins were lurking, waiting for their chance, as long as Chen Jiu stayed close to the Deputy, they wouldn’t dare act.

From the manor gate, they took a secluded path and came to a broad stone-paved yard.

The yard was paved with massive blue stones and was vast. Many tenant farmers were busily pushing carts heaped with wheat in an orderly procession.

An Huayuan did not make a grand appearance; he and Chen Jiu simply observed from a hidden spot.

He was no fool. He would not trust only Chen Jiu’s word.

If, in the end, the matter proved true, then being hidden gave them an advantage. If it proved false, punishing Chen Jiu would suffice without losing face.

At that moment, the moon quietly peered from behind the clouds, shy as a new bride entering her husband’s chamber.

Moonlight flooded the threshing yard, stretching the shadows of the wheat piles long across the ground.

Old Master An directed the tenants to wheel away the last load of wheat, then sent them off.

The steward approached respectfully and said, "Master, let us return to the house. The servants can keep watch here."

But Old An shook his head. "Bandits have been rampant of late. I must stay in person. Besides, that Daoist tried to frighten me with talk of ghosts. Hmph, I want to see for myself."

The steward was uneasy. "Master, you’ve been working too hard, and the young master is away. Perhaps you should—"

Before he could finish, Old An impatiently interrupted, "Enough. Bring me a spear."

Silenced, the steward dared not argue. He summoned a servant, who brought a long spear.

"Go back now," Old An waved a hand, took the spear, and lay down behind a stack of wheat, using the spear as a pillow.

The steward shook his head helplessly, quietly told some servants to be extra vigilant, and returned to the house.

The threshing yard was now silent, save for the chorus of insects.

Chen Jiu and An Huayuan remained hidden behind a straw pile, their faces grave.

As time passed, night deepened.

The servants patrolling the yard grew drowsy and started to slack off.

Old Master An turned over, but gripped the spear tighter in his sleep.

An Huayuan glanced at Chen Jiu with suspicion. "Priest, the yard is peaceful and calm. Where are these supposed ghosts?"

Chen Jiu had just opened his mouth to answer when a sudden chill wind swept through the yard.

A cold shiver ran down Chen Jiu’s back. He frowned and whispered, "It’s coming."

When An Huayuan looked back into the yard, his face changed dramatically.

A towering ghost, over ten feet tall, with a blue face, tusks, and wild red hair and beard, had appeared silently several yards behind Old Master An!

As the ghost stepped on the straw, the crunching sound echoed.

Old Master An, with his back to the creature, suddenly opened his eyes, astonishment filling his gaze...