Chapter Fifty-Two: Mount Red Jade

Chen Jiu held the grain-sized speck of light in his hand, his heart stirred, and he hurriedly asked, “Do you know the motivation behind the Bugmaster’s murders?”

On the surface, the Bugmaster was a benefactor to Hongyu Village—not only did he heal the sick, he also drove away the monsters from Mount Hongyu, bringing blessings to the villagers.

He was, in every sense, a living immortal.

But now, Chen Jiu had been secretly attacked by the Bugmaster, nearly coming to ruin in a dream, and what’s more, there was the grave risk of his Heavenly Eye being discovered.

So, he had to understand the Bugmaster’s reason for killing.

At his question, Su Jiu’s beautiful eyes brightened ever so slightly.

He shook his head. “I don’t know either. However, since arriving here, I have heard many strange things.”

Chen Jiu’s expression sharpened. “Tell me.”

Su Jiu fell into a brief contemplation, then began to speak:

“It seems it began over a month ago. I heard people say that, starting a month back, deaths began to occur in the village every few days. Men and women, all young, all died in their beds at home. Their corpses were horribly shriveled, their life force and souls completely drained…”

“Even the best investigators from the authorities came and were helpless. Later, people from the Office of Public Security were summoned, and finally, it was determined to be the work of a monster. But since the monster could not be caught nor evidence found, the matter was left unresolved.”

Chen Jiu thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Do you think these deaths are connected to the Bugmaster?”

Su Jiu nodded. “Indeed. You suffered his secret attack yourself, so you must know.”

Chen Jiu frowned. “Know what?”

Su Jiu smiled meaningfully and pointed at the thing in Chen Jiu’s hand.

“The Bugmaster sent an insect into you, and you had no idea. Not even cultivators can detect it, let alone ordinary people.”

At these words, Chen Jiu’s heart stirred.

Indeed, he hadn't even known when that strange insect was planted in him.

And if not for his own Heavenly Eye piercing through that dreadful dream, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

“So? How do we find him?” Chen Jiu asked.

The Bugmaster—he had to kill him.

Even if it meant exhausting much of his sword energy, there was no other choice.

At this, Su Jiu shot him a look as if he were a fool.

“Honestly, how can you be so dense?” He extended his hand to Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu’s face changed. “What do you mean?”

“Give me the insect! Good thing you didn’t crush it,” Su Jiu said impatiently.

Chen Jiu’s heart leapt. Could he intend to use the insect to track the Bugmaster?

That was a good plan.

“You know the Thousand-Mile Tracking Art. I do not,” Chen Jiu said, handing over the captive insect.

Su Jiu drew a talisman from his sleeve and pressed it gently onto the speck of light.

He formed a hand seal and recited an incantation. After a moment, he pointed at the talisman.

“Lead the way!”

The moment the command was given, the speck of light, suppressed by the yellow talisman, quivered and then shot off toward the door.

“It’s done!” Su Jiu beamed, then his body shimmered and transformed into a ball of light that shot out after it.

Chen Jiu’s expression changed drastically. In his senses, this person’s cultivation was not much higher than his own.

But now, to turn into a streak of rainbow light—he must possess some powerful treasure!

Clearly, this man’s background was not simple…

Without hesitation, Chen Jiu spat out his lotus platform, leapt onto it, and turned into a streak of azure light to give chase.

The moon hung high and sparse clouds drifted along the cold, quiet night sky.

Hongyu Village was unusually peaceful at night; most of those trading jade by day had already retired to their inns.

Suddenly, three streaks of dazzling light tore through the tranquil night.

Su Jiu glanced at Chen Jiu, who was hidden in the azure glow beside him, a strange look flickering in his eyes.

“Fellow Daoist, would you part with your lotus platform? I’m willing to pay a handsome price!”

Chen Jiu rolled his eyes and kept silent.

Having hit a wall, Su Jiu snorted softly and focused on the guiding light speeding ahead.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the guiding light’s speed began to slow.

Chen Jiu grew tense.

They were close.

Sure enough, in a few breaths, the light dove abruptly downward toward a certain spot below.

The two followed closely.

Soon, the light hovered near the foot of a mountain, where, nestled in a hidden grove, stood a stone house.

Inside, faint firelight flickered, casting shadows through the high windows.

Someone was inside.

The speck of light drifted near the stone house, wanting to enter, but was blocked by the talisman.

Chen Jiu and Su Jiu landed carefully and gazed at the conspicuous stone house in the dark.

“So the old wretch was hiding here,” Su Jiu sneered.

Chen Jiu looked up. In the distance, the great mountain sprawled like a colossal ancient beast, oppressive in its size.

“This is Mount Hongyu?” Chen Jiu asked.

Su Jiu nodded. “Indeed. The jade reserved for the Jin imperial family is mined from this very mountain.”

Chen Jiu understood. He was about to speak when an aged voice rang out from within the stone house.

“Cough, cough… You two youngsters, why have you come looking for this old man?”

Su Jiu replied coldly, “To take your miserable life.”

His eyes flashed coldly. With a flip of his palm, an ancient mirror appeared.

Silver light swirled on its surface, and it hummed with power.

Chen Jiu’s eyes flickered—this was a true treasure.

Suddenly, the silver light from the mirror blazed, shot out, and transformed into a white ribbon of energy, whipping toward the stone house.

Chen Jiu was astonished.

This attack carried an immense spiritual force—perhaps even stronger than his own sword pouch!

His face darkened. He wondered if his lotus platform could withstand such a blow if it struck him directly.

With a thunderous crash, the stone house collapsed, spewing a cloud of dust.

A moment later, a spatial rift appeared above the ruins, and the Bugmaster’s voice rang out, brimming with pride.

“Heh heh heh! You two fledglings, my great work is done. I won’t waste time with you…”

Immediately, a swarm of insects surged from all directions, trying to engulf Chen Jiu and Su Jiu!

“A teleportation array…” Su Jiu’s expression was grave, incredulous. “I never thought that old fox could lay down such an array…”

“Can you trace the direction he teleported?” Chen Jiu asked, summoning his flying sword.

The tide of insects crawled across the ground, the rustling sound chilling to the bone.

Su Jiu thought for a moment. “The spatial ripples aren’t strong. He hasn’t gone far—likely still somewhere on Mount Hongyu!”

Contemplation flashed in Chen Jiu’s eyes. After a moment, he sliced through a swath of attacking insects, then summoned his lotus platform and leapt onto it.

“We should split up,” Chen Jiu suggested.

Su Jiu, after a moment’s thought, captured the guiding light and split it in two.

“You take half. If you find the old fiend, don’t startle him right away.”

Chen Jiu took his half and nodded slightly; the lotus platform turned into a streak of blue light and shot off.

Su Jiu stood in silence for a moment, then also transformed into a ball of light and flew in the opposite direction.

Time passed swiftly.

At dawn, as the cock crowed, the two met again.

Seeing the gloom on Chen Jiu’s face, Su Jiu’s heart sank as well.

Clearly, they had scoured Mount Hongyu and found no trace of the Bugmaster.

Su Jiu’s gaze swept the surroundings, his chest heaving.

“He got away…”

Just then, a flash of inspiration crossed Chen Jiu’s mind.

“You’re certain the Bugmaster is still on Mount Hongyu?”

Su Jiu replied firmly, “Indeed. The spatial ripples don’t lie—he can’t have left.”

Chen Jiu fell silent, lost in thought.

Seeing his expression, Su Jiu’s eyes flickered. “You’ve thought of something?”

Chen Jiu narrowed his eyes, nodding slightly. “If we can’t find him on the mountain, there’s only one possibility.”

He pointed downward.

Su Jiu thought for a moment, and his face changed dramatically.

“You mean, he might be hiding inside Mount Hongyu itself?”

Chen Jiu nodded.

But then, Su Jiu’s expression eased a little. “But how would you know the way in? The teleportation array might reach the mountain’s heart directly, but we don’t have one. We can’t enter.”

Chen Jiu smiled mysteriously and shook his head. “No, there is a way…”