Chapter 25: Stand-in Part 4

Demonic Qi swirled around Tong Guan’s body, changing his appearance and restoring him to Guo Jing’s visage. The two attendants behind him transformed into paper puppets driven by Demonic Qi.

“Who exactly are you?!” Chaosheng demanded.

Guo Jing’s face changed again, becoming that of a tall man shrouded in black qi, his form flickering unsteadily.

“Chaosheng! Run!” Wu Yingzong shouted.

The Demonic Qi turned into chains that wrapped tightly around Wu Yingzong, constantly tightening. Wu Yingzong desperately released his cultivation base to resist the Demonic Qi, struggling with difficulty in an attempt to draw the demon person’s attention.

Chaosheng did not struggle and wisely set down the Green Branch.

“That’s right,” the demon person’s voice was deep and full of authority. “As long as you cooperate, I guarantee your friend will come to no harm.”

The black qi surged out explosively, enveloping Chaosheng and Wu Yingzong in one go before vanishing into thin air. The demon person exited the Exorcism Division, talismanic runes lighting up in his hand as he pressed them onto the heads of the two Stone Lions. They flashed once, then turned into black light and disappeared without a trace.

New Year’s second day:

“Lord Guo has arrived! Lord Guo has arrived!”

The Stone Lions’ voices startled the two silent men. Xiao Kun rose and drew his blade, but Xiang Xian pressed down on his hand.

Guo Jing looked refreshed and energetic. As he walked into the Exorcism Division, he was still stretching his arms. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun came out, their eyes both bloodshot from a sleepless night.

“Your commission has come down,” Guo Jing said. “I personally urged them to stamp it last night… What’s wrong? Youngsters played for several days over the New Year and didn’t sleep well?”

“Thank you, Lord Guo.” Xiang Xian remained quite composed as he took the Exorcist Envoy Commission for Xiao Kun.

Xiao Kun’s eyes gleamed with a eerie blue light as he began to read Guo Jing’s thoughts, but he detected no abnormalities. At that moment, Guo Jing’s mind was a jumble of random thoughts, pondering where to have breakfast later before hurrying to the palace to say some auspicious words to the Official Family.

Xiang Xian glanced at Xiao Kun, who said, “Let me take a look?”

Guo Jing said to Xiao Kun, “Remember to enter the palace after the third day to give thanks. The Official Family wants to see you. Don’t forget to handle the matters I’ve assigned you. I’m off now.”

Xiao Kun unfolded the Exorcist Envoy Commission, and a thin sheet of paper with a drawn map fluttered lightly out from inside. Xiang Xian’s eyes were sharp and quick; he snatched it up and said, “Lord Guo, please wait a moment.”

Guo Jing: “?”

Xiang Xian showed him the map and asked, “What is this?”

“Huh?” Guo Jing looked utterly bewildered. He glanced back and said, “That’s strange. I never opened it when I received the commission. It was sent from the Pingzhang Zhengshi Mansion to the Gold Stone Bureau.”

Before his words finished, Xiao Kun let out a whistle and suddenly made his move.

Xiang Xian: “Wait, Xiao Kun!”

Xiao Kun had observed Guo Jing for a long time and knew this former Grand Demon-Exorcist had been famous for some years, so he must have some real skills. Chaosheng’s judgment troubled him, so if not now, when?

Guo Jing paled in fright and panic, crying, “What are you doing?!”

Xiao Kun’s goal was to force out Guo Jing’s Demonic Qi to confirm Chaosheng’s words. Though he did not use his Dual Knives, he struck with fists and feet, his power surging like thunder, qi exploding from his hands as he attacked Guo Jing.

Xiao Kun: “Allow me to seek some pointers from you!”

Guo Jing roared, “Have you gone mad?! Xiang Xian! Xiang Xian! Make him stop!”

Xiang Xian retreated to the side, summoning a Spiritual Power True Wall with his left hand to guard against any fallout from their fight affecting the Exorcism Division. Looking closely, he saw Guo Jing’s movements were extremely sluggish. Though “agile” among fifty-something-year-old mortals, in front of the two of them, his dodges were clumsy and sluggish, like an old turtle in a mud pit.

How could this be? Xiang Xian was filled with doubt.

Xiao Kun came on fiercely but deliberately left openings for Guo Jing to counter, lest a sneak attack catch him off guard. Yet Guo Jing simply turned and ran, fleeing in panic without regard for direction. Just as he was about to escape the Exorcism Division, Xiang Xian released his magical power and shouted, “Seal!”

The doors of the Exorcism Division slammed shut with a bang, erecting a magical power barrier. With no way out, Guo Jing could only fling something out from his sleeve.

“That’s more like it!” Xiao Kun caught up in a few steps. The area was filled with swirling talisman papers that burst open, revealing a massive puppet.

The moment Xiang Xian saw Guo Jing deploy a magic treasure, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But! After throwing the magic treasure, Guo Jing began fumbling clumsily with the strings to control the puppet in his hand. As the puppet appeared, talismanic runes flashed on its chest, and it lunged at Xiao Kun. But with a single spinning kick from Xiao Kun, the puppet crashed to the ground!

Guo Jing had just untangled the messy strings on the Puppet Control Frame when Xiao Kun arrived before him again and threw a punch.

Terror filled Guo Jing’s eyes. He swung the Puppet Control Frame overhead at Xiao Kun’s head, shouting, “Hah!”

Xiao Kun: “?”

Xiang Xian: “……………………”

Xiao Kun tilted his head lightly to dodge, changing his fist to a palm. With no escape, Guo Jing thrust out his palm to push Xiao Kun away, but Xiao Kun deliberately met it head-on.

Their palms clashed, and Guo Jing flew off like a broken kite, crashing into the base of a rockery and going still.

“What did you do?!” Xiang Xian said.

Xiao Kun: “I just wanted to test his skills.”

Xiang Xian: “Have you gone mad, Big Brother?! Today is your first day on the job!”

Xiao Kun: “Chaosheng was right. He’s just a mortal.”

Xiang Xian: “Lord Guo! Lord Guo!”