The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 133 - 109: Urgent Drum Sounds in the Ghostly Night

Chapter 133: Chapter 109: Urgent Drum Sounds in the Ghostly Night

"Dao, what a masterful craft!"

Inside the old village temple, Sha Lifei couldn’t stop praising.

The porters beside him also marveled in amazement.

Sha Lifei had set out early in the morning, making several trips and brought back many bamboo sticks and sheets of paper. Wang Daoxuan, meanwhile, had prepared a pot of paste, and from morning to evening, his hands had never stopped; finally, all the paper mache was completed.

Of course, he could not have done much alone.

Yet, whether it was the exquisitely large Soul Summoning Banner, or the golden bridge and paper wreaths, everything was complete, hardly inferior to those found in stores.

"It’s just a mere trifle..."

Clearly fatigued, Wang Daoxuan slightly shook his head, "Compared to the real Paper Mache Masters, what I do is nothing."

"Daoist, you are too modest." Seeing that everything was prepared, Li Yan spoke, "Everyone, after dinner, rest early. We need to get up early tomorrow."

"Brother Yan is right."

The porters, having handled countless funerals, knew the process well, even if this time was a bit special.

Plus, they had moved a lot of dirt, stones, and set up poles and ropes in East Mountain, everyone was exhausted.

After eating some dry foods, they all went to sleep early.

As night fell, lights flickered dimly in the center of the village.

On a hillside about ten miles away, hidden among the trees, Zhao Kui and over forty men waited, all clad in constable uniforms, each holding a sharp blade.

They were used to this under the command of Qiao Sanhu.

Wearing these official uniforms meant they represented the law!

Even those pugilistic world gangs had to avoid them when they saw the uniforms; though not armor, sometimes the uniforms proved more useful.

"Any news from the city?"

Looking towards the distant village lights, Zhao Kui asked.

A one-eyed man responded in a low voice, "Our men haven’t noticed any movement from Lv San, and as for the people from the rumour house, they know nothing."

"Hmph!"

Zhao Kui sneered, "These pugilistic world people, none of them know what’s good for them; one of these days, I’ll drive them all out of Fengyang City."

After speaking, he turned and cupped his hands towards a man next to him, his face ingratiating, "Master Lu, the big master has matters to attend to in Shangluo and said tonight’s affair is entirely up to you."

"Mm."

Master Lu stared at the village, his voice grave, "Later you move out, stop a mile away from the village, absolutely do not get any closer, wait for me to engage in a duel with the magicians inside."

"Once the signal is given, rush in, no matter who is alive inside, just kill them!"

"Yes, sir."

Zhao Kui respectfully bowed, though his eyes showed a trace of doubt.

He wasn’t even sure if Lv San was inside, but by the look of "Master Lu," he seemed to know who was, and was preparing to duel.

This guy must be hiding something!

Despite his suspicions, Zhao Kui tactfully remained silent, afraid to annoy Master Lu who might harm him, and the County Magistrate wouldn’t care.

With that, everyone hid in the woods waiting.

Unknowingly, some began to yawn, faces bored, eyes somewhat discontented.

These people, living off Qiao Sanhu’s money, didn’t worry about eating and drinking. In normal times, they swaggered around, gambling, drinking, and fooling around with women at night, truly living a carefree life.

They had thought it was just about killing a person and hadn’t expected to wait this long.

Of course, no one dared complain.

After a while, the woods grew colder.

They then noticed that the ground had somehow frosted over, and in the distance, several ghostly green fires floated up and down.

"Arrest officer, something feels wrong..."

A constable swallowed, his voice trembling.

Zhao Kui felt uneasy too and turned to look behind.

He saw "Master Lu" removing a black cloth bag from his back. Upon opening it, there were wooden mourning sticks.

Made of willow, each was wrapped with white paper tassels.

Seeing the uncertain gazes around, "Master Lu" sneered, "Today is the day of the ’Cold Cloths for Ghosts,’ a day the good friends naturally gather more."

"Go on, remember, we must guard every path!"

Heeding Master Lu’s words, Zhao Kui drew his knife, barking, "Move out, just as ordered! Anyone who dares to flee, I’ll skin them alive!"

"Keep a sharp lookout!"

"Not a rat gets by!"

The group shouted and then rushed out of the woods.

These ruffians, a ragtag bunch, many with blood on their hands, possessed a fair bit of ruthlessness.

Whoosh!

All at once, a flock of birds flew away, frightened.

"Idiots!"

In the rear, "Master Lu" could not help but curse angrily.

He had brought these people to stay far away, fearing they might alert those in the village. After all, a magician has many means and might become aware.

But as they were setting off, this happened.

But now, no longer able to scold, "Master Lu" glanced at the sky, his eyes growing bitter, and even a bit mad, he muttered, "Junior Master Wu, after so many years, it’s time to settle accounts..."

Saying this, he started putting the mourning sticks into the ground, forming a circle of twelve sticks corresponding to the twelve Earthly Branches.

In the center of the circle formed by the mourning sticks, a three-foot deep pit had been dug beforehand, and inside it lay a coffin.

"Start now."

"Master Lu" ordered, then lay himself down in the coffin.

A few constables remained to assist, seeing this eerie arrangement, they felt the hair on their necks stand on end but dared not disobey.

Cautiously, they closed the coffin and then quickly shoveled dirt over it to bury it.

Whew~

Instantly, cold winds began to blow.

The ghost fires gathered more abundantly, swirling above the coffin before drifting towards Wu Family Gully...

...

On East Mountain, Lv San was lying under a tree, sleeping.

Whoosh!

A flock of birds crossed the night sky, alighted on a branch, chirping a few times before night birds rose from the woods.