Chapter 28: Cooperation

Bang!

The alloy staff struck the head of a giant rat, breaking it open and twisting the skull into a grotesque shape, yet still failing to kill the beast. Shen Chang’an swung his staff again, striking three more times in quick succession, at last shattering the rat’s skull completely and slaying it.

But more rats surged in from all sides, forcing him into a desperate retreat.

“Taoist, what do we do now?” asked Zheng Xin, breathless at his side.

Shen Chang’an offered a bitter smile. “If I had a plan, I would have said so already. There’s no way out now—we fight for our lives.”

A hint of fear flickered in Zheng Xin’s eyes. She had only wanted to make a name for herself, never imagining she might end up as food for rats.

Seeing her expression, Shen Chang’an could only sigh softly. “In a moment, I’ll carve a bloody path through them with all my might. You and Wang Yue—take the chance and escape.”

“And you?” Zheng Xin asked.

Shen Chang’an sighed. “Someone has to cover the rear, or none of us will get out.”

“No!” Zheng Xin objected instantly. “If we die, we die together. I may not be a good person, but I have this much loyalty!”

Shen Chang’an knocked away a massive spider that had crept close. “This isn’t the time to argue about loyalty. If anyone else stays behind, it’s useless—you two can’t hold off these monsters. Only if the two of you get out can you bring reinforcements to wipe out these creatures.”

“But—” Zheng Xin began, but Shen Chang’an quickly interrupted her.

“Listen to me. If all three of us die here, they’ll use their foul sorcery to replace us and no one will ever know what happened in this place. Our deaths will be for nothing!”

“If we must die, let these fiends die with us! I’ll cover the retreat; you two hurry back for help. The Hall of Loyalty and Justice is well-known on the roads—if your father speaks of what’s happening here, and reveals the hoarded wealth in the Summer Villa, many will answer the call.”

He turned to Wang Yue. “When you return, don’t tell others about this. Go straight to your elders and tell them Fang City’s prosperity rests on rat demons stealing the wealth of the world. That’s how they feed so many people.”

“As long as you spread this news, the Demon Purging Division and cultivators from all sides will gather in Fang City. Then, every demon here will be buried with me!”

Wang Yue and Zheng Xin fell silent, unwilling to admit but unable to deny that Shen Chang’an’s plan was the most effective. If all three stayed, their deaths would be meaningless.

A chilling laugh rang out. “Ha, ha, ha! Taoist Shen, your eloquence is impressive and your logic sound. But why not mention that the whole city’s people will be buried with you?”

A pale figure appeared atop a treetop, watching them with a mysterious smile. Her beauty was eerie, almost otherworldly—a fairy from a painted scroll. It was none other than Li Qingqing.

“It’s you!” Wang Yue cried. “You’re the one who came to Fang City, they said you were a great—wait, what kind of great are you?”

Upon hearing Wang Yue’s words, Shen Chang’an suddenly realized: when he had been at the restaurant, he’d heard that some renowned figure had arrived in Fang City, but no one could say what she did, only that she was famous. Now it seemed this was a White Lotus cultist’s trick.

No wonder she’d sought him out on the very first day—she’d sensed him at the restaurant, but he’d been a step too slow, failing to use the Jade Talisman to uncover her identity.

Zheng Xin turned to him. “Isn’t this the one who was in your room that night?”

Shen Chang’an ignored the question, looking instead at Li Qingqing. “If I remember correctly, I told you to leave Fang City.”

Li Qingqing laughed. “Taoist Shen, you’re at the end of your rope, yet you still threaten me?”

Shen Chang’an’s expression darkened. He knew that in his current state, he was no match for Li Qingqing. And for some reason, none of the surrounding monsters so much as glanced at her; they only pressed in on the three of them.

“Both of you, this witch from the White Lotus and I have a history. It looks like there will be no peaceful resolution today,” he said helplessly.

Wang Yue shook his head. “There was never going to be a peaceful resolution today. One more enemy doesn’t matter.”

Li Qingqing smiled sweetly. “Why be so heartless, Taoist? I came only to discuss a little business with you.”

“Hmph! What business could we possibly have with a murderous demon like you?” Wang Yue snapped.

Li Qingqing laughed aloud. “Murderous? Magistrate Wang, it was Taoist Shen who just now proposed burying all of Fang City with him. If anyone’s murderous, it’s not me.”

Wang Yue frowned, confused. Was there something wrong with Shen Chang’an’s plan?

But Shen Chang’an replied calmly, “That’s right. If things go as I said, the imperial army will suppress Fang City without mercy. To them, most of the city’s people are no different from monsters.”

“Fang City will be destroyed by the army. To be sure there are no survivors, the court will leave none alive.”

Li Qingqing frowned, sensing she could not see through Shen Chang’an.

He continued, softly, “But by then, I’ll already be bones in the earth. What does it matter to me? It’s the Great Qian court that will slaughter without distinction, not I. Must I, a dead man, bear the blame for their actions?”

“Besides, if today’s events are not revealed, and these monsters are allowed to flourish, this will become a kingdom of demons. Then, all the people within a hundred miles will be their food. If I give up this chance to destroy them for the sake of momentary mercy, the result will be even greater suffering.”

“I’m no sage, but I see that much. If you wish to unsettle me with such words, witch, you are naive.”

Li Qingqing’s frown deepened. Previously, Shen Chang’an had spared her for the sake of Fang City’s people, and she had thought him a soft scholar who placed righteousness above all. Only now did she realize Shen Chang’an had always been a true hero—willing to spare for a city’s sake, but also ready to risk his life for the world.

Alive, he had the courage to act for the common good; facing death, he was unflinching and free.

If he could survive and had the power to negotiate with the court, Shen Chang’an would have racked his brains to save the people of this city. But when death was certain, there was no point in worrying about the unrealistic. The most he could do for the world was to warn them of this disaster. Beyond that, he was powerless, and need not torment himself over it.

As the group conversed, the monsters surrounding them inexplicably halted, making no move to attack, simply standing in place and allowing the conversation to continue.

Shen Chang’an guessed this was the work of the White Lotus. He didn’t know how Li Qingqing had done it, but he quietly breathed a little easier, using the opportunity to speed up the circulation of his spiritual power and recover his strength.

However, after forcing a breakthrough in his earlier fight with Li Qingqing, his meridians were already damaged. No matter how hard he tried, his recovery was slow.

After a moment’s silence, Li Qingqing finally sighed. “Taoist, you win. I’ll state my terms outright. If you agree, I’ll join forces with you. If not, I’ll leave now, and you can sacrifice yourself to cleanse this place.”

Given the chance to survive, Shen Chang’an was not about to insist on dying. “Speak. I’m listening.”

“The terms are the same as before: after killing Yuan, everything else is yours—I want the Heart of Yuan!”

“Yuan?” Wang Yue repeated, puzzled. He had never heard of such a demon.

Shen Chang’an was equally at a loss. His knowledge of demons came from earthly texts and his master’s instruction, but the world had changed over the years and countless new monsters had emerged. Naturally, not even his master could know them all, and no earthly book could record everything.

At the very least, there were no records of a demon called Yuan.

“Taoist, do you accept these terms?” Li Qingqing asked.

Wang Yue hurried to advise, “Taoist, I think we have little choice but to accept. She may be White Lotus, but we have no other options. If you agree, not only can you survive, but the people of Fang City may also be saved.”

Shen Chang’an sighed. If they could quell this disaster and the Wang family was powerful enough, perhaps the people of Fang City could be saved.

Zheng Xin added softly, “Just agree for now…”

She didn’t finish, but Shen Chang’an understood—agree for now, and see later whether this Heart of Yuan was truly important. If it was, they could always turn against her then. As the daughter of the Hall of Loyalty and Justice’s master, Zheng Xin had learned from a young age what it meant to be thick-skinned and ruthless.

After some thought, Shen Chang’an finally nodded. “Very well, Li Qingqing, I accept. Help me slay Yuan, and the Heart of Yuan is yours!”

A faint smile touched Li Qingqing’s lips. “Taoist Shen, you’ve made a wise choice…”