Bai Mengjin suggested visiting the Matchmaker Temple because she recalled something from the past.
A maidservant in their household had once prayed for a good marriage at the Matchmaker Temple, only to fall gravely ill shortly afterward. Sometime later, she heard that the authorities had eliminated an evil deity.
At that time, Bai Mengjin was entirely focused on Danxia Palace accepting disciples, so she paid it no mind. Now that she had inadvertently learned about demonic creatures appearing in Qingyun City, how could she not connect the two?
Madam Liu went inside the Matchmaker Temple to fulfill her vow, while Huo Chongxiao exchanged a glance with the two girls, and the three of them squeezed into the crowd to follow her in.
The Matchmaker Temple was quite humble, consisting of only a single main hall. The divine statues, however, were very new—an old man with a white beard accompanied by a boy and a girl holding a red string.
Huo Chongxiao shook his head slightly, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
With a tacit understanding, the three waited until Madam Liu finished fulfilling her vow, then quietly followed her back.
Yue Yunqiao asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother, why are there so many demonic creatures in Qingyun City? Could there be a problem?"
Huo Chongxiao already realized that something was amiss. He took out the Monster Suppression Bottle, used the demonic qi inside it to ignite a spirit talisman, and sure enough, Madam Liu's side produced a reaction. His expression turned grim. "It's the same origin as the demonic creature from last night."
Yue Yunqiao was greatly startled. "So we didn't solve yesterday's issue at all?"
Huo Chongxiao nodded. He had originally thought it was just a minor task, but he never expected to be hoodwinked; this demonic creature was not simple.
His first reaction was to seek help from Bai Chong'an. They were fellow sect brothers, after all, and had a duty to look out for one another.
However, thinking of last night, he hesitated again. For some reason, this senior brother gave him a very strange feeling. With demonic creatures appearing in Qingyun City, the Bai Family should have been the most affected, yet he did not care in the least.
Would it be better to be more cautious? Huo Chongxiao asked himself. But thinking of how Bai Mengjin had been running around busily with them, only to have him distrust the Bai Family, made him feel somewhat guilty.
Before he could speak, Bai Mengjin spoke first: "Young Master Huo, do you feel like something isn't right about this?"
Huo Chongxiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "What do you mean?"
Bai Mengjin said, "Although evil deities and demonic creatures share similarities, they are actually two different things. Demonic creatures generally hunt actively and want to eat whatever looks good. But an evil deity requires the other party to make offerings to it—simply put, to form a contract. Take this Madam Liu, for instance; only by satisfying her desire to win money could the deity demand offerings from her."
Yue Yunqiao asked in confusion, "Then how can these two things share the same origin?"
"Indeed, they are clearly different things, so how can they share the same origin?" she countered.
Huo Chongxiao said softly, "Because there is someone behind it."
Yue Yunqiao was taken aback. "What do you mean? Someone is pulling the strings?"
Huo Chongxiao nodded. "It seems the demonic creatures in Qingyun City are no simple matter. Someone is deliberately raising them."
Yue Yunqiao could not help growing angry. "Outrageous! If we hadn't arrived in time last night, the mortals in that estate would have been demonized. And this evil deity—once its worship spreads, how many people will become sacrifices? Given enough time, the entire Qingyun City will be ruined."
"This matter is no longer something we can handle." Huo Chongxiao possessed good self-awareness. "We must promptly contact the patrolling elder."
According to Danxia Palace's rules, elders took turns patrolling various regions, specifically responsible for the safety of disciples away from the sect.
Yue Yunqiao asked, "Then should we tell Senior Brother Bai?"
"Let's not say anything for now." Huo Chongxiao glanced sideways at Bai Mengjin. "Senior Brother Bai is the highest-cultivated cultivator in Qingyun City. Whoever is causing chaos here will surely be watching him. We must be careful not to startle the snake in the grass."
Bai Mengjin nodded in agreement. "Though my grand-uncle never steps outside, all the major and minor factions in Qingyun City come to pay their respects."
Seeing that she had no objections, Huo Chongxiao felt relieved.
The three returned to the Matchmaker Temple and investigated based on the deeds circulating in town.
The first was Madam Liu, whom they had already confirmed to be connected to last night's demonic creature.
The second was Old Third Zeng; his residence likewise harbored black qi.
Then came the third, the fourth...
Huo Chongxiao took out the topographical map of Qingyun City, marking them down one by one until they formed a massive web.
"There are actually this many?" Yue Yunqiao was astonished.
Huo Chongxiao's expression was unsightly. Qingyun City had become riddled with leaks; to say that Senior Brother Bai was completely oblivious was something he simply could not believe.
And what about Miss Bai? Judging by her treatment within the family, she probably knew nothing of these matters, and she had previously saved his junior sister besides. Should he trust her?
Huo Chongxiao fell into hesitation.
Finally, he chose a compromise. "Let's head back first and not alert others for now. We'll wait until the sect elders arrive to handle it."
With his junior sister in tow, he could not afford to take risks.
Bai Mengjin was quite gratified. Although this Huo Chongxiao was a bit green, he still knew how to act reliably.
The three temporarily set the matter aside, strolled around to sightsee, and did not return to the Bai Family until sunset.
Bai Mengxing had just finished his studies and was eating ice pudding in the hall. Seeing Bai Mengjin, he immediately hollered, "Wretched girl, you actually skipped class today! Just you see, I'll tell Father and beat you to death!"
Bai Mengjin immediately hid behind Yue Yunqiao, saying in a small voice, "I... I asked for leave."
Yue Yunqiao stood up for her. "Junior Sister Mengjin took us out to sightsee at Senior Brother Bai's behest. If you have any complaints, go ask your grand-uncle."
Although Bai Mengxing was a ruffian, he did not dare to cross the distinguished guests from Danxia Palace, let alone with that grand-uncle standing above him.
He glared fiercely at Bai Mengjin, filled with a hundred grievances in his heart. Why wasn't he the one accompanying them? Clearly, he was the eldest son of the family!
Bai Mengjin, however, let out a sound of surprise and asked, "Eldest Brother, why is your left hand wrapped in cloth? Are you injured?"
It would have been better if she hadn't spoken, but the mention made Bai Mengxing's face flush red.
He had originally planned well—to use Bai Mengjin's spirit talisman to hand in his assignment. Who would have known it would be snatched back yesterday? Despite rushing frantically to make something himself, the result still looked like a mess, and when he finally handed it in, he was predictably scolded by the tutor.
Wuwu, his hand was even beaten until it swelled up.
"Isn't it because of you!" he mumbled vaguely. "You just wait!"
Yue Yunqiao's brows furrowed deeply. The upbringing in the Bai Family was truly worrisome. And that senior brother of theirs as well—now that he had returned to take charge of the family, he didn't even bother to look after the younger generation. If his own path to immortality was hopeless, he should at least properly cultivate his descendants!
Walking all the way to the entrance of Qinghe Courtyard, she comforted Bai Mengjin, "When the patrolling elder arrives, Senior Brother and I will recommend you to join the sect. With your foundation, passing the assessment won't be difficult, and no one will dare bully you in the future."
"Thank you, Senior Sister Yue," Bai Mengjin said sincerely. Over the years, very few people had treated her well, and Yue Yunqiao was definitely one of them—whether it was the her of the present or the her of the past.
...
Wuye Cottage.
"They're back," Guan Mowen reported.
Bai Chong'an was still sitting by the window, leisurely playing a game of go against himself. "Did anything happen?"
Guan Mowen didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Bai Chong'an stopped. "What, is there a problem?"
Guan Mowen replied, "They went to the Matchmaker Temple."
Bai Chong'an's brows furrowed.
"Going there doesn't necessarily mean anything," Guan Mowen proactively added. "After all, the Matchmaker Temple is quite famous, and many people go there for sightseeing."
Bai Chong'an nodded and placed a stone.
Yet very quickly, his expression froze.
"What is it, Master?"
Bai Chong'an opened his hand, and a faint, almost imperceptible trace of spiritual light flickered across it.
"A communication talisman... Looks like we've been discovered."