Wait a minute, where is my master?

The next morning, the rain poured down heavily.

Little Platform Mountain, Xuanxu Temple.

In the backyard, Jin Xu and two others discussed how to handle the temple since they would be traveling far.

Little White: "Temple master, don't worry. If we leave the temple under the care of Big Black and Fat Wolf, we definitely won't lose it. When we stayed in Gusu City, wasn't the temple just fine?"

Husky was full of confidence in its underlings.

Yu Yaoer: "Master, let's bring the temple with us, then I can sleep in the well every day."

The Little Fish Demon's idea was very real – the best part was being able to sleep in the well.

She didn't mention another benefit, which was having a mobile kitchen that would allow her to experiment with new recipes anytime.

The once vocal little Taoist fell silent and deep in thought.

"Going to Shangjing City is not like going to Gusu. We should avoid moving Xuanxu Temple if possible because a flying temple would catch too much attention. But I'm not comfortable just leaving the spiritual liquid in the well out here in the backyard. Maybe we can ask the senior Big Willow Tree if the well can be moved separately?"

On the side, Xu Qian, who had hurried back overnight and shamelessly insisted on following them to Shangjing City, was speechless.

Fine, he had no say in the matter.

As the stalemate continued, Mr. Qin suddenly transmitted his voice from the front yard's door.

"Little Taoist, you folks are heading out for a long trip, right? Don't worry, I'll keep watch over the temple. If the gate is here, the temple is here; if the gate is gone, then surely the temple will still be here!"

Jin Xu was highly skeptical about his assurance if the gate could actually do as he claimed, then Zhao Qian would not have been able to be rescued.

Although the little Taoist had brought him back and assigned him the duty of guarding the gate, it didn't mean he was particularly trusted.

He wouldn't be comfortable letting the Bronze Gate out of his sight.

Just then, the branches of the Big Willow Tree in the backyard shook and suddenly wrote a few words on the ground.

"Go to Shangjing City without concerns. I'll watch over the temple and the gate for you."

Upon seeing this, Jin Xu was delighted and thought about asking Guan Ling for a good solution to "leaving the well behind."

However, he then saw the branches continue to wave.

"No, it's not possible. My injuries are too severe. I need to continue sleeping."

The willow branches settled back to calmness.

"..."

The little Taoist began to doubt whether the tree was faking it.

"Little Yu."

"I'm here, Master."

"Go to the kitchen and cook a soup."

Jin Xu said calmly, then glanced at the still Big Willow Tree, which seemed to shudder slightly.

"Ah! Master, you..."

Yu Yaoer ran towards the kitchen, speaking as she did.

Then she was interrupted by the little Taoist priest who had confirmed his own thoughts.

"Never mind, come back. Don't make it."

"Oh...."

The Little Fish Demon returned, disappointed.

With a proper solution found for "how to take care of the temple while traveling," the group prepared to depart.

Before leaving, Jin Xu had Yu Yaoer and Little White pour several buckets of the spiritual liquid from the ancient well into their portable storage treasures.

If they couldn't "carry the well away from home," they'd at least bring some water from their homeland.

Of course, Jin Xu also stored a little bit in his storage treasure beads as well.

They say that a rich journey makes a poor family.

The group stealthily climbed over the back wall and carefully descended from Little Platform Mountain.

There was no choice, although a sign saying "temporarily closed" had been hung on the front gate since the night before, there were still pilgrims lining up. According to them, the temple would inevitably open for business someday.

Jin Xu was speechless, while Xu Qian showed understanding.

At the foot of the mountain behind, the little Taoist told the three to hold on to his arm. Then, a sphere of golden spiritual power enveloped them, lifting them into the air.

He planned on using the Basic Escape Skill of the Great Xia City Guard Army—Dry Land Onion Escape Skill to speed up their travel and also to give Little White a break.

Gusu City was far from Shangjing City, and who knew if it would overly tire their own husky.

High above, Jin Xu recalled the Nine Provinces Geographical Map he had studied earlier, roughly identified the direction, and then silently made an estimate.

"About thirty percent of my golden spiritual power should get us to Shangjing City."

Meanwhile, inside the sphere, Xu Qian was thinking of flattering Jin Xu, "Taoist, look at this pouring rain. My master used to tell me that important people face more adversities when they travel. I didn't believe it, but now... Holy moly ahhh!!"

Dry Land Onion Escape Skill—Engage!

A streak of golden light shot straight into the sky.

Qian Deng Town, in front of the yamen.

Little constable, "Uncle, I think I saw a shooting star."

The old squad leader slapped the back of the other's head and said, "It's broad daylight and overcast, where would you see a shooting star! And how many times have I told you, don't call me uncle when we're outside!"

"Oh, I got it."

...

...

The rain continued to pour, as if the heavens were weeping.

Raindrops as big as coins pounded on the stone bricks, on the rooftops, and on the corpse lying in the middle of the street.

Eventually, they all converged, flowing into the dark drainage ditch.

In the endless curtain of rain, a streak of light flashed by.

A ball built of golden spiritual power hovered directly above the city, then fell straight onto the street.

The golden spiritual power dispersed.

"Splat."

Xu Qian collapsed onto the ground.

Yu Yaoer wasn't faring much better, leaning on Little White, barely standing.

"Young master, this escape skill... bleh~"

The Little Fish Demon didn't finish speaking before he ran off to vomit.

"Temple master! That escape skill was too thrilling! Can we do it again!"

The Husky said excitedly to the little Taoist.

"..."

Jin Xu said nothing, baffled at everyone's reactions. Was the escape skill really that exaggerated? He hadn't felt much himself.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Everyone had adjusted their condition, especially Xu Qian, who was the weakest of the four.

"Temple master, did we take a wrong turn?"

Little White spoke up.

While waiting just now, she'd already made a round through the city. The city was quite large, with well-distributed buildings and a complete range of shops.

There was just one small flaw; there were no living people in the city.

Not even a living dog.

Corpses, however, were everywhere; in the streets, inside the shops, on the city walls, on kitchen balconies, and so on.

"Hmm, it seems we flew over. Brother Xu, you just came back from Shangjing City, you should recognize whether this place is Shangjing City or not."

The little Taoist already had some guesses, but he still wanted to confirm.

After listening to Jin Xu's words, Xu Qian stood up from the ground, pretended to look around, and said, "Little Taoist, I've only seen the gate of Shangjing City, then I was imprisoned in the heavenly prison with my senses sealed."

"..."

Jin Xu inwardly cursed for bothering to ask, then his robust and vigorous spiritual sense instantly spread out, enveloping the entire city.

After scanning, he confirmed that indeed there were no living beings in the city, though there was quite a bit of black Qi floating around.

But that wasn't important.

Continuing the scan, when he saw the city gate, the little Taoist confirmed his suspicion was correct.

The name "Ling City" was clearly inscribed on a plaque hanging at the gate.

"This is the city that was massacred by the Demon Sect."

Jin Xu slightly frowned, explaining to the others.

"But... it's been so long, hasn't Great Xia taken care of this city?"

...

At that moment, inside a shop in the western part of the city, within a ball of black Qi.

"Hehehe... "

A chilling laughter emanated, it had sensed the scent of Nascent Soul Blood Meal.

!!!

A dry, dark green claw suddenly stretched out from the black Qi!

ps: Will correct typos later