Roaring Dragon-Chapter 28: Following the Vine to Find the Melon

The chaos at Sanhe Tower had been considerable, but it still wasn’t enough to threaten the stability of the whole province. The Prince’s Mansion’s retainers remained focused on the demonic aura at Zihui Mountain.

After leaving the county yamen, Linghu Qingmo quickly arrived at the Dan Prince’s Pavilion. Ascending the stairs, she was just reaching the second floor when she heard voices from the hall:

"Danzhou covers a vast territory. Ordinary soldiers and officials would have a hard time identifying a great demon. Even with all of us, searching county by county and village by village would take months..."

"Could it have fled north?"

"Impossible, the footprints head toward Danzhou..."

"Those footprints could’ve been left by a hunter. Once a demon reaches the transcendent rank, does it still need to walk? Have you ever seen Master Mu conjure a horse out of qi to ride around?"

"Uh... That makes sense. Our cultivation’s too shallow to imagine the style of someone at the peak..."

...

Among the retainers above third rank at the Prince’s Mansion, there were seven in total. Excluding Chief Steward Zhu Wenyuan, there were also scholars like Huangfu Qi, military commanders like Tie Fengzhang, and Daoist guest elders like Ji Shiqing.

Linghu Qingmo stepped into the doorway and saw that except for Commander Tie Fengzhang, everyone else was present. A few lower-ranked retainers were there too, gathered around the central map of Danzhou, brainstorming desperately because they still hadn't found the demon's trail.

Zhu Wenyuan stood at the head, his brow furrowed with worry. Upon seeing Linghu Qingmo, he asked kindly:

"Qingmo, do you have something to report?"

Linghu Qingmo respectfully saluted and entered the hall:

"Earlier while inspecting the corpse, Xie Jinhuan suggested that the nameless floating corpse, which may be linked to the demon bandits, died from infestation by corpse flies and might have been used to cultivate a ‘Gu flower.’ I don't fully understand, so I came to consult the seniors."

"Gu flower?"

At her words, the room fell silent.

Zhu Wenyuan tapped his folding fan against his hand, frowning deeply, and after a moment’s serious thought, said gravely:

"The method of cultivating Gu flowers is a secret never shared outside the witch sects. Anyone who can use it must at least have reached third rank. Are you sure Xie Jinhuan didn’t make a mistake?"

Huangfu Qi, who served as tutor to the prince’s heirs and had been employed at the Prince’s Mansion for over twenty years, second only to Zhu Wenyuan in status, stroked his goatee and doubted:

"That corpse was inspected by Daoist Ji too. It was badly decayed, eaten by maggots, with no clear traces. Even the coroners turned it inside out and found nothing. How did Xie Jinhuan see corpse flies?"

Ji Shiqing, from the prestigious Daoist sect Xuanhu View, had roamed the southern wastelands for years and specialized in dealing with witchcraft and demonic matters. Although he didn’t flaunt his seniority, he nodded:

"If the body were freshly dead, it wouldn’t be impossible to tell if it was caused by a Gu flower. But this one was so decayed it was effectively obliterated — I truly cannot imagine how young friend Xie discerned any signs of Gu cultivation."

Linghu Qingmo didn’t know either, and after thinking for a moment, said:

"Xie Jinhuan is exceptionally well-read. Maybe he had a sudden inspiration."

This explanation was admittedly a bit far-fetched.

After all, everyone here was learned and experienced — it was hard to believe none of them could notice something that a mere twenty-year-old could.

Still, since there was testimony, however improbable, they had to consider it. Zhu Wenyuan recalled carefully:

"There are six or seven types of Gu flowers that use corpse flies. Determining exactly which one caused the death is difficult."

Ji Shiqing, knowledgeable about witchcraft, added:

"The demon bandits are also gathering dragonbeard grass. Only two types of Gu flowers use both corpse flies and dragonbeard grass.

"Setting aside Soul-Calming Grass, which can't grow here, that leaves the Mad Corpse Flower from Linglu Valley. We could investigate along that line."

Huangfu Qi, seeing the discussion progress, chimed in:

"According to the Essence of Plants and Trees, the Mad Corpse Flower always grows where corpses are piled high. Within Danzhou, it's unlikely to find such mass death. Perhaps they’re using livestock bodies at a slaughterhouse. If we find the flower’s nursery, we can prove the Li family was framed, and expose the true culprit behind the scenes."

Hearing these insights from her seniors, Linghu Qingmo found her direction. She saluted again:

"Thank you for your guidance. I will lead a team to search all livestock storage areas in the city."

Zhu Wenyuan nodded. Given that a transcendent demon posed a far greater threat than a mere third-rank sorcerer, they didn’t waste more words on the matter. They continued discussing strategies for tracking the demon...

——

Outside Danyang City.

The carriage sped along the official road upstream, occasionally passing security escorts and merchant caravans, their bells jangling:

Ding-ling-ling~

Xie Jinhuan sat outside the carriage, scanning both banks of the river with a spyglass he’d bought in town, leaving the driving to his personal servant.

Meiqiu squatted nearby, little claws gripping the reins, big amber eyes full of confusion — Driving’s my job now? Why don't you go get your head petted too?

Inside the carriage, Lin Wanyi leaned out the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» window, scanning for possible sites to cultivate Mad Corpse Flowers.

Although she appeared focused, she couldn’t shake the chill creeping over her — as if someone else were in the carriage with her.

Of course, she couldn’t see the red-robed ghost-wife sitting nearby. Apart from occasionally pulling her clothes tighter, she didn’t react.

After a while, they came upon a scenic riverside garden, colorful boats moored outside, the grounds filled with ornate buildings and bustling with countless visitors.

Xie Jinhuan turned the spyglass toward it and asked:

"What’s that place?"

"Peony Pool. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival will be held there. By then, it’ll probably gather tens of thousands of people."

"I see."

Since it didn’t concern him, Xie Jinhuan didn’t dwell on it.

Lin Wanyi, still uneasy, glanced again at the empty seat beside her and quietly said:

"Xie Jinhuan."

"Hmm?" Xie Jinhuan looked back.

"Do you... do you feel like there’s someone extra in this carriage?"

"Gugii?"

Meiqiu turned its head, eyes wide — You just noticed there’s something dirty in here?

Xie Jinhuan quickly pressed down his maid and, seeing the two human beauties before him, asked innocently:

"Really? Maybe you’re still not fully recovered from yesterday’s poisoning?"

Lin Wanyi considered that possible, tightened her cloak again, and asked:

"By the way, when exactly did you come back yesterday?"

Xie Jinhuan had returned early, even sneaking into her bath — but if Lin Wanyi found out, she’d definitely slap him with a love curse and drag him back as a live-in husband!

"I came back pretty late. Just as I got in, Zisu showed up."

"Oh..."

Lin Wanyi couldn't tell dream from reality and decided she must’ve imagined it. She shook off her thoughts and resumed scanning the riverbanks.

Thus, one man, one woman, one ghost, and one bird traveled onward. After another twenty li, the red-robed ghost-wife suddenly spoke:

"Wait."

"Whoa~"

Xie Jinhuan immediately pulled the reins, stopping the carriage by the roadside. He turned and spotted a shady trail off the overgrown highway, leading into the distant hills.

Lin Wanyi leaned out, peering into the wilderness:

"That should be Rooster Crest Ridge. A small river flows from there into the Huai River. You think it’s here?"

Xie Jinhuan wasn’t sure. He got down and inspected the path — muddy ground covered with leaves and grass, marked with scattered hoofprints and droppings, all heading deeper into the hills.

"Looks suspicious. Let’s check it out."

To avoid alarming anyone, Xie Jinhuan first drove the carriage farther away, parking it by an old bridge. Then, with one ghost and one woman, he headed into the trail.

Soon, they reached a small creek leading deeper into the hills.

Xie Jinhuan sent Meiqiu aloft for reconnaissance. Confirming no living people nearby, they followed the creek upstream.

Lin Wanyi lifted her skirts and followed close, feeling increasingly uneasy:

"This place feels... wrong. Maybe we should go back and call the yamen for backup?"

Xie Jinhuan glanced at his ghost-wife drifting about and answered:

"Broad daylight, open sky — what’s there to be afraid of? Even if something dirty shows up, I’m here."

Lin Wanyi’s real worry wasn’t monsters — it was getting tricked into the woods and losing her virtue.

Still, she was no pushover. As a sorcerer's daughter, she quickly dismissed the thought.

They continued up the rugged creek for about half an hour, arriving at a small pond.

The pond was about three zhang wide, surrounded by tangled vines. Part of the nearby hillside had collapsed, forming a debris pile next to the water.

Standing by the pond, Xie Jinhuan caught a faint smell of decay wafting from under the landslide.

Ye Hongshang hovered over the pond, nodding slightly:

"This is the place. The flower nursery is buried behind the landslide. No living people inside."

Although Lin Wanyi couldn’t hear the ghost’s whisper, she carefully observed the surroundings and agreed:

"This place is shaded, near water, heavy with yin energy. It’s ideal for growing Mad Corpse Flowers."

Certain they had found the site, Xie Jinhuan wasted no time. After checking for traps, he pulled out his Tiangang Mace and gathered his strength at the water’s edge.

Lin Wanyi quickly retreated and covered her ears.

BOOM—

A thunderous roar echoed through the valley.

Xie Jinhuan’s full-force blow shattered the pond, sending water spraying into the sky!

The shockwave battered the collapsed soil, blasting a gap open — only for it to be buried again by rolling stones.

Boom boom boom—

After three heavy strikes, a proper gap finally opened, revealing a deep, dark cave beyond, with a dense, suffocating stench pouring out...