Chapter 75 | Run! The Female Sword Immortal's Second Personality Has Woken Up

Gu Changqing wore a slightly solemn expression.

This market was located near the two villages they were investigating, yet it was unnaturally peaceful.

Over the past month, there had not been a single rumor of a demon beast attack.

This defied common sense.

He had undertaken many similar missions, and without exception, every village had at least a few rumors about demon beasts.

After all, in places rich in spiritual energy, mountain spirits and demons easily spawned.

Even if a villager died of natural causes, mortals readily attributed it to monsters; rumors of "water ghosts" or "mountain demons" were practically endless.

Gu Changqing turned to ask, “Junior Sister Bai, what do you think? Back when you lived in the village, did you ever hear anything unusual?”

Bai Zhirou's brows furrowed slightly. “When I lived there, wild beasts from the mountains would occasionally come down to attack villagers. But from what I just gathered, the surrounding villages have been remarkably peaceful lately.”

Having reached no conclusion, the group decided to set off and conduct an on-site investigation of the two villages.

...

Along the dirt road...

In the distance, the group spotted a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted bald monk with his back turned to them.

Wisps of smoke drifted lazily above his head.

In front of the monk stood a small Shrine of the Earth Deity.

Clearly, everyone retained a vivid impression of this "freeloading monk" who had just been kicked out of the brothel.

Several people began whispering among themselves:

“Looks like this monk is just a bit lustful, but his devotion to the Buddha remains sincere.”

“Mm-hmm. This is part of a monk's daily practice: asking for incense, lighting it, holding it to eyebrow level, and praying silently.”

The crowd turned once again to look at the disciple who had just visited the brothel.

Chu Qianfeng couldn't help asking, “Junior Brother Zhao, I didn't expect you to know so much about this.”

Zhao Ran scratched his head again. “Before I joined the sect, a temple was recruiting monks, so my parents sent me there. But the abbot required disciples to achieve empty attachment to the four worldly elements, abstaining from alcohol, lust, wealth, and wrath.”

“Regrettably, even heroes succumb to beauty...”

“Alright, spare us the details,” Chu Qianfeng interrupted with a dark face.

While chatting, they drew closer to the Shrine of the Earth Deity.

However, everyone's expressions soon turned deeply bizarre.

For they noticed that the "incense" this monk was burning wasn't slender joss sticks at all.

Instead, it was a ridiculously thick stick!

And his "incense" wasn't being held in his hands—it was... dangling from his mouth!

Everyone stared in speechless bewilderment, feeling that the sight was utterly bizarre.

Noticing them, the monk smiled and said, “Amitabha. Greetings, benefactors. This poor monk is Du'e, currently performing my daily spiritual homework.”

The moment he finished speaking, he took a deep drag.

Then, he blew out a massive smoke ring.

The group cringed at the sight.

Sure, he was "burning incense," but why did it feel so wrong? Why did it look so much like a mortal smoking tobacco from a pipe?

Seeming to catch their bewildered gazes, the monk smiled and explained, “This is merely another form of offering incense. The Buddha does not cling to trivialities of form.”

“Besides, this isn't made from ordinary spices. It's crafted from some miraculous leaves I stumbled upon by chance.”

Question marks practically floated above everyone's heads.

Inside her mind, Jiang Ye felt there were far too many ridiculous things to roast at once, unsure where to even begin.

“You call this bloody incense offering?! Who the hell offers incense by sticking it in their mouth?! You're bloody smoking!”

Gu Changqing felt this monk was profoundly weird, but he held back and asked, “May I ask why Master Du'e is here?”

Monk Du'e took another huge drag and lamented, “I've noticed that the people of Daniu Village seem a bit off.”

His words instantly piqued everyone's interest. Wasn't that precisely what they were here to investigate?

“What do you mean, Master?”

Monk Du'e rubbed his large bald head and gave an embarrassed laugh. “It's Xiao Qing. She never used to charge me silver before. But lately, for some reason, as soon as I mention I have no money, she gives me the cold shoulder.”

Everyone: “...”

What a freeloading bastard.

Just as the Sword Peak disciples were about to turn and leave...

...they heard Monk Du'e hastily add, “I came to investigate too! I've been observing for two days, and the villagers here are quite strange. Their daily routines end far too early.”

Gu Changqing turned back and asked, “In what way?”

Monk Du'e rubbed his chin and continued, “The moment night falls, not a single household in the entire village lights an oil lamp.”

Hearing this, the group's brows knit slightly. That was indeed abnormal.

Du'e went on, “Take Widow Liu in the east, for example. We usually use an oil lamp as a secret signal. When she lights her lamp, it means she's left the door unlocked for me. But these past two nights, she hasn't left a lamp on at all.”

Everyone: “...”

Dammit, after talking all that time, you just brought it right back to your shameless antics, didn't you?!

Gu Changqing pinched the bridge of his nose, automatically filtering out the second half of the monk's ramblings.

Still, based on what he said, the village was indeed behaving strangely.

Du'e pressed his palms together. “Are you benefactors disciples of the Azure Mystic Sect? Do you have any information?”

Gu Changqing nodded slightly. “The sect heard rumors of demon beasts haunting this area, so we were dispatched to handle it.”

Du'e put on a compassionate, benevolent smile. “Then let us go together. I truly cannot bear to see those poor women fall victim to demon beasts.”

Everyone: “...”

You're just heartbroken because you can't freeload anymore, aren't you?

Soon, they arrived at a fork in the road.

Gu Changqing said, “Let's split into two teams to investigate Luopo Village and Daniu Village separately.”

“Junior Sister Bai, you're more familiar with Luopo Village, so take one team there.”

“I will lead the other team to investigate Daniu Village.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Right at that moment, Jiang Ye's voice suddenly rang in her head:

“Almost forgot to save.”

Bai Zhirou froze, clearly not understanding what he meant.

Jiang Ye logged in immediately. Ignoring the group that was about to depart, he pulled out a stack of firewood from his spatial ring like a magician.

And right under their bewildered gazes, he set up a... campfire.

Then, he pulled out a skewer of chicken wings from his spatial ring and practicedly placed it over the fire.

Everyone: “...”

Their mouths twitched. Was... was she suddenly hungry?!

Gu Changqing chuckled awkwardly. “Why don't we rest here for a moment before heading off?”

Smelling the mouthwatering aroma of the chicken wings in Jiang Ye's hand, everyone swallowed their spittle.

While roasting the chicken wings over the fire, Jiang Ye kept a tight eye on the newly added 【Save Point Function】 on the game panel.

The function was currently unavailable. According to his experience as a veteran player, the required conditions to activate it were: "Rest, Bonfire, Food."

Just as the chicken wing skin turned golden and crispy, the save point icon on the game panel finally lit up. With a thought, Jiang Ye saved the game immediately.

Now that was the peak efficiency of a veteran gamer.

He let out a long sigh of relief. Having a new save file meant the game had far more flexibility now—no more fear of dying and having to restart from the beginning.

Having finished his task, Chef Jiang looked up, only to find everyone sitting in a neat circle, looking as if they were preparing to camp out right then and there.