Chapter Thirty-Seven: Master Xuan An

“Ah!”
The bearded Taoist who had just tumbled down the steps cried out in agony once again.
In an instant, his entire body was engulfed by a burst of flames, leaving him scorched beyond recognition.
His Taoist robe, made of some unknown material, surprisingly remained unburned and intact despite the raging fire.
But his left hand was ripped open, his face blackened and charred in a moment, his eyebrows, hair, and thick beard reduced to ashes.
His appearance was utterly pitiful!
Yet to the bearded Taoist at this moment, these burns were nothing compared to his real pain.
He clutched his crotch with both hands, wailing as he rolled on the ground, stripped of any semblance of a cultivator’s dignity.
In truth, this Taoist was not weak in cultivation and possessed a strong will.
But the pain was simply overwhelming, as if someone were mercilessly squeezing his vital parts.
It was relentless, ceaseless, and unbearably intense!
His vision darkened, sweat streaming from his forehead.
More dangerously, his internal spiritual power was completely chaotic, showing signs of entering a state of demonic deviation!
“Help, help me!”
Finally unable to endure, the bearded Taoist screamed in agony.
“Senior brother!”
His companion, though kicked in the stomach by Fang Xiao and sent flying down the steps, was in much better shape than his senior.
Hearing his desperate cries for help, the young Taoist’s mind was thrown into turmoil.
He ignored any thought of counterattacking Fang Xiao.
Instead, he crushed a jade talisman he carried.
A burst of spiritual light exploded forth.
A whirlwind suddenly arose, growing stronger with swirling sand and stones.
Fang Xiao, charging down the steps, quickly halted, wary of being caught in this sinister whirlwind.
Next moment, the massive whirlwind swept along the mountain path, vanishing from Fang Xiao’s sight in the blink of an eye.
Both the bearded Taoist and his companion disappeared without a trace!
Escaped?
Fang Xiao swung his weapon belt in frustration.
He was thoroughly displeased.
These two Taoists had appeared out of nowhere, attacked without provocation, and were full of malice.
He had only struck them once with the belt.
Far too lenient!
“Pah!”
Fang Xiao spat on the ground, turning to see the big green donkey sneakily peeking its head out from the doorway.

The donkey was watching him.
Fang Xiao glared, and it hurriedly withdrew its head in fright.
Back inside the temple, Fang Xiao grew more uneasy the longer he thought about it.
He rummaged through his satchel for a yellow talisman.
This talisman had been specially left for him by Taoist Pang, saying it could be used to send a message in an emergency.
Following the method taught by Taoist Pang, Fang Xiao placed the talisman in the courtyard’s bronze cauldron and set it alight.
The paper turned to ash in a moment, rising with the heat and disappearing into the sky.
Even after burning the talisman, Fang Xiao remained unsettled.
He simply opened the temple doors wide, brought out a stool, and sat down.
He buckled the weapon belt back on his waist, swapping it for a refined black iron spear.
He laid the fully extended spear across his lap.
He began to wait in silence.
Fang Xiao felt the matter was far from over; those two who had fled would surely return with vengeance.
He was ready for their comeback!
In the heart of this sixteen-year-old boy, there was no thought of retreat.
He was determined to defend the temple to the last!
Time passed slowly and the small Jing Mountain temple became eerily quiet.
The big green donkey seemed to sense danger, curling up in a corner, silent as if dead.
Fang Xiao ignored it.
After a while, an elderly voice sounded from outside: “Is Taoist Pang here?”
They’ve come!
Fang Xiao sprang to his feet, gripping the black iron spear tightly.
He saw a gray-haired, gaunt old Taoist standing at the temple gate.
The man wore a dusty gray robe, held a horsetail whisk, and his murky old eyes showed a faint, inscrutable smile.
“The master isn’t home,”
Fang Xiao repeated his earlier words.
This newcomer looked frail, but Fang Xiao felt a deep sense of threat emanating from him.
“May I ask who you are?”
The old Taoist in gray smiled, lightly stepping over the threshold into the courtyard, bowing to Fang Xiao: “I am Xuan An from the Pure Wind Temple, a fellow disciple of Taoist Pang.”
“My name is Fang Xiao,”
Fang Xiao answered sternly, “I am a distant relative of the master.”
“So it’s young Fang,”
Xuan An sighed, saying, “I’ve come to apologize. My two junior brothers acted rashly just now and offended you. Please forgive them.”
He bowed again.

Anyone else would have replied with polite platitudes, smoothing things over.
But Fang Xiao’s wariness only increased, answering stiffly, “If you have business, speak to the master!”
For some reason,
He felt this kindly old Taoist was no good either!
Xuan An’s brows furrowed.
He had thought Fang Xiao was young and could be easily swayed with a few gentle words.
Yet Fang Xiao was stubbornly unmoved, refusing to play along with his script!
Xuan An half-closed his eyes, quietly forming a spell with his right hand holding the whisk.
But just as he thought himself subtle and unnoticed,
Fang Xiao suddenly raised the black iron spear, the three-edged point aimed straight at the old man’s throat.
He was ready to fight!
Xuan An’s expression changed instantly.
Fang Xiao clearly regarded him as an enemy, his eyes filled with fierce killing intent.
Most importantly, the aura Fang Xiao revealed in that instant made every hair on Xuan An’s body stand erect!
This boy must not be allowed to live!
A thought flashed through Xuan An’s mind as a small sword silently slid from his sleeve.
“Xuan An!”
At that tense moment, a thunderous roar erupted.
Xuan An was startled, quickly gripping the small sword in his palm.
He had just turned around
When Taoist Pang strode toward him, roaring, “You old bastard, daring to come here and bully my nephew while I’m away!”
Xuan An was caught off guard, sprayed full in the face.
He retreated in haste, forcing a smile and bowing: “Xuan Ping, we are from the same lineage, why speak so harshly…”
“Old bastard!”
Taoist Pang refused to back down, spitting again, “You shameless old bastard, who the hell is your fellow disciple!”
Even Xuan An, shrewd as he was,
Was broken in that moment: “Xuan Ping, do you really want to make an enemy of the Pure Wind Temple?”
“Bah!”
Taoist Pang cursed, “You thieving old bastard, you think I don’t know the filthy things you’ve done?”
“Get out now, or I’ll beat you myself!”
Xuan An was left speechless.
With a flick of his robe, he summoned a breeze and slipped out of the temple.
He was actually chased away just by Taoist Pang’s scolding!