Chapter 23: The Arrival of an Honored Guest (Part 3)

Chapter 23: The Arrival of the Distinguished Guest, Part 3

A raucous banquet of mountain spirits and wild monsters was underway. Within the hall, the bonfire flickered, casting grotesque, terrifying faces into sharp relief. Some laughed, others whispered, all savoring this rare moment of joyous gathering. Yet the merriment had been abruptly shattered by the arrival of unwelcome guests.

Zhang Sanlu, with one eye and one arm, wielded an enormous hammer shaped like a human head. He swung it in a fierce arc through the air, striking directly at a pig demon attempting to flee. The pig demon squealed in terror, unable to evade, and the hammer landed with a heavy thud. Its innards burst forth, and it died on the spot.

The monsters at the banquet scattered in panic, fleeing in all directions. Rabbits and mice, relying on their small size, darted out first, abandoning even the rolling eyeballs and fingers they had been pushing along. A fox, taking advantage of the chaos, had already slipped quietly to the door. Sensing danger, it turned and ran off, glancing back as it went.

Only the gaunt old ox at the main table remained, leisurely chewing as if the killing and dying around it had nothing to do with him.

Just then, a long howl echoed through the night sky. A creature covered in blue fur, with the head of a dog and a human-like body, stood upright and leaped forward with a whoosh.

The bonfire flickered even more wildly. The howling dog demon was enormous, its blue fur standing on end like steel needles. Its eyes glowed with a ghostly green light, saliva dripping from its mouth, making it appear especially fierce. It opened its cavernous jaws, revealing rows of sharp fangs, and lunged at Zhang Sanlu, bringing with it a gust of foul wind.

Zhang Sanlu remained calm. With a flicker, he dodged the dog demon's attack. His single arm gripped the hammer tightly, swinging it in a wide arc that aimed straight for the dog demon's head.

The dog demon darted forward, dropping flat to the ground to evade the blow.

But Zhang Sanlu pushed the hammer downward, smashing it into the demon’s waist with a crunch. A section of the creature's back collapsed.

The dog demon howled in agony, turned its huge mouth toward Zhang Sanlu, and spewed a cloud of black mist.

Fearing the mist was poisonous, Zhang Sanlu leapt back, pondering how best to punish this wounded beast. But his hammer was lost, and he wondered whether the short sword at his waist would be any use against such a creature.

"Friend, beware!" Suddenly a deep, raspy voice echoed through the night, drifting closer.

Zhang Sanlu looked toward the source. A middle-aged Taoist in robes was approaching unhurriedly from afar. Though his pace seemed leisurely, he arrived in the blink of an eye.

The Taoist’s figure was slightly plump, giving him an air that clashed with the usual image of an ascetic. His messy, shoulder-length hair hung loosely, covering half a face that seemed not yet recovered from a drunken sleep. His round face bore a shrewd, worldly smile. His eyes were small but sharp, as if searching the crowd for generous donors.

His robe was clean and neat, but unlike the plain attire of mountain hermits, it was embroidered with strands of gold thread, lending it a touch of gaudiness. A jade pendant hung from his belt, chiming brightly with each movement, drawing attention.

"Blessings upon you, friend," he greeted with a smile, bowing slightly with a single-handed Taoist salute.

"Blessings to you as well," Zhang Sanlu replied. "Are you here at this graveyard to rescue someone?" He wondered whether this plump Taoist was passing by, here to slay demons, or had another motive. He remained alert, speaking cautiously, and kept his eye—almost not enough for all that was happening—on the dog demon.

"Friend, I have a small request, and I hope you might grant it," the plump Taoist said with a smile, pausing before continuing, "Of course, should you agree, I will certainly reward you."

Zhang Sanlu gripped the hilt of his sword, pondering what request this Taoist might have. He decided to feign politeness and learn more before committing—after all, whether he agreed or not was entirely up to him.

"You're too kind," Zhang Sanlu replied. "But my abilities are modest; I may not be of much help."

"Ah," the Taoist waved his hands in a humble gesture. "No need for such modesty. Though my knowledge is limited, I dared to observe and saw your profound skill. The heavens are flawed, the earth incomplete; loss balances excess, so that perfection is attained. Yet it seems you’ve reached a bottleneck. What you absorb cannot replenish yourself; perhaps your body is no longer fit for use."

Zhang Sanlu understood not a single word, but sensing the Taoist harbored some caution toward him, he surmised the request was merely a pretext for friendship. If he revealed his ignorance, matters might take a different turn. So, he smiled ambiguously and asked, "Friend, what exactly is it you seek? Please, do tell."

Seeing Zhang Sanlu did not refuse, the plump Taoist smiled and pointed to the dog demon panting on the ground. "Friend, do you know what kind of demon this is?"

"Isn’t it a dog demon?"

The Taoist nodded, then shook his head. "Yes and no. This creature is called a Tuo Dog—blue skin, bear claws, human body, dog head—also known as the Blue Demon. It’s a rare specimen in this world."

"Oh?" Zhang Sanlu seemed to guess the Taoist’s intention. "Do you want this Tuo Dog?"

"Hahaha... Not quite. It’s already mine, so how could I want it?"

Zhang Sanlu’s expression darkened. The Taoist’s tone suggested he was here to claim it outright. Zhang himself had no use for the Tuo Dog, but the Taoist’s claim that it was already his seemed dismissive, as if others didn’t matter.

The plump Taoist was adept at reading people. Seeing Zhang Sanlu’s face change, he quickly waved his hand. "Don’t misunderstand, friend. This dog demon is indeed my own. What I ask is simply your forgiveness for its attack. As its keeper, I will offer you a reward."

"Oh?" Zhang Sanlu raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected the demon to belong to the Taoist, but the notion struck him as absurd. He asked, "You, a Taoist, keep such a creature and try to scare me off? It’s one thing not to slay demons, but to raise them, and let them prey on people in these wild mountains?"

The Taoist was taken aback, then laughed heartily. "You’re joking. This beast lurks in the graveyard of Black Pine Post, hunting only highway robbers. It’s never harmed an innocent. Its only fault is using my Illusion Bead to summon companions, making a ruckus and offending you."

Zhang Sanlu listened, unsettled by the Taoist’s casual disregard for human life, though he claimed to have limits. Turning to the cloth peddler hiding in the grass, Zhang Sanlu asked, "You say it’s never harmed innocents, but isn’t that cloth trader an innocent?" He waited to see how the Taoist would respond.