Chapter 39: Demons and Phantoms—Fiends and Shadows

This time, Ning Xiu did not answer immediately. He pondered for a moment before giving his reply: “Whether it’s vengeful spirits or corpse puppets, they are all far stronger than ordinary humans. Their only weakness lies in their lack of clear consciousness.”

“There’s little need to discuss corpse puppets—they are nothing but mindless husks. Even those vengeful spirits are scattered in thought, muddled and lost, driven only by a lingering resentment.”

“You have a rare insight,” Su Lie said, a hint of admiration on his face. “The reason you think this way is because the spirits you’ve encountered are all unawakened and untrained. Such beings can be dealt with by mortals of profound cultivation, especially by practitioners of pure yang internal arts such as yourself.”

“Yet, just as humans can cultivate, so too can spirits evolve. Once they do, they transcend the ordinary and we call them monsters.”

“In my younger days, I was fortunate enough to read an ancient text which recorded that there are twenty-four kinds of such strange beings—Ch’i, Mei, Wang, Liang, Mei, Kui, Ba, Xiao... These monsters are myriad and bizarre, collectively known as the Twenty-Four Fiends.”

“These monsters are not something mortal power can contend with, no matter how high one’s cultivation. It is said that even Lan Da, the greatest master of the martial world, perished at their hands.”

“If you ever encounter such things, remember—run at once.”

Ning Xiu nodded, committing this to memory. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Since there are spirits in this world, are there also demons and monsters? For instance, beasts like tigers or leopards that have gained sentience and taken human form?”

“Within our borders, such monsters are rarely seen. And those that do appear are merely beasts with undeveloped intelligence,” Su Lie replied, frowning slightly. “As for monsters that can take human form, I’ve never heard of such a thing. There are tales that in the eastern Grand Xia, there are monsters that can speak human language.”

“If such monsters cannot be dealt with by human means, how are they to be overcome? Must we always flee?”

“To escape with your life is already a blessing…” Su Lie murmured quietly, then continued, “Weren’t you curious about what happened at Fengshuixi?”

“In one night, all thirteen top experts from both our Bamboo Grove Society and the Iron Sword Sect perished. Elder Yan and two other stewards who joined the society with you were among them.”

“This trip to headquarters serves two purposes: first, to report the events of Shanshui Town and Fengshuixi to the leader; second, to recommend you as Elder Yan’s successor.”

Ning Xiu was about to reply when Zhang Kuo’s voice came from outside.

“Protector Su, we’ve arrived at headquarters!”

“Let’s go see the leader first,” Su Lie said, patting Ning Xiu on the shoulder. He opened the carriage door and stepped out first.

The Bamboo Grove Society’s headquarters lay outside the city, which Ning Xiu knew. What he hadn’t expected was that the headquarters would be built within an actual bamboo forest.

Looking up, all he could see were towering, straight bamboo stalks, resembling countless spears thrust upside down into the earth—dense, imposing, and magnificently grand.

A gentle breeze swept through and the bamboo swayed, producing a rhythmic, melodious rustling.

Su Lie’s lips curled in a faint smile. “Come, someone has already come to greet us.”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several green-clad figures darted swiftly among the bamboo, appearing in front of Ning Xiu and his companions in an instant.

“Greetings, Protector Su,” two Bamboo Grove Society disciples bowed.

Ning Xiu cast them a casual glance. Their breathing was long and steady; clearly, they had cultivated internal strength. Such skilled practitioners were rare in the outside world, but here, they were commonplace—testament to the society’s deep foundations.

Su Lie nodded. “Is the leader in?”

“Protector Su’s letter has arrived. The leader has been awaiting you in the main hall.”

“Let’s go, then.”

Without further words, Su Lie led Ning Xiu and Zhang Kuo into the depths of headquarters.

...

Everywhere Ning Xiu looked, there was nothing but bamboo. He could sense that the headquarters’ arrangement was deliberately designed, forming something like an illusion array. Without a guide, it would be easy to lose oneself within.

Su Lie walked quickly, and the group threaded their way through layers of bamboo shadows until they reached a building.

It was a grand hall, decorated in the society’s usual style of green and blue, tastefully elegant—one might not even guess it was the council chamber of a martial society.

Seated within was a middle-aged man, appearing about forty, with five wisps of beard beneath his chin, a face like polished jade, and a look of uprightness. Despite his youthful appearance, he was surely sixty or seventy at least. This was Xiao Wanli, the “Divine Spear,” one of the four great masters of Lingnan, famed for sword, spear, saber, and halberd.

The moment Ning Xiu entered the hall, he sensed several gazes, besides Xiao Wanli’s, sweeping over him in quick succession.

Some were subtle, others direct; some scrutinizing, some hostile.

Standing below the dais, Ning Xiu raised his head to observe these people in turn. If he guessed right, these seven or eight individuals represented the highest echelon of the Bamboo Grove Society—and their strength did not disappoint. At the very least, each was at the pinnacle of the second rank.

“You’ve worked hard, Protector Su.”

Xiao Wanli raised his hand in greeting. Su Lie and Zhang Kuo saluted, then took their seats, leaving Ning Xiu standing alone at the center of the hall.

“So you are Ning Xiu! A true prodigy—remarkable, truly remarkable!” Xiao Wanli laughed heartily.

He swept his gaze around the hall. “Well, everyone has seen him now. What do you all think of Protector Su’s proposal?”

A hush fell over the assembly; no one spoke.

Zhang Kuo tried several times to speak but was held back by Su Lie. After all, they were somewhat involved and it was not their place.

“All of you are my brothers,” Xiao Wanli said, smiling again. “If you have something to say, speak freely.”

“In that case, I’ll not hold back,” said a middle-aged man with a gloomy face, rising to his feet. “I believe it’s inappropriate for Steward Ning to succeed to the position of Elder.”

Ning Xiu glanced at him; the man’s robe bore an emblem of five bamboo stalks, indicating he, like Su Lie, was a Protector within the society.

“Oh? And why does Protector Sun think so?” Xiao Wanli asked.

“Steward Ning has reached the peak of the second rank at a young age. In terms of strength, there’s no question. But the position of Elder requires more than just skill—it demands seniority and prestige as well. Ning has only been with us for a few days. Though he solved the trouble at Shanshui Town and rendered meritorious service, such brief tenure and minor achievements are not enough to win the hearts of all,” Protector Sun Qian answered, his tone righteous and resolute.