Chapter 106: Observation

"So what if I was the one who killed him!"

Xie Xiushi sneered at the young master of the Xu family as he stormed into the inner courtyard with his thugs. Even though he did not know who this man was, Xie responded with equal defiance.

Times had changed.

If it had been moments ago, he might have felt some trepidation toward the young master, but he was a different person now. He was an immortal—the Ghost Mansion Star Official of the heavens!

"Then you shall pay with your life."

Xu Zhendong’s gaze turned cold as he looked at the fisherman, who stood there with an unbridled arrogance, openly talking back to him. Originally, he had only intended to drive this fisherman out of Floating Dream Pavilion. Since someone was seeking death, he would no longer hold back.

Xu Zhendong turned around.

The servants behind him swarmed toward Xie Xiushi. Among them stood a Taoist priest in grey robes, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his sleepy eyes still crusted with sleep. His dark hair was tied up with a single piece of dogtail grass.

Wu Yang glanced at Su Yuanbai not far away. Seeing that Su remained calm and showed no intention of intervening, he hesitated before preparing to assist his master. His master had once told him: "Eat one's grain, be loyal to one's duties; accept one's command, exhaust one's sincerity."

However, just as Wu Yang moved to help Xie, he found his body unable to move, as if bound by something.

"Stay where you are."

The grey-robed Taoist glanced at Wu Yang, who was gripping his blade and staff. With just that look, a thick vine erupted from the ground beneath Wu Yang’s feet. It coiled around him so tightly that he struggled to breathe.

"Your White Ape martial soul is of the Metal element, which should theoretically counter my Wood energy. Alas, your Metal energy is not only insufficient but also lacks the purity of my Wood. This is the tragedy of a martial artist. No matter how you temper your martial energy, it is difficult to refine."

The grey-robed Taoist then turned his gaze toward Su Yuanbai. He had never seen this handsome man in Floating Dream City before.

Meanwhile, Xie Xiushi was struggling against the servants Xu Zhendong had brought. Though he had fished along the South Sea for years and possessed decent physical stamina, he was no match for these men. They were agile and ruthless, striking without mercy.

Before long, Xie, who was scrambling to dodge, had sustained multiple wounds. He had not just been spouting empty threats; he could feel a ball of fire burning in his chest. Yet, the servants' rapid, violent attacks gave him no chance to unleash it. Every time he dodged, he was immediately besieged again before he could steady his breath.

The only thing Xie found fortunate was that the wounds were merely shallow bloodstains, nothing deep enough to hit bone. Even so, he was reaching his limit. Many ants could kill an elephant, and he was far from a strong elephant.

"Daoist, save me!"

Seeing another cold blade slice across his chest, Xie finally felt fear and shouted to Su Yuanbai, who was waiting quietly nearby.

Su Yuanbai glanced sideways at Xie, who was being beaten and hacked at within the crowd. Regrettably, this commoner had brought him no surprises. Even with a sliver of divinity, a commoner remained a commoner.

However, that single glance from Su Yuanbai prompted the grey-robed Taoist to strike. The weeds on the ground grew wildly, forming a cage that trapped Su, and then shards of grass flew within the cage like sharp blades. The wind of the blades howled.

It all happened in an instant, but Su Yuanbai’s reaction was faster. In fact, he had moved the moment the weeds began to grow. He was so swift that even though his current state was not what it once was—no longer shifting without a trace—he left behind an illusory afterimage. He was certainly beyond these people’s ability to handle.

Su Yuanbai calmly gripped the grey-robed Taoist’s throat, lifting him into the air, and stared into the man’s horrified eyes. He squeezed hard.

*Crack.*

It was not the Taoist’s neck that broke, but a simple piece of wood.

*Pat, pat, pat.*

The sound of hurried, panicked footsteps faded into the distance. Su Yuanbai glanced at the fleeing Xu Zhendong, then looked back at the servants who had been attacking Xie. Seeing what had transpired, they froze as if petrified, not daring to move.

Xie Xiushi, who had been cowering, finally found a chance to breathe. Seeing the servants immobilized, anger flared in his heart, and a trace of malice flashed in his eyes. The fire in his chest began to surge toward his throat.

*Whoosh.*

A scorching flame erupted from Xie’s mouth.

*Puff.*

Before the fire could touch the servants, a crisp extinguishing sound was heard. Su Yuanbai had appeared beside Xie. With his left hand, he slapped the fire back into Xie’s mouth.

"If you want to vent your anger, go find that young master of the Xu mansion."

Su Yuanbai looked calmly at Xie, who stood there stunned and panicked, his cheeks puffed out and smoke rising from his ears. He then let go and turned to the servants, who had just realized he was standing there.

"Are you not going to run?" Su Yuanbai asked with a faint smile.

The servants dropped their weapons and fled the scene in a flurry.

"Many thanks to the Immortal for saving me twice."

With the disappearance of the grey-robed Taoist, the vines on Wu Yang withered and fell limply to the ground. Wu Yang easily stepped out, bowing respectfully to Su Yuanbai. He could tell that this Immortal was truly extraordinary.

"I did not intend to save you," Su Yuanbai said calmly, looking down at Wu Yang.

"Miss, this is the Immortal who suddenly appeared and destroyed the Fire-Dwelling Ghost."

Cui Ya appeared in the inner courtyard. She was holding the hand of a beautiful but pale woman in a light blue dress. She bowed slightly to Su Yuanbai, who stood on the other side of the courtyard.

"This Immortal has a faint aura of the Underworld on him. Do you practice the Ghost Path?" Cui Dandan asked, biting her pale lips. She looked at the handsome man standing calmly in the courtyard and noticed the faint black aura of the Underworld lingering around him, feeling a sense of worry.

There were few practitioners of the Ghost Path who followed the righteous way, and in a place like the Southern Desolate Province, it was a miracle from heaven to encounter one who did.

"What is it that needs saving?"

Su Yuanbai did not answer; he simply raised his eyes and asked Cui Ya calmly.

Cui Ya did not immediately realize the handsome man was speaking to her. It was only when her mistress looked at her that she reacted. Had this Immortal really kept what she said in his heart?