To be honest, Yun Ze never expected this gentleman to come to Qingyuan one day.

For the Yun family, the ‘Flowing Cloud Temple’ was practically taboo. Only a select few knew about it, while those beneath remained completely unaware. No wonder the servant had no clue at all.

Yun Ze hurried forward, offering a respectful bow.

This scene stunned the onlooking servants.

“That… that’s the Patriarch…”

They couldn’t help feeling puzzled. Over the years, when had their Yun Manor ever bowed to any cultivator like this?

When they looked more closely, however, they saw not only respect but also fear in the Patriarch’s eyes.

The steward bustled over, quickly shooing the group of servants away.

“If anyone dares spread idle gossip, I’ll feed you to the wolf demons!”

Everyone shivered at his words, promptly closing their mouths and vowing to stay silent about what they’d witnessed.

Yun Ze sat down nervously, cautiously asking, “Might I inquire why Mr. Chen has come to our Yun Manor?”

Chen Changsheng replied, “Patriarch Yun is too polite. I’ve come regarding a matter of Evil Spirits. I heard there is a zombie Evil Spirit in Qingyuan, so I came to investigate. Seeking lodging at Yun Manor was merely my way to find a place to rest.”

“I see,” Yun Ze breathed a sigh of relief, but then grew tense again. He asked, “Did… did the True Dragon Moyuan come with you?”

Chen Changsheng answered, “He is not present.”

Yun Ze was truly relieved then.

He knew well this gentleman’s temperament: an agreeable man. But that Black Dragon was a genuine troublemaker who needed watching.

Yun Li, who had been in the inner mountain, rushed directly to the Main Hall.

Entering the hall and seeing the green-robed gentleman seated there, he immediately clasped his hands in greeting. “This young one, Yun Li, pays his respects to Mr. Chen.”

Chen Changsheng glanced at him. “Young Master Yun has clearly put in immense effort these past years.”

“You flatter me, sir,” Yun Li replied.

Only Yun Li and Yun Ze received Chen Changsheng.

This was mainly due to Mr. Chen’s special status.

In days past, offending this gentleman had nearly turned a grand birthday celebration into a funeral.

As the person within Yun Manor who’d had the most contact with Mr. Chen, Yun Li naturally took the lead. Learning Mr. Chen’s purpose for coming, he quickly made arrangements.

He specifically found a secluded courtyard within the manor for the gentleman to settle in.

Afterwards, the Patriarch personally forbade anyone from approaching the area.

On one hand, it was to prevent any rude disciples from offending Mr. Chen. On the other, it was because they knew this gentleman prized tranquility.

Their thoroughness and attentiveness left even Chen Changsheng momentarily speechless.

The little courtyard was lovely. Unique flowers, dazzling to behold, bloomed on both sides. An ancient tree in the center cast cool shade below which stood a stone chess table, scattered with dry, fallen leaves. It held an air of antiquated charm.

Chen Changsheng thought: since I’ve come, I might as well stay. And so he settled in.

Later, both the Patriarch of Yun Manor and Yun Li came again to pay their respects – first in the Main Hall, then at the courtyard. They inquired if anything was missing or if he was uncomfortable with anything.

Chen Changsheng couldn’t help feeling they were somewhat excessively ‘hospitable’. “All is well. There’s no need for such trouble, gentlemen. I am not particular.”

Yun Ze insisted, “Should you have any request, sir, please speak freely.”

“I will.”

Yun Ze hurriedly left to attend to matters in the inner mountain, leaving Yun Li behind.

Yun Li understood the Patriarch’s intention perfectly.

This was actually an opportunity.

Once seated, Chen Changsheng asked, “Could Young Master Yun tell me about the Evil Spirits of Qingyuan?”

Yun Li answered, “There’s more than one Evil Spirit in Qingyuan, sir. Which one are you asking about?”

“More than one?” Chen Changsheng’s eyes brightened. “How many?”

Yun Li paused, slightly puzzled. Why did Mr. Chen seem excited by news of Evil Spirits?

They were awful things.

He then began listing them: “Yun Manor disciples have discovered four so far. One was a vampiric Evil Spirit bat demon, capable of turning a Divine Transformation cultivator into a desiccated corpse in an instant. I personally went to eliminate it later. Then there’s a cat demon concealed within the town market. But since it hasn’t caused any trouble, we haven’t bothered it. A dog demon travels with the cat demon; similarly untroublesome. And then…”

Here, Yun Li hesitated. “There’s… an entirely bizarre being. It’s not called a human or a demon. Rumors say it’s a zombie Evil Spirit because the Corpse Qi and Yin Energy on its arm are incredibly dense. But earlier, when I pursued it and slashed through its Evil Qi with my sword… I finally saw its true form! It was just… just an arm! I was stunned momentarily, and it escaped. Now, we can’t find even a trace of it.”

“Just an arm…” Chen Changsheng murmured. “That is peculiar.”

“Do you know roughly where it fled to?”

“Only a general direction. The Yun Manor disciples are still searching for its exact location.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. Then he asked, “Young Master Yun, what do you think that arm is?”

Yun Li thought for a moment. “It might indeed be somewhat like the rumors say. The owner of that arm is probably a zombie. What baffles Yun Li though, is that the arm itself… seemed to possess awareness.” He looked at Mr. Chen. “If you saw it yourself, sir, you’d surely know what it is.”

Chen Changsheng said, “I’m more curious about who the arm belongs to.”

At this, Yun Li also frowned. “If a single arm exhibits such terrifying power, its owner must be a profoundly fearsome fiend.”

Chen Changsheng pondered briefly. “Would Young Master Yun be willing to accompany me on a venture tonight?”

“Of course, sir!” Yun Li readily agreed. “To be honest with you, I was injured by that arm in a sneak attack earlier and haven’t fully recovered yet.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Changsheng said, “Might you show me?”

(Note: “Not called a human” is likely a turn of phrase meaning “wasn’t classified as a human” or “wasn’t referred to as human,” meaning it didn’t fit the known categories. We’ve translated it interpretively to capture the intended meaning.)

Yun Li pushed up his sleeve. A deep claw mark marked his forearm, wreathed in residual tendrils of Corpse Qi and Yin Energy. His lack of recovery stemmed precisely from this potent Corpse Qi, difficult to expell.

Chen Changsheng examined it and frowned. “You were injured by a true zombie. An ordinary Corpse Path cultivator couldn’t produce Corpse Qi of this caliber.”

As he spoke, Chen Changsheng flipped his sleeve. A Black Pagoda appeared, hovering in his palm.

Chen Changsheng held the Black Pagoda above Yun Li’s injured arm.

“Allow me to extract this Evil Qi for you.”

Yun Li stared at the ancient-looking tower, feeling a jolt. Why did it emanate such intense Evil Qi itself!?

“Hm?”

The pagoda rotated. The Corpse Qi and Yin Energy within the claw mark slowly lifted like smoke, drawing inexorably into the dark structure.

Yun Li instinctively channeled his Magical Power. Mere moments passed before the claw mark visibly began to heal, the injury mending completely.

Yun Li flexed his hand, finding it whole. “Thank you, sir!” 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Chen Changsheng took back the Black Pagoda. “A small matter.”