"That is to say, is this the origin of the thing we are looking for?" Duan Rongrong asked softly.

"With this level of yin energy concentration...not necessarily." Yan Kai slightly shook his head.

At this time, Lu Sheng had begun asking the few eccentrics to demonstrate their skills.

The talkative Taoist from earlier grinned. "This poor Taoist's skill is this."

He reached out and somehow grabbed a stone from somewhere, clenching it in his hand and fiercely squeezing.

Swish...

Fine stone powder instantly squeezed out from between his fingers, scattering down with the wind.

The rest of those who came looked rather astonishedly towards him.

Clearly even Jiu Lian City's top few masters may not be able to accomplish this.

That woman masquerading as a swordsman was even more solemn, staring at this Taoist.

Even Yan Kai was now focused on this Taoist.

This level of strength, crushing rock into powder, must require extremely powerful internal martial arts skills to accomplish. He didn't expect to encounter such an expert here.

The surrounding attendants, maidservants and servants had people who couldn't help but utter amazed sounds.

Lu Sheng stared at the Taoist without speaking, only frowning.

The Taoist grinned. "How about it? Young Master, can this poor Taoist's skill catch your eye?"

Lu Sheng slowly exhaled. Suddenly his gaze turned fierce.

"This is clearly the smell of fossil powder! What lying bogus sorcerer dares come trying to fool this young master! Grab him!"

Those present were stunned.

Before they could react, two sturdy attendants threw themselves over, pressing the Taoist onto the ground.

The Taoist screamed and struggled to no avail, now held down by two people without that previous overbearing power that could pulverize rock.

Clearly just an ordinary person.

One of the burly attendant guards at the side asked coldly. He had personally witnessed Eldest Young Master's prowess the night before, vanquishing that female ghost. Now he had completely become Lu Sheng's most loyal supporter.

"Eldest Young Master, how should we deal with this person? Should we notify the county office's people?"

Lu Sheng looked at the struggling Taoist on the ground in disgust.

"No need to report to officials, take him out to hack down."

"No... Eldest Young Master, this humble one was just momentarily muddled, wanting to earn some travel expenses to live! Just a moment's folly!"

Hearing this, that Taoist suddenly turned terrified, loudly pleading for mercy. His whole body shook like a sieve, his face entirely bloodless, cold sweat coursing down continuously.

"Eldest Young Master, spare my life!!"

"Indeed!"

The attendant didn't care further, dragging the Taoist out with people.

There was a specific execution chamber by the training yard's side.

The wealthy and powerful Lu's could privately execute some people themselves, with the county office turning a blind eye.

Yan Kai and the other witnesses watched with horror as the man was dragged away. Soon, a faint shriek could be heard from outside.

"Alright, everyone. With the blind catfish filtered, may the next person demonstrate your skills."

Lu Sheng restored his previous gentle smiling expression.

What was left of the few people now had a deeper understanding of this Eldest Young Master of the Lu family.

Appearing physically frail and weak, but lightning quick at reversing his attitude with decisive actions and vicious strikes. He was truly a fearsome character.

After a period of silence, the second person to step out was the Red Lotus Temple monk Real Pond Master. The Master's hands were somewhat shaky but he still steeled his courage to step forward.

"This poor monk....suddenly recalled some urgent matter at the temple...."

He stepped out yet unexpectedly not to demonstrate skills but prepare to take off.

Facing Lu Sheng, this Real Pond Master's forehead was even beading with sweat.

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The slightly younger monk behind him was even more unbearable. Not just sweating on his forehead, his entire complexion was pale with both legs shaking continuously.

"Since the Master has pressing matters to handle, you may take your leave then."

Lu Sheng smiled as before, still gentle and courteous without making things difficult for the two monks, immediately having the maidservant lead Real Pond Master away.

Just like that three people left.

Remaining were only three, separately that wandering swordsman and Yan Kai's pair.

"Next, I'll go." That woman in men's garb stepped out, drawing her twin sabers at the waist.

"I specialize in lightness skill, both short and long distance raids and investigative tracking. I may be helpful in searching for the missing people."

"Oh? Then may I ask how this lady is named?"

Lu Sheng smiled.

"Zhuan Feng."

"Zhuan Feng?" Lu Sheng was puzzled.

The female swordsman quickly wrote two words in the stone table. Only then did everyone realize her surname was Zhuan.

"Then, Miss Zhuan Feng, may I ask how you will demonstrate your skills?"

Lu Sheng revealed slight curiosity.

Zhuan Feng sniffed her nose, squatting down to carefully inspect the ground. Then she used her ears to listen closely against the floor.

Soon after, she stood up.

"I can determine that, Young Master Lu, you and these people have been here to this residence for no longer than two hours.

There should have been two batches of attendant maids coming in and out tidying up, numbering no more than ten people, approximately one hour ago.

Then Young Master arrived, and none of you including the attendants by your side have entered the residence's rooms.

Clearly this courtyard was temporarily opened specifically to test us. Even all of you haven't had a chance to enter the rooms yet."

Hearing this, Lu Sheng and the rest all widened their eyes. Not just them, even the surrounding attending guards and maids had expressions as if they'd seen ghosts.

Just by lying down to look, listen and sniff a little, she judged out so many things already.

Miss Zhuan Feng was a truly an eccentric!

"Amazing!"

Lu Sheng lightly applauded. "Miss Zhuan Feng, regardless of how you determined this, you pass. Next is these two...."

He looked to Yan Kai's pair.

Yan Kai was still fine but Duan Rongrong felt chills running through her being stared at by this Young Master Lu.

Just now still smiling amiably, his face changing faster than flipping pages with resolute actions and viciousness.

Even with him smiling at you, you wouldn't know if he was planning to kill you the next instant.

Duan Rongrong already inwardly deemed this Young Master Lu as dangerous.

Yan Kai on the other hand remained composed, stepping forward.

"If I'm not wrong...."

He fixed a bright gaze on Lu Sheng.

"Young Master Lu's wounds were caused by the invasion of yin energy, correct?"

"Oh?"

Lu Sheng's brows raised, now truly interested.

This man before him could really discern something.

"The injuries should be around your lower abdomen but fortunately did not penetrate the internal organs. Just....having absorbed yin energy, if not expelled, it will ultimately harm yang energy.

This is some yang-returning water concocted by this poor Taoist, if Young Master has the courage, you may drink some to try."

He took out a small black porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it over.

The nearby maidservant quickly took it over on a tray and brought it before Lu Sheng.

"Remember to return the bottle after drinking." Yan Kai added.

Lu Sheng looked at the bottle, uncorked it and took a sniff.

Just this whiff and he felt the cold yin in his body already partly dispelled. A scalding hot scent wafted from the bottle into his nose, making his body heat up somewhat.

It was because he had taken a palm strike to the lower abdomen before. After returning to his room to rest, his entire body felt chilled. The actual wounds were secondary but this lingering yin chill within his body persisted regardless of ingesting yang-supplementing medicine or sunlight exposure exercises.

Previously after consuming yang medicines or exercises, he would briefly feel his body warm up somewhat but the internal yin chill would just relapse once he rested again.

Seeing the proffered bottle now, Lu Sheng faintly smiled. Without hesitation, he upended it into his mouth.

A lightly rusty flavor diffused through his mouth accompanied by a spicy stimulation. A stream of heat flowed from his throat down into his stomach.

Lu Sheng exhaled deeply. His entire body felt warm, like basking under the ninety degree noon summer sun, warmly comfortable all over.

The previous yin chill swiftly melted away under the blazing yang energy like spring snow under sunlight, swiftly vanishing without a trace.

"The Daoist is truly formidable." Now Lu Sheng knew he had encountered an expert. "This bottle of yang-returning water, I will include in your payment."

"Then I have passed?"

Yan Kai asked.

"Naturally! You three follow me."

Lu Sheng slowly stood up, supported by attendants as he led the three to an inner room of Yellow Crane Institute.

The maids all withdrew and attendants exited, leaving only that same burly guard remaining by Lu Sheng's side.

Ka. The room door closed.

Only five people remained inside.

"The detailed process is this...."

Lu Sheng started recounting from the first case of the missing people.

Yan Kai's three listened attentively, asking some detailed questions periodically.

Whatever Lu Sheng knew, he answered. What he didn't know, the large guard beside supplemented.

The conversation lasted fully half an hour.

After understanding the entire picture, Yan Kai lowered his head to ponder briefly before raising his head again.

"What Young Master has encountered is what we poor Taoists term as an evil ghost."

"Evil ghost? What is that?" Lu Sheng asked back. This was truly his first intimate contact with the mysterious aspect of this world.

"Evil ghosts. They are not formed from human death but rather human sentiments of resentment, jealousy, hatred, grievances etc absorbing some mysterious forces from the surroundings, condensing and forming into such ghosts." Yan Kai said solemnly.

"Evil ghosts are still somewhat easy to deal with individually. But if left unchecked over time, they will continuously spread and infect, killing more and more people before transforming them into new evil ghosts."

"Judging from the yin energy concentration on Young Master, the evil ghost you've encountered should have been neglected for quite some time already."

"Neglected for some time?? You mean, there are an unknown number of evil ghosts in Jiu Lian City?" Lu Sheng's expression changed.

"Highly likely." Yan Kai nodded. "Very well, leave this matter to this poor Taoist to handle. Young Master just focus on recuperating at home. However finding people...."

"I'll do it." Zhuan Feng spoke up. "I've also encountered such supernatural matters previously, with some experience."

Lu Sheng nodded his agreement.

"Then Daoist Master, is there anything I can do to assist you?"

By now, Lu Sheng considered this Yan Kai to be the real deal, an expert.

"Such evil ghosts are not something ordinary people like you can handle. It's imperative you relocate away from Jiu Lian City immediately since you've provoked them already, lest you become nourishing food for their existence."

Yan Kai said mildly.

"Also, we came to investigate the full truth behind the Xu family's extermination."

"This subordinate also wishes to contribute within my meager power."

Lu Sheng said earnestly.

"I already said no need for ordinary people no matter how many. Even if you have some martial arts, you'll only hinder us."

"Martial arts are useless against ghosts!"

Yan Kai unceremoniously frowned with a harsh refusal.

Hearing this, even Duan Rongrong was drenched in cold sweat. What if they provoked this Young Master Lu....

Just as Lu Sheng wanted to speak, Yan Kai cut him off.

"Enough. Ordinary people cannot meddle in this."