C47 The Sky will Clear after the Rain

I muttered under my breath and turned to Deaf Zhang, "The villagers must have heard the noise and all rushed over!"

"What of it? Today, we've rid the people of a scourge and carried out justice on behalf of the heavens. The folks here ought to be grateful to us," Deaf Zhang replied nonchalantly.

Glancing at the sprawled bodies in the courtyard and the corpses of Sunn Youde and Ms. Xiaofeng's father, I shook my head and said, "Their prejudice against me didn't form overnight. I doubt they'll thank us. They're more likely to pin the murders on us, and I'll go from being seen as a jinx to a killer."

Without time for further explanation, I grabbed Deaf Zhang and bolted, weaving through the crowd to the nearby woods.

Deaf Zhang and I took refuge in the forest, catching our breath and regaining our strength. Once the turmoil at the Sunn family estate had settled, we seized the cover of night to make our way back to the mountain.

Dawn was breaking, the dark clouds scattering, and the warm sunlight filtered through the canopy, clearing the gloom that had settled over us.

Yet, with the Evil Taoist still at large, a sense of unease lingered. I suspected Deaf Zhang felt the same restlessness.

Casting a glance his way, I inadvertently noticed the absence of the three vengeful spirits from his wine jars. "Mr. Ergou, could it be that the last ghost has also fallen to the Evil Taoist...?" I inquired.

Expecting Deaf Zhang to express sorrow, I was surprised when he flashed a knowing smile and said, "Changsheng, once I've shared the details with you, you'll surely find me quite clever."

"I've always thought you were exceptionally bright," I lied.

Deaf Zhang chuckled at my response, then continued, "Changsheng, do you know what became of my last ghost? I sent him to shadow the Evil Taoist."

"To shadow him? But isn't there a risk he'll be discovered?" I expressed my concern.

"Not a chance. That ghost was a reconnaissance soldier in life. I instructed him to keep a safe distance; there's no way the Evil Taoist will detect him," Deaf Zhang asserted confidently.

"That's reassuring," I said, though I couldn't shake off a lingering sense of unease.

Deaf Zhang was silent for a moment, seemingly in deep communication with the ghost. After a while, he furrowed his brow and spoke, "This is odd, Changsheng, do you have any idea where the Evil Taoist might be heading?"

"Where did he go?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

"The Evil Taoist has actually headed towards Hundred Ghost Slope. Surely he's not going to the same place we are, is he? But he hasn't settled down yet. We'll keep an eye on it. For now, let's head down the mountain and grab a bite to eat in the neighboring village," Deaf Zhang suggested.

After reaching the nearby village, Deaf Zhang and I had a meal and took a short break. I took the opportunity to return Ms. Xiaofeng's call.

All those missed calls had been from her. It was a good thing I hadn't saved her name in my contacts; otherwise, the Evil Taoist or Sunn Youde might have exploited that information.

Once we connected, I quickly filled her in on the recent events and assured her that it was safe to return to the village now that all the bad elements were gone.

Ms. Xiaofeng was overjoyed upon hearing the news and inquired about my next steps. I told her I was on my way to deal with the last of the troublemakers.

After ending the call, I breathed a sigh of relief. I longed to return to West River Village and share the news with my foster father, hoping to bring peace to his spirit.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when Deaf Zhang suddenly cried out, alarming the cook in the back kitchen who mistook the commotion for a gas explosion.

"Mr. Ergou, what's gotten into you? You gave me quite a fright," I said, torn between concern and amusement.

"Changsheng, the Evil Taoist is now resting in a cave on Hundred Ghost Slope! He appears to have sustained serious injuries," Deaf Zhang announced.

"What! Mr. Ergou, let's step outside to discuss this." I settled the bill quickly and ushered Deaf Zhang out of the eatery.

Once we were alone, Deaf Zhang elaborated, "The Evil Taoist's previous wounds haven't fully healed, and now he's been further injured by us and the Ghost Messenger. My ghost spotted him meditating in the cave, trying to recover. We must make haste. This is our prime opportunity to eliminate this menace!"