The woman spoke of three things, none of which we could produce.
What proof was there in that?
I offered a wry smile.
"Fellow Daoist, we are indeed Bai Pai Taoists.
Our master is the proprietor of the Bai Pu shop at the foot of Old Huang Mountain.
Xiao Mei, too, is from the Hu family spirits of Bashan, not some crooked cult."
I stated this earnestly, speaking the truth.
We judged this woman to be a good person, a fellow Bai Pai Taoist.
Otherwise, we would not have bothered speaking with her at length.
The woman listened, lost in thought.
Perhaps she sensed the sincerity of our trio.
Her previous hostility lessened, though she remained wary.
"I still cannot fully trust you. Do not move.
First, I shall slay these two demons.
You stay right where you are!"
As she spoke, the woman clearly observed our expressions.
But neither Mo nor I, nor Xiao Mei, harbored any affection for these two demons.
If they were to be killed, so be it.
Our very purpose here was to eliminate them.
"Please, do as you wish!"
I said calmly.
Mo seemed indifferent, and Xiao Mei simply watched.
She held no objection to the killing of her family's enemies, no matter how many.
Seeing that we three had no further reaction, Xia Qiuxiu approached the two demons.
The demons lay on the ground, immobilized by talismans.
Upon seeing Xia Qiuxiu draw near, they were filled with terror.
One of the demons spoke:
"Don't, don't kill us. Our mother is nearby. If we die, she will kill you."
"Yes, yes, our mother is nearby. If you dare to kill us, she will dismember you and scatter your souls."
The two demons spoke in unison.
But Xia Qiuxiu was unmoved.
"Hmph, facing death, and you still dare to threaten me."
With that, Xia Qiuxiu raised her peach wood sword.
She thrust it directly at one of the yellow weasel demons.
"No, don't..."
The sword light flashed, and the demon's voice abruptly ceased.
A bloody gash appeared on its neck.
Hot, steaming blood gushed out.
The yellow weasel demon, its body held by talismans, could not move.
Its eyes were wide open, its body trembling, its mouth opening and closing as if to speak.
But blood poured out of its mouth, mouthful after mouthful.
It could only emit strange sounds like "ge, wu."
The other demon beside it was terrified.
It let out a series of yellow weasel cries, "ying ying ge ge," from its mouth.
It seemed to be saying something, but we could not understand.
Xia Qiuxiu watched, her expression unyielding.
Only the corners of her eyes would occasionally sweep over our faces.
She was clearly using the demon's death to gauge our emotional responses.
The first demon quickly died.
A wave of demonic energy began to spread.
Finally, with a flash of green light, the demon's human-like body transformed into that of a dead yellow weasel.
"Next, it's your turn!"
Xia Qiuxiu addressed the remaining demon.
That demon, thoroughly frightened, resorted to begging after its threats failed.
"Don't, don't kill this little demon. This little demon is willing to serve you as its master, to be at your beck and call.
Please, please, Daoist aunt, spare this little demon's life."
"I do not need it!"
With that, Xia Qiuxiu raised her hand, her sword ready to finish off the second demon.
However, just as Xia Qiuxiu's sword was about to strike the demon's neck,
A gust of demonic wind suddenly swept through.
It blew with a "hu hu hu" sound.
A small pebble flew from a distance, striking Xia Qiuxiu's peach wood sword precisely.
With a "kuang dang," both the sword and the woman were sent staggering back two steps.
Seeing this, we who were not far away showed expressions of surprise.
We looked towards the direction from which the pebble had come.
In the vicinity of the abandoned building, green energy was surging.
Billows of demonic wind were continuously blowing towards us.
Xiao Mei, who was beside me, instantly wore a fierce expression.
She let out a low growl, "wu wu wu."
"Brother Qin, there's something happening!"
Mo said nervously.
I narrowed my eyes, also gazing in that direction.
Xia Qiuxiu, forced back by the pebble,
Looked towards the abandoned building with anger.
"What fiend are you?"
As soon as she spoke, a hoarse, old woman's voice echoed from the area of surging green energy.
"Heh heh heh, this old woman is Huang Qiniang. Please, young lady, enlighten me!"
After speaking, a pair of beastly eyes appeared within the green mist.
The eyes were bright and flickered.
Then, a larger yellow weasel emerged from the green mist.
It stood atop a discarded cement mixer.
From a distance, we saw it.
This yellow weasel was as large as half a shepherd dog.
Its eyes glowed, it stood on its hind legs, and demonic energy radiated from its entire body.
It stared directly in our direction, at Xia Qiuxiu and the yellow weasel immobilized by the talismans.
Upon seeing this, the yellow weasel held by the talismans suddenly grew excited.
It shouted with agitation:
"Mother, Mother, save me, save me!
This woman killed my sister.
Mother, save me quickly, your daughter doesn't want to die..."
The yellow weasel on the mixer glanced over and then spoke.
"My child, do not fear. Mother will save you shortly."
Xia Qiuxiu took a glance, then looked at the old yellow weasel.
"Ha! Dream on."
Xia Qiuxiu showed no fear, speaking coldly.
She pointed her peach wood sword directly at the yellow weasel.
Ready to strike at any moment.
We in the distance were all astonished.
Especially me.
Previously, in the Demon Cave's Leisurely Pavilion, I had killed a yellow weasel demon named Huang Jiuniang.
And this one before me claimed to be Huang Qiniang.
Could this be Huang Jiuniang's elder sister from the Demon Cave's Leisurely Pavilion?
As soon as I thought this, the little fox beside me let out two "wu wu" sounds and rushed forward angrily...