The Demonic Qi In The Palace

“Lord Kou, that was impressive.”

Daljin said this to me. Chai came beside me and looked down at the corpse of the One-Horned Red Wolf.

“It was a terrifying yōma, but its fur is beautiful.”

I took the horn from the One-Horned Red Wolf that had fallen to the ground and also skinned it while I was at it.

“Phew, with this, Elder Mon’s request has been fulfilled. Let us return.”

We hurried back to the town of Rugol.

In the palace of the royal capital, Luogan, the search for the place where demonic qi had accumulated continued.

“Elder Mon. Why have we not found it, even after searching this much?”

Asked by Chenfa, Elder Mon furrowed her brows.

“When I concentrate, I can sense demonic qi. There is no doubt that a place where demonic qi has accumulated exists in this palace.”

Strangely, the direction from which she sensed the demonic qi was vague. Because of that, Elder Mon was also bewildered.

“Could the underground be suspicious?”

Chenfa said as if confirming it.

“I thought so too and had it investigated, but there was nothing underground.”

The palace’s underground contained only an armory, storerooms, and empty rooms. There was no place where demonic qi had accumulated anywhere there. Elder Mon could not make sense of it. So she decided to wait for Kou’s return. Kou possessed a sharp Lone Awakening Eye. She was thinking of using it to search for the place where demonic qi had accumulated.

It was said that the earlier one awakened Lone Awakening Eye, the sharper it became. Kou seemed to have awakened Lone Awakening Eye early, so his should have been sharp.

While Elder Mon was talking with Chenfa, Prince Lianghong and Kanru visited Elder Mon’s room.

“Prince Lianghong, do you need something?”

“Is it certain that a place where demonic qi has accumulated exists in the palace?”

Since it had not been found even after searching, he seemed to have begun doubting it.

“I can sense demonic qi, so I believe there is no doubt that it exists in the palace. However, strangely enough, we cannot find the place where it has accumulated. I think there is some reason for it, but…”

“If even a Taoist practitioner of your caliber, Elder Mon, cannot find it, could it be because it is outside the palace?”

Prince Lianghong put the doubt that came to his mind into words.

“If that were the case, it would contradict the actions of the palace maid, who supposedly never left the palace. Could there perhaps be something like a hidden passage that is not known?”

Prince Lianghong tilted his head.

“I have never heard of such a thing existing.”

When Elder Mon heard that, she made a face as if it did not sit right with her.

“This is a change of subject, but other than Princess Meifan, is there anyone else who has fallen ill?”

“Ah, my elder brother Onsou is bedridden from an injury. However, he merely fell from a horse, so I do not think it has anything to do with the ogre demon.”

“So Crown Prince Onsou has not shown himself because he is injured. Then what about your younger brother?”

“My younger brother Wiran is studying abroad in the neighboring Gahou Kingdom.”

The Gahou Kingdom was a large country northeast of the Fang Kingdom, and it had friendly relations with it. However, Sourai Cave in the Gahou Kingdom and Gyorei Cave did not get along. Both were sects that aimed to become undying Immortals, but when disciples from both sides met, it often ended in a quarrel.

“When you say the Gahou Kingdom, do you mean the famous Soushi Academy?”

“Yes.”

Soushi Academy was something like a preparatory school for becoming a Taoist practitioner, teaching the basics needed to pass a sect examination. The ones operating this Soushi Academy were former Taoist practitioners who had left Sourai Cave.

“Is Prince Wiran going to enter Sourai Cave instead of Gyorei Cave?”

“No, it seems he has not decided yet.”

It was well known that Prince Wiran was aiming to become a Taoist practitioner. It was rare for royalty to become Taoist practitioners, but there had been cases in the past. However, becoming a Taoist practitioner meant leaving the royal family, so it was a serious matter for a member of the royal house.

Prince Wiran seemed to truly want to become a Taoist practitioner. Taoist practitioners existed outside the management of the state, so they were free to enter any sect. Therefore, a prince could also enter a sect in another country.

“How is Crown Prince Onsou’s condition?”

“It seems there is no need to worry. However, he appears to be in a bad mood and said there was no need to visit him.”

Since he was injured, there was no way he would be in a good mood.

“Oh my, we have gone off topic. About the place where demonic qi has accumulated, I am thinking of having Kou help once he returns.”

“Hah, we finally made it back.”

Chai let out a tired voice.

“Then, we part ways here.”

When I said that, Daljin bowed deeply.

“Lord Kou, I am grateful. I learned many things.”

I smiled at Daljin, then turned my gaze toward Chai.

“Chai-san, I would like to ask you to handle this.”

What I handed over was the One-Horned Red Wolf’s fur. Since Chai knew a leatherworker, I asked him to have it tanned.

After parting with the two of them, I went to Elder Mon.

“I have returned. This is the horn of the One-Horned Red Wolf.”

I handed the horn to Elder Mon. Elder Mon took it, checked it, and nodded in satisfaction.

“Good work. With this, we can make the Purifying Qi Medicine.”

“Were you able to find the place where demonic qi had accumulated?”

“Unfortunately, we have not found it yet. So, Kou, would you help as well?”

“Understood. I just need to trace the demonic qi in the palace and find the place where it has accumulated, correct?”

Elder Mon should have helped too, so I wondered why she had not been able to find it. Then I focused my mind and activated Lone Awakening Eye. I could sense demonic qi. I began following the traces of demonic qi with only my Lightning Spike Hammer in hand. I chose only the Lightning Spike Hammer because I judged that there were many places inside the palace that did not have enough space to swing the Serpent-Sheep Broadsword around.

I could sense demonic qi, but I sensed it from multiple directions. Tilting my head, I headed in the direction where I sensed the demonic qi most strongly. It was a storeroom in the palace’s underground.

Demonic qi drifted throughout the whole storeroom.

“I also knew that demonic qi was drifting here, but this was not the source.”

I agreed with Elder Mon’s words. It was only to the extent that demonic qi was drifting around, not enough to be called a place where it had accumulated.

“However, once the Purifying Qi Medicine is made, this place will also need to be purified.”

“That is true. But if we do not determine where it flowed in from, purifying it will be pointless.”

I nodded and focused on the flow of demonic qi. Then I noticed that a faint amount was seeping out from the wall of the storeroom. I approached that wall and slammed the Lightning Spike Hammer into it.

“What are you doing?”

Elder Mon raised her voice. However, when demonic qi blew out from the hole opened in the wall, her expression changed to one of surprise. Then she turned her face toward me and smiled.

“Well done.”