Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Demon Creature

Mu Lichuan had been prepared early on. He immediately saw spiritual energy transform into a solid rope that coiled around the large tree, preventing him from being instantly sucked into the well.

A tremendous force emanated from the well, a power that also contained intense demonic energy. This made the young man dare not let down his guard in the slightest. He held onto the tree desperately, while simultaneously shouting frantically for Xiao Mo in his mind.

This guy was clearly residing in his spiritual sea, but ever since arriving in the capital, he often disappeared.

"Master, this demonic energy is too powerful. Xiao Xue is no match for it." The Bloodsucking Vine also emerged. It instantly spread its vines, and Mu Lichuan was abruptly dragged away from the well's edge, which demonstrated just how powerful the Bloodsucking Vine was.

Previously, after the Bloodsucking Vine absorbed the Bronze Corpse, it needed to evolve and had been sleeping deep within the spiritual sea. If not for its master being in danger, it wouldn't have awakened immediately. 

"I'm not asking you to fight it. We just need to get away." Mu Lichuan said with an unpleasant expression. Even though he was now out of the suction range, he could clearly see many tentacles extending from the well, all carrying heavy demonic energy.

He didn't know if there was a barrier at the bottom of the well, or if a demon creature lived there. However, since he wasn't within its range, it wasn't too frightening.

So the Bloodsucking Vine placed its master on a tree branch, and then it confronted the tentacles. But then it saw the tentacles withering at a visible rate...

The "gurgle, gurgle..." sound was very familiar. The Bloodsucking Vine said, "Master, unless we kill the demon creature, we simply cannot break the barrier." Although it really liked this aura, absorbing too much would definitely cause indigestion. Besides, compared to resentment energy, absorbing too much demonic energy was somewhat difficult for its current age.

"..." Mu Lichuan was utterly speechless. They had clearly come to deal with the Yin gathering area, but now he had fallen into someone else's trap.

Demon creatures were also things produced from the Two Realm Mountain. They had no thoughts, but their combat power was extremely fierce. They only knew how to eat, and they ate tirelessly.

"Put me down." Mu Lichuan found that the suction force had completely disappeared. However, a "rumbling..." sound came from the bottom of the well, meaning the demon creature was coming out.

The Yin energy he felt before was probably this demon creature nourishing the Ghost King, which later created the Yin gathering area. Previously, because it was masked by human presence, and this well should have been sealing the demon creature, but now it was broken, so naturally the demon creature wanted to escape and cause mischief.

The Bloodsucking Vine placed Mu Lichuan to the side. Mu Lichuan looked at everything around the courtyard. The wind rose without cause, and the earth was being turned over in patches, but the fragments did not hit the young man.

"Is this demon creature too fat? The well opening is so small, so it can't get out." Mu Lichuan waited for a long time. Although there was a feeling of sand and wind scraping by, aside from the tentacles, other parts of the demon creature's body were completely invisible. It was clearly stuck.

The Bloodsucking Vine felt its master was quite sly. "Probably, most likely." It thought a fierce battle was necessary, but never expected this demon creature to be stuck.

"In that case, what are you waiting for? First absorb all its tentacles." Mu Lichuan took his spirit sword and slashed down at a tentacle. Immediately, a black liquid spurted out.

"What is this... black ink? And it's corrosive?" Mu Lichuan was relieved he had dodged; if the liquid had sprayed on him, he would have certainly been corroded.

The Bloodsucking Vine was also very fast. All the exposed tentacles were completely absorbed. As for the demon creature stuck in the well, it made a "gurgle..." sound. It was unclear if it was angry or what, but despite all the commotion, the well remained exactly the same as before. Clearly, this well was key to imprisoning this monster.

"Even a demon creature cannot damage this well." After analyzing the reason, Mu Lichuan became much calmer. As for breaking the barrier set up by the demon creature, he could still slowly think of a way.

The "gurgle gurgle... rumbling..." sound came again, but unfortunately for the demon creature, all its tentacles had been absorbed. Apart from the scary sound, it had no substantial effect.

"Xiao Xue, I have a task for you now." Mu Lichuan took out a talisman from his space. It was an explosion talisman, and the most powerful kind at that. He just didn't know if it could kill the demon creature in the well. But similarly, if the power was too great, it might blow up the entire courtyard. This was a risky approach.

The Bloodsucking Vine looked at its master's expression and its vines trembled. "Master, this talisman of yours... will it affect you?" If he wasn't careful, he would surely lose his life.

"Didn't I say? That's precisely why I need to rely on your vines to protect me, Xiao Xue." Mu Lichuan said in a light tone. "Don't worry, I will set up a barrier outside. I'm just afraid the power is too great, and we both end up dead." It wasn't that he couldn't use a less powerful one, but if they were trapped here anyway, it would be useless. Were they supposed to wait for daybreak? Things would only get more troublesome then.

"Master, is this talisman that terrifying?" Well, actually, the Bloodsucking Vine could also sense the energy contained within the talisman, it just didn't know exactly how powerful it was.

"Actually, we can pray that the well's barrier is much stronger than we think." Mu Lichuan said, propping his chin. In his view, the explosion talisman should be very effective against this demon creature. Xiao Xue just needed to drop it inside. If it exploded outside, the aftershock was something his current self couldn't withstand.

He looked up at the sky, vaguely feeling that dawn would come soon. It was better to handle things immediately to avoid any unforeseen events.

The Bloodsucking Vine felt its master was scaring it. Look at the expression on his face, there wasn't a trace of fear. "Master, leave it to me. We will definitely get out safely."

Now it had also absorbed a lot of the demon creature's energy. After everything was resolved, it could continue to sleep and evolve. When it woke up again, it would definitely be much stronger than now.

"Here..." Mu Lichuan placed the talisman on the Bloodsucking Vine's vine, and then the Bloodsucking Vine slowly moved it.

Apart from the shriveled tentacles and the trembling ground, there was nothing else around the well opening. Even the large tree in the courtyard remained unmoving. One had to marvel at how tenacious its vitality was.

When it was almost at the well opening, the Bloodsucking Vine moved extremely fast, directly throwing the talisman down. Immediately, a series of "rumbling..." explosion sounds erupted, even the ground seemed almost lifted up. But only almost. The well remained completely unmoved, and the tree was the same.

Mu Lichuan had set up a barrier for himself. He could feel how powerful the blast was, and the ground also shook. Looking at the tree again, it hadn't been uprooted, which surprised him. Then he understood the reason: probably it was this very tree that was suppressing the demon creature in the well. As long as the tree didn't fall, the demon creature simply couldn't come out. It could only use its power to draw 'food' in.

Time passed slowly. When everything returned to calm, the sun was gradually rising. The morning sun shone on the devastated courtyard, but the large tree and the abandoned well remained completely unmoved, without any damage.

"Alright, no need to pretend. Nothing's wrong anymore." Mu Lichuan looked at the Bloodsucking Vine's vines and said. Although many were broken and damaged, it was still pretty good.

The Bloodsucking Vine said coquettishly, "Master, I lost many vines this time. Don't you think..." It didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear: it was seeking a reward.

"Didn't you absorb a lot of the demon creature's energy? What other reward do you need?" At this moment, Mu Lichuan was covered in dust, his face was dirty, his short hair was a mess, not to mention his clothes were full of holes, all results of being caught in the blast.

The Bloodsucking Vine "whooshed" back into Mu Lichuan's spiritual sea. Compared to its previous state, it was now much smaller, clearly having consumed a lot.

Mi Shen and the others hadn't rested all night. Loud noises came from inside, but even if they wanted to charge in, they were powerless, as they would only be a hindrance.

"Young Master Mi..." Gu Yongsheng's face was full of shame. He considered himself very capable, but when faced with demonic energy, he was useless.

Mi Shen's lips were pressed tightly together, his hands clenched into fists. They really shouldn't have let a young man take such risks. But besides him, would anyone else be willing? The answer was definitely no.

At this moment, Mi Shen suddenly felt a sense of disgust towards the powerful experts of the country. Those people valued their lives too much. If they came, even if injured, they could resolve the situation more easily, instead of letting someone who just stepped into the world of cultivation perform the task.

"Lichuan!" Mi Shen saw the dust-covered young man at a glance. Regardless of the situation, he ran over and hugged the young man tightly.

Mu Lichuan felt baffled. "What are you doing?" If he was truly worried about him, he wouldn't have let him take the risk. This hypocritical display was useless now.

"Let go, it's uncomfortable." Mu Lichuan had no interest in male-to-male intimacy. He was only interested in cultivation; other matters were definitely secondary.

Zhao Decheng and the others wore faintly awkward expressions. The usually aloof Young Master Mi actually behaved like this, which felt somewhat strange to them.

"Congratulations, Young Master Mu." "Congratulations!"

Mu Lichuan looked at the group of them and said with a cold laugh, "I almost lost my life. Since the so-called great experts in the capital are unwilling to come out, they shouldn't occupy those positions!"

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Breaking In

Mu Lichuan went directly into cultivation meditation. Even if the sky were to fall, there would be tall people to hold it up, it had nothing to do with him.

Three days later, Mu Lichuan had replenished all the consumed spiritual energy. Actually, he could have used pills to replenish it, but spirit energy pills weren't infinite. Unless absolutely necessary, he naturally wouldn't use them recklessly.

"Why are you here?" When he came down the stairs, he saw Mi Shen sitting on the sofa, shifting about as if something was growing under his backside.

Mi Shen hurriedly stood up. "Mu Lichuan, come with me to the yin gathering area quickly!"

Although there were barriers blocking it, the demonic energy inside was still faintly leaking out. As for Gu Changsheng and the others, they didn't dare approach at all; this demonic energy affected them greatly.

Fortunately, the cultivators had also mobilized and reinforced the barriers, preventing a more serious situation from developing. However, they still couldn't enter the yin gathering area. It was saturated with demonic energy, yin energy, and evil energy. Unless one was extraordinary, it was simply impossible to find the evil thing emitting this energy, let alone suppress it.

"..." Hearing this, Mu Lichuan frowned, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

Mi Shen somewhat awkwardly let go of his hand. "I know many situations in the capital require troubling you, but only you possess such capability. Others completely lack such ability and can only ask for your help." His tone wasn't as cold as before; instead, it held a hint of pleading.

"Do you know, since meeting you, I haven't had a moment's peace," Mu Lichuan's voice was cold and carried a trace of anger.

He didn't understand why the national fortune energy had chosen to attach itself to him. Was it truly because of his own unique nature, as Xiao Mo had suggested? But if that were the case, why was he being met with such an relentless onslaught of consecutive crises instead of peace and prosperity?

Demonic energy was something any cultivator found difficult to deal with. Yet, someone had set up a transmission array right there in the capital without anyone knowing. Wasn't this supposed to be the Lower Three Realms? If so, why hadn't the previous powerful experts discovered it? Did they really think he, a young man, was easy to bully?

If not for his good luck, he probably would have been completely corroded by the demonic energy when searching for the formation core. Those people only offered verbal gratitude, without any substantive action. Even though some things were encountered by chance and he had to act, he wasn't a selflessly devoted person. He couldn't solve every single problem himself, what were the other cultivators for then?

"Let's go." Mu Lichuan was used to acting freely. Besides, if something happened in the capital, it would affect his family, friends, and classmates.

Mi Shen was stunned, then nodded, quickly leading the young man away.

To ordinary people, this area seemed no different from before. During construction, many people had fallen from high places for no reason, landing headfirst and dying. The police had cordoned it off, forbidding anyone from entering unless they were "special" personnel.

They arrived at high noon. The sunlight was very intense, which should have felt irritating, but standing on the periphery, the young man could still feel a slight chill, all because of the Yin energy.

"Young Master Mu, Young Master Mi!" Gu Yongsheng and the other called out respectfully when they saw Mu Lichuan and Mi Shen.

Mu Lichuan nodded slightly. "It would be better to come at night. During the day, it's too conspicuous." He didn't want to become someone else's after-dinner joke. Uninformed people might think he was some lunatic.

No one present raised any objection to the young man's words.

Night fell quickly. The capital was a scene of bustling prosperity everywhere, except for this old urban village, which was filled with a desolate and cold atmosphere. The weather was still very hot, but entering the area gave one a creepy, sinister chill.

Mu Lichuan walked through these alleys seemingly casually, but was fully alert. These energies couldn't affect him, but he felt things weren't that simple.

"Hehehe... hehehe... Prey delivered to our door, so fragrant..." a shrill voice sounded, and then Mu Lichuan saw a ghost wearing modern clothes but missing its ears appear.

"Ouch, ouch..." Just as the ghost finished speaking, it was slammed hard to the side.

"I fancy this skin of yours, you can give it to me later," said the ghost, who was wearing ancient eunuch robes and holding up a delicate, curled finger gesture. Clearly, this was an ancient ghost.

"Mine!"

"He will become my husband."

Voices rose one after another, making Mu Lichuan's veins throb. He had run into a ghost procession.

"I belong to myself!" As he said this, the soul power gathered in his hand instantly shot towards that group of ghosts.

"Ah..." The ghosts instantly dissipated, as if the earlier commotion had never existed.

Mu Lichuan's expression became even more serious. He knew the ones testing him just now were merely ordinary ghosts. They didn't have much power, but held absolute advantage against ordinary people.

Whether human, demon, devil, or ghost, they all had their own cultivation stages. For ghosts, it started with Gathering Yin, Condensing Soul, Taking Form, Devouring Souls, Seizing Bodies, Ghost King...

A ghost that could become a Ghost King possessed very powerful magic. Even if it couldn't walk openly in the human world, it wouldn't fear intense sunlight. The underworld had its own laws, the mortal world its own order. The two did not interfere with or acknowledge each other. Of course, if ghosts from the underworld hindered matters in the mortal world, the rulers would naturally eliminate them.

The winding paths of the urban village, the buildings feeling somewhat shaky... It wasn't that Mu Lichuan didn't want others' help, but they were all half-baked and would only end up causing him more trouble.

Be stopped at a spot. Looking up, the sky was overcast and gloomy. Two buildings almost blocked out everything, leaving only a passageway about one meter wide. Even a tricycle would have difficulty getting through.

He took out Explosive Talismans from his space. These were especially useful against ghost soldiers. Perhaps nothing was visible to the naked eye, but his Yin-Yang eyes weren't fake. Dense formations of ancient soldiers, iron spears all pointed at him. Even if they weren't moving yet, they could use this powerful murderous aura to suppress others.

The sound of "Pop! Pop! Pop!" almost reverberated across the sky, but aside from some noise, nothing else could be seen. Even satellite imaging would only capture some shadows blown by the wind.

A yin gathering area was naturally had abundant Yin energy, but now it was mixed with demonic energy and evil energy. This meant the thing below wasn't as simple as just a Ghost King, perhaps there was a demonic cultivator too. Now he somewhat regretted entering alone, he should have had the old guys from the capital come in and take a look.

He somewhat suspected that those who cultivated to their level were all afraid of death. Otherwise, why were they so reluctant to lift a finger, so very protective of their lives?

"Tsk tsk... why send a little youngster like you to die?" After all the ghost soldiers disappeared, a very distinct figure appeared. This ghost wore black clothes, almost blending into the night.

"Even a youngster is enough to deal with a Ghost King like you. No, you probably haven't reached the Ghost King stage yet," Mu Lichuan said, not out of arrogance, but because he could clearly sense the other's actual strength.

"Brat! I will refine your soul!" The Ghost King, hearing such arrogance, snarled furiously.

Mu Lichuan raised an eyebrow. "Then try." After speaking, he took out his Foundation Establishment stage sword, formed hand seals, and then the sword left his hand, thrusting directly towards the Ghost King.

"Brat, you think a mere Foundation Establishment stage sword..." Before the Ghost King could finish, its body was completely pierced, severely wounded instantly.

Mu Lichuan called the sword back and thrust it at the Ghost King again. "Underestimating your enemy is your biggest mistake!"

The Ghost King completely failed to understand why this person could see it, even accurately injure it. Moreover, the power contained on this sword was what ghosts feared most. "You... who are you...?" After saying this, it turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished into the air.

Mu Lichuan knew his easy victory was entirely because the other wasn't wary of him at all, thinking he was just a rash youngster. It never expected to die by his hand.

The Ghost King was probably the convergence point of the entire yin gathering area. Once it died, the yin energy would naturally disperse. However, the demonic energy and evil energy remained the same as before.

Mu Lichuan disliked these two energies greatly. They were both closely related to Two Realms Mountain. But with his current ability, he simply couldn't deal with demonic cultivators, let alone the monsters from Two Realms Mountain.

High ranking demons required time and years to condense. If he didn't progress himself, who knew what level Mu Xiaolin would reach? As for the Mu family, aside from him and his great-grandfather, everyone was dead.

"Here... no, here..." Mu Lichuan walked into a courtyard. Initially, he thought the aura was emanating from a large tree, but then realized it was wrong. There was a well next to the tree, the demonic and evil energy were emanating from below.

Mu Lichuan stood still, frowning at the dried-up well. This place had a transmission array leading to Liangjie Mountain. Did that mean there was also a transmission array to the Upper Three Realms? It was just mostly destroyed.

He didn't dare take the risk. What demons meant to him, no one knew better than himself. Furthermore, he wasn't clear about where exactly this well led to, or how to seal it. He could only let more powerful experts handle it. He immediately planned to leave, but a force suddenly pulled him towards the well...

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Death

The young man looked at his mother who was still vomiting, his own face was also somewhat pale. "I hope Master can bring justice for my father," he said, his tone full of respect.

"Why did we want you to move away from here? This is the price." In Mu Lichuan's view, where there was cause, there was effect. Since they had refused to move away back then, they now had to bear the consequence.

Upon hearing this, the young man and his family all wore expressions of terror. "I... we will move away immediately. We will never come back to this place again." Humans all fear the unknown, especially something as intangible and elusive as talk of ghosts and gods.

Gu Yongsheng and Zhao Decheng watched as this family of holdouts ran away with lightning speed. As for so-called "family bonds," when one's life is threatened, everything else becomes false.

"If the other families still refuse to leave, let them see this example." Mu Lichuan crouched down and looked at the rotting corpse. "This is demonic energy intrusion."

This place was originally a Yin-gathering area, so it was not strange at all for demonic energy to be produced. However... was this an attempt to use a blood curse? Or perhaps the gathered resentment from people's hearts was used to set up an array?

These were all just his guesses. As long as the Yin-gathering area was destroyed, then none of it could possibly succeed.

"Young friend, what do you think…?" Gu Yongsheng knew full well he had no way to deal with demonic energy himself, he was acutely aware of his own capabilities.

Mu Lichuan frowned tightly. "What else can we do? We have to use a special method to burn the corpse. Also, evacuate the personnel and find what's buried underground."

If it were above ground, it would be easier to handle. The problem was it was underground, meaning construction work was needed. But this kind of operation was simply not something he could command—professionals needed to be brought in.

"Young friend is right." Ever since Mu Lichuan had eliminated the demonic person, he had held a degree of respect for the youth and listened to his words. Even as a consultant, those with strength still had the right to speak.

Mu Lichuan directly used his soul force to envelop the corpse, preventing the demonic energy from dispersing. Otherwise, it could have a significant impact on those with weak resolve.

"Burn it. Use a fire talisman. Use this opportunity to let the family see and spread the word." After saying this, he turned and left.

The matter had been thoroughly explained. He couldn't stay here any longer.

Two ninjas from Country R had died, and Country C had even publicly slapped them in the face. Even though they deeply hated Mu Lichuan, they were on another country's land and couldn't do anything. They could only swallow their anger for now, waiting for an opportunity to seek revenge later.

The Sato family was also helpless. Since even their rulers' intervention couldn't pressure Country C, and the people they sent out were even captured alive and returned, they had no options left.

"Ugh!" Mu Lichuan almost threw the talisman in his hand out, but he managed to hold back just in time. Otherwise, he might have ended up helping this person, giving her a complete release and landing himself with the blame.

"Student Mu! Please, save me!" Qin Xiaocao looked neither human nor ghost, with dishevelled hair and a bluish-purple complexion. The backlash was becoming very obvious.

Mu Lichuan's face was full of indifference. "Good deeds bring good rewards, evil deeds bring evil retribution. This is what you deserve." In his opinion, the fact that the infant spirit hadn't killed her yet was because it was still relatively weak and she hadn't been nurturing it for long.

"I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. I don't want to die, Young Master Mu, Young Master Mu, I beg you, I'll do anything you ask!" Qin Xiaocao was truly terrified; this was the first time she had encountered something like this. Her looks were almost completely ruined, but her desire to live drove her to come here.

Mu Lichuan looked at the young girl before him. "You received retribution before you could even commit a true evil deed." In his view, Qin Xiaocao's crimes didn't really warrant death.

Raising an infant spirit was an act that damaged one's hidden virtue, the moral credit accumulated through good deeds done in secret. He glanced coldly at the menacing infant spirit on Qin Xiaocao's shoulder. "The cause has already been sown, you must bear the consequence. Just do more good deeds to accumulate some merit and positive karma."

Then, a series of "crackling..." sounds were heard as the infant spirit instantly turned into a wisp of blue smoke and vanished into the air.

Qin Xiaocao could feel the weight lift from her body, her face full of gratitude. "Thank you, Young Master Mu, thank you, Young Master Mu! I will definitely do more good deeds in the future, definitely!" Her eyes were filled with tears.

Back then, she had been immature, jealous of Shao Xiaoya's good fortune. Shao Xiaoya wasn't even as pretty as her, yet she had a family to protect her, which created an imbalance in Qin Xiaocao's heart, leading to the subsequent events.

Mu Lichuan nodded slightly. If the infant spirit Qin Xiaocao had raised had already killed someone, he wouldn't have saved her either. He would have let her die slowly, repaying the life owed.

Some onlookers who didn't understand the situation found it very strange and even shook their heads at Mu Lichuan, thinking the girl was too pitiful to have fallen for such a playboy. But the willing bear the burden, and as outsiders, they couldn't say much.

When Mu Lichuan returned home, there was actually another client waiting. This time, someone wanted to know if their parents were dead, and the person seeking him out was actually a currently popular star in the entertainment industry.

"Master Mu, please, I beg you. My parents went exploring on Mount Li, but it's been three days and there's still no news." The client was Qin Xiaoli, who had a beautiful face, though dark circles were very obvious under her eyes, likely from lack of rest.

The police had already searched for two days but found no clues. She needed to see them alive or find their bodies, she couldn't just let her parents lie cold at the bottom of some cliff.

Qin Xiaoli's parents were singers—otherwise, how could they have cultivated such an outstanding actor? In the context of this era, without connections, surviving in the entertainment industry meant succumbing to under-the-table rules.

She had accidentally heard others talk about the consultant of the "Cleaning Company"—Young Master Mu Lichuan—who was very powerful. Despite his young age, he could eliminate disasters for people, which gave her a sliver of hope.

She never used to believe in those intangible ghosts and gods, but now she wished immortals existed to save her parents.

"Finding people?" Mu Lichuan was surprised upon hearing this. "That's not my area of expertise." He wasn't wrong, he wasn't a god, he could only tell fortunes.

Qin Xiaoli's manager said, "Young Master Mu, please take a look. Are her parents still alive? Or can you find the place where her parents met with disaster?"

"Yes, Young Master Mu, please. Money is not an issue. I just want to know what happened to my parents." Qin Xiaoli's eyes were full of tears. She had reached the end of her rope before seeking out Mu Lichuan.

Mu Lichuan observed the Qin Xiaoli before him and finally said, "Your parents have likely already met with disaster. As for where the bodies are, I'll try..."

Gains and losses were interconnected. Currently, Qin Xiaoli's career was soaring, but the spot between her eyebrows appeared dark, a sign often read in fortune-telling. It was likely her parents had borne all her suffering for her, resulting in this young woman's current happiness.

"Thank you, Young Master Mu, thank you." Qin Xiaoli's tone was very soft. "What does Young Master Mu need me to provide?"

Mu Lichuan thought of Gu Yongsheng's tracking talismans and said, "Bring me something your parents used during their lifetime. I'll use a tracking talisman to take a look."

"But you'll have to search the specific location yourselves."

Mount Li wasn't in the capital, and he couldn't go there himself. He could only provide the location where the talisman fell—for anything more, the police would need to handle it.

"Thank you, thank you! That's enough, that's enough!" Upon learning her parents were dead, Qin Xiaoli felt almost hopeless, but she still held onto a sliver of hope. Only by finding them could she truly accept it.

So, Mu Lichuan began the ritual. The yellow paper crane began to fly outward, its speed very fast. If one wasn't a cultivator, it would be impossible to catch up.

Qin Xiaoli nervously wrung her hands. She watched the young man perform the ritual for a long time. Even when dinner arrived, she didn't eat. She couldn't rest easy for a single day without knowing her parents' whereabouts.

A night passed. Mu Lichuan still maintained his original posture. When the sun had completely risen, Mu Lichuan opened his eyes. Probably due to expending too much spiritual energy, his face was somewhat pale. "Your parents are at the bottom of Duanchang Cliff on Mount Li. They haven't been washed away by the water below, they're right there. Tell the police to search carefully."

"Thank you, thank you!" Qin Xiaoli said, her voice hoarse. She had also stayed there the whole day and night without rest.

Mu Lichuan shook his head. "The fact is what it is. It's better to restrain your grief." In his view, some things were better left unsaid to prevent the young woman from living a life of guilt and pain.

"This is the payment." Qin Xiaoli directly took out a check for 100 million. "Young Master Mu, this is a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it!" In her view, her parents were worth far more than this money, it was just a small gesture.

Mu Lichuan did not refuse. This time, his spiritual energy consumption was significant. Simultaneously, he felt he should make a trip to Mount Li himself. Something there was attracting him, it was also a place with relatively abundant spiritual energy.

"Young Master Mu! Young Master Mu! There's a situation over there! Several people have already been lost." Just after seeing Qin Xiaoli off, news came from the Yin-gathering area: the construction team had suffered several deaths.

Hearing this news, Mu Lichuan was in a very bad mood. "Are the others all eating shit?" He knew full well what was going on, yet they still managed to have casualties.

Zhao An had no idea how to rebut Young Master Mu's words. "Young Master Mu, you..."

"Look at the state I'm in now. Even if I went, I wouldn't be of much help. I might even end up sacrificing myself. Don't they know how to seal and blockade the area?" Mu Lichuan said, massaging his forehead. Was he destined to be a workhorse in both his past and present life?

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Trouble

When Mi Shen learned that Mu Lichuan had captured two ninjas, his expression was one of shock, and he rushed over immediately.  

"This…" Staring at the two men dressed in black, covered in bloodstains and completely stiff, he couldn’t help but suspect they were already dead—except their eyes were still unnervingly alert.  

"Relax, they won’t die. To prevent them from committing suicide, I used a paralysis spell. No use if they’re dead," Mu Lichuan said indifferently. "Take them back. As for how to handle the rest, that’s your problem."  

"They have poison capsules in their mouths. You’d better pull out all their teeth to check."  

The two ninjas widened their eyes in disbelief at Mu Lichuan’s words, clearly understanding him. As for Mi Shen and his subordinates, their faces remained expressionless, but the twitching at the corners of their mouths betrayed their shock at his ruthless approach.  

Mi Shen nodded in understanding. "I’ll leave a few men with you." Since the first attempt had failed, there would undoubtedly be further action.  

"What would I do with them? Add more obstacles for myself?" The young man raised his head, frowning at Mi Shen.  

The special forces soldiers referred to as "obstacles" felt a flicker of indignation but had to admit that against the unknown, they’d likely be slaughtered. They had no experience dealing with R-country’s ninjutsu, let alone capturing ninjas.  

"They can handle the bodies for you, so you don’t scare passersby," Mi Shen replied coolly. If another incident occurred, they would deal with it—he couldn’t be there all the time.  

Mu Lichuan thought that made sense. He could kill, but disposing of bodies was troublesome. Not to mention the issue of the Yin-gathering area.  

As if reading his mind, Mi Shen said, "The Yin-gathering area is too complicated. Even though many have moved out, some stubborn families remain. They’re unhappy with the government’s compensation, so…" He trailed off, but the implication was clear.  

"Can’t you just scare them? Ordinary people believe in superstitions anyway, and that place is already seen as cursed," Mu Lichuan said, exasperated by the government’s inflexibility.  

Mi Shen hesitated, then muttered, "The government is supposed to eradicate superstitions, and now you’re telling me to scare them?"  

"The government decides what’s right or wrong. Don’t wait until things blow up to clean up the mess—by then, it’ll be too late." In an era of instant news and social media, suppressing information was nearly impossible.  

The special forces soldiers tuned out the conversation. Their Young Master Mi was being advised to use trickery and promote superstition—this was completely overturning their worldview.  

Soon, the two ninjas were dragged away, and Mu Lichuan went about his life as if nothing had happened. Whether the higher-ups were in chaos was none of his concern. He was just a small fry—he’d done his part, and the rest was beyond him.  

____

"Young Master Mu, there’s trouble. A death occurred in Zhu’an Village—the victim was skinned alive, and their body was covered in black energy. Master Chen confirmed it," reported the special forces soldier assigned to Mu Lichuan.  

Mu Lichuan, who had been about to head home, paused. "I’m not a government employee." To him, this was beyond presumptuous.  

He was just a student. If not for his involvement in the supernatural, he’d be an ordinary high schooler—not someone the government should be dragging into their problems.  

He’d already followed his conscience by reporting the Yin-gathering area and urging action, but the government’s sluggish response made him wonder if they just wanted to use him as their enforcer.  

The country had plenty of cultivators. Those old geezers spent all their time meditating—couldn’t they do something for the people?  

"Young Master Mu, you’re a consultant for the Cleaning Company. Young Master Mi said if they couldn’t handle it, they should ask for your input," the soldier said. Though battle-hardened, he still felt a chill under Mu Lichuan’s gaze.  

Mu Lichuan realized he’d been tricked into this role. "Haven’t you hired anyone else yet?" The inefficiency was staggering—or maybe someone was just too cheap to pay for competent help.  

The soldier, Zhao An, had no idea. He just followed orders. Awkwardly, he accepted the talisman Mu Lichuan handed him.  

"Take this." Mu Lichuan pulled out an Evil-Warding Talisman. After all, the man had been following him for days—it’d be a shame if he died.  

Zhao An took the yellow talisman gratefully. "Thank you, Young Master Mu." Though he didn’t fully understand its purpose, he knew it was a life-saving charm.  

Having interacted with masters before, he knew how precious talismans were—they weren’t something they could just buy on the street.  

Mu Lichuan didn’t respond. If this was related to demonic cultivators, he’d have to investigate. Or maybe his enemies were stirring up trouble.  

____

Zhu’an Village, already half-abandoned, felt desolate and eerie. Without human presence, the Yin energy had grown stronger. The holdouts, stubbornly refusing to leave, were likely already suffering the effects—misfortune plaguing their lives.  

The body had been covered, but the family was still making a scene. Their foreheads were dark with impending doom—prolonged exposure to Yin energy led only to ruin.  

To the uninformed, it might seem like they’d crossed the government. But in truth, they were fighting a losing battle—against something far worse.  

As the saying goes: The common people dare not oppose the rich, the rich dare not oppose the powerful, and none dare oppose ghosts.

They were courting death.  

When Mu Lichuan entered unhindered, the family grew even more agitated.  

"Why can a high schooler go in, but we can’t?" a middle-aged woman shrieked, tears streaming down her face.  

"He’s a special consultant. Not under our jurisdiction," a policeman said sternly, blocking her. "If not for your loss, we’d have arrested you already."  

"You’re covering this up! My husband is dead, and you’re keeping us out!" Her voice was hoarse with grief and fury.  

Mu Lichuan had no interest in dealing with them, but if more deaths occurred, the government would be blamed.  

Before the woman could continue, a cooling sensation spread across her forehead, calming her rage. The family stared in shock.  

"That’s a Calming Spell. To clear your minds before something unclean takes hold," Mu Lichuan said flatly. Malevolent spirits loved possessing people like this, amplifying their anger until they did something irreversible.  

The airport incident had been similar—an innocent man, controlled, had killed several people. Innocence didn’t matter then, blood demanded repayment.  

"That’s our father inside. Can’t we even see him?" a young man pleaded, voice breaking. "We refused to move because housing in the capital is too expensive. Where else could we go?"  

"You sure you want to see? You might regret it," Mu Lichuan warned. Unless they were trained for this, the sight would haunt them.  

"We’re not afraid!" the young man insisted.  

Mu Lichuan nodded. "Fine. Let them in."  

The policemen exchanged glances but relented. What happened next was above their pay grade.  

Inside, Gu Yongsheng and Chen Decheng were setting up a barrier to contain the demonic energy.  

"Young Master Mu!" they exclaimed, surprised to see the family.  

"They wanted to see the body. Let them," Mu Lichuan said coldly. Some truths came with consequences.  

When the young man lifted the shroud, he staggered back. The woman vomited.  

Mu Lichuan frowned—the corpse was already corroding, pitted and decaying from demonic energy.  

"Now that you’ve seen, leave. Let the dead rest." What he didn’t say was that the man’s soul was likely already destroyed. Souls tainted by demonic energy had no chance of reincarnation.  

"But… how did he die like this?" the young man whispered, horrified.  

"Knowing won’t help you. Go." Mu Lichuan had no more answers for them.  

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Ninjutsu  

Natural Yin-gathering land was relatively difficult to destroy. However, this particular area likely had something buried beneath it, making it different from a natural Yin-gathering land. Just like the so-called Aijia Village from before, when the authorities couldn’t resolve the issue, they resorted to the most primitive method—killing an entire village to protect the surrounding areas.  

Shao Xiaoya nodded solemnly. "But... won’t this implicate you?" She knew that even if she told her father, it probably wouldn’t make much of a difference.  

This area was complicated, and with many outsiders present, any casualties would be highly unfavorable for the government, let alone an unjustified demolition.  

"Are we cultivators supposed to fear difficulties and stand still?" Mu Lichuan glanced at her before leaving. In truth, talking to Shao Xiaoya wouldn’t achieve much—only someone with real authority like Mi Shen could make a difference. Of course, whether the government would take action remained unknown.  

If incidents like killings or other violent events occurred in this area, it would be due to the influence of the Yin-gathering land. And if the government tried to cover it up, it would be extremely difficult.  

Shao Xiaoya couldn’t refute her idol’s words. She could only watch helplessly as he disappeared from her sight.  

Qin Xiaocao—she had always considered her a close friend, yet this person turned out to be so malicious, even resorting to raising a malevolent spirit to harm her. After all, her body back then—no, even now—couldn’t withstand the slightest unclean influence. The fact that she wasn’t feeling any discomfort now was undoubtedly due to the exorcism talisman Mu Lichuan had given her.  

Mu Lichuan reported the matter, but there was no follow-up. The area’s population was complex, and even the government needed time to mediate all the relationships involved.  

"People from Country R are demanding an explanation?" Mu Lichuan frowned. Before the Yin-gathering land issue was even resolved, the conflict had escalated to a national level.  

Mi Shen nodded gravely. "For now, don’t go out. Even if Country R doesn’t act openly, behind the scenes..." He didn’t finish, but the implication was clear. Sato’s death had been over a confession, after all.  

Mu Lichuan sneered. "Do you think I’m afraid of their so-called ninjas?" It just so happened that he could see for himself what other countries called "ninjutsu."  

Ninjutsu, also known as the art of stealth, was a hidden martial art from ancient Country R's martial traditions. Like karate, judo, and kendo, it shared some origins with Chinese martial arts and Buddhism.  

Ninjutsu was a technique used for espionage in ancient Country R. It included assassination, causing chaos, self-cultivation, and intelligence gathering. Training involved disguise, escape, concealment, assassination, terrain familiarity, medicine, and fire techniques.  

"It’s not about fear, but..." Mi Shen felt somewhat helpless in the face of the young man’s arrogance.  

Mu Lichuan looked at him. "Our Country C is not afraid of Country R at all. I just don’t understand why our leaders insist on a 'harmony above all' approach." In his view, strength commanded respect. If the nation’s overall power rose, other countries wouldn’t dare say a word—let alone over the death of a mere exchange student.  

"Sato brought his death upon himself by provoking a ghost. The people from Country R know this perfectly well—they’re just using it as an excuse." Mu Lichuan’s words were firm, showing no fear of Country R’s so-called ninjutsu.  

Mi Shen gave him a look. "You’re right. If we’re afraid of them over a single death, what face would our country have left? When the time comes, we may need your help. Will you assist?"  

Mu Lichuan smiled and nodded. "No problem." When it came to the nation’s dignity, he would never stand idly by.  

Mu Lichuan’s life remained peaceful. As for his schoolmates, they believed that Country C hadn’t even pursued Sato’s killings at school, yet Country R had the audacity to make demands. This was the perfect opportunity to show them that Country C’s people weren’t to be trifled with.  

"Classmate Mu, some students Sato brought are causing trouble—they’re demanding to see you!" Class monitor Xie Dong hurriedly reported. He had nothing but admiration for this school idol, who could still rank first in the grade without even attending classes. They were so impressed that envy was impossible—only sympathy remained when they heard about the confession from a Country R student. Now, this mess had landed on his lap.  

"Let them come. I thought they’d slink away with their tails between their legs." Mu Lichuan stood up, his tone indifferent.  

"Classmate Mu, we’ll all go with you!" Ouyang Xing rolled up his sleeves. When it came to fights, he never backed down—studies, though, were another matter.  

"Right, we’ll all go!" The other classmates chimed in.  

When Sakura Momoko and the others saw the large group approaching, they were startled. "Mu Lichuan, are you using your numbers to bully us exchange students?"  

Sato had been their leader. Now that he was dead for no reason, they would face ostracism when they returned. And in their eyes, Mu Lichuan was the culprit.  

In Country R, a confession wouldn’t lead to death—Mu Lichuan must have done something.  

Mu Lichuan raised an eyebrow. "When did I bully you? If anything, you’re the ones who ruined my reputation. Aren’t you here to apologize?"  

Sakura Momoko’s face twisted with hatred. "You killed Sato with dark magic!"  

Mu Lichuan flicked a talisman forward. The thing attempting to invade instantly crackled with a "sizzling" sound, shocking the surrounding students.  

Seeing this, Sakura Momoko’s expression darkened further, while Mu Lichuan’s previously indifferent face turned icy.  

He didn’t know what that thing from the ground was, but he could sense an overwhelmingly sinister aura. If it had entered a human body, nothing good would come of it.  

"Sakura Momoko, this is Country C, not Country R. This isn’t a place for you to act arrogantly." Mu Lichuan’s voice was laced with cold authority. The bizarre incident just now would leave psychological scars on many students. Luckily, it was broad daylight—otherwise, those with weaker minds might have been plagued by nightmares.  

Sakura Momoko snorted. "Let’s go." Now that they had confirmed Mu Lichuan was a "special ability user," Sato’s death was undoubtedly his doing. But in this age of science and reason, they couldn’t use this openly.  

Sato had indeed been a drug user and womanizer, and his family held considerable influence in Country R—enough to indulge his whims. Their job was simply to report the facts.  

Xie Dong and the others frowned. "What was that just now? That spark?" Though it had vanished quickly, everyone had heard the explosion and faint screams. Despite the bright sunlight, it sent chills down their spines.  

"Probably some kind of magic trick they brought," Mu Lichuan said innocently. The younger generation was better off not delving into superstitions.  

"A magic trick? You sure it wasn’t dark magic?" Ouyang Xing looked baffled. Though he enjoyed fantasy novels, experiencing such things in real life was far less appealing.  

Mu Lichuan shook his head. "No idea. The school will probably take action. Let’s get back to class." He was grateful for his classmates’ concern and would repay them in time.  

Mu Lichuan kept the matter in mind. He knew that if Country R couldn’t pressure them openly, they would act in the shadows. He needed to stay vigilant.  

He didn’t know what kind of dark arts Country R employed, but trying to show off in front of a cultivator was a fool’s errand. Still, caution was warranted against the unknown.  

After school, as usual, Mu Lichuan jogged home alone. "Sizzle—" He dodged an attack in an instant.  

He stopped in his tracks. The road leading to the villa district was quiet, with only birdsong in the trees.  

"Boom—!" Mu Lichuan dodged again. The spot where he had stood was now a smoldering crater. The assailant had tried to ambush him—had it not been for his keen spiritual senses, he wouldn’t have escaped unscathed.  

Mu Lichuan smirked, a trace of mockery in his expression. Country R was in such a hurry to kill him? Their actions likely reflected their government’s stance.  

What should have been a minor incident had escalated into an international dispute, proving Sato’s family held significant power in Country R. Otherwise, a simple investigation would have sufficed.  

Country R’s ninjas were nearly undetectable to ordinary people—they blended into the environment seamlessly. If not for Mu Lichuan’s acute soul perception and his identity as a cultivator, he wouldn’t have noticed them. He had to admit, their ninjutsu was impressive.  

"You have one second to come out!" Mu Lichuan stared into the empty air before coldly tossing out an explosive talisman.  

He looked down at the two bloodied figures now sprawled on the ground. Dressed head-to-toe in black with only their eyes exposed, they stared at him in shock.  

"Your ninjutsu is impressive, but you forgot one thing—you still need to breathe. And as long as you breathe, I can sense your presence."  

The assassins’ eyes widened in disbelief. Before they could bite down on their suicide pills, Mu Lichuan immobilized them with a binding talisman.  

"You’re valuable evidence. Death is too easy—living will be your real punishment."

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Reaping What One Sows

The two-headed female ghost had assumed Mu Lichuan would hesitate due to the many students watching, never expecting him to let someone die right before everyone's eyes. Unfortunately, the young man's actions completely defied their expectations.  

"He's an R-country man who harassed me. If he really had some sudden illness, how is that my fault?" Mu Lichuan retorted with a smile, clearly unafraid of Sato's death. Immediately after, he struck again with his soul power.  

"Ah—!" One of the two-headed ghost's heads was nearly dissipated. Desperate to drag someone down with them, they drained Sato's last remaining yang energy before fleeing.  

Mu Lichuan didn’t bother chasing them. His hands remained in his pockets, his expression indifferent as he and the crowd watched Sato convulse, foam at the mouth, and collapse motionless on the ground.  

"What… what just happened to him?" "That's terrifying…"  

The onlookers wore expressions of fear, some even instinctively stepping back.  

Mu Lichuan blended in with the crowd's response. "Could he have been on drugs?" he suggested. After all, Sato had looked pale and hollow-eyed earlier—traits common among drug users.  

Though many in this school were spoiled rich kids, their awareness far surpassed that of ordinary people.  

"Let’s call the police and get an ambulance," one student said calmly. None of them suspected Sato's death had anything to do with Mu Lichuan.  

Mu Lichuan went to class as if nothing had happened. Within an hour, the police arrived to question him.  

"Officer, the student still needs to attend class. Please make this quick," the homeroom teacher said sternly. She knew Mu Lichuan had powerful backing—if anything went wrong, she wouldn’t escape blame either.  

The officer nodded. "Just routine questioning. After all, Sato from R-country was pronounced dead at the hospital." This wasn’t a small matter, it could even lead to an international incident if mishandled.  

"Dead?" The teacher was shocked. "Mu Lichuan, cooperate with the investigation."  

Thus, Mu Lichuan was taken to the police station.  

"Student Mu, so you’re saying he died right after confessing to you?"  

Mu Lichuan nodded. "Exactly. Are you suspecting me? I’m the victim here, getting confessed to out of nowhere by a man will affect my life. As for why he died, everyone saw it—he suddenly convulsed and foamed at the mouth. We didn’t even touch."  

The young officer questioning him looked sympathetic. "Alright, you can go." Clearly, Sato had been a drug user—likely overdosed due to an interrupted dose.  

Mu Lichuan thanked him politely and left. Just outside the station, he ran into Mi Shen, who had been "missing" for some time.  

"Are you alright?" Mi Shen asked coolly, glancing at him.  

Mu Lichuan shook his head. "I’m going home." With only an hour left until dismissal, there was no point returning to school.  

Mi Shen’s expression was complicated. "I’m sorry." He truly regretted doubting the young man.  

"Apologize for what? We’re just familiar strangers." Mu Lichuan sneered. Mi Shen now carried the aura of national fortune—proof he was the real deal. Yet before, he’d sent a puppet to deal with him. Did he think Mu Lichuan was patient?  

He didn’t care what secrets Xiao Mo hid or what connection Mi Shen had to him. All he wanted was to cultivate. With enough strength, he’d fear nothing.  

Hearing this, Mi Shen looked conflicted. "After all we’ve been through, you still don’t consider me a friend?"  

Because of the Mi Rong incident, higher-ups had investigated Mu Lichuan—though they hadn’t harmed him.  

"Friend? Friends scheme against me?" Mu Lichuan’s voice was icy. "If not for Young Master Mi, I wouldn’t have so much trouble—or be targeted by demonic cultivators!" He knew venting was pointless, but the thought of being manipulated made his blood boil. And Xiao Mo was nowhere to be found.  

As a spirit, Xiao Mo came and went unpredictably. Mu Lichuan could only wait for him to appear—tracking him down was harder than reaching heaven.  

"Don’t worry, he won’t act recklessly," Mi Shen said calmly, his expression firm.  

Mu Lichuan brushed past him. "Young Master Mi should be careful, lest the mastermind behind Mi Rong comes for you next." His tone was indifferent, but the warning was clear.  

"Mu Lichuan, was Sato’s death related to you?" Mi Shen had come specifically for this. A foreign exchange student dying so soon after arriving in C-country was no small matter.  

Mu Lichuan stopped. His dark eyes were frosty. "The two-headed female ghost killed him. If you want to arrest someone, go catch her and hand her over to R-country." So that’s why Mi Shen was here, because of Sato.  

His life or death meant nothing to anyone.  

With that, Mu Lichuan left, his mood foul. Though he was just an ordinary person without status, no one liked being controlled like this.  

The strong ruled—if he were stronger, no one would dare treat him this way.  

Mi Shen knew Mu Lichuan had misunderstood, but the young man was too angry to reason with. He knew his temperament well.  

Before Mu Lichuan reached his villa, Shao Xiaoya intercepted him. "Mu Lichuan, my friend keeps having nightmares and sleeps all the time. Can you check on her?"  

She wanted to get closer to him and saw this as an opportunity.  

"Fine." Mu Lichuan agreed to train his abilities, not mentioning payment to the girl.  

The two walked in silence to a remote alley. The area was chaotic, filled with turbid energy, making Mu Lichuan raise an eyebrow.  

This place was a natural yin-gathering land. But in the capital, where land was gold, migrant workers rented these cheap houses despite the conditions.  

They arrived at an old apartment building. Shao Xiaoya, a wealthy young lady, showed no disdain as she led Mu Lichuan to the fifth floor.  

"Who is it?" A hoarse voice answered—clearly, the speaker hadn’t rested well.  

"Xiao Cao, it’s me. I brought a master," Shao Xiaoya said quickly, her face full of concern.  

The door opened, and Mu Lichuan took one look at Qin Xiaocao before chuckling. "She’s fine." Sleeping poorly in a yin-gathering area was normal, she just needed to move out.  

"Ah—?" Shao Xiaoya was stunned. Qin Xiaocao’s dark circles were obvious, and she had constant nightmares.  

Qin Xiaocao stiffened. Shao Xiaoya’s illness had been cured by this boy, so she’d begged for his help.  

A ghost had been haunting her, threatening to kill her parents if she didn’t feed it. She’d originally planned to use it on Shao Xiaoya, but every time the ghost approached, it returned injured—clearly, Shao Xiaoya had protection.  

"Student Mu, I was wrong. Please help me," Qin Xiaocao pleaded. She hadn’t been raising the ghost for long, but without a new host, it would turn on her.  

Mu Lichuan’s gaze was cold. "Help you? Help you harm others?" Karma was at work—she’d brought this on herself.  

Shao Xiaoya gasped. "Mu Lichuan, she…?" She wasn’t stupid, Qin Xiaocao had tried to hurt someone and was now haunted?  

"Raising a ghost, reaping what she sowed. Find someone else to solve her problem." Mu Lichuan wasn’t charitable. He turned to leave.  

Qin Xiaocao grabbed Shao Xiaoya desperately. "Xiaoya, please help me! I was wrong, I admit it!"  

"Qin Xiaocao, I thought you were my friend, but you wanted to harm me?" Shao Xiaoya shook her off and chased after Mu Lichuan.  

She never imagined her closest friend would betray her. Mu Lichuan might seem cold, but he wasn’t cruel—unless provoked.  

"Mu Lichuan, I’m sorry. I didn’t know she…" Shao Xiaoya apologized.  

Mu Lichuan shook his head, glancing at the yin-gathering area. "It’s fine. You were deceived. But this place needs to be cleansed, or more incidents will happen." If too many died here, the consequences would be severe. Since he’d come across it, he might as well resolve it.  

"Yin-gathering land?" Shao Xiaoya was confused.  

Mu Lichuan nodded. "The authorities should evacuate the residents first, dig up whatever's buried beneath this place, then expose the area to direct sunlight to purge the accumulated yin energy." He glanced at the cramped buildings surrounding them. "These high-rises block all sunlight, creating perpetual shade. That's why negative energy concentrates here, attracting restless spirits."  

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 93

Chapter 93: The Two-Headed Female Ghost

Min Yong’s face was unusually resolute. “If I don’t self-destruct, he won’t survive either!”  

Rather than letting the demonic cultivator succeed, it was better to drag him down as well.  

“Wait… wait…” The middle-aged man retracted his scythe, he truly didn’t want to die. Having cultivated to his level, he valued his life even more.  

When his sworn brother had died inexplicably, he naturally had to investigate. After finally learning that it was the young man Mu Lichuan who had killed him, he had been ready to strike—only to run into two troublesome Golden Core cultivators.  

As a Yama (a king of the underworld in Chinese mythology), he shouldn’t have feared them at all. But if Golden Core cultivators self-destructed, the entire Mount Le would be destroyed, and he wouldn’t be able to escape unscathed.  

“What?” The brown-robed elder was already preparing to self-destruct.  

“Fine, you win!” The Yama still had his own considerations. He glared at them hatefully—this debt, he would remember. If he wanted to kill Mu Lichuan, there would be other opportunities.  

With that, the Yama retrieved his magical artifact and swiftly vanished from Min Yong and the others’ sight.  

Only after the enemy had left did Min Yong and the brown-robed elder finally relax. They had been gambling—if that man truly hadn’t feared death, the final outcome would have been mutual destruction.  

Mu Lichuan had no idea how close he had come to death. When he opened his eyes, his depleted spiritual energy had fully recovered, and his previously unstable foundation had now solidified considerably.  

“Young friend.” “Young friend.” Two voices called out in unison. Having resolved the issues of Mount Sheng and Mount Le, they would no longer be disturbed by trivial matters. They could now focus on secluded cultivation.  

“You two…” Mu Lichuan looked at their disheveled appearances, somewhat puzzled. Earlier, when they had tried to infuse him with spiritual energy, it had all been repelled.  

“They encountered a demonic cultivator—one of your enemies, in fact. But they kept their word and risked everything to ensure your safety.” Xiao Mo spoke directly into Mu Lichuan’s spiritual sea.  

Min Yong smiled. “It’s nothing. Now that you’ve awakened, let’s descend the mountain together.” Both of them had sustained significant injuries and needed to recuperate.  

Seeing that they didn’t elaborate, Mu Lichuan’s impression of them improved. “Alright.”  

The group descended the mountain, and the previously unstable energy in the capital finally settled. Everything returned to peace. Ordinary people had no idea what had happened, but they felt the air in the capital had become much fresher.  

No one was happier about Mu Lichuan’s return than Mu Xiaoran. Even though his great-grandson had previously made arrangements as if preparing for death, in his eyes, Mu Lichuan’s cultivation was still insufficient. It would be better to wait until he was stronger before ascending to the Upper Three Realms.  

“Lichuan, while you were gone, a young lady came looking for you. She…” Before Mu Xiaoran could finish, Shao Xiaoya arrived.  

Mu Lichuan could see the teasing look in his grandfather’s eyes. “Shao Xiaoya.” Their connection was merely fate. The yin energy that had once clung to her had completely vanished, and she now looked radiant.  

“Mu Lichuan, thank you for saving my life!” With those words, Shao Xiaoya knelt down.  

Mu Lichuan didn’t stop her, he deserved this gesture. “Rise. You and I are fated.” He offered no further explanation, implying that they shouldn’t have too much interaction in the future. After all, they belonged to different worlds.  

Shao Xiaoya wasn’t foolish. “Then… can we still be friends?” Her world was too far removed from his. Though she believed in the supernatural, she could never truly step into that mysterious realm of metaphysics.  

“Naturally.” Mu Lichuan nodded faintly. He still had to live in the mortal world and couldn’t afford to remain aloof forever. Without connections, people would dismiss him as a lunatic.  

At his words, Shao Xiaoya’s face lit up with joy. “If we’re friends, then you can’t refuse my token of gratitude.”  

“No problem. If you have any business opportunities, feel free to refer them to me.” A faint smile appeared on Mu Lichuan’s face.  

Shao Xiaoya felt the distance between them shrink. He no longer seemed like an untouchable sage, and her nervousness eased.  

“I’m just an ordinary person, just with a few extra things most don’t have.” As if reading her thoughts, Mu Lichuan reiterated.  

Shao Xiaoya nodded, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then took her leave.  

Mu Xiaoran sighed inwardly. It was a pity such a girl was an ordinary person, her temperament was quite good.  

“Grandfather, my goal is cultivation. Other matters can wait.” Mu Lichuan understood his grandfather’s unspoken thoughts. In his past life, he had been deceived and hurt by Mo Shanshan. He had no expectations for love in this life and didn’t plan to pursue it. He knew he was disappointing his grandfather.  

Mu Xiaoran froze, then thought of the Mo family marriage affair. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing.  

After resting for a day, Mu Lichuan spoke to Xiao Mo in his spiritual sea. “A demonic cultivator is my enemy? Why?” He couldn’t recall offending any demonic cultivators. Was it the mastermind behind Mi Rong? But shouldn’t his enemy be Mi Shen? What did this have to do with him?  

“No idea.” Xiao Mo’s reply was blunt.  

“Can you find a way to track him down?” Strike first—Mu Lichuan wasn’t a fool. With the enemy lurking in the shadows, a single misstep could mean death.  

This time, they had escaped by luck. Next time, they might not be so fortunate. Since the enemy had already marked him, he needed to eliminate the threat preemptively.  

Xiao Mo nodded, then remembered Mu Lichuan couldn’t see him. “I’ve locked onto his presence. If he comes for you, you can evade him temporarily.”  

A Foundation Establishment cultivator facing a Golden Core demonic cultivator was suicide. He didn’t want the boy to be snuffed out before he even had a chance to grow.  

“Are you saying that, as I am now, I stand no chance against him? Even if I self-destruct, it wouldn’t harm him?” Mu Lichuan frowned. He refused to live with a ticking time bomb.  

“Exactly. A Golden Core demonic cultivator is beyond your current ability. Focus on cultivation.” Xiao Mo stated the harsh truth.  

Mu Lichuan laughed, but his eyes were icy. “Wait for the enemy to come to me? And then hide? Where exactly do you expect me to hide?” Sitting idle wasn’t his style. Even if charging headlong into danger was foolish, the thought of someone hunting him unsettled him.  

“The capital is the safest place.” Xiao Mo replied calmly. “Why do you think he didn’t dare kill you outright? Because he fears alerting the powerful figures here. If he did, he’d die too.”  

Cultivators defied the heavens, and in such an environment, everyone cherished their lives. No one would throw theirs away recklessly.  

Mount Le was on the outskirts of the capital, where protections were lax. But if the mountain were leveled, the demonic cultivator would perish as well.  

Most demonic cultivators were rogue practitioners without sects. In this modern age of science, many preferred independence over sect restrictions. The only exceptions were the hidden experts in the capital, who guarded the nation’s dragon veins.  

Mu Lichuan sighed. “Then is there a way to lure him in and then…” He left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear.  

“That… you’ll have to discuss with Mi Shen.” Xiao Mo shamelessly passed the buck.  

At the mention of Mi Shen, Mu Lichuan was puzzled. If the nation’s fortune belonged to Xiao Mo, how was it connected to the current era? There had to be more to it.  

Early the next morning, Mu Lichuan headed to school. What else could he do? He was still young, and a youth should behave like one.  

“Mu Lichuan!” When Sato spotted him, he immediately rushed over.  

Mu Lichuan took two steps back and activated his Yin-Yang Eyes. Just as he’d sensed—Sato was being haunted by a two-headed female ghost.

Sato’s face was sickly, his eyes ringed with dark circles—clearly the result of excessive indulgence. The way he looked at Mu Lichuan was lecherous.  

“Scram.” Mu Lichuan uttered the word coldly.  

“Pretty boy, I like you!” Sato’s voice was neither masculine nor feminine. Mu Lichuan could clearly see the ghostly women’s greedy expressions—no, it was more like they wanted to devour him.  

Mu Lichuan guessed that Sato was likely already dead, his body puppeteered by the ghosts to commit evil deeds, using his form to absorb others’ yang energy.  

A crowd of students had already gathered, their faces alight with schadenfreude. Sato was an exchange student from Country R, known for its open homosexuality. Who would’ve thought he’d publicly confess to their “school heartthrob”? Now, they wondered how this would play out.  

Mu Lichuan smiled, but his eyes were frosty. “But I detest you. Get lost now, or else…” With a flick of his finger, an invisible strand of soul force lashed out at the ghosts.  

“Ah—!” “Ah—!” The two-headed female ghost was forcibly ripped from Sato’s body. Sato swayed unsteadily.  

“You’re an exorcist?! Aren’t you afraid we’ll kill him?!” The ghosts threatened, their sharp nails elongating into blades pressed against Sato’s head.  

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Crisis  

The barrier at the Two Realms Mountain was difficult even for Xiao Mo to cross, let alone Mu Lichuan's human body. Even if he somehow made it past, facing the great demon of Two Realms Mountain, even a mighty cultivator would meet certain death—how much more so for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like him?  

"I'm not crazy, just asking," Mu Lichuan muttered, enduring the pain as he searched for the barrier. The demonic energy seeped in relentlessly through his pores, making his very soul ache. In truth, it all came down to his low cultivation level—had he been stronger, this demonic energy wouldn’t have harmed him.  

Inside the barrier, everything was pitch black, filled with dark, sinister energy. He advanced slowly, eyes closed, moving forward with great difficulty.  

Mu Lichuan felt an overwhelming sense of oppression, as if all his negative emotions were surfacing. "Wake up!" Just as his mind turned to mush, a sharp voice roared in his head.  

"This is the Clear Heart Mantra. Don’t let yourself be deceived. This demonic energy saps willpower and confidence, bringing out all your darkest emotions," Xiao Mo urgently transmitted the mantra into Mu Lichuan’s spiritual sea. If he succumbed to the illusion, he would lose himself, trapped until his soul withered away.  

Coming to his senses, Mu Lichuan broke out in a cold sweat. What haunted him most was his mother’s death. Despite being reborn, he couldn’t change her fate—a deep regret that weighed on him as a son.  

"Hurry. The longer you stay, the worse it gets for you," Xiao Mo warned sternly. This was Mu Lichuan’s trial, something no one else could resolve for him.  

His cultivation had progressed too quickly, leaving his foundation unstable. The slightest mishap could ruin his potential, and that would spell real trouble.  

Mu Lichuan stayed silent, focusing entirely on searching for the formation’s core. Groping in the darkness, his power of faith drained steadily, yet his steps remained firm. Gone was the earlier confusion and labored breathing—his Dao heart had grown steadier than before.  

Cultivators raised in comfort, even geniuses, often faltered at the first sign of adversity. That was why so few talents in the cultivation world truly matured, their arrogance led to fatal consequences in later trials.  

After what felt like an eternity, Mu Lichuan nearly forgot his surroundings.

"Found it!" He exhaled in relief.  

"Throw the compass over and channel your spiritual energy into it," Xiao Mo said, equally relieved.  

Mu Lichuan formed a series of complex hand seals, pouring his spiritual energy into the compass. The demon that had reached out for him recoiled with a shriek.  

Drained of energy, Mu Lichuan collapsed as space twisted around him. A flash of white light later, he was out.  

"Young friend." Min Yong and the brown-robed elder had waited three days and nights, their anxiety hidden beneath calm exteriors.  

Mu Lichuan was completely spent. "It’s sealed…" he said weakly. He owed his survival to Xiao Mo’s Clear Heart Mantra—without it, he would have been lost forever.  

Relief washed over Min Yong’s face. They tried transferring spiritual energy to the boy, only to be repelled.  

Mu Lichuan took out a pill and swallowed it. A surge of spiritual energy flooded his body, beginning his recovery.  

Min Yong and the brown-robed elder stood guard, though they wondered where he’d gotten such a pill. But some questions were best left unasked.  

Three more days passed before Mu Lichuan opened his eyes again—just in time for his stomach to growl in protest. "Young friend, we prepared food for you," Min Yong said, offering roasted duck.  

They had long since reached Bi Gu (辟谷 - fasting, no longer needing mortal food), but they knew a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Mu Lichuan still needed sustenance. So, one of them had gone down the mountain daily to buy meals.  

"Thanks." Mu Lichuan grabbed the duck and devoured it. Never had roasted duck tasted so good.  

Coughing from eating too fast, he gratefully accepted the bottled water the brown-robed elder handed him, gulping it down.  

Practical to a fault, he cared more about filling his stomach than his disheveled state.  

After two whole ducks and a bottle of water, he finally felt satisfied. "Let’s go. Next stop—Mount Le."  

He had been to both places before. First, the Nine Sails Ghost Banner, then the water ghost—it all felt like yesterday.  

He’d been framed because of He Chen, leading to Mi Rong’s demonic transformation. Everything revolved around him, yet it also sharpened his cultivation.  

He had assumed the mortal world would be free of such things, but reality proved otherwise—darkness lurked beneath the surface.  

"Young friend, wouldn’t you like a few more days to recover? The formation at Mount Sheng is destroyed, weakening Mount Le’s barrier," Min Yong advised. Their role was merely to assist, the real work fell to Mu Lichuan.  

Mu Lichuan shook his head. "Let’s settle this now, so we don’t have to live in fear." The mastermind behind Mi Rong needed to be found, but tracking down a hidden cultivator in this vast world was no easy task.  

Min Yong and the brown-robed elder voiced no objections. If Mu Lichuan was willing to protect the common people, it was their fortune.  

Mount Le’s barrier was simpler than Mount Sheng’s. Mu Lichuan found the cave where the formation core lay and sealed it the same way. With the demonic energy gone, even the air in the capital felt cleaner.  

"Bang—" Min Yong instantly erected a barrier around the three of them. Mu Lichuan was still weak, if an enemy struck now, he’d die for sure.  

"All you cultivators—scram!" A hoarse voice snarled. A middle-aged man covered in black markings, like some foreign tribesman, glared at them.  

Min Yong spoke politely, "Fellow Daoist, what brings you here in such a rage?" If his guess was right, this man was no orthodox cultivator. His aura reeked of demonic or evil cultivation.  

"Meddling old fools! Step aside, or I won’t hold back!" The man’s hatred burned in his eyes. "I want him!"  

Now he knew why his brother had died. The boy’s soul—it was the perfect feast. Devouring it would surely elevate his cultivation.  

"Demon cultivator!" The brown-robed elder paled. This man had hidden well, but in that instant, his formidable power was unmistakable.  

Both Min Yong and the brown-robed elder were at Golden Core Stage, yet this demon cultivator was either their equal or stronger.  

"Even after all my efforts to conceal myself, you saw through me?" The man sneered. "No matter. You’re not leaving either. Hand over your Golden Cores, they’ll make fine supplements."  

The two elders drew their magical tools. What had drawn a demon cultivator to Mount Sheng?  

The man’s eyes reddened as he raised a scythe oozing black energy. With a vicious swing, he struck.  

High-level battles came down to cultivation, energy reserves, and resources. Their fight was contained within a barrier—if it drew the attention of true powerhouses, the consequences would be dire.  

"Pfft—" Min Yong and the brown-robed elder, only at Golden Core First Layer, were no match for their Second Layer opponent. No wonder he had been so arrogant.  

"Ugh—" Min Yong’s face whitened. The scythe was draining their spiritual energy, leaving them defenseless.  

"Die!" The man’s face twisted as he swung again, black tendrils coiling around the two elders. Their complexions turned deathly pale.  

Ordinary cultivators stood little chance against such demonic energy, especially when outmatched.  

"Pfft— Pfft—" Both spat blood, their faces flushing—preparing for a final, desperate move.  

"You—you’re planning to self-destruct? Don’t forget, he’s still here!" The demon cultivator’s expression twisted. A Golden Core explosion would gravely injure him, it could even flatten Mount Sheng entirely. Even if he survived, orthodox cultivators would hunt him down.  

Rebirth of the Useless Young Master’s Counterattack Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Natural Formation  

Cultivators seek immortality, the Dao of Heaven, defying the natural order to become masters of the world, unrestrained by others.  

Mu Xiaoran had coincidentally reached the Foundation Establishment stage, which he considered quite an achievement. However, due to his age and the fact that he had yet to nurture a genius for the Mu family, everything turned to ashes when the Mu family was annihilated.  

Mu Lichuan left some elixirs for his great-grandfather—all of which would be useful—along with the money in his bank account. It wasn’t much, just a few million, but it was a precaution in case he didn’t return.  

Both Mount Le and Mount Sheng were unusual places. It was unclear how cultivators located the barriers, or perhaps they simply couldn’t sense the areas where evil energy emanated.  

Early the next morning, Mu Lichuan set out. As for school, he was only enrolled nominally. If he returned safely, he would continue his studies. If not, his enrollment would naturally be revoked.  

"Young friend," Min Yong’s voice was exceptionally gentle.  

Mu Lichuan glanced at them. "Are you accompanying me to search for the barrier? Or do you already know its location but simply can’t enter?"  

Back in the morgue, they had known where the barrier was but couldn’t enter due to their high cultivation levels. In the end, he had dealt with the copper corpse alone.  

"We know the general area, but we can’t locate the formation’s core," the brown-robed elder said with a frown. "Yet the evil energy emanating from there is unmistakable."  

"We will accompany you, young friend. If there’s any danger, we will do our utmost to protect you," Min Yong added, his expression solemn.  

Mu Lichuan nodded, though he found it odd. The ancient monsters of the capital couldn’t possibly be limited to just these two. Why were only they present? Were the more powerful experts restrained by the Heavenly Dao? He didn’t understand, nor did it concern him.  

If the barrier allowed entry, he’d rather not stay in the mortal world and instead head straight to the Two Realms Mountain. But he knew this was a gamble—over there, he might be torn apart by demons within moments, and there was no guarantee he could even cross over.  

The three of them first headed to Mount Sheng, as it was closer to the capital, while Mount Le was farther away. The anomaly at Mount Sheng had been discovered by Mu Lichuan while tracking Mi Rong; otherwise, it wouldn’t have drawn attention.  

Mu Lichuan possessed the Yin-Yang Eyes, allowing him to traverse the realms of the living and the dead. His pure soul made him exceptionally sensitive to evil and Yin energy—an ability other cultivators lacked.  

Even though Min Yong and the brown-robed elder were Golden Core cultivators, their senses paled in comparison to Mu Lichuan’s. This was the favor of the Heavenly Dao.  

Mount Le was a tourist destination. Aside from the asphalt paths, the mountain valleys were dense and occasionally home to wild beasts, requiring visitors to be cautious.  

"Let’s take this path up," Mu Lichuan said, aware that openly engaging in "superstitious activities" in broad daylight would get them labeled as lunatics.  

Min Yong and the brown-robed elder could fly on swords. "Young friend, we can carry you up."  

The dense foliage would shield them from satellites if they flew low. This way, they wouldn’t be mistaken for madmen.  

Mu Lichuan agreed, expecting them to use swords. Instead, the brown-robed elder pulled out an old-fashioned fan. "Young friend, step on this. It can shrink later."  

Mu Lichuan hopped on, nearly losing his balance from the wobbling until Min Yong steadied him. The brown-robed elder, meanwhile, used a chopstick as his flying tool, making Mu Lichuan’s lips twitch. But he said nothing—everyone had their quirks.  

"Young friend, the evil and demonic energy we detected before is concentrated in this area, but we couldn’t pinpoint the exact source," Min Yong said apologetically. Despite being Golden Core cultivators, they couldn’t even locate the origin of the energy.  

Mu Lichuan also found it strange. The demonic and evil energy here were almost indistinguishable. "This must be a formation set up by a demonic cultivator," he mused. "The energy I sense is uniform."  

His power of faith had grown stronger, reducing the evil energy’s influence on him. Still, it made him uneasy, likely due to his soul’s nature.  

"A formation?" Min Yong and the brown-robed elder hadn’t considered that possibility. They knew little about formations, which was why they couldn’t find the barrier.  

"An illusion formation, perhaps," Mu Lichuan closed his eyes. If his eyes couldn’t see it, he’d rely on his soul.  

Though he had no expertise in formations, his soul power was formidable. As it extended outward, a transparent force probed ahead, leaving Min Yong and the brown-robed elder in awe. Such pure control was beyond their capabilities.  

Despite being three realms higher than Mu Lichuan, they had to admit their inferiority in certain aspects.  

Mu Lichuan could feel the demonic and evil energy corroding him, but the effect was minimal. Then, he detected an anomaly and immediately opened his eyes.  

They needed to find the formation’s core to seal it. The danger lay in the demons guarding it, but they wouldn’t know until they arrived.  

"Found it," Mu Lichuan stood up calmly.  

"Let’s go," Min Yong and the brown-robed elder said excitedly. After searching for so long, they’d found nothing. Mu Lichuan’s ability was truly remarkable, wa this the advantage of a pure soul?  

They knew a pure soul belonged to one free of worldly desires, unlike them. This was the Heavenly Dao’s blessing.  

"Here," Mu Lichuan pointed at a massive tree.  

It would take four or five people to encircle its trunk. The entrance was likely inside the tree, but cutting it down risked expanding the barrier, which would be disastrous.  

"This…" Min Yong frowned. "How do we seal it? We can’t even see the opening." Though they had a Bagua compass to seal the barrier, they needed a clear target, or the spiritual energy cost would be immense.  

"Can’t you find a way in?" Mu Lichuan had read cultivation novels where people used formations to enter other spaces.  

This tree likely contained a pocket dimension, but he didn’t know the technique.  

"We need the correct method. A mistake could enlarge the barrier," the brown-robed elder trailed off, but the implication was clear.  

Mu Lichuan turned to Xiao Mo in his mind. The spirit had been silent but now was the time to act.  

"They can’t enter. Only you can," Xiao Mo said flatly.  

"What?" Mu Lichuan didn’t understand. Their cultivation was far higher than his—how could he be the only one?  

"You can resist the demonic and evil energy. They’d die upon entering," Xiao Mo added bluntly.  

Mu Lichuan fell silent. So it wasn’t that simple. "Give me the artifact to seal the barrier," he said coldly. He’d come too far to turn back.  

"Young friend?" Min Yong and the brown-robed elder were puzzled.  

"You can’t withstand the demonic energy inside. Entering would mean death—don’t get in my way," Mu Lichuan said icily.  

He wasn’t a saint. If this weren’t his homeland, he wouldn’t risk his life for something that offered him no benefit.  

"Thank you, young friend," the two said awkwardly.  

Their spiritual barriers could protect them briefly, but prolonged exposure would corrode them. That was why they’d sought Mu Lichuan’s help.  

Mu Lichuan took the compass, formed a series of hand seals, and vanished.  

"We’re truly old," Min Yong sighed. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help—they simply couldn’t.  

"Indeed. Even if we die, we can’t let the demonic energy spread," the brown-robed elder said resolutely. The two set up a barrier around the tree to contain the energy.  

The Two Realms Mountain was a demon-dominated land, filled with demonic energy. Though evil energy also leaked through, the demonic energy was far more corrosive, capable of consuming flesh and turning people into demonic beings.  

Upon entering, Mu Lichuan was immediately assaulted by the demonic energy, his skin prickling with discomfort. The formation’s core had to be nearby—otherwise, the energy wouldn’t be so dense. The tree itself must have been part of the seal.  

"This is a naturally formed barrier," Xiao Mo explained. "It’ll be painful, but you can find the core and seal it with the compass and your spiritual energy."  

"Can I pass through?" Mu Lichuan asked. If demons could come through, could he go the other way?  

"Are you insane?!" Xiao Mo snapped.