Chapter 6: Escaped the Gourd, Bound to the Demon Hunter Forever

 

Force alone would never be enough. History overflowed with tales of the weak triumphing over the strong through wit rather than strength.

Yan Dan resolved to study this young Taoist priest in earnest—even if she had to begin with something as insignificant as a single strand of hair. She moved closer to the gourd's wall and knocked gently. "Tang Zhou?"

His voice emerged thick and unclear, a soft hum suggesting he'd only just awakened.

This was the optimal moment to engage him. Wake him a minute earlier, and he'd drag her out prematurely to assist with alchemy. A minute later, and he'd be fully alert, rendering conversation far more difficult. Yan Dan softened her tone deliberately. "Your Taoist skills demonstrate such mastery—you must have studied under a renowned teacher, correct?" Anyone capable of instructing such a disciple had to be extraordinary, preferably someone with an eccentric personality and rigid temperament who inspired complaints from students.

"My master is indeed an otherworldly sage, though somewhat peculiar. Why do you ask?" Tang Zhou's voice retained its morning roughness as he answered with casual indifference.

"Your master harbors deep hatred toward demons, doesn't he?"

"Not hatred—loathing." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Before embracing monastic life, he had a wife and children. One day, returning home from travels, he discovered demons had devoured his entire family, leaving only skeletal remains."

Yan Dan wanted desperately to cry but found no tears would come. She could easily imagine the environment that had shaped Tang Zhou's worldview since childhood. Her hope of escape seemed to evaporate like morning mist. After contemplating carefully, she chose her words with precision. "But surely not all demons are evil?" She herself provided perfect evidence.

After a measured pause, Tang Zhou replied, "Perhaps you're right. I simply haven't encountered any benevolent ones."

Yan Dan wanted to scream in frustration. An innocent demon stood—or rather, floated—directly before him, yet he'd imprisoned her in this jade gourd, denying her even sunlight. Suddenly, Tang Zhou continued, "Remember that spider spirit I mentioned capturing? I felt sympathy and released it, but the moment it gained freedom, it attacked me without hesitation."

Yan Dan sighed, feeling her survival prospects dim considerably. She spoke weakly, "I understand. So do you harbor the same hatred toward demons as your master?"

"You're asking excessive questions. From this moment forward, you may pose only three questions daily. Whether I choose to answer remains my prerogative." He sounded completely alert now. "If you're attempting to persuade me toward releasing you, spare yourself the effort. You're hardly the first to employ such transparent tactics."

Yan Dan pressed against the gourd's interior wall, unable to suppress her next question. "Everything is pitch black in here. How am I supposed to distinguish between day and night? What constitutes a complete day?"

Tang Zhou responded with maddening calm. "You'll need to estimate time yourself. No one will track it for you. Congratulations—you've now exhausted today's three questions."

Yan Dan snorted heavily through her nose, teeth grinding with barely contained rage. Tang Zhou then added with deliberate slowness, "If you continue making such sounds, you might develop a permanently crooked nose."

Yan Dan pounded the ground in fury. After several aggressive thumps, she suddenly laughed despite herself. Regardless of everything else, she'd made some progress. As long as time remained on her side, hope persisted. She'd weathered far worse circumstances and refused to accept defeat now.

Maintaining consciousness within this dark magical vessel became her primary challenge. Paradoxically, hunger helped keep her alert. Unlike ordinary mortals who grew dizzy and disoriented after days without sustenance, Yan Dan devoted increased time to cultivating her magical abilities—much like certain esoteric Buddhist practices that employed hunger to sharpen cultivation and mental acuity.

She listened constantly to external sounds, tracking every path Tang Zhou traveled and every person he encountered.

Confinement within the magical vessel essentially severed her from the outside world. Apart from Tang Zhou's voice, absolute silence reigned. Without courage and unwavering determination, remaining in such quiet darkness for extended periods would prove impossible for most beings.

Yet gradually, Yan Dan began perceiving faint sounds from beyond her prison—a surprising and welcome development.

"Tang Zhou?" After sitting in extended silence, she couldn't resist speaking.

Tang Zhou seemed to sigh, frustration threading through his tone. "What do you want now?" Ten days had passed, and no demon had ever remained within the jade gourd for such duration. He couldn't help but feel challenged by her persistence.

"I need to understand—do you truly harbor such profound hatred toward demons?" This question held critical importance; even the slightest sympathy from him might create an opening for persuasion.

Tang Zhou deflected smoothly. "Why don't you inquire about your companion instead?"

Of course she wanted to ask, but the timing wasn't right. Currently disadvantaged in every aspect, she couldn't afford to let him discern her true concerns. Besides, given Tang Zhou's personality—delighting in her distress—asking would prove futile and only invite further torment.

"I can barely protect myself now. Why should I concern myself with others' fates?"

Tang Zhou seemed to smile. "Such is the depth of loyalty among demons. What a waste that the fish demon overestimated his abilities, attempting to delay me while you escaped."

Yan Dan maintained silence, her heart twisting with anguish, but then reconsidered. She should trust Yu Mo's capabilities. If he returned to Qianlan Mountain and discovered her absence, he would certainly resume searching. She needed to escape as quickly as possible.

"That's because you harbor prejudices and lack genuine understanding." Yan Dan felt anger rising but forced restraint. "We demons also operate under constraints and possess our own principles. Even when we commit wrongdoing, we're no worse than mortals."

Tang Zhou offered no response.

Which meant he would ignore her for the remainder of the day.

Yan Dan pondered repeatedly before finally closing her eyes slowly. Just as she hovered between waking and sleeping, the sound of running water jolted her alert. She turned and sat up quickly. "Could you release me for some fresh air? Just long enough to drink a cup of tea?"

Tang Zhou replied with surprising simplicity. "Very well."

Suddenly, brilliant light flooded from above. Yan Dan's joy defied description. She floated slowly toward the gourd's mouth, lying against the opening to peer outside. Now bound by magic, her body had shrunk considerably, making even a window appear enormous. Judging by the light filtering through the window, dusk approached. They must be lodging in an inn—judging by the dated furnishings and absence of urban clamor outside, likely a small suburban establishment.

"Does it look different from what you remembered?" Tang Zhou asked suddenly with a soft laugh.

Yan Dan nodded and turned back, but seeing the mist swirling before her, words failed momentarily. "You, you, you..."

Tang Zhou leaned back casually, brushing wet black hair from the bathing tub with a half-smile. "What about me?"

Yan Dan immediately protested. "I didn't request an audience with your bathing ritual!"

Tang Zhou regarded her with feigned innocence. "You said you wanted fresh air. I never suggested viewing anything specific."

Yan Dan leaned over the gourd's mouth, supporting her chin with one hand, and pouted defiantly. "Fine, I'll watch from here. If you're truly brave, let me observe everything!"

Tang Zhou's grip loosened abruptly, and the jade gourd plunged into the water with a resounding splash. Before Yan Dan could react, she swallowed two large mouthfuls of bathwater. She quickly held her breath, retreating deeper into the jade gourd while using magic to seal a barrier across the opening, preventing further water intrusion.

Tang Zhou rose from the bath, wiping water from his body before retrieving his inner garment from behind the screen. After dressing, he fished the jade gourd from the water. "How was that experience?"

Yan Dan felt her stomach churning violently. After coughing extensively without producing anything, she spat out angrily, "Despicable!"

Tang Zhou smiled without comment. He placed the jade gourd on the table, methodically tying his belt and donning his remaining garments with deliberate slowness.

Yan Dan's eyes flickered as a faint smile crossed her features. "Running around must be exhausting. Would you like me to massage your legs and shoulders?"

Tang Zhou turned, fixing her with a cold stare.

"Let me out, and I promise not to attempt escape. Besides, even if I tried, you could easily recapture me. I wouldn't commit such obvious foolishness." They needed to proceed incrementally. First, escape the jade gourd, then assess opportunities. Remaining locked in perpetual darkness left no options whatsoever.

"Are you... attempting to tempt me?" His smile carried dangerous amusement as he spoke with deliberate slowness. "Would you like to know what happened to the fox demon who tried identical tactics?"

Yan Dan felt ice cascade down her spine at his tone, involuntarily shuddering. "No, no—I don't want to know."

In reality, leaving the jade gourd required certainty she remained alive. If only a wisp of her soul persisted, escape would prove meaningless.

Tang Zhou lifted the jade gourd and sealed its mouth with a wooden stopper. "If you possess genuine wisdom, remain docile and abandon foolish schemes. That way, you'll survive longer and die peacefully."

Darkness enveloped her once more.

Yan Dan paused before asking, "Was that fox demon beautiful?"

Tang Zhou replied without hesitation. "Far more beautiful than you."

Yan Dan retorted sharply, "You weren't even tempted by such beauty throwing herself at you. Are you actually male?"

Approximately three hours later, Yan Dan detected faint noises outside. Deep night had fallen—who would be active at such hours? She pressed herself against the gourd wall, listening intently. It sounded like multiple people moving through the room, definitely more than one individual.

Their footsteps fell light and irregular, each landing clear to her enhanced hearing. Tang Zhou's steps, by contrast, moved with such lightness and speed they produced almost no sound.

Yan Dan considered briefly, a smile playing across her lips. Finally, her escape opportunity had arrived. If her assessment proved correct, Tang Zhou had lodged in a disreputable establishment, and the food and tea he'd consumed contained sedatives, explaining his unusually deep slumber and failure to notice intruders.

She had assumed Tang Zhou possessed considerable intelligence, but apparently, he was merely adequate.

Suddenly, the world tilted violently, and Yan Dan's body slid across the interior. Someone outside spoke in a rough voice. "This jade looks valuable—wonder how much silver it's worth?" Another person added, "It appears quite lustrous. Let's remove the cork and check—there might be treasures inside!"

Yan Dan smiled faintly, thinking: Open it quickly so I can escape at last.

Abruptly, the jade gourd inverted, and Yan Dan felt weightlessness as she passed through the opening. Green smoke curled upward as she spun gracefully, sleeves spreading wide. Raising her hand to secure her black hair, she turned toward the bed where the young Taoist priest continued sleeping soundly.

The three men behind her stood completely stunned. After a prolonged moment, one managed to croak from his throat, "Damn—it's a demon!" Then they stumbled frantically toward the door.

Yan Dan flicked her fingers, and the last man collapsed with a heavy thud, unable to rise. He trembled violently, somehow finding strength to wail while crawling away desperately.

Yan Dan felt mildly dissatisfied. "Do I appear so frightening? They're absolutely terrified."

But her mood remained excellent, and she chose not to dwell on such trivial matters.

She approached the table, opened the teapot lid to smell its contents, then broke off a piece of dessert and tasted it. "Definitely contains sedatives." She turned toward the bed, lowering her head to observe Tang Zhou. He slept deeply, breathing steadily, his features serene and undeniably handsome. Yan Dan whispered to herself, "You look down upon demons, yet I insist you'll owe me a debt of gratitude."

However, the anger she'd endured these past days demanded release. Slowly raising her hand and gathering strength, she prepared to deliver several satisfying slaps. Before her palm could touch his cheek, her wrist was suddenly caught in an iron grip.

Tang Zhou's eyes snapped open. "What's wrong?"

Yan Dan forced herself to remain composed, a faint smile masking her shock. "There was an insect on your face. I wanted to help remove it."

Tang Zhou sat up slowly, still smiling. "You raised your hand quite high just now. I assumed you intended to strike me."

Hope transformed instantly into crushing disappointment, leaving her absolutely furious.

She trembled with rage, nearly jumping in frustration. "Let me make this perfectly clear: I'd rather commit suicide than return to that magical vessel! Do you want to dismember me or use me for alchemy? Go ahead—I'm not afraid!"

Tang Zhou extracted a talisman from beneath his pillow and pressed it against her wrist. Light flashed brilliantly, and the talisman transformed into a heavy jade bracelet. He released his grip and spoke with measured calm. "This restriction prevents you from moving more than five paces from my side."

Yan Dan extended her hand tentatively. When her fingertips touched the bracelet, it instantly deflected them. Though she'd escaped the jade gourd, she remained under restriction, bound to Tang Zhou's proximity with no chance of true freedom.

She stared at the bracelet momentarily, still refusing to surrender. "Five paces seems insufficient. Could we make it ten?"

"I was considering three would be optimal." Tang Zhou rose from the bed and raised his hand to adjust his clothing, but suddenly his sleeve caught. Yan Dan had grabbed it, her expression pitiful as she pleaded, "Even at twenty paces, I couldn't accomplish anything. How about ten?"

He chuckled softly, his features remarkably handsome. "You're so pitiful! I can't help feeling tempted." His tone shifted abruptly. "One more word and I'll have you trapped in the magical vessel again."

Yan Dan pouted and muttered under her breath before suddenly sitting at the table and taking a bite of the snacks.

Tang Zhou grasped her wrist, his long brows furrowing slightly. "These contain knockout drugs."

"I'd eat them even if they contained arsenic when I'm this hungry," Yan Dan replied with defiant pride. "However, it's merely a sedative?"

Tang Zhou removed the snack from her hand, returning it to the plate. "Qingshi Town isn't far ahead. We'll find proper food there."

"Qingshi Town?" She started slightly. "What business do you have in Qingshi Town?"

Tang Zhou offered no explanation, simply collecting his belongings and heading toward the door.

Yan Dan felt an invisible force pulling her along, following Tang Zhou automatically. The two maintained exactly five paces' distance, one leading and one following.

"I've heard numerous disturbing incidents occur in Qingshi Town. People die inexplicably in their homes, others have their hearts extracted, and malevolent spirits haunt the mass graves. What draws you there?"

Tang Zhou turned with a smile. "I've never witnessed such phenomena personally. I want to observe them."

Yan Dan walked a bit further before asking, "You didn't consume the black shop's food earlier, so you weren't affected by the sedatives, correct?"

Tang Zhou evaded directly, instead quickening his pace. Dawn was just breaking, the morning glow painting the sky. They could already glimpse a small bluestone town emerging in the distance.

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