Chapter Twenty-Two: The Mysterious Maiden

In a daze, Chu Youtai was dragged along by several burly men. His entire body was drained of strength, only his mind remaining somewhat clear. Unfortunately, after his battle with Lei Yinyang, he had exhausted all his energy and could not even retreat into the inner world of the Crocodile Dragon Mountain River Pearl. Thus, he was dragged along for a mile or two before being taken into a thatched hut.

The men skillfully bound his body. One of them laughed, "Anyone who can ride a horse can’t be poor. Covered in blood like this, might he have just killed and robbed someone?"

"I think this man comes from the slums. Could he have stolen from people there? If so, that's a terrible crime—he deserves to fall into our hands!"

"Let’s see what he’s carrying," another said.

Just as they were about to search Chu Youtai’s belongings, a sudden gust of wind swept outside, shaking the dimly-lit hut until it seemed on the verge of collapse. Sunlight blazed in through the open walls.

"What’s happening?" the men exclaimed in alarm.

At that moment, a light even brighter than the sun flashed in. A single word—"Still!"—rang out, and a beam of light swept over them, growing ever brighter, enveloping all the men within its radiance.

Suddenly, they found themselves frozen in place. Their bodies stiffened like puppets, completely beyond their own control. They tried to scream but could not utter a sound—even their tongues were locked in place.

They could only exchange terrified glances, their eyes darting wildly.

This was the wondrous "Binding Spell" from Daoist arts.

Then, with a mighty crash, the thatched hut collapsed. Into the sunlight stepped a girl of fifteen or sixteen. Her eyes were lively and bright, her lips crimson, her teeth white and neat. Yet her bearing was bold and unrestrained.

Seeing her, the men’s faces shifted again. Recognizing both the spell and her aura, they realized who she must be. Their eyes filled with silent pleas for mercy.

The girl spoke, "So, it’s you who kill and rob? Just throw a crime on someone to justify your acts?"

At this, their faces paled further. Yet, bound by the spell, they could not even beg for their lives.

She continued, "A month ago, you killed seven people in Sha Family Village—one was only a seven-year-old child. You call yourselves heroic thieves, but you’re stained with innocent blood. You have hands and feet, yet refuse honest labor, only thinking to plunder others. Compared to the self-reliant poor of the slums, how much more despicable you are!