At the mention of this, Jiang Zhaoxue froze.

Beside her, Ye Wenzhi was somewhat puzzled: “Setting up a stall? Playing tricks?”

“Uh…”

Hearing Ye Wenzhi ask directly, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly interrupted, not wanting anyone to repeat the process of how she had committed fraud. She only pressed Chen Zhao: “How do you know about this?”

“Actually, I’ve been secretly observing all the capable people and extraordinary individuals in the city, so when the Immortal Master entered Taizhou City, I was already paying attention. I’ve investigated everything related to the Immortal Master.”

Chen Zhao spoke truthfully.

Jiang Zhaoxue then understood—it turned out her entire fraud operation had an audience the whole time.

She coughed awkwardly and didn’t ask further, only saying: “That… this Zhuang Yan… what’s the situation?”

“Not entirely clear about the specifics.” Chen Zhao pondered and only said, “All I know is that his family once had such a daughter. Later, because the family was poor and couldn’t afford to raise her, they sent her away when she was very young. They never saw her again after that. Everyone speculated they gave her away, but…”

“But she died.”

Jiang Zhaoxue stated with certainty, looking toward Ye Wenzhi: “This was confirmed by you, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Ye Wenzhi spoke, his face showing a reminiscent expression: “When I first met her, I was only nine years old. That day I had been scolded by my teacher and felt upset. I returned home with Teacher Chen, and at night when we passed near the Chengtou Bridge, the carriage wheel broke. The teacher had me get out while he took people to fix the carriage. I found a corner and secretly cried. Then I encountered a girl. She said her name was Yan’er and asked why I was crying, so I chatted with her. Though she was only five years old, she was very sensible and comforted me. When I was about to leave, I saw her clothes were ragged and wanted to give her some clothing. I asked where to send it, and she told me to burn paper clothes under Chengtou Bridge and call her name, Zhuang Yan. Only then did I realize—she was a dead person.”

Ye Wenzhi had obviously weathered many storms. Though he spoke of encountering a ghost, his face showed no ripples of emotion.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but steal a glance at Ye Tianjiao and saw fear already beginning to show in his eyes.

His courage was truly small.

Jiang Zhaoxue confirmed this once again. Ye Wenzhi, on the other hand, was completely opposite to this younger brother, calmly saying: “Since childhood I’ve followed Teacher Chen and have seen quite a few ghosts and spirits. I knew that unless they died unjustly, ordinary people’s souls generally have no great malice toward others. So after I left, a few days later I brought Teacher Chen back and had someone cut clothes from paper. I returned to the bridge and burned her some clothes. But Teacher Chen said that the living and dead walk different paths, so I bid her farewell. However, she requested that I give her a new set of clothes every year, so every year I would go to Chengmen Bridge and burn her a few new outfits.”

“Burning clothes?” Chen Zhao’s face showed alarm. “Why didn’t the Young Master tell me?!”

“If he told you, would you still let him go?” Jiang Zhaoxue understood immediately. She glanced at Chen Zhao and pointed it out directly: “You managed him too strictly!”

Chen Zhao stiffened. Ye Wenzhi didn’t deny it either, lowering his eyes and saying softly: “At that time… my studies were demanding. The family always said that as the eldest son, I must strictly observe family rules. Outside, every action and movement represented the Ye Family’s reputation. In front of others, I could not lose decorum. Only in her presence…”

He could lose composure.

He could complain about his tutor, oppose his parents, resent his friends, joke about others.

And this child who had died young knew nothing of the world’s rules. She didn’t understand how heretical the things he said were. She would only sit by the river in the little dresses he burned for her and listen to him talk about these troublesome matters.

So at first it was once a year to see her, but later it became more frequent, and slowly they became friends.

“At sixteen, I planned to celebrate a birthday for her.”

Ye Wenzhi murmured, his fingers curling slightly as he said softly: “And that day, Teacher Chen performed a ritual for someone, helping a soul that had been wandering the world to pass on. That day I realized she remained in this world because of all her attachments.”

So that evening, they sat by the river. He turned to look at this graceful young woman and finally asked her: “Besides dresses, what else do you want?”

Listening, Zhuang Yan turned her head. She blinked, thought for a long time, and finally said: “I want to go home.”

“Go home?”

“Yes,” Zhuang Yan looked up at the moon in the sky, like any ordinary girl, except that compared to ordinary women, her body had an extra layer of luminescence unique to souls. She smiled at the sky and said gently, “I want to have a home.”

But a girl’s soul that appeared under Chengtou Bridge couldn’t possibly have a home.

They were abandoned existences—nowhere to go in life, nowhere to return to.

Even if he brought her back, what she would get wouldn’t be a home, only disappointment.

For a moment he didn’t know how to respond. Only after hesitating for a long time did he slowly say: “Then… how about… I build you a house.”

Zhuang Yan listened and turned her head to see Ye Wenzhi pondering: “I’ll give you a house, I’ll make offerings to you, I’ll buy you whatever you want… Yan’er,” Ye Wenzhi gradually became excited, saying earnestly, “I’ll give you a home!”

Zhuang Yan’s eyes were full of surprise: “You’ll give me a home?”

“That’s right,” Ye Wenzhi grew more excited the more he thought about it. “Who says only parents can be home? Yan’er, you’ve grown up, you can have your own home.”

“But I have no family.”

“I can be your family.” Ye Wenzhi looked at her gently. “Think of me as your older brother. From now on, I’ll be your family.”

Zhuang Yan listened, staring blankly at the young man before her who had no idea what he was saying. She only asked cautiously: “Then… will you abandon me?”

“No.” Ye Wenzhi said earnestly, “In the future, I will always be your family.”

“Wait.”

Jiang Zhaoxue, listening, finally sensed something wrong: “You said she grew up?”

With this reminder, all the cultivators present reacted, their faces showing alarm. Ye Wenzhi didn’t understand everyone’s reaction and only said: “That’s right, what about it?”

“Wasn’t she in the appearance of a five-year-old child?” Jiang Zhaoxue confirmed again.

“I’ve known her for over ten years—how could she still look like a child?” Ye Wenzhi asked in puzzlement, “I grew up, so naturally she should grow up too.”

“But…” Ye Tianjiao trembled as he spoke, “She’s a ghost.”

At these words, Ye Wenzhi froze.

He finally realized—yes, she was a ghost.

She died at five years old. She shouldn’t be able to grow up anymore. She was dead—how could she keep growing?

“And you built her a house?” Jiang Zhaoxue continued pressing.

Ye Wenzhi nodded: “Yes…”

“You made offerings to her?”

“That’s correct.”

“Have you ever painted her or made a statue of her?”

“Yes.”

As soon as Ye Wenzhi spoke, both Chen Zhao and Ye Wenzhen gasped. Ye Wenzhen couldn’t help but scold lightly: “Absurd! People can only make offerings to gods—how can you make offerings to a ghost?!”

Ye Wenzhi looked bewildered. But Jiang Zhaoxue already had a grasp of the situation and only said: “This child probably has some immortal affinity. With a ghost body, she entered the Dao early on and has long become a ghost cultivator. Later, receiving the Young Master’s offerings—and the Young Master has the merit of seven lifetimes of good deeds—after offering to her for so many years, she’s probably… already a Ghost Immortal.”

Human, Immortal, God.

These were the different levels of bodies for cultivators.

The three differed in that humans cultivated for themselves, while Immortal and God bodies could receive human offerings and absorb various powers from heaven and earth for their own use.

Ghost cultivators weren’t frightening, but if a ghost cultivator gained an immortal body, that would be extremely troublesome.

Like the Jiuyou Xuanming Emperor who created the Jiuyou Realm—he was a ghost cultivator who achieved the Dao, and even now the True Immortal Realm still felt afraid thinking about it.

After all… ghost cultivators absorbed resentment energy, and in this world, there was far too much resentment energy.

Hearing this combination that gathered all possible troubles together, Jiang Zhaoxue almost wanted to applaud Ye Wenzhi. But she didn’t dare stimulate the patient, so she held it in for a long time and couldn’t help but say: “Perfectly fine… why build her a house and make a statue? You really…”

Jiang Zhaoxue said through gritted teeth: “Have a lot of free time.”

“But…” Ye Wenzhi listened and couldn’t quite understand. “Even if she’s a Ghost Immortal, what has she done wrong?”

This question stumped Jiang Zhaoxue, and for a moment she couldn’t answer.

The reason people became ghosts and lingered in the world without departing was because of obsessions in their hearts. Therefore, those who entered the Dao with ghost bodies mostly had deep malevolent energy. And what Ghost Immortals absorbed was often the resentment and evil thoughts of heaven and earth, so most ghost cultivators that appeared now indiscriminately killed and were bloodthirsty—very few were innocent.

But cultivation was only a method after all. Did entering the Dao with a ghost body necessarily make one evil?

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare answer and only said: “What happened after that? You were nineteen then. You started falling into unconsciousness at twenty-one. What happened before that?”

“I don’t know.” Ye Wenzhi listened and frowned. “All I know is that the last time I saw her was after I passed the imperial examination. At that time I received news that I would be leaving Taizhou City and taking up an official position in the capital afterward. I originally planned to pack my luggage and then find her to say goodbye, but that day… she came.”

“She actually came to the Ye Residence?!” Chen Zhao was shocked. “How did I not know?”

“She stood at the gate. I heard her calling me.” Ye Wenzhi recalled, “At that time I walked out and saw her in red clothes, holding an umbrella, standing at the gate waiting for me.”

“At night?” Jiang Zhaoxue pressed.

Ye Wenzhi shook his head: “During the day.”

“Wonderful!” Jiang Zhaoxue sarcastically applauded.

Ye Wenzhen painfully closed his eyes. Chen Zhao also felt heartbroken.

A ghost cultivator entering the Dao, receiving offerings from someone with seven lifetimes of merit, having a temple built (house constructed), a golden statue made, and able to go out during the day…

Even ten Chen Zhaos and Ye Wenzhens wouldn’t be enough for her to kill.

Ye Wenzhi heard everyone’s meaning and felt somewhat guilty, but knowing he couldn’t undo it, he could only try to provide more information, continuing: “She stood at our gate and asked if she could come in. I invited her into the Ye Residence.”

“Now the family’s protective array is useless too.”

Ye Tianjiao also understood and couldn’t help saying: “Brother, what were you thinking? Who invites a ghost into their home?”

“Because he offered to her, he would unconsciously have his mind controlled by her.” Jiang Zhaoxue explained to Ye Tianjiao. “Bewitching people’s minds is a ghost’s innate ability. What’s more, your brother actively made offerings to her?”

“She asked me if I was leaving.” Ye Wenzhi remembered that day, his expression showing some dejection. “At that time I told her I had to enter the capital to be an official. I couldn’t possibly stay in Taizhou City for my whole life, but I would come back to see her. She said… I was abandoning her. We had a huge fight over this—it was the worst fight we ever had. I said very harsh things…”

When she questioned him, “Have you forgotten what you promised me?” he finally broke down.

He raised his head and stared at her intently, angrily demanding: “Then what do you want me to do? Just because I said something casually, you want me trapped in Taizhou City for my entire life?!”

This stunned Zhuang Yan as she watched the young man who never showed any malice before others stare at her fiercely: “You’re just a ghost. Should I give up my bright future for a ghost? I’ve given you enough. Know when to stop!”

Zhuang Yan said nothing. She only watched him silently and asked again: “So you’re going to abandon me?”

“I…”

“Like our parents, like the people of this world, like everyone else?”

She spoke, and with each word, her voice slowly transformed into many people’s voices.

In that instant, he finally felt fear. He retreated a step in panic. The young woman noticed and looked up, disappointment in her eyes: “You’re afraid of me?”

“I…” He didn’t know how to respond. When she asked, he also felt he was wrong, and hurriedly said, “I’m not… Yan Niang, that’s not what I meant.”

“You despise me?”

Zhuang Yan made no movement, only stood before him asking: “You think I’m just a ghost, not as important as your brilliant future. You fear me, you don’t want me, you’re abandoning me—is that it?”

“I’ll come back…”

“How will you prove it?” Zhuang Yan stared at him, pressing, “You promised you’d give me a home, be my family, not abandon me. How will you prove you’re not abandoning me?”

“What do you want as proof?”

“You must always protect me.” Zhuang Yan said calmly. “If someone wants to make me vanish into smoke, you must protect me.”

“Of course.”

Hearing this, Ye Wenzhi immediately became serious. Though he was leaving, he wouldn’t allow others to bully her, let alone let her vanish into smoke.

Hearing this, Zhuang Yan smiled: “Brother Ye.” She reached out her hand and touched his garment.

Ye Wenzhi was startled. But when she touched his waist, he looked at the young woman’s beautiful eyes and features, still frozen in place, allowing her to pull open his clothes as she said softly: “You must always protect me, always remember me, always love me.”

“No matter what I become—you will always shelter me.”

“After that night passed… she left.”

Ye Wenzhi seemed to know his behavior was improper. He kept his head down, not daring to raise his eyes, saying hoarsely: “Three days later, I set out to leave. But just as I exited Taizhou City’s gate, I began vomiting blood uncontrollably. From that time on… I began to be entangled with severe illness. I roughly knew it had some connection to her, but I always thought she was just angry. After all, I was in the wrong toward her. When her anger subsided, perhaps things would get better. But I never expected…”

Ye Wenzhi smiled bitterly.

Jiang Zhaoxue summarized: “But you never expected that for three years, she neither saw you nor did you improve. You’ve dragged down Chen Zhao and so many others, and you couldn’t continue. You’ve been hiding it all these years because you were afraid Chen Zhao would go subdue her, right?”

Ye Wenzhi didn’t dare speak. Chen Zhao was heartbroken: “Young Master, you were foolish! How can one associate with ghosts and spirits? They are all things that harm people. You…”

“Stop scolding.” Seeing Chen Zhao unable to control himself as he began lecturing, Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted. “Scolding him now won’t help. Moreover, that he’s this absurd—”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at Chen Zhao: “Isn’t it also because you suppressed him too much? Furthermore, who says ghosts and spirits must necessarily be wrong? The current situation is already very clear. That Zhuang Yan has apparently cultivated into a Ghost Immortal body and consummated marriage with the Young Master. The Young Master also promised to protect her, so from then on, she received the protection of the Young Master’s fortune. The sins she commits will all be counted on the Young Master’s head. Her sins are grave and she’s incurred heavenly punishment. Perhaps she’s already powerful enough to hide the Young Master, so all these years the resentment energy has been entrenched in the Ye Family to protect the Young Master from being discovered by the Heavenly Dao. Once dispersed, the Young Master might immediately perish.”

“But if the Heavenly Dao hasn’t discovered it, why is my brother still unconscious?”

Ye Tianjiao couldn’t understand.

Jiang Zhaoxue explained: “First, a mortal body coexisting with resentment energy for a long time has weakened yang energy, so the body naturally deteriorates. Second, when people commit evil, their fortune naturally disperses. When fortune dissipates, the body also deteriorates accordingly.”

“Then what do we do now?” Ye Tianjiao grew anxious. “Is my brother just going to keep taking the blame for her?”

“Since he promised…” Jiang Zhaoxue pondered and said slowly, “That’s all he can do.”

“What?!” Not expecting Jiang Zhaoxue to accept fate like this, Ye Tianjiao was shocked.

Chen Zhao and Ye Wenzhen were also stunned. Jiang Zhaoxue persuaded: “She’s your sister-in-law after all. Your brother is willing—you shouldn’t interfere too much. Alright, the matter is investigated clearly. From now on, give your brother more supplements. Your sister-in-law will protect him. Settle the other half of the Jade Lingzhi with me, and I’ll take my Zichen and leave.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue turned to leave.

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao panicked and hurried forward, trying to grab her. Pei Zichen pressed down Ye Tianjiao’s hand with his sword, distantly and politely saying: “Second Young Master Ye, men and women should not touch.”

“Oh, you get lost!”

Ye Tianjiao angrily pushed, but Pei Zichen didn’t budge. Ye Tianjiao looked back in shock and anger. Pei Zichen stood calmly in place.

The two young men glared at each other in a standoff. Chen Zhao reacted and quickly said: “I’ll see Immortal Master Jiang out.”

With that, Chen Zhao followed Jiang Zhaoxue out. Seeing this, Ye Tianjiao frantically tried to follow. He took a step, Pei Zichen blocked a step. Finally, Ye Tianjiao could only stand before this wall-like young man, urgently calling: “Sister! Immortal Sister! Don’t just leave like this. Please help my brother…”

“Can’t help.” Jiang Zhaoxue waved her hand. “Zichen, let’s go.”

“But she killed people!” Ye Tianjiao tried to use the bad things Zhuang Yan had done to make Jiang Zhaoxue stay. “She’s bad enough to incur heavenly punishment. Immortal Sister, won’t you do something?”

“None of my business.” Jiang Zhaoxue raised her voice. “Remember to settle the account!”

After saying this, she walked out of the courtyard and disappeared from sight.

Only after confirming Ye Tianjiao couldn’t see Jiang Zhaoxue did Pei Zichen turn with his sword and follow Jiang Zhaoxue in leaving.

Before leaving, Ye Tianjiao felt like he had been glared at. But then he felt it was his imagination and couldn’t help asking Ye Wenzhen beside him: “Ninth Uncle, did that Pei Zichen just glare at me?”

“Young Daoist Pei is gentle and courteous—how would he glare at you?” Ye Wenzhen found it strange and flicked his whisk, only saying, “Remember to settle the account and send the Jade Lingzhi to them.”

Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen hadn’t brought much when they came and packed quickly when leaving.

Chen Zhao worriedly saw Jiang Zhaoxue off. He handed the Jade Lingzhi to Jiang Zhaoxue. Their eyes met. Chen Zhao’s mood was heavy as he said: “After today’s parting, I don’t know when I’ll be able to see Immortal Master Jiang again.”

“No matter. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll come visit you all.”

“This immortal master’s great kindness—the Ye clan will remember it in their hearts.”

Chen Zhao cupped his hands, then handed a token to Jiang Zhaoxue: “This is the Ye Family token. In the future, at any Ye Family establishment, Immortal Master Jiang can present this token and the Ye Family will naturally help.”

Jiang Zhaoxue smiled and accepted the token. She looked up at the house shrouded in resentment energy, thought for a moment, and advised: “Teacher Chen, the Young Master and that Zhuang Yan can also be considered a fated match. The Young Master’s current state—as long as Zhuang Yan protects him, he can live on. Zhuang Yan is a Ghost Immortal, and I truly have no ability to deal with her. Teacher Chen should also cherish your life well and not force yourself.”

“Understood.”

Chen Zhao nodded and sighed, then bowed: “Immortal Master Jiang, travel safely.”

Jiang Zhaoxue bid farewell to Chen Zhao and left with Pei Zichen.

When they returned to the small courtyard where the two of them had been staying, as soon as they reached the entrance, Jiang Zhaoxue saw the bagua mirror fallen on the ground.

Seeing this, Pei Zichen frowned. But Jiang Zhaoxue had long been prepared. She sighed and said: “Couldn’t get into the Ye Residence, so she came to my place to cause trouble.”

Pei Zichen listened and warily pushed open the main door.

As soon as they opened it, they saw the house in complete disarray. The entire courtyard looked as if it had been robbed—furniture scattered everywhere, bed curtains and sheets thrown on the ground, everything from the cabinets searched through and tossed out.

Jiang Zhaoxue forced a smile: “Well then.”

Seeing this, Pei Zichen was also somewhat angry but didn’t say much, only saying: “Master’s Wife, let’s find an inn for today.”

Jiang Zhaoxue rolled her eyes and said through gritted teeth: “Let’s go.”

With that, she went to simply gather some luggage, packed it for Pei Zichen to take, then brought Pei Zichen to find an inn in the area of the city with the most abundant yang energy.

When checking in, Jiang Zhaoxue tossed out silver and directly said: “One superior room.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen looked over in shock and uncertainty. But Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t make a sound. Pei Zichen knew Jiang Zhaoxue wouldn’t act recklessly and didn’t dare speak much. His heart was in turmoil as, amid the attendant’s “Young Master and Madam” greetings, he stiffly followed Jiang Zhaoxue to the room.

After entering the room, Pei Zichen could no longer hold back and quickly said: “Master’s Wife…”

“Zichen!”

The instant he spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue charged forward like a bull, crashing forcefully into Pei Zichen’s embrace, urgently saying: “I’ve missed you so much!”

Pei Zichen’s entire mind went “boom” as he froze completely in place.

“Mas…” He stammered, his mind blank.

He knew Jiang Zhaoxue wouldn’t do these things without reason, but the hands wrapped around his waist and the soft body pressed against him assaulted his rationality.

And Jiang Zhaoxue also knew Pei Zichen was timid and couldn’t go too far. She quickly let go and pulled him along: “Hurry up to bed. These past days at the Ye Residence nearly suffocated me to death.”

As she spoke, Pei Zichen felt spiritual energy stirring outside. He finally regained some rationality and was led to the bedside by Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue pushed him onto the bed. Her boneless hand had no real force, yet it pushed him to sit on the bed.

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to lower the bed curtain, looking at the person sitting on the bed with a half-smile: “I saw Second Young Master Ye push you for ages without budging you. How is it that with one touch from me, you fall right over?”

These words made Pei Zichen’s face instantly turn blood red. He said in a low voice: “Master’s Wife…”

“Alright, I’m done teasing you.” Jiang Zhaoxue lifted her chin toward the inner part of the bed. “Get in.”

Pei Zichen listened and stiffly removed his shoes to get on the bed. After getting in, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly followed, then took out a stack of talismans. As she stuck them up, she said: “Before, when that damned ghost caught sight of us, it scared me to death. Thank goodness you killed your master, otherwise what face would I have left? “

Pei Zichen: “…”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she got into her act: “This time I don’t know if those Ye Family people followed us. If we’re caught again, I might as well slit my throat and die. Don’t be anxious—wait for Master’s Wife to finish putting these up before coming to cherish you.”

Pei Zichen: “…”

Jiang Zhaoxue fabricated her story while sticking up talismans.

Ye Tianjiao’s spiritual power was weak, so the talismans he wrote couldn’t be used for major purposes. But after all, he had Heaven-grade gold spiritual roots, and these were high-level talismans. If she stuck up enough of them for concealment, there shouldn’t be any major problems.

After she covered the entire bed with talisman papers, Pei Zichen had already gotten used to it. When Jiang Zhaoxue finished sticking up the talismans and turned back, she saw him sitting upright and proper in the corner, eyes lowered looking at the patterns on the bed. His whole bearing was serene and magnificent, completely giving off an air of otherworldly detachment, dispersing the ambiguous atmosphere within the bed curtains entirely. It felt like the next second he could start preaching scriptures.

Jiang Zhaoxue, suppressed by this aura, coughed lightly and sat somewhat awkwardly on the diagonal from Pei Zichen.

Once she sat like this, she immediately remembered—had she gone through all this trouble to get him into the bed curtains to discuss moral philosophy with him?

She was here to discuss plans!

“Don’t sit so far away.”

Jiang Zhaoxue quickly scooted forward and beckoned Pei Zichen over, lowering her voice: “This bed is too big, I don’t have that many talismans.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen paused, then finally moved forward.

Once the two sat face to face at the closest distance, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly used talismans to stick up another circle around them.

After finishing, Jiang Zhaoxue sensed the area before raising her hand to take out a small bell.

This small bell was inverted in Jiang Zhaoxue’s palm. Jiang Zhaoxue handed it to him: “This is the Mountain River Bell. When you open it, we’ll be completely cut off from the outside.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen followed Jiang Zhaoxue’s instructions and opened the Mountain River Bell.

Once the Mountain River Bell enlarged and inverted over the bed, completely covering the two of them, Jiang Zhaoxue finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But Pei Zichen glanced at the now-invisible Mountain River Bell, some doubt in his heart. He looked up at Jiang Zhaoxue: “Master’s Wife, why can I use your magical artifact?”

This question made Jiang Zhaoxue freeze.

The reason was naturally because the Spirit Locking Array connected their souls. He was essentially her artifact manager, a humanoid artifact maintenance machine—of course he could use her artifacts.

It was just that she couldn’t tell him this now. Jiang Zhaoxue coughed lightly, seeming somewhat embarrassed: “Well, your spiritual power has circulated through my body…”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen instantly recalled the awkward situation from the previous night. His heart became chaotic and he couldn’t think further, only immediately saying: “Disciple understands.”

“Alright, let’s talk business.”

Jiang Zhaoxue changed the subject, saying calmly: “If Zhuang Yan is a Ghost Immortal, she heard everything we said today. If she didn’t want Ye Wenzhi to speak, she could have interrupted at any time, but she let Ye Wenzhi tell us.”

“It’s because she wanted us to know.”

Pei Zichen stated with certainty. Jiang Zhaoxue nodded: “She probably wants me to leave, so by exposing her Ghost Immortal identity, she wants me to know better than to look for trouble.”

“So Master’s Wife went along with it and left the Ye Residence first.” Pei Zichen understood Jiang Zhaoxue’s actions. “But she wasn’t reassured about us either and secretly followed, which is why Master’s Wife put on this show.”

“Correct.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, thinking: “Right now she’s been struck by heavenly thunder—this is her weakest moment, and actually our best opportunity to strike. Chen Zhao has already sent people to notify the Tianji Institute. We need to quickly prepare to eliminate her.”

“Eliminate her?” Pei Zichen frowned slightly. “How?”

“First, we must find her temple, destroy it, damage her foundation to prevent her from absorbing more power. Second, we must find her corpse, learn the cause of her death, perform transcendence rituals on her body to eliminate the malevolent energy and weaken her power. Finally, using her corpse, we break the contract between her and Ye Wenzhi.”

Jiang Zhaoxue tapped lightly on the bed board, carefully analyzing: “Ye Wenzhi has the merit of seven lifetimes of good deeds. That heavenly punishment could fall on his head proves Zhuang Yan is no ordinary ghost—even Ye Wenzhi’s fortune can no longer protect her. If we can cut off Ye Wenzhi’s protection of her, when heavenly punishment falls on Zhuang Yan herself, we strike at that moment—it will be a sure thing.”

“Disciple understands.”

Pei Zichen nodded.

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced outside the bed curtains and continued: “However, ghosts’ thoughts are hard to predict. We’re deceiving her now, but we can’t be certain she’s not deceiving us. I’m afraid she’s actually already decided to kill us and wants to trick us into separating, so tonight I only booked one room. We should try not to separate.”

“Yes.”

“Then…” Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the bed and cautiously probed, “Shall we sleep together?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s expression stiffened. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly said: “We just climbed into the bed curtains together in front of her. It would look strange to sleep separately at night.”

“Disciple understands.”

Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s explanation, Pei Zichen came around and calmed down, saying earnestly: “Disciple will meditate.”

“As long as you’re comfortable with it.” Jiang Zhaoxue patted his shoulder, her tone quite serious. “When traveling, don’t worry about small matters. There will be many more situations like this in the future. Don’t put too much psychological burden on yourself.”

Hearing these words, Pei Zichen raised his eyes. Seeing his expression full of scrutiny, Jiang Zhaoxue asked puzzledly: “What’s wrong?”

“Master’s Wife,” Pei Zichen stared at her keenly, “You don’t want to leave this space-time, do you?”

This question was too direct, making Jiang Zhaoxue nervous for a moment.

She laughed awkwardly: “What are you saying? I don’t even have spiritual power—why wouldn’t I want to leave?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He only looked at her silently.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt afraid under his gaze and suddenly missed Ye Tianjiao a bit. If only Pei Zichen were half as foolish as Ye Tianjiao, she could relax much more right now.

But Pei Zichen was a child with upright character, yet frighteningly intelligent.

She could only continue covering: “I… I want to hurry back and see my family. I definitely want to leave more than you do!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen froze.

Then he reacted—in the past, if Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t see Shen Yuqing for a few days, she would make a scene all the way to Luoxia Mountain.

Mortals say, “One day apart feels like three autumns.” He had no one to miss, but Jiang Zhaoxue still had the husband she longed for.

He realized he was overthinking and became flustered, quickly saying: “Disciple misunderstood.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Seeing she had escaped disaster, Jiang Zhaoxue waved her hand. “Don’t overthink it. If we can leave, I’ll definitely leave. Don’t worry.”

“Yes.”

Pei Zichen lowered his eyes.

Seeing him fall silent, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat awkward. She simply pulled up the blanket and lay down, calling to Pei Zichen: “I’m going to sleep first. If you want to sleep, you can too. You’re still a child—Master’s Wife doesn’t mind.”

Pei Zichen looked up at her. Jiang Zhaoxue felt playful and said seriously: “Even though you’re good-looking, Master’s Wife absolutely won’t harbor any ill intentions.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen pulled up the corners of his mouth, showing a slight smile.

Seeing him smile, Jiang Zhaoxue finally relaxed a bit and happily closed her eyes: “I’m going to sleep. Oh—” Jiang Zhaoxue opened her eyes and said seriously, “Remember to eat the Jade Lingzhi tonight! Don’t worry, I sleep very deeply and won’t hear anything. When you finish eating it and your spiritual roots are restored and you’re ready to reforge your meridians, then remove the talisman and wake me up.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue took out the sleep talisman Ye Tianjiao had written and slapped it on her own forehead, then instantly closed her eyes.

Pei Zichen sat silently in place, looking at Ye Tianjiao’s talisman stuck on Jiang Zhaoxue’s forehead. He looked up and around, seeing Ye Tianjiao’s talismans everywhere. He suddenly felt irritable.

He wanted to tear all these talismans off so they wouldn’t appear by Jiang Zhaoxue’s side.

Yet he also felt this thought was inexplicable and unreasonable.

Even absurd, one could say.

Like a child competing with his brother for their mother’s attention—so childish.

He calmed himself, took a deep breath, and put the Jade Lingzhi in his mouth.

Familiar pain surged through his meridians. This time he was experienced, enduring the agony as he circulated and nourished his spiritual roots.

Amid the pain, he couldn’t help but secretly open his eyes and look toward Jiang Zhaoxue sleeping at the head of the bed.

She had already turned on her side, hand resting beside her. Her sleeping posture was very restless, adorably clumsy like a tiger.

Pei Zichen silently watched her sleeping face, and suddenly it didn’t seem to hurt as much.

He just quietly watched her. When his spiritual roots were completely formed, his whole body was covered in sweat. After resting for a long time, he supported himself to get up, went to the washing room to rinse himself clean, and changed into clean clothes. Because he feared Zhuang Yan was outside, he could only continue the act and put on his inner garment before getting on the bed.

Then he removed Jiang Zhaoxue’s sleep talisman and said softly: “Master’s Wife.”

Jiang Zhaoxue groggily opened her eyes and saw the young man kneeling beside her.

He wore snow-white inner garments, revealing his collarbone. His hair was loose behind him, falling down with his movements, lightly brushing across her cheek.

He seemed to be struggling to support himself and didn’t even notice this slight impropriety. The fresh scent of bamboo leaves and pine swept to her nose with his hair, and a pair of somewhat weary but beautiful eyes looked at her.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt as if she were dreaming—only in dreams did such beautiful immortals exist.

She stared blankly until Pei Zichen respectfully called again: “Master’s Wife, my spiritual roots have been repaired.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue gasped and raised her hand to her forehead.

Good heavens, what beautiful immortal? This was the guy who had sent her to the afterlife before.

Jiang Zhaoxue recovered, then supported herself to sit up. As soon as she rose, her outer robe slipped down her shoulders. Pei Zichen lowered his eyes, not daring to look much. He saw Jiang Zhaoxue sweep him aside, seeing he was already exhausted. She simply lay down and beckoned him: “Lie down. Sitting is so tiring.”

Pei Zichen froze, then quickly said: “Master’s Wife, I can sit…”

“Lie down.”

Jiang Zhaoxue pulled him down, almost pulling him onto herself. Pei Zichen was so startled he struggled to retreat. Despite being exhausted, he was still a sword cultivator after all. With this pull, he instead pulled Jiang Zhaoxue onto himself.

Jiang Zhaoxue crashed into him. Pei Zichen instantly froze.

The two were stunned for a moment. Jiang Zhaoxue looked down at his chest.

Though Pei Zichen looked like he had a slender teenage build when clothed, not showing much muscle, with this collision…

“Disciple has offended!”

Pei Zichen hastily retreated.

Jiang Zhaoxue thought about the muscle she had just touched, coughed lightly, and didn’t look at him. She just became much more alert and changed the subject: “Give me your hand.”

Pei Zichen didn’t dare speak further. He nervously handed over his hand. Jiang Zhaoxue grasped his hand under the blanket, closed her eyes and said: “Transfer your spiritual power to me.”

Pei Zichen did as she said and sent his spiritual power over. Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes, feeling his spiritual power become hers once it entered. She manipulated this spiritual power, re-entering Pei Zichen’s body, and began reforging his meridians for him.

Actually, Pei Zichen’s meridians were already perfect enough. It was just that they had been extracted by the Continuation Spider after all and weren’t stable. What Jiang Zhaoxue was doing was using spiritual power to carry the medicinal effects of the Jade Lingzhi and push through his meridians, warming and nourishing them circle by circle.

Since she was already transmitting spiritual power, Jiang Zhaoxue naturally wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to influence Pei Zichen. She incidentally sent over her emotions, yawning: “Little Pei, feel more of the world’s happiness. When you’re a bit happier, you’ll think the world is better.”

The familiar strange sensation came over. Pei Zichen pressed his lips together. He imperceptibly retreated backward, his voice hoarse: “Master’s Wife… no need to feel anymore. I understand what you mean.”

“You’re just too polite.”

Jiang Zhaoxue knew his temperament and didn’t consult with him, only persistently sharing her current feelings with him, saying slowly: “Don’t think too much about other things. Focus on the present moment. Are you happy right now?”

Pei Zichen couldn’t speak.

Tonight was somewhat harder to endure than last time. Pei Zichen struggled to retreat, pressing against the wall. Jiang Zhaoxue’s warmth and fragrance seemed to stick to his body, scorching and terrifying.

He heard her ask and quietly opened his eyes.

Seeing he didn’t answer, Jiang Zhaoxue reminded him: “Speak. Don’t lie—tell me the truth.”

Pei Zichen listened as sweat slid down from his forehead, blurring his vision. He looked at the person’s sleeping face before him, feeling even his consciousness becoming unclear. He couldn’t help but follow her words, saying hoarsely: “Happy.”

“There we go, then?”

Jiang Zhaoxue laughed. Extreme pain and pleasure both transmitted from the spiritual power in her body, rampaging through his life.

He quietly endured this torture, experiencing all the cruelty this person brought.

When dawn was nearly breaking, Jiang Zhaoxue finished organizing his meridians for him and finally rested. She released his hand, closed her eyes to sleep, and mumbled: “I’m sleeping. Don’t wake me.”

Pei Zichen couldn’t speak. He was in so much pain his entire body curled up.

The instant she released him, he almost fled from the bed, grabbing his clothes and stumbling away.

When he rushed into the washing room and sank into cold water, nothing dissipated. He didn’t know what to do or what he should do. Panicked and in pain, he sat in the cold water, his mind replaying over and over the image of Jiang Zhaoxue lying on her side next to him.

He clearly knew that if he had left even a moment later, he wouldn’t have been able to resist touching her.

Touch her to do what?

The moment this thought flashed through his mind, Pei Zichen suddenly realized that mixed in with the clothes he had grabbed was Jiang Zhaoxue’s handkerchief.

It lay quietly on the side of the bathtub, embroidered with Jiang Zhaoxue’s favorite image of a tiger chasing a butterfly.

He silently looked at that handkerchief. He knew he shouldn’t.

What was this? This was carnal desire.

Having nothing to do with love—just pure, disgusting, male desire for a female. How dare he use it to taint Jiang Zhaoxue?

But that was Jiang Zhaoxue…

Just thinking of this name, he couldn’t help becoming excited. He stared fixedly at that handkerchief, looking at that cute little tiger. After a long time, as if possessed, he finally still tremblingly reached out his hand and took it.

Beyond the screen, the sound of water in the bathroom became somewhat intense, carrying the young man’s uncontrollable soft gasps.

In that dawn when the sky was faintly blue, for the first time with the help of a handkerchief, he fully understood the ins and outs of this matter.

After the pleasure passed, he watched the morning birds land on the windowsill. He held the water-soaked white silk in his hand and suddenly thought—he should die.

As long as he died, nothing would be known.

These dark, filthy, disgusting things—none of it would be known.

How could he have such thoughts?

Though it was influenced by the spiritual connection, forced by external factors.

But how could he… have such a reaction toward Jiang Zhaoxue?

If Jiang Zhaoxue knew, how disgusted, how revolted would she be?

She would probably think, how could she have saved such an ugly, evil thing?

Though she might not think so.

Pei Zichen closed his eyes, his heart suddenly becoming calm and empty.

After all, she saved him only because he was Shen Yuqing’s disciple.

A disciple who greatly resembled Shen Yuqing, nothing more.

Jiang Zhaoxue was very tired from organizing his meridians, so this sleep was especially deep.

When she woke up, it was already nearly noon. Pei Zichen was long gone from the bed curtains. Jiang Zhaoxue heard the clinking of bowls and chopsticks outside. She rolled up the bed curtain and saw Pei Zichen bringing in food.

Having slept in her clothes all night, Jiang Zhaoxue’s outfit was a complete mess. Pei Zichen glanced at her once then immediately lowered his gaze, setting down the dishes: “Master’s Wife is awake?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue yawned and got up, noticing Pei Zichen had already changed clothes, so she knew he had already washed up.

She walked down from the bed and saw what was on the table.

For morning, he had prepared rice porridge, dried fish, and golden thread pancakes, all kept warm over small braziers.

Pei Zichen didn’t look at her, respectfully as usual: “Water has been prepared in the washing room. Master’s Wife can wash up first, then come eat.”

Jiang Zhaoxue listened, grabbed a pancake from the plate and held it in her mouth, mumbling: “Got it.”

With that, she went to the washing room to clean up. Pei Zichen immediately stood up and walked to outside the door, listening to Jiang Zhaoxue washing. Only after she finished did he push the door open again.

When he entered, Jiang Zhaoxue was already dressed, but without help, she was just like before—tying everything with one sash, binding her hair behind her with a red cord.

Previously without comparison, Pei Zichen didn’t think there was anything wrong with this outfit. But having seen the maid dress Jiang Zhaoxue yesterday, looking now, he realized this wasn’t because Jiang Zhaoxue liked it this way—it was because she didn’t know how.

For a moment he didn’t know what to do. An impulse to help arose in his heart, but he also felt it improper. After struggling for a long time, he could only step forward and bow: “Master’s Wife.”

Though they had been together for over a month now, Pei Zichen still followed every rule properly.

He would only sit down to eat after Jiang Zhaoxue allowed it.

Jiang Zhaoxue was also used to this and tapped the bowl: “Sit down.”

Pei Zichen sat down as told. The two ate their meal. Jiang Zhaoxue glanced outside and felt the resentment energy that had been following them had retreated. She said in a low voice: “Today we’ll go find Daniang.”

Pei Zichen responded and looked out the window, confirming again: “She’s gone?”

“Every time she follows someone, she has to expend a portion of power.” Jiang Zhaoxue explained. “Right now she’s seriously injured and doesn’t have that much energy. Chen Zhao is already thinking of ways to get information about the temple’s location from Ye Wenzhi while avoiding her—they’ll handle it. Our task here is to find her corpse and figure out why she died.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue finished her porridge and took out a dossier from her sleeve, handing it to Pei Zichen: “This is what Chen Zhao secretly gave me yesterday. It’s the information he investigated about Zhuang Yan back then. When he learned of Zhuang Yan’s existence, he specifically verified her. At that time, seeing she wasn’t a vengeful ghost who died unjustly, he investigated her background and discovered that after Daniang gave her away, she stayed with another family until she was five years old. One day she ran out on her own and disappeared. He guessed she might have died accidentally and didn’t investigate further. But if Zhuang Yan didn’t die unjustly, she couldn’t have become what she is today.”

“Are the women who died these three years related to her?”

Pei Zichen was curious. Jiang Zhaoxue spoke and took out a second document.

“This is the death list for Taizhou City over the past ten years.”

Pei Zichen listened, opened the list, and after scanning it once, immediately noticed the problem: “These past three years, each year has three times more deaths than the average of the previous seven years.”

“Moreover, there’s no obvious distinction between men and women. It’s just that women rarely go to dangerous places, and their deaths are easily gossiped about after. Men’s deaths get attributed to accidents, but actually looking at the total numbers, there’s not much difference. And—”

Jiang Zhaoxue pressed her lips together and said softly: “Chen Zhao said all these people were couples who had abandoned infants.”

With these words, Pei Zichen understood: “So when the Tianji Institute finished investigating, even though resentment energy was entrenched in the Ye Family, they still left?”

Karmic retribution—infant resentment generally only involved the parents and didn’t implicate the innocent. Once it ended, it ended. So even though the resentment energy remained, the Tianji Institute didn’t plan to continue managing it.

It was just that when infants died, they often had no consciousness, so it was very difficult for them to enter the Dao with ghost bodies—they acted purely on instinct.

Only Zhuang Yan—

“When I told Daniang’s fortune, I saw from Daniang that the blood-stained karmic thread was on her kinship line, proving she had harmed her own relatives. But Chen Zhao said he hadn’t heard of her abandoning any infants. Moreover, she said at the time, ‘she should be twenty years old now, a full age,’ which is exactly Zhuang Yan’s current age, so Zhuang Yan’s death should be related to her. At that time I thought she had abandoned a female infant, so I guessed and had her go under Chengtou Bridge to find the corpse, dig it out and make offerings. She didn’t object, so Zhuang Yan is very likely right under Chengtou Bridge.”

Jiang Zhaoxue analyzed: “She died at five years old, her body under Chengtou Bridge where all the infants’ resentment gathered. She already had consciousness and survived among this resentment energy, gaining enough power to nourish herself. And Ye Wenzhi burned her clothes every year, staining her with Ye Wenzhi’s fortune. Therefore, she gained an opportunity to enter the Dao and became a ghost cultivator. At that time she probably hadn’t killed anyone, so the city’s death count was normal. Later, Ye Wenzhi bought her a house, which was equivalent to building a temple. He also made a statue of her, equivalent to creating a golden body. With incense offerings, he helped her cultivate an immortal body. After that, Ye Wenzhi was going to the capital to take office, and for Zhuang Yan, this was abandonment—”

Pei Zichen understood Jiang Zhaoxue’s meaning and looked up at her: “The same abandonment as those children’s parents.”

Ghost cultivators absorbed whatever power they consumed and would be infected by that kind of power. She grew up feeding on infant resentment, so she had long been abnormally sensitive to “abandonment.”

So the moment she confirmed Ye Wenzhi would abandon her, she decided to give up on Ye Wenzhi and began the revenge she had been planning for many years.

If she killed independently, heavenly punishment would have come long ago, so she first tricked Ye Wenzhi into shielding her from heavenly punishment, then began acting.

Therefore she could continue for three years without stopping, and in the process of killing, she could even become stronger by absorbing those people’s life force.

“Then why didn’t she kill Daniang?” Pei Zichen listened and understood how Zhuang Yan had grown into the current Ghost Immortal, but didn’t understand. “She killed so many people—killing the person who harmed her should be easy, right?”

“Because the current Zhuang Yan is essentially a monster formed by those infant resentments attached to Zhuang Yan’s body. What they want is only to constantly grow stronger. Infant resentment exists not for revenge, but because they don’t know where they came from or where they’re going. Killing and abandoning their own parents is just following the karmic thread to retaliate, not an obsession. They gain power in this process and become strong. But Zhuang Yan herself—if she died unjustly—then she remained in this world because of hatred. This is her initial heart for becoming a ghost cultivator—what we ordinary cultivators call the Dao heart. Once she takes revenge, it’s equivalent to her Dao heart shattering. This is a severe injury.”

“So now, we need to figure out how she died, then help her take revenge.” Pei Zichen understood Jiang Zhaoxue’s thinking. “At the same time, destroy her ‘temple,’ perform transcendence for the children under Chengtou Bridge so her power has no more sources. When all three things converge, we’ll break her contract with Ye Wenzhi and let her face heavenly punishment directly.”

“This is our only chance of winning.” Jiang Zhaoxue pondered. “Otherwise, with my current strength, plus this batch of incompetents from the Tianji Institute, facing a Ghost Immortal like Zhuang Yan, we’d probably all be killed before we even had time to break her contract with Ye Wenzhi.”

“Then why doesn’t she just kill us now?”

Pei Zichen looked up. Jiang Zhaoxue froze, couldn’t help saying: “That reckless?”

She doesn’t even know her capabilities and would just attack directly?

Pei Zichen thought about it and agreed, decisively saying: “Then let’s go find Daniang.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded: “Exactly my thought.”

With that, Pei Zichen took the initiative to get up and pack things. Jiang Zhaoxue watched him bustle about, contemplating their upcoming actions.

“Does she really not know your capabilities?” A’Nan was somewhat curious.

Jiang Zhaoxue laughed: “How could that be?”

With that, she took out the Su Guangji, turning to look at the now-illuminated mirror. The lens reflected her eyes as she chuckled: “She knows perfectly well.”

Precisely because she clearly sensed her strength, even sensed that as long as she was willing to use the Su Guangji and accept the space-time transition, she could freely use spiritual power.

So Zhuang Yan only wanted to drive her and Pei Zichen away and had no desire to confront her directly.

Zhuang Yan’s current obedience was all to show her, to let her know she was just a Ghost Immortal wounded by love, who killed only for karmic retribution. She wouldn’t kill the innocent indiscriminately, so Jiang Zhaoxue should leave with peace of mind.

But how could that be?

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at that blood-soaked list, unconsciously rotating the Su Guangji.

Randomly encountering someone with seven lifetimes of merit, and this meritorious person’s every step just happened to be on the path to make her stronger, all the way from ghost cultivator to Ghost Immortal—was it really such a coincidence?

Jiang Zhaoxue chuckled softly.

When coincidences in this world were too many, then it was ulterior motives.

Jiang Zhaoxue waited a moment. After Pei Zichen finished packing, the two set out together.

They first inquired about Daniang’s residence. Daniang’s family of three made their living selling meat and had been in the city for many years. When everyone heard their inquiry, they pointed the way. When Jiang Zhaoxue arrived, Daniang’s family business was bustling.

Jiang Zhaoxue surveyed the surroundings, confirmed Zhuang Yan’s aura wasn’t there, then brought Pei Zichen to leap into Daniang’s house from the back courtyard.

When Daniang finished her busy morning and returned to her room to rest, as soon as she opened the door, she saw Jiang Zhaoxue sitting in the room.

She instinctively turned back to run, but Pei Zichen standing behind the door had already shut it with a “snap.”

Daniang froze in place. Jiang Zhaoxue touched the rough edge of the teacup, smiled at the woman before her: “Daniang, I came to ask about some things. Don’t be afraid. Shall we sit and chat?”

Daniang listened but didn’t dare make a sound. Jiang Zhaoxue drank her tea leisurely: “Come, let’s talk about your daughter Zhuang Yan—how did she die?”

Hearing this, Daniang’s pupils contracted sharply. Her whole body began trembling. Jiang Zhaoxue stared at her and continued pressing: “Before, I told you to find her body and make offerings to it properly. Did you do it?”

Daniang didn’t dare speak. Jiang Zhaoxue knew the answer: “You didn’t, right?”

With that, she smiled: “Well then—” She raised her hand and pointed at Daniang, “Great disaster is upon you.”