Teng Yuyi’s mind was filled with questions. She picked up another talisman to test it, but no matter how she manipulated it, the paper remained inert.

Just as she was about to investigate further, Madame E entered, leading two young women.

“Young Master, being the celestial presence you are, I wouldn’t dare send ordinary entertainers to attend you. These two are Colorful Phoenix House’s finest musicians – one is Juan’er Li, the other Baozhu. Juan’er Li excels at the bili flute, while Baozhu is skilled with the zither. They are artists who sell their talents, not their bodies. I’ve brought them to warm your wine and perform for you.”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu curtsied shyly. “Greetings, Young Master.”

Looking them over, Teng Yuyi noted Madame E’s good eye for selection. The two girls were around fourteen or fifteen, both beautiful and delicate. The one called Juan’er Li on the left showed traces of Hu ancestry.

Madame E smiled. “If they somehow meet Young Master’s standards, I’ll let them stay to attend you.”

Teng Yuyi asked, “A man just passed by outside, wearing a moon-white robe, around thirty years old, about this tall, with a large peony flower pinned in his hair. Has he been here before? Do you know who he is?”

Madame E went to look outside before returning. “Young Master must be mistaken – there’s no one in the corridor. Though our Colorful Phoenix House is always full of guests, and gentlemen matching that description are common enough.”

“I saw him heading toward the end of the corridor with two young ladies. Are there more private rooms further in?”

Madame E blinked in confusion. “There are only two more private rooms that way, and I heard they were both reserved by distinguished guests tonight.”

Teng Yuyi gestured to the two young women. “Leave these two here, and go inquire about the gentleman I mentioned.”

Madame E’s face lit up. As one of the house’s madams, she had personally trained Juan’er Li and Baozhu as musicians. Still being pure, they commanded quite a price just for performing and serving wine.

Clients often paid handsomely for their company, but could only look, not touch. Sometimes this led to trouble with impatient warriors or drunkards. Having them attend this woman disguised as a Hu man tonight would give her peace of mind as their madam. She quickly smiled and said, “I’ll go ask around right away.”

Before leaving, she quietly instructed Juan’er Li and Baozhu: “This Young Master is both refined and dignified. Make sure to serve him well.”

The two quickly agreed.

After waiting a while without seeing Huo Qiu return, Teng Yuyi asked the two girls to pour wine.

“How long have you been here?” she asked kindly.

Juan’er Li was quiet, having barely spoken since entering. But Baozhu was lively: “I was sold here at age seven and have been training in music under Madam’s guidance since then. When Colorful Phoenix House opened half a year ago, Madam brought me to perform.”

“Oh?” Teng Yuyi lifted the wine cup to her lips. “Colorful Phoenix House only opened half a year ago?”

“Yes,” Baozhu continued. “Young Master must not visit Pingkang Ward often do not know. This building used to be a silk shop, but the owners died of sudden illness two years ago. After sitting empty for half a year, it was bought by a wealthy merchant from Luoyang. They spent several months renovating inside and out before officially renaming it Colorful Phoenix House.”

Teng Yuyi looked around. “This location is ideally situated – quiet despite being in a busy area. Once it became available, surely many local buyers were interested. Why did it take half a year to sell?”

Baozhu and Juan’er Li exchanged glances before shaking their heads. “Perhaps the asking price was too high – only that Luoyang merchant could afford it at the time.”

A smile played on Teng Yuyi’s lips. They probably didn’t believe that explanation themselves. Besides local magnates, Chang’an was home to many wealthy Hu merchants. How could such a prime property in Pingkang Ward’s Southern District sit empty for six months with no interest? There had to be more to the story.

“You don’t need to tell me – I already know. This place isn’t ‘clean,’ is it?”

The two courtesans forced smiles. “We don’t understand Young Master’s meaning. Colorful Phoenix House is filled with music and dance daily and kept especially clean. How could it be unclean? Fine wine needs musical accompaniment – let us perform ‘Spring Warbler’s Song’ for Young Master’s pleasure. We’ve practiced it well, and it’s quite pleasing to the ear and eye.”

Teng Yuyi’s expression darkened. “I don’t listen to Kucha music.”

“Then… then we can perform ‘Long Yearning’ instead.”

“Enough, I don’t want to hear anything.”

Baozhu’s eyes flickered coquettishly. “Young Master is so hard to please. Could it be you look down on our skills?”

Teng Yuyi beckoned to Baozhu. “Come closer, I’ll tell you.”

Not knowing her intent, Baozhu had no choice but to approach. Teng Yuyi suddenly grabbed Baozhu’s arm and pushed up her sleeve.

Both girls were startled. Teng Yuyi frowned – while the musician’s forearm was smooth, the injuries increased further up. By the shoulder, the fresh purple bruises were shocking to behold.

Baozhu trembled. “What is Young Master doing?”

Teng Yuyi released her arm. There was no need to look – Juan’er Li likely bore similar marks.

“You get beaten often, don’t you?”

Being so young, the girls’ affected charm vanished at these words, replaced by miserable expressions.

Baozhu said dejectedly, “Since Young Master already knows, please don’t make things harder for us. If we don’t serve well tonight, Madam E will punish us again.”

Teng Yuyi smiled. “How about this – let’s make a deal. Tell me what you know, and I’ll ensure Madam E doesn’t trouble you for half a year.”

The two girls stared at Teng Yuyi in shock. Setting aside whether the words were true, of all the clients they’d seen at Colorful Phoenix House, this was the first to ask about their hidden injuries.

“You don’t believe me?”

“How could we not believe it?” Baozhu said sadly. “But we make our living here and dare not speak carelessly. If we affect Colorful Phoenix House’s reputation, the owner and Madam will beat us severely.”

Juan’er Li added, “Please have mercy, Young Master, and stop asking. With such a perceptive heart, surely you understand our lives are as fragile as grass.”

Teng Yuyi sighed. “But what if someone already knows something’s wrong with Colorful Phoenix House?”

The two girls froze.

“Look who’s downstairs.”

Teng Yuyi pointed out the window. Juan’er Li and Baozhu looked where indicated. Among the bustling crowd below, two round-headed young Daoist priests suddenly appeared.

The street was mostly filled with fashionably dressed young men and women. The two priests in their plain robes and hemp sandals stood out like weeds in a pot of colorful meat soup – impossible to ignore.

The young priests brazenly tried to enter the Colorful Phoenix House.

As expected, they were stopped but insisted on entering while the doorman firmly refused.

From upstairs, Teng Yuyi watched Huo Qiu. He nodded, seized his chance to catch up with Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi, and said something quietly to them. The young priests looked confused for a moment before looking up.

Teng Yuyi smiled leisurely down at them while saying to the two courtesans: “Why would Daoist priests appear in the pleasure district? This scene will surely reach your owner’s ears. Unless they’re foolish, they’ll guess someone has already spread the word of this place. If you tell me the full story now, the owner and madam won’t suspect you. And I promise, if you please me, I have ways to ensure the madam never dares beat you again. This is quite a profitable deal – think it over carefully.”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu’s expressions began to soften. Teng Yuyi took a sip of wine and glanced outside. Madam E had gone to inquire about that man – why wasn’t she back yet?

She touched the large mustache on her face and stood. “I’ll go for a walk. When I return, you can tell me everything.”

At the doorway, she looked left down the empty corridor.

There was a private room on each side, both with doors tightly shut. The sounds of feminine voices and revelry came from within.

Recalling the strange way the talisman had burned, Teng Yuyi decided against investigating directly. After standing there a moment, she was about to return when Madam E came up the stairs.

“Why isn’t Young Master listening to music in the room?” Madam E wiped sweat with her handkerchief. “Are Juan’er Li and Baozhu not serving well? Please don’t be angry, I’ll go discipline them right away.”

Teng Yuyi said, “Ah, no hurry. They’re serving very well. Earlier I asked you to inquire about that man – why were you gone so long?”

Madam E pointed toward the end of the corridor. “I checked both private rooms but didn’t see the gentleman you described. I asked around downstairs – there were many men wearing flowers and jade ornaments tonight, but either their clothes didn’t match or their age was wrong. Could Young Master have been mistaken?”

Teng Yuyi gazed down the corridor. She hadn’t been mistaken, but how could a person simply vanish?

Unfortunately, she hadn’t paid attention to the two young women with him. If she remembered their appearances, she could have asked Madam E if they were house musicians.

Never mind – now that Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were here, they could handle any evil spirits that might appear.

Estimating that Huo Qiu had made arrangements downstairs, she said to Madam E: “The room is a bit stuffy. I’d like to take Juan’er Li and Baozhu for a walk outside – I’m letting you know first.”

Madam E blinked rapidly. Chang’an had a long tradition of taking courtesans out, whether for drinking games or poetry composition – it was allowed for any duration as long as the price was paid.

But Juan’er Li and Baozhu had never officially served clients. If something happened while they were out…

She forced a dry laugh. “These rooms overlook the street and moon – perfect for viewing both scenery and people. Why would Young Master go elsewhere—”

Teng Yuyi took a pearl from her fragrance pouch. “I’m peculiar – I don’t like being cooped up in a room while listening to music. If you agree, this is yours.”

Madam E stared. She had seen many rare treasures, but never a jewel with such brilliant colors.

Teng Yuyi smiled and tossed her the pearl. She had bought these seven-colored glass beads five or six years ago in Yangzhou from a merchant from Dashi. Being new to the area, the merchant didn’t know their value and sold a pack for just twenty strings of cash. She happened to spot them and bought two packs immediately.

Later when the merchant learned how rare they were in the Central Plains, he nearly died of regret. The remaining dozen or so now sold for ten thousand cash each.

Madam E carefully put away the precious pearl, smiling like a flower. “I’ll call Juan’er Li and Baozhu right away. Since they rarely go out, please don’t take them too far, Young Master.”

Teng Yuyi took Juan’er Li and Baozhu downstairs. As they left, she deliberately looked back. As expected, two burly men followed furtively – surely sent by Madam E to watch them.

Huo Qiu came forward. “Young Master, I stopped the two priests. They’re waiting by the carriage but seem impatient to leave.”

“Understood.” Teng Yuyi said, “There are two tails behind us. Find a way to lead them elsewhere – don’t let them see me meeting with the priests.”

Huo Qiu acknowledged and went to handle it.

After leaving the building, Teng Yuyi waited a moment. Looking back, she saw the two strong men had vanished. She led the girls to her carriage where Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi stood pouting by the lantern light, their chubby cheeks like fuzzy peaches.

“Greetings, Daoist Masters.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi stared. Though Huo Qiu had told them this large-bearded man was Teng Yuyi in disguise, seeing it up close was still comical.

They maintained straight faces. “Teng—”

“My surname is Wang,” Teng Yuyi smiled, cutting them off.

Realizing she meant to hide her identity, they quickly corrected themselves. “Master Wang, why have you stopped us here?”

Teng Yuyi turned to Juan’er Li and Baozhu. “Wait in the carriage for a moment.”

She led Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi aside. “Following your guidance, I came to break the curse. Where is your senior brother now?”

Jue Sheng rubbed the back of his head. “Senior Brother had us come first while he stayed at the temple dealing with the aftermath. But we’ve been here half an hour and haven’t seen him.”

He kept rising on tiptoes to scan the crowd.

Aftermath? Teng Yuyi recalled her aunt’s words.

“No wonder when my uncle went to Qingyun Temple this morning to find your senior brother, the temple was closed. Did something happen?”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi exchanged glances.

Yesterday at noon, their Senior Brother had worked with a powerful expert to guide Lady An Guo’s soul back, but when they opened the “Gate of the Mysterious Female,” it attracted several fierce ghosts.

Their Senior Brother had wanted to train them, so he assigned them the task of exorcising the fierce ghosts while he remained by the well to guide the soul. Though they had helped their Senior Brother deal with many ghosts before, this was their first time facing fierce ghosts alone. Just dealing with one particularly vengeful ghost had caused numerous problems. In the end, their Senior Brother couldn’t bear to watch and helped them capture the fierce ghost by throwing a talisman.

Thus they continued, simultaneously exorcising ghosts and calling back the soul until late into the night. Finally, their Senior Brother managed to guide Lady An Guo’s soul back, but having been separated from her body for too long, even with her soul returned to her flesh, Lady An Guo showed no signs of waking.

Senior Brother closed the Gate of the Mysterious Female and returned to his room to discuss solutions with that powerful expert. When they tried to sneak in to see who this expert was, Senior Brother sent them off to bed.

When they hurried to the scripture hall in the morning, the expert had already left. Lady An Guo remained unconscious, though her soul was notably more stable.

In the afternoon, Senior Brother called two elderly Daoist priests skilled in the Ming Lu esoteric arts to begin the ritual. He had them start reciting the Soul-Pacifying Incantation for Lady An Guo daily from that day forward, but whether she would wake up ultimately depended on her fate.

When they entered the chamber, Duke An Guo was speaking with their Senior Brother. The Duke looked haggard and aged, his voice hoarse as he said to Senior Brother, “Last night, thank you, Saint—”

Catching sight of the two of them, Duke An Guo swallowed his words. Senior Brother turned to look at them once, then said casually, “Good timing. I’ve asked them to prepare dinner early. You two eat and then head to Pingkang Ward.”

“What about you, Senior Brother?”

“You go first, I’ll be there shortly.”

But they’d been in Pingkang Ward for over half an hour now, with no sign of their Senior Brother.

Thinking of this, Qi Zhi apologetically said to Teng Yuyi, “When Mr. Du came, the temple must have been busy guiding Lady An Guo’s soul. The temple will open as usual tomorrow – Mr. Du will have to make another trip then.”

Teng Yuyi quickly said, “I’ll relay that to my uncle.”

Then she smiled and added, “Since you’re here to exorcise spirits at Colorful Phoenix House, have you learned what exactly happened there?”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi frowned slightly. They only knew that supernatural occurrences had been happening at Colorful Phoenix House for a month, but didn’t know what kind of creature was responsible.

Since arriving, they hadn’t even managed to enter Colorful Phoenix House to investigate, let alone gather information. They’d tried asking nearby merchants, but these people seemed afraid of offending the house’s owner and wouldn’t speak a word of truth.

Teng Yuyi smiled slightly. “If someone were willing to tell you everything that’s happened at Colorful Phoenix House during this time, would you want to hear it?”

Both perked up. “What has Miss Teng heard?”

“Everyone at Colorful Phoenix House is tight-lipped. It took quite some effort to get them to talk.”

Before they could speak, Teng Yuyi added, “Moreover, I encountered something strange inside. I can tell you what the person looked like, but you must agree to one request.”

They looked at Teng Yuyi warily. “What… what request?”

“You must convince your Senior Brother to help me break the Killing Spirit Ring.”

Jue Sheng looked very troubled. “To be honest, when we returned to the temple yesterday, Senior Brother scolded us harshly. He said those poison insects were evil things, and Miss Teng must have ill intentions to trick us into giving them to her. But Senior Brother also said if Miss Teng would explain what she wants the insects for and voluntarily return them to the temple, he would help break the Killing Spirit Ring.”

Teng Yuyi’s eyes flickered. Such demanding conditions. She had taken the itching insects to deal with Duan Ningyuan and Madam Dong Er – how could she reveal her plans before succeeding? Besides, she’d already given the insects to Uncle Cheng for the task. She had no insects on hand to return to Lin Chengyou.

But she had come out today determined to break the curse. If Lin Chengyou was difficult, didn’t she still have Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi? Since it was a Qingyun Temple curse, surely these two young Daoists could break it. So she affected a dejected sigh. “That sword is invaluable to me. If I can’t break the Killing Spirit Ring tonight, I fear I’ll fall gravely ill. You two young Daoists are so kindhearted – why not help me break the Killing Spirit Ring tonight, and tomorrow I’ll return the itching insects to Qingyun Temple?”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi scratched their heads. The proposal seemed reasonable at first, but thinking carefully – if they broke the curse first, would Miss Teng return the insects? Besides, if she had nothing to hide, why wouldn’t she explain what she wanted the insects for?

Could she be a bad person? But the dejection on Miss Teng’s face didn’t seem fake…

Qi Zhi was softer-hearted than Jue Sheng. After struggling internally for a while, he couldn’t help asking, “Miss Teng, are you using the itching insects to do something bad?”

“Of course not. Do I look like a bad person?”

Qi Zhi and Jue Sheng exchanged glances and sighed. “Very well. Neither of us can break the Killing Spirit Ring, but we have an idea that might get Senior Brother to help. Miss Teng, please lean closer.”

Qi Zhi whispered a few sentences in Teng Yuyi’s ear, then said, “This is the best solution we could think of. If Miss Teng follows these instructions, Senior Brother might break the curse on the spot.”

Teng Yuyi considered internally. At least she’d gotten some useful information. This method was simpler and more feasible than what she’d thought of, but she wasn’t sure if it would move Lin Chengyou.

“Miss, can you tell us what’s happening inside the house now?”

Teng Yuyi took out the talismans given to her by the five Dongming Temple Daoists and explained what had happened earlier.

Qi Zhi thought for a moment. “Those five Dongming Temple Daoists have always prided themselves on their good looks, so it’s no surprise they call these the Five Beautiful Celestial Talismans. But honestly, they’re just Yin-Pointing Talismans who can detect spirits and demons. The man you saw was likely supernatural. Jue Sheng, since Miss Teng has brought out the entertainers, stay here and listen to what they say. I’ll go investigate inside.”

Teng Yuyi stopped Qi Zhi. “Wait! In those clothes, you’ll just be stopped again if you force your way in. Why not change your outfit and have Huo Qiu’s people take you inside? Also, if the creature is dangerous, aren’t you afraid to go alone? You just said Lin Chengyou is coming soon – why not wait for your Senior Brother?”

Qi Zhi and Jue Sheng looked gratefully at Teng Yuyi. They knew she couldn’t be a bad person – look how concerned she was for them.

“Senior Brother says we’re grown now and can’t always rely on him for exorcisms. Besides, he might already be here, just not showing himself. Since the evil spirit has revealed itself, this humble priest will go scout ahead.”

Jue Sheng took out something like an arrow and handed it to Qi Zhi. “If you can’t handle it, remember to release the signal arrow in time.”

Qi Zhi nodded and left.

Huo Qiu worked efficiently, quickly buying clothes to disguise Qi Zhi as a young master out with his father, then took him into the house.

Soon after, Huo Qiu came out of Colorful Phoenix House and returned to guard the carriage. Teng Yuyi was about to lower the curtain when she glimpsed a blue-robed Daoist with white hair and aged features in the crowd.

The man held up a tall yellow banner inscribed with: “Understanding Yin and Yang, All-Knowing.”

The old Daoist walked leisurely to a ginkgo tree by the street and sat down lazily, flicking the fallen hat string from his shoulder behind him. He called out in a drawn-out voice: “Good and evil, fortune and misfortune, all have their roots. To know your future, bring silver money.”

Unlike orthodox Daoist priests who practiced fasting and talismans, this was a wandering fortune-teller. Jue Sheng secretly sneered – he’d seen many such people. They used Daoist names but practiced deception and fraud. Better not let them catch this priest doing wrong, or else – hmph!

Teng Yuyi was about to look away when the old Daoist suddenly glanced toward the carriage, seemingly amused, his expression quite strange.

Teng Yuyi gave the old Daoist a curious look before lowering the curtain and saying to Juan’er Li and Baozhu, “Now you can tell me – what strange things have been happening in the house?”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu said uneasily, “Actually, we don’t know much.”

“No matter, just tell what you do know.”

Baozhu looked fearfully outside. “I heard the madams say something wasn’t right about how the previous owners – the silk shop couple – died. The place hasn’t been peaceful since their deaths.”

Jue Sheng was surprised. “If they suspected foul play in the owners’ deaths, why not report it to the authorities?”

Juan’er Li said, “The shop assistants did report it. But the night the owner died, several medical officials had been helping with acupuncture. They’d been treating the owner’s illness for some time, and the cause of death wasn’t suspicious. As for the owner’s wife, she hanged herself three days after her husband’s death. Before dying, she not only left a letter but also distributed her valuable jewelry to temples. These were all famous ancient temples in Chang’an that couldn’t possibly have been involved in her death. So although the Wanning County magistrate came to look, nothing came of it.”

“If that’s the case, why say their deaths weren’t right?”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu were different from ordinary lowborn women. Forced to learn reading and arts from childhood, they spoke with refined words and clear diction.

Baozhu shrank back but pressed on: “I heard from the madams that the silk shop only carried expensive fabrics – most famous courtesans in the Southern District had shopped there. The owner was just forty, stronger than most men. He’d started poor and dependent, building his business entirely on his wife’s dowry. Even after becoming wealthy these years, he still couldn’t shake his fear of his wife.

“The couple had been married fourteen years with no children. After much persuasion, the owner finally convinced his wife to let him take a concubine. Shortly before falling ill, he’d bought a beautiful serving girl from Yuezhou. His wife appeared to agree but often beat and scolded the beauty in private. Once when the owner took shop assistants to buy goods elsewhere, his wife intensified her torment of the beauty, who, unable to bear the humiliation, secretly jumped into a well to her death. The owner happened to return that day and, hearing of her death, fainted from shock and anger. When he awoke, he began having headaches, saying he saw the beauty wandering in the courtyard, frightening him sleepless all night.

“The owner’s wife was domineering. She immediately rushed to the courtyard, loudly cursing that the cheap slave had bewitched people in life and still dared cause trouble in death. She cursed so loudly that many neighbors heard. Soon after, the owner’s wife went to the nearby Qingguo Temple for talismans to post in the courtyard. Things became peaceful after that, but the owner’s illness waxed and waned. Many medical officials examined him, all saying it was a headwind. After several months of illness, he finally passed away.

“The owner’s wife’s death was even stranger. Almost every experienced madam in Pingkang Ward had dealt with this woman and said she was extremely miserly – even in death she’d take her wealth to the grave. Being so cold-hearted, she’d long cut ties with all relatives. The hanging itself wasn’t remarkable, but how could she bear to give her jewels to temples? Most frightening was the letter she wrote before death…”

Teng Yuyi quickly asked, “What did the letter say?”

Baozhu grew more fearful, looking to Juan’er Li for help. Juan’er Li shivered and stammered:

“The letter was covered densely with the same sentence over and over: ‘I am but a dog or pig, unworthy to live; I am but a dog or pig, unworthy to live…'”

A cold wind seemed to sweep through the carriage. Though Teng Yuyi considered herself quite brave, she still felt chills running down her spine.

Jue Sheng cleared his throat. “It sounds like the vengeful ghost took revenge, using illusions to confuse the owner’s wife, first inducing her to write a confession, then making her hang herself. Logically, such an evil spirit wouldn’t yet be powerful – whether through deliverance or subjugation, it shouldn’t cause prolonged trouble. Did anyone perform rituals there afterward?”

“The magistrate investigated for a while and determined the owners weren’t killed by others, so closed the case. Since the owners had no children, the officials had to put the shop up for sale. But after that, there were always strange sounds in the building. The neighbors were scared and pooled money to invite a great monk from Qingguo Temple to look. The monk said there were indeed some vengeful spirits in the shop, but a few rituals would solve it. During the days after the rituals, they say the shop was much quieter, but whenever someone came to look at the property, they would see unclean things inside. After that, six full months passed without the shop being sold.”

Teng Yuyi asked, “Why was this new owner from Luoyang willing to buy the shop?”

Baozhu looked at Juan’er Li and asked, “Didn’t you hear the reason that day? What did the madam say?”

Juan’er Li recalled the scene and began speaking again: “When the new owner came, he brought a very powerful mystic to examine the place. The mystic said this location, with its depression inside and protrusion outside, naturally formed a well-like formation. Such an auspicious site was perfect for businesses dealing with yin energy. The previous business selling women’s silks could make gold by the bushel, so a new brothel would naturally become famous too. Though there were some unclean things inside, they weren’t unsolvable – they just needed to enshrine a statue of the Pure Youth on a Lotus in the back courtyard, and all would be well.”

Teng Yuyi nodded. “It seems your new owner followed these instructions. Colorful Phoenix House’s business did indeed flourish after opening. What happened later? Did the mystic’s solution stop working?”

“Actually, the strange occurrences never stopped, but business was unexpectedly good,” they explained. “Our owner first couldn’t bear to lose the daily massive profits, and second feared that requesting rituals would affect business, so they kept covering it up.”

At this point, Juan’er Li and Baozhu drew closer together, showing signs of fear. “About three months ago, shortly after Colorful Phoenix House opened, a guest from Hongzhou came for entertainment. He got drunk and stayed in the room of a courtesan named Ruan Hong. At midnight, the guest heard footsteps outside his door. He thought it was some drunk person, but the footsteps lingered hesitantly. The guest grew annoyed and told them to leave, but the person outside said: ‘I am Ruan Hong. It’s so cold out here. My lord, please let me in.'”

“The woman’s voice matched Ruan Hong’s exactly. The guest believed it and groggily got up, only to find Ruan Hong sound asleep wrapped in quilts on the bed. He instantly sobered up and shook Ruan Hong to wake her, but she wouldn’t stir no matter what.

“That row of sleeping quarters was in the northwest corner of the back courtyard, already naturally secluded, especially in the deep night. The woman kept knocking at the door – why didn’t it wake anyone else? The guest grew more frightened as he thought about it, stammering: ‘Get out! You’re not Ruan Hong. Stop playing ghost tricks, or I’ll have your madam punish you severely!’

“The woman suddenly screamed terribly: ‘There’s a ghost in your room – I’m the real Ruan Hong!’

“The guest was scared out of his wits. He dared neither open the door nor return to the bed, frozen in the middle of the room screaming for help. Just then, whatever was outside began ramming the door with loud bangs. The guest fainted from fright. When he awoke at dawn, the servants had carried him to the bed. When he suddenly saw Ruan Hong behind the madam, he nearly fainted again.

“Ruan Hong looked pale. She said she too had encountered something strange that night, but her experience was the opposite of the guest’s. She’d awakened at midnight hearing the guest knocking at the door but turned to see him lying in bed. That thing also said there was a ghost in the room, screaming for her to open the door.”

Teng Yuyi maintained a calm expression though chills ran through her body. She turned to look at Jue Sheng, who pondered before saying: “The first part sounds like ghost mischief, but the latter part doesn’t quite fit. Setting that aside for now – how many such incidents have occurred since Colorful Phoenix House opened?”

Baozhu said, face pale: “At least three or four times. Strangely, they always targeted out-of-town guests who couldn’t stay in Chang’an long. They took the owner’s compensation and left, so although those people were terrified out of their wits, almost no one in Chang’an knew about these incidents.”

Teng Yuyi touched her cold neck. “With such a fierce entity, in these three months since opening, has no one been injured or met with accidents?”

Baozhu nodded frantically. “Yes, that’s why we’re so scared. The first two months weren’t so bad – just courtesans falling asleep in their rooms but waking up in the corridors, or seeing a woman walking quickly in the front when they were in the back courtyard, only to have her vanish when called.

“But just last month, a madam bought an exceptionally beautiful entertainer named Ge Jin from out of town. Ge Jin wasn’t just beautiful – her poetry and zither playing were extraordinary. Being so popular, she immediately became a headmistress at Colorful Phoenix House. A few days ago, Ge Jin went out with a client. She first got some protective prayer beads from a temple, then went to the water for purification but accidentally got her clothes wet and caught a cold. On the eighteenth of last month, Ge Jin felt unwell and retired early. At midnight she heard footsteps outside.

“Ge Jin hadn’t been here long but had heard about the strange occurrences. She knew the entity usually only caused trouble outside doors and could be ignored, but this time was different. As the footsteps paced, they entered the room. Ge Jin opened her eyes in fright and was immediately scratched viciously. In the darkness, she heard a middle-aged woman curse: ‘Cheap slave, you dare seduce my husband!'”

“The scratch was extremely severe – half of Ge Jin’s face was torn open. She clutched her face wailing and frantically threw the prayer beads, making the woman vanish. Ge Jin screamed for help, finally alerting the house. Her madam brought a doctor who said the injuries to Ge Jin’s face were very serious – her beauty likely could never be restored.”

Baozhu and Juan’er Li sighed miserably at this point.

Teng Yuyi pondered for a moment before suddenly saying: “Eh?”

Jue Sheng also felt something was odd and asked Teng Yuyi: “Does Young Master find something amiss?”

Teng Yuyi said: “From this description, it sounds like the shop owner’s wife’s ghost is causing trouble. But she was previously kept outside doors – why could she enter the room this time? Did her powers suddenly increase, or was there some other reason? And why target Ge Jin specifically instead of others?”

Jue Sheng frowned deeply, mulling over those words: “‘Cheap slave, you dare seduce my husband!’… Either the ghost broke through the seals restraining her, or Ge Jin resembled that beautiful concubine her husband had taken, making her mistake her identity. In a surge of resentment, breaking free of constraints is possible. What happened afterward? Were there other incidents?”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu shook their heads simultaneously: “These events were already enough to terrify everyone, especially Ge Jin. She had just arrived and shown promise – given time, she would surely have become Pingkang Ward’s most renowned headmistress. But her beauty was ruined like this. If our owner still tries to keep this quiet, who knows how many more will suffer? We guess the reason Qingyun Temple got involved this time was probably… probably…”

They pressed their lips together, and Teng Yuyi finished their thought: “Probably because Ge Jin herself spread the word?”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu remained silent.

Teng Yuyi said: “To suppress this matter, the owner and madams must have either offered her money or threatened her with their influence. But Ge Jin wasn’t willing to have her future ruined like this, so she sought justice for herself. Daoist, when did you hear about this?”

Jue Sheng said: “That day when Senior Brother returned from outside and was teaching us, he mentioned someone had told him Colorful Phoenix House in Pingkang Ward might have supernatural occurrences. He said after some preparation, he would take us to investigate.”

Teng Yuyi was somewhat surprised. As a courtesan of Colorful Phoenix House, Ge Jin’s movements were restricted. After her injury, the owner feared word spreading and watched her especially closely.

By her estimate, it would have been extremely difficult for Ge Jin to even send a letter to Qingyun Temple. She hadn’t expected Ge Jin to reach Lin Chengyou directly.

Perhaps some noble young master who was close to Ge Jin discovered something amiss and revealed the information to Lin Chengyou.

Jue Sheng looked at Teng Yuyi, feeling they’d missed something, then suddenly slapped his forehead: “Oh right! After hearing about all these strange occurrences, why haven’t we heard about a man around thirty causing trouble? Ladies, have you seen any strange gentleman wearing flowers in the house?”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu said in bewilderment: “Since Colorful Phoenix House opened, we’ve only heard of female ghosts causing trouble, never male ghosts in the building.”

Jue Sheng pondered – if that man tonight was harmless, why would Teng Yuyi’s Five Beautiful Celestial Talisman spontaneously burn?

“We don’t know much more,” Juan’er Li and Baozhu said. “Young Master, we’ve told you everything we know.”

Teng Yuyi studied their expressions, knowing they would either stay silent or tell the complete truth: “Come down from the carriage with me. I’ll take you for a walk around the area. When I return you to the house, I’ll speak with Madam E. For the next half year, she won’t dare trouble you.”

Seeing her reliability, the two women were endlessly grateful.

Teng Yuyi changed topics: “Tonight even Qingyun Temple’s priests have been drawn here. If your owner still tries to keep this secret, they’ll surely take some action. If you hear of any more strange occurrences, you must tell me.”

Juan’er Li and Baozhu responded: “We just don’t know when Young Master will return to Colorful Phoenix House.”

“When I need to inquire about something, I’ll naturally come to find you.”

She knocked on the carriage wall and said to Huo Qiu outside: “Check if those two strong men from Colorful Phoenix House are nearby. If they’ve returned, lead them away again.”

Huo Qiu acknowledged.

After Huo Qiu returned, Teng Yuyi said to Jue Sheng: “Daoist, remember what you promised me. We’ll meet back here later.”

Jue Sheng nodded readily. If not for Teng Yuyi’s help, even if they could have entered Colorful Phoenix House, they couldn’t have learned so much detail.

No wonder Senior Brother always said merely studying talismans and energy techniques in the temple wouldn’t do – to truly develop skills, one needed practical experience. Tonight’s events, for instance, gave them much to contemplate.

He watched Teng Yuyi leave the carriage with genuine admiration, then suddenly realized Senior Brother still hadn’t appeared. Had he decided to let them handle this alone?

Teng Yuyi walked around the vicinity, and when she judged the timing right, led Juan’er Li and Baozhu back.

A crowd had gathered in front of Colorful Phoenix House around that strange old Daoist.

Whatever the old Daoist had said, the madams and doormen at the entrance weren’t driving him away.

The banner reading “Understanding Yin and Yang, All-Knowing” was planted in a flower bed beside the building. The old Daoist was muttering incantations, drawing frequent gasps of amazement from the crowd.

Teng Yuyi said: “Excuse me, coming through.”

Finally squeezing through the crowd, she saw a paper figure four or five inches tall on the ground. The figure had been enchanted somehow and was walking around, its movements so lifelike they were almost indistinguishable from a real person.

The paper figure stretched its arms and waist toward a man in his forties as if demonstrating something. The middle-aged man had a gaunt, pigeon-like face with a suffering expression. From his dress, he appeared to be a servant of Colorful Phoenix House.

The man wept: “Master Daoist truly is divine – this paper figure exactly matches my late mother’s form…”

He fell to his knees, beating his chest and wailing: “Mother! I didn’t know you suffered so in the underworld. It’s all your unfilial son’s fault. When Mother was alive, I couldn’t serve you properly. After you passed, I couldn’t even make proper offerings. I’m too ashamed to live – let me join Mother!”

The paper figure opened its arms and suddenly embraced the servant Yin Nu’s lowered arm, its shoulders trembling as if also crying.

The old Daoist affected a sigh: “Do you understand your mother’s meaning? She doesn’t blame you and wants you to live well. Your mother thinks of you so much – you should show more filial piety and remember to make more offerings to her in the future.”

Before he finished speaking, the paper figure responded again, releasing the servant’s arm and bowing deeply to the old Daoist, clearly showing respect.

The crowd was amazed. Yin Nu wept even harder, and several soft-hearted onlookers were reminded of their sorrows and began crying too.

“Yin Nu, you’re fortunate tonight to meet such a great master,” someone in the crowd said. “Not only did he enable this mother-son reunion, but he also helped burn so many offerings for your mother. Don’t just cry – quickly thank the Master Daoist.”

Yin Nu cried: “Master Daoist’s kindness equals giving me new life. If there’s anything this humble one can do for you in the future, just tell me. I’m poor and lowly with nothing to offer, but I’m willing to give my life for Master Daoist.”

The old Daoist helped Yin Nu up: “This poor priest merely used mystical arts to observe. You and your mother’s earthly connection was not yet finished – this meeting was fated.”

Yin Nu took several strings of cash from his chest and insisted on giving them to the old Daoist.

The old Daoist exclaimed: “No, no!”

“If Master Daoist won’t accept, you’re deliberately humbling this one.”

The old Daoist said with false modesty: “This poor priest delights in the Dao for personal enjoyment. If you insist on giving these tainted objects, why not offer them all to your mother? This poor priest can chant mantras to eliminate her karmic obstacles from life – that would be a meritorious deed.”

Having displayed this skill, the crowd believed even more that he was an immortal reborn, calling him “Divine Elder” and unable to resist surging forward.

All at once, people came asking for divination, fortune-telling, house feng shui – all sorts of questions. Even the madams and famous courtesans from Colorful Phoenix House frequently came out to join the excitement.

Facing the enthusiastic crowd, the old Daoist smiled and pressed his hands downward: “No hurry, no hurry. The reason this poor priest performed this ‘Mysterious Observation and Guidance’ ritual for Yin Nu was simply because he was the first person to encounter this poor priest. I know you all have troubles, but we must follow fate, mustn’t we?”

The crowd didn’t dare make noise anymore and quietly watched the old Daoist expectantly.

Teng Yuyi quietly asked Huo Qiu: “Do you see anything amiss?”

Huo Qiu stared at the old Daoist and slowly shook his head: “This humble one’s eyes are poor – I can’t discern his methods.”

The old Daoist squinted as he scanned the crowd. Just then, a woman in fine clothes with cloud-like hair came out of Colorful Phoenix House upon hearing the commotion. The old Daoist’s eyes lit up, unable to hide his pleasure as he said: “This lady then. Please come with this old priest – there’s a pavilion with windows on all sides over there. It’s not private but quiet. Any matters unsuitable for public discussion can be told to this poor priest in private.”

Teng Yuyi felt this old Daoist was glib, his smile too fake. Now that he’d chosen this woman, she felt even more that the old Daoist had ulterior motives.

The woman wore colorful clothes and had just come from Colorful Phoenix House – anyone could guess she was one of the house’s madams. This old Daoist ignored others to specifically choose someone from the house…

She wanted to stay and see what tricks this old Daoist would play, but she also needed to find Lin Chengyou. If she couldn’t find him, tonight’s trip would be wasted.

As Teng Yuyi led Juan’er Li and Baozhu inside, passing beside the old Daoist, she couldn’t help taking another look. The exposed neck above the old Daoist’s black robe collar was much fairer than his face.

But this was normal – people who wandered outdoors for years had their bodies protected by clothing while their faces endured sun and rain. Compared to their skin, their faces were usually much more weathered.

Just as she was about to look away, Teng Yuyi froze – if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a faint red brand on the Daoist’s neck.

That alone was strange enough, but the white gauze inner robe the old Daoist wore was made of superior spun-flower gauze silk. Though this fabric appeared ordinary on the surface, making its value hard for common people to discern, those who had worn it knew it was as light as clouds, warm in winter and cool in summer – worth a thousand gold per bolt.

She was wearing a spun-flower gauze robe. Her family only had four bolts, bestowed by His Majesty when her father returned victorious a few years ago. She’d grown quickly these past years, using up more fabric with each new robe.

Teng Yuyi was shocked. Who was this person? Even if he could amass wealth through trickery, how could he obtain imperial goods?

Juan’er Li and Baozhu asked in surprise: “Young Master, what’s wrong?”

Teng Yuyi answered distractedly: “Nothing.”

She was thinking of leaving when the old Daoist suddenly turned to look at her, his gaze carrying three parts mockery and some arrogant derision.

Only then did Teng Yuyi see the old Daoist’s eyes. Though hidden under long white eyebrows, those eyes were extremely black and bright, their gaze so familiar – where had she seen it before?

The Daoist only glanced at Teng Yuyi before turning away, smilingly leading the woman toward the pavilion while telling the crowd: “Don’t rush, don’t rush, one at a time.”

Unable to figure it out, Teng Yuyi decided to enter the Colorful Phoenix House first. Just as she reached the second floor, she ran into Madam E. Teng Yuyi pointed at Juan’er Li and Baozhu behind her: “Well? Returned intact, as promised.”

Madam E mixed coyness with joy: “What words are these, Young Master? Children grow beyond their mother’s control. I’ve raised these two daughters like flower buds – I’d be delighted if someone like Young Master stole them away. You must be tired from walking – please sit upstairs while I warm some fine wine.”

Teng Yuyi looked up at the upper floor. Qi Zhi had been inside so long – who knew what he’d discovered? She walked up with hands clasped behind her back. Shortly after sitting down, a strange explosive sound suddenly came from the corridor, reminiscent of New Year’s firecrackers, whistling long and sharp.

She remembered the arrow-like object Jue Sheng had given Qi Zhi and her heart jumped. She quickly called out: “Huo Qiu!”

Huo Qiu acknowledged and ran out first. Teng Yuyi lifted her robe and also left the room.

Madam E, Juan’er Li, and Baozhu stood bewildered for a moment before fearfully following.

The sound came from the end of the left corridor. Running along the path, they found the corridor empty.

Pushing open the rooms on both sides revealed only guests busy drinking. Huo Qiu apologized and withdrew. Encountering such an eerie situation for the first time, he sensed something was wrong and ran back in alarm: “Young Master, no one’s there.”

Seeing Huo Qiu’s expression, Teng Yuyi vaguely guessed what had happened. The firecracker sound came from the corridor – why couldn’t they see Qi Zhi?

“Something’s wrong here. Never mind that now – that Daoist Jue Sheng is still downstairs. We need to leave quickly.” She rushed to go downstairs when her sleeve grew hot – the talismans suddenly caught fire. Teng Yuyi was caught off guard and hurriedly pulled out the talismans. Fortunately, the fire seemed different from normal fire and quickly turned to ash.

Even so, it was very troublesome as the talismans in her sleeve continued catching fire one after another.

Teng Yuyi kept shaking her sleeve, unsure whether to blame the Dongming Temple Daoists for giving her too many at once or herself for not discarding them sooner. She called out frantically: “Huo Qiu, help quickly!”

Strangely, while she was in such disarray, Huo Qiu gave no response. Teng Yuyi’s mind went blank. Looking up, she found herself alone.

The corridor was still the same corridor, but the lights were dim. Not just Huo Qiu, but even Madam E and the others had vanished.

She barely steadied herself, looking around: “Huo Qiu, where are you?”

Just then, a child’s cry for help came from beside the corridor: “Miss Teng, I’m Qi Zhi – please save me!”

Teng Yuyi turned to look. At the far end of the empty corridor, she could faintly see a familiar figure struggling with someone in a room, apparently trapped in the doorway.

Qi Zhi clung desperately to the door frame, shouting to Teng Yuyi: “Miss Teng, you have the Five Beautiful Celestial Talismans, that’s why you accidentally entered this demon’s barrier. You can’t go back now. Quickly pull me out – only our temple’s altar wood can break this illusion.”

Teng Yuyi dared not approach but had nowhere to retreat. She tried going downstairs but couldn’t move her feet.

“Miss Teng, you don’t believe me? I am Qi Zhi! I just fired that signal arrow. I know Jue Sheng and Senior Brother are nearby but don’t know if they can arrive in time. I can’t reach the altar wood in my robe – please help pull me out quickly, or I’ll die!”

Teng Yuyi’s heart nearly leaped from her chest: “If you’re Qi Zhi, you should know why I came here.”

“I know, I know!” Qi Zhi nodded frantically. “You want Senior Brother to help break your Killing Spirit Ring.”

“Where did we first meet?”

“Purple Cloud Tower. No, no – Lan Xia Pavilion in Purple Cloud Tower. You and Senior Brother were discussing eating the tree spirit but complained its flesh was too tough.”

Teng Yuyi ran over: “What happened? How did you get trapped here?”

Qi Zhi said urgently: “I’m running out of strength – details later. Miss Teng, the demon is nearby. Whatever it says or does, ignore it – just pull me out first.”

Only then did Teng Yuyi realize what was behind Qi Zhi wasn’t a room but a smoke-wreathed courtyard.

The guests were long gone. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and through the gauze-like mist, she could faintly see a well in the center.

She dared not look more. What kind of demon could instantly transform a room into such a scene? She hugged Qi Zhi’s barrel-like waist and pulled hard, but after much effort, he didn’t budge an inch.

Teng Yuyi cursed angrily: “You’re a vegetarian little Daoist – why are you so fat?”

Sweat covered Qi Zhi’s forehead as he cried: “I-I didn’t mean to get this fat.”

Then he came to his senses: “No, no. Miss Teng, you’re fighting against demon power – it has nothing to do with my weight. Why don’t you take out my altar wood? It’s in my front robe.”

Teng Yuyi didn’t even pause to wipe her sweat as she reached to feel for it. Suddenly a cool breeze passed behind her, and a man’s voice drifted from afar: “Young lady, what are you doing?”

Teng Yuyi’s whole body shuddered. She couldn’t help looking back and saw a handsome gentleman around thirty walking over.

This man wore a peony flower in his hair, his gaze lingering, his smile faint – it was exactly the man she’d seen earlier.

The man held a woman’s green-calyx silk painting, which he kept lifting to his nose to smell as he walked as if some fragrance hidden in the painting captivated him.

Teng Yuyi thought the painting looked familiar and was shocked to realize it belonged to Juan’er Li.

Qi Zhi’s face went white as soon as he saw the man: “Miss Teng, quickly close your eyes! Don’t look at it or listen to it – getting my altar wood out is most urgent!”

Teng Yuyi squeezed her eyes shut and tremblingly felt for Qi Zhi’s front robe.

But to avoid being pulled in, Qi Zhi had pressed almost his entire chest against the door frame. The altar wood had been pushed who knows where, and she grew more anxious as she searched.

The man drew closer, saying with a smile: “What are you looking for? Would you like my help?”

His voice was tender and sweet, seeming to have some soul-stealing power. Teng Yuyi’s spirit wavered. Knowing this was bad, she quickly shouted: “Qi Zhi, think of something!”

Qi Zhi almost roared: “Quick, chant with this poor priest: Heaven and Earth can be traversed but not proclaimed. The Great Sage can be observed but not spoken of!”

After just one line, the turbid sounds suddenly vanished. Teng Yuyi came to her senses and continued feeling in Qi Zhi’s robe, quickly finding a hard wooden board: “Found it!”

Qi Zhi rejoiced: “Quick, put it in my mouth!”

Teng Yuyi did as told.

Qi Zhi bit his tongue, humming incantations in his throat. Just as he gathered his inner force to spit the altar wood at the man, unexpectedly, the wood split in half in his mouth.

Teng Yuyi stared in disbelief: “!”

It must have cracked from being pressed too long against Qi Zhi’s chest.

Qi Zhi spat out the two pieces of broken wood, his face mournful: “It’s all Master’s fault for being too stingy. I said we should use dense, solid rosewood, but Master would only use the cheapest willow. Now look what’s happened – I’m out of options, wuwuwuwu…”

Teng Yuyi hit his head in urgency: “What use is crying? What other magical tools do you have? I’ll help get them out.”

Qi Zhi wracked his brains for ideas, but just then, the man had reached Teng Yuyi’s back. His patience seemed exhausted as he gripped her shoulders, smiling as he tried to push both her and Qi Zhi into the room: “Come in. This humble one will treat the young lady well.”

Teng Yuyi secretly gripped something in her sleeve. Before the man could exert force, she spun and threw everything at his face: “Who wants your treatment!”

She threw her remaining Five Beautiful Celestial Talismans, figuring that since they could detect demon energy, they must have some exorcising power. But the man lightly blew a breath, instantly turning the talismans to powder.

“Useless,” Qi Zhi said, desperately hugging the door frame. “I already tried earlier. Its powers are too high – these barely tickle it. Our only hope now is to wait for—”

Teng Yuyi interrupted him, reaching into her sleeve again: “Even if these have no power, at least they can distract it. Every moment we delay counts.”

She fumbled around until suddenly feeling a chill in her chest – she’d unknowingly used up all the talismans.

Qi Zhi shouted: “Miss Teng, don’t fear! I’m a Golden Youth of the Three Pure Ones – the demon dares not approach me directly, that’s why it set this soul-trapping formation. But I was born with the power to call lightning and ward off evil. Even if we’re pulled in, we won’t die immediately. Just hold tight to me until Senior Brother arrives!”

The man seemed very clean, slowly dusting off the remaining ash before raising his hand to grip Teng Yuyi’s shoulders again: “Young lady is too unromantic. I sincerely invite you, how can you keep refusing?”

Teng Yuyi estimated she couldn’t escape and in desperation threw the last thing from her sleeve: “Since you insist on visiting, I have a gift for you.”

It was a bare brush that the Dongming Temple Daoist had forced on her. Though useless, at least it might frighten the demon.

Before finishing her words, Teng Yuyi had already jabbed the brush at the man’s face. The man raised his hand to grab the brush handle, intending to make a few more teasing remarks, when suddenly he seemed burned, his words cutting off abruptly.

His face had been jade-white, but the half-struck began peeling like lacquer falling away, revealing blue-gray veins underneath.

Teng Yuyi was terrified, never expecting the bare brush to have such effect. The strike was not light – it actually left the man unable to move. His body began convulsing, his expression becoming fierce.

Teng Yuyi dared not look more. She turned to hug Qi Zhi and pulled back. Perhaps because the demon was preoccupied, this time she managed to pull Qi Zhi free.

Qi Zhi flipped like a carp and pulled Teng Yuyi: “Run!”

They had only run a few steps when yin winds surged behind them. The man howled as he gave chase, his speed like a gale, about to grab Teng Yuyi’s shoulders.

Teng Yuyi felt somewhat desperate: “Besides running, do you have any other techniques?”

Qi Zhi ran headlong at top speed: “I’ve used everything I could. Now that the barrier is broken, running is our best option.”

The man laughed eerily behind them. Teng Yuyi grew more frightened: “But we can’t outrun it. I just gravely offended it – if it catches us we’ll surely die horribly.”

Qi Zhi shook his head frantically: “Miss Teng, I won’t let it catch you first!”

Just then a chill came from behind as malevolent energy swept down like a tide. Teng Yuyi shouted: “How can you guarantee that?”

Sure enough, the man ignored Qi Zhi and went straight for Teng Yuyi’s collar, his breath icy as a mist sprayed on her skin.

Teng Yuyi shuddered and turned to curse: “You demon have no standards! I’m a woman, he’s a child – you specifically target the weak. Aren’t you ashamed? If you had the ability, why don’t you dare confront that old Daoist downstairs?”

No sooner had she spoken than someone called from the stairs: “Old Daoist is here – why look for me?”

The person moved with exceptional agility, stepping on the railing to leap up, whipping his duster toward the man.

The man had no time to dodge and was forced to take the strike. But the newcomer’s skills far exceeded his expectations. The man screamed in pain, released Teng Yuyi, and quickly vanished into the thick mist.

The old Daoist reached out to catch Teng Yuyi with one hand while pulling out a silver chain from his waist with the other. With a ding, he struck at the thick mist in the corridor. A narrow passage suddenly appeared before them, its end dark and cold as if leading straight to the netherworld.

Just as the old Daoist was about to throw Teng Yuyi to the stunned Qi Zhi, she suddenly grabbed his front robe: “Young Lord, I just saved your junior brother’s life – that should be enough to repay the debt, right? Quickly help me break the Killing Spirit Ring. I’ll leave immediately and won’t delay your demon catching.”

She had grown suspicious downstairs, and up close was even more certain. After the fight, the old Daoist’s front robe had loosened somewhat, revealing fair young skin on his neck – clearly a young lord. Combined with his imperial spun-flower gauze robe and impressive Daoist arts, thinking it through, he could only be Lin Chengyou.

[Note: A “false mother” was a title for female supervisors in pleasure houses who managed and trained courtesans.]