Chapter 13 Exploring the Haunted House on the Night of July 14th

Next month is the Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan Festival).

The phone screen lit up at just the right moment. It was a message from the streamer with the online name "Adventure Qiangzi Ge," who succinctly finalized the meeting place and time.

Xie Xun put down his phone and turned his gaze back to the snake box.

Little Green seemed to sense his gaze, raising its head from the branch it was perched on, its crimson snake eyes looking quite adorable.

He never took Xiao Lü out before.

Firstly, he feared that its identity as a spirit snake would be too conspicuous and attract unnecessary trouble; secondly, and most importantly, this little guy was his last trump card.

I will never show it to others unless absolutely necessary.

But this time is different.

During the Ghost Festival, ghosts roam the earth, and the yin energy is at its peak. That haunted house is a place filled with years of resentment, and with a streamer harboring evil intentions... there are too many variables.

For him, Little Green was definitely a trump card that could unexpectedly tear open a path to survival at the most critical moment.

Xie Xun opened the snake box and reached out his hand to the little creature inside.

“You’ve been training your troops for a thousand days,” he said in a low voice, his tone revealing no emotion. “Now, it’s your turn to get some exercise.”

As if it understood, Little Green quickly swam up his arm and skillfully hid in his wide sleeve, its cold scales clinging to his wrist.

As Xie Xun prepared to leave with Xiao Lü after gathering all his belongings, his hand had just touched the doorknob when the shadow beside him twisted, and Fu Qinghuai's physical form silently materialized beside him, extremely close.

This time, he wasn't wearing that tight-fitting loungewear. Instead, he pulled out a black hooded sweatshirt that he had bought too big and was too lazy to return, along with a pair of slightly loose cargo pants, from some corner of Xie Xun's closet.

The clothes were cheap street vendor items, the fabric wasn't very good, and they had even pilled slightly after being washed a few times, but on the devil's tall, slender frame with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, they were somehow carried off by his handsome face and overall charisma.

At first glance, it really does look like a product from a niche streetwear brand.

Xie Xun's gaze lingered for a moment on the familiar hoodie he was wearing, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of disdain and speechlessness flashing in his fox-like eyes.

Before he could even speak, Fu Qinghuai preemptively struck.

He first glanced disdainfully at the tip of Xie Xun's emerald tail that was faintly visible in his sleeve, and let out a barely audible snort.

He then looked at Xie Xun, his face now showing an expectant expression, and his voice softened, becoming sticky and sweet as it reached people's ears.

"Xunxun, are we going out?" He deliberately used "we" to exclude Xiao Lü.

As they spoke, the demon even deliberately tugged at the cheap hoodie she was wearing, and said the most manipulative thing in the most self-righteous tone, "I didn't have any clothes to wear, so I borrowed yours... Xunxun won't be angry, will she?"

Xie Xun completely ignored his question about the aroma of tea.

"Going out is for work, not for parading through the streets."

The young man tilted his head slightly, his gaze finally landing on Fu Qinghuai's face, carrying a clear warning, "Put away your useless thoughts and remember what you should do."

"Okay! I'll listen to Xunxun~"

At this point, Fu Qinghuai lowered his head, his bangs almost brushing against Xie Xun's neck, his tone filled with twisted excitement, "It's so good... After waiting for so long, I can finally go with you to find me."

Xie Xun: "..."

I really want to slap him, but I'm afraid he'll lick my hand.

Xie Xun suppressed the disgust in his heart, expressionlessly turned aside to avoid the hand that was about to wrap around his waist, and closed the door behind him.

Fu Qinghuai felt a sudden emptiness in his fingers, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes, but he immediately leaned closer again, this time placing his hand on Xie Xun's shoulder.

Xie Xun didn't avoid it anymore, but completely ignored the large pendant on his shoulder, as if Fu Qinghuai was just air.

Then, she turned around nimbly to avoid the vase that fell from the second floor, got into a taxi to the airport, and didn't say another word.

His complete disregard initially made Fu Qinghuai frown, feeling slighted.

But then, seeing that Xie Xun no longer avoided him and showed no sign of refusing, Fu Qinghuai's mind immediately started working, and he interpreted the ignoring as tacit consent.

He practically clung to Xie Xun, his voice growing increasingly cloyingly sweet, "Xunxun, this is my first time riding in a car. I've only ever heard of it before, I've never..."

Caught off guard by his buzzing in her ear, Xie Xun finally spoke in a cold voice, "Shut up."

His tone was filled with undisguised disdain.

The interaction between the human and the ghost even caught the attention of the driver in front, who glanced at them curiously in the rearview mirror.

To everyone's surprise, Fu Qinghuai was not angry at all. On the contrary, he seemed to be amused by the rebuke. He chuckled softly and complained in a tone that was aggrieved but full of scheming, manipulative undertones, "Xunxun is so fierce..."

Xie Xun rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay him any attention.

...

In the evening, Xie Xun's flight arrived in the port city.

It happened to be the 14th day of the seventh lunar month, and there was an indescribable restlessness in the air.

Along the streets, especially at intersections, one could see citizens squatting on the ground burning paper money and ingots. The leaping flames illuminated their faces, and ashes swirled and rose with the hot air.

After several unfortunate transfers, he finally arrived at the small hotel.

Upon arrival, we were told that many rooms were suddenly unavailable, with only the room at the very end of the corridor still standing. However, the room smelled quite strong, as the previous guest had vomited inside and the room hadn't been cleaned up yet.

Knowing his unlucky constitution, Xie Xun didn't say anything. He simply put down his luggage and prepared to head to the meeting place he had arranged with the streamer.

Along the way, there were either traffic jams or near-car collisions. It was already past 10 p.m. when we finally arrived at our destination.

As soon as I got off the bus, I saw the warm lights of the tea restaurant, the aroma of food wafting around, and the clinking of cups and saucers and the cacophony of Cantonese conversation in my ears, creating a very lively atmosphere.

Xie Xun walked through the wisps of smoke with a light and calm expression, looking like a tourist at first glance.

An old woman burning paper money by the roadside saw him and kindly reminded him.

"Young man, head home early tonight."

Xie Xun paused slightly, nodded gently to the old woman, and accepted this unfamiliar kindness.

Fu Qinghuai, standing beside him, seemed both out of place and perfectly at ease with the atmosphere. He took a deep breath of the incense and paper money scent in the air, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his peach blossom eyes, as if he were strolling in the center of a grand feast.

Those burning offerings instinctively lowered their heads upon seeing his excessively pale face, quickening their burning process, and dared not look at him any longer.

Along the way, Fu Qinghuai was like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time, casting curious glances at everything around him.

The red taxis speeding by, the neon signs flashing outside the shops, and especially the glistening roast goose hanging in the open kitchen of the tea restaurant—all of these made him pause for a moment, his peach blossom eyes sparkling.

He even imitated the pedestrians next to him, picking up a glowing windmill toy from a stall and examining it.

His earnest little face caught the attention of the old stall owner, who couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.

Xie Xun was speechless at his naive and unsophisticated attitude, but he was too lazy to bother with him. As long as this guy didn't cause trouble, he was happy to have some peace and quiet.

Just as Fu Qinghuai was holding the glowing windmill, seemingly wondering if it was edible, a small, bright green head quietly peeked out from Xie Xun's collar.

It's Little Green.

It too was drawn to this colorful world, its crimson snake eyes curiously observing the little windmill that was being blown around.

"Wow! Young man, you snake are so cute!"