Chapter 20 The Fairy in the Painting, Ink Lingering

Upon realizing this, Shao Yanzhe's heart skipped a beat, and he paused in his tracks.

Coincidentally, the footsteps behind also paused.

Shao Yanzhe felt a chill run down his spine. The thought that this world was a world of ghosts and monsters made his heart leap into his throat.

Could the footsteps behind him belong to someone who isn't human?

Instantly, countless terrifying images flashed through his mind, causing his hands to tremble.

Fortunately, he was no longer a novice who had never encountered ghosts and monsters before. He now possessed the literary energy to deal with them, and in addition, he had just passed the academy examination, which increased his literary energy by more than half, giving him some confidence.

Shao Yanzhe reached for the calligraphy brush in his pocket with his right hand, ready to take it out at any moment.

He now has some limitations in controlling the flow of literary energy, and needs to use a brush to manage it.

"Hehe, you spotted me?"

Suddenly, a sinister female voice rang out behind him.

At the same time, Shao Yanzhe could feel a block of ice radiating cold air pressed against his back, making him shiver involuntarily.

A pair of cold hands moved up his shoulders and then up his neck, the cold arms hugging his neck, as if the thing behind him was lying on his body.

"call!"

The thing blew a breath into Shao Yanzhe's ear, and a gust of cold wind entered his ear, finally bringing him back to his senses.

With trembling hands, Shao Yanzhe took out a calligraphy brush and began to write an article in front of him. As he wrote the first character, a literary aura emanating a faint white light enveloped his body, slightly warming his almost frozen body.

Just as he was about to continue, the thing behind him seemed to despise the scholarly air and quickly detached itself from him.

Shao Yanzhe took off running, abandoning the lantern in his hand and throwing it on the ground.

The thing that was left behind paused for a moment, then followed.

"Shaolang, wait for me~"

Her voice was melodious and charming, and as it entered my ears, it felt as if my whole body was melting.

Shao Yanzhe stumbled, feeling his legs were about to give way. This thing is too powerful!

"Shaolang, why didn't you wait for me? I chased after you for so long!"

The owner of the voice suddenly appeared in front of Shao Yanzhe. She was wearing a light gauze dress, revealing her rounded shoulders and most of her breasts. Her eyes seemed to have hooks as she looked at him, and she was full of charm with every smile and frown.

Shao Yanzhe was momentarily dazed, but quickly regained his senses.

"Don't come any closer!"

He crawled away from the woman in front of him, using both his hands and feet, knowing full well that she was not human.

"Shaolang, what have I done wrong? Why are you treating me like this?"

"I've been waiting for you for so long~"

The woman's beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow, as if Shao Yanzhe had done something to incur divine wrath.

She took a step forward with light, graceful steps, and said with a sorrowful expression, "Has Shaolang forgotten? I have been Shaolang's childhood sweetheart since I was a child. Later, because of poverty, I had to sell myself into slavery. Now I have finally earned enough money and have come back to find Shaolang. How can Shaolang be so heartless?"

After she finished speaking, she covered her face with a handkerchief and began to sob softly. Her cries were so poignant that they evoked pity in everyone.

Shao Yanzhe: ? ? ?

The original owner of this body actually had a childhood sweetheart?

However, now that he is back to his original form, he is afraid he will have to let her down.

He coughed lightly and said, "I'm sorry, I really forgot. So, young lady, you'd better go find someone else!"

The woman choked, secretly rolling her eyes. She hadn't expected this poor scholar to be so upright.

In the past, when she said this, those scholars were overjoyed. After she said she wanted to give herself to them, they couldn't wait to embrace her and consummate their marriage.

It's a pity that if she hadn't received orders to kill this scholar, she really wouldn't have had the heart to kill him.

"Shaolang, I never expected you to be so heartless!"

The woman blinked, and a string of tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at Shao Yanzhe with a sorrowful expression, holding a handkerchief in her hand.

"However, before I leave, I wish to share a bed with you, Shao Lang, and enjoy the pleasures of love, so that I may have something to look forward to. I wonder if you would agree?"

No man would refuse!

The woman, her lips parted by a handkerchief, smiled confidently. If the scholar agreed, it would be easy to make her move.

Shao Yanzhe's lips twitched. What's wrong with these ghosts?

Otherwise, why would they engage in sexual relations as soon as they meet?

He'll definitely ask Yun Weiyue and the others when he gets back.

"Sorry! No way!"

He resolutely refused; he could tell at a glance that there was something wrong with the woman, and he wasn't a lecherous man.

The woman was completely stunned. She looked Shao Yanzhe up and down, and almost suspected that the scholar was a woman in disguise.

"I'll take my leave now!"

After Shao Yanzhe finished speaking, he took off running, afraid that the woman behind him would catch up again.

The woman watched the hurried figure disappear into the distance, and was so angry she almost laughed.

Fine, since the verbal approach won't work, then she'll just have to suffer the consequences and resort to force!

Shao Yanzhe prayed in his heart that the woman was human and not a ghost. He hadn't run far when he sensed a veil of gauze wrapped around him with a strong wind coming from behind.

Sacho was too fast. Before he could react, Sacho wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him back.

"Tsk, Shaolang, you really are asking for trouble. Since that's the case, don't blame me for turning against you~"

The woman placed her slender hand on Shao Yanzhe's chest, her eyes, which had been filled with sorrow, now turned icy cold.

She applied slight pressure with her fingers, her fingertips piercing through her clothes, into her skin, and heading towards her heart.

Instantly, bright red blood gushed from the wound.

Unable to move, Shao Yanzhe's mind went blank due to the pain from his wound, and he instinctively swung the brush at the woman.

A burst of white light, mixed with a few specks of gold, suddenly erupted.

"ah!"

The woman was injured by the light and suddenly let out a shrill scream.

The skin that came into contact with the light lost its fair appearance and became covered in wounds and blood, with some places even revealing the white bones. Even her beautiful face was covered with large and small bloody wounds, making it a gruesome sight.

The woman saw her arm, realized what had happened, screamed, and covered her face with her hands.

"Ah! My face!"

Shao Yanzhe fell to the ground with a thud, and the gauze on the ground disappeared.

However, due to the burst of energy he had just experienced, his body was completely drained, and he had no energy left. He was sore and weak all over and could only collapse to the ground.

The woman covered her face, her eyes peeking out with resentment through her fingers.

Upon seeing this, Shao Yanzhe thought to himself, "Oh no!"

Sure enough, the next moment, the woman freed one hand and grabbed Shao Yanzhe's neck.

"Meow!"

An angry meow rang out, followed by a black figure moving with lightning speed, grabbing at the woman's face.

To avoid the sudden appearance of the black cat, the woman immediately withdrew her hand.

"Where did this stinky cat come from! Mind your own business!" The woman glared at the black cat angrily.

"Ugh! Your stench is suffocating me!" Xuan Yao gagged, his eyes filled with disgust as he looked at the woman.

"Damn cat! You're asking for it!"

The woman's face immediately darkened, and she charged toward Xuan Yao with murderous intent.

Xuan Yao quickly dodged and crouched on the wall, letting out a triumphant shout at the woman.

The woman's expression suddenly changed, and she quickly turned around, dispersing the two dark blades with the gauze in her hand.

"You cowardly little devil! Show yourself if you dare!"

"So many years have passed, Mo Ying, I didn't expect you to still be the same as before." With Yun Weiyue's indifferent voice, her figure slowly appeared.

"Miss?" The woman, Mo Ying, changed her expression slightly. She turned her head slightly, trying to hide the scars on her face.

"No need to hide anymore, I saw everything." Yun Weiyue looked at Mo Ying with a complicated expression, and for a moment, her hatred for Mo Ying for betraying her back then lessened a lot.

"Hmph! What? Now that you see me like this, Miss, you must be very happy, right?" Mo Ying, having given up all pretense, revealed her true colors.

"Mo Ying, why would you think that? Was it Shen Moyuan who did it?" Yun Weiyue asked, but she already had the answer in her heart.

Upon hearing Shen Moyuan's name, Mo Ying trembled, and fear flashed in her eyes.

"So what?"

Remembering her mission, she instantly appeared beside Shao Yanzhe, her five fingers forming claws as she prepared to pierce his chest.

Shao Yanzhe used the last bit of strength he had left to dodge.

Mo Ying wanted to continue, but it was too late; Yun Suqing's figure suddenly appeared.

Sensing the oppressive pressure emanating from her, she dared not linger and vanished from the scene.

"How are you?" Yun Weiyue glanced in the direction Mo Ying had left, then floated to Shao Yanzhe's side to ask about his condition.

"It's alright, just a bit disoriented. I'll be fine after a rest."

Shao Yanzhe struggled to sit up: "Was that Mo Ying your maid just now?"

"That's right, I never expected her to end up like this." Yun Weiyue said with some regret.

"So, it's possible that Mo Ying was sent by Shen Moyuan?" Shao Yanzhe guessed.

"Yes, this seems to be his doing. After all, you topped the exam and ruined his plans, so it's not surprising that he sent someone to kill you."

Shao Yanzhe nodded, becoming even more wary of Shen Moyuan.

He waited until he regained his strength before rushing back to Wenyuan Academy.

The next day, just as Shao Yanzhe began his morning reading, the gatekeeper of Wenyuan Academy came over and said that someone wanted to visit him.

He couldn't help but feel a little strange. Most of the people the original owner knew were scholars in the academy, and no other acquaintances would specifically come to the academy to look for him.

When he arrived at the academy gate, he saw a strange young man standing outside.

Upon seeing Shao Yanzhe, the young master immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully, asking, "Are you Scholar Shao?"

Shao Yanzhe returned the greeting and said, "It is indeed I. May I ask what business you have with me? I do not seem to know you."

The young master unfolded his fan and fanned himself, a warm smile on his face: "We didn't know each other before, but now we do, don't we? Let me introduce myself. My name is Zhou Jiming. I recently heard that Scholar Shao passed the imperial examination with top honors, so I wanted to come and get to know him."

Shao Yanzhe raised an eyebrow, but he liked Zhou Jiming's personality and it wouldn't hurt to make friends with him.

Just as the two were having a pleasant conversation, a figure suddenly rushed over, knelt down on the ground, and kept kowtowing.

"Scholar Shao! I beg you! Please spare Shao Ran!"