Chapter 83 [VIP]

Jiang Zhuochen followed Xu Xing's arrangement and planned to collect the soul after he finished these few days, so for now he only needed to help the little ghost pass on.

Since neither the human nor the ghost had ever celebrated Christmas before, Xu Xing bought a bunch of materials and had Jiang Zhuochen take the little ghost to experience the atmosphere in advance.

The little devil looked up at the spruce tree, which was about the same height as Jiang Zhuochen. Its branches and leaves were layered upon each other, exuding a refreshing pine scent. He slowly shifted his gaze to a pile of items on the ground, and after a moment, he danced with joy.

"Yay! Brother, I want to see the Christmas tree!"

Jiang Zhuochen picked up a string of warm white LED lights and handed them to the little devil. "Okay, let's decorate it into a Christmas tree together."

Jiang Zhuochen squatted down, the plug in his hand looking somewhat unfamiliar. He examined it for a moment, then found the connector on the power extension cord and plugged it in.

Holding the other end, the little devil happily circled around the spruce tree. If it pulled too tight, it would feel ugly, so it would let go and start over, without getting tired at all.

He had put a lot of effort into winding the two strings of small LED lights. After taking a few steps back, Jiang Zhuochen led the little devil to the power source and pressed the switch.

"Here, try opening it."

The little devil obediently pressed the switch, and in an instant, the entire spruce tree shone brightly. Hundreds of small lights flickered simultaneously, coating the dark green trunk with a soft halo.

"Wow…"

Warm light shone on the child's upturned face. His eyes were wide open, and the small light bulb reflected in his dark pupils, incredibly bright.

He couldn't stop smiling, and he ran around the spruce tree, clapping his hands incessantly. "Brother, it's so beautiful!"

Jiang Zhuochen was somewhat dazed; this was his first time experiencing this festival. The light wasn't dazzling, but it possessed a strange, warm power, as if it could dispel the chill of the winter night.

He laughed, "Hang up the rest of the decorations and ornaments."

"Okay!" The kid got really into it, hanging everything from the box onto the tree, and piling the heavier items next to the Christmas tree.

Until the very end, there was only one crucial step left.

The little devil, carrying a large, golden star, flew to the top of the tree under Jiang Zhuochen's command, carefully and slowly placing it on the tip of the branch, avoiding the strings of lights and branches.

Just then, the snow machine in the corner of the courtyard started silently under a remote control. Fine, dense artificial snowflakes fell, covering the spruce trees and the shoulders of the two people.

The little devil opened his arms wide, happily scooped up a handful of snowflakes, and blew on them forcefully. He laughed nonstop and then pulled Jiang Zhuochen to join him in a snowball fight.

After an unknown amount of time, he collapsed to the ground, panting, as if he had just finished playing. When he noticed Jiang Zhuochen approaching, he leaned on the other's arm and closed his eyes.

The light from the small LED bulb shone tirelessly, even carrying a hint of warmth to the passing night breeze.

Jiang Zhuochen got up and walked into the villa, patted his clothes to shake off the chill, and glanced down at the little devil who was resting on him after playing.

Isn't it about time?

As if sensing something, the little devil slowly opened his eyes, rubbed them with his chubby hands, and asked with a soft, sleepy voice, "Brother, should I go now?"

Jiang Zhuochen patted his head and went upstairs. "Have you had fun these past few days?"

"Happy!" The little devil's eyes curved into crescent moons as he shook his head. "Everything here is so much fun! I want to play more!"

"After encountering so many adults," Jiang Zhuochen softened his tone, trying not to offend him, "do you still find them scary?"

This time, the kid hesitated for a moment, somewhat doubtful, and muttered, "They look...not bad."

"Yes. Most people in the world are good people. Luck is relative. If you are unhappy in this life and are surrounded by people who bully you, then it won't be like that in the next life."

He thought of Xu Xing, and of the years he had spent living a life of hardship and deprivation. Even now, he still couldn't understand why his master had taken him in, given him a home, freed him from worries about food and clothing, allowed him to sleep until he naturally woke up every day, and had a group of people protecting him.

He could only think that luck might truly be relative. When he was being mocked by the village bullies and chased into the mountains to escape for his life, he longed for someone to be with him, someone who at least didn't seem so easy to bully, and that's when Xu Xing appeared.

The living room lights were on, casting a warm and soft glow around him. The surroundings were quiet and still. He stopped and met Xu Xing's gaze.

"You will have a group of adults who love you. They will play with you, patiently coax you, protect you when you need them, and accompany you as you grow up."

Jiang Zhuochen walked towards Xu Xing, who was waving at him, relaxed his body to lean against the other, and then yawned.

The little devil shook his head from side to side, seemingly deep in thought, his lips pressed together more and more clearly. The two waited quietly. Jiang Zhuochen took Xu Xing's hand and smiled gently when the other looked over.

After he had pinched all of Xu Xing's finger joints, the child stirred.

He nodded seriously, "Okay, brother, you're not allowed to lie to me."

"I'm not lying to you." Jiang Zhuochen tapped his brow.

The little devil stepped back to the center of the living room and stood there, looking at Jiang Zhuochen with complete trust.

Jiang Zhuochen sighed with emotion. He was tired, but thankfully the child hadn't been a waste of time; at least he was obedient. Xu Xing squeezed his fingers, signaling that he could begin.

Jiang Zhuochen stood up, put two fingers together, and points of blue spiritual energy shone from his fingertips. At the same time, a circle of golden light appeared on the floor where the little devil was standing.

Suddenly, Xu Xing's eyes sharpened, and he looked outside. A thick ghostly aura surged in the next instant, and Jiang Zhuochen stopped casting his spell, glancing northwest half a beat later.

The two followed the source of the ghostly energy and soon arrived at a precipice. There, a cloud of black mist-like ghostly energy surged in the air, conjuring up distorted ghostly faces that floated within it.

However, the moment they regained their footing, the ghostly energy exploded without warning, transforming into several black chains that swiftly separated the two.

"It wasn't easy to trap your master." A hoarse voice came from the darkness, tinged with smugness.

Jiang Zhuochen's heart tightened, and he tried to rush towards Xu Xing's direction, but was blocked by an invisible barrier.

“Don’t blame us, we just want to live too,” another sharp voice chimed in.

Xu Xing was completely shrouded in black mist, and Jiang Zhuochen could only vaguely see his master's figure appearing and disappearing in the mist.

"If you want to live, why cause chaos in the world?" Jiang Zhuochen asked coldly, his hands quietly forming a hand seal.

"Because they deserve to die!" The first voice suddenly became agitated, and a pair of blood-red pupils appeared in the black mist.

"Then I cannot allow you to indiscriminately kill innocent people." Before Jiang Zhuochen finished speaking, he had already cast several golden talismans.

"Then you should die too!"

Two sharp claws suddenly emerged from the black mist, aiming straight for Jiang Zhuochen's throat. Jiang Zhuochen dodged to the side, realizing that he didn't recognize either of the two voices, and his doubts deepened.

"That's not right, isn't someone missing?" Jiang Zhuochen raised his voice.

"We don't need this many people to deal with you." A sharp voice came from all directions.

"Oh, I see. They sent their strongest one to deal with my master." Jiang Zhuochen chuckled. "The two of you combined are no match for a girl."

"If my magic power hadn't been suppressed, would I be afraid of him?!" The evil spirit was furious, and its voice became even more shrill.

"Even a wisp of Master's divine soul can suppress you, what's there to be so arrogant about?" Jiang Zhuochen continued to provoke.

"Shut up!"

Enraged, the two evil spirits darted through the ghostly aura at incredible speed, making them difficult for Jiang Zhuochen to track. He decided to switch from offense to defense, setting up a golden protective array while simultaneously conjuring talismans to burn away the surrounding ghostly energy.

"Stop struggling in vain!" the evil spirit mocked, as even more powerful ghostly energy gathered, like a giant wave from the abyss, constantly crashing against and compressing the protective magic array.

The golden light dimmed under the suppression of the boundless ghostly energy. Jiang Zhuochen felt the spiritual energy around him becoming increasingly thin, and his breathing gradually became difficult.

He did his best to maintain the magic array, and his spiritual power was rapidly depleted. Suddenly, a chilling coldness came from behind him!

Another evil spirit had somehow crept up behind him, its claws tearing through the dim golden light, aiming straight for his vital points!

The speed was so fast that Jiang Zhuochen didn't even have time to turn around and block.

"Zheng—!"

In the nick of time, a cold light pierced through the void, carrying a chilling sword intent as it stabbed straight at the demon's vitals.

"Aww!!"

The demon let out a mournful howl, and its attacking claws were mostly dissolved the moment they touched the sword light. It hurriedly dodged and disappeared into the ghostly aura.

Jiang Zhuochen was so shocked by this sudden turn of events that his heart skipped a beat. He took the opportunity to sit up and look at the long sword stuck beside him.

It was an ancient longsword, its blade as light as autumn water, gleaming with a chilling light. The surging ghostly energy quickly dissipated and was purified by the cold air emanating from the blade.

This is Master's...

"The Void Step Sword!" Jiang Zhuochen's face lit up with joy.

Without hesitation, he reached out and grasped the hilt of the sword. As his palm touched the hilt, the blade of the Bu Xu sword trembled slightly, emitting a pleasant hum.

A familiar and gentle spiritual energy flowed down his arm into his nearly dried-up meridians. Although it was not enough to make up for the loss, it gave him a jolt.

Guided by the sword intent, he easily tore apart the ghostly energy that was trying to close up again.

The once arrogant demons became timid and hesitant under the sharpness of the Step Void Sword. Their ghostly attacks dissipated as soon as they touched the sword light, and they could only keep dodging and let out powerless roars.

Jiang Zhuochen, having gained a brief respite, hurriedly said to Bu Xujian, "Take me to find my master!"

However, the Step Void Sword simply lay quietly in his hand, showing no intention of guiding him, except for the continuous sword intent and chilling aura it emitted.

Jiang Zhuochen's heart sank; he realized something was wrong. "Where did you take Master?"

The evil spirit merely gave a sinister laugh and once again unleashed its ghostly energy to launch an attack.

Jiang Zhuochen was extremely anxious, his hands moving swiftly and ruthlessly. He knew that his master was most likely safe, but after all, the other's soul was still incomplete, and now that he had given him his natal sword, what if he fell into some kind of trap?

He cleaved a clear path, then gently stroked the blade of his sword and whispered, "I hope my master won't scold me then."

Without hesitation, he cut open his palm, and blood gushed out immediately.

As his fingertips moved, an ancient magic array gradually took shape on the ground. This ancient blood array was extremely energy-consuming, and before long, Jiang Zhuochen's face had turned as pale as paper.

As the formation was nearing completion, he knelt on one knee, barely managing to hold onto the hilt of the Void Step Sword. Fortunately, it was an ancient divine sword; otherwise, he truly wouldn't have been able to activate this formation on his own.

Jiang Zhuochen murmured weakly, "It's up to you now."

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and dark clouds merged with resentment. The Void-Stepping Sword absorbed the blood from its blade, its spiritual light surging. The blood array, sensing its power, began to activate, and a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, landing precisely at the array's core.

A burst of intense light exploded, burning away the desperately fleeing black mist with crackling sounds wherever it went.

The formation grew larger and larger until it tore through space, creating a crack. Jiang Zhuochen used his last bit of strength to leap into the crack, and after a moment of weightlessness, he landed in a warm embrace.

A note from the author: