The gauze curtain was gently lifted.

A woman with a graceful figure and beautiful appearance walked out.

Yan Ning stared, her eyes wide with disbelief.

This courtesan truly lived up to her reputation; her beauty was breathtaking.

She sat down.

Shi Jin asked softly, "What kind of music would you like to hear, young master?"

"Let's play your best song."

Shi Jin picked up the pipa and gently plucked the strings.

The singing was melodious, yet carried a faint hint of sadness.

Yan Ning took a sip of tea and suddenly asked, "Miss Shi Jin, is something on your mind?"

Shi Jin paused, forcing a smile, "Young Master is joking. What could possibly be on Shi Jin's mind?"

"IMHO."

Yan Ning stared at her face. "Your brow is etched with evil spirits, your eyes are bluish, and your gaze is lifeless. You are clearly possessed by an evil spirit."

Upon hearing this, Shi Jin's smile gradually faded.

She sighed: "To be honest, I am indeed troubled by something."

"I am 24 years old this year. My appearance is fading. New talents are emerging one after another, and I feel a lot of pressure."

She whispered, "Some time ago, a Taoist priest said he could help me stay young forever. He gave me a piece of jade and told me to nourish it with the blood from my fingertips every day."

"It worked at first, and I became more and more radiant, regaining my title as the most beautiful courtesan."

"But as time went on, my body grew weaker and weaker, and I needed more and more blood. I was about to collapse..."

Yan Ning's expression turned solemn: "May I take a look at that jade?"

Shi Jin hesitated for a long time.

Finally, they managed to pull something out from the very bottom of the makeup box.

It was an unusually red piece of jade.

The color was as dark as congealed blood.

The jade was carved into a curled-up fox.

Every single hair is clearly visible, so lifelike.

The most terrifying thing was the fox's face.

Its mouth stretched upwards, all the way to its ears.

A pair of slightly upturned fox-like eyes, like two bottomless black holes.

It seems to suck away one's mind and spirit, making one inexplicably uneasy.

Yan Ning glanced at it and immediately said, "This is an evil creature; it must be eliminated!"

“But it didn’t harm me…” Shi Jin said hesitantly.

"It's slowly draining your life force until you die!"

Yan Ning reached out to take the jade.

Suddenly, a blinding burst of blood-red light erupted from the red jade.

A foul stench wafted over us.

Yan Ning stood protectively in front of Shi Jin.

The crimson mist condensed into a semi-transparent fox demon.

It hangs in mid-air.

A mocking red light gleamed in his eyes.

"Hey, where did this pretty boy come from, trying to play the hero and save the damsel in distress?"

The fox demon's voice was sharp and ethereal, carrying a strong sense of mockery.

It didn't give Yan Ning a chance to answer at all.

It instantly transformed into a red shadow.

With a "whoosh," it darted around the room at lightning speed.

The tables and chairs were blown about by the wind it created, swaying from side to side.

The candlelight flickered violently.

The room was filled with ghostly figures.

Its arrogant, shrill laughter could be heard everywhere.

"Come and catch me! Hahaha! You wanted to get rid of me? You couldn't even touch the hem of my clothes!"

Yan Ning's eyes narrowed.

He quickly pulled a talisman from his sleeve and muttered an incantation.

Predicting the trajectory of the red shadow, he suddenly flung out the talisman!

"Destroy the evil!"

The talisman glowed faintly and shot towards the fox demon like an arrow released from a bow.

The fox demon hadn't expected Yan Ning to act so quickly.

Unable to dodge in time, he was struck squarely by the talisman with a "smack"!

"Awooo—!"

A piercing scream rang out, completely unlike the previous smugness.

A small burst of golden light erupted at the point where the talisman struck.

The fox demon's illusory body was twisted and contorted by the blow.

The red mist had thinned a bit.

It retreated abruptly to the corner, its voice filled with pain and rage:

"You...you dare to hurt me?!"

Yan Ning held another talisman and said coldly:

"You beast, show yourself and submit to your fate!"

The fox demon suffered a great loss.

They knew that Yan Ning's talismans were not to be trifled with.

Her bloodshot eyes glared viciously at Yan Ning, and she let out a shrill, unwilling scream:

"You want to save her, right? Fine! Then let's see if you dare to hit her too!"

Before the words were even finished, it stopped flying around aimlessly.

Instead, it transformed into a blood arrow, striking with lightning speed.

He suddenly shot at Shi Jin, who was terrified and unable to move!

"Oh no!" Yan Ning exclaimed, trying to stop them, but it was too late.

The red light instantly entered Shi Jin's brow!

Shi Jin's body stiffened abruptly.

She then slowly raised her head, revealing a charming yet wicked smile.

The voice that came out was that of a fox demon, arrogant and domineering:

"Now, let's see how you're going to hit me with that broken talisman! Hahaha!"

Shi Jin's eyes turned blood red, and his fingernails became sharp and long.

It lunged straight at Yan Ning's face!

"not good!"

Yan Ning reacted quickly, immediately crouching down and rolling to the side.

I narrowly escaped that attack.

The wind whipped up by the claws grazed past her ear.

With a "ripping" sound, the gauze curtain behind her was torn to shreds.

"Miss Shi Jin! Wake up!"

Yan Ning shouted loudly, trying to wake up the real Shi Jin.

Hahahaha!

But he was met with a strange laugh.

"She can't hear!"

The fox demon spoke through Shi Jin's mouth, and her movements became even faster.

He ducked and rushed over, grabbing at Yan Ning's stomach with both hands!

They completely disregarded whether this would harm Shi Jin's body.

Fearing that she might hurt Shi Jin, Yan Ning had no choice but to continue retreating.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!