Chapter 26 Chapter 26 (revised) Added the plot of eating Jade Ganoderma lucidum...
When this was mentioned, Jiang Zhaoxue froze.
Ye Wenzhi, who was standing beside him, was a little confused: "Setting up a stall? Playing a prank?"
"Well……"
Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted Ye Wenzhi's direct question. Not wanting to repeat her deception, she simply asked Chen Zhao, "How did you know?"
"In fact, I have been secretly observing all the talented people in the city. So as soon as the Immortal Master entered Taizhou City, I was already paying attention. I have investigated all matters related to the Immortal Master."
Chen Zhao told the truth.
Jiang Zhaoxue then understood. It turned out that there was an audience watching her entire scam.
She coughed awkwardly and didn't ask any more questions, only saying, "Um, what's going on with Zhuang Yan?"
"I'm not sure about the details." Chen Zhao pondered and said, "I only know that his family once had a daughter like this. Later, because the family was poor and couldn't support her, they gave her away when she was young. No one has seen her since then. Everyone speculated that they gave her away, but..."
"But she's dead."
Jiang Zhaoxue spoke affirmatively and looked at Ye Wenzhi: "You confirmed this, didn't you?"
"yes."
Ye Wenzhi said, a look of nostalgia on his face: "When I met her, I was only nine years old. That day, I was scolded by my teacher and felt sad. Then I went home with Mr. Chen. When we passed Chengtou Bridge at night, the wheel broke. My teacher asked me to get off and took someone to repair the carriage. I found a corner and cried secretly. Then I met a girl. She said her name was Yan'er and asked me why I was crying. I chatted with her. Although she was only five years old, she was very sensible and comforted me. When I left, I saw that her clothes were tattered. I wanted to give her some clothes. I asked her where to send them. She told me to burn them with paper clothes under Chengtou Bridge and recite her name, Zhuang Yan. That's when I knew she was dead."
Ye Wenzhi had obviously seen a lot of storms and waves. Although he said he saw a ghost, his face remained calm.
Jiang Zhaoxue couldn't help but secretly glance at Ye Tianjiao and saw that fear had begun to appear in the other's eyes.
He is really timid.
Jiang Zhaoxue confirmed it once again, while Ye Wenzhi was the complete opposite of his brother. He said calmly, "I have followed Mr. Chen since I was young and have seen many ghosts. I know that unless they died unjustly, the souls of ordinary people don't have much malice towards people. So after I left, a few days later, I brought Mr. Chen back and had someone cut clothes out of paper. I returned to the bridgehead and burned a piece of clothing for her. But Mr. Chen said that humans and ghosts have different paths, so I said goodbye to her. However, she asked me to give her a new piece of clothing every year. So every year, I go to the city gate bridgehead and burn a few new clothes for her."
"Burning clothes?" Chen Zhao was shocked when he heard this. "Why didn't the eldest master tell me?!"
"I told you, but you still let him go?" Jiang Zhaoxue understood, glanced at Chen Zhao, and pointed out directly, "You are keeping him too strict!"
Chen Zhao froze. Ye Wenzhi didn't deny it. He lowered his eyes and said softly, "At that time... my schoolwork was heavy. My family always said that I was the eldest son and must strictly abide by the family rules. When I went out, my every move was a face for the Ye family. I couldn't lose my manners in front of others, but in front of her..."
He can lose his composure.
He can blame his teacher, oppose his parents, hate his friends, and make fun of others.
This child who died young knew nothing about the rules of the world. She didn't understand how unorthodox what he said was. She would just wear the little skirt he burned for her and sit by the river and listen to him talk about these boring things.
So they met once a year at first, then more frequently, and slowly they became friends.
"When she's sixteen, I plan to celebrate her birthday."
Ye Wenzhi murmured, his fingers curled slightly, and he whispered, "That day, Mr. Chen performed a ritual to liberate a wandering soul. That day, I realized that she stayed in this world because of all her concerns."
So that night, they sat by the river, and he looked back at the graceful girl and finally asked her, "Do you want anything else besides a skirt?"
Zhuang Yan listened, turned her head, blinked, thought for a long time, and then said, "I want to go home."
"go home?"
"Ah," Zhuang Yan looked up at the moon in the sky. She looked like an ordinary girl, but compared to ordinary women, she had a layer of fluorescence unique to souls. She smiled at the sky and said gently, "I want to have a home."
However, the girl's soul that appeared under the Chengtou Bridge could not have a home.
They are abandoned beings, with nowhere to go and nowhere to return to.
Even if he took her back, what she would get was not a home, but disappointment.
He didn't know how to respond for a moment. After hesitating for a long time, he slowly said, "Then...how about...I'll build you a house."
Zhuang Yan listened, turned around, and saw Ye Wenzhi thinking: "I will give you a house, I will provide for you, and I will buy you anything you want... Yan'er," Ye Wenzhi slowly became happy and said seriously, "I will give you a home!"
Zhuang Yan's eyes were full of surprise: "You'll give me a home?"
"That's right," Ye Wenzhi became happier the more he thought about it. "Who says parents are the only family? Yan'er, when you grow up, you can have your own family."
"But I don't have any family."
"I can be your family." Ye Wenzhi looked at her gently, "You treat me as your brother, and from now on, I will be your family."
Zhuang Yan listened, staring blankly at the boy in front of her who had no idea what she was talking about. She spoke cautiously, "Then...will you abandon me?"
"No." Ye Wenzhi said seriously, "In the future, I will always be your family."
"etc."
Jiang Zhaoxue listened and finally realized something was wrong: "You said she has grown up?"
This reminder made all the cultivators present react with surprised expressions. Ye Wenzhi did not understand their reactions and only said: "Yes, what's wrong?"
"She doesn't look like a five-year-old child?" Jiang Zhaoxue confirmed again.
"I've known her for over ten years. How could she still look like a child?" Ye Wenzhi asked doubtfully, "I've grown up, so it's natural for her to grow up."
"But..." Ye Tianjiao trembled, "She is a ghost."
When these words were spoken, Ye Wenzhi froze.
He finally realized, yes, she was a ghost.
She died at the age of five. She shouldn't have grown up anymore. She was dead and she was dead. How could she keep growing up?
"And you built a house for her?" Jiang Zhaoxue continued to ask.
Ye Wenzhi nodded: "Yes..."
"You offer her offerings?"
"good."
"Have you ever painted her, or made a statue of her?"
"have."
As soon as Ye Wenzhi opened his mouth, Chen Zhao and Ye Wenzhen both gasped. Ye Wenzhen couldn't help but shout, "Ridiculous! People can only worship gods, how can they worship ghosts?!"
Ye Wenzhi looked bewildered, but Jiang Zhaoxue had already figured it out. She simply said, "This child probably has some kind of immortal fate. She entered the Dao as a ghost and has long since become a ghost cultivator. Later, she was worshipped by the eldest young master. And with the merits of the eldest young master's seven generations of good deeds, after worshipping her for so many years, she's probably... already a ghost immortal."
Humans, immortals, and gods.
These are the different levels between the bodies of the ascetics.
The difference between the three lies in that the human body is for self-cultivation, while the bodies of immortals and gods can be worshipped by people and absorb all kinds of power from heaven and earth for their own use.
Ghost cultivators are not scary, but if they obtain immortal bodies, it will be extremely troublesome.
Just like the Nine Netherworld Emperor who created the Nine Netherworld, he was a ghost cultivator who achieved enlightenment and defeated the True Immortal Realm, and even now people in the True Immortal Realm are scared when they think about it.
After all... ghost cultivators absorb resentment, and there is too much resentment in this world.
Jiang Zhaoxue listened to this troublesome combination and wanted to applaud Ye Wenzhi, but she didn't dare to provoke the patient. After holding it in for a long time, she couldn't help but say, "Why... build a house and a statue for her? You are such a person..."
Jiang Zhaoxue said, gritting her teeth: "Quite idle."
"But..." Ye Wenzhi listened, a little confused, "Even if she is a ghost fairy, what did she do wrong?"
This question stumped Jiang Zhaoxue, and she couldn't answer for a moment.
The reason why people become ghosts and linger in the world is because of the obsessions in their hearts. Therefore, those who enter the Tao as ghosts are mostly full of resentment, and the ghost immortals often absorb the resentment and evil thoughts of heaven and earth. Therefore, most of the ghost cultivators who appear now are bloodthirsty and indiscriminate, and rarely kill innocent people.
But practicing Taoism is just a method after all. Is it necessarily evil to enter Taoism in the form of a ghost?
Jiang Zhaoxue didn't dare to answer, and only asked: "What happened after that? You were nineteen years old at that time, and you became unconscious when you were twenty-one. What happened before that?"
"I don't know." Ye Wenzhi frowned as he listened. "I only know that the last time I saw her was after I graduated from high school. At that time, I received news that I would be leaving Taizhou City and taking a position in Beijing. I had originally planned to pack my bags and go say goodbye to her, but that day... she showed up."
"She actually came to the Ye Mansion?!" Chen Zhao was shocked, "How come I didn't know?"
"She was standing at the door, and I heard her calling me." Ye Wenzhi recalled, "When I walked out, I saw her in a red dress, holding an umbrella, standing at the door waiting for me."
"At night?" Jiang Zhaoxue asked.
Ye Wenzhi shook his head: "During the day."
"Beautiful!" Jiang Zhaoxue clapped sarcastically.
Ye Wenzhen closed his eyes in pain, and Chen Zhao was also heartbroken.
The ghost cultivator entered the Dao, received offerings from seven generations of good people, built a temple (house), and made a golden statue, and was able to go out in the daytime...
Even if ten Chen Zhaoye Wenzhen came, they would not be enough to kill him.
Ye Wenzhi understood what everyone meant and felt a little guilty, but he knew that he couldn't make up for it. He could only try to provide everyone with as much information as possible and continued, "She stood at the door and asked if she could come in, so I invited her into the Ye Mansion."
"It's over. The formation at home is useless."
Ye Tianjiao also understood and couldn't help asking, "Brother, what's wrong with you? Who would welcome a ghost into their home?"
"Because he worships her, he will unconsciously be controlled by her mind." Jiang Zhaoxue explained to Ye Tianjiao, "It is the ability of ghosts to bewitch people's minds. What's more, your brother actively worships her?"
"She asked me if I was leaving." Ye Wenzhi recalled that day, his expression somewhat downcast. "At the time, I told her that I was going to Beijing to be an official. I couldn't stay in Taizhou City forever, but I would come back to see her. She said... I abandoned her. We had a big fight over this. That was the most intense day of our fight. I said some very harsh words..."
When she asked him, "Did you forget what you promised me?", he finally broke down.
He raised his head and stared at her intently, shouting, "Then what do you want me to do? Just because I said something casually, you're going to leave me trapped in Taizhou City for the rest of my life?!"
Zhuang Yan was stunned by these words. She looked at the young man in front of her who never showed any malice in front of others and stared at her intently: "You are just a ghost. Should I give up my bright future for a ghost? I have given you more than enough. Be content!"
Zhuang Yan didn't say anything. She just looked at him silently and asked again, "So, you're going to abandon me?"
"I……"
"Like our parents, like the people in this world, like everyone else?"
She spoke, and with each word her voice slowly became the voices of many people.
At that moment, he finally felt fear. He took a step back in panic. The girl noticed it and raised her eyes with disappointment in them: "Are you afraid of me?"
"I..." He didn't know how to respond. When she asked, he realized that he was wrong and said hurriedly, "I'm not... Yan Niang, that's not what I meant."
"Do you dislike me?"
Zhuang Yan didn't move, just stood in front of him and asked him: "You think I'm a ghost, not as good as your bright future, you are afraid of me, you don't want me, you give up on me, right?"
"I'll be back..."
"How do you prove it?" Zhuang Yan stared at him and asked, "You promised me that you would give me a home, that you would be my family, and that you would not abandon me. How can you prove that you didn't abandon me?"
"How do you want to prove it?"
"You must protect me forever." Zhuang Yan said calmly, "If anyone wants me to disappear into thin air, you must protect me."
"certainly."
Hearing this, Ye Wenzhi immediately became serious. Although he was leaving, he would not allow others to bully her, let alone let her disappear.
When Zhuang Yan heard this, she laughed: "Brother Ye." As she said that, she stretched out her hand and touched his clothes.
Ye Wenzhi was startled, but when she touched his waist, he looked at the girl's beautiful eyes and eyebrows, and froze in place. She still pulled his clothes open and whispered: "You must always protect me, always remember me, and always love me."
"No matter what I become, you will always protect me."
"That night passed... and she was gone."
Ye Wenzhi seemed to be aware of his own dissolute behavior. He lowered his head, not daring to raise his eyes, and said in a hoarse voice: "On the third day after that, I set out to leave. As a result, as soon as I left the gate of Taizhou City, I vomited blood and continued. Since then... I began to be seriously ill. I roughly knew that it had something to do with her, but I always thought that she was probably just angry. After all, I was sorry for her. Maybe she would be fine after she calmed down. But I didn't expect..."
Ye Wenzhi smiled bitterly.
Jiang Zhaoxue concluded, "I never imagined that after three years, she wouldn't see you, and you haven't gotten any better. You've dragged down so many people like Chen Zhao, and you can't drag them down any longer. You've been hiding this all these years because you were afraid Chen Zhao would take her in, right?"
Ye Wenzhi didn't dare to speak. Chen Zhao was heartbroken: "Young Master, you are confused! How can ghosts and spirits get along with each other? They are all harmful things, you..."
"Stop scolding," Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted Chen Zhao when she saw that he couldn't control himself and started to scold her. "It's useless to scold him now. What's more, he is so outrageous-"
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes and looked at Chen Zhao: "Isn't it because you guys are too suppressive? Besides, who says ghosts are always wrong? Now the situation is very clear. Zhuang Yan must have cultivated into a ghost immortal body and became a couple with the young master. The young master also promised to protect her. From then on, she was protected by the young master's destiny. All the sins she committed will be counted on the young master. Her sins are deep, and she has been punished by heaven. Perhaps she has become powerful enough to hide the young master. Therefore, the resentment has been entrenched in the Ye family for many years, just to protect the young master from being discovered by the heaven. If it is dispelled, the young master may die immediately."
"But since Tiandao hasn't discovered it, why is my brother still unconscious?"
Ye Tianjiao couldn't figure it out.
Jiang Zhaoxue explained, "Firstly, when a mortal body is exposed to resentment for a long time, its yang energy is weakened, and the body naturally decays. Secondly, when a person commits evil, their luck dissipates, and when their luck dissipates, their body also decays."
"What should we do now?" Ye Tianjiao became anxious. "Will my brother always suffer for her?"
"Since you've agreed..." Jiang Zhaoxue pondered and said slowly, "This is the only way."
"Ah?!" Ye Tianjiao was shocked that Jiang Zhaoxue would accept her fate like this.
Chen Zhao and Ye Wenzhen were also stunned. Jiang Zhaoxue persuaded them, "After all, she is your sister-in-law. Your brother is willing, so don't interfere too much. Okay, now that the matter has been investigated, give your brother more nourishment in the future. Your sister-in-law will protect him. Pay me for the remaining half of the Jade Ganoderma Lucidum, and I will take my Zichen away."
Having said that, Jiang Zhaoxue turned around and was about to leave.
Ye Tianjiao became anxious upon hearing this and hurried forward, trying to pull her up. Pei Zichen used Jian Jiang Ye Tianjiao's hand to hold it down and said politely, "Second Young Master Ye, men and women should not touch each other."
"Hey, get out of here!"
Ye Tianjiao pushed angrily, but Pei Zichen did not move at all. Ye Tianjiao turned back in shock and anger, but Pei Zichen stood there calmly.
The two young men stared at each other in a stalemate. Chen Zhao reacted and quickly said, "I'll send Master Jiang off."
As he spoke, Chen Zhao followed Jiang Zhaoxue out. Seeing them, Ye Tianjiao hurriedly tried to chase after him. He moved one step forward, and Pei Zichen blocked his way. In the end, Ye Tianjiao could only stand in front of this young man who was like a wall, and said anxiously, "Sister! Fairy sister! Don't leave like this! Please take care of my brother..."
"I can't help it." Jiang Zhaoxue waved her hand, "Zichen, let's go."
"But she killed someone!" Ye Tianjiao tried to use Zhuang Yan's bad deeds to persuade Jiang Zhaoxue to stay. "She was so bad that she even provoked heavenly punishment. Fairy Sister, don't you care?"
"None of my business." Jiang Zhaoxue raised her voice, "Remember to pay the bill!"
After saying this, she walked out of the yard and disappeared.
After making sure that Ye Tianjiao couldn't see Jiang Zhaoxue, Pei Zichen turned around with his sword and followed Jiang Zhaoxue away.
Before leaving, Ye Tianjiao felt as if he was glared at. He thought it was an illusion and couldn't help asking Ye Wenzhen beside him: "Uncle Jiu, was that Pei Zichen glaring at me just now?"
"Little Taoist Pei is gentle and polite, why would he glare at you?" Ye Wenzhen was a little surprised. He flicked his whisk and said, "Remember to settle the bill and send the Jade Ganoderma Lucidum to them."
Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen didn't bring anything when they came, and they packed up quickly when they left.
Chen Zhao, worried, saw Jiang Zhaoxue out and handed the Jade Ganoderma to her. When their eyes met, Chen Zhao felt heavy-hearted and said, "After today's farewell, I don't know when I'll be able to see Master Jiang again."
"It's okay. I'll come to see you when I have the chance."
"Master, your kindness will always be remembered by the Ye family."
Chen Zhao bowed and handed a token to Jiang Zhaoxue: "This is the token of the Ye family. In the future, as long as it is a Ye family business, Master Jiang can show this token and the Ye family will help."
Jiang Zhaoxue took the token with a smile, looked up at the room shrouded in resentment, thought for a moment, and advised: "Mr. Chen, the eldest young master and Zhuang Yan are also a marriage. The eldest young master is now, but as long as Zhuang Yan protects him, he can survive. Zhuang Yan is a ghost immortal, and I am really powerless. Mr. Chen, please cherish your life and don't force it."
"clear."
Chen Zhao nodded and sighed, then bowed and said, "Master Jiang, have a safe journey."
Jiang Zhaoxue said goodbye to Chen Zhao and left with Pei Zichen.
When they returned to the courtyard where they lived, as soon as Jiang Zhaoxue reached the door, he saw the Bagua mirror dropped on the ground.
Pei Zichen frowned upon seeing this, but Jiang Zhaoxue had already prepared for this. She sighed and said, "Since you can't get into the Ye Mansion, you're here to act wild."
Pei Zichen listened and opened the door cautiously.
As soon as they opened the door, they saw that the house was in a mess. The whole yard seemed to have been robbed. The furniture was scattered everywhere, the bed curtains and sheets were thrown on the ground, and everything in the cabinets had been turned out.
Jiang Zhaoxue forced a smile: "Good guy."
Pei Zichen was also a little annoyed when he saw this, but he didn't say much. He just said, "Master's Wife, let's find an inn today."
Jiang Zhaoxue rolled her eyes and said, "Let's go."
As she spoke, she went to find some simple luggage and packed it for Pei Zichen to take away. Then she took Pei Zichen to find an inn in the most yang-filled place in the entire city.
When they went in to get a room, Jiang Zhaoxue threw some silver and said directly, "One of the upper rooms in the top floor."
Hearing this, Pei Zichen looked over in surprise, but Jiang Zhaoxue didn't say anything. Pei Zichen knew that Jiang Zhaoxue would not do anything rash, so he didn't dare to say much. His heart was in turmoil, and he followed Jiang Zhaoxue stiffly into the room as the waiter greeted him, "Young Master and Madam."
After entering the house, Pei Zichen could no longer hold back and hurriedly said, "Master's Wife..."
"Zi Chen!"
The moment Jiang Zhaoxue opened her mouth, she rushed forward like a bull, slamming into Pei Zichen's arms and anxiously saying, "I miss you so much!"
Pei Zichen's head went blank and he froze in place.
"Master..." He stuttered, his mind confused.
He knew that Jiang Zhaoxue would not do this for no reason, but the hands around his waist and the soft body pressed against him challenged his reason.
Jiang Zhaoxue also knew that Pei Zichen was timid and couldn't go too far, so she quickly let go and pulled him, saying, "Hurry up and get on the bed. I've been suffocating in the Ye Mansion for a few days."
As he spoke, Pei Zichen felt spiritual energy surge outside. He finally regained some sense and was brought to the bedside by Jiang Zhaoxue.
Jiang Zhaoxue pushed him onto the bed. Her soft and boneless hands had no strength at all, but she pushed him to sit on the bed.
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to draw back the bed curtain, looking at the person sitting on the bed with a half-smile: "I saw Second Young Master Ye pushing you for a long time but couldn't move you, so why do you fall down when I touch you?"
These words made Pei Zichen's face turn blood red instantly. He whispered, "Master's Wife..."
"Okay, I won't tease you anymore," Jiang Zhaoxue raised her chin and said towards the bed, "Go in."
Pei Zichen listened, stiffly taking off his shoes and getting on the bed. After he went in, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly followed him in. She then took out a stack of talismans and put them on as she said, "I was terrified when that damned ghost saw me earlier. It's a good thing you killed your master, otherwise I wouldn't be able to live like this."
Pei Zichen: “…”
Jiang Zhaoxue said, addicted to acting, and continued: "I don't know if those Ye family members followed us this time. If I get caught again, I'll just kill myself. Don't worry, wait until Master's wife is done, then I'll treat you well."
Pei Zichen: “…”
Jiang Zhaoxue was weaving and pasting talismans at the same time.
Ye Tianjiao's spiritual power is weak, and the talismans he writes are not very useful, but after all, he has a heavenly golden spiritual root, and it is a high-level talisman. If he sticks more of them and uses them for hiding, it won't be a big problem.
After she had covered the bed with talisman paper, Pei Zichen had gotten used to it. When Jiang Zhaoxue finished pasting the talismans and turned around, she saw him sitting upright in the corner, looking down at the patterns on the bed. His whole body had a calm and majestic temperament, as if he was not of this world. He washed away the ambiguous atmosphere in the bed curtains, and it felt like he could start preaching in the next second.
Jiang Zhaoxue was overwhelmed by this momentum, coughed lightly, and sat diagonally opposite Pei Zichen somewhat awkwardly.
After sitting like this, she suddenly remembered, did she go through so much trouble to get him into the bed curtain just to talk to him about the Tao Te Ching?
She came to discuss plans!
"Don't sit so far away."
Jiang Zhaoxue quickly moved forward, beckoned Pei Zichen over, and said in a low voice, "This bed is too big, there aren't enough talismans."
Pei Zichen paused after hearing this, but finally stepped forward.
After the two of them sat down face to face at the closest distance, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly used runes to surround them in a circle.
After sticking it on, Jiang Zhaoxue sensed it and then raised his hand to take out a small clock.
The small bell was placed upside down in Jiang Zhaoxue's palm. Jiang Zhaoxue handed it to him and said, "This is the Mountain and River Bell. Only when you open it can you completely isolate yourself from the outside world."
Pei Zichen followed Jiang Zhaoxue's instructions and opened the Mountain and River Bell.
When the Mountain and River Bell grew larger and lay upside down on the bed, completely covering the two people, Jiang Zhaoxue finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Pei Zichen glanced at the Mountain and River Bell, which had already turned invisible, and felt a little doubtful. He raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Zhaoxue: "Master's Wife, why can I use your magic weapon?"
These words made Jiang Zhaoxue freeze.
The reason, of course, is because the Soul Locking Formation connects their spirits and souls. He is essentially the manager of her magic weapons, a humanoid magic weapon care machine, so of course he can use her magic weapons.
But he couldn't tell her at this moment. Jiang Zhaoxue coughed lightly and said a little embarrassedly: "Well, your spiritual power has circulated in my body..."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zichen instantly recalled the embarrassing situation the night before. His heart was in turmoil, and he could not think too much. He just said immediately, "Disciple understands."
"Okay, let's get down to business."
Jiang Zhaoxue changed the subject and said calmly, "If Zhuang Yan was a ghost fairy, she would have heard everything we said today. If she didn't want Ye Wenzhi to say it, she could have interrupted him at any time, but she asked Ye Wenzhi to tell us."
"Because she wanted us to know."
Pei Zichen spoke confidently, and Jiang Zhaoxue nodded: "She probably wants me to leave, so she exposed her identity as a ghost fairy to teach me a lesson and not to cause trouble."
"So Master's Wife took advantage of the situation and left the Ye Mansion first." Pei Zichen understood Jiang Zhaoxue's actions. "And she was also worried about us, so she followed us silently, so Master's Wife put on this show."
"good."
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and said thoughtfully, "She is at her weakest now after being struck by the thunderbolt. This is also the easiest time for us to strike. Chen Zhao has already sent someone to notify the Tianji Academy. We must prepare to eliminate her as soon as possible."
"Eliminate her?" Pei Zichen frowned slightly. "How?"
"First, we must find her temple and destroy it to damage her foundation, preventing her from drawing power. Second, we must find her body, learn the cause of her death, and perform a ritual to exorcise her body, eliminate the evil spirit, and weaken her power. Finally, we must use her body to break the contract between her and Ye Wenzhi."
Jiang Zhaoxue tapped the bed lightly, analyzing the situation carefully. "Ye Wenzhi has been a good man for seven generations. The fact that Heaven's punishment has fallen upon him proves that Zhuang Yan is no ordinary ghost. Even Ye Wenzhi's luck can't protect her. If we can cut off Ye Wenzhi's protection and Heaven's punishment falls upon Zhuang Yan, then we can seize the opportunity to take action, and our victory will be almost certain."
"Disciple understands."
Pei Zichen nodded.
Jiang Zhaoxue glanced outside the bed curtains and continued, "However, ghosts are unpredictable. We're lying to her now, and there's no guarantee she's lying to us. I'm afraid she's already decided to kill and wants to trick us into separating. That's why I've only booked one room tonight. Let's try not to separate."
"yes."
"Then..." Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the bed and cautiously asked, "Shall we sleep together?"
Hearing this, Pei Zichen's face froze. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly said, "We just got into bed together in front of her. It would be a bit strange to sleep separately at night."
"Disciple understands."
Pei Zichen listened to Jiang Zhaoxue's explanation and calmed down. He said seriously, "Disciple, just meditate."
"Just be open-minded," Jiang Zhaoxue patted his shoulder, her tone quite serious. "When you're out and about, don't be too picky. This kind of situation will happen more often in the future, so don't be too burdened."
Pei Zichen raised his eyes after hearing this. Jiang Zhaoxue saw that his expression was full of scrutiny and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Master's Wife," Pei Zichen stared at her and said sharply, "You don't want to leave this time and space, right?"
The question was too direct, making Jiang Zhaoxue nervous for a moment.
She laughed awkwardly: "What you said is true. I don't even have any spiritual power. How could I not want to leave?"
Pei Zichen said nothing, he just looked at her silently.
Jiang Zhaoxue was frightened by his gaze and suddenly missed Ye Tianjiao. If Pei Zichen was half as stupid as Ye Tianjiao, she would be much more relaxed at this moment.
But Pei Zichen is a boy with good character, but he is so smart that it is frightening.
She could only continue to make excuses: "I... I still want to go back to see my family as soon as possible. I definitely want to leave more than you do!"
Pei Zichen was stunned when he heard this.
Then he realized that Jiang Zhaoxue had been making trouble at Luoxia Mountain when he hadn't seen Shen Yuqing for a few days.
People say that a day without seeing someone feels like three years. He has no one to miss, but Jiang Zhaoxue still has her husband to miss.
He realized that his thoughts were wandering, and panicked for a moment, saying hurriedly, "It was my disciple who misunderstood."
"It's okay, it's okay." Jiang Zhaoxue saw that she had escaped a disaster and waved her hand, "Don't think too much. If I can leave, I will definitely leave. Don't worry."
"yes."
Pei Zichen lowered his eyes.
Seeing that he was silent, Jiang Zhaoxue felt a little awkward for a moment, so she simply pulled the quilt over her and lay down, saying to Pei Zichen, "I'm going to sleep first. You can sleep if you want. You're still a child, so Master's Wife doesn't mind."
Pei Zichen looked up at her. Jiang Zhaoxue felt like joking and said seriously, "Even if you are good-looking, Master's Wife will never have any bad intentions."
Hearing this, Pei Zichen raised the corners of his mouth and smiled slightly.
Seeing him smile, Jiang Zhaoxue finally felt relieved and happily closed her eyes: "I'm going to sleep. Oh," Jiang Zhaoxue opened her eyes and said seriously, "Remember to eat the Jade Ganoderma tonight! Don't worry, I'm a deep sleeper and won't hear anything. When you finish eating and your spiritual roots have grown well and are ready to rebuild your tendons and veins, take off the talisman and wake me up."
As he spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue took out the sleeping talisman written by Ye Tianjiao, stuck it on his head with a "click", and then closed his eyes instantly.
Pei Zichen sat silently, watching Ye Tianjiao's talisman stuck on Jiang Zhaoxue's head. He raised his eyes and looked around, and saw that the surroundings were all talismans written by Ye Tianjiao. He suddenly felt a little annoyed.
He wanted to tear all these talismans apart so that they would not appear beside Jiang Zhaoxue.
However, I also felt that such thoughts were inexplicable and unreasonable.
It can even be said to be absurd.
It's as childish as when I was little and fighting with my brother for my mother.
He slowed down, took a deep breath, and put the jade Ganoderma lucidum into his mouth.
A familiar feeling of pain surged through his tendons and veins. This time he had experience and endured the pain to circulate and nourish his spiritual roots.
Amidst the pain, he couldn't help but secretly open his eyes and look at Jiang Zhaoxue who was sleeping soundly at the head of the bed.
She had turned sideways with her hands at her sides. She looked very uneasy while sleeping, as cute as a tiger.
Pei Zichen looked at her sleeping face silently, and suddenly the pain didn't seem so severe anymore.
He just looked at her quietly until his spiritual roots were completely formed. He was sweating all over. After a long time, he supported himself to get up, went to the bathroom to wash himself, and changed into clean clothes. Because he was afraid that Zhuang Yan was outside, he could only act as a trap and went to bed in his underwear.
Then he took off Jiang Zhaoxue's sleeping talisman and said softly, "Master's Wife."
Jiang Zhaoxue opened his eyes drowsily and saw the young man kneeling beside him.
He was wearing a snow-white undershirt, revealing his chest and collarbone, and his hair was spread out behind him, falling as he moved, gently brushing her cheek.
He seemed to be trying his best to support himself and didn't even realize the offense. He just let the fragrance of bamboo leaves, pine and cypress sweep through his hair to her nose, and looked at her with a pair of beautiful eyes that seemed a little tired.
Jiang Zhaoxue felt as if she was dreaming, and only in dreams did she see such beautiful fairies.
She stared blankly until Pei Zichen respectfully called out again, "Master's Wife, my spiritual roots have been restored."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue took a breath and raised his hand to support his forehead.
Wow, what a beautiful immortal, it turned out to be the guy who sent her to the west before.
Jiang Zhaoxue took a moment to slow down, then pushed herself up. As she did so, her coat slipped off her shoulders. Pei Zichen lowered his eyes, not daring to look any further. Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him and saw that he was extremely tired. She simply lay down and said to him, "Lie down. You're so tired from sitting."
Pei Zichen was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly said, "Master's Wife, can I sit down..."
"Lie down."
Jiang Zhaoxue pulled him down and almost pulled him onto herself. Pei Zichen was so frightened that he tried his best to step back. Even though he was exhausted, he was still a sword cultivator after all. With this pull, he ended up pulling Jiang Zhaoxue onto him.
Jiang Zhaoxue bumped into him and Pei Zichen froze instantly.
The two of them were stunned for a moment, and Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her eyes to look at his chest.
Although Pei Zichen had the body of a teenager when he was dressed and didn't look very muscular, after being bumped into...
"Disciple offended!"
Pei Zichen retreated hurriedly.
Jiang Zhaoxue thought about the muscles she had just touched, coughed lightly, and without looking at him, she suddenly became much more sober and interrupted him, "Give me your hand."
Pei Zichen didn't dare to say anything more. He nervously extended his hand. Jiang Zhaoxue held his hand under the quilt, closed her eyes, and said, "Transfer your spiritual power to me."
Pei Zichen followed her instructions and sent his spiritual power over. Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes and felt his spiritual power coming in, which then became her spiritual power. She called upon this spiritual power to re-enter Pei Zichen's body and began to reshape his tendons and veins.
In fact, Pei Zichen's tendons and veins were already perfect enough, but they were dug out by the rebirth spider after all, so they were not strong. What Jiang Zhaoxue did was to use his spiritual power to carry the medicinal effect of the jade Ganoderma lucidum and push it into his tendons and veins, warming it in circles.
Since she had already transmitted her spiritual power, Jiang Zhaoxue naturally would not give up the opportunity to influence Pei Zichen. She also sent her emotions over and yawned, "Little Pei, feel more happiness in the world. When you are happier, you will feel that the world is a better place."
Pei Zichen pursed his lips tightly as a familiar strange feeling came over him. He retreated imperceptibly and said in a hoarse voice, "Master's Wife... don't feel it anymore. I know what you mean."
"You're just too polite."
Jiang Zhaoxue knew his temperament and didn't discuss it with him. She just kept sharing her feelings with him and said slowly, "Don't think about other things. Focus on the present. Are you happy right now?"
Pei Zichen was speechless.
Tonight was a little more unbearable than last time. Pei Zichen tried his best to retreat and leaned against the wall. Jiang Zhaoxue's warmth and fragrance seemed to be sticking to him, burning terribly.
He listened to her question and quietly opened his eyes.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Jiang Zhaoxue reminded him: "Speak up, don't lie, tell me the truth."
Pei Zichen listened, sweat dripping down his forehead, blurring his eyes. He looked at the sleeping face in front of him, feeling a little conscious. He couldn't help but echo her words, saying hoarsely, "Happy."
"Isn't that the end of it?"
Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, and extreme pain and pleasure came from the spiritual power in her body, rushing through his life.
He quietly enjoyed the torture and felt all the cruelty brought by this man.
When it was almost dawn, Jiang Zhaoxue finished straightening his tendons and veins, and finally rested. She let go of his hand, closed her eyes, and fell asleep, mumbling, "I'm asleep, don't call me."
Pei Zichen was speechless, his whole body hunched over in pain.
The moment she let go of him, she grabbed her clothes from the bed and stumbled away as if escaping.
When he rushed into the purification room and sank into the cold water, all the worries did not disappear. He didn't know what to do or what to do. He sat in the cold water in fear and pain, and the image of Jiang Zhaoxue lying on her side beside him kept appearing in his mind.
He knew clearly that if he left a moment later, he would not be able to help but run into her.
What should I do if I meet her?
The thought flashed through his mind for a moment, and Pei Zichen suddenly realized that Jiang Zhaoxue's handkerchief was mixed in the clothes he had grabbed.
It was quietly placed next to the bathtub, with Jiang Zhaoxue's favorite picture of a tiger catching a butterfly painted on it.
He looked at the handkerchief silently, he knew he shouldn't do that.
What is this? This is desire.
It has nothing to do with love, it's just a simple, disgusting man's desire for a woman. How dare he use it to taint Jiang Zhaoxue?
But that was Jiang Zhaoxue...
Just thinking of the name, he couldn't help getting excited. He stared at the handkerchief and the cute little tiger. After a long time, for some unknown reason, he finally reached out his trembling hand and took it.
Through the screen, the sound of water in the bathroom became a little intense, accompanied by the boy's uncontrollable gasps.
On that morning with the sky slightly blue, he understood the whole story for the first time with the help of a handkerchief.
After the joy wore off, he watched the birds landing on the windowsill in the early morning, holding the water-soaked white silk in his hands, and suddenly thought, he deserved to die.
As long as he is dead, nothing will be known.
These dark, dirty and disgusting things will never be known to the public.
How could he have such an idea?
Although it was due to the influence of spiritual communication, it was forced by external forces.
But how could he react like this to Jiang Zhaoxue...?
If Jiang Zhaoxue knew, how disgusted and loathed would she be?
You should be wondering how you could have saved such an ugly thing.
But you may not think so.
Pei Zichen closed his eyes, and his heart suddenly became calm and empty.
After all, she saved him only because he was Shen Yuqing's disciple.
Just a disciple who looks very much like Shen Yuqing.
*** ***
Jiang Zhaoxue was very tired from combing his meridians, so he slept particularly soundly.
When she woke up, it was almost noon and Pei Zichen was no longer behind the bed curtains. Jiang Zhaoxue heard the clinking of dishes and chopsticks outside. She rolled up the bed curtains and saw Pei Zichen bringing in food.
After sleeping all night in her clothes, Jiang Zhaoxue's clothes were also in a mess. Pei Zichen glanced at her and immediately lowered his gaze, putting down the dishes and chopsticks and said, "Master's wife, are you awake?"
"ah."
Jiang Zhaoxue yawned and stood up, and found that Pei Zichen had changed his clothes, so he knew that he had already washed up.
She got out of bed and saw something on the table.
In the morning, I prepared white porridge, dried fish and golden thread cakes, all of which were heated on a small stove.
Pei Zichen didn't look at her, and said respectfully as usual, "Water is ready in the bathroom. Madam, you can wash up first and then have dinner."
Jiang Zhaoxue listened, picked up a pancake from the plate, put it in his mouth, and said vaguely: "I know."
As she spoke, she went to the bathroom to wash up. Pei Zichen immediately stood up and stood outside the door, listening to the sound of Jiang Zhaoxue washing up. After she finished washing, he pushed the door open and went in again.
Jiang Zhaoxue was already dressed when she entered the house, but no one helped her, so she tied everything up with a belt as before and tied her hair behind her with a red rope.
Without any comparison before, Pei Zichen didn't think there was anything wrong with this outfit, but when he saw the maid dressing Jiang Zhaoxue yesterday, he realized that it was not that Jiang Zhaoxue liked it this way, but that she didn't know how to do it.
He was at a loss for a moment. He felt the urge to help, but he felt it was inappropriate. After struggling for a long time, he could only step forward and bow: "Master's Wife."
Although they have been together for more than a month, Pei Zichen still does not follow any of the rules.
Even when eating, he would wait for Jiang Zhaoxue's permission before sitting down.
Jiang Zhaoxue was already used to it, so he knocked on the bowl and said, "Sit down."
Pei Zichen sat down as he was told. The two of them ate. Jiang Zhaoxue glanced outside and felt that the resentment that had been following her had receded. She whispered, "I'm going to see Aunt Dan today."
Pei Zichen responded, glanced out the window, and confirmed again: "Is she gone?"
"Every time she follows someone, she consumes some of her energy," Jiang Zhaoxue explained. "Now she's seriously injured and doesn't have that much strength. Chen Zhao at the temple is already trying to avoid her and get information from Ye Wenzhi to determine her location. They will handle it. Our mission here is to find her body and figure out why she died."
Jiang Zhaoxue finished her porridge, pulled out a file from her sleeve, and handed it to Pei Zichen, saying, "This is what Chen Zhao secretly gave me yesterday. It's the information he used to check on Zhuang Yan. He knew of Zhuang Yan's existence back then and had examined her. At that time, he saw that she wasn't an evil ghost who had died unjustly. He checked her information and found that after being given away by Aunt Dan, she stayed with another family until she was five years old. One day, she ran away and disappeared. I guessed she might have died in an accident, so I didn't investigate further. But if Zhuang Yan hadn't died unjustly, she wouldn't be the way she is today."
"Is the woman who died in the past three years related to her?"
Pei Zichen was curious, Jiang Zhaoxue said, and took out the second set of information.
"This is the death list of Taizhou City in the past ten years."
Pei Zichen listened, opened the list, and after a quick glance, he discovered the problem: "In the past three years, each year has been three times more than the average of the previous seven years."
"And there's no significant difference between men and women. It's just that women rarely go to dangerous places, and their deaths are more likely to be talked about, while men's deaths are often classified as accidents. But in reality, looking at the total number, there's not much difference. And—"
Jiang Zhaoxue pursed her lips and whispered, "Chen Zhao said that these people are couples who have abandoned their babies."
Pei Zichen realized what was going on when he heard this: "So when the Tianji Academy finished its investigation, even though the Ye family was filled with resentment, they still left?"
Karma, the resentment of an infant is usually limited to the parents and will not involve innocent people. Once it is over, it is over. Therefore, even if the resentment still exists, Tianjiyuan does not intend to continue to care.
However, when babies die, they are often unconscious, so it is difficult for them to enter the Tao as ghosts, and they rely entirely on instinct.
Only Zhuang Yan——
"When I read Aunt Dan's fortune, I saw the blood-stained causal line on her body, which was on the kinship line, proving that she had harmed her own relatives. But Chen Zhao said he had never heard of her abandoning a baby. Furthermore, she said, 'She must be twenty years old, a full year old,' which is exactly Zhuang Yan's current age, so Zhuang Yan's death must be related to her. At the time, I thought she had abandoned a baby girl, so I guessed that she should go to the city bridge to find the body and dig it up for worship. She didn't refute it, so Zhuang Yan is likely under the city bridge."
Jiang Zhaoxue analyzed, "She died at the age of five, her body found under the city bridge, where the resentment of the infant was lingering. She already had consciousness, surviving amidst this resentment, gaining sufficient strength to nourish her. Ye Wenzhi burned clothes for her every year, and she was tainted with his luck. As a result, she had the opportunity to enter the Dao and become a ghost cultivator. She probably didn't kill anyone at the time, so the number of deaths in the city was normal. Afterwards, Ye Wenzhi bought her a house, which was equivalent to building a temple, and also made a statue of her, equivalent to a golden statue, offering incense to her, helping her cultivate to an immortal body. Then, Ye Wenzhi was going to the capital to take up a post. For Zhuang Yan, this was abandonment—"
Pei Zichen understood what Jiang Zhaoxue meant and looked up at her: "Just like those children's parents abandoned them."
A ghost cultivator will be infected by whatever power they absorb. She grew up absorbing the resentment of babies, and has long been more sensitive than ordinary people to the idea of "abandonment".
So the moment she confirmed that Ye Wenzhi was going to abandon her, she decided to give up Ye Wenzhi and began her revenge that had been dormant for many years.
If she killed people alone, the punishment from heaven would have come long ago, so she first tricked Ye Wenzhi into blocking the punishment from heaven, and then started to take action.
Therefore, she can continue killing for three years without stopping, and in the process of killing, she can even become stronger by sucking the lives of those people.
"Then why didn't she kill Aunt Dan?" Pei Zichen listened and understood how Zhuang Yan grew into the ghost immortal she was today, but he didn't understand, "She killed so many people, killing her own people should be easy, right?"
"Because, the current Zhuang Yan is essentially a monster formed by the resentment of those infants attached to her. All they want is to keep getting stronger. The infants' resentment exists not for revenge, but because they don't know where they came from and where they are going. Killing the parents who abandoned them is just revenge according to the line of cause and effect, not obsession. They gain strength and become powerful in the process. But if Zhuang Yan herself died in vain, then she stayed in this world because of hatred. This was the original heart that made her become a ghost cultivator - what we ordinary cultivators call the heart of Tao. If she seeks revenge, her heart of Tao will be shattered, which is a serious blow."
"So now, we have to find out how she died and then avenge her." Pei Zichen understood Jiang Zhaoxue's thinking. "At the same time, we have to destroy her 'temple' and pray for the souls of the child under the city bridge, so that she will no longer have any power. When these three methods are combined, we can terminate her contract with Ye Wenzhi and let her face the punishment from heaven."
"This is our only chance of winning." Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, "Otherwise, with my current strength and the useless people from Tianji Academy, if we were to face a ghost immortal like Zhuang Yan, I'm afraid she would kill us all before we could even terminate the contract with Ye Wenzhi."
"Then why doesn't she just kill us now?"
Pei Zichen raised his eyes, and Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned. She couldn't help but ask, "Is it so reckless?"
You don't even know her strength, and you just attack her?
Pei Zichen thought about it and said decisively: "Then let's go find Aunt Dan."
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded: "That's exactly what I mean."
As he spoke, Pei Zichen stood up first and went to pack his things. Jiang Zhaoxue watched him busy and thought about what to do next.
"Does she really not know your true strength?" Anan was a little curious.
Jiang Zhaoxue laughed: "How is that possible?"
As she spoke, she took out the tracing mirror, turned it over and looked at the already lit tracing mirror. Her eyes were reflected on the mirror, and she chuckled and said, "She is so clear."
It was because he clearly sensed her strength, and even sensed that as long as she was willing to use the tracing mirror and accept the leap of time and space, she could use her spiritual power freely.
So Zhuang Yan only wanted to expel her and Pei Zichen and didn't want to fight her head-on.
Zhuang Yan's obedience now is all for her to see, to let her know that she is just a ghost fairy who is hurt by love and kills people for revenge. She will not kill innocent people indiscriminately, so let Jiang Zhaoxue leave with peace of mind.
But how is that possible?
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the bloody list and unconsciously flipped the retrospective mirror.
She just happened to meet a kind man who had been a good person for seven generations. Every step this kind man took was just to make her stronger, from a ghost cultivator to a ghost immortal - is it such a coincidence?
Jiang Zhaoxue chuckled.
If there are too many coincidences in this world, then there must be ulterior motives.
Jiang Zhaoxue waited for a while, and Pei Zichen packed up, and then the two set off together.
They first asked about Aunt Dan's residence. Aunt Dan's family of three made a living by selling meat and had lived in the city for many years. When everyone heard their inquiry, they pointed in the direction. When Jiang Zhaoxue went there, Aunt Dan's business was bustling.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked around and confirmed that Zhuang Yan was no longer there, so he took Pei Zichen and jumped from the backyard into Aunt Dan's house.
After a busy morning, when Aunt Dan returned to her room to rest, she opened the door and saw Jiang Zhaoxue sitting inside.
She subconsciously turned around and wanted to run, but Pei Zichen, who was standing behind the door, had already slammed the door shut.
Aunt Dan froze in place. Jiang Zhaoxue touched the rough edge of the teacup and smiled at the woman in front of him. "Aunt Dan, I'm here to ask you something. Don't be afraid. Sit down and talk."
Aunt Dan listened, not daring to speak. Jiang Zhaoxue sipped her tea and said slowly, "Come, let's talk about this. How did your daughter Zhuang Yan die?"
Hearing this, Aunt Dan's pupils shrank sharply and her whole body trembled. Jiang Zhaoxue stared at her and continued to ask, "I asked you to find her body and place it for worship. Did you do it?"
Aunt Dan didn't dare to speak, so Jiang Zhaoxue knew the answer: "Nothing, right?"
As she spoke, she laughed and said, "That's it," and raised her finger to point at Aunt Dan, "You are in big trouble."
-----------------------
The author has something to say: I will continue to give out red envelopes in this chapter.
Also, our little Pei endured it from before midnight until almost dawn last night, and finally he burst out when Xuexue hugged him.
Don't say he's quick, he's not quick, it's been a whole night! Very strong!
The Master's Wife's current expression of indifference wasn't due to her long-standing vegetarianism; it was simply because, in her eyes, Xiao Pei was too young. She hadn't considered him a man at all. Currently, Xiao Pei was still a teenager, and his sexual potential was relatively low for Xuexue; he was just a pretty boy. But once Xiao Pei fully matured in the next dimension, Xuexue would be able to sense his distinct masculine aura just by standing next to him, and she would react.
In a few chapters, we will enter the next time and space, waiting for the twenty-year-old young man Pei
【Small Theater】
Jiang Zhaoxue: "If there are too many coincidences in this world, then there must be ulterior motives."
Zhuang Yan: "How do you know? You seem very familiar with it?"
Jiang Zhaoxue: "Oh, because I'm just this kind of person. A love scammer, we're all the same."
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