"Master, you must come back!"
Tu Hongye's voice was very low, so low that only he could hear it.
Xiang Wan waved to him from the top of the wall, signaling him to hold on, then quickly slipped off the roof and out of the Zhang residence.
In his previous life, the original owner of this body also came here, but Zhang Yun, under the pretext of exorcising ghosts, kept him inside the manor for several days. He knew his own limitations perfectly well. He didn't manage to drive away the ghosts, but he inadvertently discovered Zhang Yun and Ping Yajun's secret, almost causing his little apprentice to perish as well.
This Zhang residence not only harbors many wronged ghosts, but also evil spirits suppressed beneath that side room. Because Ping Yajun occasionally pours black dog blood, gathering yin energy in that spot, it nourishes the evil spirits, making them even stronger.
At that time, if the evil spirit hadn't broken out of the formation and caused chaos in the Zhang family, the original owner and his little apprentice would probably have already fallen victim to Zhang Yun's cruelty.
Xiang Wan originally thought that earning some money and a good reputation in Pingkang Town would be enough, but unfortunately, her fame spread too quickly, and even Zhang Yun had heard about it. In her previous life, it was the original owner who came to her door herself.
Now that we've already encountered her, how can we live up to her reputation if we don't take action to eliminate her evil deeds?
After thinking it over, Xiang Wan realized that there seemed to be only one way to quickly get the constables and others to the Zhang residence.
Before long, a dilapidated courtyard in the Zhang residence caught fire. The fire spread with the wind, and a thick plume of black smoke shot straight into the sky. Zhang Yun sent his servants to put out the fire, while Xiang Wan secretly went to the place where Zhang Yun stored important supplies, set it on fire, and then went to his study.
After the fire started, Zhang Yun only had Wang Fu by his side, and he hurriedly led him to the study.
If a house catches fire, a person's first reaction is to take out the most important things and move them to another place to avoid them being burned.
Xiang Wan didn't care what Zhang Yun cared about; what she cared about was where he would put the things.
Supported by her maid, Ping Yajun went to sit in the pavilion in the middle of the lake. Her eyes were fixed on the fireworks, her gaze neither sad nor happy, but rather relaxed as if she had been relieved.
The servants in the mansion were all busy putting out the fire, and no one paid much attention to Zhang Yun. They saw him take a booklet from the bookshelf, put it in his pocket, and then take out another one, which he told Wang Fu to carry with him. After that, he left the room and walked out.
Those things look like ledgers.
As evening fell, they moved to another location and set fires in various other places. After that, the manor was completely short-handed, and neighbors gathered at the gate of the Zhang manor, carrying wooden buckets and ladles. In their anxiety, they disregarded everything else and rushed into the manor.
The surrounding houses were all on fire, but the side room where Ping Yajun had been staying remained unscathed.
Tu Hongye naturally saw the fire outside, but he didn't forget to keep tapping the compass, making the people outside the courtyard think they were still performing a spell.
However, as time went by, the noise outside the courtyard gate grew louder and louder, and the fires around were gradually subsiding. Tu Hongye's heart began to sink, and his eyes grew darker as he stared at the side room where the ghost was hiding.
"Master, if you dare to abandon me..."
As the sun gradually climbed to its highest point, the footsteps of the firefighters outside the courtyard changed from being chaotic at first, to intentionally or unintentionally pausing in front of the courtyard gate. Tu Hongye's small body stood in the middle of the courtyard, his shadow under the sunlight pressed down on him, motionless.
If Xiang Wan were here, she would surely feel the chill emanating from this small body, which, under the scorching sun, was like a thousand-year-old ice, chilling one to the bone.
At this moment, Xiang Wan, having changed her clothes and appearance, was mingling in the crowd, putting out fires wherever she could, waiting for an opportunity to switch the booklet she had taken from Zhang Yun's study with the one on Wang Fu's person. She needed to see what important thing it was; if it was evidence of murder, then she certainly couldn't miss it.
Wang Fu wasn't always by Zhang Yun's side, making it easier for Xiang Wan to make her move. Bumps were inevitable as the crowd moved about.
After receiving the booklet, Xiang Wan glanced at it briefly and understood what was going on. Without making a sound, she tucked the booklet into her bosom, found a secluded corner, reverted to her Taoist attire, and entered the secluded courtyard.
"My disciple, are you not welcome back?"
Seeing Tu Hongye standing motionless in the scorching sun, Xiang Wan felt a pang of pity.
He's still just a child. How could she leave him alone in this yard? What if he gets eaten by an evil spirit?
It was only then that Xiang Wan belatedly realized that her little apprentice wasn't an adult; it was just that his expression was usually too serious, which gave her the illusion that the child could stand on his own.
She was truly ashamed to leave such a dangerous task to her apprentice; she hadn't been a very dedicated teacher.
Unexpectedly, Tu Hongye did not run over to hug her and cry like a normal child. Instead, he calmly turned around, glanced at her, and handed her the compass and peach wood sword without saying a word.
The apprentice is so obedient and sensible that it makes one feel a little sorry for him for some reason.
Xiang Wan took the things, placed them on the stone table, squatted down, hugged Tu Hongye tightly, and patted his back gently to comfort him.
The little apprentice's body stiffened, and it took a long time for him to soften. He hugged Xiang Wan back, but what he said made Xiang Wan furious.
"Master, there's a ghost behind you."
Xiang Wan froze, pushed her little apprentice aside, and pinched his cheek.
"Disciple, do you understand the importance of respecting your master? Where did this ghost come from in broad daylight? You wanted to blame me for leaving you behind, but you're back now, aren't you? Just give me a break, I have important things to do later, do you understand?"
Tu Hongye stared intently at Xiang Wan, neither crying out in pain nor begging for mercy, making Xiang Wan feel that he was cunning and wicked.
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