Just then, a gust of cold wind blew by, making the windows creak.
Tang Nian immediately looked out the window warily and saw a dark shadow flash by.
She reacted quickly, waving her hand to release a talisman that struck the dark figure.
The dark figure let out a miserable scream and vanished into a wisp of green smoke.
But this is far from over.
Wave after wave of ghosts surged in from outside. The three of them had to eliminate the endless stream of ghosts while protecting Chu Roujia, who could not fight the ghosts but was injured by them.
Lou Mu took a moment to glance at the papers on the table, and couldn't look away.
A bad feeling welled up in his heart.
Bringing Chu Roujia here today was probably the right thing to do.
"what's on your mind!"
Tang Nian cut off the ghost that was trying to sneak up on Lou Mu from behind and roared in a low voice.
Lou Mu then came to his senses and quickly joined the battle.
Even if they could take them down one by one, there were still so many ghosts to beat up.
Tang Nian even wondered if the underworld spy who helped Chu Wende had released all the ghosts from hell.
They killed so many people; who knows if the King of Hell will blame them afterward.
Even though they conserved their energy, as time went on, they all began to feel tired.
Just when they were about to give up, the battle between Ji Jingyu and Ji Shuhe ended.
Ji Jingyu walked in with a victorious smile. Seeing Tang Nian and the others fighting hard, he immediately joined the battle.
With Ji Jingyu's arrival, the battle situation immediately changed.
They launched a counterattack, continuously eliminating the surging ghosts.
Finally, through their combined efforts, all the ghosts inside the house were eliminated.
Tang Nian and the others breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at each other.
Tang Nian didn't ask Ji Jingyu what he and Ji Shuhe did in the end; some things are better left unknown.
Hearing it too much will only make you feel uncomfortable.
Before they could exchange more than a few pleasantries, Lou Mu said in a low voice.
"Tang Nian, look outside."
Tang Nian quickly turned her head to look out the window.
Looking out the window, in the woods directly opposite, it seemed there was a person hanging from the outermost tree.
The group exchanged glances and rushed out of the house into the woods.
The sight in the woods made them gasp in shock.
The puppets could be vaguely seen behind the trees and on the branches. They seemed to be unconscious, but they all stared at the group with empty eyes.
The person hanging in the tree was none other than Chu Wende, whom they had been searching for.
His body had become pale and transparent, clearly indicating that his soul had left his body.
His limbs were tightly wrapped by black vines, as if he were bound here.
Tang Nian stepped forward and tried to untangle the black vines.
However, the moment she touched the vine, a chilling sensation instantly spread throughout her body.
She quickly withdrew her hand, her brows furrowed.
"This is... the Yin Soul Vine?"
Tang Nian's voice carried a hint of surprise.
She had heard the legend of the Yin Soul Vine, which was said to be used in the underworld to bind the souls of the most heinous criminals. However, in all her years in the underworld, she had never seen its true form.
Why did Chu Wende choose to die at this time?
Tang Nian circled Chu Wende's corpse, scanning it from head to toe.
This looks like he committed suicide.
But Chu Wende's great cause is not yet complete, how could he bear to die?
Where did his soul go?
And where did this Yin Soul Vine come from?
Ji Jingyu clearly noticed Tang Nian's confusion, and he cleared his throat.
"Ji Shuhe told me that after the trip to the city was over, Chu Wende locked himself in his room and never went out."
"After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Chu Wende found him, holding a rope in his hand, and sent him away."
"Looking back now, he should have decided to commit suicide back then."
Tang Nian did not ask him why Ji Shuhe would tell him such news.
Then Lou Mu said, "Have you noticed that one of the papers on the table describes his current appearance?"
Tang Nian frowned, staring at Chu Wende's corpse, racking her brains but unable to come up with a solution.
Which one are you referring to?
"He probably guessed that we brought Chu Roujia with us, so he went all out and used the souls trapped in the puppets to nourish his own soul."
"The price is that he has to die."
"The purpose of the Yin Soul Vine is to unleash the potential deep within his soul, turning him into a ghost cultivator."
"Do you agree with what I said, Chu Wende?"
Lou Mu looked at the dark forest and said loudly.
A hoarse, empty laugh echoed from the woods.
"As expected of the current Grand Secretary, you are truly extraordinary. If you can be of use to me, I might consider sparing your life."
"So arrogant?"
Lou Mu raised an eyebrow slightly. In all this time, Chu Wende was the first person who dared to say such a thing to him.
"I will give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If you can find the location of my soul, I will release these puppets. If not, you will all die."
As these words reached Tang Nian's ears, a wave of heat washed over her.
The group exchanged glances, each seeing determination in the other's eyes.
"Okay, I promise you."
Tang Nian made the decision immediately.
As soon as she finished speaking, the frozen puppets in the woods all raised their heads.
They emerged from behind the tree, climbed down, and walked step by step toward the five people.
The puppets here are clearly more difficult to deal with than those seen in the city.
The darkness in the woods suddenly intensified, as if an invisible force was exerting pressure on them.
"Lou Mu, do you think you can find Chu Wende's soul?"
Tang Nian said in a low voice, while cautiously glancing around.
Lou Mu closed his eyes, tightly gripping the branches and leaves of the Yin Soul Vine in his hands, and began to carefully sense the surrounding atmosphere.
Tang Nian turned to look at Ji Jingyu and Ming Huan, a resolute glint in her eyes.
“We’ll split up. Lou Mu and I will be responsible for finding Chu Wende’s soul, while you two will be responsible for protecting Chu Roujia.”
Tang Nian's tone revealed an unquestionable determination.
Ji Jingyu and Ming Huan exchanged a smile and nodded in agreement.
"Roujia, stay here and use the spell Lou Mu gave you in the city. Focus on completing everything on the paper. With the two of them protecting you, you will be fine."
It's unclear whether those last words were meant to reassure Chu Roujia or simply to comfort her.
"Tang Nian, let's go."
Tang Nian and Lou Mu began searching for Chu Wende's soul in the woods.
They followed the trail of the Yin Soul Vine, trying to find the location of the soul.
However, the darkness in the woods seemed endless, making them feel extremely oppressed.
The puppets that suddenly appear always startle the two of them, but they are always quickly defeated.
Suddenly, Tang Nian noticed something unusual.
There was a patch of black mist there, completely different from the surrounding darkness.
A thought struck her, and she immediately pulled Lou Mu toward the mist.
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