Chapter 22: Intimidation and Planning

At this moment.

In the hotel room, nothing like what Louis feared had occurred.

Faced with Esther’s subtle hostility, Emma ignored her entirely, even smiled at her—no conflict arose at all.

In the hallway, Esther, dressed in a sleek black dress, deliberately shoved Emma’s shoulder without moving aside; Emma lowered her head, silent, and quickly returned to her room.

Watching Emma’s back, Esther furrowed her brow in confusion—this time spent together had made it clear to her that the Emma before her was no innocent rabbit, but a youthful devil, just as bloodthirsty as herself, only less insane.

How could she possibly yield so easily?

Unless… she was secretly plotting something.

“Looks like I’ll have to eliminate you first during this trip.”

Tap-tap-tap.

Louis ran up, saw Esther alone, and let out a breath.

Esther noticed Louis, walked over, and smiled, “Louis, where were you? You seemed so rushed.”

“Nothing.”

He turned to head back to his room.

Esther’s expression instantly turned cold; she reached out and blocked him. She felt that to control this household, besides eliminating Emma—the one who claimed the most of David’s love—she also had to subdue Louis.

Otherwise, he’d be a future liability.

“Louis, there’s something I think we need to discuss. Come with me.”

Esther blocked him with her hand, speaking in a tone that brooked no refusal, instantly making Louis uneasy.

“Forget it. Better to be cautious—I simply can’t trust you, you menace.” Louis murmured softly.

“What?” Esther didn’t catch it.

The next second.

A hand landed on her shoulder.

A hazy voice echoed from all directions; in her daze, she even saw the beasts—or rather, lovers—she had killed herself: Father…

Though Esther possessed an adult’s soul, her body was still that of a dwarf child, so the Pulling Cotton Technique affected her less than Emma, but still significantly.

Watching Esther sink into deep sleep in her room, Louis’s eyes flickered—he wondered whether he should just make her kill herself and stage a disappearance.

This isn’t home—it’s outside, where the risk of exposure is far lower.

After a few seconds, Louis temporarily abandoned the idea.

This is Mary Xiao’s territory; better not do anything unnecessary. Stability comes first.

Now, it’s time to deal with the other threat.

Louis turned toward Emma’s room.

He knocked on the door.

Tap-tap.

……

Deep night.

A mysterious force drifted through the town.

It was dark, obsessed, powerful.

It listened to every voice in the town whispering her name!

Then… it would descend, snatch the voices, all voices!

As the nursery rhyme said.

She will tear open your mouth, rip out your tongue!

And today, she sensed outsiders entering—he recited the nursery rhyme, spoke her name…

Should she go see? Or not?

The dark force drifted through the streets—it came, it came!

The wind rustling through leaves, pebbles rolling, the faint cat-like moans from within the hotel…

All sounds vanished strangely, as if entering an absolute silence.

But when it tried to enter the hotel and unleash its terror, a pale yellow aura flashed briefly within the hotel.

That aura filled it with revulsion—it was unlike the church’s power, yet… too weak!

Whoosh!

The force seeped in, precisely locating its target.

Oh!

It was a boy!

As adorable as the boy who once claimed his mouth moved during the performance.

It extended toward the room.

The next instant.

Hum!

A pale golden spiritual light enveloped the entire room, repelling all dark forces; faintly, a majestic shadow stood atop the hotel.

!!!

The dark force retreated swiftly, vanishing in an instant.

Yes, it fled.

It knew what that was—though changed, it resembled the church’s power, and strongly countered hers. Damn it, wait. When I’ve slaughtered every member of that family and crafted the perfect puppet…

After its retreat.

In Louis’s room.

Louis, wide awake, holding a peachwood sword, mouth full of tongue-blood and saliva, restless, still on guard; within his upper dantian, the Min Dian trembled faintly.

At this moment.

He saw the God of the Stove statue he’d brought and placed in the corner suddenly twitch.

He hurried over, his expression changing instantly—the statue now bore faint cracks, especially its eyes, which had once been lifeless, now appeared dull, as if drained of all light.

Seeing this, Louis quickly understood, knelt down, and bowed his head. He lit incense.

Then placed food offerings before it.

Only then did he sit back on the bed.

“She’s already been here—but Father drove her off. Still, Father seems severely wounded now; he may not hold out much longer.”

He glanced at the sky.

Dawn was not far off.

Louis decided not to sleep at all. He sat on the bed, gripping the peachwood sword, and began flipping through the Min Dian.

Yesterday, he mastered the Rooster Head Exorcism Method; combined with the Kinship Method he’d learned at the start, and the Cutting Blade Technique he’d just perfected two days ago—all three methods were now at the introductory level. He could now unlock the next page.

Moreover, Louis planned to summarize and organize all the methods he’d learned.

Since obtaining the Min Dian, he had acquired thirteen earth methods.

Killing Blade Protection, Cursing Out Loud, Willow Branch Beating Ghosts, Blood Gold Shears, Yang Qi Breaking Evil, Peachwood Crafting, Pulling Cotton Technique, Needle Rust Method, Ash of the Stove Method, Borrowing Lifespan Method·Bowing, Rooster Head Exorcism Method, Kinship Method, Trick·Cutting Blade Technique.

Introductory: Blood Gold Shears, Yang Qi Breaking Evil, Peachwood Crafting, Borrowing Lifespan Method·Bowing.

Proficient: Cursing Out Loud, Needle Rust Method, Ash of the Stove Method, Rooster Head Exorcism Method, Trick·Cutting Blade Technique.

Expert: Pulling Cotton Technique, Kinship Method.

As for Killing Blade Protection and Willow Branch Beating Ghosts, since he skipped the introductory level by directly killing Emilia, these two earth methods remain uninitiated.

Carefully tallying them up, the most useful was Pulling Cotton Technique; the others varied in quality, but most had little use.

Human energy is limited; as more techniques accumulate, some will inevitably remain unmastered, even unperfected. So planning ahead is essential—avoiding chaos later.

“Yang Qi Breaking Evil enhances everything universally; no active practice needed—the stronger your body and spirit, the stronger it becomes.”

“Cursing Out Loud—though its strength is unknown, it’s easy to use and practice, and can complement other methods. Worth practicing casually.”

“Peachwood Crafting—without consecration, peachwood’s power is limited, but it might help others in the future. Practice it.”

“Ash of the Stove Method is the only current way to actively borrow power from a statue. Must practice it.”

After careful consideration, Louis drafted a rough training schedule.

Daily: strengthen body and spirit, practice Ash of the Stove Method and Peachwood Crafting, casually practice Cursing Out Loud.

Beyond that, he had plenty of time—he wanted to see if any new earth methods deserved adding.

Pages turned.

(End of Chapter)