Chapter 9: Encountering a Ghost

Cheng Xi was silent for a moment; these few people around the original owner had refused to betray her and were thus tormented by Li Shi and the others, so they possessed a certain backbone.

She would not stay at Cheng Fu for long, and before leaving, she would find a good path for them.

This loyalty must not be betrayed.

The cool well water was brought over, and Cheng Xi threw the Hundred-Year Willow Wood into the bucket.

The Hundred-Year Willow Wood, grown in a place of extreme yin, turned even darker and heavier after being soaked in the water.

She took out a piece of locust wood and sat by the window, carving it meticulously with a knife; her technique was extremely dexterous, and in just the time it takes to brew half a cup of tea, a lifelike little figurine emerged.

Waiting until the moon reached the center of the sky, Cheng Xi rose and walked to the window, picked up the locust wood figurine, and lightly sliced her fingertip with a nail; a bead of blood seeped out, which she pressed into the center of the figurine's brow.

Cheng Xi gestured in the air toward the figurine with her fingertips, and the figurine's eyes instantly opened; it then turned and ran out through a crack in the window, its limbs nimbly leaping off the windowsill before vanishing into the pitch-black night.

Cheng Xi went back to sleep, in an excellent mood, and drifted off the moment her head hit the pillow.

Rising early the next morning, Mulan and Jinxiang came in to help her get up; Mulan said with a face full of smiles, "Eldest Miss, the main courtyard was quite lively last night; they say the Madam saw a ghost and was tossed about all night."

Cheng Xi did not even twitch a brow, and with a normal expression, she said, "Probably because she has done too many guilty deeds."

Jinxiang whispered from the side, "I went to ask around quietly; I heard the Madam even called out the late Madam's name."

"If you do no evil in the daylight, you won't fear a ghost knocking at your door at midnight; if she has the ability, she shouldn't be afraid..." Mulan said bitterly.

Zhao Mama walked in just as she heard this and hurriedly scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting? If this reaches over there, it will only bring more trouble for Eldest Miss."

The two made a face and stopped talking, busy dressing and combing the Eldest Miss's hair.

Zhao Mama walked over quickly and whispered, "Eldest Miss, the main courtyard was in a great uproar last night; they say they are inviting a Daoist to catch the ghost today. You must be careful, lest it be aimed at you again."

"Has Cheng Fenglan returned?" Cheng Xi looked at Zhao Mama and asked.

Zhao Mama shook her head hurriedly, "The Second Miss has not yet returned to the mansion; it is said she went to find the person who treated Jiang's injuries, though I don't know if it's true or false."

Zhao Mama could not help but be filled with worry when speaking of this; the Second Miss had talent and knew many people, so the Eldest Miss would inevitably suffer if she went up against her.

In the main room, Li Shi had dark circles under her eyes and her lips were faintly blue; she looked at Su Lian and asked, "Has Xuan Cheng Zhenren not arrived yet?"

"I have already sent people to invite him, but I heard that Baiyun Guan has had many dharma rituals these past few days, so Xuan Cheng Zhenren may not be at the temple," Su Lian said hurriedly.

"Many dharma rituals? It isn't even the Ghost Festival, why are there so many?" Li Shi asked with a frown; her heart was pounding violently, and she remembered the female ghost standing outside her bed curtains last night, almost scaring her to death.

"It is said that the Four-Eyed Demon Fox escaped from Tongtian Ta and injured many people; those families all want to hold a dharma ritual for their deceased relatives."

Li Shi clutched her chest, her expression turning even uglier, "If you can't find the person at the temple, then go find out which family they went to and invite them over; can you not even do that?"

"Yes, this servant will give the order now." Su Lian hurriedly turned and went out.

Li Shi just knew that Cheng Xi was a jinx to her; she had only just returned, and she had already encountered a ghost.

Xuan Cheng Zhenren had not yet been found when Cheng Fenglan returned at noon.

Seeing her daughter, Li Shi was happy and grabbed her, asking, "How was it? Was Jiang's arm reattached?"

Cheng Fenglan's expression turned unpleasant at the mention of this; she didn't know why the Talisman she had sent out had received no response, and she was a little worried that Fang Xun might find her troublesome and ignore her.

The Zhenguo Duke Mansion had stumbled badly over Cheng Xi, and the couple's expressions were both unpleasant; originally, because her Transmission Talisman had no response, the State Duke Mansion's Madam was already unhappy, implying in her words that she had been boasting.

She wanted to marry Jiang Weiran, so naturally, she could not let Jiang Weiran truly become a cripple; plus, she could not swallow this insult and could not let Cheng Xi laugh at her, so she thickened her skin and went to beg Lu Jinfan.

"With Senior Brother Lu taking action personally, it was naturally a simple matter; Brother Weiran's arm has already been reattached," Cheng Fenglan said with a smile.

Li Shi was overjoyed, "Truly?"

"Mother, of course it's true. Senior Brother Lu is Yuan Dashi's eldest disciple, and Yuan Dashi values my talent, so of course Senior Brother Lu would help me," Cheng Fenglan said proudly.

"Madam, the Zhenguo Duke Mansion has sent thank-you gifts for the Second Miss!"

"Quick, invite them in," Li Shi said with a face full of smiles.

Just as Cheng Xi stepped onto the long corridor, she saw servants carrying various gift boxes walking inside with joyful faces; the procession was endless, and the servants of Cheng Fu were all startled, gathering around to watch the excitement and whispering incessantly.

The various gift boxes were dazzling, and the servants who came to deliver the gifts were all wearing new clothes, looking quite grand.

"Who sent these gifts? Such a big gesture?"

"It's a gift from the Zhenguo Duke Mansion for the Second Miss; it seems the marriage between Jiang and the Second Miss is set in stone."

Li Shi brought Cheng Fenglan out to meet them and happened to see Cheng Xi standing in the corridor; she walked over quickly, unable to hide the triumph in her eyes, "Cheng Xi, Fenglan helped Jiang reattach his arm; you didn't know, did you?"

Cheng Xi was a little surprised; she had already intercepted the Transmission Talisman, yet she had still let Cheng Fenglan succeed.

She turned to look at Cheng Fenglan; Cheng Fenglan no longer felt any fear looking at Cheng Xi now. She would soon become Yuan Dashi's disciple, and Cheng Xi, a piece of trash, how could she compare to her with just some brute strength?

"Cheng Xi, the Zhenguo Duke Mansion will come to propose marriage very soon."

She wanted to see Cheng Xi's expression change, wanted to see her heartbroken, but she saw nothing.

"Scum man paired with a cheap woman, I wish you a permanent lock." Cheng Xi was a little surprised that Cheng Fenglan had more ability than she thought, but that was all.

The poison she had concocted, while not impossible to cure, was not something just anyone could solve.

"Cheng Xi, my engagement with you has already been dissolved, and I have also returned an arm; how can you still be so rude to Fenglan? Apologize!"

Cheng Xi looked up and saw Jiang standing at the second gate, staring at her.

"Brother Weiran, why are you here?" Cheng Fenglan immediately ran over.

Cheng Xi examined Jiang's arm; from the outside, it didn't look like it had been severed at all, which was quite interesting.

Jiang sensed Cheng Xi's gaze landing on his arm, and it seemed that the piercing pain returned; he looked at Cheng Xi with a dark face. Now that he did not owe her anything, he was naturally full of confidence.

"What kind of thing are you, to be worthy of me apologizing?" Cheng Xi sneered.

"Cheng Xi, what kind of talk is that?" Li Shi said with a sunken face.

"Human talk, so you don't understand; I forgive you, not everyone is called a human."

Once these words were out, Li Shi wished she could slap Cheng Xi; she had actually cursed her for not being a human!

Just as Li Shi was about to speak, she heard Cheng Xi say again: "I heard you encountered a ghost last night? If you do no evil in the daylight, you won't fear a ghost knocking at your door at midnight; Madam Li's complexion is so ugly, it seems you haven't done few guilty deeds."